The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves gave the NBA world a massive Christmas gift this year in the form of one of the most thrilling games of the season, and Denver star Nikola Jokic gave more than anyone else. 

Denver and Minnesota battled it out for four full quarters and then some in a tight overtime game that ended in a 142-138 victory for the Nuggets that was carried on the back of massive performances by Jamal Murray and, especially Jokic. 

The three-time MVP turned in the performance of the season with a 56 point, 16 rebound and 15 assist triple-double, the first player in league history to score 55 or more points and recording 15 or more rebounds and assists, while shooting 15-21 from the field and knocking down 22 of his game-leading 23 free throw attempts. 

Those numbers are astronomical by themselves, but the way that Jokic came alive in overtime was historic. 

With his 18 points in the extra quarter, Jokic set an NBA record for the most points scored in a single overtime period, eclipsing Steph Curry's previously-reigning mark of 17. Jokic thrived in the chaos and nearly singlehandedly took home the win for Denver, scoring well over half the team's overtime points. 

The Nuggets held the advantage all game and when they entered the fourth quarter with a 92-78 lead, it looked like their holiday was well in hand. That was until the Anthony Edwards-led Timberwolves surged back with 37 point fourth quarter to close the distance and force the game into overtime. 

While Edwards was putting on a stellar performance of his own and turned in a 44 point performance, he was simply no match for Jokic's dominance in the battle of the stars. 

Jokic has long been hailed as one of the NBA's best players, if not the best player in the world, and performances like the one he turned in on Thursday are clear evidence why. His unprecedented mix of scoring, physicality and play-making at his position have made him an elite talent that there has truly been no answer for. 

On top of his overwhelming skillset, Jokic has an elite talent for drawing fouls from his opponents, as evidenced by his 23 total free throw attempts. Since he is more than likely to draw the heaviest coverage from defenders, his ability to turn that coverage against them and send himself to the free throw line takes away any advantage opposing teams could hope to get from him. 

Competition for the title of best player in the league may have sprung up in recent years with players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but performances like Thursday's prove that when it comes to Jokic, there's truly no one more dominant.