Jamal Murray erupts for a season-best 52 points as the Nuggets barely outpace the shorthanded Pacers 135-120. Murray, listed as questionable due to a sprained right ankle earlier in the day, shot 19-for-25 from the floor and an impressive 10-for-11 from deep, nearly tying his career high with three points to spare. Nikola Jokic contributed 24 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists, coming up just two boards shy of a back-to-back triple-double to start December, and extending his league lead with 11 triple-doubles this season. Jokic played before NBA commissioner Adam Silver and helped Denver secure the win in a game that featured strong supporting efforts from Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Peyton Watson, as the Nuggets won for the third time in five games.
In Milwaukee, the Bucks edged the Pistons 113-109 despite Giannis Antetokounmpo exiting the game with a right calf strain just three minutes in. Kevin Porter Jr. posted 26 points, with Ryan Rollins adding 22 as Milwaukee bounced back. AJ Green contributed 19 points, and Jericho Sims set career highs with 15 points and 14 rebounds in a performance that helped the Bucks win for only the second time in 10 outings. There were conversations beforehand about whether Milwaukee would need to pivot without their two-time MVP, though coach Mike Budenholzer did not indicate any finalized trade talks in the lead-up to this matchup.
The Clippers ended a five-game skid by defeating the Hawks 115-92 in their first game after parting ways with Chris Paul. James Harden led Los Angeles with 27 points and nine assists, while Kawhi Leonard added 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Ivica Zubac posted 14 points and 17 rebounds in support as the Clippers, who hit the road after the Paul decision, won for just the sixth time this season.
In New York, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered 35 points, 18 rebounds, and five assists to lift the Knicks to a 119-104 victory over the Hornets. Jalen Brunson added 26 points, with Mikal Bridges, Deuce McBride, and Josh Hart contributing notable totals as New York improved to 14-7 and secured an 11-1 home record at Madison Square Garden this season. Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball had 34 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds in defeat, while Tidjane Salaun and Kon Knueppel each scored 13 for the Hornets, who remain 6-16 overall and stranded at 1-10 on the road.
The Mavericks beat the Heat 118-108 in Dallas behind 22 points from Cooper Flagg and a 17-point, 17-rebound night from Anthony Davis, as Dallas extended its first three-game winning streak of the season. Undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard contributed 15 points and a season-best 13 assists after previously dropping a career-high 28 in a prior win over Denver. Klay Thompson supplied 17 points in a bench role. For Miami, Kel’el Ware posted 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Tyler Herro, after surgery on his left ankle/foot, was held to 20 points and did not score after halftime.
Brooklyn surpassed Chicago 113-103 behind Michael Porter Jr.’s 33 points and 10 rebounds, marking the Nets’ first back-to-back wins this season. Noah Clowney added 18 of his 20 after halftime, and Nic Claxton had 14 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Chicago’s Josh Giddey logged a near-triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, but the Bulls dropped to 9-12 amid a five-game losing streak.
Houston routed Sacramento 121-85 as Alperen Şengün posted 28 points and 10 rebounds, with Amen Thompson adding 20 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. The Rockets snapped a dip in form, avoiding back-to-back losses for the first time since the season’s early games. Durant contributed 24 for the Kings, who got 25 points apiece from Maxime Raynaud and Malik Monk, and Thompson shot 8 of 16 from the floor.
In Orlando, the Spurs outlasted the Magic 114-112 as Luke Kornet swatted Franz Wagner’s last-second layup, preserving San Antonio’s win after De’Aaron Fox scored 31 and finished with the final 10 Spurs points, including two free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining following a foul on Jonathan Isaac. The win comes despite Victor Wembanyama missing time with a strained left calf, marking San Antonio’s seventh win in nine games without their standout rookie.
The Trail Blazers defeated the Cavaliers 122-110 in Cleveland behind Deni Avdija’s 27 points, with Caleb Love and Shaedon Sharpe scoring 20 apiece off the bench. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 33 points as Cleveland dropped four of five and failed to check a losing-record opponent for the first time this season. Portland finished with six players in double figures, shooting 34 of 39 from the free-throw line, while Avdija went 16 of 17 at the line.
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