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Live Updates: Top moments around the NBA for Sunday, January 4

Live Updates: Top moments around the NBA for Sunday, January 4

Published: Jan 05, 2026
James Colin
James Colin
Writer

Enjoy the top highlights, moments, stats and observations from Sunday's action with the NBA.com live blog.

What we know about Sunday’s games:

  • The Pistons put another one in the win column, with a 114-110 win over the Cavaliers this afternoon. The game was billed as a battle of the star guards, and it didn’t disappoint, with Cade Cunningham pouring in 27 points, to go with 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Donovan Mitchell delivered 30. The unsung hero for Detroit, though, was Daniss Jenkins, who added 25 points off the bench on 6-for-7 3-point shooting. 
  • Injuries haven’t been kind to Denver this season, with Nikola Jokić (knee) and Jonas Valančiūnas (calf) the most recent Nuggets to hit the sidelines. However, this afternoon in their matinee matchup with the Nets, we saw the returns of Christian Braun (ankle) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) from long layoffs. However, that didn’t equal a victory, as the Nets got the best of the Nuggets, 127-115 in Brooklyn. 
  • Oklahoma City has notched 30 wins in its first 35 games for the second straight season. They’ll be trying to extend their dominance with a victory over Phoenix, who have won five of their last six.

7:10 PM / JANUARY 4, 2026

Murphy makes history

Trey Murphy has been on fire, posting 21 first-half points, and in the process became the Pelicans’ all-time 3PT leader.

Unfortunately, for Murphy and the Pelicans, they’re trailing the Heat 70-62 at the break.

6:45 PM / JANUARY 4, 2026

Perfect Powell

Norman Powell can’t miss from the field, going 4-for-4 from triple land early to hit 15 points and lead all scorers against the Pelicans.

The Heat and Pelicans are knotted up at 43, two minutes into the second quarter.

6:35 PM / JANUARY 4, 2026

The Anthony Edwards show is live on League Pass

Edwards was a bucket in the first quarter, making 7 of his 10 field-goal attempts for 16 points.

The Timberwolves have a 9-point advantage, 50-41, over the Wizards nearing the midpoint of the second quarter.

6:06 PM / JANUARY 4, 2026

Nets top Nuggets

Denver got Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon back on the court for the first time since November, but it wasn’t enough to get the W.

Instead, the Nets offense delivered, converting on 42% of their 3-point attempts and 51% overall from the field. At the helm of the offense were Michael Porter Jr., who added a team-high 27 points, and Noah Clowney, who chipped in 24.

Also of note, Cam Thomas, who scored all 17 of his points off the bench in the second half, helped keep the Pacers at a distance.

Although the return of Gordon didn’t equal a victory for Denver, AG was a factor off the bench, scoring 20 points in just 21 minutes. Braun, on the other hand, showed more rust, shooting 1-for-4 and contributing just 3 points in 24 minutes.

5:45 PM / JANUARY 4, 2026

Orlando gets victory in high-scoring affair

The Pacers and Magic each shot over 50 percent from the field, and above 40 percent from long-distance, with Orlando ultimately coming out on top, 135-127.

The trio of Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, and Anthony Black were all key in delivering the win, with Banchero scoring 28 with 12 boards, Bane adding a team-high 31 on 12-for-17 shooting, and Black getting a 27-point, 10-assist double-double.

Despite adding just 10 points, Tristan da Silva arguably hit the biggest shot of the game, this triple with just over a minute to go to put the Magic up 6.

Pascal Siakam scored 34 for the Pacers in the loss.

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