Starting 5: Clutch buckets abound on 12-game night

What. Just. Happened.

• Charlotte’s late lead vs. Toronto? Quickley over
• Game on the line in Brooklyn? Banchero banks it
• Lightning bottled in OKC? No way, says Shai

Three buzzer-beaters. Three heroes. Triple zeroes and a night we won’t forget.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

At The Buzzer: Paolo & Quickley call game, Shai extends eruption into OT, Portland escapes by inches

West Statements: Nuggets outduel C’s, Wemby’s Spurs outshine Luka & Lakers, Steph fuels Dubs

Big East Dubs: Knicks slow Clips, Pistons win shorthanded, Embiid & Sixers stay hot

Roundup: Suns & Hawks bounce back to cap a truly wild Wednesday

Tonight’s Tip-Offs: Ant shoots for 10,000 career points on a four-game night

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Thursday delivers a four-game slate, including the Heat visiting the Bulls on NBA TV (8 ET | Tap to Watch), while Anthony Edwards’ Wolves host Donovan Mitchell’s Cavs on League Pass (8 ET | Tap to Watch).

Name Your All-Stars: Less than one week remains to vote for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters. Submit your daily ballot through Jan. 14 using your NBA ID. The clock’s ticking, vote now.

Reports: The Hawks are reportedly trading four-time All-Star Trae Young to the Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert | More

1. EPIC ENDINGS: 3 BUZZER-BEATERS, UNLIMITED CHAOS

Three buzzer-beaters in the 4th quarter and overtime in one night.

• Sound Special? Entering this season, it had happened just twice in the last 20 years
• Sound Familiar? In the last two months, it’s happened twice more

The first came on Nov. 10 – two walk-off winners, plus another buzzer-beater to force OT.

Last night? Winner. Winner. Tie. Again.

This time – thanks to Paolo, Immanuel Quickley and Shai – we got one more reminder that we’re living through one of the wildest, pulse-pounding stretches of basketball in recent memory.

Last night’s final tally?

• Three games decided by one point or less – something we’d seen just twice in the last decade on a 12+ game night
• Five games decided by 4 points or fewer
• Two overtimes. 2 game-winners. 3 buzzer-beaters
• One-hundred and sixteen total lead changes
• Eleven 30-point scorers. 2 40-point scorers
• One night of pure adrenaline

Magic 104, Nets 103 (OT): We start the buzzer bonanza in Brooklyn, where Banchero banked in the Tissot triple to end a back-and-forth that was seconds shy of more horn heroics from the Nets’ Egor Dëmin.

Dëmin first hit a three with under 5 seconds left in regulation to force OT. Seven straight points later, he hit another for the lead with 3.6 seconds to play.

That’s when Banchero’s big answer capped his huge night (30 pts, 14 reb, 6 ast) and lifted Orlando past Dëmin (18 pts, 5 3s) and Brooklyn’s furious 39-25 rally across the 4th quarter and overtime. | Recap

• Winning Week: Paolo’s had two game-winning buckets in the final 10 seconds since New Year’s Eve, after beating the Pacers with an and-1
• Fast 5K: Paolo reached 5,000 career points in his 226th game, becoming the second-fastest Magic player to do so, behind Shaq (187 games)

“I knew I had two seconds, so two dribbles and just get it up,” Banchero said. “Felt good coming out of my hands and, blessed off the backboard.”

“Dëmin… rookie made a hell of a shot, and we just had to respond.”

• Egor Activated: All 18 of Dëmin’s points came in the 4th quarter and the extra frame, scoring the Nets’ final 13 points including all ten OT points

On a night where the Raptors missed 19 straight 3s, they splashed the most important one.

Raptors 97, Hornets 96: With the game tied and time winding down, LaMelo Ball (15 pts, 7 ast) kissed in a running layup to give Charlotte the lead with 1.6 seconds left, sending the Spectrum Center – and play-by-play announcer Eric Collins – into a frenzy.

But the celebration didn’t last long, as Immanuel Quickley received the ensuing inbound at the top of the key, turned, popped and called game at the buzzer. | Recap

• No Rhythm: Quickley was 2-of-10 from deep before the winner, as Toronto finished 7-of-34 as a team (20.6%), its second-lowest 3-point percentage all season
• No Hesitation: But in the final second, it didn’t matter, as Quickley was straight cash for Toronto’s third straight win
• RJ Takes Over: Quickley finished with 21 points and his first career game-winner, but it was Barrett (28 pts) who set the stage, scoring 16 of Toronto’s 31 points in a 4th that featured 7 lead changes
• Special Season: Quickley and Banchero’s game-winners mark just the fifth time in the last decade we’ve seen two Tissot buzzer-beaters on the same night. The last instance? Fifty-nine days ago (Nov. 10)

The run of buzzer-beaters kept rolling – the third, courtesy of the reigning Kia MVP.

Thunder 129, Jazz 125: Three seconds. That’s all that stood between OKC and its first three-game losing streak of the season, as Lauri Markkanen’s putback gave Utah a 2-point edge to silence the Paycom Center.

Three seconds. That’s all Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needed. Already with 35 points on the night, SGA delivered his biggest bucket yet – a tough drive-and-rise double-pump from the elbow to force OT at the buzzer.

He wasn’t done, as OKC outscored Utah 15-11 in the extra frame, with Shai pouring in 9 more points to punctuate a monster outing (46 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) with a timely dub. | Recap

• MVP Close: SGA dropped 32 after halftime, including 17 in the 4th quarter and OT. That gave him his 2nd-highest scoring game this season, behind only his career-best 55 on Oct. 23 vs. Indy
• Thunder Legends: It’s his 15th career 40/5/5 game, tying Kevin Durant for the 2nd-most in franchise history and trailing only Russell Westbrook (33)
• Chet Closes: Chet Holmgren added a double-double (23 pts, 12 reb), capped by a dagger putback jam to put OKC up 4 with 8 seconds left in OT

The madness didn’t stop there, as we were milliseconds from a fourth winner at the horn.

Blazers 103, Rockets 102: Two nights after Kevin Durant called game against Phoenix, Houston nearly did it again, as Tari Eason’s potential game-winning tip-in was ruled no good after a lengthy review – with his fingertip just barely on the ball as the buzzer blew, handing Portland a dramatic dub. | Recap

• KD & Avdija Duel: Durant finished with 37 points on 14-of-27 shooting, going bucket for bucket with Deni Avdija, who got the last word with a season-high 41 – his most as a Blazer
• Blazing Hot: Avdija is averaging 34.3 pts, 7.8 reb and 8 ast in Portland’s last four games – resulting in four straight wins

2. WEST STATEMENTS: NUGGETS TOP C’S, SPURS STALL LAKERS, DUBS BEAT BUCKS

Nuggets 114, Celtics 110: After 24 lead changes and no double-digit leads through three quarters, Denver flexed a 14-0 run midway through the final frame to take a second straight win with career numbers from Jamal Murray (21 pts, career-high 17 ast) and Peyton Watson (30 pts, career-high 6 3s). | Recap

• Best, Again: Murray hit a career high in assists for the second game in a row, becoming the first player since Luka (2024) to log back-to-back 20/15 games
• 30+ For JB: Jaylen Brown (33 pts) led Boston with his 21st 30+ point game this season – one away from matching his career high
• Looks Familiar: Mirroring Boston’s signature shooting, Denver hit 20 threes (45.5% 3P%) and limited the league-leading Celtics (ten games of 20+ 3s) to 15

Luka Dončić orchestrated his fourth triple-double of the season, but it was the Spurs banging the victory drum last night.

Spurs 107, Lakers 91: Luka’s 38-point triple-double (10 reb, 10 ast) fell short with LeBron out (foot) as Keldon Johnson (27 pts) and Wemby’s bench boost (16 pts, 14 reb) helped the Spurs keep the Lakers under 100 for the fourth time this season & end their 3-game win streak. | Recap

• Luka With Legends: Dončić’s 30th career 35+ point triple-double breaks his tie with Russell Westbrook for second-most all-time, now trailing only Oscar Robertson (59)

Warriors 120, Bucks 113: Steph’s 31 points (6 reb, 7 ast) and 43 more from De’Anthony Melton (season-high 22 pts, 5 3s) and Jimmy Butler (21 pts) pushed the Dubs to a 17-point lead, helping withstand Giannis and the Bucks’ 31-22 4th-quarter run. | Recap

• Matching Big O: With nine points in the 4th-quarter comeback attempt, Giannis went over 30 to tie Oscar Robertson for most 30/10/5 games (159) in NBA history

3. BIG EAST DUBS: KNICKS SLOW CLIPS, PISTONS & SIXERS STAY HOT

Knicks 123, Clippers 111: Kawhi Leonard (25 pts, 3 stl) and James Harden (23 pts, 9 ast) combined for 55, but Jalen Brunson (26 pts, 7 ast) and Karl-Anthony Towns (20 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast) sparked a 72-55 2nd half to snap New York’s four-game skid. | Recap

• Garden Bloom: OG Anunoby added 20 as the Knicks improved to 16-4 at MSG this season, their best home start since 1999-2000

Pistons 108, Bulls 93: Isaiah Stewart’s career-best 31 points (14-17 FG) got Detroit past Chicago’s trio of Ayo Dosunmu (24 pts), Matas Buzelis (20 pts) and Nikola Vučević (20 pts, 16 reb) for a third straight win. | Recap

• Bench Assist: With Cade Cunningham out (wrist), Dannis Jenkins dished 15 dimes in 28 minutes off the bench, becoming the third-ever Piston to do so

76ers 131, Wizards 110: Joel Embiid (28 pts, 2 blk), Paul George (23 pts, 5 ast) and Tyrese Maxey (22 pts, 8 reb) took over, all topping 20+ points for the first time this season for Philly’s fourth win in five games. | Recap

• Embiid At Work: The 2022-23 Kia MVP is posting 28.4 points over the last five games, with Philly putting up 129.4 per night – more than any other team in that span

4. ROUNDUP: SUNS, HAWKS SPREAD THE SCORING IN STRONG SHOWINGS

Suns 117, Grizzlies 98: Dillon Brooks led the way (21 pts, 7 reb), Grayson Allen added 19 (5 3s) in his second game back from a nine-game absence. Five other Suns scored 10+ in a near wire-to-wire win – marking Phoenix’s seventh victory in nine games. | Recap

Hawks 117, Pelicans 100: Zaccharie Risacher (25 pts, 8 reb) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) led seven Hawks in double figures as they used a 24-13 3rd quarter to pull away from Zion Williamson (22 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast) and the Pels. | Recap

5. TONIGHT: ANT-MAN’S PURSUIT OF 10K HIGHLIGHTS 4-GAME SLATE

As a new year rolls in, Anthony Edwards’ offensive production has continued to climb.

Tonight, he finds himself one good outing away from the biggest number of his career: 10,000.

Cavaliers at Wolves (8 ET): Ant is 23 points away from 10,000 in his career as Minnesota seeks a fourth straight W when Donovan Mitchell’s Cavs come to town.

• 10K Today? Edwards is pacing to it, as he’s scored under 23 points in just five of 29 full games this season
• A Rare Rate: Reaching 10,000 points under age 25 will put Ant with LeBron, Kobe, KD, Luka, T-Mac and Melo as the only players in NBA history to do so
• Fruits Of Labor: Edwards (29.3 ppg) is enjoying his fifth consecutive season of increased scoring. Must be the pineapples
• Shooting Strength: In each of the past two seasons, Ant has increased both his 3-point percentage (40.7) and his effective field goal percentage (58.9)

“Greatness is boring,” Edwards said of his work ethic, quoting motivation from assistant coach Chris Hines. “It was a lot of boring days in the gym working on one-dribble pull-ups, but I think it benefits me.”

• Spida’s Finest: Mitchell is having his own career year with highs in scoring (29.8 ppg) and shooting splits (49.7 FG%, 38.8 3P%)
• Cavs’ Roll: Cleveland enters having won two straight against Minnesota last season, with Mitchell starring for 29.5 points on 53.7 FG% in the set

On NBA TV, the Heat visit the Bulls (8 ET) seeking a sixth win in eight games, while on League Pass the Hornets host the Pacers (7 ET) and Cooper Flagg and Dallas carry two straight key victories into Utah (9 ET).