Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers defeated Jamal Murray and the Nuggets in the opening game of our Prime doubleheader.
Enjoy the best of Friday’s schedule with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.
What we know about Friday’s games:
- The Cavaliers defeated the Nuggets 113-108 in the first game of our national doubleheader, as Donovan Mitchell (33 pts) out-dueled Jamal Murray (34 pts).
- The Thunder beat the Warriors 131-94, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 30 points.
- The Bucks held on to earn a 122-121 victory over the Hornets, as Giannis Antetokounmpo (30 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) threw down a game-winning alley-oop with 4.7 seconds remaining.
1:10 AM / JANUARY 3, 2025
Lakers defeat Grizzlies
128-121. Luka Dončić (34 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast) and LeBron James (31 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast) led the way for the Lake Show.
LeBron James caps a 12-2 LAL run!
Lakers up 9 with under 2 minutes to play! pic.twitter.com/N9IY5e9nw7
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
12:56 AM / JANUARY 3, 2025
Lakers take late lead
121-112 Los Angeles with just under two minutes to play. Will Memphis make a comeback?
Jaxson Hayes with AUTHORITY.
MEM/LAL going down to the wire on NBA League Pass 💥
Tap to watch: https://t.co/mJbrfWTVvr pic.twitter.com/g7T83Uls49
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
12:33 AM / JANUARY 3, 2025
Lakers and Grizzlies tied after three
For your nightcap, check out Lakers-Grizzlies, which is currently tied at 96-all.
Luka Dončić has 28 points; LeBron James has 21; ex-Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leads the Grizzlies with 18.
16 straight 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Tap in 📲 https://t.co/vBFyHBZBu4 pic.twitter.com/aXSljpHhyC
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 3, 2026
Looks like a good finish on League Pass.
12:28 AM / JANUARY 3, 2025
Thunder roll over Warriors
Oklahoma City handed Golden State their worst loss of the season Friday night, winning 131-94 behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30 pts) and Chet Holmgren (23 pts, 15 reb).
“Playing to our habits, playing to our fundamentals,” said SGA. “No matter who goes out there, we know what it takes to get dubs.”
Smooth.
Gifted.
Athletic.
30 PTS & 7 AST for SGA as the @okcthunder win their fourth in a row and move to 30-5 on the season!
Third straight 30-PT, 5-AST game for Shai! pic.twitter.com/IPzhfNSQDZ
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III did not play for the Warriors. Al Horford, Will Richard and Moses Moody each had 13 for the Bay Area representatives.
12:01 AM / JANUARY 3, 2025
Take a good look at the Greek Freak’s night
30 points.
10 boards.
5 assists.
1 game-winner.@Giannis_An34 showed out in MIL’s W!
He passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (157) for the second-most regular-season games with 30+ PTS, 10+ REB, and 5+ AST in NBA history! pic.twitter.com/tvc48gc8ke
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
11:49 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
The Spurs’ backcourt is thriving
San Antonio guards are shooting 48.2 percent from the field this season — second-best in the NBA.
Tonight, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper put up 46 points on 55.8 percent shooting, spurring their squad to a 123-113 win over the Pacers.
De’Aaron Fox’s 24 + Dylan Harper’s 22 = Spurs W!
San Antonio moves to 25-9 on the season 😤 pic.twitter.com/UPcbHZve4N
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
11:36 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
Russ passes The Big O
These two guards have often been named in the same breath, as Russell Westbrook has amassed triple-doubles and accolades over a 17-year career.
Oscar Robertson played 14 seasons, earning 12 NBA All-Star nods, eight straight All-NBA First Team honors and the 1963-64 NBA Most Valuable Player award.
A legendary moment on this Friday night.
The bucket that moved Russell Westbrook into 15th on the all-time scoring list 🔥👏
Congrats, Brodie! https://t.co/2S5h6RwM9f pic.twitter.com/V9r1jTuJ1x
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
Russ also passed Robert Parish to move into 19th on the all-time field goals list.
Congrats to @russwest44 of the @SacramentoKings for moving up to 19th on the all-time FIELD GOALS MADE list! pic.twitter.com/Cnir7Kho7y
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
11:02 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
The Don makes it look easy
Lakers are up 31-28 over Memphis on League Pass.
What a pass by Luka Dončić 🎯
Unreal court vision. pic.twitter.com/wZm6bxoi2O
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
Before the game, Luka Dončić did what he does — magic.
Luka with the pregame magic 🪄
MEM/LAL is LIVE on NBA League Pass… watch here: https://t.co/mJbrfWTVvr pic.twitter.com/7swukdWg9E
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
10:38 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
Bucks hang on to defeat Hornets
122-121, behind Giannis Antetokounmpo (30 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) and Ryan Rollins (29 pts).
Kon Knueppel had 26 to lead the Hornets in his return to his native Wisconsin.
BUCKS GET THE STOP AND SECURE W.
WILD FINISH IN MILWAUKEE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ukkimfEaTM
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
10:10 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
Cavs defeat Nuggets on Prime
Mood. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/rINNnAR3Cp
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 3, 2026
113-108.
Donovan Mitchell had 33 points, while Jamal Murray countered with 34, bringing to mind their classic duel in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
The Cavaliers ended the game on a 10-0 run to ice, running their record to 20-16.
Darius Garland added 18 points and 8 assists for Cleveland.
9:55 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
Murray in the clutch
JAMAL MURRAY BRINGS DENVER WITHIN 3!
5.3 SECONDS LEFT ON PRIME.
TAP TO WATCH: https://t.co/rXvhoVn427 pic.twitter.com/5OM5uCF98A
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
9:30 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
Nuggets-Cavaliers going down to the wire
101-100 with 7:25 to go on Prime! Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell are both up to 31. Check out the duel.
Nothing but net 💦
Spida has 27 (13 in 3Q) as we head to the 4Q! pic.twitter.com/Njrv2onUOy
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
9:15 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
Buzelis hits the trampoline
A 116.7 on the Dunk Score scale — fifth-best of the season!
MATAS. BUZELIS. 🤯
What a HUGE one-handed throwdown!
ORL/CHI is tied at 59 at the break… tap to watch the 2H: https://t.co/KJXQbFKdBI pic.twitter.com/kfcEPtxTk0
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
8:00 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
Long-range dimes to start Friday night
“Touchdown Wizards!” 🙌
Bub Carrington’s one-handed, crosscourt dime to Justin Champagnie extends Washington’s lead.
Tap to watch: https://t.co/kIvXykfP25 pic.twitter.com/jpStA2eOjP
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
A dime from just beyond halfcourt 🎯
The Mitchell to Mobley connection never gets old!
Cavs with the early lead on Prime. pic.twitter.com/mzlNnuHsxx
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
7:30 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
The Blue Arrow at work
Jamal Murray loses his defender for the easy finish 🔥
He’s got 14 in Q1!
Tap to watch: https://t.co/6sXrukqmkk pic.twitter.com/tpevSGv78m
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
7:00 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
Pacers rolling early in Indy
And-1 for Andrew Nembhard!
8 early points on 3/3 shooting from the floor 👏 pic.twitter.com/iwxtmrDjOb
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
6:00 ET / JANUARY 2, 2025
Welcome to a 10-game night in the NBA!
- San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers, 7 ET
- Brooklyn Nets vs. Washington Wizards, 7 ET
- Denver Nuggets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 ET (Prime)
- Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks, 7:30 ET
- Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls, 8 ET
- Charlotte Hornets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 8 ET
- Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 8 ET
- Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns, 9 ET
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors, 10 ET (Prime)
- Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 ET
