Fifty-five points, 11 boards, 5 steals, 3 blocks, and a 4-game win streak.
Kawhi’s career night has the Clippers trending in the right direction.
As we head into the final week of 2025, keep reading for what else is trending around the league.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
L.A. Stories: Kawhi’s 55 lifts Clips to 4th straight win, Luka’s 34 helps Lakers end skid
West Over East: Thunder end 2-game slide with big 2nd half, Blazers edge Celtics
East Over West: Barnes shines as Raptors top Warriors, Wizards sweep Grizzlies
What’s Trending – Xmas Amazing: Spurs top OKC again, Jokić’s masterpiece & more
What’s Trending – Star Spotlight: Giannis returns, Cooper & Kon cooking, Ant heating up
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Eleven games tip off tonight, highlighted by an NBC doubleheader as the Cavs visit the Spurs (8 ET | Tap to Watch), before the Mavs face the Blazers (7:30 PT | Tap to Watch).
Name 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.
Mark Your Calendar: With the New Year just three days away, below are three key 2026 dates to circle.
- Monday, Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day offers a 9-game slate, including four across NBC & Peacock
- Sunday, Feb. 15: 2026 NBA All-Star takes place Feb. 13-15 at the Intuit Dome, capped by the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday on NBC
- Tuesday, April 14: The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament begins, with the NBA Playoffs tipping off four days later on April 18
1. SUNDAY IN L.A.: KAWHI ERUPTS FOR 55, LUKA SCORES 34, LEBRON JAMS
Three days after Nikola Jokić’s Christmas masterpiece, Kawhi Leonard submitted his own entry for top performance of 2025 with a career night and another never-before-seen statline.
Fifty-five points + 11 rebounds + 5 steals + 3 blocks + 5 3-pointers = LA’s fourth straight win.
Clippers 112, Pistons 99: Kawhi was unstoppable on offense (career-best 55 pts) and a menace on defense (5 stl, 3 blk), putting on a two-way show not seen in the 52 years steals and blocks have been tracked to lead LA past East-leading Detroit. | Recap
- One Of One: Kawhi is the only player to total 55+ pts, 5+ stl & 3+ blk in a game since 1973-74 and the first player in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) to have 50+ pts & 5+ stl through just three quarters
- Fun Guy: After his career night, Kawhi was asked ‘Are you having a little bit of fun here tonight?’ A classic Kawhi response: ‘Oh, yeah.’
- Klaw 🤝 Beard: Kawhi’s 55-point game matches the Clippers’ franchise record held by teammate James Harden (who had 28 pts & 7 ast on Sunday). They are the only players in the last 50 years to total 55+ pts, 10+ reb and 5+ stl in a game
- Coach Lue On Kawhi’s 55: “We need it… He willed this win for us.”
- Inside The Locker Room: The only thing cooling down Kawhi on Sunday? A celebratory water bottle shower from his teammates
- Clippers Rising: After starting the season 6-21, LA has won four straight to climb within 2.5 games of the SoFi Play-In Tournament field. Kawhi (39 ppg) and Harden (28 ppg) have combined to average 67 points during this stretch
- Pistons Stalling: Detroit dropped consecutive games for only the second time this season. This was their fourth stop on a five-game road trip, which ends Tuesday against the Lakers
Lakers coach JJ Redick did not hold back his frustration after his squad dropped its third straight game on Christmas night.
How did the Lakers respond? By matching their largest win of the season in their next game.
Lakers 125, Kings 101: Luka Dončić (34 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl, 5 3pm) and LeBron James (24 pts, 3 turn-back-the-clock dunks) combined for 58 points as the Lakers cruised past the Kings for their 20th win of the season in their 30th game. | Recap
- Showtime: The Lakers were a highlight machine on Sunday, with LeBron throwing down two alley-oops (including a no-look lob from Marcus Smart) as well as a reverse jam that had the bench on its feet, while Luka broke out the dance moves
- Russ Keeps Climbing: After passing Magic for 7th all-time in assists on Saturday, Westbrook passed Dominique Wilkins for 16th in scoring on Sunday
2. WEST OVER EAST: THUNDER STORM PAST SIXERS, BLAZERS EDGE CELTICS
Coming off their first consecutive losses of the season, the Thunder found themselves in a back-and-forth 1st half against Philly on Sunday.
The first 24 minutes featured 12 ties and six lead changes, with OKC clinging to a two-point lead at the break.
Then the 3rd quarter started – and the Thunder got back to their dominant ways.
Thunder 129, Sixers 104: Powered by the duo of Chet Holmgren (29 pts, 9 reb, 4 blk) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27 pts, 5 ast, 2 stl), the Thunder outscored the Sixers 65-42 in the 2nd half, ending their two-game skid and sending the Sixers to a third straight loss. | Recap
- Defense Turns Up: After allowing 62 points on 55% shooting in the 1st half, OKC held Philly to 42 points on 30.2% shooting in the final 24 minutes
- Streak Continues: While OKC avoided a third straight loss, SGA racked up his 103rd straight game with 20+ points – now 23 shy of Wilt’s record streak
- Must-See Maxey: Tyrese Maxey scored 23 of his team-high 28 points in the opening half, including this magical finish at the rim
Blazers 114, Celtics 108: Behind a combined 50 points from Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija and a huge double-double from Donovan Clingan, the Blazers spoiled the Portland return of Anfernee Simons (following a tribute) and ended a three-game skid. | Recap
- Brown Stays Hot: Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 37 points for his ninth straight 30+ point game, matching Larry Bird for the longest run in franchise history
- Clingan 🤝 Walton: With 18 points and 18 boards, Clingan notched his third career game with 15+ pts and 15+ reb. Only Bill Walton (6) has more 15/15 games before turning 22 years old for the Blazers
3. EAST OVER WEST: BARNES, RAPTORS TOP DUBS, WIZARDS SWEEP GRIZZLIES
A 4th quarter rally. A dominant overtime. And a first-of-its-kind performance in team history for Toronto on Sunday.
Raptors 141, Warriors 127 (OT): Scottie Barnes filled the box score in a way no Raptor had done before (posting 23 points, 25 boards, 10 assists and three steals) to lead Toronto to a comeback win over Steph Curry (game-high 39 pts) and the Warriors. | Recap
- Record Books: As he put up the first 20/20/10 game in Raptors history, Barnes matched Bismack Biyombo’s franchise record for rebounds in a game
- The Rally: Toronto trailed by seven after Curry’s fourth 3 with 1:43 to play. A Barnes dunk, a Brandon Ingram pull-up and an Immanuel Quickley triple erased that deficit in less than a minute as Toronto closed regulation on a 9-2 run
- The Finish: The Raptors’ run continued in OT, outscoring the Warriors 19-5 in the extra frame, with the trio of Barnes, Ingram (26 pts for the game) and Quickley (27 pts) combining for 13 points as Toronto ended the game on a 28-7 burst
Wizards 116, Grizzlies 112: In a duel of two-way big men, Alex Sarr (20 pts, 9 reb, career-high 6 blk) and the Wizards edged out Jaren Jackson Jr. (game-high 31 pts, 7 reb, 4 blk) as Washington won for the fourth time in its last seven games. | Recap
- Meeting for the second time in nine days, the Grizzlies and Wizards were evenly matched in the game’s first 26 minutes, with 16 lead changes and 17 ties
- Then, they sizzled – a 15-4 Wizards run was answered by a 19-0 Grizzlies burst, which was then answered by a 19-3 Wizards run – as Washington secured the season series sweep
4. WHAT’S TRENDING: CHRISTMAS DAY STATEMENTS & HOLIDAY HEAT
Christmas Day means Christmas hoops – and on one of the NBA’s biggest regular-season stages, three of the league’s top teams showed out.
Spurs Surge: An ever-growing rivalry may have sprouted a bona fide championship contender in San Antonio, which is now 3-0 this season against the NBA-best Thunder – punctuated by a statement 117-102 win in OKC on Christmas Day.
- Playing Their Best: The Spurs are the first team to beat the Thunder in three consecutive head-to-head matchups in the same season since 2023-24, owning a +12.3 average point differential in those games
- Against The Best: OKC is +17 with a 27-2 record vs. the rest of the NBA
- Chasing The Champs: San Antonio is just 3.5 games behind OKC for No. 1 in the West. Since Nov. 15, the two squads are an NBA-best 15-4
- Backcourt Boost: In that span, De’Aaron Fox (22.2) and Stephon Castle (18.9) have combined for 41.1 ppg – while No. 2 pick Dylan Harper has popped – as San Antonio ranks 3rd in scoring
The Wemby Factor: But Victor Wembanyama’s Dec. 13 return has been perhaps the biggest difference maker. In limited minutes (22.5 per game), he’s averaged 20 points, 9.1 boards and 2.3 blocks, leading the Spurs to a 6-1 record – including its three wins over OKC.
- Wemby’s Impact: In that span, the Spurs rank 2nd in DefRtg and 1st in both rebounding and win percentage
Nikola’s Christmas Masterclass: The holiday closed with an instant classic as Nikola Jokić (56 pts, 16 reb, 15 ast) dropped 18 points in OT to outduel Anthony Edwards (44 pts) and the Wolves, 142-138, adding an all-time Christmas performance to Joker’s brilliant season.
- History Made: Jokić became the first player ever to post 55/15/15 in an NBA game – yes, ever – and the thriller produced the highest-scoring OT of all-time (50 pts)
- Encore Delivered: Jokić followed it up with 34/21/12 on Saturday, making him the first player in NBA history to drop 90 pts, 37 reb and 27 ast over a two-game span
- One Back Of Big O: Jokić now has an NBA-best 16 triple-doubles this season and 180 in his career, putting him one shy of tying Oscar Robertson for the 2nd-most all-time
- As For Denver? It is just one game back of San Antonio out West at 22-9, fueled by the league’s top offense (125.8 ppg)
New York Groove: Christmas Day opened with an electric rally at MSG, as the Knicks stormed back from 17 down in the 4th to top the Cavs, improving to 15-2 at the Garden – their best home start since 1989-90.
- Here They Come: The Knicks enter tonight’s game in NOLA (8 ET, LP) at 22-9. That’s their best 31-game start since 1996-97, with NY now 1.5 games back of Detroit for 1st in the East
- Dynamic Duo: Jalen Brunson (29.5) and Karl-Anthony Towns (22.3) have led the way, combining for 51.8 ppg, putting them on track to become the first Knicks duo to post 50+ ppg in back-to-back seasons
More Holiday Heat: Steph Curry’s Warriors and Kevin Durant’s Rockets also got dubs on Christmas Day, as the two superstars’ hyper-efficient seasons continue.
- Legends At Work: Curry (28.9 ppg) is hitting a league-best 4.7 3s per game at a 38.9% clip. Durant is averaging 25.4 ppg, while shooting 44.2% from deep
- Houston’s Triple-Threat: Alongside KD, Alperen Sengun (22.7 pts, 9.4 reb, 6.8 ast) and Amen Thompson (17.7 ppg, 7.3 reb, 5.3 ast) have thrived – each posting career-highs in points and assists
- Rockets Rising: The Rockets are 5th out West at 19-10, coming off back-to-back wins over the Lakers and Cavs
- Back Home: Tonight, they host Indy with Rick Carlisle seeking his 1,000th career win (8 ET, LP)
5. WHAT’S TRENDING: MORE STARS SHINING ENTERING 2026
More stars are making noise as we get set to ring in the New Year – from Giannis’ return to a pair of shining rooks.
The Greek Freak: After being sidelined since Dec. 3 with a calf injury, Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t just return on Saturday – he took over, dropping 29 points in 25 minutes while adding 8 boards to beat the Bulls for a timely win.
The New Buzz: Giannis and the Bucks are back in action tonight as they face Charlotte, led by rookie (and Milwaukee native) Kon Knueppel – who continues to rain 3s at a record rate.
- Kon Can’t Miss: Knueppel (19.3 ppg) ranks 2nd in the NBA in total made 3s (113), while shooting 42.5% from deep. Last Tuesday, he became the fastest player to hit 100 career triples, doing so in just 29 games
- Class Of His Own: The previous record? 41 games by Lauri Markkanen
Coop’s Clicking: The only player ranked ahead of Knueppel on the Kia Rookie Ladder? Cooper Flagg, who continues to elevate his game week after week, highlighted by a dazzling Christmas debut (27 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast).
- Coop 🤝 The King: Flagg, who turned 19 last Sunday, joined LeBron James as the only players 19 or younger to drop 25+ points on Christmas
- All-Around Elite: Flagg leads all rookies in scoring with 19.5 ppg, while ranking 2nd in both total rebounds and assists
- Monday Spotlight: Tonight, Flagg leads the Mavs into Portland in the second-leg of NBC’s doubleheader (7:30 PT)
Big Names, Big Buckets: Some established superstars are also turning up. Tyrese Maxey (30.7 ppg) and Donovan Mitchell (30.2) rank 3rd and 4th in scoring, respectively, each posting career-highs.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards is averaging a career-best 29.3 ppg, including six 40-pieces – tied with Luka Dončić for the most in the NBA.
- Playmaking Leaps: Jalen Johnson has also shined, posting 25.0 pts, 11.3 reb, 10.5 ast in December, with four triple-doubles, while Deni Avdija continues to play at an All-Star level, averaging a career-best 25.6 pts and 6.6 ast per game
