Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (R) recorded 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday in Denver. Photo by Justin Edmonds/EPA-EFE

Dec. 26 (UPI) — Nicola Jokic poured in an NBA record 18 of his 56 points in overtime to lead the Denver Nuggets to a thrilling win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The three-time MVP also totaled 16 rebounds and 15 assists in the 142-138 triumph Thursday in Denver. He scored 33 points after halftime, including his overtime surge, which broke Stephen Curry‘s previous record (17) for the most overtime points in NBA history.

“I keep saying, ‘just don’t get tired of this,'” Nuggets coach David Adelman told reporters. “He’s the best player in the world, bottom line.

“What he does nightly is important for the game of basketball, good for sports and good for his head coach.”

Jokic made 15 of 21 shot attempts, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. He sank 22 of 23 free throw attempts en route to his 179th career triple-double. With two more, he can tie Oscar Robinson for the second-most in NBA history. Jokic trails all-time leader Russell Westbrook by 28 on the career triple-double list.

The Timberwolves outshot the Nuggets 49% to 46.5%. The Nuggets led by as many as 16 points, lost a 15-point edge in the fourth quarter and rallied from a nine point hole in overtime to earn their eighth victory over their last 10 games. They held a 44.2% to 26.7% edge in 3-point efficiency.

“We just tried to control what we could control in those minutes,” Jokic said. “Just [keep] composure and believe in your team and yourself.”

The Nuggets outscored the Timberwolves 39-29 in the first quarter, which featured four lead changes. Jokic supplied 18 points over the first 12 minutes. Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards scored 14 of his 44 points in the opening frame.

The Timberwolves rallied with a 17-0 run to steal back the lead in the second quarter, but the Nuggets bounced back and held a 57-55 halftime edge. They started the second half with a 12-4 surge to increase their lead to double digits. The Nuggets led by 16 midway through the third quarter and carried a 92-78 edge into the fourth.

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray scored 11 of his 35 points in the third quarter. He made three of his nine 3-pointers in the quarter.

The Nuggets led 106-91 with about six minutes remaining, but the Timberwolves answered with a 16-2 surge. Edwards, who scored 13 in the quarter, hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to tie the game at 115-115 and force overtime. Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels chipped in a dozen during the fourth quarter rally.

Edwards and the Timberwolves parlayed that momentum into a 9-0 run to start overtime. But Jokic’s Nuggets fought back with an 21-6 surge and never trailed again.

Edwards made 14 of 25 shots en route to his 44 points, but was ejected for arguing with officials with 21 seconds remaining. The Timberwolves trailed just 133-130 at the time.

Jokic is averaging a career-high 29.8 points and NBA-best 12.1 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game this season. He made 60.9% of his shot attempts through 30 starts, the second-best clip of his career. Jokic also is shooting a career-best 44% from 3-point range.

The Nuggets (22-8) will take on the Orlando Magic (17-13) at 7 p.m. EST Saturday in Orlando, Fla. The Timberwolves (20-11) will host the Brooklyn Nets (9-19) at 8 p.m. Saturday in Minneapolis.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 to win the World Series in Toronto on November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo