{"id":362386,"date":"2025-12-21T19:39:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T19:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/362386\/"},"modified":"2025-12-21T19:39:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T19:39:24","slug":"starting-5-kd-propels-rockets-maxey-vj-hold-off-flagg-clips-beat-lakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/362386\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5: KD propels Rockets, Maxey & VJ hold off Flagg, Clips beat Lakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Human flight.https:\/\/www.nba.com\/wp-admin\/
Shaedon Sharpe soars above a stuffed Saturday of thrilling hoops.<\/p>\n

\"Shaedon<\/p>\n

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

Dec. 21, 2025<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s Best: KD energizes Rockets in Joker\u2019s house, VJ bests Coop as Maxey shines<\/p>\n

Can\u2019t-Miss: Clippers crash LeBron\u2019s season high, Bane guides Magic in OT<\/p>\n

West Play-In: Steph & Jimmy out-clutch Book & Brooks, Sharpe\u2019s Blazers clear Kings<\/p>\n

Up East: Cade, Detroit back in win column, Boston shoots toward the top<\/p>\n

Give & Grind: Norman Powell is giving back while he laces up on a six-game Sunday<\/p>\n

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

Saturday\u2019s scores give way to Sunday\u2019s six tips\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

Today is World Basketball Day: Celebrate the power of basketball<\/a> to unite communities and connect people around the world on the day Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game at a YMCA in Springfield, MA in 1891.<\/p>\n

In the Second Game of Christmas, the Spurs and Thunder give to us\u2026<\/p>\n

A new chapter in the rivalry, and classic in the making.\u00a0OKC and San Antonio are 1-2 in the West standings \u2014 the latest into a season that\u2019s happened since 2013-14. Tap for what to know<\/a> about this year\u2019s slate.<\/p>\n

Cavaliers at Knicks (Noon ET)
\nSpurs at Thunder (2:30 ET)
\nMavericks at Warriors (5 ET)
\nRockets at Lakers (8 ET)
\nWolves at Nuggets (10:30 ET)<\/p>\n

A gift so nice, you get it twice. OKC and San Antonio also meet this Tuesday, Dec. 23 (8:30 ET, LP | Tap to Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"Christmas<\/p>\n

1. GAMES OF THE NIGHT: ROCKETS ERUPT, SIXERS EDGE FLAGG, MAVS<\/p>\n

\"Kevin<\/p>\n

Down 0-2 vs. Denver this season, and coming off back-to-back losses, KD was fed up.
\u201cI just felt like we needed a little extra juice<\/a>.\u201d
Rockets 115, Nuggets 101: Durant poured in 31 points with five 3s to fuel the Rockets to their first win this season over Nikola Joki\u0107 (25 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast) and the Nuggets, ending their six-game winning streak. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Two-Way W: Houston\u2019s top-5 defense (111.8 DefRtg) held the league\u2019s highest-scoring offense to a season-low 101 points, while the Rockets\u2019 top-5 offense (121.1 OffRtg) shot 54.3% from deep
\nBig Boosts: Reed Sheppard (28 pts) hit a career-high six 3s off the bench, while Jabari Smith Jr. added a big 22-point, 10-rebound double-double
\n\u201cI can\u2019t even explain how great [Reed] was tonight,\u201d KD said postgame. \u201cI just fed off that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Tyrese<\/p>\n

Mitchell Leff\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe carried their recent heroics into a Saturday night showdown \u2013 but Tyrese Maxey stole the show.
Sixers 121, Mavericks 114: Maxey got 16 of his 38 points in a 4th quarter where Philly held Dallas to 17 points to pull away, despite 24 points apiece from Flagg and AD (14 reb). | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Race For 35: This was Maxey\u2019s 10th 35+ point game of the season, trailing only Luka Don\u010di\u0107 (12) for most in the league
\n18 Was Great: Flagg went over 20 points for the fourth straight game<\/a>, joining LeBron as the only players 18 or under with such a streak in NBA history \u2013\u00a0as today is his 19th birthday
\nSlight Edge: VJ Edgecome (26 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast) continued his own four-game 20+ point streak, edging out Coop in this showdown of top-3 picks<\/p>\n

\"VJ<\/p>\n

2. MUST-SEE MOMENTS: OT MAGIC, CLIPS CLAIM BATTLE OF LA, AS LEBRON LEADS LAKERS<\/p>\n

\"Desmond<\/p>\n

Magic 128, Jazz 127 (OT): Isaiah Collier (18 pts) capped a 36-21 Jazz comeback with a tough two to force OT<\/a>, and Keyonte George (27 pts, 9 ast) converted a 4-point play<\/a> with 4.1 left in the extra frame, but Desmond Bane (32 pts) guided in the Magic game-winner. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Magic Trio: Bane got to 30 points for the fourth time in his last nine games, with key support from Paolo Banchero (23 pts, 9 reb, 9 ast) and Anthony Black (20 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast)
\n\u201cHe doesn\u2019t get rattled. He knows how to make winning plays,\u201d coach Jamahl Mosley said of Bane. \u201cJust doing all the little things in those situations to be able to put the team on his back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LeBron<\/p>\n

Clippers 103, Lakers 88: Kawhi Leonard (32 pts, 12 reb) helped the Clippers end a five-game skid, as they held the Lakers to a season-low in points to claim their first Battle of LA in the last five tries. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

LBJ Steps Up: LeBron led the Lakers with a season-high 36 points after Luka (12 pts) did not return for the 2nd half (leg)
\nAll-Time Assists: James Harden added 21 points and 10 assists in the win, while moving into 12th place all-time in dimes, passing Andre Miller (8,524)<\/p>\n

The Lakers remain in 4th place by a game on either side; one ahead of the Rockets and a game back of the Nuggets.<\/p>\n

\"Zion<\/p>\n

Pelicans 128, Pacers 109: Zion Williamson matched his season high with 29 points in just 23 minutes to lead the Pelicans over Pascal Siakam (22 pts) and the Pacers, in a fourth straight win for New Orleans. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

3. PLAY-IN POSITION: WARRIORS, BLAZERS KEEP PACE OUT WEST
\n\"Steph<\/p>\n

Noah Graham\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Warriors 119, Suns 116: In a tale of two halves and dueling duos, Steph and Jimmy Butler<\/a> overcame Phoenix\u2019s Book & Brooks with the help of Will Richard\u2019s 20 points, as the Warriors stormed back to end a three-game skid and split back-to-back clutch finishes with the Suns. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Game of Runs: Phoenix built a 14-point lead after a 44-point 1st quarter, but Golden State was back within reach by the time Butler scored 12 of his 25 points in a crucial 3rd quarter
\nStage Was Set: Curry then scored 14 of his Dubs-high 28 points in the 4th, outdueling Booker (12 of his game-high 38 pts) to give the Bay\u2019s third-ranked defense (111.5 DefRtg) the chance to close out<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Shaedon<\/p>\n

Rocky Widner\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Trail Blazers 98, Kings 93: Deni Avdija (24 pts, 7 reb, 10 ast) led the Blazers to a third straight win, topping Dennis Schr\u00f6der (21 pts) and the Kings for the second-consecutive game. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Portland remains in the 10th-and-final Play-In spot out West, with a 1.5 game lead over Utah and Dallas.<\/p>\n

4. EAST UPDATE: PISTONS BOUNCE BACK, CELTICS CLIMB
\n\"Cade<\/p>\n

Brian Sevald +Vaughn Ridley + Joe Murphy\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Pistons 112, Hornets 86: Cade Cunningham (22 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast) collected his 3rd triple-double of the season and the second-ranked Pistons defense (109.7 DefRtg) limited Charlotte to 14 4th-quarter points and a season-low 86 overall, with 19 from Kon Knueppel. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Celtics 112, Raptors 96: Payton Pritchard (33 pts, 7 reb, 10 ast) took over<\/a> for Boston with Jaylen Brown out ill, as the Celtics shot past Brandon Ingram (24 pts, 7 ast) and the Raptors and into 3rd place in the East. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Wizards 130, Grizzlies 122: Facing a 20-point deficit before halftime, Kyshawn George powered up for 24 2nd-half points, matching CJ McCollum with 28 overall, as the Wiz closed on a 26-10 run in the final 6 minutes to burn the Grizz. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Santi\u2019s Big Night: Santi Aldama\u2019s career-high 37 points led Memphis, which dropped just its 3rd game in the last ten<\/p>\n

5. NORMAN POWELL\u2019S WORK ON & OFF COURT LEADS SUNDAY\u2019S SLATE
\n\"Norman<\/p>\n

Norman Powell speaks to kids at a clinic for his Understand the Grind Foundation.<\/p>\n

Norman Powell is a busy man. If he\u2019s not sweating in the gym and pouring in buckets, there\u2019s a good chance he\u2019s making calls to brighten someone\u2019s holiday.<\/p>\n

Powell, averaging a career-high 24.6 points per game for the Miami Heat this season, also plays the role of point person for his Understand the Grind Foundation, active in his hometown of San Diego.<\/p>\n

The foundation \u2014 with the help of charitable donations and support from local food providers \u2014 distributed 500 turkeys to families this Thanksgiving, and is following up with a Christmas gift drive.<\/p>\n

Joining Powell in running the foundation are\u00a0his mother, Sharon Powell, sisters Margaret Powell-Smart and Joniece Benjamin, and a handful of lifelong friends from his hometown.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s fitting, he says, for an organization dedicated to families \u2014 and because and his mother is his inspiration in all of his charitable endeavors.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was a big advocate in giving back to the community, helping the next family, somebody else in need,\u201d Powell said. \u201cWatching her as a kid rubbed off on me. And I always thought that if I made it to the NBA, I\u2019d never forget where I came from and I\u2019d always try to give back and help the next generation go after their own dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tap here to read the full article<\/a> from NBA.com<\/p>\n

\"Norman<\/p>\n

Nathaniel S. Butler\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Powell is working his \u201cday job\u201d tonight at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n

Heat at Knicks (6 ET, LP | Tap To Watch<\/a>): Miami aims to be the only team to beat New York three times this season (2-1) as the Knicks come off just their second loss at MSG, which ended a six-game win streak.<\/p>\n

Heat Forecast: Expect a high-scoring affair between these top-5 offenses (Knicks: 120.2 ppg, 4th; Heat: 120.0 ppg, 5th)<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

Ronald Cortes\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Roundup: Wemby and the Spurs look to replicate Thursday\u2019s win against the Wizards (7 ET), plus KD and the Rockets visit Russ and the Kings (10 ET).<\/p>\n

Bulls at Hawks (3:30 ET)
\nRaptors at Nets (6 ET)
\nBucks at Timberwolves (7 ET)<\/p>\n