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Nikola Jokic’s historic Christmas game set NBA records and had Charles Barkely groveling

Nikola Jokic’s historic Christmas game set NBA records and had Charles Barkely groveling

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Nikola Jokic was locked in from the opening tip of the 2025 NBA Christmas day finale between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Jokic ripped a three-pointer on Denver’s first possession en route to an 18-point first quarter with the Nuggets missing three starters with injuries. From there, the 30-year-old big man spent most of his time hitting the glass, getting his teammates involved, and consistently forcing his way to the free throw line to slow down Minnesota’s running attack.

It felt like the Nuggets were on their way to a comfortable victory with a 15-point lead with under six minutes remaining in regulation. That’s when the Timberwolves’ offense roared back to form, tying the game on a nasty Anthony Edwards step-back three from the corner at the end of regulation. Jokic needed to go to work for five more minutes, and he made sure he team wasn’t leaving a Christmas game with coal in the extra session.

The Nuggets beat the Wolves, 142-138, in overtime thanks to a historic performance from Jokic that again makes him the MVP front-runner and asserts his place among the game’s all-time greats. Jokic finished with 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists, setting multiple NBA records in the process:

The Nuggets were without starters Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, and Christian Braun, but Jokic wouldn’t let them lose. The Wolves ended Denver’s dreams of back-to-back championships in the 2024 playoffs, and this remains one of the best rivalries in the league. Edwards (44 points) and Julius Randle (32 points) were outstanding for Minnesota, but Jokic consistently beat Rudy Gobert inside and delivered his team an incredible win.

There are so many incredible stats from Jokic’s Christmas day masterpiece. Let’s go over a few of them.

ESPN commentator Charles Barkley was in awe of Jokic during the game:

On a day when the Thunder lost to the Spurs for the third time this season, it feels like Jokic passed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the NBA MVP race. Jokic already has three MVP awards, and he would pass Magic Johnson and Larry Bird while tying LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain if he wins his fourth.

Beyond that, this performance is just another reminder that Jokic is an all-time great. Any list of the best big men in NBA history has to include Jokic alongside Shaq, Wilt, Bill Russell, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Jokic only has one championship ring so far, but this is the sixth straight season he’s been the best player in the world. It’s already one of the longest runs of dominance ever, and he isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Jokic was famously drafted during the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft as ESPN was playing a Taco Bell commercial. Denver gave away Taco Bell shirts ahead of the Christmas game, and Jokic arrived wearing a Taco Bell cardigan:

Jokic is greatness personified. Appreciate an all-time NBA player at his peak while you can.

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Deadspin | Giants, Phillies to play Thursday doubleheader after postponement Jun 21, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Tarp covers the infield during rain delay before start of game Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Wednesday’s scheduled game between the San Francisco Giants and Phillies in Philadelphia has been postponed due to inclement weather in the forecast. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Thursday. The first game is slated to begin at 12:35 p.m. ET, with the nightcap scheduled for 5:35 p.m. Right-handers Adrian Houser (0-3, 7.36 ERA) of San Francisco and Andrew Painter (1-2, 5.25) of Philadelphia are set to start the first game. The starting pitchers for the nightcap have yet to be announced. In Tuesday’s series opener, the Phillies shut out the Giants, 7-0, behind seven sharp innings from Jesus Luzardo (2-3), who allowed two hits and struck out eight in Don Mattingy’s debut as interim manager after the firing of Rob Thomson. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Giants #Phillies #play #Thursday #doubleheader #postponementJun 21, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Tarp covers the infield during rain delay before start of game Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Wednesday’s scheduled game between the San Francisco Giants and Phillies in Philadelphia has been postponed due to inclement weather in the forecast.

The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Thursday. The first game is slated to begin at 12:35 p.m. ET, with the nightcap scheduled for 5:35 p.m.


Right-handers Adrian Houser (0-3, 7.36 ERA) of San Francisco and Andrew Painter (1-2, 5.25) of Philadelphia are set to start the first game. The starting pitchers for the nightcap have yet to be announced.

In Tuesday’s series opener, the Phillies shut out the Giants, 7-0, behind seven sharp innings from Jesus Luzardo (2-3), who allowed two hits and struck out eight in Don Mattingy’s debut as interim manager after the firing of Rob Thomson.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Giants #Phillies #play #Thursday #doubleheader #postponement">Deadspin | Giants, Phillies to play Thursday doubleheader after postponement Jun 21, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Tarp covers the infield during rain delay before start of game Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Wednesday’s scheduled game between the San Francisco Giants and Phillies in Philadelphia has been postponed due to inclement weather in the forecast. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Thursday. The first game is slated to begin at 12:35 p.m. ET, with the nightcap scheduled for 5:35 p.m. Right-handers Adrian Houser (0-3, 7.36 ERA) of San Francisco and Andrew Painter (1-2, 5.25) of Philadelphia are set to start the first game. The starting pitchers for the nightcap have yet to be announced. In Tuesday’s series opener, the Phillies shut out the Giants, 7-0, behind seven sharp innings from Jesus Luzardo (2-3), who allowed two hits and struck out eight in Don Mattingy’s debut as interim manager after the firing of Rob Thomson. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Giants #Phillies #play #Thursday #doubleheader #postponement

Deadspin | Andrea Pavan ‘optimistic’ of tour return after elevator fall Jun 12, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; Andrea Pavan watches on the 14th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Italian golfer Andrea Pavan is hopeful he can return to the DP World Tour after finishing recovery from his three-story fall down an elevator shaft in late February. Pavan, 37, sustained severe shoulder and multiple vertebrae fractures in the incident, which occurred at his private accommodation in Stellenbosch, South Africa, before he was set to compete in the South African Open. “I walked back towards the elevator, I opened the door — one of those doors that get into the apartment straight away — and by the time I realized the lift wasn’t there I’d already taken a step,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live, recalling the incident. “The next thing I know I’m just at the bottom of the elevator, luckily not unconscious but in a lot of pain and screaming for help. Somebody heard and I was somehow able to get my phone out and call my caddie, who was in the car. From then on it was just trying to survive the pain and waiting for the ambulance and all the firefighters who got me out.” As he recovers at home after undergoing surgery in South Africa, Pavan is optimistic he hasn’t played the last professional tournament of his career, although he doesn’t yet have a clear timeline to return. “It’s hard to say a precise goal, there’s more like steps,” Pavan said. “Around three months, we’ll see how well the bone has healed. Around six months, it’s about where complete bone healing happens and we’ll see how the joint is moving by then. “It depends on if there are other tissues that were damaged if I need a second surgery. And there’s the possibility of necrosis when the blood flow is not sufficient for the bones. There is that risk, but so far it seems like things are positive enough. “The shoulder is a very demanding joint. Hopefully it’s a little less than a year that I can play with a full swing but it’s just so new and such a big injury, there (are) just a lot of unknowns. But I’m hopeful and the only thing I can do is to try and improve and take it day by day.” Pavan has won twice on the DP World Tour, with his most recent championship on tour coming in the 2019 BMW International Open. His last overall win came at the Challenge Tour’s D+D Real Czech Challenge in 2023. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Andrea #Pavan #optimistic #tour #return #elevator #fallJun 12, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; Andrea Pavan watches on the 14th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Italian golfer Andrea Pavan is hopeful he can return to the DP World Tour after finishing recovery from his three-story fall down an elevator shaft in late February.

Pavan, 37, sustained severe shoulder and multiple vertebrae fractures in the incident, which occurred at his private accommodation in Stellenbosch, South Africa, before he was set to compete in the South African Open.

“I walked back towards the elevator, I opened the door — one of those doors that get into the apartment straight away — and by the time I realized the lift wasn’t there I’d already taken a step,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live, recalling the incident.

“The next thing I know I’m just at the bottom of the elevator, luckily not unconscious but in a lot of pain and screaming for help. Somebody heard and I was somehow able to get my phone out and call my caddie, who was in the car. From then on it was just trying to survive the pain and waiting for the ambulance and all the firefighters who got me out.”


As he recovers at home after undergoing surgery in South Africa, Pavan is optimistic he hasn’t played the last professional tournament of his career, although he doesn’t yet have a clear timeline to return.

“It’s hard to say a precise goal, there’s more like steps,” Pavan said. “Around three months, we’ll see how well the bone has healed. Around six months, it’s about where complete bone healing happens and we’ll see how the joint is moving by then.

“It depends on if there are other tissues that were damaged if I need a second surgery. And there’s the possibility of necrosis when the blood flow is not sufficient for the bones. There is that risk, but so far it seems like things are positive enough.

“The shoulder is a very demanding joint. Hopefully it’s a little less than a year that I can play with a full swing but it’s just so new and such a big injury, there (are) just a lot of unknowns. But I’m hopeful and the only thing I can do is to try and improve and take it day by day.”

Pavan has won twice on the DP World Tour, with his most recent championship on tour coming in the 2019 BMW International Open. His last overall win came at the Challenge Tour’s D+D Real Czech Challenge in 2023.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Andrea #Pavan #optimistic #tour #return #elevator #fall">Deadspin | Andrea Pavan ‘optimistic’ of tour return after elevator fall Jun 12, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; Andrea Pavan watches on the 14th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Italian golfer Andrea Pavan is hopeful he can return to the DP World Tour after finishing recovery from his three-story fall down an elevator shaft in late February. Pavan, 37, sustained severe shoulder and multiple vertebrae fractures in the incident, which occurred at his private accommodation in Stellenbosch, South Africa, before he was set to compete in the South African Open. “I walked back towards the elevator, I opened the door — one of those doors that get into the apartment straight away — and by the time I realized the lift wasn’t there I’d already taken a step,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live, recalling the incident. “The next thing I know I’m just at the bottom of the elevator, luckily not unconscious but in a lot of pain and screaming for help. Somebody heard and I was somehow able to get my phone out and call my caddie, who was in the car. From then on it was just trying to survive the pain and waiting for the ambulance and all the firefighters who got me out.” As he recovers at home after undergoing surgery in South Africa, Pavan is optimistic he hasn’t played the last professional tournament of his career, although he doesn’t yet have a clear timeline to return. “It’s hard to say a precise goal, there’s more like steps,” Pavan said. “Around three months, we’ll see how well the bone has healed. Around six months, it’s about where complete bone healing happens and we’ll see how the joint is moving by then. “It depends on if there are other tissues that were damaged if I need a second surgery. And there’s the possibility of necrosis when the blood flow is not sufficient for the bones. There is that risk, but so far it seems like things are positive enough. “The shoulder is a very demanding joint. Hopefully it’s a little less than a year that I can play with a full swing but it’s just so new and such a big injury, there (are) just a lot of unknowns. But I’m hopeful and the only thing I can do is to try and improve and take it day by day.” Pavan has won twice on the DP World Tour, with his most recent championship on tour coming in the 2019 BMW International Open. His last overall win came at the Challenge Tour’s D+D Real Czech Challenge in 2023. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Andrea #Pavan #optimistic #tour #return #elevator #fall

Deadspin | Call it a comeback? Deshaun Watson reportedly leading Browns’ QB competition Quarterbacks Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel practice together at the Browns mini camp in Berea on April 21, 2026. A competition to be the QB1 in Cleveland has a comeback candidate in the lead, according to the Plain Dealer. Deshaun Watson currently is ahead of Shedeur Sanders in an ongoing competition under first-year head coach Todd Monken, per the report. Watson, 30, emerged from the first minicamp of Monken’s tenure with a grasp on the starting spot but Monken did not make an official announcement or declare a “leader” at this stage of the offseason. Monken said he hopes to have a better read on the QB pecking order by the end of the June 9-11 minicamp, a final on-field team session prior to July training camp. Watson did not play last season while recovering from an Achilles injury and two corrective surgeries. His health issues have been one of the few constants during Watson’s time with the Browns, who acquired him from the Houston Texans in a 2022 trade. In three seasons in Cleveland, Watson has never started more than seven games. He has produced 19 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions while being sacked 70 times in 19 total games. Sanders has been upbeat in his first full offseason as a pro after Monken was positive about how he felt about the former Colorado quarterback during pre-draft evaluations before the 2025 draft. The Browns, then coached by Kevin Stefanski, selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round before taking Sanders two rounds later. Sanders had seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions and was sacked 23 times in 2025. He was given a shot as the starter after Joe Flacco was benched (and traded to the Cincinnati Bengals) and Gabriel took over. The Browns drafted another quarterback — former Boise State and Arkansas passer Taylen Green — with the 182nd overall pick last week. Green is viewed as a developmental prospect posing no immediate threat to the competition to start in 2026, but his tools are intriguing. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Green wowed at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.36 40-yard dash and a 43.5-inch vertical jump. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Call #comeback #Deshaun #Watson #reportedly #leading #Browns #competitionQuarterbacks Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel practice together at the Browns mini camp in Berea on April 21, 2026.

A competition to be the QB1 in Cleveland has a comeback candidate in the lead, according to the Plain Dealer.

Deshaun Watson currently is ahead of Shedeur Sanders in an ongoing competition under first-year head coach Todd Monken, per the report.

Watson, 30, emerged from the first minicamp of Monken’s tenure with a grasp on the starting spot but Monken did not make an official announcement or declare a “leader” at this stage of the offseason. Monken said he hopes to have a better read on the QB pecking order by the end of the June 9-11 minicamp, a final on-field team session prior to July training camp.

Watson did not play last season while recovering from an Achilles injury and two corrective surgeries. His health issues have been one of the few constants during Watson’s time with the Browns, who acquired him from the Houston Texans in a 2022 trade.


In three seasons in Cleveland, Watson has never started more than seven games. He has produced 19 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions while being sacked 70 times in 19 total games.

Sanders has been upbeat in his first full offseason as a pro after Monken was positive about how he felt about the former Colorado quarterback during pre-draft evaluations before the 2025 draft. The Browns, then coached by Kevin Stefanski, selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round before taking Sanders two rounds later.

Sanders had seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions and was sacked 23 times in 2025. He was given a shot as the starter after Joe Flacco was benched (and traded to the Cincinnati Bengals) and Gabriel took over.

The Browns drafted another quarterback — former Boise State and Arkansas passer Taylen Green — with the 182nd overall pick last week. Green is viewed as a developmental prospect posing no immediate threat to the competition to start in 2026, but his tools are intriguing. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Green wowed at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.36 40-yard dash and a 43.5-inch vertical jump.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Call #comeback #Deshaun #Watson #reportedly #leading #Browns #competition">Deadspin | Call it a comeback? Deshaun Watson reportedly leading Browns’ QB competition Quarterbacks Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel practice together at the Browns mini camp in Berea on April 21, 2026. A competition to be the QB1 in Cleveland has a comeback candidate in the lead, according to the Plain Dealer. Deshaun Watson currently is ahead of Shedeur Sanders in an ongoing competition under first-year head coach Todd Monken, per the report. Watson, 30, emerged from the first minicamp of Monken’s tenure with a grasp on the starting spot but Monken did not make an official announcement or declare a “leader” at this stage of the offseason. Monken said he hopes to have a better read on the QB pecking order by the end of the June 9-11 minicamp, a final on-field team session prior to July training camp. Watson did not play last season while recovering from an Achilles injury and two corrective surgeries. His health issues have been one of the few constants during Watson’s time with the Browns, who acquired him from the Houston Texans in a 2022 trade. In three seasons in Cleveland, Watson has never started more than seven games. He has produced 19 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions while being sacked 70 times in 19 total games. Sanders has been upbeat in his first full offseason as a pro after Monken was positive about how he felt about the former Colorado quarterback during pre-draft evaluations before the 2025 draft. The Browns, then coached by Kevin Stefanski, selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round before taking Sanders two rounds later. Sanders had seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions and was sacked 23 times in 2025. He was given a shot as the starter after Joe Flacco was benched (and traded to the Cincinnati Bengals) and Gabriel took over. The Browns drafted another quarterback — former Boise State and Arkansas passer Taylen Green — with the 182nd overall pick last week. Green is viewed as a developmental prospect posing no immediate threat to the competition to start in 2026, but his tools are intriguing. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Green wowed at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.36 40-yard dash and a 43.5-inch vertical jump. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Call #comeback #Deshaun #Watson #reportedly #leading #Browns #competition

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