MILWAUKEE, WI – DECEMBER 11: Jaylen Brown and Kyle Kuzma battle Tuesday in Milwaukee.
Thursday’s headlines⬇️⬇️
Jaylen Brown stayed hot in Milwaukee, but Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis were hotter as the Bucks used a scorching 2nd half to beat Boston.
Cooper Flagg passes Kon Knueppel in this week’s Kia Rookie Ladder, and Derik Queen (17 points, 8-12 FG) took that personally en route to leading New Orleans over Portland.
Houston fended off the Clippers by dominating the glass. The Rockets are currently on an all-time high analytic trajectory with a 40.2 offensive rebounding rate this season.
Nikola Jokić entered Thursday’s contest averaging 26.2 points, 12.5 rebounds and 10.1 assists through his last 10 games versus Sacramento. He lived up to his reputation with a 36-point, 12-rebound, 8-assist masterclass on 14-of-16 shooting.
Top Performers⭐⭐⭐
Nikola Jokić: 36 points (14-16 FG), 12 rebounds, 8 assists, two steals, one turnover
Kevin Porter Jr: 18 points (6-10 FG), 10 rebounds, 13 assists, one steal
Kyle Kuzma: 31 points (13-17 FG), six rebounds, one block
Alperen Sengun: 22 points (9-22 FG), 15 rebounds, five assists, four steals
Nikola Jokić and Denver win their 4th straight!
🃏 36 PTS
🃏 12 REB
🃏 8 AST
🃏 14-16 FGM
Joker passes Carmelo Anthony for the second-most 30-point games in @nuggets franchise history 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RaDMLfA4ZZ
— NBA (@NBA) December 12, 2025
KPJ with his first triple-double of the season.
18 PTS | 13 AST | 10 REB | 60% FG pic.twitter.com/lMUqdyXPIL
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 12, 2025
Alperen Sengun. Amen Thompson.
Houston’s duo fuels home victory 🚀
Sengun: 22p, 15r, 5a, 4s
Thompson: 20p, 9r, 8a
Rockets move to 16-6 on the season! pic.twitter.com/lm4p68mVEj
— NBA (@NBA) December 12, 2025
12:20 PM / December 12, 2025
Nuggets roll 136-105 in Sacramento
Denver never trailed after the midway point in the first quarter, and at one point the Nuggets amassed a 37-point lead in what was ultimately a 31-point victory over the Kings.
Nikola Jokić (36 points, 14-16 FG) did all his damage in the first three quarters, while Peyton Watson (21 points, 7-10 FG) co-starred. Denver connected on 59.1% of 88 shots as a team. The short-handed Kings had no answer for a Denver squad that has now seen their scheme four times in the last six weeks.
Malik Monk finishes with a team-high 18 points (5-11 FG) for Sacramento.
Win by win 💪 pic.twitter.com/ISsXCVvARS
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 12, 2025
FINAL: Kings fall to the Nuggets 136-105.
👑 Malik Monk: 18 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB
👑 Russell Westbrook: 17 PTS, 5 AST, 3 REB
👑 Keegan Murray: 15 PTS, 9 REB
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 12, 2025
11:49 PM / December 11, 2025
9th game with 100+ points through Q3
Up 116-86 early in the fourth quarter, Nikola Jokić (36 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists) is cruising while four other Nuggets join him in double-digit scoring.
Russell Westbrook currently has a team-high 17 points (5-11 FG, 6-6 FT) for Sacramento.
That’s what we do 😤 pic.twitter.com/I22mAKMuOK
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 12, 2025
11:23 PM / December 11, 2025
Kuzma, Portis boom in pivotal 2nd half
Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis provided the shotmaking, while Kevin Porter Jr. (18 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists) stuffed the stat sheet and facilitated the offense as Milwaukee capitalized on a second half in which Boston could only muster 34 points. Milwaukee 116, Boston 101
While this trio was excellent for the Bucks, Boston missing 16 consecutive threes after halftime opened the door wide open for Milwaukee. Milwaukee outscored Boston by 22 points in the paint while the Celtics connected on just 28.6% of 49 threes as a team.
Portis set the tone and brought the juice, succeeding offensively despite efforts from Jaylen Brown to stop him. Portis made sure to let him know about it too👀👀
Jaylen Brown (30 points, 10-17 FG) and Jordan Walsh (20 points, 8-10 FG) came to play, with Thursday’s performance representing the second 20-point game of Walsh’s career. Both instances have come the the last week! The third-year wing entered the contest averaging 16.0 points and 5.7 rebounds on 78.3% shooting over that span. His ridiculous efficiency continued Thursday.
Walsh’s confidence and uptick in shotmaking is a notable development for Boston, as the 21-year-old is expanding on his reputation as a 3&D hustler and rebounding specialist.
Efficient shooting from Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis leads the @Bucks to victory at home!@kylekuzma: 31 PTS (season-high), 13-17 FGM@BPortistime: 27 PTS, 11-13 FGM pic.twitter.com/eGGn6fwcZw
— NBA (@NBA) December 12, 2025
🏀 THURSDAY’S FINAL SCORES 🏀
Kyle Kuzma sets a new season-high in PTS as the @Bucks secure the home W!
Bobby Portis: 27 PTS, 10 REB
Kevin Porter Jr.: 18 PTS, 10 REB, 13 AST
Jaylen Brown: 30 PTS
Jordan Walsh: 20 PTS, 8 REB, 8-10 FGM https://t.co/o3gMhqro3z pic.twitter.com/ZkTzOgK8Cq
— NBA (@NBA) December 12, 2025
11:06 PM / December 11, 2025
Pelicans gash Portland, post 143 points in victory
A franchise-record 88 points in the paint fostered by five players posting at least four assists fuels a 143-120 win for New Orleans over the Trail Blazers.
Playing without Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams due to injury, Portland leaned on a zone defense concept that was figured out immediately. The Pelicans jumped out to a 39-30 lead and never looked back. They also committed just eight turnovers on the night.
Portland had six players score between 14 and 21 points, but connecting on just 29.2% of 48 3PA as a team was insufficient.
Trey Murphy III delivered a game-high 24 points (10-13 FG) while tacking on five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
PELICANS WIN
PELICANS WIN
PELICANS WIN pic.twitter.com/y5vvRqnn3w
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 12, 2025
The rooks, hoopin’ per usual.
Jeremiah Fears: Derik Queen:
19 PTS (9-14 FG) 17 PTS (8-12 FG)
7 REB 5 REB
4 AST 7 AST
1 STL 2 STL pic.twitter.com/AJtw3P4XML
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 12, 2025
10:49 PM / December 11, 2025
Rockets survive chaos crunch time, win 115-113
In a game where neither team ever held a double-digit lead, Houston posting an unbelievable 64-35 advantage in the rebounding battle overcame a quality offensive performance from the Clippers.
Alperen Sengun supplied a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double to lead the Rockets in both categories. Jabari Smith also had a double-double with 18 points (6-14 FG) and 10 rebounds.
Ivica Zubac boomed for 33 points (13-14 FG, 7-11 FG) after entering Thursday’s contest averaging a modest 14.8 points across his last five contests. He now has three games this season exceeding 25 points after crossing that threshold on eight occasions last year.
Kawhi Leonard (24 points, 9-24 FG) was impactful but inefficient as Houston threw numerous defenders at The Klaw — including Aaron holiday forcing a critical turnover on the Clippers’ final possession.
James Harden’s (22 points, 7-18 FG) shotmaking down the stretch was big, but he too was limited to subpar efficiency by a stout Houston defense. No other Clipper exceeded 10 points.
BIG night for the Wizard 🪄@alperennsengun | #AllFire pic.twitter.com/PcwU1JRRSS
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 12, 2025
10:27 PM / December 11, 2025
HEROICS IN HOUSTON
JAMES HARDEN LOVES THIS BUILDING.
He ties the game at 110 with under a minute to play. Then Amen Thompson responds. The best offensive rebounding team in history gets five chances on the ensuing possession.
JAMES HARDEN TIES THE GAME 🚨
37.1 SECONDS LEFT. pic.twitter.com/pn1scVqPNc
— NBA (@NBA) December 12, 2025
AMEN THOMPSON CLUTCH AND-1.
ROCKETS BACK ON TOP WITH 17.2 LEFT.
TAP TO WATCH: https://t.co/XhhaxlNfel pic.twitter.com/2lqqFoyUpX
— NBA (@NBA) December 12, 2025
10:17 PM / December 11, 2025
Denver-Sacramento underway
Nikola Jokić gives Maxime Raynaud a first taste of the works early in Thursday’s contest.
The Kings are starting two rookies with versatile/promising skillsets in Raynaud and Nique Clifford — products of Stanford and Colorado St., respectively
Nikola work down low pic.twitter.com/U5Sk9xdJeG
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 12, 2025
10:01 PM / December 11, 2025
More Milwaukee momentum
Kyle Kuzma (31 points, 13-16 FG) keeps rolling, and he’s doing all his damage inside the arc amid a very sharp performance.
Bobby Portis (22 points, 9-10 FG) has joined him in heatcheck mode. Milwaukee is shooting 72% as a team thus far in the second half. They’ve jumped out to a 95-84 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Jaylen Brown (25 points, 8-13 FG) has been sharp in his own right as Boston tries to keep their four-game winning streak alive.
UPDATE: Kyle Kuzma has a season-high 31 points ‼️
Watch here: https://t.co/lqgBiofiyL https://t.co/wZCBpaPtHY pic.twitter.com/zGLCmdFcxw
— NBA (@NBA) December 12, 2025
Big Bob goes back-to-back!
22 points and 4 triples on 9/10 shooting! pic.twitter.com/NVaxSo2ZDN
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 12, 2025
9:40 PM / December 11, 2025
Big night for Kyle Kuzma
This running baby hook is tough.
Kuzma (27 points, 11-13 FG) has his fifth game of the season with 20-plus points and is on pace to shatter his existing season-high of 29 points.
Milwaukee and Boston are knotted at 71 points each on League Pass.
Can’t stop Kuz!
25 points and counting. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/NlhLZT4fm4
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 12, 2025
9:29 PM / December 11, 2025
John Collins kicks into gear
Collins with a great transition effort and finish off the lob from Kawhi Leonard!
The Clippers possess a 68-65 lead over Houston midway through the third quarter.
Leonard has a game-high 17 points (6-12 FG), with Ivica Zubac (16 points, 7-8 FG) right behind him in efficient fashion.
Alperen Sengun (15 points) and Kevin Durant (14 points) spearhead Houston’s efforts, but the Rockets are shooting just 31.1% as a team on 21 3PA thus far.
OOOOP!
KAWHI LEONARD ↗️ JOHN COLLINS pic.twitter.com/wnF2oHiw78
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 12, 2025
9:15 PM / December 11, 2025
Jaylen Brown and Jordan Walsh🔥🔥
Doesn’t get hotter than this.
Walsh (18 points, 7-7 FG) and Brown (16 points 5-5 FG) fuel a 67-60 halftime lead for the Celtics.
HE CANNOT MISS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/o2sDo6eo8R
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 12, 2025
9:07 PM / December 11, 2025
Nonstop fireworks in New Orleans
Highlight after highlight stacking up in a turbo-charged yet physical battle between the Pelicans and Trail Blazers. New Orleans 70, Portland 68 at halftime
Herb Jones has been ejected, Jordan Poole has 13 points (4-11 FG) in his first action in over a month, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen are flashing elite rookie talent, Rayan Rupert is already at a new season-high 14 points (6-7 FG) off the bench, and Shaedon Sharpe (10 points, 4-10 FG) has been a tornado for better and worse
Can’t miss the 2nd half of this one on League Pass.
WE’RE SOARINGGG
FLYINGGGG pic.twitter.com/5ui9ZuI2vh
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 12, 2025
Jordan Poole that’s naaaasty 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/wAY5xF1HhX
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 12, 2025
trying to do everything to stop DQ 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/7hAXL1eSH1
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 12, 2025
Trey Murphy on both ends of the floor whew pic.twitter.com/7d4ln56kWh
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 12, 2025
8:45 PM / December 11, 2025
Jaylen Brown cooking early♨️♨️
Brown is tied for a game-high 13 points (5-5 FG) as he shows off some smooth creation in a mismatch situation. He’s been sharp in isolation this season, ranking in the 68th percentile for efficiency — placement that becomes more impressive in the context of ranking in the 91st percentile for frequency.
Jordan Walsh is popping on the same beat, also logging 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting thus far as Boston controls a 52-40 lead midway through the second quarter.
ISO JAYLEN BROWN 👀
He’s 5/5 from the floor for 13 points!
Tap to watch: https://t.co/lqgBiofiyL pic.twitter.com/ygfbkGsw2A
— NBA (@NBA) December 12, 2025
8:34 PM / December 11, 2025
Pelicans running⚡⚡
Welcome back Jordan Poole!
POOLE PARTY pic.twitter.com/miWjfe3l3O
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 12, 2025
Poole lobs for Trey Murphy in transition as the Pelicans and Trail Blazers are keeping up a quick pace. New Orleans leads 31-27 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
JOSE TO JP TO TREY.
REAL HOOPS pic.twitter.com/U4EL927mD4
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 12, 2025
8:27 PM / December 11, 2025
Kawhi buckets
Kawhi Leonard has a game-high eight points (3-5 FG) despite the Clippers trailing the Rockets 22-20 with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Leonard has been a highlight machine when healthy this season, averaging 25.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals across 14 appearances thus far.
Kawhi fades & fires 🎯🔥 pic.twitter.com/sqqNfyooc0
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 12, 2025
another one, thank you! https://t.co/XnrwI5idR4 pic.twitter.com/7Dg1qo5IVr
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 12, 2025
8:18 PM / December 11, 2025
Derik Queen scoring and dishing🌟🌟
Queen has been at the heart of New Orleans’ early 13-6 lead over Portland. Underrated timing on the setup for the backdoor lob.
He forced Shaedon Sharpe into early foul trouble as well.
DQ. dawg.
aaaaaaand-1 pic.twitter.com/YyOqonCSLp
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 12, 2025
DERIK QUEEN DIMES
TREY MURPHY SLAMS pic.twitter.com/CefmRayhNY
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 12, 2025
7:54 PM / December 11, 2025
James Harden back in Houston
The Beard gets loose in advance of the Clippers squaring off against the Rockets on NBA League Pass.
The big three of James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac are all active for Los Angeles on Thursday.
James Harden all in Houston in the mix
Resecurity | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/F1PP9lkh3r
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 12, 2025
7:23 PM / December 11, 2025
Jordan Poole returns to the hardwood
Jordan Poole (quad) is back in action for the Pelicans, marking his first appearance since Nov. 4. He joins a fully healthy backcourt that features Trey Murphy, who is amid a career-best season across the board.
Jordan Poole (left quad strain) is AVAILABLE for tonight’s game vs. Portland pic.twitter.com/0PRWYncNYM
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 12, 2025