Orlando, having trailed by as many as 25 points in the first half, began chipping away at the deficit with a 13-0 run to open the fourth quarter. The Magic then went on another 11-0 run to take their first lead since the early first quarter.
The runs were powered by the trio of Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Goga Bitadze, who combined to score 21 of Orlando's 37 fourth-quarter points, including the final 17 points that sealed the comeback victory. The 25-point comeback is tied for the largest in franchise history. Orlando also overcame a 25-point deficit on Nov. 8, 1989, at Cleveland.
Anthony's 35 points and nine assists off the bench were season highs. Caldwell-Pope added 24 points, half of which came on a perfect 12-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line, and Bitadze finished with a double-double, scoring 18 points on 8-of-8 shooting and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Miami was without Jimmy Butler due to a stomach ailment. Despite Butler's absence, Miami scored 76 first-half points -- a team high for one half this season. Bam Adebayo scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds, Terry Rozier notched another 23 points off the bench and Tyler Herro recorded 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Celtics 123, Bulls 98
Jayson Tatum collected 43 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists to help visiting Boston avoid back-to-back losses by beating Chicago.
Tatum made 16 of 24 field-goal attempts, including 9 of his 15 shots from 3-point range, in 36 minutes. Kristaps Porzingis added 22 points and seven rebounds for Boston, which received 19 points, five rebounds and eight assists from Jaylen Brown. The Celtics have not dropped consecutive games this season.
Nicola Vucevic led the Bulls with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Patrick Williams, Coby White and Zach LaVine each added 14 points for Chicago, which was held to 44 points in the second half.
Lakers 103, Kings 99
LeBron James scored a game-high 32 points, D'Angelo Russell came off the bench to chip in with 20 and Los Angeles held on to complete a three-day, two-game road sweep of Sacramento.
The Lakers had won the first game of the sequence 113-100 on Thursday night. James complemented his big scoring night with seven rebounds, a team-leading six assists and four steals. He hit 13 of his 24 shots, helping the Lakers outshoot the hosts 48.2 percent to 43.3 percent. Anthony Davis was the Lakers' top rebounder with 15 to go with 10 points, five assists and three blocks.
De'Aaron Fox paced the Kings with 31 points to go with seven assists. He made three of his five 3-point attempts as Sacramento held a slight 30-27 edge in points from beyond the arc.
Pistons 133, Suns 125
Cade Cunningham recorded 28 points and 13 assists while Jaden Ivey had 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to lead Detroit to a victory at Phoenix.
Malik Beasley scored 18 points off the bench and Jalen Duren had 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Pistons ended a string of seven straight losses to the Suns.
Kevin Durant scored a season-high 43 points and also had six assists and five rebounds for the Suns, who were without Devin Booker (groin) for the first time this season. Bradley Beal had 26 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Knicks 104, Pelicans 93
Jalen Brunson scored 29 of his season-high 39 points in the second half for visiting New York, which overcame a 14-point third-quarter deficit to beat upset-minded New Orleans.
Brunson scored 20 points during a decisive 37-13 run bridging the third and fourth quarters for the Knicks, who mounted their biggest comeback of the season. Karl-Anthony Towns (11 points, 10 rebounds) posted a double-double as the Knicks won their third straight and improved to 8-2 in their past 10 games.
Trey Murphy III scored 26 points for the Pelicans, who have lost six straight to fall to 2-21 since a 3-3 start. New Orleans fell by at least 10 points for the 17th time this season. Dejounte Murray (14 points, nine rebounds, eight assists) flirted with a triple-double.
Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 94
Victor Wembanyama poured in 30 points and tied a career high with 10 blocked shots as host San Antonio rolled to a win over struggling Portland.
The Spurs turned a close game into a decisive victory with a 13-2 run late in the second quarter that helped them build a 16-point lead at halftime. Charles Bassey tied a career high with 16 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Spurs.
Shaedon Sharpe put up 25 points for the Trail Blazers, who have lost seven of their past eight contests. Anfernee Simons added 18 points, Deandre Ayton amassed 14 points and eight rebounds, and Scoot Henderson hit for 12 points off the bench.
Bucks 112, Wizards 101
Bobby Portis scored a season-high 34 points while leading short-handed Milwaukee to a win over Washington.
The NBA Cup champion Bucks played without Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) and Damian Lillard (calf). Portis was on triple-double watch, adding 10 boards and eight assists to his tally. Teammate Khris Middleton contributed 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Jordan Poole led Washington with 26 points on 8-for-19 shooting. Bilal Coulibaly scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Corey Kispert added 16, and Alexandre Sarr added 11 points.
Warriors 113, Timberwolves 103
Stephen Curry scored 31 points and dished 10 assists as Golden State held on to beat Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Trayce Jackson-Davis finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for Golden State, which snapped a three-game losing streak and earned its first road victory since Nov. 22.
Anthony Edwards scored 19 points for Minnesota but made only six of 20 shots from the field. Donte DiVincenzo finished with 19 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert registered 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Grizzlies 128, Hawks 112
Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 22 points starting in place of the injured Ja Morant to lead visiting Memphis to a win over Atlanta.
Memphis was playing without Morant because of lingering back soreness. Pippen entered the game averaging 10.2 points and turned in his second-best scoring performance of the season. Pippen was 9-for-12 from the field and 3-for-4 on 3-point tries to go along with five rebounds, nine assists and two steals. Desmond Bane added 23 points, including four 3-pointers.
Atlanta was led by De'Andre Hunter's 26 points off the bench. Dyson Daniels added 15 points, six assists and six steals. The Hawks were missing Trae Young with a bruised heel and lost their third straight.
Cavaliers 126, 76ers 99
Darius Garland scored 26 points to lead six players in double figures as Cleveland improved to a league-best 25-4 with a win over visiting Philadelphia.
Evan Mobley had 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for Cleveland, which led by as many as 35 and won its fourth straight game. Donovan Mitchell scored 19 points, Georges Niang added 13, Caris LeVert had 12 and Ty Jerome chipped in 11.
Philadelphia played without star Joel Embiid, who was rested on the second game of the Sixers' back-to-back set. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 27 points. Paul George played his first back-to-back set of the season and finished with 11 points.
Mavericks 113, Clippers 97
Quentin Grimes scored a team-high 20 points off the bench, helping guide Dallas to a victory over visiting Los Angeles.
Klay Thompson added 16 points, while Spencer Dinwiddie and Kyrie Irving each chipped in 15 for the Mavericks, who have won nine of their past 11 games and avenged a 23-point loss to the Clippers on Thursday.
Normal Powell's 28 points paced the Clippers, who got 19 points apiece from James Harden and Kevin Porter Jr. Ivica Zubac produced 13 points and 15 rebounds for Los Angeles, which had its two-game winning streak end.
Jazz 105, Nets 94
Lauri Markkanen scored 14 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Utah pulled away in the second half for a victory over Brooklyn in New York.
The Jazz won consecutive games for the first time this season by allowing a season low in points and holding an opponent under 100 for the second time this season. Markkanen shot 5-for-10 in the fourth, when he hit 2 of 6 3-point attempts.
Brooklyn lost for the seventh time in nine games. The Nets also lost for the fifth time in their past six home games. Cameron Johnson finished with 13 of his 18 points in the fourth. Ben Simmons collected a season-high 15 points while adding 10 assists for his first double-double of the campaign.
--Field Level Media
The Suns will be without Booker for Saturday's home game against Detroit as well as Monday's contest at Denver.
They will be the first games Booker has missed this season.
The four-time All-Star guard sat out practice on Friday after enduring the injury in a 120-111 home loss to Indiana Thursday night.
He left the game in the third quarter after amassing 17 points and six assists in 25 minutes.
Booker, 28, is averaging 25.1 points and 6.4 assists per game over 26 contests this season. Those numbers are better than his career averages in each category (24.3 ppg, 5.1 apg).
--Field Level Media
Claxton received a technical foul and was ejected from the game for the incident with 8:46 left in the second quarter. Claxton recorded a defensive rebound and was dribbling on a fast break when he was fouled by Raptors center Kelly Olynyk.
That's when Claxton threw the ball underhanded into a section of spectators.
"I just had a mental lapse and I just launched the ball in the crowd," Claxton told the New York Post after the game. "I can't let my emotions get to that point. I got to be there for my team."
He had seven points, five rebounds and one block in 11 minutes before his third ejection this season.
Claxton, 25, is averaging 9.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 blocks in 21 games (13 starts) this season.
Brooklyn selected Claxton in the second round (31st overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft out of Georgia. He is averaging 10.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.8 blocks in 262 career games (180 starts).
--Field Level Media
Mazzulla charged the court to voice his displeasure with official Justin Van Duyne near the conclusion of the Celtics' 117-108 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday in Boston. The outburst came after Mazzulla and Celtics forward Jaylen Brown were whistled for back-to-back technical fouls.
Mazzulla acknowledged in his postgame press conference that he should not have walked on the court.
Brown, however, said that he received his technical after asking Van Duyne for an explanation on why his coach was penalized.
"I said to (Van Duyne), 'You called a tech (on Mazzulla) for no reason.' He said, 'If you say to it me again, I'm going to call another tech,'" Brown said. "You can't threaten guys with a technical foul, that's not part of the game either. If you want to fine guys for gesturing and all that stuff -- fine that. That's some (expletive)."
--Field Level Media
Five other Cavs scored in double-figures, with Darius Garland putting up 16 and Evan Mobley and Dean Wade adding 15 each. Ty Jerome had 13 points, and Jarrett Allen posted 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 33 points along with 14 rebounds. Fellow star Damian Lillard did not travel with the team due to a right calf strain. Khris Middleton scored 14 off the bench, and Brook Lopez contributed 10 points.
The Cavaliers have won three in a row and seven of their past eight. The Bucks had a three-game winning streak end, though the count doesn't include their 97-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup final on Tuesday, as that game isn't included in the regular-season standings.
Thunder 104, Heat 97
Jalen Williams scored a season-high 33 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 25 as visiting Oklahoma City withstood a fourth-quarter rally to beat Miami.
Luguentz Dort had 14 points and Isaiah Hartenstein scored 13 points and matched his season high with 18 rebounds for the Thunder, who recorded their seventh consecutive official victory. The team's NBA Cup final loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday doesn't count in the league standings.
Tyler Herro led Miami with 28 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. Bam Adebayo had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Duncan Robinson and Dru Smith added 13 apiece. Heat star Jimmy Butler headed to the locker room with 4:41 left in the opening quarter and did not return due to illness.
76ers 108, Hornets 98
Joel Embiid scored 12 of his game-high 34 points in the fourth quarter to propel Philadelphia to a home win over Charlotte.
Tyrese Maxey (23 points) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (22) each made four 3-pointers for Philadelphia, which defeated Charlotte for the second time this week. Embiid missed Monday's contest due to a sinus fracture sustained in a game against Indiana on Dec. 13, and he wore a protective mask against the Hornets.
Vasilije Micic scored a season-high 20 points to lead the Hornets, who have lost 12 of their last 13 games. Charlotte played without LaMelo Ball (calf) and Brandon Miller (ankle).
--Field Level Media
Booker, 28, missed practice Friday, one day after sustaining the injury in the third quarter of a 120-111 loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers.
Booker departed with 5:18 left in the third quarter and was examined in the locker room before being ruled out. He had 17 points and six assists in 25 minutes and made 5 of 10 field-goal attempts.
Phoenix hasn't yet given a timetable per how long Booker might be sidelined.
"Hopefully, it's nothing serious," Suns big man Jusuf Nurkic said of Booker's injury. "For me, it's a part of the game. We've got to figure it out."
Saturday will mark Booker's first missed game of the season. He is averaging 25.1 points, 6.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds per contest.
--Field Level Media
Lillard scored 23 points and made five 3-pointers when the Bucks recorded a 97-81 in over the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Cup on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.
Lillard has scored more than 20 points in 11 of his past 12 appearances.
Lillard, an eight-time All-Star, is averaging 25.7 points, 7.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 22 regular-season games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) and Khris Middleton (illness) are listed as probable for Milwaukee (14-11) as it takes on NBA-best Cleveland (23-4).
--Field Level Media
It was the second-biggest win in terms of margin in Grizzlies history, trailing only a 152-79 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 2, 2021. The Warriors matched the fourth-worst defeat in franchise history.
Brandin Podziemski had a season-high 21 points to lead the Warriors. Stephen Curry was held to two points, the lowest single-game output of his career in contests when he played at least 12 minutes. He missed each of his seven field-goal attempts, six of them from 3-point range.
Golden State's Draymond Green registered no points, no rebounds and no assists in 19 minutes.
Trail Blazers 126, Nuggets 124
Anfernee Simons made a driving layup at the buzzer to lead Portland to a nail-biting win over visiting Denver.
Simons produced 28 points and 10 assists, Shaedon Sharpe had 27 points and Deni Avdija contributed 19 in 21 minutes off the bench as the Trail Blazers snapped a six-game losing streak.
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 34 points and added eight assists. Jamal Murray had 24 points and nine assists for the Nuggets, who trailed by 17 points in the fourth quarter before taking the lead in the final minute.
Pacers 120, Suns 111
Pascal Siakam recorded 25 points and a season-best 18 rebounds to lead Indiana over host Phoenix.
Myles Turner and Andrew Nembhard added 19 points apiece for Indiana, which has matched its season best with a three-game winning streak. Bennedict Mathurin scored 16 points.
Kevin Durant put up a season-best 37 points, matched his season high of 10 rebounds and also dished six assists for the Suns, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Devin Booker left due to groin tightness in the third quarter after scoring 17 points.
Clippers 118, Mavericks 95
Norman Powell scored 29 points, Ivica Zubac posted 21 points and 15 rebounds, and visiting Los Angeles raced past injury-depleted Dallas.
James Harden finished with 24 points and five rebounds to go with his team-high seven assists. Thirty of the Clippers' 44 made field goals were assisted, including six assists from Kris Dunn and five each from Powell and Zubac.
Klay Thompson led the Mavericks with 22 points. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 19 points and dished seven assists for Dallas, which was missing without Luka Doncic (heel) and Kyrie Irving (shoulder).
Knicks 133, Timberwolves 107
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 32 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in a triumphant return to Minneapolis, and New York pulled away for a win over Minnesota.
Towns made 10 of 12 shots from the field and drained all five of his 3-point attempts. He added six assists for New York, which improved to 2-0 on its three-game road trip. Mikal Bridges added 29 points.
Julius Randle scored 24 points for Minnesota, which lost on its home court for the first time since Nov. 27. Anthony Edwards finished with 17 points and a team-high seven assists.
Bulls 117, Celtics 108
Zach LaVine tossed in a game-high 36 points and Nikola Vucevic added 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead visiting Chicago past Boston.
Chicago outscored Boston 35-22 in the fourth quarter, when technical fouls were called on Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Celtics wanted a foul called on the Bulls during a loose-ball scramble. The Bulls extended their winning streak to three games.
Tatum had 31 points and 10 rebounds for Boston. Kristaps Porzingis finished with 20 points and eight boards, and Derrick White had 16 points and eight rebounds. Boston was 14 of 56 (25 percent) from the 3-point arc.
Lakers 113, Kings 100
Austin Reaves poured in a team-high 25 points, Anthony Davis anchored a double-double with 19 rebounds and visiting Los Angeles opened a two-game sequence in Sacramento on a winning note.
Davis attached 21 points, four assists, three steals and six blocks to his rebound total and LeBron James chipped in with 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Lakers, who won their second game in a row.
De'Aaron Fox scored a game-high 26 points and Domantas Sabonis accumulated 18 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists for the Kings, who lost their second straight. The clubs will meet in a rematch on Saturday.
Thunder 105, Magic 99
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 of his game-high 35 points in the first half, helping guide visiting Oklahoma City past Orlando.
Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, who won their sixth straight. (The NBA Cup final loss to the Milwaukee Bucks does not count in the regular-season standings). Jalen Williams, Aaron Wiggins and Alex Caruso each added 11 points.
Anthony Black led Orlando with 23 points off the bench, while Tristan da Silva and Goga Bitadze each added 15. Bitadze had 10 rebounds, while Wendell Carter Jr. tallied 10 points and 13 boards for the Magic, who lost their third in a row.
Rockets 133, Pelicans 113
Jalen Green scored 22 of his game-high 34 points in the third quarter as host Houston beat New Orleans.
Dillon Brooks scored 20 of his 26 points in the first half for the Rockets, while Alperen Sengun finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Houston shot 57.5 percent for the game and went 17 of 39 (43.6 percent) on 3-point attempts.
Trey Murphy III paced the Pelicans with 28 points, while Herbert Jones added 20 and CJ McCollum 18. New Orleans has lost 14 of its past 15 games.
Wizards 123, Hornets 114
Malcolm Brogdon scored 25 points in his return from injury as host Washington defeated Charlotte for just its second win in the past 21 games.
Brogdon, who also had six assists in 27 minutes off the bench, had missed the last four games with a strained hamstring. Jordan Poole led Washington with 27 points. No. 1 overall pick Alexandre Sarr drained a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the final 3 1/2 minutes and finished with 19 points and nine rebounds.
LaMelo Ball finished with 34 points and 13 assists to lead the Hornets, but he shot just 11-for-32. Charlotte, which got 16 points and eight rebounds apiece from Miles Bridges and Mark Williams, has lost 11 of its past 12.
Jazz 126, Pistons 119
Collin Sexton scored a season-high 30 points and visiting Utah snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over Detroit.
Keyonte George tallied 28 points, while Lauri Markkanen supplied 27 points and 14 rebounds. John Collins chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 33 points and seven assists. Malik Beasley added 26 points.
Utah's Jordan Clarkson and Detroit's Ronald Holland II were ejected for an altercation late in the third quarter.
Spurs 133, Hawks 126 (OT)
Victor Wembanyama racked up 42 points and Chris Paul had a key four-point play late in regulation and a decisive 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in overtime as San Antonio outlasted visiting Atlanta.
Devin Vassell added 23 points while Jeremy Sochan had 20 as the Spurs earned their third win in the past four games.
De'Andre Hunter scored 27 points to lead Atlanta, which took its third defeat in four games. Trae Young added 23 points and 16 assists.
Nets 101, Raptors 94
Cameron Johnson had 33 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as visiting Brooklyn came back to defeat Toronto.
Johnson scored 13 points in the final 2:24 to help the Nets end a three-game losing streak and extend Toronto's losses to six straight. The Raptors had led by 10 points in the third quarter. Brooklyn's Ben Simmons finished with 12 points and a game-high seven assists.
Ochai Agbaji scored 20 points for the Raptors. Gradey Dick added 19 points, and Scottie Barnes amassed 16 points and six assists.
--Field Level Media
After the Suns' 120-111 loss, Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer said merely that Booker didn't know exactly when the problem occurred. There was no immediate word on whether the four-time All-Star would miss additional action.
Booker departed with 5:18 left in the third quarter and was examined in the locker room.
Booker had 17 points and six assists in 25 minutes. He made 5 of 10 field-goal attempts.
Through 26 games this season, Booker is averaging of 25.1 points, 6.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds per contest.
--Field Level Media
The Hall of Fame announced the candidates Thursday, along with revealing that its board of governors voted to update eligibility requirements. Previously, candidates in the player category had to be out of the game for three full seasons; the Hall brought that down to two.
"To better recognize the distinguished careers of potential first-ballot nominees in a more timely manner, the Board has appropriately shortened the waiting period," chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a statement. "We are excited about this change and believe that honoring individuals while their contributions are still fresh in people's minds is both meaningful and impactful."
Anthony, 40, is technically on the list twice. In addition to being a player nominee for the first time, he was a part of the 2008 U.S. men's Olympic team, which is back up for consideration.
Anthony last appeared in 2021-22 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was best known for his time with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, making up the first 14 seasons of a 19-year NBA career. In 1,260 games (1,120 starts) for six franchises, Anthony averaged 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
The 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA selection was the NBA's scoring leader in the 2012-13 season (28.7 ppg). He also led Syracuse to its only national championship in 2002-03, his lone year of college basketball.
Bird, the 13-time WNBA All-Star who spent her entire career with the Seattle Storm, and Moore, the 2014 WNBA Most Valuable Player and a six-time All-Star with the Minnesota Lynx, headline a deep group of women's nominees. Both Bird and Moore won four WNBA championships in their careers.
Other nominees in the women's category include players Sylvia Fowles and Chamique Holdsclaw and coaches Lisa Bluder (Iowa), Doug Bruno (DePaul) and Mike Thibault (Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics).
Doc Rivers, currently the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, is a first-time nominee in the men's category, joined by Billy Donovan (two-time national champion at Florida, currently with the Chicago Bulls) and Mark Few (Gonzaga).
Other joining Anthony as first-time player nominees include three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard, six-time All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire and seven-time champion Robert Horry (two with the Houston Rockets, three with the Los Angeles Lakers, two with the San Antonio Spurs).
Finalists will be selected during NBA All-Star Weekend on Feb. 14 in San Francisco, and the Class of 2025 will be revealed at the men's Final Four on April 5 in San Antonio.
--Field Level Media
Okoro's injury occurred during the third quarter of Monday's 130-101 road victory against the Brooklyn Nets. Okoro played 20 minutes, scoring 12 points.
The team is scheduled to re-evaluate the injury around the new year.
Known for his defense, Okoro has helped Cleveland to an NBA-best 23-4 record. A starter in 16 of the 23 games he has played, Okoro has averaged 6.6 points with 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 21.0 minutes per contest.
The fifth overall selection by the Cavaliers in the 2020 NBA draft out of Auburn, the 23-year-old has averaged 8.4 points with 2.8 rebounds in 302 career games (232 starts). He signed a three-year, $38 million contract extension with Cleveland this past offseason.
--Field Level Media
Antetokounmpo was a unanimous selection by all 20 media members on the voting panel, as was Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Bucks defeated the Thunder 97-81 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas to win the in-season tournament title.
Antetokounmpo posted a triple-double Tuesday with 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists, earning NBA Cup MVP honors. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points.
They were joined on the all-tournament team by the Bucks' Damian Lillard (19 votes), the Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young (12) and the Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun (six).
--Field Level Media
The Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are the league's most valuable franchises by a long distance, Sportico announced in its annual assessment on Wednesday.
The Warriors are worth $9.14 billion, the Knicks $8.3 billion and the Lakers $8.07 billion, per the report. Golden State is considered the second most valuable franchise in U.S. sports, trailing only the Dallas Cowboys ($10.3 billion).
The assessments include ownership's real estate as well as team-related businesses such as WNBA franchises.
The average NBA team is worth $4.6 billion, a 15 percent rise over last year and nearly twice the worth from four years ago.
The Warriors, who have an affiliated WNBA expansion team set to start next year, saw their value go up 10 percent from 2023. The Knicks had a 12 percent rise, and the Lakers had a 10 percent hike.
The Brooklyn Nets are fourth on the list with a $5.7 billion value, a rise of 43 percent from the club's 13th-place ranking last year. Billboard cited the Nets' Barclays Center venue as the world's highest-grossing arena as of April.
Rounding out the top 10 are the Los Angeles Clippers ($5.68 billion), the for-sale Boston Celtics ($5.66 billion), the Chicago Bulls ($5.56 billion), the Miami Heat ($5 billion), the Houston Rockets ($4.77 billion) and the Toronto Raptors ($4.66 billion).
Among the top 10 franchises, only the Lakers and Celtics don't control their venues.
The bottom three on the list are the Minnesota Timberwolves ($3.29 billion), the New Orleans Pelicans ($3.09 billion) and the Memphis Grizzlies ($3.06 billion).
Per Sportico, NBA teams have a higher value-to-revenue ratio than those of any other major U.S. sports league. On that list, MLS is second, followed in order by the NFL, the NHL, the WNBA, the NWSL and MLB.
--Field Level Media
Speaking Tuesday at the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas, Silver addressed the amount of 3-point shots teams are taking. Long-distance shots are at a record pace, with the reigning champion Boston Celtics in line to set a single-team record of 51.1 3-point attempts per game.
Silver said regarding the NBA's examinations of game action, "I would not reduce it to a so-called 3-point shooting issue. I think we look more holistically at the skill level on the floor, the diversity of offense, the fan reception to the game, all of the above.
"I think the game is in a great place. I love watching the games, and I think we have some of the most skilled athletes in the world competing -- and it's unfair, I think, to the players to lump them into categories as 3-point shooters or a midrange shooter or big man playing under the basket. It's an amazing game.
"Having said that, we're constantly having discussions about whether there are ways to improve stylistically the game on the floor."
Regarding the 3-point distance -- 23 feet, 9 inches above the key, 22 feet in the corners, "Historically, at times, we've moved the 3-point line. I don't think that's a solution here because then, I think when we look at both the game and the data, I think that may not necessarily do more midrange jumpers, if that's what people want, but more clogging under the basket.
"Whether there's some tweaks we should make, and my sense is I do think we should take seriously this notion of more diversity in offense. I watch as many games as all of you do, and to the extent that it's not so much a 3-point issue, but that some of the audience, some of the offenses start to look sort of cookie cutter and teams are copying each other. I think that's something we should pay attention to."
On other matters, Silver said of the league's declining television ratings, "We're almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programming on streaming than they are in traditional television. And it's a reason why for our new television deals, which we're entering into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service."
Silver added the NBA isn't permanently committed to holding the NBA Cup semifinals and final in Las Vegas. The games possibly could move to home markets in the future, but arena availability might be an issue, he acknowledged.
--Field Level Media
The surgery to address "right shoulder instability" is scheduled for Jan. 7.
The Hawks also announced that center Onyeka Okongwu will be out for the next four games due to left knee inflammation. He will be re-evaluated in about one week, the team said.
He totaled eight points and three rebounds in 19 minutes in Atlanta's last game, a 110-102 loss at Milwaukee on Saturday.
Okongwu, who turned 24 on Dec. 11, is averaging career highs with 11.3 points and 1.4 assists, as well as 6.6 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 23.8 minutes in 25 games as a reserve this season.
The Hawks selected Okongwu with the sixth overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft out of Southern California. For his career, he averages 8.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.1 blocks and 21.1 minutes in 258 games (36 starts).
In October, the team announced Bufkin had partially dislocated his right shoulder for the second time. He had missed summer league due to a similar injury.
His first professional season after a promising Michigan career was also interrupted by injuries including a thumb fracture and a big toe sprain that kept him out of all but 17 games.
Bufkin, 20, was the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He averaged 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 10 games (zero starts) this season.
--Field Level Media
The team said McCain remains out indefinitely.
McCain was injured during Friday's 121-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers. The meniscus tear was announced the following day.
McCain, 20, has been a standout with averages of 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 23 games (eight starts) for Philadelphia. He is shooting 46 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from 3-point range.
The Duke product was the 16th overall pick in this summer's draft.
--Field Level Media
Bucks coach Doc Rivers delivered the news to reporters about 90 minutes before tip-off in Las Vegas.
"He just didn't feel good and we didn't want to take a chance with him being around the guys," Rivers said. "Just wasn't worth the chance."
Middleton had been downgraded from probable to doubtful less than one hour earlier. He missed Monday's practice.
Middleton returned to action earlier this month after undergoing offseason surgeries on both ankles. He is averaging 7.0 points, 5.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds in four games off the bench while shooting just 25.9 percent from the field.
The three-time All-Star has career averages of 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 743 games (650 starts). The 33-year-old is in his 12th season with the Bucks after spending his rookie season with the Detroit Pistons before being traded to Milwaukee.
--Field Level Media
The NBA adopted a new one-night tournament with three teams comprised of eight All-Stars drafted to teams by former NBA players Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal of "Inside the NBA."
"I hate it. Absolutely hate it," Suns forward Kevin Durant said Tuesday of the new format. "It's terrible. ... We should just go back to the East-West, just play a game."
Last year's All-Star Game was widely ridiculed despite reverting back to the traditional East-West matchup from a "captain's draft," with the fan-vote leaders from each conference drafting two teams.
In 2025, the winner of the Rising Stars challenge competition between first- and second-year players will be the fourth team in the All-Star Game tournament.
Tournament games will be decided by the first team to reach 40 points.
Commissioner Adam Silver reiterated on opening night of the 2024-25 season the NBA was committed to creating a competitive atmosphere for the All-Star Game on the heels of an event record 397 points in the 2024 event in Indianapolis.
The prize pool of $1.8 million is split based on results of the tournament in 2025. Players on the tournament winner receive $125,000 with runners-up to receive $50,000 apiece. The two teams eliminated with losses in their first game will be paid $25,000 per player.
Damian Lillard of the Bucks was voted All-Star Game MVP with 39 points in 2024 and launched multiple shots closer to halfcourt than the 3-point line.
He said last month the issue with the All-Star Game is an "effort problem."
"The NBA has an effort problem with all-star games, so what do they do? They build a format where non-all stars get to play against all stars, and shortens the actual game into a tournament where they only have to score 65 points to win," Lillard said in a post to X on Nov. 21. "These guys are pros. Let's stop this BS."
--Field Level Media
The Bucks and Thunder will square off in Las Vegas on Tuesday in the second-ever NBA Cup championship game.
ODDS AND TRENDS
Oklahoma City is a 4.5 to 5.0-point favorite at most sportsbooks. The line has held steady at 4.5 at BEtMGM, where the Thunder have been backed by one-sided action, including 88 percent of the spread-line money and 69 percent of the bets.
However, the action has been far more split on the moneyline. Milwaukee (+165) has drawn 54 percent of the bets and 60 percent of the money to beat Oklahoma City (-200).
The total points line at the book has shifted slightly from 214.5 to 215.5 with the public backing the Over with 70 percent of the bets and 61 percent of the money.
PROP PICK
--Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 11.5 Rebounds (-150 at BetM): This has been the most-bet player prop at the book leading up to the game. In six December games overall, Antetokounmpo is averaging 10.2 rebounds. That includes 14 against Atlanta in the semifinals on Saturday to bring his season average to 11.5 boards per game.
THE NEWS
Antetokounmpo rose to the occasion in the Bucks' 110-102 win over the Hawks. He fell one assist shy of a triple-double but was dominant nonetheless, tallying 32 points and 14 rebounds. A victory in the Cup final would punctuate a drastic early-season turnaround for Milwaukee, which has won 12 of its last 15 games after starting the year 2-8.
Antetokounmpo is averaging a league-high 32.7 points over 23 games this season and is firmly in contention to win his third MVP award. Damian Lillard's recent performance has also been key in Milwaukee's turnaround, as the eight-time All-Star is scoring 25.7 points per game.
The Thunder advanced to the final with an 111-96 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday, led by 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder are atop the West with a 20-5 record overall and earned the top seed for the knockout stage after going 3-1 in group play.
For an Oklahoma City core that's still looking to make its first significant splash in the postseason, winning the NBA Cup over a Bucks team with championship experience would be a true stepping stone. To do so without star Chet Holmgren -- who has missed the last month with a hip injury -- would also be a legitimate statement to the rest of the league.
The atmosphere surrounding the NBA Cup final is also giving the Thunder some extra experience in dealing with the limelight.
"This is like the closest thing that you can get to a playoff environment (in the regular season) for the most part, aside from a couple games are going to feel like that," Jalen Williams said. "It's a good learning moment for us to be able to have a lot of media before practice. We get to simulate a lot of what's going on during the playoffs, during those stretches, to where we can kind of flex that muscle now and be better later in the season."
Gilgeous-Alexander is once again an MVP candidate in Oklahoma City, averaging 30.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists. Williams has continued his emergence in his third NBA season, as the third-year forward out of Santa Clara is averaging 21.7 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game.
Isaiah Hartenstein has been one of the players to step up in Holmgren's absence. The center is averaging 12.5 points per game and scored 21 points to help push Oklahoma City over Houston in the semifinal.
THEY SAID IT
As much as Antetokounmpo wants to be the greatest, he doesn't dwell too much on what winning the NBA Cup --or another MVP -- would do for his own legacy.
"I think when you approach the game that way, things like being in the finals of the NBA Cup, winning the championship, things like that just fall in place," Antetokounmpo said. "I think any player that approaches the game thinking all season, ‘I want to win the MVP, I want to do that, I want to do this', and that's the main goal, it won't happen. Because you approach the game the wrong way and you're thinking about yourself.
"It takes so much more (than wanting to be the best). You've got to sacrifice so many things. You've got to be consistent. You have to have a fearless mentality about yourself. You've got to have confidence ... I try to give everything I have for the game, and if that sometimes leads to success and individual accolades, that's good. And if not, it is what it is."
PREDICTION
Milwaukee has rebounded from a disastrous 2-8 start to the season to climb into fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings in addition to reaching the NBA Cup Finals. But they're visiting an Oklahoma City team that can use a Cup title to solidify their status as the West's elite team, even without the injured Holmgren. --Thunder 108, Bucks 105
--Field Level Media
No cause of death was revealed for Van Arsdale, known as the "Original Sun."
Later, his identical twin brother, Tom, played with him on the Suns in the 1976-77 season -- the brothers' final NBA seasons.
The Suns announced Dick Van Arsdale's death on Monday.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Suns legend Dick Van Arsdale, the 'Original Sun' and a member of our Ring of Honor," a team statement said..
"The first selection in the expansion draft to build the Suns roster and the scorer of the first points in team history, Van Arsdale was a cornerstone of the Suns organization. He earned three All-Star selections, was a member of the team's first trip to the NBA Finals in 1976 and retired as the franchise's all-time leading scorer in 1977. Beloved throughout the Suns organization and fanbase, Van Arsdale held several positions with the team, including broadcaster and front office executive, following his 12-year NBA career."
An Indianapolis native, the 6-foot-5 Van Arsdale played collegiately at Indiana alongside his brother. Dick was selected No. 13 overall in the 1965 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, with the Detroit Pistons taking Tom one pick later.
Dick Van Arsdale was an All-Star in each of his first three seasons in Phoenix, averaging at least 21 points in each campaign.
He played in 921 career games and retired with averages of 16.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
The brothers later opened an art studio in suburban Scottsdale.
--Field Level Media
Nikola Jokic recorded his 140th career triple-double (20 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists) to help Denver earn its third win in a row. Jokic wound up with his league-leading 10th triple-double of the season. He ranks third all-time in the category behind teammate Russell Westbrook (200) and Oscar Robertson (181). Westbrook nearly notched another, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox was the game's leading scorer with 29 points, while Domantas Sabonis had 28 to go with 14 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Malik Monk finished with 25 points and a team-high 10 assists for the Kings. DeRozan had 17 points, McDermott 16 and Keon Ellis 12.
76ers 121, Hornets 108
Tyrese Maxey pumped in 40 points and Paul George racked up 33 points as both sank six 3-pointers, leading injury-ravaged Philadelphia past host Charlotte.
The outcome dampened the excitement around the return to action of Charlotte point guard LaMelo Ball, who racked up 15 points and 11 assists while coming back from a calf injury that had kept him out since Nov. 27. The Hornets lost for the 10th time in 11 outings despite Miles Bridges' 24 points.
The 76ers made 16 of 38 attempts from 3-point range in their first game after losing both center Joel Embiid (sinus fracture) and rookie guard Jared McCain (torn meniscus in knee) to injury on Friday.
Bulls 122, Raptors 121
Nikola Vucevic scored 24 points and visiting Chicago, which saw a 16-point lead shrink to one, held on to defeat Toronto. The Raptors cut into the final deficit with a last-second 3-pointer.
Coby White added 19 points for the Bulls, who have won two straight. Josh Giddey had 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists before leaving with an ankle injury in the third quarter.
RJ Barrett scored 32 points and Gradey Dick had 27 for the Raptors, who have lost five straight. Toronto's Jakob Poeltl left in the fourth quarter with a groin injury.
Pistons 125, Heat 124 (OT)
Malik Beasley had a season-high 28 points, Cade Cunningham supplied a triple-double and host Detroit topped Miami in overtime.
Cunningham had 20 points, 18 assists and 11 rebounds for Detroit, which squandered a 19-point, fourth-quarter lead. Ausar Thompson contributed 19 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. tossed in 16, hitting three consecutive 3-pointers in overtime to wipe out an eight-point Heat lead.
Jimmy Butler produced 35 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists for the Heat, who had their four-game winning streak end. Tyler Herro scored 23 points.
Cavaliers 130, Nets 101
Evan Mobley scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half, Caris LeVert scored all 19 of his points in the first half and Cleveland seized control early and cruised to a rout of Brooklyn in New York.
Cleveland led by as many as 37, improved to 23-4 for the best start in team history and is 8-4 since winning its first 15 games.
Cameron Johnson led the Nets with 22 points and Day'Ron Sharpe added 15. Brooklyn committed a season-worst 22 turnovers, which resulted in 34 Cleveland points.
Clippers 144, Jazz 107
James Harden scored 24 of his 41 points in the first quarter, Norman Powell added 29 points and Los Angeles ended a three-game losing streak with an easy victory over Utah in Inglewood, Calif.
Harden outscored the Jazz 24-20 in the first quarter by shooting 6 of 9 from the floor and 5 of 7 from 3-point range. Ivica Zubac wound up with 19 points and 12 rebounds and Amir Coffey added 16 points for Los Angeles, which improved to 10-6 at home. It was the most points in a game for the Clippers this season.
Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points and Lauri Markkanen put up 17 for the Jazz, who lost their third consecutive game. Utah fell for the eighth time in nine contests and 12th time in 14. Collin Sexton scored 15 points and John Collins added 14 for the Jazz, who slipped to 3-10 on the road.
--Field Level Media
Popovich, 75, is the NBA's all-time wins leader and the team said on Nov. 13 that physicians expected him to make a full recovery.
"This has certainly been an unexpected six weeks for my family and me. As we work on my recovery, I want to take a moment to share that the outpouring of support we've received during this time has been truly overwhelming in the best possible way," Popovich said in a statement on Monday. "While I wish I could get back to each one of you, for now, let me say that my family and I are forever grateful. We're thankful for our wonderful community, the entire Spurs organization, and our family and friends.
"No one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process. They've quickly learned that I'm less than coachable."
Assistant coach Mitch Johnson, 38, has served as the interim coach in Popovich's absence.
Popovich has coached the Spurs since the 1996-97 season, leading them to five NBA championships and compiling a record of 1,390-824.
On March 11, 2022, Popovich surpassed Don Nelson for the most regular season wins by a coach with his 1,336th victory.
Popovich is a three-time NBA Coach of the Year. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he coached the U.S. men's national team to a gold medal.
--Field Level Media
Already ruled out for Monday night's game at the Charlotte Hornets, Embiid will miss Friday's home game against Charlotte, Saturday's visit to the NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers and likely the Dec. 23 game against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
Late in the first half of Philadelphia's 121-107 home loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday, Embiid took an errant blow from Bennedict Mathurin to the right side of his face. He crumpled to the ground and team trainers attended to him.
Embiid, 30, missed the second half as the 76ers fell to 7-16 on the season. He finished with 12 points, five assists and four rebounds in 17 minutes.
The 2022-23 NBA Most Valuable Player has played just six games after missing the start of the season due to knee soreness and a suspension for shoving a reporter in the team's locker room. He missed seven games in a row while managing swelling in his left knee and had just returned to the lineup on Dec. 8.
Embiid is averaging 20.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game this season, far off his career averages of 27.8 points and 11.1 rebounds.
Making matters worse for the Sixers, rookie guard Jared McCain suffered a torn meniscus is out indefinitely following surgery. At 15.3 points per game, the first-round draft pick had the highest scoring average of anyone on the team who had played in at least 20 games.
--Field Level Media
Thompson finished with a season-best 29 points and Kyrie Irving tossed in 21 to complement eight assists for the Mavericks, who won for the eighth time in their past nine games.
Andrew Wiggins went for a team-high 29 points, Stephen Curry posted 26, Draymond Green added 21 and Jonathan Kuminga had 20 for the Warriors, who beat the Mavericks 120-117 on Nov. 12 but have won just five times in 14 games since.
Pacers 119, Pelicans 104
Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 22 points, helping lead Indiana to a win over visiting New Orleans in Indianapolis.
Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and 10 assists, while Andrew Nembhard added 17 points for Indiana, which has won three of its last four. Obi Toppin scored 16 off the bench and Myles Turner chipped in 14 in the win.
Brandon Boston Jr. led the Pelicans with 20 points off the bench, followed by 19 apiece from Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray. Trey Murphy III scored 16 and CJ McCollum had 15 as New Orleans lost its fourth in a row and 13th in 14 games. Yves Missi had nine points and a game-high 14 boards.
Celtics 112, Wizards 98
Jayson Tatum collected 28 points and 12 rebounds to help Boston earn a road victory over Washington.
Payton Pritchard came off the bench and had 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Boston also received seven points, 11 rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes from Luke Kornet. It was a rough shooting night for Jaylen Brown, who was 4-of-14 from the field and 1-of-4 from the free throw line. He scored 11 points. Kristaps Porzingis scored 11 points before he left the game in the second quarter with a foot injury.
Jordan Poole led the Wizards with 21 points. Coulibaly finished with 19 points and Justin Champagnie added 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Carlton Carrington put up 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Knicks 100, Magic 91
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his first 20-point, 20-rebound game in over five years, when he lifted visiting New York to a win over Orlando.
Towns had 22 points and 22 rebounds for his 13th career 20-20 game and his first since March 23, 2019. Jalen Brunson scored 31 points for the Knicks, who have alternated wins and losses over their past five games. Mikal Bridges added 17 points while Josh Hart finished with 12 for New York.
Moritz Wagner scored a career-high 32 points off the bench for the Magic, who lost at home for the first time in 11 games this season. Tristan da Silva (20 points) was the only other Magic player to score in double figures.
Timberwolves 106, Spurs 92
Anthony Edwards scored 26 points in 28 minutes of court time to help lift visiting Minnesota to a win over San Antonio in a Western Conference game created by the results of the NBA Cup.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 17 points in a reserve role for Minnesota while Jaden McDaniels racked up 12 points and 11 rebounds, Julius Randle had 11 points and Rudy Gobert scored 10.
Victor Wembanyama had 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead San Antonio, which had a two-game winning streak snapped. Jeremy Sochan added 17 points and 15 rebounds, Harrison Barnes also scored 17 points and Julian Champagnie hit for 11.
Lakers 116, Grizzlies 110
Anthony Davis shrugged off an injury scare to match season bests of 40 points and 16 rebounds as Los Angeles defeated visiting Memphis.
Austin Reaves had 19 points and eight assists while LeBron James, back after missing two games due to a foot injury, chalked up 18 points, eight boards and eight assists for Los Angeles.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 25 points before fouling out for the Grizzlies, whose four-game winning streak came to an end. Ja Morant had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists, offset by a 6-for-21 clip from the floor and seven turnovers.
Suns 116, Trail Blazers 109
Devin Booker had a game-high 28 points and Phoenix rode a big fourth quarter to take down visiting Portland.
Despite shooting 1-for-9 from 3-point range, Kevin Durant added 20 points for the Suns, who were without Bradley Beal for a second straight game because of a swollen knee.
Portland has now lost six games in a row. All five Trail Blazers starters scored in double figures, led by Anfernee Simons (20 points) and Jerami Grant (17). Reserve Deni Avdija also had 17 points.
--Field Level Media
The teams agreed to swap second-round picks in the 2031 NBA Draft, with the Heat keeping the more favorable of the selections.
Bryant is expected to be available for Indiana's game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday in Indianapolis.
Bryant, 27, is in his eighth season in the NBA and his second with the Heat. The 6-foot-10 Bryant got into 10 games this season and averaged 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game, his lowest averages since his rookie year.
In 277 career games (138 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017-18; 2022-23), Washington Wizards (2018-22), Denver Nuggets (2023) and Heat (2023-24), Bryant has averaged 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
The Pacers were seeking a new backup center after both Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman were lost to torn Achilles tendons. Bryant played collegiately at Indiana.
--Field Level Media