Tyler Tanner scored the first five points of the game and finished with 23 as 11th-ranked Vanderbilt never trailed and routed New Haven 96-53 Monday night. The Commodores came into their nonconference finale the Southeastern Conference's only undefeated team and one of only six still unbeaten. Jalen Washington added 21 points off the bench for Vanderbilt.
No. 22 Florida closes out 2025 with a 4th consecutive victory, 94-72 against Dartmouth
Alex Condon scored 17 points, Rueben Chinyelu notched his seventh double-double of the season and No. 22 Florida capped its nonconference schedule with a 94-72 victory against Dartmouth on Monday night. The defending national champion Gators (9-4) built a 32-point lead in the second half and cruised from there despite allowing the Big Green (5-7) to make 12 shots from 3-point range. Florida had five players score in double figures and closed 2025 with a fourth consecutive victory, the last one coming in the program’s first meeting with Dartmouth.
Jake Davis, Keaton Wagler power No. 20 Illinois to a 90-55 win over Southern
Jake Davis hit five 3-pointers and finished with 15 points and Keaton Wagler had 11 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as No. 20 Illinois closed out its non-conference schedule with a 90-55 win over Southern on Monday.
Stirtz scores 22 points to lead No. 25 Iowa over UMass Lowell, 90-62
Bennett Stirtz scored 22 points as No. 25 Iowa finished the nonconference part of its schedule with a 90-62 win over UMass Lowell on Monday. Iowa (11-2), which moved into The Associated Press Top 25 last week for the first time since the third week of the 2022-23 season, is off to its best start since the 2020-21 team opened 12-2. The Hawkeyes went 10-1 in nonconference play.
Oluchi Okananwa’s career-high 28 points help No. 7 Maryland rout Wisconsin, 97-59
Oluchi Okananwa scored a career-high 28 points, and seventh-ranked Maryland scored the first 14 points Monday in a 97-59 rout of Wisconsin in its Big Ten home opener. The Terrapins (14-0, 2-0) overwhelmed the Badgers (9-4, 1-1) with their size advantage and secured a 51-28 rebounding advantage. Yarden Garzon and Addi Mack both had 15 points for Maryland, which has won each of its 11 home games by at least 16 points.
Why De'Anthony Melton might be the Warriors' best cure for season-long ailments
Why De'Anthony Melton might be the Warriors' best cure for season-long ailments originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
As the Warriors wobble through the schedule with an unwanted balance between wins and losses, they’re reduced to appreciating even the slightest glimpse of goodness. Anything that tells them they might be better in the next game.
The latest glimpse of goodness appeared Monday night in the form of De’Anthony Melton, who, in a 120-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets, looked like the kind of defensive closer the Warriors will need to finish games.
Golden State’s atrocious record in clutch games most often is the result of its inability to stop opponents. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III usually can find buckets, but the defense tends to come apart behind late closeouts, slow rotations and other breakdowns.
When this game got close in the final minutes, Melton’s defense led the charge in giving the Warriors the kind of breathing room they’ve struggled to create in the final minutes.
“Activity,” Melton told reporters at Barclays Center. “We kind of locked in on a game plan, and we kind of understood what they had going on through the last three quarters. So, we just locked in. We just said it’s time to slow down the run they’re making.”
With 1:18 remaining and the Warriors leading 112-106, Brooklyn guard Egor Demin curled around a screen and lined up what he hoped would be his eighth triple of the night. Melton stealthily stalked him around the curl and, with perfect timing, blocked the shot. Butler recovered the loose ball and shoveled to a streaking Melton for a layup.
Rather than clinging to a 3-point lead with 75 seconds remaining, the Warriors were up by eight. Brooklyn then inbounded to Demin, who was so rattled that he dumped a pass that Will Richard swiped and took in for another layup.
With one defensive dagger followed by a second, Golden State’s lead was at 10 with about a minute to go. The Nets, who had won seven of their last 10 games behind a rotation of lengthy players, were done.
The Warriors held them to 22 fourth-quarter points on 6-of-19 shooting from the field.
Coach Steve Kerr’s plan to use his entire roster – except, once again, Jonathan Kuminga – paid off as Golden State’s bench mauled its Brooklyn counterparts 58-27.
“One of the strengths of our roster is the depth,” Kerr said. “I feel comfortable putting anybody out there, and we showed that tonight. We got a lot of really good contributions.
“I thought Will Richard was fantastic. He and Melt helped close the game with some great defensive plays. Gui always brings great energy you see the plus minuses from the bench they’re all they’re all sky high. Great work from the bench tonight.”
Melton is Golden State’s most important bench player and, on paper, its best two-way player. And what is true on paper is starting to encroach on the stat sheet. He submitted 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, a team-high eight rebounds, two steals, one block, one assist, at least two “hockey” assists. He was a team-best plus-26 in 24 minutes.
Playing in his ninth game this season, following a full year of surgery and recovery and rehabilitation from a torn ACL, Melton’s minutes continue to be closely monitored. He’s still seeking his timing and rhythm and even his 3-point shot. His only two misses on this night were attempts from beyond the arc.
“I trust everybody that goes on the floor,” Melton said. “Now, (me) putting the ball in the basket is important just to give these other guys some relief. Hopefully, this is a big confidence boost for everybody out there.”
Now that Melton is approaching his fifth week of action, his presence is becoming more of a factor. The reason the Warriors re-signed him in the offseason is because his skills give them something they don’t otherwise have.
Which means his playing time will continue to increase. He was restricted to 20 for the first seven games and now is up to 24.
“I talked to him yesterday in Toronto and he said his body’s feeling really good,” Kerr said. “It’s a good sign. Hopefully, we’ll get to a point this season where he’s able to play back-to-backs but for now we’re being cautious.”
The Warriors’ biggest issue has been late-game defense. Yes, even more than late-game offense. Melton can give them something they badly need. Someone who can keep guards from penetrating and scoring or kicking out to open shooters.
Melton looks like the best antidote to a season-long ailment. At this point, they’ll take any glimpse of goodness that comes their way.
The Atlanta Hawks may be better off without Trae Young, but trading him might not be so easy
The NBA trade deadline remains over a month away, but rumors are starting to fly. My colleague Kurt Helin covered a whole slew of them in his recent piece, but the last week has seen one name mentioned far more than the others: Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.
While Young was once thought to be one of the rising young stars in the game, the 27-year-old now finds himself alongside Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball as oft-maligned guards who are at the center of trade speculation. While it seemed implausible last year that the Hawks would want to move on from Young, an extended absence due to injury earlier in this season showed Atlanta what life might be like without Young in town, and it may have been a vision that they liked.
On a recent episode of his podcast, The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said, "The Hawks certainly are indicating that they're looking for the exit ramp with Trae Young. They did not make any attempt to get him signed to an extension. When that's the case with your face of the franchise, that's a pretty clear message that the end could be near."
That sentiment was echoed earlier in the week when NBA reporter Marc Stein wrote in his substack, "The Stein Line," that “There is a growing belief leaguewide that the Hawks are more open to trading [Young] away than they've ever been, but what happens to their payroll if no such trade materializes and Young winds up exercising that option? Can the Hawks dare to find out by trading for Davis this winter without Young exiting at the same time?”
Why would the Hawks want to trade Trae Young?
There is a pretty basic argument to be made that the Hawks have simply been better when Trae Young is not on the floor this season. They were 2-3 in the first five games of the season before he suffered a sprained MCL and missed almost two months. The Hawks went 13-9 without him active and then have now gone 0-6 since he returned from injury.
Hawks win percentage this season:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 27, 2025
.583 — Without Trae Young
.222 — With Trae Young pic.twitter.com/xSNtTFb0Ya
In the 22 games that Young was out, the Hawks were 8th in the league in points per game (119.0), 6th in field goal percentage (48.7%), 1st in assists (31.4 per game), and 1st in assist ratio (21.1). They also had a Player Impact Estimate (think of it as the NBA's version of WAR - Wins Above Replacement) of 51.7, which was 9th-best in the league.
With Young back in these last six games, they are 5th in the league in points per game (122.2), 2nd in assists per game (32.2), 3rd in assist ratio (21.4), and 9th in field goal percentage (48.5%). However, they have dropped all the way down to 29th in Player Impact Estimate (45.3) and sped up from 5th in the NBA in pace to 1st in the NBA in pace (All stats courtesy of NBA.com).
Now, clearly, all of that suggests that the majority of the surface-level offensive production remains unchanged, but if you look on a more granular level, you can see that the Hawks' offensive style changes with Trae Young on the floor because of how ball-dominant he is and how much he needs to be featured in the offense.
Without Young, the Hawks were 1st in the NBA in pass rate (45.7%), 1st in assist points created per game (82.0), 4th in touches per game (434.3), and 5th in passes made per game (308.1). They moved the ball quickly and frequently, trying to find the best look possible without worrying who was shooting it.
Over that span, they had the 5th-fewest dribbles per touch (2.06), the 5th-shortest average seconds per touch (2.78 seconds), and scored the most points per game on catch-and-shoot touches while also having the 5th-most paint-touch points. They were also 9th in the NBA in the frequency of shot attempts that were deemed "wide open" (no defender within six feet) at 27.5%, so they were moving the ball quickly and also working the ball inside to their big men often to create shots or also utlizing an inside-outside game.
Since Young has come back, essentially all of that has been worse.
In the last six games, Atlanta is 14th in pass rate, down from a league-leading 45.7% to 38%. They went from 5th in passes made per game to 14th, dropping from 308.1 per game to 292.8. They went from 1st in assist points created down to 5th, and from 4th in touches per game down to 16th. They went from the fewest dribbles per touch to the 7th-fewest and from the most points per game on catch-and-shoot touches to the 10th.
The ball has simply slowed, and the assists have regressed. They are spending more time with the ball every time they touch it and are getting fewer open looks and requiring more dribbles to create their shots. They also went from the 5th-most paint-touch points to the 17th, so they are getting their big men involved less often (All stats courtesy of NBA.com).
Of course, the bigger issue is Young's defensive weaknesses. In the six games since he has returned, Atlanta has given up 125+ points in each game. When he was on the bench, the Hawks had an offensive rating that was 12th-best in the NBA and the 13th-ranked defense in the NBA. Since Young has come back, their offense has posted the 13th-best rating, but their defense has plummeted to 29th in the NBA. That's the second-worst mark in the league.
Teams are simply attacking Young whenever he's on the court, and it got so bad at times during the Hawks' loss to the Knicks that MSG’s Alan Hahn wondered if there was "any effort there whatsoever" on defense from Young.
At the end of the day, no matter how elite your offense is, you're not going to be able to contend for an NBA title if you're one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. The Hawks are, perhaps, realizing that now and finally deciding that it could be time to see what kind of well-rounded team they could build if Young were not part of the picture.
How realistic is a Trae Young trade?
However, as the saying goes, it takes two to tango, and there doesn't appear to be a robust trade market for Young at the moment.
As McMahon said on his podcast, trading Young is "not going to be easy. There's not going to be some wide array of teams raising their hand and trying to get in on the bidding, and I'm not sure if you're even gonna be able to make a trade that's going to bring value in return."
Part of that has to do with his contract. Young is making just under $46 million this season and has a player option for essentially $49 million next year, which he will almost assuredly pick up. A team could void that player option if they extend him, but that would mean committing even more money to Young, which is complicated for NBA teams given apron restrictions in the salary cap.
The other issue is the defensive limitations and offensive style restrictions that we discussed above. Any team that trades for Young is going to need to have multiple lockdown defenders around him, and also be able to build an offensive system that doesn't collapse when Young inevitably has his moments during a game when he bogs down the flow of the passing and keeps things perimeter-centric. Some teams would fit that mold, but would those teams also be willing to pay $46 million for a player who is no longer viewed as a player you can build a franchise around?
Which teams would be most likely to trade for Trae Young?
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls always seem to be linked to things like this, and it does make some sense. Chicago wants to contend, but needs more firepower in order to do it. Coby White is in the final year of his deal and is seeking a contract that feels unlikely for the Bulls to match, which means he could be a usable trade asset. The Bulls have an extra first-round pick from the Trail Blazers as well, and Young could fill an important scoring punch in Chicago.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have the defensive pieces to withstand Young's weakness there, and they could really use another shooter. They also have about an 11-man rotation, so some consolidation would make some sense, and the Hawks could be interested in a young guard like Jaden Ivey. That being said, they're currently the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and it would be a major risk to shake that up for a volatile player like Young. Would he even be OK playing second fiddle to a younger player like Cade Cunningham?
Houston Rockets
The Rockets are built to contend now with Kevin Durant in the fold, but they also find themselves in a stacked Western Conference. Could acquiring Young help push them over the top? They currently have the 7th-ranked defense, so they could absorb some of Young's defensive weaknesses, and they have been searching for a primary ball-handler since Fred Van Vleet was injured before the start of the season. However, the Rockets are also good right now and have plenty of young talent that they may not be keen to part with.
Milwaukee Bucks
This is just a pure desperation play. The Bucks may view acquiring Young as their final chance to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in town. They could "sell high" on Ryan Rollins and some draft picks to give Giannis a running mate that they hope would entice him to stay.
Charlotte Hornets
Highly unlikely, but the Hornets reportedly want to get rid of LaMelo Ball, so could the teams just facilitate one ill-fitting guard for another? Probably not because it wouldn't solve anybody's issues, but it's fun to imagine.
Where Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler rank in first return of NBA All-Star fan voting
Where Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler rank in first return of NBA All-Star fan voting originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Two Warriors players landed in the Top 20 in the Western Conference for the first returns of NBA All-Star fan votes.
Steph Curry received 1,031,455 votes, the third-most in the Western Conference, while Jimmy Butler received 111,411 fan votes, good for 17th-most in the West.
Curry landed behind Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić, who received the most and second-most votes in the Western Conference, respectively.
The 37-year-old Curry seeks his 12th All-Star selection. Golden State’s star is averaging 28.8 points in 24 games played this season after scoring 27 in the Warriors’ win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night at Barclays Center.
Butler, 36, has six All-Star nods in his career, but he has not been selected for the midseason showcase since his 2021-22 NBA season with the Miami Heat.
Butler, Golden State’s second-leading scorer, is averaging 19.7 points in 29 games played this season.
Responding to the Warriors’ social media campaign for his All-Star candidacy, Butler jokingly asked fans to direct their energy elsewhere.
Fan voting for the 2026 All-Star Game began on Dec. 17 and will conclude on Jan. 14. It will account for 50 percent of the final vote, while current NBA players and a media panel will each account for 25 percent to make up the other half.
This season, All-Stars will be selected without regard to position. The new United States vs. The World format will include 24 players split into three teams, with five players earning honors as starters from the two conferences.
What we learned as Steph Curry drops 27 in Warriors' bounce-back win over Nets
What we learned as Steph Curry drops 27 in Warriors' bounce-back win over Nets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
An ugly overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors, where the Warriors blew another fourth-quarter lead, had to be quickly flushed with a game the next night in Brooklyn against the Nets.
The response from the Warriors was a 120-107 win over the Nets at Barclays Center, beating one of the NBA’s hottest teams this month. The Warriors, now 17-16, have just one more game in 2025 when Steph Curry gets to enjoy a Charlotte homecoming against the Hornets on New Year’s Eve.
Curry (27 points) and Jimmy Butler (21 points) combined to score 48 points as the rest of the Warriors’ starting five scored 14.
Here’s what coach Steve Kerr will be happiest about: The Warriors won the turnover battle, outrebounded the Nets, went 28 of 34 on free throws and received contributions throughout the roster.
The Warriors’ bench outscored the Nets 58-27, and all eight players who came off their bench had a positive plus/minus.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ win over the Nets (10-20):
Gotham City Duo
As if playing 41 minutes and scoring 39 points the night prior wasn’t enough. There isn’t another road arena where Curry scores at a higher clip than Barclays Center. He came into Monday averaging 30.1 points per game against the Nets on the road, and was ready to do whatever it took to get the Warriors back in the win column.
Butler made sure Curry had his trusted sidekick beside him. That became most evident during the third quarter. Curry in the third quarter scored 10 straight points for the Warriors, and then watched Butler score the Dubs’ last 11 points without him.
Butler was a perfect 4 of 4 from the field and 5 of 6 on free throws for 13 points in the third quarter, and Curry’s 10 points came from making three of his four field goals and both of his free throws.
The two scored 23 of the Warriors’ 30 points in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Warriors were able to lean into their strength in numbers.
On a night where the Warriors were cold from 3-point range, Curry’s five total threes were half of the team’s 10. Butler didn’t attempt one 3-pointer. His damage was done at the free-throw line, where he went 11 of 12.
Dipping Into Depth
Since Al Horford played 17 minutes Sunday in the first game of a back-to-back and De’Anthony Melton was inactive to preserve his health, their roles were flipped Monday. Melton was back in and it was time for Horford to take a seat. On the second night of a back-to-back, where the Warriors went to overtime and lost in Toronto the previous night.
Steve Kerr turned to his bench quickly, even bringing some surprises to his rotation. Gui Santos was a healthy DNP (Did Not Play) in each of the last two games, yet was Kerr’s first man off the bench Monday for his size against a bigger Brooklyn team. Kerr used 10 players in the first quarter and 13 by halftime, with Buddy Hield, Pat Spencer and Will Richard joining the party in the second quarter.
The Warriors had 14 healthy players available Monday. Jonathan Kuminga was the only one who remained on the bench in his warmup gear. But Kerr’s decisions made a big difference. All eight bench players had a positive plus/minus in the first half, and their reserves had outscored the Nets 33-13.
Brandin Podziemski, who played 10 minutes in the first half as a plus-9 with four points and two rebounds, then started the third quarter in place of Quinten Post.
The closing lineup featured the trio of Curry, Butler and Green, plus Melton and Richard. Nobody was better in the fourth quarter than Richard. The rookie played 11 minutes and was a plus-13, scoring 10 points and swiping two steals. Melton was a game-high plus-26, and Richard was second to him at plus-22.
Trade Season Auditions?
With the calendar year near a close, Jan. 15 being a few weeks away and the Feb. 5 trade deadline less than two months from now, scenarios are being created for how the Warriors can improve their roster. Perhaps two players from their opponent on Monday night can help.
Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton have been connected to the Warriors, and both are being watched closely by the fan base. It didn’t take long to see why. By the time the Warriors had eight points, so did Porter. He scored the first three points of the game from a wide-open corner three and ended the first quarter with 10 points. Porter was the second or third option in Denver with the Nuggets. Against the Warriors, he continued to prove why he can be a top option during the best season of his career.
Porter was up to 17 points at halftime, seven more than the Warriors’ leading scorer, who was Curry at 10 points. He still was the game’s leading scorer with 25 points through three quarters. Porter’s 27 points were tied for a game-high with Curry, scoring beyond the arc, in the midrange and at the rim.
While Claxton is averaging a career high in points per game, he impacts the game in a handful of other ways. Claxton would have been the Warriors’ third-leading scorer with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, and he also would have led them in rebounds (nine), steals (three) and blocked shots (three).
How to watch Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trailblazers: TV/live stream info for tonight's game
Don't miss tonight's Peacock NBA Monday doubleheader. The excitement tips off at 8:00 PM ET when the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the San Antonio Spurs, followed by the Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trailblazers game at 10:30 PM.
See below for additional information on how to watch both games and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Click here to sign up for Peacock!
Dallas Mavericks:
The Mavs have lost four of their last five games, most recently falling 113-107 to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Cooper Flagg finished with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and five assists in the loss. P.J. Washington added 17 points and 5 rebounds, while Klay Thompson finished with 14 points and 5 rebounds.
Anthony Davis did not play on Saturday after leaving the team's Christmas Day loss with a groin injury. He is listed as questionable for tonight's game with right abductor soreness.
Will a big star be on the move at the trade deadline?
Kurt HelinPortland Trailblazers:
The Trailblazers defeated the Boston Celtics 114-108, ending their three-game losing streak. Shaedon Sharpe led the way for Portland with 26 points and 5 rebounds. Deni Avdija finished with 24 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, while Toumani Camara added 20 points. Donovan Clingan chipped in 18 points and finished with a game-high 18 rebounds.
SHAEDON FOR THREEE pic.twitter.com/VxfYWKrpun
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 29, 2025
How to watch Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trailblazers:
- When: Tonight, Monday, December 29
- Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
- Time: 10:30 PM ET
- Live Stream:Peacock
Antetokounmpo will have the opportunity to play four games in Week 11 against some of the NBA’s worst defenses.
Raphielle JohnsonWhat other NBA games are on tonight?
Cleveland Cavaliers vs San Antonio Spurs - 8:00 PM ET on Peacock
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.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
What devices does Peacock support?
You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Anthony Black lighting it up
The NBA’s Christmas Day slate offered no shortage of star power or intrigue. The festivities opened with a monster comeback from the New York Knicks as they took down the Cleveland Cavaliers. Steph Curry reached 26,000 career points as his Warriors took down Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost a snoozer to the Houston Rockets, but the night closed on a high note as Nikola Jokic’s 55-point triple-double lifted the Nuggets past the Anthony Edwards (44 points) and the Timberwolves in overtime.
As we head into 2026, here are the top fantasy basketball waiver wire adds for Week 11.
→ Watch the NBA on Peacock on Monday night, as the Cavaliers take on the Spurs at 8 p.m. ET followed by the Mavericks against the Trail Blazers at 11 p.m. ET!
Antetokounmpo will have the opportunity to play four games in Week 11 against some of the NBA’s worst defenses.
Priority Adds
1. Anthony Black
2. Bilal Coulibaly
3. Moussa Diabate
4. Collin Gillespie
5. Tim Hardaway Jr.
6. Jaylon Tyson
7. Egor Demin
8. Brook Lopez
9. Jake LaRavia
10. Tari Eason
11. Sandro Mamukelashvili
12. Dylan Cardwell
Anthony Black, Orlando Magic (38 percent rostered)
Black was a recommended pickup last week, and he paid off handsomely for fantasy managers who added him. Over his last eight games (all starts), the young guard has averaged 20.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.6 triples across 34.8 minutes. He went off for arguably the best game of his career in Saturday’s upset win over the Nuggets, dropping 38 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and seven triples. With Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner still banged up, Black should continue to see big run. Even when both players return, Black has done enough to earn meaningful minutes, which should keep him relevant in standard leagues for the rest of the season.
HAVE A NIGHT, ANTHONY BLACK!
— NBA (@NBA) December 28, 2025
38 PTS (career-high)
6 REB
5 AST
2 STL
7 3PM
And the clutch stop to get the win over Denver pic.twitter.com/AaVC833qOd
Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns (35 percent rostered)
Gillespie continues to shine for Phoenix, and there’s no reason to expect him to slow down anytime soon. He’s scored 16+ points in five straight games, averaging 16.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 2.2 steals and 3.2 triples across 32.6 minutes. He’s provided elite value in multiple categories, and it’s a shock that he’s so widely available in Yahoo! leagues.
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets (31 percent rostered)
Eason has logged four games since returning from a lengthy absence, and in that span, he’s averaged 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.8 triples across 20.3 minutes. Eason started each of Houston’s last two games, and he totaled a healthy six steals, three blocks and three triples. He may not be a strong source of points, rebounds or assists, but he offers elite upside for the scarce defensive categories.
Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers (25 percent rostered)
Tyson continues to get it done for Cleveland, taking on meaningful minutes off the bench and filling in when needed. Over his last three games, he’s averaged 19 points, 9.0 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.7 triples. He finished with a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double on Saturday.
Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards (25 percent rostered)
Coulibaly has missed half of the season due to injury, but when available, he’s posted some great numbers. Across his last three outings, he’s averaged 16.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.3 swats and 1.3 triples. Coulibaly’s value as a defensive specialist makes him a strong waiver wire target, but his serviceable scoring is the cherry on top.
Sandro Mamukelashili, Toronto Raptors (22 percent rostered)
Jakob Poeltl (back) has been in and out of Toronto’s lineup throughout the season, and when available, he’s logged just 25.3 minutes per game - his fewest in six seasons. Mamu has posted reliable numbers off the bench and as a starter. He came off the bench Sunday in favor of Scottie Barnes at center, and Barnes came away with a monster 23/25/10 triple-double. Despite his move to the bench, Mamu delivered 13 points, six rebounds, two steals, a block and a triple.
Moussa Diabate, Charlotte Hornets (19 percent rostered)
Diabate is a must-add right now, as he continues to see big minutes for Charlotte as the team’s starting center. He should remain locked into that role until Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) returns. Across his last three games, Diabate has averaged 9.0 points, 15 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals across 32.3 minutes.
Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Clippers (19 percent rostered)
BroLo was another name listed in last week’s column, but he was rostered in only 4% of Yahoo! leagues on December 22. After some great play, his roster percentage has increased 500%, and fantasy managers should grab him now. Lopez went off for a career-high nine triples on Friday and finished with 31 points. Over his last four games, he’s averaged 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 3.5 triples across 30.3 minutes. Lopez won’t score 30 points every night, and he won’t crash the glass with authority, but he can certainly be useful as a shot-blocker and three-point shooter. He should have first dibs on the starting center job until Ivica Zubac returns.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Denver Nuggets (15 percent rostered)
THJ was trending up in his own right, but the absence of Cameron Johnson has allowed Hardaway Jr. to step into the starting lineup. Across his last four games (two starts), THJ has averaged 20.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 5.0 triples across 32 minutes. He’s scored at least 19 in four straight and 20+ in three of those. He’s not going to offer much in the peripheral categories, but if you need points and triples with decent efficiency and low turnovers, Hardaway Jr. is your man.
Egor Demin, Brooklyn Nets (11 percent rostered)
After a slow start to his inaugural campaign, the rookie out of BYU has started to deliver. Over his last five games, Denim has averaged 14.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.0 triples. He’s locked in as Brooklyn’s starting point guard, and his production should continue to trend up as he finds his footing at the professional level.
Jake LaRavia, Los Angeles Lakers (6 percent rostered)
The Lakers suffered another blow last week when it was announced that Austin Reaves will miss at least four weeks with a Grade 2 calf strain. The absence of Reaves should allow LaRavia to step into a larger role for the Lakers, and LaRavia has answered the call when given additional opportunities this season. Over his last five games, LaRavia has averaged 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.0 triples across 28.4 minutes. Nick Smith Jr. is also in the mix in deeper leagues.
Tyler Kolek, New York Knicks (7 percent rostered)
Over his last six games, Kolek has averaged 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.3 triples across 23 minutes. He’s seen significantly more run with Miles McBride sidelined, and that trend should continue for as long as Deuce is out. Kolek is a reliable source of assists when given additional playing time, although his upside is still capped by the availability of Jalen Brunson.
Dylan Cardwell, Sacramento Kings (4 percent rostered)
Cardwell hasn’t been starting for Sacramento. That spot with the first unit still belongs to Maxime Raynaud, but Cardwell has done enough off the bench to make some noise. Managers in need of blocks and rebounds can pick up Cardwell. He failed to record a block in Sunday’s loss to the Lakers, but in five games prior, he averaged 2.6 swats to go with 6.8 rebounds. He warrants consideration in standard leagues, but Cardwell is certainly worth grabbing in deeper formats.
Other options:Cam Spencer (31%), Aaron Nesmith (21%), Keldon Johnson (15%), Moses Moody (12%), Spencer Jones (3%)
College basketball rankings put Michigan at No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports coaches poll
Michigan keeps hold of the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll and Duke rises in the final rankings of the 2025 calendar year.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs: TV/live stream info for tonight's game
Head to Peacock tonight for an exciting NBA doubleheader. The action starts at 8:00 PM ET when the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the San Antonio Spurs, followed by the Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trailblazers game at 10:30 PM.
See below for additional information on how to watch both games and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Click here to sign up for Peacock!
Will a big star be on the move at the trade deadline?
Cleveland Cavaliers:
The Cavaliers (17-16) are coming off back-to-back losses, most recently falling 117-100 to the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Jaylon Tyson led the team with 23 points off the bench and finished with a career-high 14 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell added 16 points and 6 assists. The Cavaliers have relied heavily on the All-Star guard as they've dealt with injuries this season. Mitchell is on pace to set career highs in scoring (30.2 ppg), shooting percentage (49.7%), 2-point shooting percentage (59.4%), field goal attempts per game (21.3), and 3-point attempts per game (10.2).
San Antonio Spurs:
The Spurs look to bounce back tonight after their eight-game regular season win streak was snapped on Saturday in a 127-114 loss to the Utah Jazz. Victor Wembanyama finished with a game-high 32 points, along with 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 assists in his first start since suffering a left calf strain on November 14. He had come off the bench in each of the previous six games, following a 12-game absence.
Despite the loss, the Spurs have been the best team in the league over the last six weeks, going 15-4 in their last 19 games to improve to second in the Western Conference
UP THERE.
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 28, 2025
All star Voting: https://t.co/HTwyYHxTJk
@FanDuelSN_SWpic.twitter.com/mGYKTqBocb
Keldon Johnson added 27 points and 10 boards, and Stephon Castle finished with 20 points and 7 assists.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs San Antonio Spurs:
- When: Tonight, Monday, December 29
- Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Live Stream:Peacock
Antetokounmpo will have the opportunity to play four games in Week 11 against some of the NBA’s worst defenses.
What other NBA games are on tonight?
Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trailblazers - 10:30 PM ET on Peacock
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.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
What devices does Peacock support?
You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.
Maxey sits 2nd in East in 1st All-Star fan voting returns
Maxey sits 2nd in East in 1st All-Star fan voting returns originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Tyrese Maxey sure seems on track for his second NBA All-Star selection.
The Sixers’ franchise guard ranked second among Eastern Conference players in the first batch of fan voting returns released Monday with 1,072,449 votes. Maxey trailed only Giannis Antetokounmpo in the East and was directly in front of fellow guards Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham and Donovan Mitchell. Teammate Joel Embiid was in 17th place.
“Being here last year, I was blown away with how good he was,” Paul George said on Dec. 10, “how mature he was, how instinctive of a leader he was. And just to watch him grow over this year with how much better he’s gotten, it’s kind of like the sky’s the limit.”
Maxey’s one previous All-Star appearance came in the 2023-24 season. He won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award that year, too.
Starters will be determined by a combination of fan voting (weighted at 50 percent), player voting (25 percent) and media panel voting (25 percent). Head coaches will choose seven reserves from each conference.
The 2026 All-Star Game is set for Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and will feature a new USA vs. World format.
Lakers takeaways: Nick Smith Jr. shines in win over Kings with Austin Reaves sidelined
JJ Redick called his players out. The Lakers answered.
The Lakers responded to three blowout losses and a spirited team meeting by playing one of their most complete games of the season Sunday to earn a 125-101 win over the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena. For the first time this year, the Lakers (20-10) outscored their opponent in every quarter with Luka Doncic (34 points) and LeBron James (24 points) leading the way despite Austin Reaves’ absence.
“Hopefully,” forward Jake LaRavia said, “this is the first of a mini win streak.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
Read more:After talking through problems, Lakers find unexpected third scorer to end losing streak
Nick Smith Jr. is ready for his moment
Nick Smith Jr. placed his newest souvenir nonchalantly underneath the news conference table. This game ball will likely go to his mother.
Smith earned it Sunday with a starring performance off the bench while filling in for the injured Reaves. The 21-year-old guard on a two-way contract scored 21 points on eight-for-14 shooting with three rebounds and one assist. He made five three-pointers, including his first four from beyond the arc while starting seven for seven from the field.
With Reaves sidelined for at least a month with a grade two strain in his left calf, Smith will be in line for more consistent minutes, Redick said before the game. Especially with fellow guard Gabe Vincent missing his fourth game because of a back injury Sunday, the Lakers need Smith’s ballhandling and shiftiness alongside James and Doncic.
But to offset the loss of their second-leading scorer, the Lakers are most desperate for Smith’s scoring.
“It's why we wanted him on the Lakers and part of our program, because we knew he could score,” Redick said. “I like when he's aggressive. … If he could just do him within our structure, a lot of times, good things happen.”
Smith has already flashed his scoring potential in big moments. The former first-round draft pick who signed with the Lakers a day before training camp started rescued the team with 25 points in Portland in a game without James, Doncic or Reaves. He had 12 points in 14 minutes off the bench against Toronto when the Lakers survived thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Rui Hachimura.
“We trust him,” Redick said before the game.
After getting waived by the Charlotte Hornets, Smith recognized that he hasn’t had this level of trust from a coaching staff “in a long time.” To have it “means everything,” he added.
“It's a different stage, you know, where I came from, and I understand that,” Smith said. “So I just want to make sure I'm ready. … I'm just blessed to be here, just have the opportunity just to even play with the Lakers and stuff like that, even be in the league. A lot of guys where I'm from would, like, love to be in this situation.”
JJ Redick switches rotation with Austin Reaves sidelined
It’s not just Reaves’ absence that is shaking up the Lakers rotation. Redick experimented with a new substitution pattern that could allow Doncic and James to individually lead the offense more often.
Doncic, who typically plays the entire first quarter, subbed out with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter Sunday. James kept his typical first-quarter pattern of playing roughly the first six minutes, sitting for three, then returning for the final three. Doncic would typically sit for the first five to six minutes of the second quarter, but returned Sunday at the 9:12 mark of the second.
“It just gives more time for those guys to sort of be the quarterback without the other one,” Redick said. “Having said that, we ran a lot of stuff for them to be in two-man action, for them to be part of the play together tonight. So it's not like we're trying to, like, keep them apart. It's just kind of the nature of what we're trying to do, and we're going to do this for the foreseeable future, and just see how it goes.”
Read more:Lakers 'recalibrate' after Austin Reaves injury, three-game losing streak
Pressed by Redick to set the tone for a better start after the Lakers struggled in first quarters of their three blowout losses, Doncic and James combined for 19 points in the first quarter. Doncic leads the league in scoring and first-quarter scoring, but instead wanted to focus on distributing the ball early. All of the Lakers starters had at least one shot in the first three minutes of the game.
“Just trying to get everybody involved more than I used to,” Doncic said. “Everybody got some shots up today. Just shows when we share the ball, when we move the ball, it’s great for us.”
The Lakers had 25 assists on 47 made shots Sunday. They are 19-4 when they have 23 or more assists and 1-6 with 22 or fewer.
Detroit matchup gives Lakers a chance at a Houston do-over
The Lakers’ win over the struggling Kings (8-24) matters. It prevented the season from inching closer to disaster with a fourth consecutive loss. The defensive energy and effort, especially during a 13-2 run to start the third quarter, showed the team’s character in response to a deflating three-game skid.
But the win also doesn’t make a major statement. The Lakers improved to 13-3 against teams with losing records. They are just 7-7 against teams .500 or better. Those losses were by an average of 19.6 points.
Read more:Lakers guard Austin Reaves out for at least a month because of calf injury
Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons could be the statement game the Lakers are looking for.
The Pistons, who lead the Eastern Conference with a 24-7 record, are the NBA’s second-best rebounding team behind only Houston. The Rockets just dominated the Lakers, outrebounding L.A. by 23 last Thursday.
“They play a good brand of basketball,” James said of the Pistons. “It’s that Detroit feeling again. So we got to be ready for that, and I think we should be.”
Center Jalen Duren is averaging a career high 18.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Former first-overall pick Cade Cunningham is also having a career season with 26.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.