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Live Updates: Top moments from 11-game Monday around the NBA

Live Updates: Top moments from 11-game Monday around the NBA

Published: Dec 30, 2025
James Colin
James Colin
Writer

Follow along with live updates around NBA action on Monday Dec. 29 with key games, moments and highlights from 11-game schedule.

Enjoy the best of Monday’s 11-game slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.

Monday’s Final Scores

Phoenix Suns 115, Washington Wizards 101

Milwaukee Bucks 123, Charlotte Hornets 113

9:33 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Pelicans lead Knicks in 3Q

OG Anunoby (18 points, 7 rebounds) and Mohamed Diawara (16 points) lead the Knicks in scoring, but Jalen Brunson is right behind them with 15 points and 4 assists.

Saddiq Bey has 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting to pace the Pelicans, and Zion Williamson pours in 22 points (8-12 FG) with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block in 18 minutes.

New Orleans has an 81-74 edge over New York with 9:17 left in the third quarter, live on League Pass!

9:23 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Jokić (knee) won’t return vs. Heat

Here’s the play that causes Nikola Jokić to limp off the court at halftime against the Heat, and he has been ruled out for the remainder of the contest. He put up 21 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists in 19 minutes before suffering the injury.

We’re hoping for good news on the 3-time NBA MVP.

9:16 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Bucks-Hornets in a tight one

Giannis Antetokounmpo is up to 21 points on 10-for-14 shooting with 6 assists, while Bobby Portis leads Milwaukee with 25 points (8-12 FG, 5-7 3PM) in 23 minutes as a reserve.

Brandon Miller (29 points, 8 rebounds) and LaMelo Ball (26 points, 6 assists) are keeping Charlotte within striking distance, as they trail the Bucks 116-109 with 2:30 remaining in the contest.

9:11 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Raptors fighting back at home

Orlando was up as many as 21 points in the first half, but the Raptors have cut it down to just a 6-point deficit midway through the third quarter. Gradey Dick and Jamal Shead each have 15 points apiece off the bench, leading Toronto in scoring.

Paolo Banchero has 19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and a block to lead three Magic players in double figures scoring. Desmond Bane adds 18 points and 6 rebounds in 24 minutes, as Orlando leads Toronto 77-72 with 5:53 remaining in the quarter.

9:01 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Bigs go defense to offense

Rudy Gobert gets the swat on one end and gets rewarded with a beautiful euro step finish at the other. Anthony Edwards (11 points) and Naz Reid (10 points) lead the way for Minnesota, as the Wolves have a 55-50 advantage over Chicago at the break.

Jalen Smith makes a similar play for the Bulls, and he’s got 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, one assist and one steal in 12 minutes off the bench.

Nikola Vučević and Josh Giddey have 11 points apiece to pace the Bulls in scoring.

8:50 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Seeing is believing

Nickeil Alexander-Walker somehow splashes from halfcourt with his off-hand, giving Atlanta a 38-35 lead over OKC after the first quarter. NAW has 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a block in 12 minutes, and Onyeka Okongwu leads Atlanta in scoring with 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting.

On the other side, NAW’s cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, bounces for a nasty two-handed jam to get the home crowd going. SGA has a game-high 15 points (6-9 FG) with 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 12 minutes.

Atlanta holds a 49-44 edge over the Thunder with 9:10 remaining before halftime, live on League Pass!

8:44 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

MPJ detonates at the rim

Michael Porter, Jr. gets up for this poster slam against Golden State, giving him a game-high 17 points (7-10 FG, 3-6 3PM) with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal in 16 minutes.

Stephen Curry leads the Warriors with 10 points and 4 assists, while Trayce Jackson-Davis (9 points, 2 steals, 2 blocks) and Gary Payton II (8 points) are doing their part off the bench.

Golden State holds a 59-57 advantage over Brooklyn at halftime.

8:38 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Saddiq Bey is ON FIRE

Bey goes on an absolute heater in the first quarter, dropping 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting with four made 3s in 12 minutes. Jordan Poole tallies 10 points and two made 3s off the Pelicans’ bench, helping New Orleans take a 41-37 lead after one.

Mohamed Diawara had himself a quarter, too, putting up 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting (3-3 3PM) with 2 steals in just 9 minutes for New York.

8:33 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Spurs’ ROTY connection

Stephon Castle goes showtime off the backboard to Victor Wembanyama on Peacock & NBC! Wemby has 4 points, 2 rebounds and a block, while Castle is up to 4 points and 3 dimes in 8 minutes, but the Spurs trail the Cavs 22-19 with 2:02 left in the first quarter.

Dean Wade and Jarrett Allen lead the Cavs with 6 points apiece, and Darius Garland adds 4 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal in 8 minutes.

8:26 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

3Q underway in Charlotte

Brandon Miller hits the circus shot in the first half to give him 17 points in 17 minutes. LaMelo Ball (14 points) and Collin Sexton (13 points, 6 assists) are right behind him to keep the Hornets in front of the Bucks, 71-69, with two minutes gone in the third quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (11 points), Myles Turner (12 points) and Ryan Rollins (12 points, 3 assists) lead the way for Milwaukee.

8:17 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Suns lead Wizards at the break

Phoenix holds a 61-54 edge over Washington at halftime, fueled by the trio of Collin Gillespie (13 points), Devin Booker (11 points, 5 rebounds) and Jordan Goodwin (11 points, 4 rebounds).

Rookie Tre Johnson is on a heater tonight, putting up 18 points (7-8 FG, 4-4 3PM), 2 assists and a steal in 13 first-half minutes. Bilal Coulibaly adds 10 points with two made 3s and one block in 9 minutes.

8:11 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Magic on top after 1Q

Orlando is lead by Desmond Bane (11 points, 3 rebounds) and Paolo Banchero (2 points, 6 boards, 2 assists) as they take a 29-18 advantage over Toronto into the second quarter.

Gradey Dick is the high man for the Raptors with 7 points in 5 minutes off the bench.

8:06 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Joker + Jamal = chemistry

Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray have done this more times than we can count, but it never gets old watching it. ‘Joker’ has 6 points and 6 dimes while Murray has 6 points, 3 rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Norman Powell (10 points) is fueling a high-scoring first quarter for Miami, who are happy to have Bam Adebayo (4 points, 5 rebounds) back in the lineup after missing the last two contests.

The Heat lead the Nuggets 41-29 after 12 minutes of play on League Pass!

7:56 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Raining 3s in Brooklyn

Egor Dëmin (6 points) and Michael Porter, Jr. (8 points) trade triples early for the Nets, powering their 23-13 lead over the Warriors with 5:23 left in the opening quarter.

Stephen Curry is scoreless (0-3 FG) in 7 minutes, but he has 3 assists and a rebound for Golden State.

7:50 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Bank’s open late in Charlotte

Bobby Portis helps close the quarter out on a high note for Milwaukee, making it a 14-6 run by the Hornets to finish the first frame. ‘BP’ has 10 points to lead the Bucks in scoring.

Brandon Miller has 9 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, while LaMelo Ball has 11 points (3-6 3PM) and 3 dimes in 12 minutes. Charlotte trails Milwaukee 41-40 with 7:23 remaining before halftime.

7:36 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Wizards-Suns battling in D.C.

Dillon Brooks hits the tough turnaround in the lane for his only bucket of the evening so far. Collin Gillespie leads Phoenix with 8 points on 3-for-3 shooting with two made 3s.

Bilal Coulibaly paces Washington with 7 points in 8 minutes, helping the Wizards take a 23-22 lead after one quarter of play.

7:22 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Giannis is unstoppable

Giannis Antetokounmpo makes this incredible take and spin look so effortless. He’s got 4 points and 2 assists in the early going tonight in Charlotte, helping Milwaukee take a 16-9 lead midway through the quarter.

LaMelo Ball leads the Hornets with 8 points and two made 3s.

6:57 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

Best clutch plays of 2025

With 2026 quickly approaching, enjoy the top 10 clutch plays of 2025 before the calendar flips.

6:20 PM / DECEMBER 29, 2025

What we know before Monday’s 11-game night

To tip off the Peacock / NBC doubleheader, the Cavaliers are in San Antonio to battle the surging Spurs (8 ET). Cleveland has lost two straight while San Antonio had their 8-game win streak snapped on Saturday night against the Jazz.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks square off against LaMelo Ball and the Hornets (7 ET, League Pass), who will be going for a third consecutive win. Giannis dropped 29 points and 8 rebounds in his first game back from an 8-game absence.

The Suns are aiming for a fourth straight victory tonight in the nation’s capital when they battle the Washington Wizards (7 ET, League Pass). Phoenix will be without Mark Williams, who’s serving a one-game suspension for his role in an on-court altercation on Saturday.

Brooklyn is looking for a third consecutive win of their own when they host Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors (7:30 ET, League Pass).

Bam Adebayo (back) is listed as probable for Miami’s home tilt with the Denver Nuggets after missing the last two games (7:30 ET, League Pass). The Heat won both contests with Bam on the shelf.

Paolo Banchero and the Magic are in Toronto to take on the Raptors (7:30 ET, League Pass). Both teams are coming off of a victory their last time out, with Scottie Barnes setting a franchise record with 25 rebounds in a 141-127 OT win against the Warriors on Sunday.

In a matchup between two squads fighting to get back in the win column, the Timberwolves travel to take on the Bulls in an interconference tilt (8 ET, League Pass).

Houston, winners of two straight, host the struggling Pacers, losers of eight in a row (8 ET, League Pass). Kevin Durant poured in a cool 30 points in 29 minutes during the Rockets’ 117-100 win over Cleveland on Saturday.

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks will go for a third consecutive dub when they face off against rookie Derik Queen and the Pelicans in New Orleans (8 ET, League Pass). The Pels have lost three straight after winning their previous five games.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder play host to Dyson Daniels and the Hawks (8 ET, League Pass). Oklahoma City will be without Isaiah Hartenstein (calf), while Atlanta, currently on a 6-game losing skid, will be missing Trae Young (quadriceps), Jalen Johnson (illness) and Kristaps Porziņģis (illness).

Capping off Monday’s jam-packed slate will be the Mavericks taking on the Trail Blazers on the road (10:30 ET, Peacock & NBC). Both teams are 4-6 over their last 10 outings, but Dallas has dropped two in a row while Portland is in the second night of a back-to-back after defeating Boston, 114-108.

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