Tag: NBA

Emirates NBA Cup knockout rounds get bespoke Las Vegas court

Emirates NBA Cup
December 2025


The league has unveiled a special Las Vegas court for the Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, featuring the tournament trophy at center court, the full eight-team bracket beneath it and a 5×5 mosaic pattern carried across the floor. Designed by Victor Solomon in collaboration with the NBA and teams, the floor mirrors this season’s in-season court concepts, placing Cup trophies in both paints to give the semifinals and championship on Prime Video a distinct visual identity and reinforce the competition as a standalone marquee event.

Dereck Lively II ruled out for season after foot surgery

Dereck Lively II
December 2025

Dallas confirmed Lively will have season-ending surgery on his right foot after weeks of swelling and soreness limited him to seven games, where he averaged 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 16.4 minutes. The 21-year-old’s latest setback follows previous foot issues that restricted him to 55 and then 36 games in his first two seasons, compounding Dallas’ injury problems with Kyrie Irving still out after ACL surgery and putting more on Anthony Davis as the team fights from 11th in the West.

Rookie Queen erupts for first triple double in Pelicans’ narrow loss to Spurs

Derik Queen
December 2025

Pelicans rookie Derik Queen delivered his first NBA triple double with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in only his 25th game, carrying New Orleans back from a twenty point deficit before missing a late go ahead shot in a tight 135-132 defeat to the Spurs. Drafted thirteenth after New Orleans traded consecutive first rounders to Atlanta, Queen bullied defenders inside, finished tough paint looks and created for team mates, earning praise from Alvarado and interim coach Borrego as a rare bright spot amid the Pelicans’ 3-23 start and heavy external criticism of the trade.

Magic’s Bane fined $35,000 for firing game ball at opponent

Desmond Bane
December 2025

Desmond Bane has been fined $35,000 after the Orlando Magic guard was judged to have thrown the game ball with force at an opponent in an unsportsmanlike manner during the fourth quarter of a 106-100 defeat to the New York Knicks. The incident, announced in a statement by league operations chief James Jones, earned Bane a technical foul on the night and adds to the NBA’s recent clampdown on player conduct, though the guard avoided suspension and remains available for Orlando’s upcoming fixtures.

Harden passes Carmelo to enter top 10 on NBA all-time scoring list

James Harden
December 2025

James Harden moved into the NBA’s top ten all-time scorers by passing Carmelo Anthony during the Clippers’ loss to the Timberwolves, hitting two free throws to reach 28,290 career points and extend a remarkable scoring career now spanning 17 seasons of constant offensive production. Starting the night 20 points behind Anthony, Harden finished with 34 on 10-of-18 shooting but missed a tying three at the buzzer in a 109-106 defeat, later calling the milestone a “blessing” and proof that work is paying off as he targets higher spots.

Doncic welcomes second daughter as MVP-level season pauses for family

Luka Doncic
December 2025

Luka Doncic announced the birth of his second daughter, Olivia, after leaving the Lakers to be in Ljubljana with fiancée Anamaria Goltes. Listed absent for “personal reasons”, he missed two games while leading the league in scoring during an MVP-calibre start to the season. With the Lakers going 1-1 in his absence, coach JJ Redick says Doncic could rejoin the team as early as Sunday in Philadelphia. Already averaging 35.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 8.9 assists, his brief family break slightly interrupts, but does not derail, Los Angeles’ strong 16-6 start.

Harden nears top-10 all-time scoring as he reflects on “life-changing” rise from sixth man

James Harden
December 2025

James Harden is on the brink of entering the NBA’s all-time top-10 scoring list and calls the achievement “like a dream come true”, recounting his journey from Oklahoma City sixth man to offensive centrepiece whose step-back three and foul-drawing mastery defined a modern scoring era. Harden credits his Houston years under Mike D’Antoni’s free-flowing system for unlocking his peak, while admitting he might have a ring had he stayed in OKC. He says limited athleticism forced him to perfect skill-based scoring, and at 36 he still believes he can climb higher on the list.

Kevin Durant joins 31,000-point club and climbs further up NBA’s all-time scoring ladder

Kevin Durant
December 2025

Kevin Durant became the eighth player in NBA history to reach 31,000 career points, hitting the milestone with a first-quarter jumper against the Suns after earlier free throws, continuing his late-career scoring excellence in his first season with the Houston Rockets. Durant achieved 31,000 points in his 1,141st game, matching LeBron James for the third-fewest games needed behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. The 37-year-old now sits in an elite group that includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki.

Cavaliers hit with $250,000 fine for Darius Garland rest decision on national TV window

Cleveland Cavaliers
December 2025

The NBA fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $250,000 for violating the Player Participation Policy after determining that Darius Garland, classified as a star under the rules, should have been available for a nationally televised game against the Toronto Raptors but instead played only in the previous night’s non national contest. League investigators found Garland was capable of appearing in either game, yet the Cavaliers chose to rest him for the broadcast fixture, breaching the requirement to prioritise star availability in national TV windows, with the sizeable fine reflecting the NBA’s intent to strictly enforce its new participation standards.

Giannis Antetokounmpo strains right calf in early exit against Pistons

Giannis Antetokounmpo
December 2025

Giannis Antetokounmpo left Milwaukee’s game against Detroit after straining his right calf, collapsing in the paint shortly after assisting a basket and walking gingerly to the locker room, with the team ruling him out for the rest of the contest and scheduling an MRI. Doc Rivers believes contact on a baseline drive triggered the slip and confirmed Achilles damage is not suspected, as the two time MVP deals with another setback after a recent left adductor strain, forcing the Bucks to lean on defense and depth while Giannis encouraged teammates in the group chat after their comeback win.

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