The NBA wrapped up December with a full 11-game schedule on Monday, featuring marquee matchups, returning stars, and crucial positioning battles across the league.
The spotlight was on San Antonio, where Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs hosted Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a nationally televised doubleheader.
Cleveland entered the contest looking to snap a brief losing run, while San Antonio aimed to respond after its recent win streak came to an end.
In Charlotte, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks took on LaMelo Ball and the Hornets, with Giannis continuing his return after missing several games due to injury.
The reigning Finals MVP showed no signs of slowing down following a strong performance in his comeback outing.
The Phoenix Suns continued their push for form as they met the Washington Wizards, while the Brooklyn Nets hosted Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, both teams eyeing momentum heading into the new year.
Miami welcomed the Denver Nuggets, with Bam Adebayo listed as probable after missing two games through injury.
The Heat managed to secure wins in both matches without their All-Star center.
In Toronto, the Orlando Magic faced the Raptors, who were coming off an overtime victory highlighted by a standout rebounding performance from Scottie Barnes. Both teams entered the matchup with confidence from recent results.
Other notable games saw the Timberwolves visit the Bulls, the Houston Rockets host the Indiana Pacers, and the New York Knicks take on the Pelicans in New Orleans. Houston looked to extend its winning run, while Indiana searched for a much-needed turnaround.
Oklahoma City hosted Atlanta amid injury concerns for both sides, while the night concluded on the West Coast with the Dallas Mavericks facing the Portland Trail Blazers, as both teams sought consistency.
Off the court, the NBA also released its latest power rankings, opened voting for the 2026 All-Star Game, and shared a countdown of the league’s top clutch moments as it prepares to welcome the new year.
Source: NBA
