Indiana 122, Sacramento 95 (Final)
Houston 114, Toronto 110 (Final)
Denver 132, New Orleans 129 (Final, OT)
Sunday’s Storylines 👉📝
- The Indiana Pacers won their fourth consecutive game by taking down the Sacramento Kings 122-95. Seven players scored at least 11 points while the Pacers shot 58.1% from the field and 43.6% (17-for-39) from distance. Indiana outscored Sacramento 70-43 in the second half after being tied 52 at halftime.
- Houston picked up their fourth win in their last five games by outlasting the Raptors in a game that saw seven ties and 12 lead changes. Dillon Brooks (27 points) and Jalen Green (22 points) help the Rockets get their first win in Toronto since 2019.
- Nikola Jokić recorded his league-high 11th triple-double of the season in the Nuggets’ OT win over the Pelicans. Jokić and Jamal Murray (27 points) scored 11 of Denver’s 13 points in overtime to erase a 17-point deficit at one point. The Nuggets are 3-0 in overtime and currently sit fifth in the Western Conference at 15-11.
🌟 Top Performers 🌟
- Nikola Jokić: 27 points (11-20 FG, 2-3 3PT, 3-5 FT), 13 rebounds, ten assists, a steal and a block.
- Dillon Brooks: 27 points (6-12 FG, 2-7 3PT, 13-14 FT), six rebounds, two assists and three steals.
- Domantas Sabonis: 17 points (8-22 FG, 1-4 3PT), 21 rebounds (eight offensive), four assists and one steal.
Nuggets rally for OT win
Nikola Jokić’s triple-double was the driving force in Denver’s 132-129 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in overtime. Jokić finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds, ten assists, a steal and a block, while Jamal Murray scored 27 of his own to go along with eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block.
Dejounte Murray nearly tallied a triple-double of his own, recording 17 points, eight rebounds, 15 assists, six steals and a block. New Orleans had four players score 21 or more, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Pels from dropping their seventh in a row.
Finished the job pic.twitter.com/hAaB8fYHFp
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 23, 2024
Yves putback slam 😤
Yves Missi grabs his ninth rebound and fourth offensive to give New Orleans the two point lead in OT. He’s added 21 points, one assist, two steals and three blocks, but the Pelicans are down 129-127 with 1:06 to go in overtime.
YVESSSSSSSSSSSSS pic.twitter.com/inRc9cFBcN
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 23, 2024
Dejounte gets the steal for ✌️
Dejounte Murray gets in the passing lane for his fifth swipe of the night and takes it all the way for the tough finish. He has 15 points, eight rebounds, 14 assists, five steals and a block.
Jamal Murray ties it at 119 with 8.8 seconds left. Tune in right now on NBA League Pass!
big time steal and layup from Dejounte. pic.twitter.com/hiEKMPvGx3
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 23, 2024
Watson gets the rejection 🚫
Peyton Watson times this block perfectly as he pins it to the glass and grabs the rebound himself. He’s chipped in five points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks in almost 17 minutes off the bench.
Denver is in the bonus for the duration of the game, but they’ve used all of their timeouts and coach’s challenge. The Pelicans have a 107-104 advantage with six minutes left in the contest.
P-Wat block ➡️ Jamal three pic.twitter.com/rk3ruVsCVC
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 23, 2024
Pelicans leading Nuggets after 3
New Orleans rattles off a beautiful sequence that leads to the oop-slam for Trey Murphy III. He’s been stellar tonight and leads the Pelicans with 21 points (9-16 FG, 3-7 3PT), eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in almost 28 minutes.
The Pelicans have a 96-86 lead over the Nuggets with 10:58 left in the game. Tune in now on NBA League Pass to see if Denver can make a comeback.
Pelicans firing on all cylinders 🔥
Yves Missi block ➡️ CJ lob ➡️ Trey Murphy slam
DEN-NOP | NBA League Pass
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2024
Rockets hold off Raptors 🚀
Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks fueled the Houston Rockets’ 114-110 win over the hosting Toronto Raptors as they combined to score 49 points. Brooks was great at the free throw line, knocking down 13 of his 14 attempts, to help Houston (19-9) win their second straight and seven of their last ten games.
The Raptors got a career-high 27 points (9-18 FG, 6-11 3PT) from rookie Ja’Kobe Walter, who stepped up with R.J. Barrett (illness) a late scratch. Toronto loses it’s seventh consecutive game to put them at 7-22 on the season.
Green & Brooks combined for 49 PTS in the @HoustonRockets road win over Toronto 🚀 pic.twitter.com/2okDf333d3
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 23, 2024
Walker off the backboard 👀
Jarace Walker gets fancy with the self-pass off the backboard before the kickout. Indiana was on fire all night, more specifically in the second half, when they shot 67% (29-43 FG) over the final two frames in the 122-95 win over Sacramento. The Pacers finish shooting 58% overall while holding the Kings to just 36% from the field.
De’Aaron Fox had 23 points (7-19 FG), five rebounds, seven assists and a steal, and Domantas Sabonis grabbed a season-high 21 rebounds and added 17 points, four assists and a steal.
Jarace Walker goes off the backboard to himself before kicking it out to a wide open Thomas Bryant for three 🤯 pic.twitter.com/yr5d6tnmwk
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 23, 2024
Cam with the SLAM 🤯
Cam Whitmore grabs the top spot on the dunk score leaderboard with this filthy one-handed finish off the lob from Alperen Sengun. Whitmore has been huge for Houston off the bench in just his tenth appearance of the season, chipping in a season-high tying 11 points with four rebounds, an assist and a steal in 14 minutes.
The Rockets have a 111-106 lead with 1:07 remaining in the game. Tune in now on NBA League Pass to catch the conclusion.
CAM WHITMORE WITH AUTHORITY 💥💥
HOU-TOR | NBA League Pass
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2024
Hawkins with the denials 😮
Jordan Hawkins has provided a spark off the bench for New Orleans with these nasty rejections in the same sequence. He’s added ten points to help the Pelicans gain the 67-59 advantage at halftime. C.J. McCollum and Trey Murphy III combined for 31 points in the first half.
Jamal Murray has 13 while Jokić dropped six points, five boards and six assists in 18 minutes.
JORDAN HAWKINS THREW A BLOCK PARTY 😳🎉 pic.twitter.com/z1vuotTImU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 23, 2024
Jalen slices through the D
Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks each have 22 points for the Rockets as they go back and forth with the Raptors. This game has seen seven ties and 12 lead changes, with Houston holding a 92-86 lead with 9:16 in the fourth. Don’t miss the finish, live now on NBA League Pass.
Jalen splits ✌️ for 2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/BamcjzeVF0
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 23, 2024
Monk attacks the rim 😱
Malik Monk’s second thunderous jam earns him the top spot on the dunk score leaderboard after detonating at the rim. He has 14 points, three boards, an assist and two blocks, but the Kings still trail the Pacers 96-81 with 9:14 to go in the contest.
Pascal Siakam leads the way for Indiana with 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
Malik’s beef with the rim must be scientifically studied fr pic.twitter.com/0LHU0kRTTn
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 23, 2024
Murray fades and hits 🚨
Jamal Murray knocks down the jumper fading to his left to give him 11 points to lead Denver in that category. Nikola Jokić is scoreless in 12 minutes of play, but he’s added four rebounds, four assists and a block as the Nuggets trail the Pelicans 38-34 with 9:17 remaining in the first half.
Tune in live on NBA League Pass!
Jamal Murray with the TOUGH fade to end the 1Q 😤
DEN-NOP | NBA League Pass
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2024
Scottie hangs for the swat ❌
Barnes gets up to send this shot into the bleachers. The Raptors were up by as many as 16 in the first half, but Houston has brought it back to take a 71-68 lead with 5:01 left in the third.
The Rockets are getting big games from Jalen Green (20 points) and Dillon Brooks (18 points).
Dual-sport athlete, he also plays volleyball 😬 @ScottBarnes561 pic.twitter.com/rysZP73wlu
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 23, 2024
Herb 👉 Trey 💥
Herb Jones finds Trey Murphy III for the thunderous lob. Murphy III has nine of the Pelicans’ first 21 points as New Orleans holds the 21-16 advantage over the Nuggets with less than three minutes to go in the first quarter.
Defense to offense for the Pelicans!
We’re underway in New Orleans.
DEN-NOP | NBA League Pass
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2024
Mogbo throws it down 😤
Mogbo making the most of his opportunities in his fifth career start as a second-round rookie. He’s got three points, two boards, an assist and a block to give the Raptors the 57-51 lead at the half.
Jalen Green is the high man with 17 points on an efficient 7-for-12 shooting from the field.
Jonathan Mogbo flushes it through contact 💪 pic.twitter.com/TcM589I654
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 23, 2024
Monk with authority 💪
Sabonis finds the cutting Malik Monk for the emphatic lob to help the Kings get even with the Pacers at 52 going into halftime. Monk ends the first half with nine points, two rebounds and two blocks, while Sabonis already has a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds (five offensive). De’Aaron Fox leads all scorers with 15 points and four assists.
Indiana has ten players score through the first two quarters, led by Myles Turner with nine points, five rebounds, a steal and two blocks.
Malik shows some PASSION on the two-handed jam 😤 https://t.co/XmDIgXFb8t pic.twitter.com/EkUEnJwFRO
— NBA (@NBA) December 23, 2024
Barnes with a TD pass 🎯
Scottie Barnes comes up with the steal and finds Kelly Olynyk for the full court dime. Barnes is scoreless in 14 minutes but has three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block to keep his Raptors in front of the Rockets, 44-38, halfway through the second.
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 22, 2024
Angry jam by Walker 😤
Jarace Walker goes right through the lane for the big slam off the dime from T.J. McConnell. Indiana bringing a balanced attack so far in Sacramento with nine players scoring as they climb back to within three, down 35-32 with just under eight minutes to go in the first half.
Jarace Walker with a THUNDEROUS two-handed slam 💥 pic.twitter.com/iiswx2lH5g
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 22, 2024
Kings sharing the rock 😍
Domantas Sabonis finishes the nice feed from DeRozan, giving him six points to go along with eight rebounds and two dimes in ten minutes. Sacramento holds Haliburton scoreless as they lead 32-23 with 9:21 to go before half. Tune in live on NBA League Pass to catch all the action.
Off-ball movement from Sabonis. Perfect entry pass from DeRozan
Sabonis slam.
Kings with the textbook offensive possession.
IND-SAC | NBA League Pass
— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2024
Ja’Kobe on fire early 🔥
Ja’Kobe Walter is feeling it early for the Raptors, helping them jump out to an early 22-13 lead in Toronto. Walter has already doubled his season average of 7.1 points per game in just over six minutes of action.
Ja’Kobe Walter had the FIRST 14 PTS for the Raptors 🔥
4 3PM in the first 5 minutes 🎯
HOU-TOR | NBA League Pass
— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2024
Green freezes defender 🥶
Jalen Green blows by Gradey Dick after the between-the-legs move for the easy bucket. Green starts quick with six early points after dropping 34 (13-22 FG) in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
Houston currently trails Toronto 20-13 with just over five minutes to go in the first quarter. Tune in now on NBA League Pass.
JG is 𝙌𝙐𝙄𝘾𝙆 ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/i78I18G0Bc
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 22, 2024
Raptors ready for action 🦖
Toronto rookie Jonathan Mogbo earns his fifth career start tonight, filling in for the injured Jakob Poeltl (groin). Scottie Barnes makes his second start after missing two games with an ankle injury.
First five ‼️ pic.twitter.com/WepZfsoNMg
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 22, 2024
Kings’ starters 👑
Sacramento will have Domantas Sabonis available tonight after being listed as questionable with an ankle injury. The Kings have three players averaging better than 21 points per game this season – Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan – but they sit at 13-16 overall, just a few spots out of a Play-In spot.
today’s starting lineup 🖐️⤵️
👑 De’Aaron Fox👑 Malik Monk👑 DeMar DeRozan👑 Keegan Murray
👑 Domantas Sabonis pic.twitter.com/jrnzekqgN0
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 22, 2024
Indiana’s starting 🖐
The Pacers are ready to go for their fourth win in a row tonight in Sacramento. Indiana currently owns a 13-15 record as they look to get closer to .500 on the season.
first five in Sacramento. pic.twitter.com/pVRccrqNGJ
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 22, 2024
Kings’ favorite gifts 🎁
The Kings players let the fans know some of their favorite gifts they got as youngsters.
Sacramento hosts Indiana tonight, tipping off at 6:00 ET on NBA League Pass!
Happy Holidays from our team to yours! 🎄 pic.twitter.com/IVmdXyQAcT
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 22, 2024
📝 Top Storylines 📝
- Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers will try for their fourth consecutive win tonight when they take on the Kings in Sacramento. Over their last three games, the Pacers have averaged 120 points a night while holding opponents to a little over 107 points, winning two of the three by double figures.
- The Kings have gone in the opposite direction over their last three games, losing twice to the Los Angeles Lakers and dropping a heart-breaker to the Denver Nuggets by one point back on Dec. 16, all of which came at home. De’Aaron Fox is averaging nearly 29 points per game during that stretch, and he’ll look to be aggressive against his former backcourt partner in Haliburton.
- Fred VanVleet will take on his former team when the Houston Rockets battle the Toronto Raptors north of the border. Houston has won three of their past four games, while the Raptors aim to end a six-game losing streak.
