Nikola Jokic breaks Steph Curry's record with 18 points in OT and Nuggets set mark with 27 OT points

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic's magnitude is matched only by his modesty.

“I mean, I had a good game,” Denver's superstar center said in his typical understated fashion after setting an NBA record by scoring 18 points in overtime, leading the Nuggets past Minnesota 142-138 on Thursday night.

Those 18 points came in the final 2:53 of overtime, no less, and Jokic finished with 56 points along with 16 rebounds and 15 assists for his 179th career triple-double.

No player in NBA history ever had a 55-15-15 triple-double before Jokic's masterpiece capped the league's five-game Christmas Day slate.

Every bit of it was necessary for the short-handed Nuggets, playing without three opening night starters, to overcome a 44-point performance by Anthony Edwards, who sent the game to overtime with a twisting 3-pointer from the left corner with a second to go in regulation.

Edwards scored 11 points in OT but picked up two technical fouls in the final minute, one for knocking the ball out of Jokic's hands on a dead ball following a basket.

Edwards scored seven quick points at the start of overtime as the Wolves used a 9-0 run to take a 124-115 lead and silence the sell-out crowd at Ball Arena.

The Nuggets looked cooked. And coach David Adelman called timeout with 2:59 remaining.

That's when Jokic took over.

The Nuggets' 27 points from that point on set an NBA record for most points scored in a five-minute overtime, and it started with a 3-pointer from Jokic at the 2:53 mark.

Jamal Murray, who added 35 points, blocked Rudy Gobert's putback and dished to Tim Hardaway for a 3. After Julius Randle made two free throws, Jokic hit another 3-pointer, then tied it 126-all with a floating jump shot with 1:26 remaining.

Over the final 56 seconds, Jokic made 10 of 11 free throws, giving him 18 points in the extra period, breaking Steph Curry's record of 17 points in a single overtime set in 2016.

“The best player in the world,” Adelman marveled, rattling off what he called a “crazy stat line” and terrific efficiency by Jokic, who made 15 of 21 shots, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, sank 22 of 23 free throws and had a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

“I'll just keep saying: Don't get tired of this," Adelman said. "He's the best player in the world, just the bottom line. And what he does nightly it's important to the game of basketball. It's good for sports — it's good for his head coach.”

The Nuggets certainly are accustomed to historic performances from their Serbian superstar and three-time MVP.

Told that Jokic broke Curry's individual record of 17 points in an overtime, Murray said, "Seems about right.”

With the Wolves so focused on Jokic, Murray shot a career-high 18 3-pointers and sank half of them, including a key 3 in overtime when he was being guarded by Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.

“Yeah, I just told the bench I was going to shoot a pull-up because of the way they were guarding Jokic,” Murray said. “The way he was scoring, they were so focused on him. I don't think I shot for most of the fourth and overtime.”

The Nuggets are accustomed to Jokic's superlative performances, but this one stood out given that Denver blew a late 15-point late lead in regulation and fell behind by nine in overtime.

Edwards scored seven of those points and finished with 44 before his ejection for picking up two quick technical fouls in overtime as the Nuggets closed on a 27-14 spurt.

“They're gonna show this game 20 years from now, I'll crack open a beer and watch it," Adelman said. “There's other ones that I flip on NBA TV and I immediately turn the channel. So, this was one of those crazy NBA games with two really good teams, top-tier teams, so just proud that we found a way.”

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić reacts after he was called for a foul against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, right, drives to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, front, flips a loose ball as Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert defends in overtime of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, back, looks to pass the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards defends in overtime of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Mohamed Salah scored again on Friday as Egypt's 10 men held on to beat South Africa 1-0 to reach the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah, who secured the Pharaohs’ opening win with a stoppage-time strike against Zimbabwe on Monday, did it again in Agadir and his penalty before the break secured progression from Group B.

But South Africa should arguably have been given a penalty in stoppage time when Yasser Ibrahim blocked a shot with his arm. After a long delay, the referee decided against awarding the spot kick after consulting video replays and Ibrahim sank to the ground in relief.

“We didn’t have much luck. We also had several refereeing decisions go against us,” South Africa coach Hugo Broos said.

Salah converted his penalty after he was struck in the face by the hand of the retreating South Africa forward Lyle Foster. Salah showed no ill effects from the blow and sent his shot straight down the middle while goalkeeper Ronwen Williams dived to his right.

There was still time before the break for Egypt defender Mohamed Hany to get sent off, after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Teboho Mokoena.

Goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy was Egypt’s key player in the second half.

“We gave our all in this match right until the end, and we also hope for the best for what comes next,” the 37-year-old El Shenawy said.

Earlier, Angola and Zimbabwe drew 1-1 in the other group game, a result that suited neither side after opening losses.

Egypt leads with 6 points from two games followed by South Africa on 3. Angola and Zimbabwe have a point each. The top two progress from each group, along with the best third-place finishers.

Host nation Morocco will look for a win over Mali in Rabat later, after Zambia plays Comoros in Group A.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Players gather around the referee Pacifique Ndabihawenimana while a penalty kick check is being conducted during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Egypt and South Africa in Agadir, Morocco, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Egypt's goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhy clears the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Egypt and South Africa in Agadir, Morocco, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Egypt players celebrate after Egypt's Mohamed Salah scores during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Egypt and South Africa in Agadir, Morocco, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Egypt's Mohamed Salah in action during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Egypt and South Africa in Agadir, Morocco, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)