ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 25: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks warms up prior to the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at State Farm Arena on October 25, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
What we know about Thursday’s NBA games
We have 24 of the 30 teams in action on this busy Thursday night.
An interconference battle between Orlando and Denver highlights the night. The Nuggets sit second in the Western Conference with a 19-6 record, while the Magic have won 14 of their last 21 outings.
Trae Young returns for Atlanta. The four-time All-Star makes his return to the Hawks lineup after a 22-game absence.
The Pacers and Knicks renew their rivalry. New York is fresh off winning an NBA Cup, and it’ll be fascinating to see how they look just two days after capturing that crown.
The Thunder look to continue their dominance against the Clippers. Oklahoma City has an NBA-best 24-2 record and faces an LA team that sits at 6-20.
4:30 PM / December 18, 2025
Stacked Slate Across the NBA Tonight
We have all but six teams in action on this busy 12-game Thursday night.
The league is making up some games after the NBA Cup concluded on Tuesday.
Trae Young is the highlight player of the night because the four-time All-Star makes his return to the Hawks lineup after missing 22 games.
With the holidays in full bloom and a 12-game night on the horizon, here’s a video of the Top 12 Christmas Day dunks to kick off the night!
TOP 12 #NBAXmas DUNKS 🎄
LeBron v. GSW (2016)
Shaq v. POR (2000)
David Robinson v. LAC (1992)
Tatum v. MIL (2022)
Ariza v. PHX (2007)
RJ v. GSW (2016)
Jordan v. NYK (1986)
Kobe v. SAS (1999)
Obi Toppin v. ATL (2021)
Kobe v. PHX (2007)
LeBron v. LAL (2013)
AG v. PHX (2022) pic.twitter.com/yWRk4of8IL
— NBA (@NBA) December 18, 2025