24.12.2025
Charlotte Hornets 126 - 109 Washington Wizards
The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Washington Wizards 126-109, highlighted by strong performances from LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, who combined for 43 points. Ball contributed 23 points and nine assists, while Miller added 20 points. Rookie sensation Kon Knueppel energized the Hornets with 19 points, including five critical second-half three-pointers. Moussa Diabate also had a standout game with a career-high 18 rebounds. Despite trailing by 10 points in the first half, Charlotte rallied to take a narrow lead into the fourth quarter. They then surged ahead with a decisive 12-4 run, ignited by Ball's seven points, and maintained the momentum with Knueppel's long-range shooting. Moussa Diabate's dominance on the boards was pivotal, especially with centers Ryan Kalkbrenner and Miles Plumlee sidelined. This victory saw the Hornets outscore the Wizards 34-19 in the final quarter, demonstrating their offensive strength, particularly from beyond the arc with 20 successful three-pointers. The game witnessed Wizards' Khris Middleton lead his team with 16 points, while Bub Carrington exited the game due to a lower-leg injury.
Philadelphia 76ers 106 - 114 Brooklyn Nets
Michael Porter Jr. led the Brooklyn Nets with 28 points, including five 3-pointers, to secure a 114-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Egor Demin contributed vital late-game 3-pointers, helping stave off a 76ers rally, while Nic Claxton added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Despite Joel Embiid's 27 points and a brief scare with an apparent knee injury, the 76ers struggled to close the gap, with key player Tyrese Maxey limited to just 13 points on a tough shooting night. This win marks Brooklyn's third in four games, showcasing their strong 3-point shooting performance. The Nets are set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves next, while the 76ers will head to Chicago to kick off a five-game road trip.
Atlanta Hawks 123 - 126 Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls staged an impressive comeback to defeat the Atlanta Hawks 126-123, securing their fourth consecutive win. Trailing by 18 points in the second quarter and facing a 10-point deficit with less than six minutes remaining, the Bulls rallied with a 19-6 run to close the game. Key contributions came from Josh Giddey, who recorded his seventh triple-double of the season, and Coby White, who scored 24 points, including a crucial tiebreaking free throw with 1.9 seconds on the clock. Nikola Vucevic also added 21 points and 10 rebounds. For the Hawks, Jalen Johnson nearly achieved a triple-double with 24 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, while Trae Young tallied 22 points and 15 assists. The Hawks, however, suffered their fourth consecutive loss and were without Dyson Daniels due to hip inflammation. Tensions flared briefly when Young and Ayo Dosunmu exchanged shoves, both receiving technical fouls. The Bulls will take on Philadelphia next, while the Hawks prepare to host Miami.
Cleveland Cavaliers 141 - 118 New Orleans Pelicans
The Cleveland Cavaliers secured a dominant 141-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, with Donovan Mitchell leading the charge by scoring 27 points. Cleveland showcased impressive team depth as nine out of eleven players scored in double figures, contributing to their second-largest winning margin this season and marking the second time in team history they achieved such scoring distribution, last occurring in 1992. Sam Merrill, returning from injury, added 22 points, displaying sharp shooting with six 3-pointers. Notably, Cleveland tallied at least 139 points for the second consecutive game and got a strong 57 points from their reserves. Jaylon Tyson and Jarrett Allen contributed significantly, with Allen hitting his first three-pointer of the year. The Pelicans' Zion Williamson scored 26 points off the bench, but their five-game winning streak came to an end. Derik Queen added 21 points for New Orleans, but the Cavaliers' decisive 17-4 run in the third quarter set the stage for their win.
Indiana Pacers 94 - 111 Milwaukee Bucks
In an undermanned showdown without star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers 111-94, snapping a three-game losing streak. Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 24 points, while Ryan Rollins added 23 and Kyle Kuzma 15. Bobby Portis contributed 14 points and nine rebounds. Myles Turner, formerly of the Pacers, faced boos from the crowd but scored 10 points with three blocks. The struggling Pacers, who have now lost six straight, were led by T.J. McConnell's 16 points off the bench. Milwaukee’s strong first half set the tone, shooting 52% compared to Indiana's 40%. Despite a fourth-quarter surge, Indiana couldn’t close the gap, with their 3-point shooting faltering at 8 of 31. The Pacers were also missing Isaiah Jackson due to concussion protocol, while head coach Rick Carlisle’s attempt at his 1,000th win remains on hold. Both teams will play again on Friday night, with the Bucks facing Memphis and the Pacers hosting Boston.
Miami Heat 91 - 112 Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors, led by Scottie Barnes' 27-point and eight-rebound performance, defeated the Miami Heat 112-91 in their last game before Christmas. Immanuel Quickley added 18 points for the Raptors, who achieved their 18th win in just 31 games this season, a significant improvement from the previous year when they reached this milestone after 57 games. This victory also marks the first time since the 2019-20 season that Toronto is over .500 at Christmas. Despite missing RJ Barrett due to a knee injury, other Raptors like Sandro Mamukelashvili and Brandon Ingram contributed to the win with 14 and 12 points, respectively. The Heat, hindered by the absence of key players Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, and Pelle Larsson, fell to 15-15, having lost nine of their last 11 games. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led Miami with 21 points, but the team struggled offensively, shooting just 40.2% from the floor, their worst at home this season. Toronto's dominant 10-0 run in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach for Miami, marking their second defeat to the Raptors in December.
Dallas Mavericks 131 - 130 Denver Nuggets
In a thrilling game, Cooper Flagg showcased an outstanding performance with 33 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, narrowly missing a triple-double as the Dallas Mavericks edged out the Denver Nuggets 131-130. Flagg's career-high fourth three-pointer and crucial assist late in the game helped Dallas secure the win, snapping their two-game losing streak. Anthony Davis also contributed significantly with 31 points and nine rebounds. Despite trailing significantly early in the game, the Nuggets fought back to take a brief lead in the fourth quarter, led by Jamal Murray's 31 points and 14 assists, and Nikola Jokic's 29 points and 14 assists. However, their efforts fell short when Peyton Watson's three-point attempt missed at the buzzer, ending Denver's impressive 11-game road winning streak. The game marked Dallas’s second win against Denver this season, bolstering their morale after recent losses. Both teams were on the second night of back-to-back games, with the Mavericks playing Golden State next and the Nuggets hosting Minnesota.
Minnesota Timberwolves 115 - 104 New York Knicks
In a thrilling game, Anthony Edwards scored 38 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 115-104 victory over the New York Knicks, marking their first win against former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. Despite Towns' impressive 40-point performance, he fouled out in the final minute. Rudy Gobert bolstered the Wolves with 11 points and 16 rebounds, while Julius Randle added 25 points, 17 of which came in the fourth quarter for the Knicks, who were missing Jalen Brunson. Brunson, previously scoring 47 against Miami, sat out due to an ankle issue. This game was also notable for the emotional stakes, as it featured players traded in a major deal last season, adding to the intensity of the matchup. The Knicks will next host Cleveland, while the Timberwolves are set to face Denver.
San Antonio Spurs 130 - 110 Oklahoma City Thunder
The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to seven games with a decisive 130-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking their second triumph against the Thunder in 10 days. Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 25 points, while Stephon Castle contributed 24 points. Despite Victor Wembanyama's streak of consecutive games with a block ending at 101, his return to the court after being questionable due to injury was a relief for the Spurs. Wembanyama notched 12 points and hit a critical 3-pointer in the final quarter. The game featured 15 lead changes and 13 ties before San Antonio surged ahead in the third quarter, with rookie Dylan Harper shining defensively with five steals and contributing a season-high 10 assists. Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points, standing out in a defeat that was their worst of the season, as the Thunder previously only lost by close margins. Both teams will face off again on Thursday in Oklahoma City to conclude their home-and-home series.
Phoenix Suns 132 - 108 Los Angeles Lakers
The Phoenix Suns cruised to a 132-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, pulling away in the second half with Dillon Brooks leading the charge by scoring 25 points and Devin Booker adding 21, along with 11 assists. The Lakers played without Luka Doncic due to a lower leg contusion, although Austin Reaves returned to contribute 17 points off the bench. LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points as the team faced their second consecutive loss. The Suns, now having defeated the Lakers twice in their last three encounters, expanded a 10-point halftime lead in the third quarter with an impressive 45-point outburst, hitting 72.7% from the field. Brooks was particularly effective, scoring 12 points in that decisive stretch. All five Suns starters scored in double figures, and the team has won two of their last three games. Phoenix will next face New Orleans, while the Lakers will host Houston.
Utah Jazz 128 - 137 Memphis Grizzlies
Santi Aldama delivered a standout performance, scoring a career-high 37 points and making seven 3-pointers to propel the Memphis Grizzlies to a 137-128 victory over the Utah Jazz. His efforts, along with contributions from Jaren Jackson Jr. with 21 points, GG Jackson II with 18 points, and Jock Landale with 17 points, helped snap a two-game losing streak for Memphis. Notably, Aldama also achieved a season-high seven assists, while Cam Spencer recorded a career-best 13 assists. Memphis showcased their shooting strength by achieving 56% from the field and sinking 19 3-pointers. Despite Utah's efforts, spearheaded by Kyle Filipowski's 25 points and 13 rebounds, along with Keyonte George's 24 points, the Grizzlies maintained control for much of the game. Although the Jazz briefly took the lead in the third quarter, Aldama's 16 points in that period spurred Memphis to regain momentum and secure the win, leading 111-101 as the fourth quarter began.
Portland Trail Blazers 106 - 110 Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic aim to improve their play as they conclude a four-game road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers following a disappointing 120-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors, their worst defeat of the season. Orlando's performance faltered in the second half, committing 18 turnovers and shooting just 41.4% from the field. Anthony Black impressed with 19 points and continues to perform well, having scored 22 and 20 in the previous games. The Magic's Paolo Banchero, despite a shooting slump from the 3-point range, continues to lead with strong performances, while Desmond Bane scored 20 against the Warriors. Despite falling to the Detroit Pistons 110-102, the Trail Blazers plan to recover quickly, backed by Shaedon Sharpe's 25 points and five steals, despite his eight turnovers. Both teams are eager to learn from their setbacks and face each other with renewed focus.
Sacramento Kings 127 - 136 Detroit Pistons
In a thrilling matchup, the Sacramento Kings ended a five-game losing streak with a dramatic 125-124 overtime win against the Houston Rockets, highlighted by Dennis Schroder's game-winning three-pointer and contributions from DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Russell Westbrook, who each scored over 20 points. Despite the victory, tensions surfaced as veteran Malik Monk played only five minutes, indicating a shift in the lineup directed by coach Doug Christie. The Kings aim to establish a winning streak against the Detroit Pistons, who secured a 110-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers the night before, led by standout Jalen Duren's impressive 26-point, 10-rebound performance. Duren, praised by teammate Cade Cunningham, is set to face the Kings' rookie Maxime Raynaud, with both big men boasting consecutive double-doubles in recent games.
LA Clippers 128 - 108 Houston Rockets
The Los Angeles Clippers ended their five-game losing streak with a significant 103-88 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, driven by Kawhi Leonard's impressive 32-point performance and James Harden's double-double with 21 points and 10 assists. The win, marking only their seventh in 28 games, provided a much-needed morale boost and ended an eight-game home losing streak. This victory comes as they prepare to face the Houston Rockets, a team reeling from a close overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. Despite center Ivica Zubac's injury, which will sideline him for at least three weeks, the Clippers aim to capitalize on their momentum, with John Collins expected to fill the gap. Meanwhile, the Rockets are looking to improve their road performance and find consistency in their game execution, highlighted by standout performances from Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant. Both teams face challenges in sustaining strong play throughout their games as they continue this grueling NBA season.