Nikola Jokic Scores 61 Points in Epic Game, But Nuggets Fall in Double OT

Nikola Jokic delivered a jaw-dropping performance Tuesday night, scoring a career-high 61 points in a double-overtime thriller. Despite his heroics, the Denver Nuggets fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 140-139, in what can only be described as a basketball rollercoaster.

Jokic played nearly 53 minutes, showing superhuman endurance, but the game’s fate was sealed by Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s two clutch free throws with just 0.1 seconds remaining. Talk about drama! Denver's Russell Westbrook attempted a last-minute layup after stealing an inbound pass but missed, setting up Minnesota’s game-winning moment.

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards led his team with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Post-game, Edwards couldn’t help but gush about Jokic’s performance: "Nikola Jokic, bruh... oh my god, he might be the best basketball player I’ve ever seen close up. Besides myself, of course," he said with a grin.

Jokic wasn’t just scoring—he was everywhere. The reigning three-time MVP and seven-time All-Star racked up 10 rebounds and 10 assists, making him only the third player in NBA history to achieve a 60-point triple-double. For context, the other two? Luka Doncic in 2022 and James Harden in 2018. Elite company, to say the least.

The Nuggets coach Michael Malone summed it up perfectly: "The guy’s Superman. He’s on a whole other level. People say he’s not athletic, but I don’t see many guys doing what he does." Malone’s words feel like an understatement after witnessing Jokic’s magic on the court.

Despite Jokic’s historic night, the playoff race remains tight. The Nuggets currently hold the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference but are barely keeping ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Timberwolves. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have already locked in a playoff spot, leaving the rest to scramble for positioning.

With just a few games left in the regular season, every win—and heartbreaking loss like this one—could determine the postseason fate of these teams. As Jokic said after the game, "It was an exhausting game." No kidding.