Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic fell a career high 61 points against Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night, but it was all for nothing.
Minnesota got the best of Denver 140-139 on double overtime.
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Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic, #15, shoots to a basket over the Minnesota Timberwolves Center Rudy Gobert, #27, in the first half of a NBA basketball match on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Jokic played almost 53 minutes, but it was Nickeil Alexander-Walkers two free kicks with 0.1 seconds left in the game pushing Timberwolves over nuggets in the last moments of the game.
Russell Westbrook stole an in-depth care from Minnesota, but missed a rushed lay-up that would have set up Denver three points. Minnesota got the ball to Alexander-Walker in the corner, and Westbrook set out for a shot.
Anthony Edwards led Timberwolves with 34 points.
“It could have been the best game of my life that I’ve been a part of,” Edwards told journalists via the Star Tribune. “Nikola Jokic, Bruh, oh my God, he is perhaps the best basketball I’ve ever looked close to. Besides for myself. Bro, he is incredible. The MVP race is hard, man. I don’t know. He had 60. It’s crazy.”
Edwards were 12-of-to-25 off the field and had five 3-Pointers. He also had 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Minnesota Timberwolves-Guard Anthony Edwards, #5, responds when Guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker hits a free throw to seal a win over Denver Nuggets in the second overtime in a NBA basketball match on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
However, it was Jokic who stole the show.
The three-time MVP and seven-time all-star added 10 rebounds and 10 assists to his ridiculous state line. He had the third 60-point triple-double in the NBA story that followed in Luka Doncic’s footsteps in 2022 and James Harden in 2018.
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“The guy’s superman,” said Nuggets -trainer Malone. “He is on a completely different level, man. People say he is not athletic, but not many guys can do what he does.”
It was the second time this season Jokic put a career-best brand for points. He had 56 points against Washington Wizards back on December 7th. He said after the game he was just “tired.”
“It was an exhausting game.”
Exhausting, but the playoff run becomes tight.
Oklahoma City Thunder has already got a playoff place with the best record in the NBA so far. After the thunder, the difference between No. 2 seeds and No. 8 seeds in the West, however, is only six wins.
Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic, #15, seems to pass the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves Center Rudy Gobert, #27, defender in the second half of a NBA basketball match on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Timberwolves sit in the seventh with a 44-32 record and tied with Memphis Grizzlies. They are only half a game behind the Golden State Warriors for the fifth seed and 2.5 games behind Los Angeles Lakers to No. 4 Seeds.
Nuggets have # 3 seeds right now, but are two matches behind the Houston Rockets for No. 2 seed and only 1.5 games up on lakers.
Los Angeles Clippers is 43-32 and sits in No. 8 seeds.
No. 7-10 seeds compete in the play-in tournament.
