Christmas Day basketball always brings the drama, and this year’s showdown between the Timberwolves and Nuggets gave us a little bit of everything - historic performances, overtime tension, and even a subtle moment that had fans hitting replay long after the final buzzer.
Let’s set the scene: December 25, 2025. Overtime.
The Timberwolves had clawed their way back from a deep deficit, forcing extra minutes against a Denver team still reeling from a recent setback - Cam Johnson sidelined with a right knee bone bruise following a tough loss to Dallas. Emotions were running high, and that’s when the cameras caught a moment that perfectly captured the edge of this matchup.
As Nikola Jokić stepped to the line for a free throw, Anthony Edwards casually walked by and gave him a light slap on the hands - just enough to register, not enough to draw a whistle. Then Edwards strolled off like nothing happened.
It was a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, but it spoke volumes. The game was tight, the pressure was mounting, and Edwards was clearly trying to disrupt Jokić’s rhythm, even if only for a second.
But Jokić didn’t flinch. He stayed locked in, calmly sank the free throw, and carried on like a two-time MVP should. That moment - subtle gamesmanship met with unshakable poise - quickly made the rounds online, becoming a viral snapshot of a game that was already loaded with storylines.
And those storylines? They were massive.
Jokić didn’t just brush off the Edwards slap - he put on one of the most dominant performances in league history. He opened the scoring with a rare step-back three from the corner, then went to work in the paint, on the glass, and as a facilitator. By the end of the first quarter, he had 18 points, and the Nuggets held a slim 32-29 lead.
The game itself was a rollercoaster. Minnesota surged in the second quarter, Denver answered late, and the two teams traded momentum like it was a playoff series.
But Jokić never wavered. He finished with an absurd 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists - the first 50-15-15 game in NBA history, according to league records.
That’s not just a stat line; that’s a legacy moment.
On the other side, Edwards was every bit the rising star, dropping 44 points and hitting the clutch three that sent the game to overtime. His night ended with an ejection, but not before he made his presence felt on both ends of the floor - and, apparently, at the free-throw line too.
The Nuggets ultimately pulled out a 142-138 win at home, surviving some sloppy stretches and securing a hard-fought victory before heading out on a grueling seven-game road trip. It wasn’t pretty at times, but it was gritty, and it was led by a player who continues to redefine what greatness looks like on the court.
Christmas games are supposed to be memorable. This one delivered - not just for the fireworks on the stat sheet, but for the small, human moments that remind us how much the game is played between the ears.
Edwards tried to rattle the MVP. Jokić didn’t blink.
And the Nuggets walked away with the win.