Nikola Jokic will remain sidelined for an extended period due to injury. This is a rare sight for fans of the Serbian superstar, given his remarkable durability throughout his career. However, the reality remains that we still face several weeks of Jokic-less basketball. To help pass the time, we can reflect on some of the greatest accomplishments of his career. Considering he delivered a historic Christmas Day performance with a 56-point triple-double against the Timberwolves, the moment presents the perfect opportunity to make an interesting comparison. After all, the most absurd part isn’t that he put up such outrageous numbers on one of the NBA’s biggest stages, but that he has actually done it before. That was also against the very same Minnesota Timberwolves. The only difference is that it wasn’t a 56-point triple-double, but actually a 61-point triple-double.
Jokic’s 61-Point Loss Vs His 56-Point Win Against Minnesota
To be honest, the Nuggets’ Christmas Day matchup was underwhelming when it was announced. Too much familiarity can breed boredom. Between two playoff series in three years and the four annual meetings, a Denver-Minnesota showdown for Christmas felt like more of the same. However, what looked like an underwhelming matchup turned into an instant classic.
The Timberwolves gave Nuggets fans a haunting sense of déjà vu by clawing back from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit. Anthony Edwards was nothing short of spectacular, pouring in 44 points and hitting an incredible three that forced the game to go into overtime. On any other night, a performance like that would have dominated the headlines. Then Nikola Jokic happened. The Serbian answered with a historic 56-point, 16-rebound, 15-assist masterpiece, capped off by a clinical 18-point overtime explosion to seal the Nuggets’ win.
Looking Beyond The Final Score
On the surface, picking the most recent performance as the superior one would seem obvious. Not only was it the bigger stage, with it being a Christmas Day matchup, but the Nuggets got the win. The difference between 56 and 61 points is somewhat negligible, especially when considering that the lesser amount of points was accompanied by putting up a monstrous 15 assists and 16 rebounds compared to “only” 10 in each category in their April 2024 match.
However, dig deeper, and the case for his 61-point triple-double grows even stronger, despite the heartbreaking loss. The context surrounding that game—particularly the tragic ending, where back-to-back mind-boggling plays from Russell Westbrook turned a nearly secure victory into defeat—showcased the Serbian’s ability to perform at an almost unprecedented level just to keep the Nuggets alive. It was one of the most jaw-dropping performances in NBA history. It was a superstar nearly willing his team to victory through his sheer greatness alone.
That double-overtime battle didn’t just showcase his incredible offensive dominance. It also featured stretches of impressive defensive effort and a display of athletic endurance that doesn’t get emphasized enough. It’s already rare to watch any player stay on the floor through an entire second half and two overtimes without a single breather, especially in the regular season. For a center to do so should be unfathomable, particularly while serving as his team’s primary offensive creator.
Circumstances Surrounding The Matchups
It’s also important to consider the circumstances surrounding both performances. One of the season’s biggest storylines is Denver’s dramatically improved depth. Their offseason additions and internal development allow them to survive an injury-riddled year. That was something that simply wasn’t possible a season ago.
In the 2025 Christmas game, the Nuggets played without their defensive anchors, Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon. In the April 2024 matchup, however, they missed their two best scoring options, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. The difference this season is that Denver managed to soften the defensive drop-off with strong contributions from Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones. Even now, this roster still cannot replace Murray’s offensive production. Also, last year, Watson was nowhere near the offensive player he has proven to be this season. Add in the fact that the Nuggets were in free fall and desperately needed a win to avoid sliding into the play-in positions, and the pressure surrounding that game was far greater.
Some of the lineups Malone deployed in that April game had 90s-level spacing. Lineups featuring Westbrook, DeAndre Jordan, and a still offensively raw Watson allowed Rudy Gobert to be an absolute disruptor. He completely shut down the Nuggets’ offense whenever Jokic was not on the floor.
Which Jokic Triple-Double Was Better?
The Christmas Day 56-point triple-double will probably be the one that goes down in history. It will be remembered more fondly, since it was a statement win on the NBA’s biggest regular-season stage. Despite that, the 61-point triple-double still edges it out. As great as the Christmas performance was, Jokic’s defense wasn’t quite as sharp as it had been in the April game—surprising, especially considering he didn’t need to carry the entire offensive load with Murray playing so brilliantly that night.
The 61-point triple-double showed how far an MVP-caliber player can carry a roster that had no business competing with that Timberwolves team. It should have been enough for a win if it were not for some baffling plays down the stretch.
In the end, he delivered two breathtaking performances, adding to an already long list. We can’t wait for him to return so we can enjoy watching him play again.
Featured Image: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images