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Warriors' Draymond Green provides updated list of NBA championship contenders

Warriors' Draymond Green provides updated list of NBA championship contenders originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the NBA season turns the corner into 2026, Warriors forward Draymond Green has additions and subtractions to his list of serious title contenders. 

Previously, he listed five Western Conference teams as his contenders: the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. 

The Warriors, as Green explains on a new episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” released Monday, have fallen off his list of serious contenders. But he remains optimistic. 

“We’re 16-15. Can’t say you’re a real contender at 16-15,” Green said of the Warriors record at the time, which now is 17-16. “However, I think it’s starting to come together for us. And I think for us, the one thing that stands out is that we have a great defense.” 

After Golden State’s 120-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, the Warriors have a 109.7 defensive rating. That’s the fifth-best in the NBA, and third-best in the Western Conference. 

Green points to the Warriors’ offensive struggles as the reason for their middling record. 

“What has struggled is our offense, and now our offense is starting to turn the corner. Great defense, top two defense in the league, you can contend with that,” Green explained “And so, we’re not a serious contender right now– because of the record, we’re not even a playoff team right now. But, down the line, I think the Warriors are returning to your list of serious contenders.” 

The Warriors are in the middle of a good stretch right now, winning four of their last five games. They have averaged 122.4 points per game during that stretch – much better than their season-average of 115.1 points per game. 

As for the rest of his previous list, Green removed the Clippers because of their abysmal 10-21 start to the season, while the Nuggets and Thunders remain strong contenders, with the Lakers dropping slightly. 

“The Lakers, they’re a fringe. If they can’t figure out the defensive end, you can’t contend,” Green said. “But, if they can figure out the defensive end, we know they have the offensive firepower…” 

“… Right now, they’re on the fringe but not quite a real contender.” 

He made one addition from the Western Conference – the San Antonio Spurs who currently are 23-9 and have notched three wins against the defending-champion Thunder in this month alone. 

In the Eastern Conference, Green has high praise for the Detroit Pistons. 

“They got a serious-contender record, and they’re putting it together,” Green said. “And like I said before, they lost a series they should have won last year. So, I think you have to put them in that category out of the East.” 

Green also mentions the New York Knicks as one of the best teams in the East, but more of a fringe contender. 

It’s still early into the season, but the dog days of January might give Green and the NBA a clearer picture sooner rather than later. 

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Three-time MVP Jokic suffers 'gut-wrenching' injury

Nikola Jokic in action for the Denver Nuggets against the Miami Heat
Jokic won the NBA's MVP award in 2021, 2022 and 2024 [Getty Images]

Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic suffered a "gut-wrenching" knee injury as the Denver Nuggets lost 147-123 at the Miami Heat.

Jokic was hurt late in the first half in an accidental coming together with team-mate Spencer Jones.

Jones stepped on the foot of Jokic who immediately collapsed to the ground clutching his knee.

The 30-year-old has had a scan and will be re-assessed in four weeks' time.

"Immediately, he knew something was wrong," said Nuggets head coach David Adelman.

"This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it's gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is.

"We'll move on as a team. Obviously, right now, I'm more concerned just about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that."

Jokic, who leads the NBA season in rebounds and assists, had 21 points and eight assists in the game before suffering the injury.

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No. 1 Arizona beat South Dakota State 99-71, extend winning streak to 13 games

Peat had 19 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, Bradley had 13 points and a career-best 10 assists and Krivas went for 13 points and 11 rebounds as Arizona won by at least 20 for the eighth consecutive game, tying a school record set in 1928-29. Arizona had six players in double figures for the third time this season. Kalen Garry had 20 points and Jaden Jackson scored 18 for South Dakota State, which fell to 1-23 against ranked opponents.

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Peat scores 19 as No. 1 Arizona closes out nonconference with 99-71 win over South Dakota State

Koa Peat, Jaden Bradley and Motiejus Krivas each had a double-double as No. 1 Arizona continued its string of blowout victories in a 99-71 win over South Dakota State on Monday night. It is the fourth time they've started a season with at least 13 consecutive victories. Peat had 19 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, Bradley had 13 points and a career-best 10 assists and Krivas went for 13 points and 11 rebounds as Arizona won by at least 20 for the eighth consecutive game, tying a school record set in 1928-29.

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Knicks win third straight nail-biter after beating Pelicans, 130-125

The Knicks went to the wire with the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, ultimately coming out on top with a 130-125 win.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Making his second consecutive start and third this season, Mohamed Diawara wasted no time to get in on the action, backing down his defender and dropping one in to score the game’s first points before draining a three-pointer to put the Knicks up 5-0 in the early going. The five early points already matched Diawara’s career-high, but the French native selected by New York in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft was far from done. 

-- After the Pelicans went on a quick 9-0 run to take the lead, Jalen Brunson stopped the bleeding with a three-point play before hitting his first three-pointer of the night to tie the game. Diawara, who entered the contest with six made threes in 18 attempts this season, drilled his second of the game to re-take the lead. Nearly two minutes later he made another one from downtown to give him 11 points in six minutes.

-- An 8-0 run by New Orleans, including threes from Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey, gave them a four-point advantage but there was Diawara once again, this time scoring on a running layup assisted by Brunson to pull the Knicks to within two.

-- In nine minutes, Diawara led New York with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting (3-for-3 from deep). He also had a rebound and added two steals. However, he wasn’t the most impressive player on the court in the first quarter as Bey blitzed the Knicks with 23 points, going 8-for-11 from the field and 4-for-5 from three to help the Pelicans lead 41-37 after a whirlwind of an opening quarter.

-- Tyler Kolek entered the game for the first time to start the second quarter and immediately made his presence felt, making one of two free throws and then hitting a three for the Knicks’ first four points of the quarter. 

-- Despite help from OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns offensively, New York was unable to grab the lead in the early part of the quarter as Zion Williamson, making his first start following seven games of coming off the bench, took over for a stretch, scoring 10 points before getting subbed out. He had 18 points at the half.

-- After nearly two scoreless minutes by both sides, the offense picked back up thanks to Brunson who subbed back in and scored eight straight points for the Knicks. But it was Anunoby who tied the game at 65 with a running layup before Poole's three-pointer gave New Orleans the lead once again. Anunoby scored 16 in the quarter after getting blanked in the first.

-- During the scoring barrage in the final two minutes of the half, Diawara hit another three-pointer, his fourth of the game in as many attempts, to give him 16 points but even that wasn't enough as the Pelicans led 75-72 at halftime.

-- Following the break, both offenses went right back to work, trading baskets left and right. Williamson kept his pace going for New Orleans and Trey Murphy III drilled two three-pointers, the second of which gave the Pelicans a 10-point lead. 

-- As for the Knicks' offense, it was a team effort as they got at least one basket from all the starters in the first six minutes, as well as a contribution from Kevin McCullar Jr. after his big night against the Atlanta Hawks. But after Anunoby hit a three with 5:48 remaining in the quarter, both offenses hit a three-minute dry spell. It wasn't until Poole's layup with 2:35 left to play that a ball went in the net. 

-- From there, more bench players for New York hit some shots, including threes by Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson and a floater from Trey Jemison III. Seven players came off the bench for the Knicks, including Miles McBride who returned to the lineup after missing the past nine games with an ankle injury. McBride finished with 14 points in 18 minutes.

-- Nevertheless, when the quarter was over New Orleans extended its lead to 103-96.

-- New York's defense finally showed up in the fourth quarter as it held the Pelicans to just three points in the first five minutes. During that time, the Knicks tied the game on McBride's three-pointer and took the lead on Towns' triple 20 seconds later -- their first lead since the final minute in the first quarter. 

-- After KAT's three-ball, New York went scoreless for two minutes which allowed New Orleans to re-take the lead. But in crunch time, Brunson came alive and knocked down two threes to tie or take the lead and to keep up with Murphy who stayed on fire from deep. Brunson got some help with McBride and Anunoby each hitting big shots to take the lead as the Pelicans would not go away. 

-- But it was Brunson's floater and layup in the final 60 seconds that extended his team's lead before McBride hit four key free throws at the end of the game to seal the game and give New York a wild 130-125 win.

Game MVP: OG Anunoby

Despite going 1-for-8 from deep, Anunoby finished with 23 points after going scoreless in the first quarter and hit big shot after big shot all game. He also had 11 rebounds, three steals and a block and was a game-high plus-16 on the night.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks finish off their three-game road trip with a battle against the San Antonio Spurs on New Years Eve at 7 p.m. in what will be a rematch of the NBA Cup Finals.

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Holloway’s career-high 26 points lead No. 14 Alabama over Yale, 102-78

Aden Holloway scored a career-high 26 points and handed out seven assists as No. 14 Alabama defeated Yale 102-78 on Monday night. Amari Allen, Jalil Bethea and Latrell Wrightsell added 15 points apiece for the Crimson Tide (10-3), who played without star guard Labaron Philon Jr. for the first time this season. Alabama coach Nate Oats said Philon, the team’s leader in points and assists, injured his leg in the previous game Dec. 21 against Kennesaw State but it’s not a long-term concern.

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Nets' three-game winning streak snapped with 120-107 loss to Warriors

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 27 points and Jimmy Butler finished with 21 as the Golden State Warriors beat the Brooklyn Nets 120-107 on Monday night.

Curry shot 8 for 15 from the field while Butler went 11 for 12 from the free throw line for the Warriors, who bounced back from an overtime loss in Toronto in Sunday to win for the fourth time in five games.

Trayce Jackson-Davis added 11 points and Gary Payton II, De’Anthony Melton and Will Richard each chipped in 10.

Michael Porter Jr. had 27 points and rookie Egor Demin added 23 for the Nets, who had their three-game winning streak stopped.

Golden State was sluggish in the first quarter and trailed by as many as 13 points. The Warriors recovered to lead by two at halftime before Curry, who struggled to find his shot in the first half, scored 10 points to lead Golden State to an 89-85 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Golden State led by 10 with 4:37 left in the fourth quarter before the Nets went on an 8-0 run to make it 107-103 after a pair of three throws from Terance Mann.

On the next possession, Curry leaned into Nic Claxton as he shot a floater and was fouled as his shot went through and hit a free throw.

Demin then answered with a 3-pointer before the Warriors scored on their next three trips, capped by Richard’s dunk that made 116-106 and sealed the victory.

The Warriors improved to 7-12 on the road.

Up next

Warriors: Continue their three-game road trip at Charlotte on Wednesday.

Nets: Host Houston on Thursday.

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Kingston Flemings scores 15, No. 8 Houston beats Middle Tennessee State 69-60

Kingston Flemings had 15 points and five assists, Joseph Tugler added 13 points and six rebounds and No. 8 Houston pulled away in the second half for a 69-60 win over Middle Tennessee State on Monday night. Emanuel Sharp scored 10 points before leaving with 8:53 remaining in the second half after taking a hard fall on the floor on a drive. Houston (12-1) won its sixth straight game and 13th straight game at home.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic lead in first round of All-Star Game fan voting

In the year the All-Star Game switches to a USA vs. World three-team format (and returns to NBC while debuting on Peacock), two international players lead the first round of fan voting for the NBA All-Star Game.

Luka Dončić received the most votes in the West and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the East, as the NBA released the first All-Star Game fan-vote results. Here would be the starters for each conference at this point:

Western Conference

Luka Dončić, Lakers (1,249,518 votes)
Nikola Jokić, Nuggets (1,128,962)
Stephen Curry, Warriors (1,031,455)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder (878,621)
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs (769,362)

Eastern Conference

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks (1,192,296 notes)
Tyrese Maxey , 76ers (1,072,449)
Jalen Brunson, Knicks (1,040,601)
Cade Cunningham, Pistons (1,000,171)
Donovan Mitchell Cavaliers (851,155)

Five of the 10 starters voted in by fans are international players.

While the All-Star Game format has changed (more on that below), fan voting has largely remained the same. Fans vote for five starters — with no regard to position — and those votes (combined with player and media votes) will pick the starters for the game Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., the home of the LA Clippers.

After the 10 starters are named, a vote of the coaches selects the seven reserves from each conference.

That sets the 24 All-Star players headed to Southern California.

All-Star Game format

The timing could not be better for the NBA All-Star Game to return to NBC and debut on Peacock — the 2026 game lands right in the middle of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. That set up perfectly for the first-of-its-kind All-Star Game pitting the best of the USA vs. the NBA's deep international talent pool.

The 24 All-Star players will be divided into three teams — two USA teams and one world team — that will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games. Each of the three teams will have a minimum of eight players (if the USA or World teams are short on players, the league office will select one or more players to reach the required number).

At the end of the round-robin, the two top teams will play a championship game (the fourth 12-minute game of the day) for the title.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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Nuggets' Nikola Jokic leaves game against Heat before halftime with knee injury

The Denver Nuggets fanbase and NBA fans across the globe held their collective breath with three seconds left in the first half of the Nuggets' game against the Miami Heat on Monday night when three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic went down in a heap, grabbing his left knee.

On the final defensive possession of the half, Jokic was alone under the basket when Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. drove to the hoop. Jokic stepped up to help teammate Spencer Jones, who was backpedaling. Jones didn't see Jokic and stepped on his left foot, which caused the center’s knee to hyperextend and sent him to the floor, grabbing at his left knee. Trainers came over to assist Jokic, who was able to get up on his own, but was noticeably hobbling to the locker room and grabbing onto objects to help keep him upright.

After the halftime break, the team listed him as questionable to return.

At the time of his injury, Jokic had 21 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in 19 minutes. The fact that the Nuggets didn't immediately rule him out for the game is a mild positive sign. While the injury looked severe and had many people worried about a potential ACL tear, the hyperextension could also lead to a sprain or a bone bruise, so we'll have to await more news to know how long the Nuggets will be without their star.

Missing Jokic for any amount of time would be a brutal blow for a Denver team that is already without three other starters: Christian Braun (left ankle sprain), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), and Cam Johnson (right knee injury). Jokic came into the game as the odds-on favorite to win another MVP, averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 11.1 assists per game this season.

We'll continue to update this story as more information becomes available.