HISTORY MADE: NIKOLA JOKIC DROPS HISTORIC 56-POINT TRIPLE-DOUBLE TO SINK MINNESOTA TODAY
Nikola Jokic records the first 55/15/15 game in NBA history as the Nuggets win an OT thriller against the Timberwolves.
Nikola Jokic went OFF last night. He put up 56 points, grabbed 16 boards, and dished out 15 assists as the Nuggets came back from nine down in OT to beat the Timberwolves 142-138.
Apparently, no one in NBA history has EVER had a game with at least 55 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists before. Jokic also had the third-most points ever scored on Christmas Day. Only Bernard King (60 in '84) and Wilt Chamberlain (59 in '61) scored more!
It was a crazy game, Jokic said after, and it’s a little bit late, so it’s nice to finish off with a win.”
That was Jokic's 15th triple-double this year, bringing his career total to 179 in the regular season and 21 in the playoffs. Jamal Murray helped out big time with 35 points and 10 assists. The Nuggets needed that win after losing two of their last three.
Anthony Edwards was a beast for the Timberwolves, scoring 44 points, including 24 in the fourth and OT. But he got a technical foul late in OT. Julius Randle had 32 points, Jaden McDaniels added 21, and Rudy Gobert grabbed 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as Minnesota's three-game win streak came to an end.
Knicks 126, Cavaliers 124
Jalen Brunson nailed a clutch 3-pointer with just over a minute left to give the Knicks the lead as they rallied from 17 down in the fourth to beat Cleveland.
Brunson was on fire, scoring 13 of his 34 points late in the game. The Knicks pulled off their biggest comeback of the year. Jordan Clarkson (25 points) and Tyler Kolek (16 points, nine assists) came up big off the bench, while Karl-Anthony Towns put up a double-double (11 points, 14 rebounds).
Donovan Mitchell went for 34 for the Cavaliers, but those guys blew two double-digit leads and lost for the first time this season when leading after three quarters. Darius Garland had a double-double of his own (20 points, 10 assists), and Jaylon Tyson (16 points), Evan Mobley (14 points, nine rebounds in his return), and De’Andre Hunter (13 points) all scored in double figures as reserves.
Spurs 117, Thunder 102
De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points, and San Antonio handed the NBA champs, Oklahoma City, back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
The Spurs have now won eight straight (not counting the NBA Cup final loss to the Knicks) for their longest streak. The Thunder have lost five times this season, and two defeats were against San Antonio.
Victor Wembanyama, coming off the bench for the sixth game since returning from a calf injury, had 19 points and 11 rebounds in about 26 minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 22 points but struggled from the field (7-for-19). Isaiah Hartenstein had 13 points and 12 rebounds, but no one else on the Thunder really got going.
Warriors 126, Mavericks 116
Stephen Curry lost his scoring battle with Cooper Flagg in their first meeting, but he and Gary Payton II stopped a late rally as Golden State held off Dallas.
Curry scored 23. After the Mavericks got within 110-104 with about four minutes left, Payton threw down a dunk off a Draymond Green pass to grab momentum, and Curry hit an extra-long three to push the lead back to double digits.
Flagg had a game-high 27 points, and Brandon Williams added 26 for the Mavericks, who lost Anthony Davis after he hurt his groin early in the second quarter.
Rockets 119, Lakers 96
Amen Thompson had a game-high 26 points, and Kevin Durant added 25 as Houston never trailed against Los Angeles, ending the 2-4 road trip on a good note.
Jabari Smith Jr. scored 16 points, and Alperen Sengun added 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Rockets blasted a ten-point halftime lead into a big lead in the third. Luka Doncic paced the Lakers with 25 points and seven assists, while LeBron James had 18 points in his 19th Christmas Day game. Austin Reaves scored 12 in the first half but didn't play in the second after hurting his calf. And the Lakers got beaten badly on the boards (48-25).
KENDRICK BOURNE REVEALS THE STRICT DISCIPLINE THAT SPARKED THE PATRIOTS' TURNAROUND
Kendrick Bourne speaks out! Discover why he thinks Mike Vrabel is the right fit and why he’s eyeing a 2026 return to the 49ers.
Kendrick Bourne’s path through the NFL has zigzagged all over – some highs, plenty of lows, and now, another fresh start. He took a shot with the Patriots in 2025 after building his reputation with the 49ers. But honestly, that New England chapter ended before it even got going. Bourne didn’t just slip out the back door. He left with a lot to say about what he saw brewing in New England as Mike Vrabel took charge.
Once Vrabel arrived, you didn’t need to listen for rumours about a culture shift; it was obvious. Bourne noticed right away. He’s already got his eyes set on home, back with the 49ers, but even from a distance, he could see the Patriots were heading somewhere new long before their record showed it.
Talking about his exit from New England, Bourne didn’t sugarcoat anything. Losing the job itself wasn’t the hardest part. What stung was watching Vrabel put his stamp on the team, laying down the kind of structure and discipline Bourne knew would eventually pay off. He was blunt; things just felt different under Vrabel compared to before.
He put it like this: “After going through OTAs and camp with Vrabes, you just knew. Nothing against Mayo, but he just wasn’t ready. With Vrabes, the structure was totally different in how we studied, how we met, and just the whole vibe. Honestly, I was sad about it.”
This wasn’t just a guy being bitter. Bourne respected what was happening in New England and genuinely wished he could have been part of it, especially with a Super Bowl push on the horizon. He even admitted he’d wanted to be in that locker room when the Patriots finally made it back to the big stage.
Now he’s back with the 49ers, hoping to stick around. At 30, Bourne wants a new contract in San Francisco. He had a solid 2025, racked up 551 yards, picked up a contract bonus, and gave the offence a spark. The 49ers needed reliable hands, and Bourne delivered. He’s clear: he wants to stay, but only if the deal makes sense for him.
So now, the offseason gets interesting. Bourne knows where he fits best, but he’s still keeping an eye on what’s building in New England. That mix of looking back and chasing what’s next makes this part of his career one to pay attention to.
MRI SCARE: STEVE KERR ADMITS STEPH CURRY’S "NEBULOUS" KNEE MAY REQUIRE SECOND IMAGING
Warriors crisis! Discover why Steph Curry may need another MRI and how Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear shifts GSW to the play-in.
The Warriors have been scrambling since Jimmy Butler went down with that ACL tear. He’s done for the year, and now Stephen Curry has to carry the offence on his own.
Right after the All-Star break, the Warriors are sitting in eighth place out West. That’s already shaky, and now Curry’s dealing with a knee injury too. The team calls it runner's knee; basically, he just needs time to heal. But then Steve Kerr gave an update that didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Turns out, Curry might need another MRI. He tried to push through a full workout, but his knee just wasn’t right. Now, they’re waiting on imaging to figure out how long he’ll actually be out.
Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis still hasn’t suited up for Golden State. If Curry misses significant time, everyone else needs to step up in a big way. The Warriors already have one of the most average offences in the league, 15th at the break. No curry, and things get ugly fast. He’s already missed 16 games this season, and the team went 6-10 without him.
Losing Butler already knocked the Warriors out of serious contention. They’re pretty much locked into the play-in. Unless Curry suddenly goes supernova, it’s hard to see them catching the Thunder or making any real noise out West.
So, what’s next? The front office tried to swing big at the deadline, going after Giannis Antetokounmpo, though who knows if the Bucks ever really considered it. Giannis stayed put, but you can bet the Warriors will chase him again this summer.
If that doesn’t work, they’ll turn to other stars. They know the championship window is closing with Curry still on the roster. He’s still elite, but time’s ticking.
LeBron James even comes up as a possibility. If he declines his player option and hits free agency, maybe he’d team up with Curry for one last run at a ring.
Most likely, though, Golden State will look at trades instead of free agents to try to reload. Curry’s health isn’t what it used to be, and the Warriors know they have to make the most of whatever prime he’s got left.