Nikola Jokic turned a regular-season game into a piece of NBA history, and he did it in the most Jokic way possible: calm, ruthless, and completely in control. The Denver Nuggets star poured in 56 points with 16 rebounds and 15 assists, then authored an NBA-record 18 points in overtime to push Denver past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 142-138, in a Thursday night classic.

It wasn’t just a big night. It was a defining one. The Nuggets improved to 3-0 against Minnesota this season, and Jokic reached his 179th career triple-double by the third quarter. When the game got tight, he went up a level that only a handful of players in history even know exists.

Record night: Jokic owns overtime

Jokic’s 18 points in overtime set a new NBA mark, breaking Stephen Curry’s previous record of 17 from 2016. The way he did it was pure efficiency: 3-for-3 from the field, 2-for-2 from deep, and 10-for-11 at the line in the extra five minutes. Every touch had purpose. Every decision hurt the Wolves.

In a game that already featured big performances, Jokic’s closing act was the difference. Denver needed every bit of it to finish off a Minnesota team that refused to fade.

“Jokic just broke OT — 18 points? That’s video game stuff.”

How it swung: from a 15-point hole to bonus basketball

For a moment, it looked like Denver had slipped this one. Minnesota trailed by 15 late in regulation, but the Wolves put together a late push. Anthony Edwards, who was brilliant all night, drilled a deep three with 1.1 seconds left to tie the game at 126-126 and force overtime.

That shot flipped the pressure. The building felt different. But the extra period belonged to Jokic — and to Denver’s poise.

Jamal Murray rises as the co-star

Jamal Murray added 35 points and gave Denver the off-the-dribble punch that bends defenses. When he and Jokic are synced, the Nuggets’ two-man game is a puzzle few teams can solve. Murray’s shot-making helped Denver stay steady when the Wolves surged late, and it opened lanes for Jokic to punish mismatches in OT.

“When Murray cooks with Jokic, Denver looks unbeatable.”

Edwards goes for 44, then gets tossed

Anthony Edwards kept Minnesota alive with a game-high 44 points in regulation. He was relentless getting to his spots and fearless taking big shots, capped by that cold-blooded three to extend the night.

But overtime turned chippy, and Edwards was ejected, a swing that undercut the Wolves at the worst possible time. Without their top scorer, Minnesota couldn’t match Denver’s late-game calm or Jokic’s perfect reads.

Short-handed Nuggets show resolve

Denver’s win came with key pieces out. The Nuggets were without Cameron Johnson (right knee, Tuesday at Dallas), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), and Christian Braun (ankle). For a team already leaning on its stars, that’s a lot of rotation stability on the shelf. Yet the champs found answers anyway. Role players held the line long enough for Jokic and Murray to close the door.

“If Denver’s this good shorthanded, the West should worry.”

Overtime clinic: the Jokic blueprint

What does it look like when a superstar takes over without forcing the issue? It looks like this overtime. Jokic controlled pace, created contact, and picked the right shots. The numbers tell the story:

• 3-for-3 on field goals
• 2-for-2 from the three-point line
• 10-for-11 at the free-throw line
• NBA-record 18 points in a single overtime

It was patient, smart, and ruthless. Minnesota didn’t have a counter once Jokic got the angles he wanted. That’s how great players close.

Other notes and the bigger picture

According to the report, Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in 19 points in a game full of big lines. And in a sign of how quickly Jokic can stack numbers, he secured his 179th career triple-double by the third quarter. That’s a frightening pace in a contest this intense.

The Nuggets are now 3-0 against the Timberwolves this season, a quietly important note if these teams meet again in higher-stakes games. Denver’s composure late, and Minnesota’s rally to force OT, both read like a playoff preview: execution versus explosion. On this night, execution won.

What’s next: quick turnarounds

The schedule offers no rest. Denver heads to Orlando on Saturday, while Minnesota returns home to host the Brooklyn Nets the same night. For the Wolves, refocusing after an emotional loss is the task. For the Nuggets, carrying this short-handed toughness on the road is the mission.

Why it matters

Regular-season games in March and April can blend together. This one won’t. Jokic’s 56-point triple-double, capped by an NBA-record overtime, was a reminder that the best player on the floor still tilts everything. He didn’t just score; he solved problems in real time. He didn’t just set a record; he steadied his team when it could have slipped away.

There will be bigger stages ahead. But if you’re looking for a night that explains why Denver can trust its stars and its habits, circle this one. The Nuggets absorbed a haymaker, answered with history, and walked off with a win that will echo for a while.