NBA roundup: Spurs smother Thunder for third time in 13 days
Fri Dec 26 12:15am ET
Field Level Media
De'Aaron Fox scored a game-high 29 points as the visiting San Antonio Spurs knocked off the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102 to hand the Thunder their first back-to-back losses this season.
The Spurs have won eight consecutive games -- which does not include the NBA Cup final loss to the New York Knicks on Dec. 16 -- to extend their longest winning streak since 2018-19. Three of the Thunder's five defeats this season, including both of their past two, have come against San Antonio.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who came off the bench for the sixth consecutive game since missing nearly a month due to a calf injury, finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds in nearly 26 minutes.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 22 points, but he shot just 7-for-19 from the field, including 1-for-6 from beyond the 3-point arc. Isaiah Hartenstein paired 13 points with 12 rebounds while no other Thunder player scored more than 12.
Knicks 126, Cavaliers 124
Jalen Brunson hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:05 left for host New York, which overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Cleveland.
Brunson scored 13 of his 34 points over the final 7:15 for the Knicks, who mounted their biggest comeback win of the season. Reserves Jordan Clarkson (25 points) and Tyler Kolek (16 points, nine assists) had big games while Karl-Anthony Towns (11 points, 14 rebounds) posted a double-double.
Donovan Mitchell scored 34 points for the Cavaliers, who blew a pair of double-digit leads and took their first loss this season when leading after three quarters. Darius Garland recorded 20 points and 10 assists.
Warriors 126, Mavericks 116
Stephen Curry lost a personal scoring duel with Cooper Flagg in their first head-to-head matchup, but he teamed with Gary Payton II to stall a late rally as Golden State held off Dallas in San Francisco.
Curry led the Warriors with 23 points in Golden State's 13th consecutive appearance on Christmas Day. After the Mavericks closed within 110-104 with 4:28 to play, Payton converted a Draymond Green pass into his momentum-swinging dunk and Curry bombed in a 26-footer on Golden State's next possession to reopen a double-digit lead with 3:45 left.
Flagg went for a game-high 27 points and Brandon Williams added 26 for the Mavericks, who lost Anthony Davis for the night after he experienced right groin spasms in the fourth minute of the second quarter. Davis finished with three points, three rebounds and two blocks in 11 minutes.
Rockets 119, Lakers 96
Amen Thompson scored a game-high 26 points and Kevin Durant added 25 as visiting Houston never trailed Los Angeles to cap a 2-4 road trip on a good note.
Jabari Smith Jr. notched 16 points while Alperen Sengun contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Rockets transformed a 10-point halftime lead into an 81-58 advantage on Smith's tip-in with 5:52 left in the third quarter.
Luka Doncic paced the Lakers with 25 points and seven assists while LeBron James posted 18 points in his 19th Christmas Day game. Austin Reaves scored 12 points in the first half, but he did not play in the second half due to left calf soreness. The Lakers were outrebounded 48-25.
- NBA roundup: Spurs smother Thunder for third time in 13 days
- Lakers G Austin Reaves (calf) ruled out vs. Rockets
- Mavericks F Anthony Davis (groin) won't return vs. Warriors
- Nuggets F Cameron Johnson (knee) out 4-6 weeks
- Cavaliers F Evan Mobley to return vs. Knicks
- Luka Doncic (leg) to return for Lakers on Christmas
- Ben Simmons buys ownership stake in pro fishing team
- Heat's Terry Rozier seeks to have government charges dismissed
- Nuggets F Cameron Johnson (knee) to undergo MRI
- NBA roundup: Spurs knock off Thunder in matchup of West's best
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- Hawks C N'Faly Dante out for season with torn ACL
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- Clippers’ Ivica Zubac (ankle sprain) to miss several weeks
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- Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch fined $35K by NBA
- NBA roundup: Clippers down Lakers as Luka Doncic exits with leg injury
- Lakers G Luka Doncic (leg contusion) ruled out vs. Clippers
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (hip) is not anticipated to play on Friday versus Charlotte. He's already missed four games because of a left hip contusion. While the doubtful designation at least suggests the 24-year-old is trending in a favorable direction, it appears he'll miss another contest on Friday night. If that's the case, Tyus Jones is expected to remain in the starting lineup. Jones is coming off a quality 16-point, seven-assist, one-steal showing in Tuesday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers. With that in mind, he has an excellent chance of staying as productive against a Hornets team that has struggled defensively throughout the 2025 campaign.
Boston Celtics forward Jordan Walsh (illness) is expected to play on Friday against Indiana. With Jayson Tatum (Achilles) sidelined, Walsh has stepped up for the C's throughout the 2025 campaign, averaging 7.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 44.4% from downtown. He didn't suit up when these clubs met on Monday because of an illness, opening the door for Josh Minott to enter the starting lineup. However, with Walsh anticipated to return, Minott will presumably head back to the bench. With that said, Minott had only two points in nine minutes as a starter, so he won't be a trustworthy fantasy option if Walsh suffers a setback and gets ruled out.
Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) won't play on Friday night against Orlando, marking his third-straight absence. The rookie has started 25 times this season, averaging 8.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in those appearances. With Mason Plumlee (groin) also sidelined, the Hornets will need to rely on Moussa Diabate to handle most of the minutes in the middle. Diabate recently had 12 points and 18 boards in Thursday's win over the Washington Wizards, making him a practical fantasy option across the board. As far as Kalkbrenner is concerned, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (groin) will play on Thursday against the Rockets after missing the last two games. The 27-year-old has played as well as expected throughout the 2025 campaign, averaging 13.3 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 45.6% from behind the arc. Although Hachimura should see at least 30 minutes of action, he may have a tough time remaining as productive, considering LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and Luka Doncic (leg) are available. It also doesn't help that the Rockets have been one of the most impactful teams on the defensive side of the ball. At any rate, Hachumira's return should mean Jake LaRavia, coming off a 12-point, five-rebound, two-steal, two-block effort, will presumably head back to the bench.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (leg) is available for Thursday's Christmas showdown with the Rockets. He sustained a left leg contusion in the loss to the Clippers on Saturday and didn't suit up on Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns. Marcus Smart ended up getting the start in that one, finishing with 14 points and six assists. However, with Doncic back in the equation, Smart will lose most of his fantasy appeal. As far as Doncic is concerned, he's a must-start option, obviously, although he may have trouble hitting his usual fantasy projections in a meeting with one of the top defensive clubs in the National Basketball Association.
Golden State Warriors guard Seth Curry (glute) won't be in the lineup on Christmas Day against the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran sniper is managing a left glute injury and hasn't played since Dec. 4. Curry signed with the Warriors on Dec. 1 for the rest of the season and managed to make just two appearances before dropping out of the lineup. Curry's next opportunity to play will be on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors, though he holds no fantasy value.
Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate (wrist) has been tagged as questionable for Thursday's meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is nursing a left wrist contusion ahead of the Christmas Day matchup. Tate hasn't had a regular role in the rotation, making his status irrelevant from a fantasy perspective. The 30-year-old veteran has averaged 3.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.2 minutes this season. Going forward, Tate may have even a tougher time getting minutes on this Rockets squad, as Dorian Finney-Smith has been upgraded to questionable on the injury report and is closing in on his season debut.
Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell (illness) is considered probable for Thursday's tilt against the Golden State Warriors. An illness has kept Powell sidelined for two games. Overall, he hasn't featured in four consecutive games, falling out of Jason Kidd's plans following Daniel Gafford's return to the lineup. Powell isn't likely to receive any meaningful playing time as long as Gafford and Anthony Davis are healthy. Davis has missed only one of the last 10 games and has a chance to post a third consecutive 30-point game on Thursday. Gafford's fantasy value has been limited this month, as he has averaged 3.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Ousmane Dieng (calf) isn't ready to face the San Antonio Spurs on Christmas Day. He will be sidelined for a third consecutive game due to a right calf strain. Even before the injury, DIeng was out of the rotation, appearing in only three contests this month. The 22-year-old has averaged 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12.5 minutes across 17 appearances during his fourth NBA campaign. The Thunder should do just fine without Dieng, though the defending champions have struggled against Victor Wembanyama's crew this season, losing both previous meetings.
New York Knicks forward/center Guerschon Yabusele (illness) may miss Thursday's Christmas matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the team has listed him as questionable on the injury report. The bulky Frenchman is battling an illness and has already sat out two games. Even if Yabusele shakes off the questionable tag, he likely won't have a big role in the rotation. His tenure in New York has been disappointing, with Yabusele averaging just 9.6 minutes per game across 26 appearances. Recent reports suggest that the Knicks are considering trading him before the February deadline, leaving Yabusele's future with the team in doubt.
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (ankle) won't suit up for a Christmas Day battle against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He remains sidelined due to a left ankle sprain sustained at the start of this month. Landry Shamet (shoulder) also isn't available for the Knicks, giving both Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek a chance to make a significant mark off the bench. The duo has a favorable matchup on Thursday, as Cleveland gives up the seventh-most bench points in the NBA. McBride's next opportunity to return will be on the road against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson (knee) was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his right knee and is expected to miss some time, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The team has officially listed him as out for Thursday's Christmas clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. will compete for a starting role during Johnson's absence, while Peyton Watson could also help to fill some of his minutes. Hardaway Jr. has had a hot hand lately, sinking 13 triples across two games, though Brown and Watson bring more overall versatility to fantasy teams.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's Christmas matchup against the Houston Rockets. The 25-year-old big man hurt his left ankle in Tuesday's loss to the Phoenix Suns, logging only five minutes. Hayes recently started two consecutive games while Deandre Ayton was sidelined with an elbow injury. Now that Ayton has returned, Hayes offers little fantasy value. If Hayes sits out Thursday, Maxi Kleber and Jarred Vanderbilt could see increased minutes in the rotation, though neither player is an attractive fantasy option.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (groin) is set to end a two-game absence on Thursday, as the team has listed him as probable for a matchup against the Houston Rockets. The Japanese forward has missed back-to-back games for groin injury management purposes. Jake LaRavia has been in the starting unit during Hachimura's absence and will likely land back on the bench against Houston, which would negatively impact his fantasy value. Hachimura has been quiet in December, averaging only 9.4 points, a significant drop-off from his season average of 13.3 points per game. Getting buckets won't be easy on Christmas Day either, as Houston has a top-10 defense.
Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) has picked up a questionable tag on the injury report ahead of the team's Christmas Day clash against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 32-year-old has yet to play this season following offseason ankle surgery. It would be a special night for Finney-Smith if he can make his season debut on Thursday, as he finished last season with the Lakers. During the offseason, the Rockets signed Finney-Smith as a free agent to a four-year, $53 million contract, clearly seeing a significant role for him in the rotation. Once he's in the lineup, Finney-Smith will almost certainly play with a minutes restriction, limiting his fantasy appeal.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (leg) has been officially listed as questionable for Thursday's Christmas game against the Houston Rockets. Doncic is nursing a left leg contusion and wasn't in the lineup on Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Doncic is expected to play on Christmas Day, but the questionable designation keeps his status uncertain. Should Doncic be unavailable, Nick Smith Jr. could make a second straight start. Alternatively, the Lakers might return Austin Reaves to the starting lineup; he played 22 minutes off the bench on Tuesday after missing three games.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (calf) is listed as questionable on the injury report ahead of a Christmas Day tilt against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Turkish big man is experiencing tightness in his left calf and may have to sit out his third game of the season. Sengun's absence from the lineup on Christmas would allow Clint Capela to move up in the pecking order, with Steven Adams likely taking over the starting center role. Jabari Smith Jr. could also get some minutes at the No. 5 spot. With that said, Thursday presents a tough matchup for Houston's bigs, as the Lakers have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to centers this season -- trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Golden State Warriors forward/center Al Horford (sciatica) is listed as probable for Thursday's clash against the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran big man looks ready to play for the first time in three weeks. He has missed time due to sciatica on his right side. While Horford's return would be a welcome boost for the Warriors, he hasn't been a good fantasy option in 2025-26. The 39-year-old is struggling to hit his shots, averaging 5.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Brandon Williams (ankle) is listed as probable for a matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day. He is dealing with an ankle sprain but has appeared in four consecutive contests. However, Williams has been limited to 15 minutes in back-to-back games, making it tough for him to live up to fantasy expectations. He lost his starting spot to Ryan Nembhard late last month. Nembhard has been praised for his performances and looks locked into his new role, averaging 10.9 points and 7.0 assists in the first unit.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (oblique) is considered questionable for Thursday's Christmas game against the Denver Nuggets. He could miss a second consecutive contest due to a left oblique contusion. With McDaniels out on Tuesday against the New York Knicks, Mike Conley rejoined the first unit, logging a season-high 30 minutes. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, his production was modest, as the veteran playmaker settled for eight points and two assists. Naz Reid and Bones Hyland also benefit from McDaniels' absence from the rotation.
