Take a bow, Jaylen Brown.
50 points. Standing O. C’s dub.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION
Jan. 4, 2026
Saturday Stars: Brown matches career-high, Sixers core shines and a patented Curry flurry
West Winners: Avdija’s birthday triple-dub, AD’s monster night, Wolves’ complete win
East Winners: BI, Barrett & Barnes boost Raptors; Bridges, Miller & Knueppel rally Hornets
League Pass Spotlight: Off to a 30-5 start, OKC visits the surging Suns for Round 3
More On LP: Late-game leaders Mitchell and Cade clash to open today’s 8-game slate
BUT FIRST …
A Sunday marathon…
Eight games tip off today on League Pass, starting with Donovan Mitchell’s Cavs hosting Cade Cunningham and the East-leading Pistons (2 ET | Tap to Watch).
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. Don’t miss your shot, vote now.
1. SATURDAY STARS: BROWN DROPS 50, SIXERS CORE SHINES, CURRY COOKS
Amid a career season, Jaylen Brown authored a December to remember, posting an NBA-best 31.7 ppg to jolt Boston from 8th to 3rd in the East.
After turning the calendar, he hasn’t cooled off.
Celtics 146, Clippers 115: In a scoring clinic, Brown matched his career-high of 50 points on 18-of-26 shooting, drilling six 3s while dropping five dimes to propel Boston past LA, snapping the Clippers’ six-game win streak. | Recap
- The Scorer: After dropping 20 in the 1st half, Brown went off for 19 in the 3rd on 7-of-8 shooting while going 3-of-4 from deep, stretching Boston’s lead to 14
- The Stopper: He finished 6-of-10 from downtown, but also owned the perimeter defensively, helping hold a red-hot Kawhi Leonard to 22 points and James Harden to 18
- “That was one of the most complete games I’ve seen him play,” said Joe Mazzulla postgame. “After the game, I thanked him. I thought it was an honor to be able to watch a performance like that.”
- So did the Intuit Dome, where Brown checked out to MVP chants and a standing ovation, joining Jayson Tatum (5x) and Larry Bird (4x) as the only Celtics with multiple 50-point games
JB’s Best Ball: Brown’s first 50-piece came nearly four years ago to the day, in an OT win over Orlando on Jan. 2, 2022. Since then, he’s hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, won Finals MVP and been named to three straight All-Star Games.
But this season has looked different. Boston’s roster has been reconstructed since its title run, and Jayson Tatum remains sidelined with an Achilles injury. Still, the C’s stand just 3 games back of 1st in the East.
The constant? Brown, averaging career-highs in points (29.5), assists (5.0) and field goal percentage (50.3%). And he just added a career night to go along with it.
- “I feel like I’m the best two-way player in the game,” said Brown postgame. “I want to take on the challenge each and every night – and try to help my team get wins.”
Sixteen days ago, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 53 points to hand the Knicks just their second loss this season at Madison Square Garden.
Last night, they topped it — with more stars joining the show.
76ers 130, Knicks 119: If it wasn’t Maxey (36 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast), it was Edgecombe (26 pts, 4 ast, 2 stl). If it wasn’t Edgecombe, it was Joel Embiid (26 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast), as the Sixers lit up MSG to stave off Jalen Brunson (31 pts) and the Knicks. | Recap
- Two-Way Takeover: Maxey (6 3s) and Edgecombe (4 3s) combined for 10 3s and each swatted two shots – becoming the first Sixers duo to post 25+ points, 4+ triples and 2+ blocks in the same game
- Athletes In Space: That included this end-to-end swat-and-slam from Edgecombe in the 4th, followed by a silky stepback 3 from Maxey to seal the win
- Core Four: Paul George also stuffed the stat sheet (15 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast, 2 blk) as Philly’s four stars combined for 103 points
- Sixers Surge: Philly has won three straight, and it’s the only team to beat New York twice at MSG this season. The rest of the NBA is a combined 2-15
- The Cherry On Top? Embiid’s first dunk of the season – boogie included
While Philly’s quartet shined at MSG, Steph’s 3rd quarter shook the Chase Center.
Warriors 123, Jazz 114: With 9 points at the half and the Dubs down 7, Curry entered that zone, erupting for 20 points in the 3rd on 6-of-8 shooting and four 3s, giving the Warriors a 4-point lead that they never relinquished to top Lauri Markkanen (35 pts, 6 reb) and Utah. | Recap
- The Warning: Curry’s first triple of the 3rd came a minute in, followed by 2 more points and an assist to get Golden State within 3
- The Flurry: He soon buried a look-away 3 to take the lead, followed by a third triple 46 ticks later. Then, a cutting layup, a pull-up jumper and another 3 to top it off – this time “from the Ferry Building,” sending the Chase Center into a frenzy
- The Chef: It’s Curry’s 45th 20+ point quarter since 2000. Only two other players have 30 in that span: Kobe Bryant (36) and James Harden (32)
- The Win: He finished with 31 points, going 6-of-12 from deep while adding 5 dimes to secure Golden State’s sixth win in eight games
- “It was just Steph,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr on the 3rd-quarter swing. “That’s how good he is.”
2. WEST WINNERS: AVDIJA & DAVIS DOMINATE, WOLVES HOWL
On his 25th birthday, Deni Avdija made sure the candles weren’t the only thing lit.
Blazers 115, Spurs 110: Avdija’s career year continued with a monster triple-double (29 pts, 11 reb, 10 ast), capped by a lead-extending 3 in the final minute to put the party on ice, as Portland edged San Antonio for its second win in two nights. | Recap
- Rip City Rise: Avdija is averaging a career-best 25.7 pts and 7.1 ast this season, putting Portland in Play-In position as it seeks its first postseason berth since 2020-21
- “I just love playing with this team,” said Avdija postgame. “This camaraderie, this team, it’s just fun to play … I feel like our future is so bright.”
- Kornet Shines: Luke Kornet (23 pts, 8 reb, 5 blk) led the way for San Antonio with Victor Wembanyama out for a second straight game (knee soreness)
Mavericks 110, Rockets 104: Anthony Davis was a beast on both ends (26 pts, 12 reb, 5 blk), while rookie Max Christie caught fire (24 pts, 10-13 FG, 7 reb) to hold off Kevin Durant (34 pts, 7 ast) and the Rockets. | Recap
- Complementary Close: Cooper Flagg did a bit of everything (10 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl), while AD said goodnight with a huge block before feeding Klay Thompson for the dagger 3
- Sengun Exits: Amen Thompson added a double-double for Houston (20 pts, 12 reb), which lost Alperen Sengun early due to an ankle injury
Wolves 125, Heat 115: Anthony Edwards (33 pts, 5 ast) dropped 20 points in the 1st half, while Naz Reid (29 pts, 10-15 FG) added 20 in the 2nd as the Wolves used a 19-4 run in the 4th to race past Miami. | Recap
- On The Prowl: Julius Randle (23 pts, 10 reb) and Rudy Gobert (13 pts, 12 reb) added double-doubles for Minnesota, whose superstar feels like they’re just getting started
- “I feel like we can beat everybody,” said Edwards postgame. “If we play to this level right here … we can hang with the best of them.”
3. EAST WINNERS: RAPTORS ROLL, HORNETS RALLY
Raptors 134, Hawks 117: Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett scored 29 points apiece, Scottie Barnes added 20, and the Raptors’ defense slammed the door in the 4th, holding Atlanta to 11 points despite another big night from Jalen Johnson (30 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast). | Recap
- 4th-Quarter Clamps: Ingram (2 stl, 2 blk) and Barnes (3 stl, 1 blk) set the tone defensively, culminating in Atlanta’s lowest-scoring quarter this season
Hornets 112, Bulls 99: Down 58-50 at the half, Charlotte turned up in the 2nd, outscoring Chicago 62-41 behind Miles Bridges (26 pts, 14 reb), Brandon Miller (22 pts), Kon Knueppel (18 pts) and three other double-digit scorers to snap its 3-game skid. | Recap
- More Ballers: LaMelo Ball added 17 points and 7 dimes, while Nikola Vučević led Chicago (28 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast)
4. TONIGHT ON LP: THUNDER VISIT SUNS AFTER SECOND STRAIGHT 30-5 START
William Purnell/NBAE via Getty Images
The 1990s Bulls. The 2010s Warriors. This Thunder team.
OKC is off to its second straight 30-5 start – just the third NBA franchise to repeat that feat back-to-back – and is looking for more in Phoenix tonight.
Thunder at Suns (8 ET, LP): The Thunder ride a four-game win streak into the desert, where the Suns aim to avenge two earlier losses to OKC that ended their NBA Cup chances.
- Superior Stats: ‘25-’26 OKC is averaging 7.3 more points with a better field goal percentage and +3.2 larger point differential than last year’s championship team through their respective 30-5 starts
- Leading Legends: Thunder leader SGA is outscoring MJ and Steph in their 30-5-start seasons following championships, averaging nearly a bucket more per game (32.1 ppg) while shooting 4.2% better from the field
- Sizzling Suns: Phoenix has won five of six, with a top-5 offense (120.6 OffRtg) and 4th-best Defensive Rating (110.3) in that span
- Devin’s Doing: Booker scored the 7th-most points in the league during the run (158), upping his ppg (26.3) and field goal shooting (48.7%)
5. MORE ON LEAGUE PASS: 4TH QUARTER’S FINEST COLLIDE
Donovan Mitchell has the Cavs clicking to start 2026.
Today’s League Pass action gets an early start in Cleveland, where the Cavs have won their last four, and welcome in Cade Cunningham and the East-leading Pistons (2 ET).
Nobody does more scoring in the 4th quarter than Mitchell (284 pts) and Cunningham (246 pts) this season, and Cleveland has called on Spida late to win three straight.
Here’s a visual breakdown of how these two All-Star guards take over when it matters most.
Mitchell piles up the 10th-most points on drives (161) when he gets downhill, like here: tacking on the and-1 through contact.
With 341 points on pull-up shots (6th-most), Spida has a preference for showing off his shooting range.
When the ball’s in Cade’s hands, he uses screens for roughly a third of his scoring, with 9.9 pick-and-roll points per game (3rd-most).
The league’s No. 2 in assists (9.7 apg) also likes to put points up by involving others, averaging a second-best 25.0 assist points created.
More On League Pass: The Lakers and Grizz run it back (9:30 ET) after Luka and LeBron each went over 30 points in Friday’s win, plus Giannis and the Bucks seek their fourth win in five games since his return, visiting the Kings (9 ET).
- Pacers at Magic (3 ET)
- Nuggets at Nets (3:30 ET)
- Pelicans at Heat (6 ET)
- Wolves at Wizards (6 ET)
