Nikola Jokić put together a dominant first-half performance during the Denver Nuggets’ clash with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
Jokić recorded 23 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two blocks while shooting 8-of-10 from the field through two quarters. The Nuggets held a 57-55 advantage at halftime.
For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting while picking up three steals at the half.
Fans were particularly impressed with the performance from Jokić.
Neither team was able to gain much separation in the first half, as the Nuggets held the largest lead of the first two quarters at nine points before the Timberwolves quickly responded with a 17-0 run.
Thursday’s contest contained playoff implications, as both teams have met in the postseason during two of the prior three years.
The Nuggets already won their first two games against the Timberwolves to open their 2025-26 campaign, meaning that a victory on Christmas Day would allow them to clinch the season series and give them a tiebreaker as they battle in the Western Conference standings.
Denver sat at 21-8 heading into Thursday’s clash, while Minnesota owned a 20-10 record.