NBA Starting 5, Dec. 23: Sixers’ trio makes history, Warriors win in Poole’s return
Happy Saturday!
We’ve got 26 teams in action today, in the final day of games before #NBAXMas — and you can watch with a FREE preview of League Pass with your (also free) NBA ID.
Continue reading for a quick takeaway from each of those games, another impressive performance from Embiid (with historical support), the reasons behind the four teams’ jumps and, naturally, a hint of holiday cheer.
THE LINEUP
- Must-see GIFs from Friday night
- Triple 30s in Philly + 5 more games
- 4 teams making defensive leaps
- Saturday: 13 games in 60 seconds
- Getting in the Christmas spirit
Today
️ On This Day: 50+ point games from Michael Jordan (57 pts, 1992), Allen Iverson (53 pts, 2005), Vince Carter (51 pts, 2005) and Luka Doncic (50 pts, 2022)
☑️ All-Star Voting: Tap here to vote. Already cast your ballot? Every new vote with your free NBA ID gets you another chance to win a trip to All-Star (US & Canada only)
FREE Preview of League Pass in the App or NBA.com, on a day of 13 games. Check out Section 4 for a full preview. Tap in to sign up
1. SATURDAY MORNING MUST-SEE GIFS
This fan was prepared for Tobias Harris to score a season-high 33 points on Friday.
Steph hits a triple and does a shimmy in the Warriors’ fourth consecutive victory.
In the Kings’ victory over the Suns, Malik fiercely hit the ball, followed by his head.
Cam Whitmore soared high for the half-court alley-oop during the Rockets’ victory.
Jonathan Kuminga executed a putback dunk, eliciting a reaction from Steph that mirrored our own.
2. FRIDAY ROUNDUP: TRIPLE 30S IN PHILLY
Sixers 121, Raptors 111: Another night, another 30+ points for Joel Embiid, but this time he had company with Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris each dropping 33 as the trio combined for 97 points in the Sixers’ 20th win. It marked only the second time in franchise history that a trio scored 30+ in the same game (back in 1961) | More
Embiid’s Streak Continues: Embiid’s run of 30/10 games has reached 13, a number only three other players have ever reached. Three more games would pass Elgin Baylor (15). Four more would pass Kareem (16). Embiid would need to keep this going until the second-to-last game of the season to pass Wilt (65)
Said Tyrese Maxey: “Joel is literally one of the first people in this organization that really believed in me when I was a rookie. He said it early that he felt like I could be special.”
Warriors 129, Wizards 118: Jordan Poole received a warm welcome in his first game back in The Bay, but once the ball was tipped it was all business for Steph Curry (30 pts, season-high 8 3s) and the Warriors as they won their fourth straight | More
Kings 120, Suns 105: Domantas Sabonis (28 pts, 11 reb, 12 ast) posted his fourth triple-double of the season, De’Aaron Fox (23) and Keegan Murray (21) combined for 44 as the Kings overcame a combined 52 points from Kevin Durant (28) and Devin Booker (24) | More
⚒️ Nuggets 122, Nets 117: Jamal Murray (32 pts, 9 ast) and Nikola Jokic (31 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast) combined for 63 as the Nuggets held off the Nets. Denver won its third straight, while Brooklyn dropped its fifth in a row after a late run came up just short | Watch the final 3:30 | More
Rockets 122, Mavs 96: Alperen Sengun had 22 points and 15 boards in under 25 minutes as the Rockets cruised past the Luka-less Mavs to snap a three-game losing streak | More
Heat 122, Hawks 113: Tyler Herro had a team-high 30 points, Duncan Robinson scored 21 of his season-high 27 in the fourth quarter as the Heat held off the Hawks. Trae Young (30 pts, 13 ast) joined Oscar Robertson (in 1964-65) as the only players with six straight 30/10 games | More
3. DEFENSE WINS: BEHIND THE WOLVES, THUNDER, MAGIC & ROCKETS’ LEAPS
In an era of record-breaking offense, today we look at four teams making huge strides thanks to improved defense — and how it’s shot them up the standings
- In 2022-23, the Timberwolves (10th), Thunder (13th), Magic (18th) and Rockets (29th) had an average rank of 18th (17.5) in defensive efficiency
- In 2023-24, all four teams now rank in the top six in defensive efficiency: Wolves (1st), Rockets (2nd), Thunder (4th), Magic (6th) for an average rank of 3rd (3.25)
Defensive Rating has been tracked since 1996-97. This is only the third time that four teams jumped from 10th or below one season into the top six the next. It also happened in 2017-18 and 2020-21.
Houston Rockets
The transformation of Houston’s defense from being second-worst (118.6) last season to second-best (109.5) this season can be attributed to the additions of Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet, and coach Ime Udoka. This is only the fourth recorded instance of a team making a similar leap.
- 2014-15 Bucks: jumped from 30th to 4th
- 2013-14 Bobcats: jumped from 30th to 6th
- 1997-98 Spurs: jumped from 29th (then last in the league) to 2nd
Those are the only teams within the scope of Houston’s current 27-spot climb.
- Standout stat: The Rockets allow a league-low 8.3 fast break points per game (1.9 fewer than any other team)
Minnesota Timberwolves
This was the vision when the Wolves paid a hefty price to acquire three-time DPOY Rudy Gobert from Utah prior to last season – first in defensive rating (107.6) and first in the West (21-6).
- Standout stat: The Wolves lead the NBA in team rim protection, limiting opponents to 58.9% shooting at the basket
⛈️ Oklahoma City Thunder
Rookie Chet Holmgren ranks fourth in the NBA in blocks (2.7 per game), while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league in steals (2.8 per game) by one full steal over second-ranked Donovan Mitchell (1.8).
That 1.0 steal gap is equal to the gap between 2nd and 95th place
- Standout stat: The Thunder force the highest percentage of opponent turnovers (16.7%)
Orlando Magic
The Magic are one of the best teams in finishing possessions on defense by limiting offensive rebounds and forcing turnovers. Orlando ranks in the top five in both opponent offensive rebound rate (27.3%) and opponent turnover percentage (15.7%).
- Standout stat: The Magic allow the 2nd fewest opponent field goal attempts (85.2) per 100 possessions
For more, check out John Schuhmann’s full breakdown.
4. SATURDAY PREVIEW: 13 GAMES IN 60 SECONDS
With your free NBA ID, you can watch all 13 games on League Pass. So charge all your devices and lock in for a full day of hoops.
Bucks at Knicks, 12:30 ET (NBA TV): Get a Christmas Day preview when two of the top five teams in the East meet at the Garden | Preview
Celtics at Clippers, 3:30 ET: Boston’s West Coast road trip continues. After losing in OT in The Bay, the C’s bounced back in Sacramento. Now they head to LA to face the Clippers before a Christmas Day matchup with the Lakers | Preview
Rockets at Pelicans, 7 ET: The Pelicans have won five of their last six games and will try to keep it rolling when the Rockets come to NOLA | Preview
Magic at Pacers, 7 ET: It’s a matchup of the No. 1 ranked offense (Indy) against the No. 6 defense (Orlando) | Preview
Nuggets at Hornets, 7 ET: Two teams streaking in opposite directions: three straight wins for Denver, six straight losses for Charlotte. Will both streaks continue? | Preview
Jazz at Raptors, 7:30 ET: The Raptors host the Jazz looking to avoid a three-game losing streak after dropping consecutive games to the last two MVPs| Preview
Pistons at Nets, 7:30 ET: The Pistons look for their first win since Oct. 28 and try to avoid tying the record for the longest single-season losing streak (26 games) | Preview
Grizzlies at Hawks, 7:30 ET: Memphis looks to improve to 3-0 since Ja’s return, while Trae looks to keep his impressive 30/10 streak going | Preview
Lakers at Thunder, 8 ET: Can OKC make it back-to-back wins over the two L.A. squads after snapping the Clippers’ nine-game win streak on Thursday? | Preview
Cavs at Bulls, 8 ET: The Bulls have won eight of their last 11 games after opening the season 5-14. Can they keep that momentum against a Cavs team that swept their season series a year ago? | Preview
Blazers at Warriors, 8:30 ET: The Warriors will go for their fifth straight win when they host a Blazers team they’ve beat twice in December – both by four points | Preview
Spurs at Mavs, 8:30 ET: The Mavs beat the Spurs in Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut back in October. Can the No. 1 pick and San Antonio get one back in this Texas showdown? | Preview
Wolves at Kings, 10 ET: The Kings won the first meeting with the Wolves to take control of their group during the In-Season Tournament. What will happen in round two between these two top four teams in the West? | Preview
5. GETTING IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Get Ready for Christmas Day!
The most prominent NBA stars sparkle on Christmas Day!
Feeling festive?
Same. (Chuck is too.)
To help make spirits bright – and maybe kick you a couple last-minute red carpet fashion ideas – tap in for a few of our holiday favorites from across the league, ahead of NBA on Christmas Day on ABC & ESPN.
- What’s Your Most Memorable? Bron notching the first triple-double in 40 years. D-Rose taking over. Bernard King’s 60. The NBA.com team ran back the greatest hoops moments in Christmas history. How many do you remember?
- The Gift of Game: Haven’t seen the spot for NBA on Christmas Day? Watch LeBron, Jokic, Curry and more come to life as action figures, celebrating the timeless tradition & magic of holiday hoops
- Last Year’s #NBAXMas Drip: James Harden rolled in like he was straight out of a Christmas movie, while Luka went with a Western. Tap for last year’s best looks
- Top Christmas Day Scorers: LeBron, Kobe and Oscar Robertson lead the all-time #NBAXMas scoring list. How many others in the Top 10 can you name?
- Catch Up Quick: Here’s what to know from the five games across Christmas, starting at noon in the Garden
- Merry Christmas From Deuce: ‘Daddy’s wearing a mic. You gotta tell everybody that’s watching, say Merry Christmas.’ All the feels from the Tatums
- Tyrese Maxey Trivia: Sixers social grills their star PG about #NBAXMas facts. He does pretty well!
- The Hornets decide what they’d get Coach Cliff for Christmas
- Who would the Jazz want gift-wrapping their presents?
- Got a favorite holiday movie? These are the Clippers’ picks
- ‘Did anyone do this well? No.’ The Nuggets try their hand(s) at gift-wrapping a ball
