The Timberwolves have recently done what they need to in defeating opposing teams that are undermanned. Entering Christmas, their previous two games were wins against the Knicks (minus Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby) and the Bucks (minus Giannis Antetokounmpo).
On Christmas, they faced a Nuggets team that had three starters out with injury. In the lineup, though, was Nikola Jokic, who gives his team a chance regardless of who is out, and that’s exactly what he did in Denver’s Christmas Day win.
Being shorthanded matters less when you have Nikola Jokic
Aaron Gordon has now missed 15 straight outings with a right hamstring strain. Christian Braun has been out for 19 in a row due to a left ankle strain. In the Nuggets’ game on Tuesday, Cameron Johnson suffered a bone bruise and hyperextended right knee, an injury that is expected to keep him sidelined 4-6 weeks.
Many teams would be far from their best without three starters in the lineup. Many teams also don’t roster three-time MVP Nikola Jokic on their team either, though.
It took an extra 5 minutes as the game went into overtime, but Denver defeated the Timberwolves 142-138. Jokic put together another masterclass performance, finishing with 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists. The Joker was incredibly efficient as well, shooting 15-for-21 from the field, 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 22-for-23 from the foul line.
Jokic’s 56 points are the third-most scored on Christmas Day, only behind Bernard King and Wilt Chamberlain. The 30-year-old had 38 at the end of regulation before scoring at will in the extra frame.
The Timberwolves were able to overcome a 15-point deficit with less than six minutes remaining. They scored the first nine points of overtime in a little over two minutes of game time. Denver didn’t have an empty possession for the rest of OT. In the final three minutes, Jokic made 2 3-pointers, a 2-pointer, and went 10-11 from the charity stripe for 18 points.
Nikola Jokic scores 5 straight to tie the game in OT 🃏 pic.twitter.com/HXhjqWm7v8
— NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) December 26, 2025
𝑵𝑬𝑾𝑺: Nikola Jokic just scored the most points (18) in OT in NBA history pic.twitter.com/iPzJww4k6g
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) December 26, 2025
There was plenty of star power in the five Christmas Day contests. Jokic showed why most consider him the best of them all. Just imagine what this game would have looked like if the Nuggets were at full strength.
Triple-double in all three games against Timberwolves this season
The Nuggets have already met up three times with the Timberwolves this season. Denver has won all three, and the first two came in Minnesota. Last year, it was the opposite story as the Wolves won all four regular season games against the Nuggets.
The Joker has recorded a triple-double in all three outings against the Wolves. Against Minnesota this year, Jokic is averaging 36 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 12 assists with shooting splits of 69.6/58.3/97.4.
Anthony Edwards had an excellent performance with 44 points, the most a Timberwolves player has ever scored on Christmas. Unfortunately, he was ejected late in overtime after receiving two technicals. There’s no shame in being seen as the second-best player of a game when the best is arguably the best offensive center of all-time.
The bigger picture is, though, that this is the best version of the Nuggets we've seen, and the Wolves will have trouble having success against them as they've had in the past.