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Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Dec. 25

Celebrate Christmas Day with the latest news, scores and highlights from around the NBA. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

NBA.com Staff

Christmas Day NBA Schedule 🎄

Knicks 117, Spurs 114

Minnesota 105, Dallas 99

Philadelphia 118, Boston 114

Los Angeles 115, Golden State 113

Phoenix 110, Denver 100

🎄Top NBA Storylines Today

🎁 Lakers, Warriors deliver Christmas Day Classic: This game had it all. LeBron James. Stephen Curry. Playoff standings implications. Christmas Day in primetime. Late-game ties and lead changes.

James and Curry each turned in terrific performances as Steph drilled eight triples en route to scoring 38 points, a new season-high. He hit two 3’s in the final 20 seconds, including a game-tying triple with just 7.1 seconds remaining.

The Lakers were able to respond, though, as Austin Reaves put a bow on his own stellar outing by sinking the game-winning layup on the other end. Reaves became the 10th player in NBA history to record a triple-double on Christmas Day. This game will go down as one of the best Christmas Day games in recent memory.

🎁 Wemby makes waves on national stage: Though the Spurs fell by three points to the Knicks to start the Christmas Day NBA action, San Antonio can only be encouraged by what its burgeoning superstar did Wednesday.

Victor Wembanyama finished the game with 42 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks. He became the fourth player this season to record at least 40 points and 15 rebounds, joining Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokić.

Unpacking it further, Victor Wembanyama is the first player in NBA history to record 40+ points, 15+ rebounds, 5+ 3PM, and 4+ blocks in a game. And he’s only just getting started.

🎁 Sixers make statement: It’s no secret the season has not gone the way Philadelphia envisioned through two months, but things may be starting to turn around for the 76ers. A 118-114 win over the Celtics in Boston is a testament to that.

Not only did Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid turn in strong performances, but Caleb Martin proved to be the secret ingredient with a career-high seven 3-pointers. The 76ers still have some work to do to climb the standings and get into the playoff race, but a win like Wednesday’s against one of the league’s best on their home floor is a positive sign. 

🎄Top NBA Performers on Christmas Day

  • Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs: 42 points, 18 rebound, 4 blocks
  • Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers: 26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists
  • Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: 38 points with eight made 3’s

☀️Suns snap losing streak, handle Nuggets

The Suns got back into the win column after having lost six of their last eight, and they did so in dominant fashion. Phoenix never trailed by more than two points in this one as it cruised to a 110-100 victory over the Nuggets.

Phoenix was able to stifle Denver to notch its first Christmas Day victory since 2009. The Nuggets were held to just 27 percent shooting from three and didn’t reach 100 points until the waning moments.

Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal rose to the occasion in Devin Booker’s absence as each of them scored 27 points. Tyus Jones, who got the start at point guard, filled in ably with 17 points and four assists.

🌵Phoenix leads going into fourth quarter

Kevin Durant has helped fuel a Suns lead as we enter the final quarter of Wednesday’s hoops marathon. He’s up to 23 points and has shown up big time on the defensive end with a pair of blocks and a steal. The Suns lead 88-83.

☀️Suns up two over Nuggets at halftime

Phoenix takes a narrow, two-point lead into the locker room (58-56) after an entertaining first half against Denver. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have each chipped in 14 points for the Suns.

Nikola Jokić is paving the way for the Nuggets with 17 points and eight boards in 18 minutes of action. Catch the second half on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ or ESPN+.

🛫 Air Show in Phoenix

The Suns are hosting the Nuggets tonight and there has been no shortage of monster dunks. Feast your eyes on some of the best jams from tonight’s action as we approach halftime of a close and tightly contested showdown.

🎁 Austin Reaves makes NBA Christmas history

Los Angeles’ Austin Reaves became the 10th player in NBA history to record a triple-double on Christmas Day. He is the first to record a Christmas Day triple-double since Nikola Jokić achieved that feat in 2022.

Reaves finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the victory over the Warriors and delivered the game-winning bucket with one second remaining.

💪 Lakers outlast Warriors in Christmas Day classic

Any time LeBron James and Stephen Curry go head-to-head, expectations are high. And yet, somehow, these two legends of the game found a way to exceed those expectations Wednesday.

Curry and James each turned in vintage performances. Curry canned a clutch corner three to pull the Warriors within one point late in the fourth quarter and followed it up with a game-tying triple from way downtown with six seconds remaining. However, Los Angeles’ Austin Reaves bullied his way to the basket to lay in the game-winning bucket.

James had 31 points and dished out 10 assists in the victory to become the winningest player on Christmas Day in NBA history. It was his fourth game this season with at least 30 points and 10 assists.

As if things couldn’t be any better, we still have Suns vs Nuggets in the desert to cap off the Christmas Day slate.

🎅🏻 More like Austin Wreaths 🎄

Austin Reaves sunk the game-winner with one second remaining to give the Lakers the win over the Warriors. Reaves’ game-winner put a bow on a terrific performance in which he collected a triple-double.

🗣️ BAAAAAANG

Steph Curry drills a three from way downtown to tie it up with 6.3 seconds remaining. Curry is up to 38 on the night with eight made 3’s.

Starting 5️⃣s for Suns vs Nuggets

Tyus Jones steps into the starting lineup for Phoenix with Devin Booker sidelined.

Meanwhile for the Nuggets, Jamal Murray is back in action after missing Monday’s game.

🍿Fourth quarter upcoming in Lakers-Warriors

LeBron James and the Lakers lead 84-76 over the Warriors as we head to the final quarter. James has been the leading scorer through three with 26 points. The Lakers have built this lead despite getting only seven minutes from Anthony Davis before the star exited the game. He was ultimately ruled out for the remainder of the contest.

Catch the final stanza on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ or ESPN+.

📊 Lakers lead at the half

The Lake Show is showing out in the Bay Area thus far as Los Angeles takes a 55-52 lead into halftime against Golden State. LeBron James has led the way for LA with 19 points and rookie Dalton Knecht has provided a spark off the bench with 11 points.

On the Golden State side, Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins have combined for 30 points.

😱 Look out below

Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga just threw down one of the nastiest dunks of the day as he gathered himself in the lane and elevated to jam it over two Laker defenders. Sheesh.

Check out where Kuminga’s slam ranks on the dunk score leaderboard.

Warriors, Lakers tied up after 1

Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins has come firing out of the gate with 10 first-quarter points. LeBron James and Co. were able to erase an eight-point lead, however, and we’re all knotted up after one quarter. Catch the action now on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ or ESPN+.

🤯 LeBron vs Steph by the numbers

LeBron James and Stephen Curry will square off for the 53rd time in their storied careers tonight in primetime. It’s no surprise that these all-time greats tend to raise their games when they square off. Check out their career averages when facing off, courtesy of NBC Sports Bay Area.

💪 Next up: Lakers vs Warriors. LeBron vs Steph.

The NBA’s Christmas Day showcase continues at 8 PM Eastern with the Warriors hosting the Lakers. It looks like King James is just a little bit excited for this one.

Lakers starting five

Warriors lineup

🔔76ers hold on, notch statement win over Celtics

The 76ers still have their work cut out for them to get established in the Eastern Conference’s playoff race, but a Christmas Day win over the defending champion Celtics is a sign that things may finally be starting to turn around in Philly.

Philadelphia had strong performances from its stars as Tyrese Maxey went for 33 points and 12 assists while Joel Embiid dropped 27. However, it was Caleb Martin who stood out as the x-factor. Martin canned a career-high seven triples en route to putting up a season-high 23 points.

For a team that was 5-15 early in December, Philadelphia now has a pulse at 11-17.

👀 Boston not done yet

After the 76ers jumped out to a 15-point lead in the fourth, the defending champs responded with a run of their own to fight back into this game. The Celtics have cut the lead to five at the 2:00 mark thanks in part to some clutch shooting from Derrick White and Co.

🍿 Upset brewing in Boston

The 76ers are taking control in the fourth quarter after rattling off an 18-2 run on the Celtics to take a 15-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. Caleb Martin’s three-point shooting has been a key as the veteran has canned six triples. Of course, with the way Boston can shoot it from deep, no lead is ever completely safe. Tune in to catch the conclusion now on ESPN.

Prime flashes from Joel Embiid, 76ers lead

Philadelphia clings to a 66-58 lead over Boston, fueled by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey delivering 18 points each. Embiid’s shooting touch has been stellar after a cold start, and his classic back-down into a midrange jumper has looked crisp. He also had a Euro-step bucket through the lane plus a foul. His resurgence on a national stage could mark a turning point in Philadelphia’s season.

Boston has other plans, however. Jayson Tatum leads the Celtics with 16 points, including back-to-back heat-check threes to end the first half. Boston has connected on 46.4% of 28 3PA, compared to 40.0% of 20 2PA.

Maxey vs. Boston’s 3P barrage⚔️⚔️

Tyrese Maxey leads all scorers with 16 points (7-12 FG, 2-4 3PM) as Philadelphia has mounted a 50-36 lead over Boston midway through the second quarter. Maxey has been a problem for Boston’s defense, consistently getting to the hoop or getting to his spots.

Boston has sourced 30 of their 36 points from beyond the arc, posting 10-for-23 shooting from deep.

Minnesota holds on for 105-99 victory

Anthony Edwards delivered the final clutch bucket to extend Minnesota’s lead to a two possession advantage, representing the cherry on top of his 26-point, 8-rebound, 5-assist performance across 39 minutes of action.

Dallas nearly overcome a 28-point deficit while playing without Luka Dončić for the entirety of the second half. Kyrie Irving (39 points, 14-27 FG) was a masterful three-level scorer, although he represented the only healthy Maverick to exceed 12 points Wednesday.

Rudy Gobert (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Julius Randle (23 points, 10 rebounds) each supplied a double-double for Minnesota, highlighted by Randle notching a season-high eight assists as well.

CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN

Dallas is storming back from a 28-point deficit, currently trailing Minnesota by two points in the final minute. Kyrie Irving has 15 points in the fourth quarter, while Minnesota has been limited to just 13 points as a team in the frame.

Climbing the leaderboards📈📈

Klay Thompson sinks his third 3PM of Wednesday’s contest to pass Reggie Miller, moving into sole possession of fifth place all-time in career made threes.

Those three triples account for all nine of Thompson’s points, but Dallas is on a 26-7 run, trailing 97-88 with over five minutes remaining in the fourth.

Anthony Edwards in his bag🤌🤌

Edwards bests Kyrie Irving with a smooth behind-the-back dribble. Minnesota leads 91-76 with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Edwards has a team-high 20 points (8-17 FG) for the Timberwolves — who have led for the entirety of Wednesday’s contest.

Dallas scrapping, Dončić exits early

Luka Dončić (left calf strain) was forced to exit Wednesday’s contest after 16 minutes of action, finishing with 14 points (5-9 FG), five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Dallas finds itself in a perilous position entering the second half down 57-40.

Minutes into the third quarter, Kyrie Irving leads all scorers with 18 points, while Anthony Edwards (15 points), Julius Randle (15 points), and Rudy Gobert (14 points) lead a balanced scoring attack for Minnesota.

Anthony Edwards Mic’d Up🔊🔊

Edwards leads Minnesota with eight points, countered by 11 (4-7 FG, 3-5 3PM) from Luka Dončić as Dallas has a 21-19 lead with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. This Christmas Day rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals is a top budding rivalry in the Association.

Bridges takes over. Knicks win after hectic final possession

Mikal Bridges finished with 41 points (17-25 FG, 6-9 3PM) on remarkable efficiency, guiding New York to a 117-114 victory in a contest that featured 14 lead changes. Bridges joins Bernard King (60 points) and Richie Guerin (40 points) as the only Knicks to score 40+ points on Christmas.

Victor Wembanyama shined (42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, four blocks), but New York’s ensemble cast, starring Karl-Anthony Towls (21 points, nine rebounds) and Jalen Brunson (20 points, nine assists), committed just five turnovers as a team — representing the third fewest total of any game this season.

Wembanyama becomes the first player in NBA history to record 40+ points, 15+ rebounds, 5+ 3PM, and 4+ blocks in a game.

Wemby and Bridges dueling

Wembanyama and Mikal Bridges are trading threes in MSG, as each of them have knocked down six triples on the afternoon. Wemby has 42 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and four blocks and becomes the third player to record 40+ points in his Christmas Day debut.

Mikal Bridges has kept the Knicks within striking distance by dropping a season-high 35 points (14-19 FG, 6-8 3PT) in 38 minutes. Josh Hart nails a three and forces a timeout from the Spurs, as San Antonio leads 102-100 with 5:16 remaining in the game.

Fourth block for the 👽

Wemby tallies his fourth block after a coach’s challenge from the Spurs overturns a Jalen Brunson floater that was called for goaltending initially. The Knicks use a 10-0 run to end the third quarter and take the 88-83 lead going into the final frame.

Tune in on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ and ESPN+ to catch the exciting finish in New York.

Wemby drills 5th 👌

Wembanyama knocks down his fifth triple to give him 31 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, a steal and four blocks in 29 minutes in his Christmas debut. The Spurs are shooting 42.9% from three while the Knicks have been held to just 24%.

We’ve got ourselves a ball game, folks. San Antonio and New York are tied at 83 with less than a minute to go in the third quarter.

KAT in attack mode 💪

Karl-Anthony Towns leads a 15-6 charge to take the lead back for the Knicks to start the third quarter. KAT has 21 points and nine rebounds as the first game on Christmas is a close one. Knicks lead 78-77 with 3:36 left in the third.

Ten ties and 14 lead changes. Put this game on right now!

Castle with authority 😤

Stephon Castle doesn’t hesitate and goes right through Jalen Brunson for the Christmas Day slam. The fourth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has six points off the bench to help the Spurs grab a 58-51 lead going into halftime.

Victor Wembanyama has a double-double in less than 20 minutes with 24 points (9-18 FG, 4-10 3PT), 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Mikal Bridges paces the Knicks with 16 points (7-9 FG, 2-2 3PT).

KAT no-look dish 🤩

KAT finds Josh Hart underneath for the easy layup. Hart has done a little bit of everything with six points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal in 14 minutes.

New York and San Antonio are putting on a show, as the game has seen four ties and eight lead changes already. Knicks have a 49-47 lead with 3:20 to go before halftime.

Wemby from the logo 👀

The Spurs phenom drills his second triple of the opening quarter from the Knicks logo, putting him up to ten points already. New York shoots 39% from the field but holds onto a 28-27 lead after one.

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges combine for 24 of New York’s 28 points. Tune in now on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ and ESPN+ to catch the second quarter action.

First Christmas points for Wemby

Victor Wembanyama nets his first career bucket on Christmas Day. He’s got four points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks in seven minutes of play.

New York and San Antonio are battling in MSG, as the Knicks currently hold a 22-19 lead with under two minutes to go in the first.

Mikal warming up early 🔥

Mikal Bridges gets the Knicks going with nine of their first 15 points (4-4 FG, 1-1 3PT). The Spurs and Knicks are underway with San Antonio out to the 16-15 lead with 5:08 to go in the first quarter.

Wemby locked in 🔒

Victor Wembanyama is ready for action in his first NBA Christmas Day game. Over his last three games, Wemby has averaged 32.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 7.3 blocks in a little over 34 minutes per contest.

San Antonio is currently 15-14, good for ninth and a Play-In spot in the Western Conference.

KAT did his best 😂

Karl-Anthony Towns is all smiles today while warming up for the Knick’s matchup with the Spurs. He did his best to help get the dunk attempt to drop.

Knicks and Spurs tip off is set for 12:00 ET on ABC and ESPN!

📝 Top Storylines 📝

  1. The New York Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs in our first Christmas Day game, with the Knicks going for their fifth consecutive win. Victor Wembanyama makes his second career start in Madison Square Garden and his first game on Christmas, as the Spurs make their first holiday appearance since 2016.
  2. Boston looks to get back in the win column when they host the Philadelphia 76ers in a divisional matchup. The Celtics have lost two of their last three games while the Sixers have gone 7-3 in their last ten, including a win over Wemby and the Spurs on Monday.
  3. LeBron James and Stephen Curry face off on Christmas for the fourth time today when the LA Lakers visit the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are playing for the 12th straight year on Christmas as they try to right the ship, losing four of their last five games and seven of their last ten.

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