{"id":387805,"date":"2026-01-02T23:25:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T23:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/387805\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T23:25:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T23:25:16","slug":"starting-5-kawhis-45-keeps-la-on-tear-philly-finding-its-stride-prime-doubleheader-awaits-tonight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/387805\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5: Kawhi\u2019s 45 keeps LA on tear, Philly finding its stride, Prime doubleheader awaits tonight"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

No one can hang with Kawhi right now.<\/p>\n

45 more points for the Klaw and a sixth straight win for the red-hot Clips.<\/p>\n

\"Kawhi<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

Jan. 2, 2026<\/p>\n

Supreme Scoring: Kawhi stays scorching hot and the Sixers are clicking together<\/p>\n

New Year\u2019s Roundup: Heat rise to challenge in Detroit, KD assists Rockets, Celtics surge<\/p>\n

Prime Doubleheader: OKC begins 2026 in the Bay, Murray meets Mitchell in Cleveland<\/p>\n

League Pass Spotlight: Knicks bring homecourt advantage into new year vs. Hawks<\/p>\n

On League Pass: Close West race on display with Lakers, Suns in action on 10-game Friday<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

Victor Wembanyama is listed as \u201cOut\u201d for tonight with knee soreness, but Thursday\u2019s additional testing<\/a> on his hyperextended left knee showed no signs of major injury.<\/p>\n

A relieved Spurs squad heads to Indy (7 ET, LP | Tap To Watch<\/a>) in the first of Friday\u2019s eight League Pass matchups, while Prime\u2019s doubleheader showcases the Thunder visiting the Warriors (10 ET | Tap To Watch<\/a>), and the Cavs hosting the Nuggets (7:30 ET | Tap To Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Select Your All-Stars: With the calendar turned to January, there are just 13 more days to cast votes for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters (through Jan. 14) using your NBA ID. Don\u2019t miss your shot, vote now<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. NEW YEAR\u2019S FIREWORKS: KAWHI GOES OFF AGAIN, FULL-STRENGTH SIXERS HIT STRIDE<\/p>\n

\"Kawhi<\/p>\n

The Klaw started the new year right where he left off: Tearing through defenses.<\/p>\n

Clippers 118, Jazz 101: Kawhi Leonard caught fire again<\/a> for 45 points, powering up in the 4th quarter with 20 while hitting four of his six 3s to deliver the league\u2019s hottest team its sixth straight win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

On A Mission: Kawhi has scored under 30 points just once in LA\u2019s six-game win streak, averaging 39.0 points, 8.5 boards, 53.2% from the field, 44.1% from three and 93.5% from the line
\nHas that been done before? Only Damian Lillard (2023) has matched such stats over a six-game span in NBA history
\nEarly & Late: LA opened the game on a 16-0 run, and after a 21-point Utah comeback, took over the 4th 36-20 with Leonard\u2019s hot hand (55.2 FG%, 7 reb, 2 stl, 2 blk)
\n\u201cWe\u2019re starting to get the results that we want,\u201d coach Ty Lue said as LA is now 1.5 games out of SoFi Play-In position. \u201cI give those guys credit. Keep stacking days.\u201d
\nKeeping Up With Kawhi: James Harden added 20 points and 7 assists in 3 quarters, while Kyle Anderson (22 pts) led Utah without Lauri Markkanen (knee) and Keyonte George (illness)<\/p>\n

\"VJ<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, for Philly,\u00a0top-3 scorer Tyrese Maxey kept his hot hand\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and got a little help from his star-studded friends.<\/p>\n

Sixers 123, Mavericks 108: Maxey (34 pts, 8 reb, 10 ast<\/a>) led a trio of 20-point scorers for the second straight game as VJ Edgecombe (23 pts, 4 stl) and Joel Embiid (22 pts, 6 ast) combined for 45 and Philly never looked back after a 41-point 2nd quarter. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re starting to figure it out. We\u2019ve only played all together\u2026 5th game?\u201d Maxey said postgame of a second consecutive win with Philly\u2019s lineup of himself, VJ, Embiid and Paul George (14 pts). \u201cEverybody is knowing their role.\u201d
\nDallas Duo: Anthony Davis returned for Dallas with 13 points and 8 boards, while Cooper Flagg (12 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast) added two soaring slams<\/a>
\nVJ Shines: June\u2019s 3rd overall pick Edgecombe again won the rookie showdown with Flagg, standing out with athletic plays like this hanging double block<\/a><\/p>\n

2. ROUNDUP: HEAT MAKE STATEMENT, KD\u2019S ROCKETS ROLL, CELTICS SEPARATE<\/p>\n

\"Norman<\/p>\n

Heat 118, Pistons 112: Norman Powell scored 34 of a game-high 36 points<\/a> through three quarters to put Detroit down by 22, and Miami survived the Pistons\u2019 13-2 4th-quarter run with Jaime Jaquez Jr.\u2019s dagger<\/a>and Davion Mitchell\u2019s clutch steal for a fourth straight win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Final Stretch: Detroit stormed back to within two points in the final minute before Jaquez Jr.\u2019s clutch jumper made it 116-112. After a timeout, Mitchell stole the inbound pass with 27.6 seconds left
\nTough Crowd: Powell hit seven of Miami\u2019s 14 3-pointers and Jaquez Jr. added 19 points off the bench as the Heat claimed just the third road victory in Detroit this season
\nEast Chase: The Pistons got 31 points and 11 assists from Cade Cunningham, as their lead over the Knicks in the East is reduced to 1.5 games<\/p>\n

\"Amen<\/p>\n

Rockets 120, Nets 96: A 20-point trio of Amen Thompson (23 pts), KD (22 pts, 5 reb, 11 ast) and Alperen Sengun (20 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) led six double-figure Rockets\u2019 scorers to their fourth straight win. Cam Thomas (21 pts) led the Nets with Michael Porter Jr. out (illness). | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Seasoned Playmaker: KD\u2019s first 10+ assist game since 2023 made him the first Rockets player to ever record a 20+\/5+\/10+ game after the age of 36, topping Clyde Drexler (35)<\/p>\n

Celtics 120, Kings 106: Tied at 88 with neither team having led by double digits, Boston ignited a 32-18 4th quarter with 14 points from Derrick White and eight more from Jaylen Brown, closing on a 16-6 run for its sixth win in the last seven games. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Shared Scoring: Brown (29 pts, 10 reb) led seven Celtics in double figures, including 16 points apiece from White (7 ast) and Payton Pritchard (6 ast). DeMar DeRozan (25 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast) led six double-digit Kings<\/p>\n

3. PRIME DOUBLEHEADER: CHAMPS START 2026 IN THE BAY, NUGGETS VISIT CAVS
\n\"Steph<\/p>\n

Joshua Gateley\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Tonight, OKC could do\u00a0something just two other teams have ever done.<\/p>\n

To get there, they\u2019ll need to beat one of those teams.<\/p>\n

Thunder at Warriors (10 ET, Prime): As OKC looks to become the third team to start 30-5 in consecutive seasons, it faces a Golden State team that\u2019s won five of its last six \u2014 one out for its first win against OKC in attempt No. 3 this season.<\/p>\n

In their last six games, the Warriors (5-1) have averaged 124.0 points, 30.2 assists with a 113.8 defensive rating
\nThe driving force? The league-leader in threes per game (4.8), Curry has averaged 4.0 in this six-game stretch, along with 28.2 points. He is questionable (ankle) tonight
\nTough Task: The Dubs need to solve SGA (33.0 ppg, 7.5 ast, 55.0 FG%) and Chet Holmgren (22.0 ppg, 9.5 reb), who have starred in the teams\u2019 two meetings so far<\/p>\n

\"Chet<\/p>\n

Garrett Ellwood\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

OKC starts the work of making 2026 as successful \u2013 if not more so \u2013 as its historic 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been able to do a lot of really good things, and there\u2019s no reason for us not to continue that going forward and keep trying to be the best versions of ourselves,\u201d Holmgren said following OKC\u2019s New Year\u2019s Eve win.<\/p>\n

With a win tonight, OKC would start 30-5 for the second straight year and join the 2014-\u201916 Warriors and \u201896-\u201997 Bulls as the only NBA teams with back-to-back starts to a season of 30-5 or better
\nAuspicious Beginnings:\u00a0Four of those five 30-5 starts ended in a championship\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the lone exception being 2016
\n\u201cThey kind of just plug and play, which is how we were during those [championship] times,\u201d Draymond Green said of OKC earlier this season. \u201cThey are a well-oiled machine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Donovan<\/p>\n

Nuggets at Cavaliers (7:30 ET, Prime): Cleveland and Denver meet for the first time this season, with Donovan Mitchell fueling the Cavs to four wins in their last six tilts.<\/p>\n

In those six games, Mitchell is averaging 25.5 points on 50.0% shooting, while adding 42 4th-quarter points to his league lead (284, +38)
\nLife Without Joker: Denver earned its first win without Joki\u0107 this season on New Year\u2019s Eve, holding off Toronto in dramatic fashion<\/a>
\nCall On Jamal: The Nuggets will look to Jamal Murray (25.1 ppg, 6.9 ast, 48.2 FG%, 45.3 3P%) to lead the way, whose career-year has elevated Denver as the league\u2019s top-scoring offense (125.1 ppg)<\/p>\n

4. LEAGUE PASS: KNICKS RETURN TO HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE, HOSTING HAWKS
\n\"Jalen<\/p>\n

Adam Hagy\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The East\u2019s winningest home team returns from a 2-1 road trip tonight.<\/p>\n

Hawks at Knicks (7:30 ET): New York\u2019s 15-2 mark at MSG is the NBA\u2019s second-best home record, and the Knicks\u2019 best home start since 1989. Tonight the Hawks come knocking, having just ended a 7-game skid, for a rematch of Saturday\u2019s 128-125 Knicks win in ATL.<\/p>\n

NYC Comforts: New York hits more threes at home (16.4 per game) than any other team, while scoring the 4th-most points (123.1 ppg), producing the 3rd-best Net Rating (11.7)
\nLast Week In Atlanta: The Knicks claimed their season\u2019s first clash with the Hawks with Karl-Anthony Towns (36 pts, 15 reb) and Jalen Brunson (34 pts) outdoing Jalen Johnson (20 pts, 9 reb, 12 ast)
\nDecember To Remember: Johnson averaged a 25-point triple-double (25.8 ppg, 11.2 reb, 10.1 ast, 12 gp) in a dominant final month of 2025, becoming the first Hawks player and just the seventh all-time to do so
\n\u201cThe statistics are great, but he wants to win,\u201d coach Quin Snyder said of Johnson. \u201cIt\u2019s reflective of a guy that\u2019s done a lot of work, that we need to make a lot of plays for us. Jalen\u2019s doing a heck of a job of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. LEAGUE PASS: SUNS & LAKERS LINKED IN TIGHT WEST RACE<\/p>\n

\"LeBron<\/p>\n

With just four games separating five West teams from 4th to 8th place, one week can be the difference between SoFi Play-In survival and home-court advantage.<\/p>\n

Battling in that bunch, 7th-place Phoenix eyes upward movement, sitting two games back of 5th-place Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Kings at Suns (9 ET): Phoenix has won its first two meetings with Sacramento this season; one by completing a 20-point comeback and the other in wire-to-wire fashion. Devin Booker had 50 total points in those two Ws.<\/p>\n

Desert Defense: Phoenix and first-year head coach Jordan Ott have emphasized defensive identity this season, boosting its Defensive Rating from 27th last season to 11th
\nBook It: The Suns count on leading scorer D-Book (25.5 ppg, 6.3 ast), who boasts the 10th-most clutch points (58) in the league this season
\nCall On Collin: Gillespie has shined in a breakout season with career-best numbers across the board: 14.0 points, 5.1 assists and 3.0 3s per game, while shooting 43.3% from distance<\/p>\n

\"Ja<\/p>\n

Grant Burke\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Grizzlies at Lakers (10:30 ET): Los Angeles took the previous matchup with Memphis on Halloween, with Luka Don\u010di\u0107 supplying 44 points. The Lakers hold a four-game win streak against the Grizz dating back to Nov. 2024.<\/p>\n

Dominant Don\u010di\u0107: Leading the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game, Luka has logged 11 straight games of at least 25 points against Memphis
\nLA Outlook: Entering back-to-back home matchups with Memphis, LA has dropped four of its last five games, with Minnesota looming just a half-game back
\nStrong Signs: Ja Morant meets Luka and LA fresh off a 40-point outing against Philly. Rookie Cedric Coward logged career highs with 28 points and 16 rebounds in that OT loss<\/p>\n

Roundup: With a positive outlook<\/a> on Wemby\u2019s hyperextended knee, the Spurs roll into Indy seeking their 25th win (7 ET), plus the Bulls go for a seventh W in their last nine games, hosting the Magic. (8 ET)<\/p>\n

Nets at Wizards (7 ET)
\nHornets at Bucks (8 ET)
\nBlazers at Pelicans (8 ET)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"No one can hang with Kawhi right now. 45 more points for the Klaw and a sixth straight…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":387806,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[64,63,590,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-387805","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-nba","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=387805"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387805\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/387806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=387805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=387805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=387805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}