Jokic drops 56-point triple-double as Nuggets beat Timberwolves in overtime

Nikola Jokic delivered 1 of the biggest stat lines the NBA has seen, pouring successful a 56-point triple-double to transportation the Denver Nuggets past the Minnesota Timberwolves 142-138 connected Thursday night. He added 16 rebounds and 15 assists, portion Jamal Murray scored 35 arsenic Denver improved to 3-0 against Minnesota this season.

The show turned historical successful overtime. Jokic scored 18 points successful the other period, mounting an NBA grounds for astir overtime points successful a regular play oregon playoff game. He passed Stephen Curry’s people of 17 from 2016. In overtime, Jokic went 3 for 3 from the field, deed 2 for 2 from agelong range, and went 10-for-11 astatine the foul line.

Denver pulled it disconnected contempt missing 3 starters, including Cameron Johnson, who injured his close genu Tuesday nighttime successful Dallas. Johnson joined Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle) connected the sideline, forcing the Nuggets to reshuffle their rotation. Tim Hardaway Jr. started successful Johnson’s spot and scored 19 points.

Edwards rallies Minnesota, past exits successful overtime

Minnesota astir stole it. Anthony Edwards finished with 44 points and sparked a furious precocious comeback aft the Timberwolves trailed by 15 with 5 1/2 minutes near successful regulation. Edwards capped the rally by drilling a twisting 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining to necktie the crippled astatine 115-all.

Before tipoff, helium had already promised a show. “I'm gonna person 30 points for sure. I mightiness person 40. But it's gonna beryllium a night,” Edwards told ESPN.

He backed it up aboriginal successful overtime, scoring 7 speedy points arsenic Minnesota opened the other play connected a 9-0 run. However, arsenic Denver pushed back, Edwards picked up 2 method fouls portion arguing foul calls and was ejected, leaving the Wolves to decorativeness without their starring scorer.

Even aft blowing that precocious lead, the Nuggets inactive had enactment to do. They fell down 124-115 successful overtime, past answered with an 11-2 tally to propulsion adjacent astatine 126-all. Jokic’s record-breaking burst did the rest, sealing the triumph successful a crippled that swung wildly from precocious illness to signature finish.

By the 3rd quarter, Jokic had recorded his 179th vocation triple-double, 2 shy of Oscar Robertson for 2nd spot successful NBA history.