Post. Pump. Bang. Step. Fade. Swish.
Ant’s shot made him the 3rd youngest player to reach the 10,000-point club, on a historic Thursday night.
Keep reading for more from AntMan, Rick Carlisle’s entrance into another elite club and a first look at this week’s Kia MVP Ladder … with a shakeup in the top 5.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
10K Points: Ant-Man becomes third-youngest to hit the mark as Wolves keep rolling
1K Wins: Rick Carlisle achieves his milestone as Pacers solve tough stretch
Kia MVP Ladder: Jaylen Brown’s two-way dominance has Celtics rolling & his MVP case rising
On NBA TV: Scorching scorers SGA and Luka star in tonight’s doubleheader
On League Pass: Philly’s star foursome, Avdija igniting Blazers, Nuggets finding Watson
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Heat at Bulls Postponed: Thursday’s game will be rescheduled after moisture on the floor at United Center made the court unplayable.
Ten games tip off tonight, highlighted by an NBA TV doubleheader as the Thunder visit the Grizzlies (8 ET | Tap to Watch), before Giannis and the Bucks face LeBron, Luka and the Lakers (10:30 ET | Tap to Watch).
Who Are Your All-Stars? Only six days remain 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.
1. 10,000 POINTS: ANT JOINS EXCLUSIVE CLUB, WOLVES STAY HOT
A rare scoring achievement and a fourth straight win.
Midway through the 4th quarter, up by 11, Anthony Edwards sank a jumper to become the third-youngest player ever to reach 10,000 career points.
Wolves 131, Cavaliers 122: Edwards (25 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast) was one of four 20+ point scorers for Minnesota combining for 101 points, as the Wolves pulled away from Donovan Mitchell (game-high 30 pts, 8 ast) and the Cavs to win their fourth in a row. | Recap
- Elite Company: Ant joins LeBron, Kobe, Kevin Durant, Luka, Tracy McGrady and Carmelo Anthony as the only players to reach 10,000 career points before age 25
- King, KD & Ant: Only LeBron James (23 years, 59 days) and KD (24 years, 33 days) reached the milestone earlier than Edwards (24 years, 156 days)
- Early Achiever: In six seasons, the three-time All-Star also already has more career Playoff wins than any other Wolves player, and the most 30-point, 40-point and 50-point games in team history
- Constant Climb: After increasing his points per game by at least 1.5 in each year of his career, Ant is averaging a career-high 29.3 points this year, with highs in shooting percentages as well (50.4 FG%, 41.2 3P%)
Fittingly, he hit 10K on a midrange jumpshot, the added skill he credits for this season’s growth.
“It’s a comfortable shot for me now,” Edwards said postgame. “I couldn’t say that probably a couple years ago. Me and [assistant coach Chris] Hines, just putting our head down and working.”
“He’s the best player in the league,” Julius Randle said postgame. “He’s him. He’s one-of-one.”
- Randle’s Run: Julius (28 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast) led the Wolves’ scoring Thursday, logging 13 in Minnesota’s 43-point 3rd quarter, which matched a season-high for any quarter
- Starters Soar: Wolves’ first five of Edwards, Randle, Jaden McDaniels (26 pts), Donte DiVincenzo (22 pts) and Rudy Gobert (11 pts) combined for 112 of 131 points
2. ROUNDUP: CARLISLE REACHES 1,000 CAREER WINS, JAZZ END SKID
To end the NBA’s longest active losing streak and honor their beloved coach, the Pacers had to take a stand.
A defensive stand.
When Charlotte’s final shot attempt fell short, Rick Carlisle had his 1,000th career win.
Pacers 114, Hornets 112: Pascal Siakam (30 pts, 14 reb) hit the go-ahead layup with 11.5 seconds left and T.J. McConnell (23 pts, 8 ast, 4 stl) stole Charlotte’s inbound as the pair led Indiana to coach Carlisle’s 1,000th career victory, snapping a 13-game skid. | Recap
“I’m so happy for our players,” Carlisle said postgame after the team celebrated the achievement. “The last month has really been so challenging.”
“I’m proud to be part of his team,” Siakam said. “It felt good to win but extra good for him and his career.”
- Carlisle is the 11th coach in NBA history to reach 1,000 wins
- In 16 of his 24 seasons as a head coach, he’s reached the Playoffs – most recently leading these Pacers to last year’s Finals
- Five-hundred fifty-five of his 1,000 wins came with Dallas, where Carlisle coached the 2011 NBA Champions
“This whole thing’s never been about me and getting a milestone win. It’s been about our organization. We have some great people.”
“As it’s gotten tougher and tougher, I’ve just leaned into thinking more about gratitude.”
- Both Buzzers: Hornets’ leading scorer LaMelo Ball (33 pts, 8 ast, 3 stl, 7 3s) beat both quarter buzzers in a 22-point 1st half
- Kon’s 700: Knueppel backed him up (18 pts, 8 reb), reaching 700 career points faster than any other Hornets player, in just 37 games played
Jazz 116, Mavericks 114: Lauri Markkannen (33 pts, 7 reb, 2 blk) scored three straight hoops in a 12-0 Jazz run with under 5 minutes to play to take the lead and Keyonte George (19 pts, 7 ast, 3 stl) sealed the win to end a five-game skid, outlasting Cooper Flagg (26 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast, 3 stl) and the Mavs. | Recap
- 700 Club: Keeping pace with Kon, Coop also reached 700 career points last night, becoming the sixth-fastest player (37 games) in the last 50 seasons to reach 700+ points, 200+ rebounds and 150+ assists
- Who got there faster? Magic, Bird, MJ, LeBron and Luka
- Rookie Stat Spread: Flagg joined Jason Kidd and Luka Dončić as the only Mavericks rookies to total 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 3+ steals in a game
3. KIA MVP LADDER FIRST LOOK: BROWN’S BIG LEAP
Every Friday, Shaun Powell’s Kia MVP Ladder gives a weekly snapshot of how the MVP race is taking shape.
This week, Jaylen Brown makes one of the biggest jumps yet. Read more from Powell, and get a first look at the new top 5 — exclusive for Starting 5 readers:
Welcome to the MVP discussion, Jaylen Brown.
… Brown is making a name for himself as a team-hauling, impeccable two-way player who this week executed a triple-jump on the MVP Ladder.
Really, it’s that simple of an announcement, although a bit understated compared to the noise Brown has made all season, but especially lately.
He’s now sitting at No. 3.
It’s a deserving rise and puts him among the game’s greats because Brown lately is doing what MVPs do — scoring in bunches, doing other things (defensively, in his case) to impact games and helping his team win. | Read more
Tonight on League Pass (7 ET), Brown – averaging 31.6 ppg since Dec. 1 – leads Boston against Toronto in a top-5 East matchup, with the C’s seeking their ninth win in 11 games.
4. NBA TV DOUBLEHEADER: SHAI & LUKA FOLLOW UP MONSTER OUTINGS
The NBA is rich with talent. Only a select few, though, manage to climb to the level of near-unstoppable.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Dončić are two guards who give opponents nightmares on a nightly basis. Containing them is a daunting task.
Tonight, Milwaukee and Memphis will get their shot.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Dončic, the league’s top-two scorers, return to the court following videogame-like performances earlier this week. The reigning Kia NBA MVP will be the first in action when the Thunder visit the Grizzlies (8 ET, NBA TV).
- Back Again: After a career-high 32.7 points per game last season, Gilgeous-Alexander is up to 31.9 in 2025-26. He dropped 46 in Wednesday’s overtime victory over the Jazz
- Mr. Reliable: He has also averaged 30.8 ppg on a 52.4 FG% in the last 13 games to steady OKC, which has gone 7-6 after a blistering 24-1 start
- “Some nights are going to be bad. Some nights are going to be great,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But regardless, you have to try to get better the next day.”
Even after an up-and-down stretch, Oklahoma City remains at 1st place in the West and holds a 4.5-game lead on next-closest San Antonio.
- Still On Top: The reigning champions also carry the league’s best record, as well as a 13 net rating and 105 defensive rating — ranked at the top in both regards
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, have enjoyed the contributions of Cam Spencer. He nailed a late 3-pointer and baseline jumper to upset the second-seeded Spurs, and now gets a shot at No. 1.
Dončić knows a thing or two about being No. 1. He boasts a league-high 33.7 ppg for the Lakers, who will host the Bucks (10:30 ET, NBA TV).
- Do It Yourself: Dončić’s 38 points scored and 24 points generated that accounted for 68.1% of Los Angeles’ offense on Wednesday, the third-largest by a Laker since 1997-98
- One-Two Punch: Dončić and LeBron James dropped 30+ points and 8+ assists on Tuesday, and their synergy is real — they’re 7-0 this season when each scores 25 or more
- “Luka doesn’t need to bend his game,” James said. “Luka is our (26-year-old) franchise for this ballclub… It’s up to us to bend our game around him and figure it out.”
For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo is in position to make history. With one more 30/10/5 game, the nine-time All-Star can break a tie with Oscar Robertson (159) for most all-time.
5. ON LEAGUE PASS: TRENDING TAKEOVERS FROM PHILLY’S STARS AND MORE
You’ll find seven more Friday face-offs on League Pass, featuring a clicking mix of Sixers, Deni-mania in red-hot Portland and a Nuggets squad holding their ground.
Sixers at Magic (7 ET): Fifth place in the East is on the line in Orlando between two foes who have split a pair of matchups in Philly so far this season.
- Stars Align: The Sixers have won four of their last five as Tyrese Maxey (30.8 ppg), Joel Embiid (28.4), VJ Edgecombe (20.8), and Paul George (15.8) have combined for 95.8 points per game over the stretch
- Clutch Kid: Philly has looked to its rookie Edgecombe to deliver in closing time. Only Steph has made more clutch 3s than VJ (10) this season, who’s zeroed in at a 58.8% rate from distance
- Happy Flight: Orlando returns home just a half game behind Philly after a thrilling OT game-winner in Brooklyn by All-Star Paolo Banchero, in one of his best performances of the season (30 pts, 14 reb, 6 ast)
- Big Lift: Like Edgecombe, the Magic have fed the hot hand of a young guard in Anthony Black, having a career year (15.3 ppg, 4.1 reb, 3.8 ast, 1.5 3s). He has also scored the fifth-most 4th-quarter points for Orlando this season (102)
Rockets at Blazers (10 ET): Round 2 of this two-game set in Portland tips after KD and Deni Avdija’s Wednesday duel went the Blazers’ way.
- Deni’s Dominance: Portland has won four straight behind Avdija’s 34.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 50.0%/40.0% shooting splits in that span
- Now vs. Throughout: Portland’s offense is the league’s fourth-best during those four wins (122.6), while Houston’s attack has ranked third-best for the full season (120.4)
Hawks at Nuggets (9 ET): Denver returns home after a seven-game road trip (3-4), while the Hawks hit their first of four road stops.
- Finding Gold: Peyton Watson has stepped up for Denver with Nikola Jokić sidelined (knee), averaging 24.4 points on 51.8%/41.4% shooting splits in the five games without Joker
- Offensive Key: Denver has a 118.9 Offensive Rating when Watson’s on the floor, compared to a 109.5 rating when he subs out during these five games
Roundup: The Knicks begin a four-game road trip in Phoenix (9 ET) where the Suns have won four straight, plus three more tilts:
- Pelicans at Wizards (7 ET)
- Clippers at Nets (7:30 ET)
- Kings at Warriors (10 ET)
