A record 23 seasons for No. 23.
And a chalk toss that’s forever timeless.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Shining Bright: The King’s royal return, another Luka eruption and Detroit’s 11th straight dub
West Wins: Fox & Barnes spark electric Spurs’ surge, Booker & Suns stay hot
East Dubs: Another Bane boost for Orlando, while Brown & Pritchard power Boston
Tonight On ESPN: KD’s red-hot Rockets meet Mitchell’s Cavs, Knicks & Mavs duel in Dallas
League Pass Spotlight: West’s top teams complementing SGA & Joker, plus 5 more tips
BUT FIRST … ⏰
An ESPN doubleheader tips off tonight’s 9-game slate as the Rockets visit the Cavs (7 ET | Tap to Watch), before the Mavs host the Knicks (9:30 ET | Tap to Watch)
Dunk The Halls: Disney, ESPN and the NBA are teaming up again to present Dunk the Halls – the second annual real-time, animated NBA game – on Christmas Day when the Knicks host the Cavs.
1. SHINING BRIGHT: LAKERS SHOWTIME, PISTONS STREAK
Luka Dončić entered Tuesday averaging 34.4 pts, 8.9 reb and 8.9 ast – numbers no player had ever matched in his first 10 games of a season.
Amid his unprecedented run – and Los Angeles’ best start in five years – the next question was simple:
- What would it look like with LeBron James back at full strength?
The answer? Every bit as terrifying as it sounds.
Lakers 140, Jazz 126: In the debut of his NBA-record 23rd season, James dished out a game-high 12 assists and added an efficient 11 points (4-7 FG, 2-3 3PM), while Luka stayed scorching, dropping 37 with 5 boards and 10 dimes to power L.A. past Utah, improving to 11-4. | Recap
Showtime: With Keyonte George (34 pts, 8 ast) and Lauri Markkanen (31 pts) leading the Jazz, the Lakers trailed 71-67 at the half. Then, everything clicked.
Dončić exploded for 17 in the 3rd, initiating a 21-5 avalanche that sent an already-buzzing Crypto.com Arena crowd into overdrive.
To cap the burst? Back-to-back buckets by Luka – including a ridiculous and-1 (and boogie ⬆️) – a Jaxson Hayes putback plus the foul, and a LeBron laser to Gabe Vincent to beat the 3rd-quarter buzzer.
A 4-point halftime deficit was now an 11-point lead, and the Lakers never looked back for their eighth win in 10 games.
- Luka Magic: Dončić now has seven 35+ point games this season – two more than any other player – and is averaging a historic 34.6 pts, 8.5 reb and 9 ast through 11 outings
- King Delivers: Despite being the first player in NBA history to play 23 seasons, it’s only James’ second points/assists double-double in a season debut
- And It Came With A Show: LeBron had the crowd on its feet as he picked apart Utah, highlighted by two silky no-look dimes to Deandre Ayton (20 pts, 14 reb)
- “It’s his 23rd season – it’s insane,” said Luka postgame. “Just sharing the court with him, it’s special. He does things that other people can’t.”
- All Cylinders: Austin Reaves joined the party with 26 points on 7-of-11 shooting as L.A. scored a season-high
The red-hot Pistons are 13-2 for the first time in 20 years.
Detroit Basketball back then was known for its defensive-minded toughness.
The current version sitting atop the East is built on the same principles, reemphasized by coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Which theme’s been the key?
“Their willingness to do just whatever it takes to get the win and be as nasty as we need to be,” said Bickerstaff.
On Tuesday night, the league’s 2nd-best defense leaned on that identity to preserve its league-best win streak.
Pistons 120, Hawks 112: Cade Cunningham (25 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast) and company held on late to secure Detroit’s NBA-best 11th win in a row while snapping the Hawks’ 5-game win streak. | Recap
- Historically Hot: The Pistons’ 11-game win streak is their longest since 2007-08, and their 13-2 start is their best 15-game start to a season since 2005-06
- D Keys Win: With Atlanta storming back to within a point in the 4th, Detroit’s defense sparked a 9-0 run that sealed the win
- Cade Continues: After missing 3 games, Cunningham collected his 5th straight 25+ point, 10+ assist game, a Pistons record. He’s just the 5th player this century with such a streak
- Group Effort: Jalen Duren added 24 points and 8 rebounds, while Duncan Robinson (4 3s) and Daniss Jenkins (7 ast) provided 14 points apiece
- ATL’s Trio: The shorthanded Hawks got 69 combined points from Jalen Johnson (25 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast), Nickeil Alexander Walker (24 pts) and Onyeka Okongwu (21 pts, 4 3s)
2. WEST WINS: FOX & BARNES BOOST SPURS, SUNS STAY HOT
Spurs 111, Grizzlies 101: With Victor Wembanyama (calf) and Stephon Castle (hip) out, De’Aaron Fox (26 pts) and Harrison Barnes (23 pts, 5 reb, 4 3s) caught fire late to help San Antonio run away from Memphis and improve to 10-4. | Recap
- The Swing: In a game that featured 19 lead changes, the Spurs trailed 101-100 late, before Barnes took over with a personal 7-0 run, capped by a dagger 3 with 53 ticks left
- The Statement: With Frost Bank Center rocking, Fox finished the job, punctuating his 22-point 2nd half with a windmill slam – stamping the Spurs’ best 14-game start since 2016-17
- Strong Showing: Rookie Cedric Coward continued to cook, leading Memphis with 19 points and 11 boards while going 5-of-7 from deep
Suns 127, Blazers 110: Devin Booker (6 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl) and Collin Gillespie (6 ast, 4 3s) each netted 19 points to lead six Suns in double figures as Phoenix pulled away in the 2nd half to claim its sixth win in seven games. | Recap
3. EAST DUBS: MAGIC & CELTICS IMPROVE TO 8-7
Magic 121, Warriors 113: Desmond Bane (23 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl) tallied his first career 20/5/5/5 game to lead Orlando to its 7th win in the last 10 games, despite 67 combined points from Stephen Curry (34 pts, 9 ast, 7 3s) and Jimmy Butler (33 pts, 7 reb, 3 stl). | Recap
- Busy Bane: Becoming just the 8th Magic player ever with a 20/5/5/5 game, Bane has upped his scoring average to 22.4 over the last five games (4-1)
- Balanced Magic: Anthony Black posted a season-high 21 pts, joining 6 Magic players in double figures
- Steph’s Journey: Curry passed Vince Carter for 22nd on the all-time scorers list, prompting story about a young Steph from VC on NBC’s NBA Showtime
Celtics 113, Nets 99: Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 29 points and Payton Pritchard (22 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast, 5 3s) shot into the Celtics’ record books as Boston bested Michael Porter Jr. (25 pts, 6 reb, 3 stl) and the Nets. | Recap
- Joining Greats: In his 362nd game, Pritchard hit his 700th career 3, becoming the 3rd fastest to reach that mark in Celtics’ history, trailing only Ray Allen and Jayson Tatum
4. TONIGHT ON ESPN: CLUTCH CLOSERS COLLIDE, KNICKS VISIT MAVS
Down 2 late in the 4th quarter on Sunday, facing one of the league’s stingiest defenses in Orlando, the young Rockets needed a bucket.
They turned to their 19-year vet, Kevin Durant.
And he delivered.
A go-ahead 3 with 2:49 left. Another triple to tie it with 22 ticks remaining. Then – after Alperen Sengun’s OT-forcing buzzer-beater – Durant found Amen Thompson for a go-ahead slam in overtime.
One possession later, the NBA’s eighth all-time scorer buried the dagger for Houston’s ninth win in 10 games.
- “I’m really happy to give someone the ball at the end of the game and I know he’s gonna score,” said Sengun on Durant after the win.
- “I’ve never played with a player like KD … and we’re just going to get better and better.”
Durant’s presence has unlocked both Sengun (23.3 ppg) and Thompson (17.3) – not just in the clutch, but all season – as they’re averaging career-highs to fuel Houston’s 9-1 run, where it ranks 1st in ppg (124.8), 3-point percentage (42.6) and OffRtg (123.4).
Tonight on ESPN (7 ET), the Rockets face another elite closer – Donovan Mitchell – as Houston visits a Cavs team that’s heating up behind its All-NBA guard.
- Scorching Spida: Mitchell is averaging 30.9 ppg on 50.9% shooting – both career-highs – while pacing the league in 2nd-half scoring
- Late-Game Lift: That’s led to Cleveland averaging 61.5 2nd-half ppg – the most in the NBA – fueling five clutch wins
- Heavyweight Matchup: Cleveland seeks its eighth win in 10 games, while trying to hand Houston just its second loss in 25 days
One game back of Cleveland in the East is New York, which – without Jalen Brunson – turns to Karl-Anthony Towns to get back on track as it visits Cooper Flagg and Dallas (9:30 ET, ESPN).
- Big Impact: Off back-to-back All-Star nods, Towns continues to post big numbers (21.8 pts, 12.7 reb), joining Jokić, Wemby and Jalen Duren as the only players averaging 20+ pts and 12+ reb this season
- Consistent KAT: That includes 12 double-doubles in 13 games – tied with Jokić for most in the NBA
- Flagg Rising: Meanwhile, Flagg is finding his groove, leading the Mavs with 18.8 ppg on 55.1% shooting over their last five outings
- No Fear: That includes a clutch performance on Sunday (21 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 2 blk), where Flagg scored 19 after halftime to spark an OT win vs. Portland
- “He’s comfortable in those situations,” said Jason Kidd postgame on Flagg, who scored 7 in the clutch. “We’ve played in a lot of close games and he’s delivered.”
5. LEAGUE PASS TONIGHT: TEAM BALL FUELING WEST’S BEST
It’s easy to credit the early success of the West’s top two teams to their superstar leaders somehow already elevating their Kia MVP-caliber play.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is top 3 in scoring with more 30+ point games (12) than anyone else.
Triple-double machine Nikola Jokić is now just one 35/15/10 game away from tying the most all-time (13, Oscar Robertson), a level he’s nearly averaging in his last five games (37 pts, 14.2 reb, 10.2 ast).
But there’s more to the success of the Thunder and Nuggets than singular greatness. Both teams’ supporting casts have stepped up around their superstars, raising what’s possible for their seasons’ ceilings.
OKC welcomes Sacramento (8 ET, League Pass) with the franchise’s best record (14-1) through 15 games. Compared to this point last season, the Thunder’s OffRtg (118.7) has improved +5.4.
- In The Numbers: SGA’s +3 overall jump in OffRtg (125.4) this season can’t account for that difference alone; It’s emerging scorers like Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell too
- Scoring Growth: After coming up big in last year’s title run, Holmgren has carried that momentum into this season, averaging a career-best 19.9 ppg
- More Firepower: Stepping in for the injured Jalen Williams, Mitchell has broken out as OKC’s 3rd-leading scorer, experiencing a jump of nearly 10 ppg (16.3)
- Fire Extinguisher: Team defense is also an OKC key, leading the league in DefRtg (103.2) with 6 individuals ranking in the top 10. They’re already +2.6 better than last year’s NBA-record 12.9 point differential
Denver brings the league’s 2nd-best OffRtg (122.2) into New Orleans (8 ET, League Pass), a notable jump compared to last year (+8.9). And when your superstar leads the league in assists (11.1), it’s just as much a measure of teammates’ scoring success.
- The Archer: Jamal Murray remains a consistent weapon; a top-25 scorer averaging a career-high 23.1 ppg
- Complete AG: Aaron Gordon has taken the biggest step forward offensively (career-high 20.3 ppg), announcing his evolution with a 10-triple 50-piece on Oct. 23
- Historic Trio: On Monday, the two combined with Jokić to become the first trio of teammates to each have a 20-point double-double in consecutive team games within a season since 2011
- Last to do it? Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James
Elsewhere on League Pass, the Raptors and Warriors look to stay hot as Toronto visits Tyrese Maxey and Philly (7 ET), while the Dubs’ 6-game road trip concludes in Miami (7:30 ET).
- Hornets at Pacers (7 ET)
- Wizards at Wolves (8 ET)
- Bulls at Blazers (10 ET)
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