Live Updates: Rockets-Nuggets, Lakers-Clippers and Saturday's action around the NBA
Kevin Durant's Dominance
Kevin Durant shines with a game-high 31 points, including five 3-pointers, as the Houston Rockets secure a 115-101 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Saturday's Schedule
- NBA.com live blog covers all the action, including meaningful moments, performances, news, and highlights.
- Christmas Day Hoops: https://www.nba.com/#stories/dbcfb846-5e0b-4a4f-1677-3a1e4af36bf2
- NBA All-Star 2026 voting: https://vote.nba.com/en
- Kia MVP Ladder: Jalen Brunson's impressive performance boosts his chances.
- Friday's Live Updates: Top moments from a 5-game night.
- Download the NBA App: https://link.nba.com/NBAapp_
Saturday's Final Scores
- Houston Rockets 115, Denver Nuggets 101: https://www.nba.com/game/hou-vs-den-0022500386?watchLive
Third Quarter Highlights
- Naji Marshall assists P.J. Washington, helping the Mavericks take an 82-79 lead over the Sixers.
- Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg lead the Dallas Mavericks with 18 and 20 points, respectively.
- Tyrese Maxey, Dominick Barlow, and VJ Edgecombe fuel the Philadelphia 76ers' offense.
Pelicans' Dominance
- New Orleans holds a 64-49 advantage over the Indiana Pacers at halftime.
- Zion Williamson scores a game-high 18 points in 15 minutes as a reserve.
- Jay Huff, the league leader in blocks per game, records 2+ blocks in every game since Nov. 19th.
Raptors' Resilience
- After trailing 32-20, Toronto outscores Boston 31-17 in the second quarter, taking a 51-49 lead at halftime.
- Brandon Ingram and Sandro Mamukelashvili contribute 12 and 11 points, respectively.
- Anfernee Simons and Neemias Queta lead Boston and Dallas, respectively.
Maxey's Fire
- Tyrese Maxey leads the Sixers with 20 points, while VJ Edgecombe and Dominick Barlow are close behind.
Knueppel's Impact
- Kon Knueppel, a rookie, drives through the lane for his 5th points of the night.
LaMelo Ball and Cade Cunningham's Duel
- LaMelo Ball and Cade Cunningham engage in a scoring duel in Detroit, with the Pistons leading 25-19 at the end of the first quarter.
Pels' Hot Start
- New Orleans scores 44 points in the first quarter, with Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III each contributing 10 points.
- Pascal Siakam leads the Pacers with 12 points in 12 minutes.
Celtics' Blitz
- Boston blitzes Toronto with a 16-0 run to end the first quarter, leading 28-25 with 8:38 remaining in the second quarter.
Rockets' Revenge
- Kevin Durant and Reed Sheppard lead the Houston Rockets to a 115-101 win over the Denver Nuggets, with 31 and 28 points, respectively.
- Jabari Smith, Jr. achieves a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
- Nikola Jokić and Bruce Brown lead the Denver Nuggets with 25 and 12 points, respectively.
VJ Edgecombe's Performance
- VJ Edgecombe finishes with an and-1 layup, helping Philadelphia trail Dallas 13-10 midway through the first quarter.
Trey Murphy III's Contribution
- Trey Murphy III scores 4 points to lead the Pelicans, giving them a 16-10 lead after the first quarter.
Durant's Consistency
- Kevin Durant and Reed Sheppard combine for 57 points and 11 3-pointers, leading the Rockets to a commanding 107-86 lead.
- Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray lead the Nuggets with 25 and 15 points, respectively.
Sheppard's 11-0 Run
- Reed Sheppard ignites an 11-0 Houston run in the third quarter, scoring three 3-pointers.
- Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray lead the Nuggets with 19 and 15 points, respectively.
Amen Thompson's Block
- Amen Thompson records a block, contributing 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal for Houston.
Rockets' Dominance in the Second Quarter
- Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant lead the Rockets with 4 and 16 points, respectively.
- Nikola Jokić and Spencer Jones lead the Nuggets with 12 and 9 points, respectively.
KD's Cooking
- Kevin Durant scores 14 points in the first half, leading the Rockets with a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc.
- Houston leads Denver 45-37 with 5:57 remaining before halftime.
Nuggets' Lead After the First Quarter
- Denver holds a 29-26 lead over Houston after the first 12 minutes.
- Spencer Jones and Reed Sheppard lead the Nuggets and Rockets with 9 points each.
Welcome to Saturday Night Hoops!
- The Rockets and Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokić and Alperen Sengun, face off in a back-and-forth contest early on.
- The East-leading Detroit Pistons host the Hornets in the second game.
- The Lakers and Clippers meet in a star-studded clash between LA franchises.
- Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis join the Mavericks in Philadelphia.
- The Celtics and Raptors clash in a road game for both teams.
- New Orleans hosts the Indiana Pacers, who are on a three-game losing streak.
- Memphis plays the Washington Wizards, aiming for a third consecutive win.
- The Warriors and Suns meet for a rematch of a recent game, with the Dubs seeking revenge.
- The Orlando Magic visit the Utah Jazz, looking to get back in the win column.
- Portland aims for a third consecutive victory against the Kings.
