Serbian center Nikola Jokić was once again the key figure in Denver’s victory over Minnesota, 123–112. He recorded another triple-double performance, even on a night that wasn’t one of his most dominant.
Jokić, true, did not score 55 points, but he once again proved his versatility. He finished the game with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, thus securing his seventh triple-double of the season.
His contribution, along with excellent roles from Tim Hardaway Jr. and Aaron Gordon, was crucial for the Nuggets’ second win over the Timberwolves in a short span. The only blemish on his game were six turnovers.
The game unfolded in runs for both teams. Denver, thanks to its zone defense and Jokić’s playmaking, gained an early 12-point lead (17–5). The Nuggets maintained a double-digit advantage until the late stages of the first quarter, when Julius Randle sparked Minnesota, which managed to turn the score around by the end of the period (31–29).
Joker'd 🃏 pic.twitter.com/WrWwgkVH6I
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 16, 2025
The second quarter brought a balanced battle with teams exchanging the lead. Coach David Adelman tried pairing Jonas Valančiūnas with Jokić, but it did not yield a significant advantage. The Timberwolves once again played the closing minutes better and went into halftime with a five-point lead (60–55).
When it seemed Minnesota was taking control, Tim Hardaway Jr. stepped up. The former Dallas player scored 13 points in the third quarter while Jokić was on the bench, completely shifting the momentum and restoring the lead to Denver (87–86).
P-Wat, now leaving the paint 🛫 pic.twitter.com/vFsmX1zu4L
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 16, 2025
In the final period, Denver delivered the decisive blow. Returning to zone defense and with an energized Jokić—who scored without forcing and distributed assists—the Nuggets sealed the game. Anthony Edwards’ attempt to bring back suspense with five straight points failed, as Jokić and Gordon had answers to every Timberwolves attack.
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Source: Sportal Foto: Foto Imagn Images, ddp USA