Nikola Jokic compiled 56 factors, 16 rebounds and 15 assists because the host Denver Nuggets rallied from 9 down in time beyond regulation to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 142-138 on Thursday night time.
The 30-year-old star produced the primary NBA recreation ever with at the very least 55 factors, 15 rebounds and 15 assists. Jokic additionally logged the third-highest level whole ever registered on Christmas Day, behind 60 factors from Bernard King in 1984 and 59 from Wilt Chamberlain in 1961.
It was the fifteenth triple-double of the season for Jokic. He now has 179 in his profession through the common season and 21 within the postseason. Jamal Murray completed with 35 factors and 10 assists for the Nuggets, who had misplaced two of their earlier three video games.
Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards scored 24 of his 44 factors within the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation earlier than selecting up his second technical foul with 21 seconds left within the further session.
Knicks 126, Cavaliers 124
Jalen Brunson hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:05 left for host New York, which overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Cleveland.
Brunson scored 13 of his 34 factors over the ultimate 7:15 for the Knicks, who mounted their largest comeback win of the season. Reserves Jordan Clarkson (25 factors) and Tyler Kolek (16 factors, 9 assists) had huge video games whereas Karl-Anthony Cities (11 factors, 14 rebounds) posted a double-double.
Donovan Mitchell scored 34 factors for the Cavaliers, who blew a pair of double-digit leads and misplaced a recreation they led coming into the fourth quarter for the primary time this season. Darius Garland recorded a double-double with 20 factors and 10 assists whereas Jaylon Tyson (16 factors), Evan Mobley (14 factors, 9 rebounds in his return after a five-game absence) and De’Andre Hunter (13 factors) all received into double figures off the bench.
Spurs 117, Thunder 102
De’Aaron Fox scored 29 factors as San Antonio handed host Oklahoma Metropolis back-to-back losses for the primary time this season.
The Spurs have received eight consecutive video games — which doesn’t embody the NBA Cup last loss to the New York Knicks on Dec. 16 — to increase their longest profitable streak since 2018-19. Three of the Thunder’s 5 defeats this season, together with each of their final two, have come to San Antonio.
Victor Wembanyama, who got here off the bench for the sixth consecutive recreation since lacking practically a month on account of a calf harm, completed with 19 factors and 11 rebounds in practically 26 minutes for the Spurs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma Metropolis with 22 factors however was simply 7-for-19 from the sector, together with 1 of 6 from past the arc. Isaiah Hartenstein paired 13 factors with 12 rebounds, and no different participant scored greater than 12 for the Thunder.
Warriors 126, Mavericks 116
Stephen Curry misplaced a private scoring duel with Cooper Flagg of their first head-to-head matchup, however joined with Gary Payton II to stall a late rally as Golden State held off Dallas in San Francisco.
Curry led the Warriors with 23 factors in Golden State’s thirteenth consecutive look within the NBA vacation showcase. After the Mavericks closed inside 110-104 with 4:28 to play, Payton transformed a Draymond Inexperienced go into his momentum-swinging dunk and Curry bombed in a 26-footer on Golden State’s subsequent possession to reopen a double-digit lead with 3:45 left.
Flagg went for a game-high 27 factors and Brandon Williams added 26 for the Mavericks, who misplaced Anthony Davis for the sport after he skilled proper groin spasms within the fourth minute of the second quarter. He completed with three factors, three rebounds and two blocks in 11 minutes.
Rockets 119, Lakers 96
Amen Thompson scored a game-high 26 factors and Kevin Durant added 25 as visiting Houston by no means trailed Los Angeles to cap a 2-4 street journey on a superb observe.
Jabari Smith Jr. notched 16 factors whereas Alperen Sengun contributed 14 factors and 12 rebounds because the Rockets remodeled a 10-point halftime lead into an 81-58 lead on Smith’s tip-in with 5:52 left within the third quarter.
Luka Doncic paced the Lakers with 25 factors and 7 assists whereas LeBron James posted 18 factors in his nineteenth Christmas Day recreation. Austin Reaves scored 12 factors within the first half, however didn’t play within the second half on account of left calf soreness. The Lakers have been outrebounded 48-25.
–Area Degree Media
