A new ritual – and an ever-growing rivalry – making noise.
Round 2 of Spurs-Thunder delivered. Round 3 awaits under the tree tomorrow (2:30 ET, ABC/ESPN) as part of NBA on Christmas Day.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Texas-Sized Statements: Spurs beat Thunder again, Coop shines in early Christmas thriller
Stars Shine: Ant & KAT duel, Kawhi drops 41, Booker & Brooks boost Suns
East Buckets: Bulls-Hawks encore, Pistons and Cavs catch fire
Takeover Time: Another 37 from Aldama, MPJ erupts early, Scottie sparks Raptors
Roundup: Bane leads Magic, LaMelo & Kon stay clicking, Bucks top Pacers
BUT FIRST … ⏰
One Sleep ‘Til Xmas: On the fifth game of Christmas… West contenders collide as Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets host Anthony Edwards’ Wolves in a rivalry that’s been razor-thin.
How Thin Is Razor-Thin? Since Edwards entered the league in 2020-21, Minnesota is 11-10 vs. Denver, with the two teams separated by an average of 2.8 ppg in those matchups.
Ready for Christmas Hoops? This fan was ⬇️, turning an unexpected jumper into an unforgettable holiday haul. Come back tomorrow for a full NBA on Christmas Day preview, and tap here for some early holiday tidbits.
Who Are Your All-Stars? Fans can vote for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters every day through Jan. 14 using their NBA ID. Make it count, vote now.
1. TEXAS-SIZED STATEMENTS: SPURS BEAT THUNDER, FLAGG TAKES OVER
Nine points. Through 29 games, that was the combined margin in OKC’s only three losses.
One of those losses came at the hands of San Antonio in the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals, snapping OKC’s franchise-record 16-game win streak with a Cup title spot on the line.
So when the rivals met again Tuesday, the rematch came with some extra juice. This was a top-2 West showdown, with the defending champs fully aware of the challenge in front of them.
No sneaking up. No surprises. Just ball.
And the Spurs backed it up.
Spurs 130, Thunder 110: In a heavyweight bout that stayed within 7 points through three quarters, San Antonio seized control late, opening the 4th on a 20-8 burst and outscoring OKC 43-28 to stamp its seventh straight win – including two thunderous statements. | Recap
Spurs Ball: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped a game-high 33 points along with 8 dimes, but San Antonio was too much top-to-bottom, as Stephon Castle (24), Harrison Barnes (20) and Devin Vassell (17) combined for 61 points, while Keldon Johnson added 25 off the bench.
And don’t forget Victor Wembanyama, who made his mark on both ends (12 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast), anchoring a defense that held OKC 12.3 points below its season average entering Tuesday (122.3 ppg).
- Rook Rises: Dylan Harper also stepped up, becoming the first Spurs rookie to record 10 assists and 5 steals in a game
- When It Mattered Most: Wemby and Harper helped hold OKC to 50 points after intermission – 2 shy of its lowest-scoring half this season – while sparking a 43-point 4th on the other end
- Quite A Finish: That’s the most points the Thunder have given up in the 4th all year, with Castle (10 pts) leading 13 different Spurs scorers as they shot 66.7% from deep (6-9) to ice it
Rival Arrival: It all added up to OKC’s largest loss of the season, its first 20-point defeat in 7 months and San Antonio’s first seven-game win streak since 2019.
As Wemby pounded the inaugural Spurs victory drum, a new tradition felt like a new signal. The Spurs are here to stay.
- “It shows how serious we are,” said Castle on beating OKC again. “We got the same aspirations that they have … we compete every time we see them.”
- Xmas Rematch: The two sides won’t wait long to run it back, as San Antonio visits OKC tomorrow on Christmas Day (2:30 ET, ABC/ESPN)
The Lone Star State made room for a second statement on Tuesday night.
Mavericks 131, Nuggets 130: Cooper Flagg (33 pts, 9 reb, 9 ast) put it all together, pairing with Anthony Davis (31 pts, 9 reb, 3 stl) to drive Dallas past a combined 60-point, 28-assist night from Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić in Denver’s furious comeback attempt | Recap
- In Control: Despite Denver’s 47-point 3rd quarter (in which Joker had 10 points), Dallas trailed only three times and by no more than 3 points
- 18 To 19: Flagg has celebrated his birthday week with this statline in his last five games: 27.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game, on 50.5 FG%
- Superstar Stats: With his second 30+/5+/5+ game, Coop joined LeBron, Luka and KD as the only players 19 or younger with multiple such games
“There’s magic in the air, it’s the holidays,” Flagg said of his night, which started 7-7 from the field. “I’m just glad to come out here and have a good performance.”
- Key AD: Davis also shined, going over 30 points for the second straight game, which he also did in the Mavs’ earlier road win against Denver on Dec. 1 (32 pts, 13 reb)
- Nearly There: Tim Hardaway Jr. (23 pts) hit 7 of the Nuggets’ 20 triples, but their last attempt at the buzzer to win it by Peyton Watson went halfway down and rimmed out
Dallas moves within 1/2 a game of Play-In position in the West headed into its Christmas Day matchup with Golden State (5 ET, ABC/ESPN).
“I just want to get some more wins, that’s what’s on my wish list,” Flagg said.
2. STARS SHINE: ANT & KAT DUEL, KAWHI GOES OFF, BROOKS & BOOK COOK
Wolves 115, Knicks 104: Anthony Edwards erupted for 38 points to spoil former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns’ huge homecoming (40 pts, 13 reb) and Julius Randle piled up 17 of his 25 points in the 4th quarter as Minnesota dashed away to its tenth win in the last 12 games. | Recap
- Fill In, Fill Up: With Jalen Brunson out (ankle), Tyler Kolek (20 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast) and Josh Hart (12 pts, 15 reb, 8 ast) each narrowly missed triple-doubles
- Minnesota’s Run: The red-hot Wolves move on to a Christmas Day duel in Denver (10:30 ET, ABC/ESPN), looking for their third win against a top-5 team in the last four games
Clippers 128, Rockets 108: In a hyper-efficient outburst, Kawhi Leonard dropped 41 points on 16-of-23 shooting (4-5 3PM, 5-5 FT), while adding 8 rebounds and 5 dimes.
James Harden added to the offensive clinic with 29 points and 6 helpers, pushing LA past Alperen Sengun (19 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast) and Houston for the Clippers’ second straight win. | Recap
- Kawhi Time: Leonard scored 23 in the 2nd half and is now posting 29.3 ppg in his last 12 outings, capped by 32- and 41-point nights
Suns 132, Lakers 108: LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points and 6 assists with Luka Dončić out (leg contusion), but it wasn’t enough to outshine the Suns, as Dillon Brooks (25 pts) and Devin Booker (21 pts, 11 ast) sparked a 43-29 3rd quarter to pull away. | Recap
- Star Swing: Brooks (12) and Booker (8) combined for 20 points in the 3rd and Booker added 6 dimes as Phoenix improved to 16-13
3. EAST STORYLINES: BULLS, PISTONS & CAVS CATCH FIRE
On Sunday, Atlanta and Chicago delivered the highest-scoring game of the season, with Jalen Johnson and Josh Giddey each flirting with triple-doubles.
Two nights later, the two young playmakers dueled again.
Bulls 126, Hawks 123: Both entering Tuesday with six triple-doubles on the season, Johnson finished one rebound shy of his 7th (24 pts, 9 reb, 10 ast), while Giddey only needed 20 minutes to notch his (19 pts, 11 reb, 15 ast).
But it was the final five minutes that mattered most, as the Bulls closed on an 18-6 run to complete an 18-point rally, securing back-to-back wins over Atlanta. | Recap
- White & “Watch Your Head!”: Coby White led the Bulls with 24 points on five 3s, while Matas Buzelis added 15 points and a monster tomahawk
- Big Buckets, Close Calls: After Chicago’s 152-150 win on Sunday, the two teams have now combined for 551 points in their last two games. Both have been decided by a total of five points
The Pistons just keep on winning.
Pistons 136, Kings 127: Detroit got big numbers from Tobias Harris (24 pts), Cade Cunningham (23 pts, 7 reb, 14 ast, 5 stl) and Jalen Duran (23 pts, 13 reb) to get past DeMar DeRozan’s season-high 37 points and 27 more from Russell Westbrook. | Recap
- Motoring: East-leading Detroit has won three in a row and nine of its last 11 games, in the franchise’s second-best 30-game start (24 wins) ever
Cavaliers 141, Pelicans 118: Donovan Mitchell (27 pts) led nine Cavs in double figures, including a season-high 22 points from Sam Merrill, as Cleveland snapped New Orleans’ five-game win streak, despite 26 points off the bench from Zion Williamson. | Recap
- Rookie Ranks: Derik Queen (21 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast) logged his fourth 20/5/5 game this season, trailing only Chris Paul (14x) for most such games by a rookie in franchise history
- Christmas Cavs: Cleveland wins its second straight game, soaring above 140 points for the second time this season. Up next? Its Christmas Day matchup with the Knicks at MSG (Noon ET, ABC/ESPN)
4. TAKEOVER TIME: ALDAMA, MPJ & SCOTTIE SPARK WINS
Grizzlies 137, Jazz 128: On Saturday, Santi Aldama poured in a career-high 37 points. Last night, he did it again, going 7-of-13 from downtown while adding 7 dimes as Memphis earned a near wire-to-wire win over Kyle Filipowski (25 pts, 13 reb) and Utah. | Recap
- Memphis Money Ball: Aldama’s seven 3s are also a career-best as the Grizz drilled 19 triples at a 42.2% clip
Nets 114, 76ers 106: Michael Porter Jr. netted 25 of his 28 points in the 1st half, while this year’s No. 8 pick, Egor Dëmin, added 20 as Brooklyn pulled away from Philly, despite Joel Embiid’s big night (27 pts, 6 reb). The Nets are now 6-3 in their last nine games. | Recap
- Brooklyn Boost: This is the Nets’ best 9-game stretch of the season, with MPJ averaging 28.6 ppg in that span while shooting 46.4% from 3
Raptors 112, Heat 91: Jaime Jaquez Jr. only needed one shoe for 5 of his 21 points, but Toronto stayed a step ahead of Miami, as Scottie Barnes (27 pts, 8 reb, 10-14 FG) fueled a 61-47 2nd half to secure a bounce-back dub, moving the Raptors to 18-13. | Recap
5. ROUNDUP: BANE LEADS MAGIC, HORNETS & BUCKS DUB
Magic 110, Blazers 106: Desmond Bane (23 pts, 5 ast, 3 stl, 3 blk) logged eight 4th-quarter points to steady Orlando against Deni Avdija (25 pts, 8 ast), Shaedon Sharpe (22 pts) and Portland’s 24-9 lead-snagging run. Anthony Black (22 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast) helped Orlando cap its four-game road trip with a W. | Recap
Hornets 126, Wizards 109: LaMelo Ball (23 pts, 9 ast) led eight double-digit Hornets scorers and Kon Knueppel (19 pts) hit three of his five 3-pointers in a 4th quarter where Charlotte held Washington to 19 points to pull away. | Recap
Bucks 111, Pacers 94: Kevin Porter Jr. (24 pts, 6 reb) and Ryan Rollins (23 pts, 7 reb) fueled Milwaukee in ending its three-game skid, topping Pascal Siakam (15 pts, 9 reb) and Indy. | Recap
