A shining Sun to overcome Luka magic.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
West Responses: Phoenix, Dallas & Utah withstand huge nights from Luka, Jokić & Sengun
East Heat: Cade delivers in the clutch, Orlando dubs again, Miami lights it up
Roundup: Spida flips the switch, Wizards vets come through, Nets put on a show
Coast 2 Coast: Chapter 500 of Knicks-Celtics, plus OKC aims to keep its historic pace
LP Spotlight: Inside Anthony Edwards’ recent scoring surge and offensive evolution
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC & Peacock headlines tonight’s six-game slate as the Celtics host the Knicks (8 ET | Tap to Watch), before the Thunder aim for their 13th straight win as they visit the Warriors (8 PT | Tap to Watch).
1. WEST RESPONSES: SUNS, MAVS & JAZZ OVERCOME STAR OUTBURSTS
The Suns had no answer for Luka Dončić.
The NBA’s leading scorer had 20 points in the opening 11 minutes, lighting up Crypto.com Arena as the streaking Lakers took an early lead.
Coming off back-to-back losses, Phoenix could have unraveled. Instead, it dug in.
Suns 125, Lakers 108: After his early explosion, the Suns held Luka to 18 points the rest of the way, while Dillon Brooks (33 pts) and Collin Gillespie (28 pts, 8 3s, 5 ast) came alive, sparking a 35-21 2nd quarter to swing momentum, as Phoenix surged past Los Angeles for a marquee win. | Recap
- Solar Splash: The Suns hit 17 3s at a 43.6% clip, with Gillespie going a career-best 8-of-14 from downtown, including 5 triples in the 2nd half
- Suns Spark: Starting with his Nov. 21 game-winner over Minnesota, Gillespie now has four 20-point games in his last seven outings, while Brooks is averaging a career-high 21.5 ppg this season
- “Working every single day,” said Brooks on Gillespie when asked about their blossoming chemistry. “He’s studying the game, waiting for his opportunity – and he’s taken it.”
- Streak Snapped: Dončić finished with his seventh straight 30-piece (38 pts, 11 reb, 5 ast), but the Lakers’ seven-game win streak came to an end
One game after Cooper Flagg’s best night as a pro, the Mavs put it all together for their second win in a row.
Mavericks 131, Nuggets 121: Nikola Jokić put on another offensive clinic with 29 points, 20 boards and 13 dimes, but Dallas’ veteran-rookie quartet was too much.
Anthony Davis (32 pts, 13 reb) and Ryan Nembhard (28 pts, 10 ast, 0 TO) each posted double-doubles, while Flagg (24 pts, 8 reb, 2 stl) and Klay Thompson (15 pts) added a combined 39 points to outlast Denver on the road. | Recap
- 1-2 Punch: The Mavs held the Nuggets to 17 points in the 4th, where Davis scored nine and Flagg sealed the win with back-to-back clutch buckets
- Flagg Finding Groove: Following a career-best 35 points on Saturday, Flagg now has 59 over his last two games on 56.1% shooting, along with 16 boards
- “In the open court, he’s one of the best in this league, only at 18,” said Jason Kidd postgame, “He lets the game come to him, and again, I thought he delivered.”
- Another Rook Cooks: Nembhard joins Stephon Marbury and Michael Finley as the only rookies with 25+ pts, 10+ ast and 0 turnovers in a game since turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78
- Joker Ace: It was Jokić’s league-best 11th triple-double of the season and his 11th career 25/20/10 game – trailing only Wilt Chamberlain for the most all-time (24)
Alperen Sengun made a little history Monday night, too.
But the Jazz came away with the win.
Jazz 133, Rockets 125: Sengun orchestrated a masterful showing (31 pts, 8 reb, 14 ast, 5 blk), while Kevin Durant (32 pts, 9 reb) and Amen Thompson (23 pts, 8 reb, 2 blk) also shined.
But Utah was too much, as Lauri Markkanen (29 pts, 8 reb) and Keyonte George (28 pts, 8 ast) led seven players in double figures, igniting a 36-point 4th quarter to top the Rockets after falling to them on Sunday. | Recap
- “That’s Jazz basketball,” said George postgame on the win. “That’s how we play team basketball. [Sunday] wasn’t us. So tonight, we had to bounce back with energy.”
- Sengun Stars: Sengun joins David Robinson (2x), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2x), Alvan Adams, Dwyane Wade and George Gervin as the only players to record 30+ pts, 10+ ast and 5+ blk in a game since 1973-74
2. EAST HEAT: CLUTCH CADE, RESILIENT ORLANDO, POTENT MIAMI
Big-time players deliver in big-time moments. And that’s what Cade Cunningham did on Monday.
Pistons 99, Hawks 98: In a matchup featuring 27 lead changes, Cunningham dropped in the game-deciding points with 17 ticks left, spinning past two Hawks before finishing through three more defenders for a ridiculous bucket, lifting Detroit over Atlanta to improve to 17-4. | Recap
- All-Around Elite: Cunningham finished with 18 pts, 8 reb, 8 ast, 6 stl, and 3 blk – becoming the sixth player to post such a stat line since blocks and steals were first tracked in 1973-74
- Pistons Rebound: Jalen Duren added a double-double for Detroit (21 pts, 11 reb), which has responded to back-to-back losses with wins over Miami and Atlanta
- Soaring Hawk: Jalen Johnson continued to shine, leading the Hawks with 29 pts, 13 reb and 7 ast
Here come the Magic.
Magic 125, Bulls 120: Desmond Bane dropped 37 points for the second straight game, Franz Wagner (25 pts, 6 reb) and Anthony Black (22 pts, 9 reb) combined for 47 more as Orlando rallied past Josh Giddey (22 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast) and Chicago for its third straight dub. | Recap
- The Rally: The Magic trailed by 15 midway through the 3rd before outscoring the Bulls 66-46 the rest of the way, securing their sixth win in seven games
- “Resilient,” said Bane on what the win says about Orlando. “We got a good group. Great guys. They’re hungry, competitive and want to win.”
The Heat scored 140+ points once in 2024-25.
Through 21 games this season, they’ve done it a league-best five times.
Heat 140, Clippers 123: All five Miami starters scored 16+, led by Norman Powell (30 pts, 6 3s) and Bam Adebayo (27 pts, 14 reb) as the Heat took control with a 32-9 2nd-quarter burst and never looked back to top the Clippers, despite Kawhi Leonard’s 36 points. | Recap
- Full Blast: After finishing 24th in scoring last year (110.6 ppg), Miami has jumped to 2nd this year (124.3), leading to its best start (14-7) since 2019-20, when it reached the NBA Finals
3. ROUNDUP: SPIDA DROPS 43, WIZARDS & NETS DUB
Looking for a 2nd-half spark? Just call Donovan Mitchell.
Cavaliers 135, Pacers 119: With Cleveland up 12 at the break, Mitchell took over, scoring 26 of his 43 points in the 2nd half, including 16 in the 4th, to pull past Pascal Siakam (26 pts, 7 reb) and the Pacers, snapping the Cavs’ three-game skid. | Recap
- Spida Switch: It’s Mitchell’s third 40-piece this season and his league-leading 11th 20-point 2nd half – four more than the next closest player (Cunningham: 7)
- Join the Throne: Posting a career-high 30.6 ppg, Mitchell joins LeBron James as the only Cavs in franchise history to average 30+ in the first 20 games of a season
- More Shine: Mitchell added nine rebounds and six assists, while Jaylon Tyson chipped in a double-double (27 pts, 11 reb)
Wizards 129, Bucks 126: Down five with 2:56 left, the Wizards closed on a 14-6 run, where Khris Middleton (15 pts, 6 ast) hit a go-ahead 3 before CJ McCollum (28 pts, 5 ast) delivered the dagger with 15 ticks left, edging out Giannis Antetokounmpo (26 pts, 7 reb) and the Bucks. | Recap
- McCollum Cooking: Washington is 2-1 in its last three games, with McCollum posting 28.3 ppg in that span
Nets 116, Hornets 103: Kon Knueppel (18 pts, 4 3s) led six Hornets in double figures, but Brooklyn pulled away late behind Michael Porter Jr.’s game-high 35 points on seven 3s, halting the Nets’ four-game slide. | Recap
- Jam Fest: Noah Clowney (18 pts) threw down a monster poster, before rookie Danny Wolf (10 pts, 7 reb) delivered an encore
4. COAST 2 COAST TUESDAY: THUNDER AT WARRIORS, KNICKS AT CELTICS
There’s a certain aura to great teams.
This year’s Thunder has it. The 2015-16 Warriors – the last squad to start 20-1 or better before OKC became the fourth team ever to do it on Sunday – had it as well.
Tonight (8 PT, NBC), OKC heads to the Bay, where Draymond Green – who helped drive that ‘15-16 Warriors club – sees plenty of parallels between the two groups.
- “You can tell they love each other, which leads to all the magic. And you have to understand roles, which they definitely understand,” said Green on OKC following its win over Golden State on Nov. 11
- “They are a well-oiled machine. They kinda just plug and play, which is how we were during those times.”
One decade apart, the two teams’ identities are largely considered opposite – Golden State stormed through the regular season behind a groundbreaking offense while OKC relies on a rugged defense.
Yet their overall balance is strikingly similar, with the Thunder putting up even bigger margins vs. their opponents.
Like those Warriors, it starts at the top.
While Steph Curry (out) powered that 73-9 run, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is doing the same for OKC. He boasts five more 30-pieces than any other player this season (17) and is leading the league in total points without missing a single game.
- “When you have a leader that has that commitment to excellence day in and day out that Shai does, everyone else has to fall in line,” said Green. “They’re doing that – and it’s special to watch.”
Now, OKC looks to continue its special run, seeking its 13th straight win – with Draymond and the Dubs trying to slow a group that keeps raising the bar.
Before OKC aims to extend its win streak, a historic clash gets underway at TD Garden as the Knicks face the Celtics for the 500th time (8 ET, NBC) – the most all-time matchups between any two teams.
- Series Snapshot: In their previous 499 matchups, the two teams are separated by just 3.3 ppg, with New York taking this season’s lone matchup, 105-95, behind Jalen Brunson’s 31 points
- Running Hot: Now, the Knicks seek a fifth straight win, powered by this season’s 3rd-highest rated offense, which is hitting the 4th-most 3s per game in the NBA (15.3)
- Their Money Ball? The corner 3, where they’ve made a league-best 102 triples at a 42.7% clip
Like the Knicks, the Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10, ranking 3rd in OffRtg in that span, with Jaylen Brown flourishing as a No. 1 option.
- JB’s Burst: Brown leads the Celtics in points (28.6) and assists (5.4) amid the 7-3 run, including a 41-point night against the Wolves on Saturday
- Contagious: The next day, Payton Pritchard dropped 42 in a win over the Cavs – one point shy of his career-high, bumping his season average to a career-best 17.5 ppg
- Collecting Signatures: After wins over Cleveland, Detroit and Orlando in the last week, Boston will look to add another marquee dub tonight
5. ON LEAGUE PASS: ANT & WOLVES LOOK TO STAY HOT vs. PELS
“Greatness is boring,” said Anthony Edwards on Media Day, discussing the long, quiet summer reps to prepare for this season. “There were a lot of boring days in the gym … but I think it benefits me.”
That work showed right away – he broke the Wolves’ Opening Night scoring record with 41, then dropped 31 two nights later.
But in Game No. 3, Edwards’ discipline was tested again when a hamstring strain sidelined him for nine days, forcing him to ramp back up all over again.
Now, he’s on a career tear and leads Minnesota into New Orleans as the Wolves seek a third straight win (8 ET, League Pass).
- Steady Rise: Edwards averaged 25 ppg in his first eight games back. But in his last five, he’s hit another level, posting 37.2 ppg while shooting 49% from 3
- Recent Eruption: That includes five straight 30-point games – the longest such streak of his career – and a pair of 40-balls
Ant’s Evolution: An electric downhill scorer with jaw-dropping bounce, Edwards expanded his game last season, leading the NBA in made 3s at a career-best 39.5% clip. This season, his summer work is paying off again – further developing his scoring arsenal.
- New Layers: Edwards has added to his 1-on-1 scoring, increasing ppg on isos (4.7 to 6.3) and drives (8.5 to 10.5) from last season, while shooting it even better from 3 (40.9%)
- The Result? Fewer shots and more production, as Edwards has decreased his FGA from last year while posting career-highs in FG% (49.1) and ppg (28.9)
Three more games tip off on League Pass: the 3rd-place Raptors look to halt a two-game slide as they face the Blazers (7:30 ET), Tyrese Maxey and Philly host Washington (7 ET), and the Spurs meet the Grizz (8 ET).
