01.01.2026
Charlotte Hornets 125 - 132 Golden State Warriors
In an exciting showdown at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, Stephen Curry scored 26 points in his annual homecoming, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 132-125 victory over the Charlotte Hornets before a record-setting crowd of 19,685. The Warriors showcased their shooting prowess, going 24 of 49 from beyond the arc, with Brandon Podziemski contributing 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and a remarkable leaning 3-pointer to beat the shot clock. Despite 33 points from Brandon Miller and 27 points from LaMelo Ball, including 7 of 10 from 3-point range, the Hornets couldn't maintain their momentum after briefly taking the lead. The Warriors regained control with Podziemski's early fourth-quarter threes and solidified their win with clutch plays by Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, who sealed the game with free throws. Charlotte struggled with key injuries to starters Miles Bridges and Ryan Kalkbrenner, and despite outscoring the Warriors 56-32 in the paint, they fell short as they prepare to visit the Bucks, while the Warriors get set to host the Thunder.
Atlanta Hawks 126 - 102 Minnesota Timberwolves
The Atlanta Hawks ended a seven-game losing streak with a 126-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, never trailing throughout the game. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with an impressive 34 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, while Atlanta took a commanding lead by outscoring Minnesota 37-23 in the second quarter. The Hawks benefited from the return of Kristaps Porzingis, who contributed 16 points after missing 10 games. Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels also made significant contributions, with Daniels coming close to a triple-double. Despite Anthony Edwards' 30 points and a strong first half, the Timberwolves struggled with scoring depth, as no other players reached double figures besides Julius Randle and Johnny Juzang. Trae Young was absent due to a quad contusion, and Minnesota's starters were benched during the game's final minutes. Atlanta's Nickeil Alexander-Walker, starting in place of Young, scored 11 points.
Indiana Pacers 110 - 112 Orlando Magic
In a thrilling finish, the Orlando Magic secured a 112-110 victory over the Indiana Pacers, with Paolo Banchero leading the charge with 29 points and 10 rebounds, including the decisive basket with just 7.5 seconds left on the clock. The game was marked by intense back-and-forth action, featuring 12 ties and 11 lead changes. Banchero's impressive performance was complemented by Desmond Bane's 18 points, Anthony Black's 15, and Goga Bitadze's 14. This victory extended the Pacers' losing streak to 10 games, tying the fifth-longest in their history, with the team now holding the NBA's worst record at 6-28. Indiana's Pascal Siakam scored 26 points in an effort to lift his team, supported by Bennedict Mathurin with 23 points and Andrew Nembhard with 19. The Magic's win came despite the absence of their leading scorer Franz Wagner, though they saw the return of Jalen Suggs, who contributed 11 points and three assists after recovering from a hip issue.
Cleveland Cavaliers 129 - 113 Phoenix Suns
The Cleveland Cavaliers snapped the Phoenix Suns' four-game winning streak with a 129-113 victory, fueled by Donovan Mitchell's impressive performance. Mitchell scored 34 points, marking his 18th game of the season with over 30 points, while also contributing 10 rebounds and seven assists. Darius Garland supported with 19 points, and both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen recorded double-doubles. Despite Devin Booker's 32-point effort, including a 20-point blitz in the third quarter, the Suns couldn't maintain their comeback. Cleveland capitalized on a strong 24-5 run in the fourth quarter, with Mitchell and Jaylon Tyson leading the charge, to widen their lead to as much as 24 points. The Cavaliers improved to a 19-16 record after the win, while the Suns held a 19-14 record as they head into their next game against the Sacramento Kings.
Chicago Bulls 134 - 118 New Orleans Pelicans
The Chicago Bulls, despite missing their top scorers Josh Giddey and Coby White, secured a 134-118 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. Isaac Okoro led the Bulls with a season-high 24 points, while Tre Jones contributed 20 points and 12 assists. Matas Buzelis, Jalen Smith, who also grabbed 14 rebounds, and Nikola Vucevic were pivotal in the win. Chicago's strong bench performance included scoring contributions from Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter, and Patrick Williams. Zion Williamson paced the Pelicans with 31 points, supported by 26 points from Jordan Poole off the bench. The Bulls maintained an up-tempo style and capitalized on New Orleans' fouls, making 25 of 34 free throws, despite early struggles. The game saw Chicago lead 97-90 into the final quarter before extending the lead to 17 points. Josh Giddey and Coby White's injury statuses are under evaluation, with Giddey expected to be assessed in two weeks and White in one. Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado missed the game due to a suspension.
San Antonio Spurs 134 - 132 New York Knicks
In an exciting rematch of the NBA Cup final, the San Antonio Spurs overcame an injury scare to Victor Wembanyama, beating the New York Knicks 134-132. Julian Champagnie stole the show, setting a franchise record with 11 three-pointers and scoring a career-high 36 points. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 center, finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds before briefly exiting with a leg injury but returned to the bench as the Spurs snapped a two-game losing streak. The Knicks had a strong performance from Jalen Brunson, who scored 29 points, and both Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordan Clarkson added 20 points each. Notably, Wembanyama made his 300th career three-pointer in just 138 games, setting a record among 7-footers. Despite trailing by double digits, San Antonio's fourth-quarter rally, powered by Champagnie's shooting, helped them secure the win and end New York's three-game winning streak.
Toronto Raptors 103 - 106 Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets, despite missing their star center Nikola Jokic due to a hyperextended knee and several other key players, managed to secure a narrow 106-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Peyton Watson led the Nuggets with 24 points, while Jamal Murray contributed 21, helping Denver break their two-game losing streak even without Jokic, who's expected to be reevaluated in four weeks. The game nearly went to overtime after Toronto's Brandon Ingram seemingly nailed a game-tying three-pointer, but a video review confirmed the shot was released after time expired. Denver's win marked their fifth consecutive victory against the Raptors. Scottie Barnes stood out for Toronto with a triple-double, recording 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Ingram and Immanuel Quickley added 30 and 22 points respectively. The game ended with some drama as RJ Barrett missed a crucial three-pointer that could have tied the game.
Milwaukee Bucks 113 - 114 Washington Wizards
In a thrilling game in Milwaukee, C.J. McCollum made a decisive pull-up jumper with just one second remaining to secure a 114-113 win for the Washington Wizards over the Milwaukee Bucks. McCollum's late heroics capped an 18-point night, while Alex Starr and Bub Carrington both contributed 20 points for the Wizards. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 33 points and was pivotal despite briefly leaving the game after a hard fall. His return included assisting a crucial three-pointer by Ryan Rollins that tied the game. However, the Bucks' hopes for their first three-game winning streak of the season were dashed despite a strong showing, including shooting 41.1% from the floor and making 16 of 39 from beyond the arc. The Wizards capitalized on Milwaukee's turnovers early in the fourth quarter, building a lead that, despite Milwaukee's late rally, held firm with McCollum's game-winning shot. The Wizards next host Brooklyn, while the Bucks will face Charlotte.
Oklahoma City Thunder 124 - 95 Portland Trail Blazers
In a decisive victory, the Oklahoma City Thunder cruised past the Portland Trail Blazers 124-95, marking their third consecutive win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with an impressive 30 points in just three quarters, hitting 11 of 15 field goals and all seven free throws. This performance extended his streak of scoring at least 20 points to 105 games. Supporting him, Ajay Mitchell contributed 17 points off the bench with a perfect shooting night, while Jalen Williams filled the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Notably, Chet Holmgren posted a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and a season-high six blocks as the Thunder capitalized on 25 Portland turnovers. Despite a competitive first quarter, Oklahoma City pulled away with a strong run led by Gilgeous-Alexander, who rested during the final quarter with the game in hand. For Portland, Sidy Cissoko scored a team-high 19 points, highlighting a challenging night for the Blazers, who now look to regroup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, while the Thunder prepare to face the Golden State Warriors.