A fateful extra pass is rewarded with a winner.
LeBron and Rui deliver one of Thursday’s two can’t-miss clinchers, as Bron’s record-smashing, 18+ year double-digit scoring streak comes to an end.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Dec. 5, 2025
The Right Play: LeBron passes on expectations to help team take thriller up North
Stick It, Swat It: Sixers go all-out to save last-minute win, highlighting Thursday’s action
Homecourt Advantage: OKC fans fueling Thunder’s historic start as Flagg, Mavs visit
Tonight On Prime: LBJ and reloaded Lakers renew rivalry with new-look Celtics
On League Pass: Top West teams heating up with season’s first quarter complete
BUT FIRST … ⏰
A Friday feast of hoops…
It’s the busiest night of the month until Christmas week as a 12-game slate heads your way tonight, highlighted by a Prime double-header: the next chapter in an all-time rivalry between the Lakers & Celtics (7 ET), followed by the historic Thunder taking on red-hot rook Cooper Flagg and the Mavs (9:30 ET).
1. RED-HOT REAVES, KING-RUI CONNECTION WINS IT FOR LA
The King has always put winning above all other stats.
Thursday with the game on the line, he did it again on a grand scale.
Lakers 123, Raptors 120: In a tie game with less than 3 seconds left, LeBron James swung the ball to the far corner where Rui Hachimura (12 pts, 2-3 3PM) drilled the Tissot game-winning triple to spoil the Raptors’ 13-point comeback in Toronto. | Recap
- “He said: ‘It’s gonna come to you’,” Hachimura said of LeBron’s final-possession plan, creating Rui’s first career Tissot buzzer-beater
- Austin Ascends: Reaves (44 pts, 10 ast, 5 3pm) led LA with his third 40-point game of the season, joining Kobe (2x) and Luka as the only Lakers with a 40/10/5 game
- Swing It: His left-handed pass escaped a double-team in the final seconds, triggering LeBron’s game-winning assist (More on Reaves’ heat in Sec. 4 ⬇️)
In “making the right play,” LeBron saw his NBA-record streak of double-digit scoring games end at 1,297 on Thursday as he finished with eight points and 11 dimes, including the game-winning assist.
- Historic Spree: James’ double-digit scoring streak included 35,101 total points, which is enough to rank 4th all-time in NBA scoring history
- Unparalleled: LeBron’s streak lasted 6,905 days – that’s 18 years, 10 months and 26 days. His run was 431 games longer than any other player. Only 24 players in NBA history have played 1,297 games
- “Just playing the game the right way… always make the right play.” LeBron said postgame. “That’s been my MO my whole career, not even once second-guessing that.”
2. SIXERS SURVIVE WARRIORS’ CHARGE TO TOP THURSDAY ROUNDUP
At the buzzer in Philly, the Sixers’ dynamic young backcourt saved the day.
Both by crashing the glass.
Sixers 99, Warriors 98: VJ Edgecombe (10 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl) tipped in the game-winning bucket and Tyrese Maxey (35 pts, 4 3s) sprinted back to erase De’Anthony Melton’s response as Philly hung on after Golden State’s 24-point, 3-quarter comeback grabbed the lead with under 3 minutes to play. | Recap
- “Game on the line. Gotta crash,” Edgecombe explained postgame, while also admitting with a laugh this was his first ever game-winner
- Tyrese Tempo: Maxey alone outscored the Warriors 12-10 in the 1st quarter, finishing with his 3rd straight 35+ point game. Wilt, Dr. J, Charles Barkley, Iverson and Joel Embiid are the only other Sixers with three straight 35+ point games
- Ty & AI: Maxey now ties Iverson for Philly’s second-longest streak of 20+ point games to start a season (21), trailing only Embiid’s 33-game streak
- Way Back: After struggling in the 1st, the Warriors outscored Philly 88-69 and rode a 15-0 4th quarter run to take a 4-point lead, fueled by 12 points in the frame from Pat Spencer (16 total pts)
- Dub Debut: Melton scored 14 points with two steals and a block in his first game since 2024
Scott Taetsch/NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics 146, Wizards 101: Without Jaylen Brown (illness), Derrick White (30 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast, 5 3s) led seven Celtics in double-figures for their highest scoring game and biggest win of the season over CJ McCollum (22 pts, 3 3s) and the Wizards. | Recap
- C’s Step Up: Jordan Walsh’s career-high 22 points and 20 from Payton Pritchard, including 3 threes, made the difference, as they combined for 42
Timberwolves 125, Pelicans 116: Julius Randle (28 pts, 9 reb) led seven Wolves in double-figures to overcome NOLA’s trio of 20-point scorers as Minnesota won its fourth straight. Anthony Edwards (11 pts, 6 reb, 3 blk) was held under 30 points for the first time in six games. | Recap
- Flock Firepower: Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists, while Jeremiah Fears (20 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast) and Saddiq Bey (20 pts, 3 stl) combined for 40
Jazz 123, Nets 110: Lauri Markkanen (30 pts, 8 reb) and Keyonte George (29 pts, 10 ast, 4 3s) led the Jazz past Noah Clowney (29 pts, 3 blk) and a Nets team without leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. (back). | Recap
3. OKLAHOMA CITY LIFTING THUNDER TOWARD HISTORY, AS FLAGG, MAVS VISIT
Joshua Gateley/NBAE via Getty Images
Tonight on Prime, all eyes follow OKC’s climb through the record books, as they work on one of the four best first quarters of a season (21-1) in NBA history.
The Thunder can own the NBA’s longest win streak this season with a W, but red-hot Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks aim to be the first visitor to win in OKC this season (9:30 ET, Prime)
- Thundering Ws: OKC has not tip-toed through its current win streak, defeating opponents by an average of 17.9 points over the 13 victories
- Starts With SGA: The Thunder have benefitted from at least a 20-spot from Shai in every game since Halloween 2024. He trails only Wilt Chamberlain for longest streak of 20+ point performances, putting up 94
- Two-Way Shai: For the fourth straight season, Shai is averaging 1.5 steals per game to go with his 30+ points (32.8). If he stays there, he’ll join Michael Jordan as the only players since 1973-74 to score and steal at that clip for at least four consecutive seasons
Thunder players take the floor tonight with the backing of a perfect 10-0 record at home, a mark achieved with a little help from their friends.
- “When you’re here, people will say ‘Thank you’,” Chet Holmgren said of how he’s greeted in different places after the championship. “We try to reciprocate that by going out every night and laying it all out there.”
- “Its not a question of if we’re winning or not, it’s how we’re gonna win,” an OKC fan said during the Finals of the city’s confidence in this team
Joshua Gateley/NBAE via Getty Images
Now this unblemished home environment can help push the Thunder to more history, keeping pace with the 2015-16 Warriors’ (23-0), 1993-94 Rockets’ (22-1) and 1969-70 Knicks’ (22-1) best-ever starts through 23 games into a season.
Dallas rides in on a 3-game win streak, built with improved defense and a rolling Rookie.
- Super Cooper: Over this 3-win streak, Flagg is averaging 27.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game on 59.3% shooting from the field
- Defensive Tilt: Dallas’ defense has become the fourth-best this season (111.3 DefRtg), opposing the top defensive squad in OKC (103.8)
- Right Man: Converting 67.3 FG% in the restricted area, Anthony Davis will attack OKC’s top-ranked rim protection (56.2 DFG% at the rim)
4. ON PRIME: RIVALRY RENEWS AS STREAKING CELTICS & LAKERS COLLIDE
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
There is no more storied rivalry in NBA history than Lakers-Celtics.
A combined 35 titles between them – including a dozen decided head-to-head in the NBA Finals – spanning the history of the league.
Tonight in Boston, a rivalry that began on Nov. 9, 1948 enters its 78th year and 303rd regular-season matchup when the Lakers visit the Celtics (7 ET, Prime Video).
- Celtics On A Roll: Boston (13-9) is riding a three-game win streak, and put up a season-high 146 points on Thursday
- Lakers Riding High: L.A. (16-5) is coming off Thursday’s dramatic win LeBron finding Rui Hachimura for the game-winning 3 at the buzzer
With league-leading scorer Luka Dončić missing Thursday’s game, it was fellow top-10 scorer Austin Reaves that helped fill the void – pouring in 44 points with 10 assists and five 3s in a game-high 41 minutes.
- Breakout Year: Thursday was Reaves’ 3rd 40+ point game of the season, upping his average to a career-best 29.4 ppg, which good for 6th in the NBA for the 5th year pro
- Double Threat: Reaves can take over a game when needed – he scored 51 with Luka and LeBron out, and 44 on Thursday with Luka out. But he can also complement L.A.’s stars, averaging 26.6 in five games with the trio together
- No Surprise: After Reaves’ 38-point game vs. Dallas last week, reporters asked LeBron “What are the things that Austin Reaves does that still impresses you as a teammate?” The answer: “Nothing. Nothing. I told y’all. How long ago did I tell you all, AR can play ball? … It’s nothing [new]. AR, he’s great.”
- His Own Celtics Rivalry: LeBron is 34-27 vs. the Celtics in his career, posting his third-highest scoring average (28.6 ppg) against any opponent
The Celtics put up 146 points on Thursday despite not having their own top-10 NBA scorer in Jaylen Brown (29.0 ppg, 5th) as Boston won for the 5th time in their last six games to rise to 5th in the East.
- Offense Is Clicking: Over all teams’ last 10 games, Boston (8-2) leads the league in offensive rating (128.5), 3-pointers made (16.5 per game) and lowest turnover rate (12.4%), while ranking second in effective field goal percentage (59.3%)
- White Heating Up: After averaging 15.3 ppg on 34.8% FG, 29.7% 3P over his first 16 games, Derrick White is up to 22.2 ppg on 49.4% FG and 40.4% 3P shooting over his last five
5. LEAGUE PASS: WESTERN RACES WINDING UP AT SEASON’S QUARTER-MARK
Three teams sit just 5.5 games back in the West with a quarter of the season in the books.
The Spurs and Nuggets are both 15-6, with the Rockets just .023 win% points above them at 14-5.
Every game matters, and every team in this tight race is in action tonight.
Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
Spurs at Cavaliers (7:30 ET): Working toward an 8-2 record since Wemby’s injury, San Antonio hits Cleveland seeking a 16-6 overall start, which would be the team’s best since 2016.
- Feeling It: The Spurs fly in from a key win in Orlando courtesy of Luke Kornet’s thrilling block at the buzzer and more clutch play from De’Aaron Fox (12 4th quarter pts)
- Full Fox: De’Aaron has shined in his first full season with the Spurs, netting 25.0 points per game – more than 3.0 above his career average – and 6.3 assists
- Clutch Gene: Fox’s back-to-back double-figure 4th quarters show his impact in San Antonio’s top-3 win percentage in the clutch (10-3)
- Spida’s Specialty: The league’s top 4th quarter scorer, Donovan Mitchell (184 points), looks to take on this Spurs strength, bucket-for-bucket
Nuggets at Hawks (7:30 ET): For Denver, a 16-6 start would be the franchise’s best since 2009. The Nuggets bring their high-capacity scoring into this precision passing battle.
- Heaps of Helpers: Atlanta (30.4 ast) leads Denver (29.5 ast) in a battle of two of the league’s top-5 assisting teams, combatting top dimer Nikola Jokić (11.1 ast) by committee. Six Hawks average 3 or more assists per game, matching a league-high
- Peak Points: After Jamal Murray’s efficient 50-ball Wednesday (75.0 FG%), Denver has three of the league’s eight players to score 50+ points this season (Jokić, Aaron Gordon)
Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images
Suns at Rockets (8 ET): The Rockets would eclipse their best season start since 2017 if they can stay ahead in this grouping by moving to 15-5.
- Triple Attack: Houston’s high-flying trio all topped 20 points for the 3rd time Wednesday, with 28 points from Alperen Sengun and 44 more from KD (24) and Amen Thompson (20)
- More Defense: As well as they can score, the Rockets own the league’s 2nd-best Defensive Rating (110.3). They are the only team in the top-3 on both sides of the ball, while Phoenix has transformed into a top-10 defense (113.2 DefRtg)
- Shooting Suns: Former Rocket Dillon Brooks (22.3 pts) takes over for a sidelined Devin Booker (groin), along with Colin Gillespie, who’s averaged 24.3 pts and 6.0 3pm in three starts over the last four games
Elsewhere, Florida’s two top-5 Eastern teams provide an Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal preview as the Magic host the Heat (7 ET). Plus East-leading Detroit welcomes in the Blazers (7:30 ET).
- Jazz at Knicks (7:30 ET)
- Hornets at Raptors (7:30 ET)
- Pacers at Bulls (8 ET)
- Clippers at Grizzlies (8 ET)
- Sixers at Bucks (8 ET)
