This rookie is rocking.
Cooper Flagg detonates a dagger dunk as Dallas downs Houston to stay hot.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Dec. 7, 2025
Relentless Rise: How SGA’s nonstop work has fueled OKC’s historic start
Celtics Spark: Boston climbs the East behind a revived offense and Jaylen Brown’s surge
Saturday Heat: AD, Flagg keep Mavs rolling, Wolves & Pistons win, Harden hits top 10 in scoring
Monster Stat Lines: Jalen Johnson and Zach LaVine’s eye-catching outings earn Ws
Roundup: Pat Spencer lifts Dubs, plus MPJ’s career scoring stretch
BUT FIRST … ⏰
A Sunday marathon…
Seven games tip off today on League Pass, beginning with the Knicks hosting the Magic (12 ET | Tap to Watch). To cap the night, OKC aims for its 15th straight win as it visits Utah (8 ET | Tap to Watch).
Cup Week: The Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals begin Tuesday on Prime, as the Heat face the Magic (6 ET), before the Raptors host the Knicks (8:30 ET). | More At The NBA Cup Hub
1. SGA & OKC AIM TO EXTEND HISTORIC START TONIGHT ON LEAGUE PASS
Just three months after becoming the fourth player ever to win the scoring title, Kia MVP and Finals MVP in the same season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was back at Media Day, explaining why his rigorous offseason training remained unchanged, even after an extended season.
- “It’s made me,” said SGA when asked about his training. “I was never a player that jumped out the gym or had any insane talents. I had to work for it. I had to craft and carve and mold myself into the player that I am today.”
Tonight (8 ET, LP), that player can lead OKC (22-1) to just the third 23-1 or better start in NBA history – joining the 2015-16 Warriors (24-0) & the 1969-70 Knicks (23-1).
A victory would also be OKC’s 15th straight, matching the longest win streak in franchise history – a mark set last season en route to an NBA title
This year, the Thunder – and their reigning Kia MVP – have been even better.
- Another Level: After a career-high 32.7 ppg last year, Shai is on pace to top it this season (32.8), while taking 2.4 fewer FGA per game and averaging the fewest minutes since his rookie season
- Even Wilder: SGA ranks 2nd in the NBA in scoring yet 39th in minutes per game (33.3) – putting him on track to average the second-fewest minutes ever by a 30+ ppg scorer in a season
Thearon W. Henderson/NBAE via Getty Images
The secret? There is none. Just work. Work that’s led to SGA improving in nearly every facet as a scorer – shooting a career-best from 3 (44.3%), from 2 (59.5%) and off drives (58.2%).
- “[It’s] cool to see somebody that’s that dominant every year come back with something better and better,” said Jalen Williams of SGA on Friday. “It speaks to how much he loves the sport, and just how much he likes getting better…
- “That’s motivating for not only me but the rest of the team. I think that’s why we’re so good too … everybody’s always trying to get better.”
The numbers back it up. OKC is allowing a league-best 107.6 ppg – even fewer than last season – while upping its scoring to 122.7 ppg, the 2nd-most in the NBA.
It all adds up to a +15.6 point differential, nearly 3 points better than its NBA record from last season (+12.9).
At the epicenter is a superstar obsessed with leveling up.
- “He puts the work in,” said coach Mark Daigneault of SGA’s growth on Friday. “Which is ruthlessly consistent and very focused…
- “All he’s ever done is improve. So at this point – as great of a player as he is – it’s not surprising when he gets even better.”
2. CELTICS LOOK TO STAY HOT IN MATINEE MATCHUP VS. RAPTORS
Andrew Lahodynskyj + David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
While the reigning champs keep raising the bar, the 2024 champs are rediscovering their winning formula.
On Nov. 11, the Celtics were 11th in the East with a 5-7 record. Now, they’re in 4th at 14-9 – a half-game back of the 3rd-place Raptors, who they visit today on League Pass (3:30 ET).
- Cold Start: No team in NBA history has hit more 3s over a two-season span than the Celtics from 2023-24 to ‘24-25. But on Nov. 11, they ranked 27th in 3-point percentage (32.8)
- Hot Turnaround: Since then, Boston has gone 41.1% from deep – the 3rd-best mark in the NBA – jumping from 25th in scoring to 2nd (122.9 ppg) in that span
- Elite Company: That’s led to a 9-2 record in its last 11. The only team with a higher win percentage in that stretch? OKC
Leading the charge is Jaylen Brown, who continues to flourish as a No. 1 option in the absence of Jayson Tatum, dissecting defenses with patience and poise.
- Boston Ball Control: The Celtics rank last in the NBA in pace, but maximize every possession, boasting the 2nd-best assist/turnover ratio in the NBA, tied with OKC
- The Conductor? Brown, who ranks 3rd in the NBA in usage rate while posting career-highs in points (29.0) and assists (4.9) per game
- The Surge: Brown’s elevated those marks to 30.7 ppg and 6.0 apg amid Boston’s 9-2 run, where it ranks 1st in OffRtg. That includes two 40-pieces in his last four outings
- “He never wavers in the poise or the mindset that he has,” said Joe Mazzulla on Brown after he dropped 42 in Tuesday’s win over New York. “I kind of just let him do his thing…
- “Talk to him about what the spacing is like, what the matchups are like, what the coverages are like … and he does the rest.”
Strength vs. Strength: Riding a four-game win streak – including victories over the Cavs, Knicks and Lakers – Boston seeks another statement dub as it visits Toronto, which boasts the league’s 4th-best DefRtg since Nov. 1.
Don Juan Moore/NBAE via Getty Images
Another East showdown between top-5 seeds tips off today’s action on League Pass as 2nd-place New York hosts 5th-place Orlando (12 ET). Plus, two red-hot scorers go toe-to-toe as Tyrese Maxey’s Sixers face Austin Reaves and the Lakers (7:30 ET).
- Nuggets at Hornets (6 ET)
- Blazers at Grizzlies (6 ET)
- Warriors at Bulls (7 ET)
3. SATURDAY HEAT: MAVS, WOLVES, PISTONS ROLL, HARDEN REACHES TOP 10
What a difference a day makes.
After being held to just two points against OKC on Friday, Anthony Davis exploded.
Mavericks 122, Rockets 109: With Alperen Sengun out (illness), AD went wild on Houston, netting 13 of his game-high 29 points in a 37-20 Mavs’ 3rd-quarter that built a double-digit victory over Kevin Durant (27 pts), Jabari Smith Jr. (22 pts) and the Rockets. | Recap
- Victory Flagg: Cooper Flagg (19 pts, 5 reb, 1 monster jam) continued to impress with his fourth straight 15+ point game as Dallas earned its fourth win in five games
- Dallas Duo: In that stretch, Flagg is posting a team-best 23.2 ppg on 55% shooting, while Davis is averaging a 20-point double-double (20.0 ppg, 11.5 rpg)
Another rising team is running wild in Minnesota.
The Wolves have suddenly won five in a row, showcasing three different leading scorers.
Saturday night, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid got to be the heroes.
Wolves 109, Clippers 106: Naz Reid’s tiebreaking triple with 14 seconds left put the Wolves up for good, after Jaden McDaniels’ 20-point 2nd half helped Minnesota overcome an 18-point deficit, extending the league’s second-longest win streak to five in a row. | Recap
- Points Pack: McDaniels (27 pts) and Julius Randle (24 pts, 6 ast) combined for 51 points in the win, while Anthony Edwards added 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists
- Beard Enters Top 10: James Harden passed Carmelo Anthony (28,289) for 10th on the all-time scoring list in his 34-point, 6-assist outing
Pistons 124, Bucks 112: Cade Cunningham (23 pts, 6 reb, 12 ast) and Jalen Duren (16 pts, 16 reb) led seven Pistons in double figures as East-leading Detroit used an early 3rd quarter run to open up a double-digit win, avenging Wednesday’s loss in Milwaukee for its fourth win in five games. | Recap
- Clear The Deer: After snapping a 13-game losing streak to Milwaukee earlier this season, the Pistons’ victory on Saturday ended the Bucks’ run of 15 straight wins (reg+post) on Detroit’s home floor
- Bucks’ Best: Kevin Porter Jr. recorded season highs with 32 points, 7 made 3s and 4 steals in defeat
4. LAST NIGHT’S BIGGEST STAT LINES FUEL DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS
Jalen Johnson’s triple-double Friday night couldn’t stop triple-double king Nikola Jokić’s game-stealing comeback.
But Johnson wasn’t deterred…
Hawks 131, Wizards 116: Jalen Johnson (30 pts, 12 reb, 12 ast) became the second Hawks player ever to record consecutive triple-doubles with his franchise-best-tying fourth this season, as Atlanta snapped a 3-game skid by beating CJ McCollum (28 pts, 7 3s) and Washington. | Recap
- Once Before: Johnson joined Bob Sura (April 2004) as the only players in Hawks history with back-to-back triple-doubles
- Franchise Leaders: He matched Bill Bridges’ (1969-70) franchise record for the most triple-doubles in a season (4)
- Soaring: Dating back to Nov. 1, Johnson (24.2 pts, 11.1 reb, 8.7 ast) is one of two players averaging 20+ pts, 10+ reb and 8+ ast – joining Jokić
Kings 127, Heat 111: Zach LaVine lit up Miami with season highs of 42 points and 8 triples, leading six double-digit scoring Kings as Sacramento never trailed in the 2nd half to snap a 4-game losing streak. | Recap
- Heat Checks: Jaime Jaquez Jr. (27 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) led Miami, who got a season-high 20 points and 7 rebounds from Simone Fontecchio
5. SPENCER, MPJ SPARK SATURDAY DUBS
Warriors 99, Cavs 94: In his first-ever start, Pat Spencer hit game-sealing free throws and logged a career-high 19 points to help Golden State survive Donovan Mitchell (29 pts, 7 3s) and Cleveland’s late push, as the Warriors used a 27-8 2nd-quarter run to overcome a slow start. | Recap
- Spencer’s Arrival: In his last three games, Spencer is averaging 17.3 points while shooting 58.8% from the field and 75% from deep
- “He’s a guy that you just want on your team,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of Spencer and his importance to the Dubs
Nets 119, Pelicans 101: Michael Porter Jr. (35 pts, 9 reb, 5 3s) tied his season high in points, scoring 30+ for the third consecutive game – matching the longest streak of his career.
Meanwhile, Nic Claxton (14 pts, 11 reb, 10 ast) collected his second triple-double as the Nets topped Trey Murphy III (23 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) and the Pelicans for their third win in four games. | Recap
- Nets History: MPJ is the first player in Nets franchise history with 30+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ 3s in three straight games. This marked his second career three-game span of 30+ points
- Claxton Collecting: It’s Claxton’s second career triple-double, with his first coming on Nov. 21
