NBA: Nikola Jokic's historic triple-double too much for Wolves in OT

Nikola Jokic delivered a historic performance as the host Denver Nuggets rallied from a nine-point deficit in overtime to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 142-138 on Thursday night.

The 30-year-old star recorded 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists, marking the first NBA game ever with at least 55 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists. Jokic also logged the third-highest point total ever on Christmas Day, behind Bernard King's 60 points in 1984 and Wilt Chamberlain's 59 in 1961.

This was Jokic’s 15th triple-double of the season, bringing his career totals to 179 in the regular season and 21 in the postseason. Jamal Murray added 35 points and 10 assists for Denver, which had lost two of its previous three games.

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards scored 24 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter and overtime but received his second technical foul with 21 seconds remaining in the extra session.

Knicks 126, Cavaliers 124

Jalen Brunson hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:05 left to lift host New York over Cleveland, overcoming a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit.

Brunson scored 13 of his 34 points in the final 7:15 for the Knicks, who recorded their biggest comeback win of the season. Reserves Jordan Clarkson (25 points) and Tyler Kolek (16 points, nine assists) also contributed significantly, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 34 points, but Cleveland squandered double-digit leads and lost a game they led entering the fourth quarter for the first time this season. Darius Garland recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists, while Jaylon Tyson (16 points), Evan Mobley (14 points, nine rebounds), and De'Andre Hunter (13 points) also scored in double figures off the bench.

Spurs 117, Thunder 102

De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points as San Antonio defeated host Oklahoma City, handing the Thunder back-to-back losses for the first time this season.

The Spurs have now won eight consecutive games—excluding the NBA Cup final loss to the New York Knicks on Dec. 16—marking their longest winning streak since 2018-19. Three of the Thunder's five losses this season, including the last two, came at the hands of San Antonio.

Victor Wembanyama, returning off the bench for the sixth consecutive game after missing nearly a month due to a calf injury, contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds in almost 26 minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 22 points but shot just 7-for-19 from the field, including 1-for-6 from three-point range. Isaiah Hartenstein added 13 points and 12 rebounds, while no other Thunder player scored more than 12.

Warriors 126, Mavericks 116

Stephen Curry led Golden State with 23 points as the Warriors held off Dallas in San Francisco, despite losing a personal scoring duel with Cooper Flagg.

After the Mavericks closed within 110-104 with 4:28 left, Gary Payton II converted a momentum-shifting dunk from a Draymond Green assist, and Curry followed with a 26-foot shot to reopen a double-digit lead with 3:45 remaining.

Flagg scored a game-high 27 points, and Brandon Williams added 26 for the Mavericks, who lost Anthony Davis in the fourth minute of the second quarter to right groin spasms. Davis finished with three points, three rebounds, and two blocks in 11 minutes.

Rockets 119, Lakers 96

Amen Thompson led Houston with 26 points, while Kevin Durant added 25 as the visiting Rockets never trailed Los Angeles. The win capped a 2-4 road trip on a high note.

Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 16 points, and Alperen Sengun added 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Rockets extended a 10-point halftime lead into an 81-58 advantage by the end of the third quarter.

Luka Doncic paced the Lakers with 25 points and seven assists, while LeBron James recorded 18 points in his 19th Christmas Day game. Austin Reaves scored 12 points in the first half but did not play in the second half due to left calf soreness. Los Angeles was outrebounded 48-25.

—Field Level Media/Reuters