The Pacers’ slide continues
Last season’s NBA runners-up continue to rack up losses, while Jokić’s Nuggets lost by a single point. The Kings, Suns, Knicks, Bucks, Rockets, and Nets all won.
A new NBA game day delivered nine matchups across the league. The Christmas Day hangover is fading as the New Year approaches, and there are no breaks left - just an endless string of games rolling on until what feels like Judgment Day. In the middle of all that, the Pacers remain stuck in the deepest hole, Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets lost by the slimmest margin, Jordi Fernández celebrated his birthday with a win, and the Kings, Suns, Knicks, Bucks and Rockets all came out on top. All that and more in our round‑up:
- SACRAMENTO KINGS 113–107 DALLAS MAVERICKS
- ORLANDO MAGIC 127–126 DENVER NUGGETS
- NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 114–123 PHOENIX SUNS
Jose Alvarado and Mark Williams were ejected Saturday from the Pelicans–Suns matchup after trading punches in a heated mid‑court scuffle at New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center. With just over two minutes left in the third quarter, tensions boiled over between Williams and Alvarado, who represents Puerto Rico internationally. As the Suns set up their offense, Williams set a screen near the three‑point line on Alvarado, who shoved through with both hands to get around it, committing a personal foul in the process.
The Puerto Rican guard started to approach the officials to argue the call when Williams shoved him from behind. Alvarado immediately turned to confront the Suns’ center - who stands more than a head taller - and the fight erupted, with several punches thrown. One of Alvarado’s swings appeared to connect with Williams’ face. Both players were tossed after the dust settled. At the time of the altercation, Phoenix led 87–83. It was the teams’ second meeting in 24 hours in New Orleans, both won by the Suns.
- ATLANTA HAWKS 125–128 NEW YORK KNICKS
- MIAMI HEAT 142–116 INDIANA PACERS
- CHICAGO BULLS 103–112 MILWAUKEE BUCKS
- HOUSTON ROCKETS 117–100 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
- MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 107–123 BROOKLYN NETS
Jordi Fernández’s Nets knocked off the Timberwolves, stretching their first winning streak of the season to three games. It doubled as a birthday gift for Fernández, who turned 43 on Saturday. Brooklyn (10–19) opened the year as one of the NBA’s worst teams, but has steadied itself with seven wins in its last ten outings and back‑to‑back‑to‑back victories over the Raptors, 76ers and Timberwolves this past week.
Cam Thomas poured in 30 points in his return after a hamstring injury that sidelined him for nearly two months. Coming off the bench, he logged fewer than 20 minutes. Michael Porter Jr. added 27 points and 10 rebounds.
Brooklyn controlled nearly the entire second half and dominated both points in the paint (66–46) and bench production (62–33). The Nets remain 13th in the East but now sit just five wins behind the Hawks and Bulls, who hold the final play‑in spots.
For Minnesota (20–12), Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and Julius Randle finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. The loss serves as another blow for the Wolves after their tough Christmas defeat in Denver, where Jokić put up a monstrous 56‑point, 16‑rebound, 15‑assist performance.
- SAN ANTONIO SPURS 114–127 UTAH JAZZ
A slip‑up for the Texans despite another standout showing from Victor Wembanyama. Check out our report on the action in Utah.
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