Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets are taking on the Cavaliers on ESPN.
Enjoy the best of Wednesday’s slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights from around the league.
What we know about Wednesday night’s games:
- Our ESPN doubleheader features Rockets-Cavaliers (7 ET), as two of the league’s top teams square off, and Knicks-Mavericks (9:30 ET).
- The Thunder are looking to win their seventh straight and run their record to 15-1 tonight against the Kings (8:30 ET).
- The Raptors are looking for their fifth straight victory as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers (7 ET).
- Jared McCain, Bam Adebayo and Jabari Smith Jr. are available tonight. Zion Williamson and Jalen Brunson are questionable.
9:34 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Slam snapshots
Zach LaVine and Jay Huff have our top two stuffs of the night so far at 86.7 and 84.9 on the Dunk Score scale.
Zach takes FLIGHT ✈️💪
Highlight of the Game presented by @HoltOrtho https://t.co/q8P1FHKb3k pic.twitter.com/6RKjZ2IA09
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) November 20, 2025
JAY HUFF WITH THE HUGE SLAM 💥 pic.twitter.com/cYJastlGbz
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 20, 2025
9:26 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
The Captain’s back tonight
After missing the last two games, Jalen Brunson (28.0 ppg, 6.5 ast) returns tonight against the Mavericks.
The nightcap’s getting started on ESPNNews.
THE BRUNSON BURNER RETURNS TONIGHT 🔥
Knicks vs. Mavs coming up at 9:30pm/et on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/cbY6GNYwny
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
9:23 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Rockets and Cavs dueling late
It’s now 93-90 Rockets with 5:30 to go in the fourth. Spida (19 points) is heating up!
“He’s on all night like a porch light here in the fourth quarter,” said Mark Jones.
the 🪝 shot pic.twitter.com/U17HKnlERi
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) November 20, 2025
Back-to-back triples from Spida brings the @cavs within 1!
HOU/CLE 4Q action is LIVE on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/K4mczIyzuB
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
9:14 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
The grace of Schröder
His former squad, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are up 58-50 at the half.
TALK ABOUT SOME SERIOUS HUSTLE 🙌
Watch Dennis Schröder in action vs. OKC: https://t.co/FZUWrZfESv pic.twitter.com/bmnukeuC7A
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
9:12 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
League Pass Alert: Raptors-76ers
111-106 Toronto with 3:58 to go. Catch the finish on League Pass!
this whole sequence 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/vGrU8MpZCs
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 20, 2025
9:11 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Spencer shoots from Key West
But the Heat have a 64-60 lead with just over five minutes to go in the third.
Pat pulls from deeeeeep
📺 @NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/29xv6X4295
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 20, 2025
9:08 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Queen trumps the Joker
A strong finish from No. 7 on the latest Kia Rookie Ladder. Nuggets are up 62-58 at the half.
Derik Queen throws it down + the foul!
📺 DEN-NOP on NBA League Pass
📲 https://t.co/LZ4ExKgclE pic.twitter.com/s3C5WLRW6p
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
9:00 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Cavaliers come storming back
The Cavs have cut the Rockets’ lead to 74-69 with 14.5 to go in the third quarter. Catch the finish on ESPN!
THAT’S TOUGH, 3️⃣1️⃣! @_bigjayy_ | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/HxanRtFLRG
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 20, 2025
8:43 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Shai stays consistent
SGA keeps delivering as he chases another Kia NBA MVP award, showing his trademark balance here. He’s second on the latest Kia MVP ladder.
Don’t give @shaiglalex too much space 🤫 pic.twitter.com/QJXCo2W3D8
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 20, 2025
8:30 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Don’t hurt ’em, Chet
What a cross from the 7-foot-1 center. 24-20 Thunder in the first as they seek their seventh-straight victory.
CHET HANDLES… CHET JAM 💥
He’s got 8 early points for OKC!
Watch on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/FZUWrZfESv pic.twitter.com/VGvGvm0elO
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
8:20 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
VJ hits the springs
2025 AT&T Dunk Contest, anyone? 63-58 with 10:03 to go in the third quarter.
VJ EDGECOMBE: CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ✈️🤯
TOR/PHI on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/zfzGTL88F6 pic.twitter.com/amikzZosYE
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
8:14 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
The Heat spark it up
HOT START FOR THE HEAT.
Norman Powell caps a 20-4 Miami run 🔥 pic.twitter.com/H2lYPxCBCu
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
8:03 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Brandon Ingram delivers on the fadeaway
He’s eighth in the NBA with 120 points on pull-up jumpers this season, including this elegant spinning number.
B.I. making it look too easy 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Jd3OMIdLuS
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 20, 2025
7:40 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Spida on the break
No one has a more vicious Euro than Donovan Mitchell. Check out the veer.
It’s 33-19 Rockets after the first quarter on ESPN.
Euro-stepping his way for 2…
That’s just Spida, being Spida ‼️
HOU/CLE on ESPN: https://t.co/Ay8AjAWCS5 pic.twitter.com/sqt1HHOeLq
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
Amen Thompson has some shiftiness to his game as well.
The crossover to the two-handed slam?!?
😳 AMEN. THOMPSON. 😳
HOU leads CLE after the 1st frame: https://t.co/Ay8AjAXaHD pic.twitter.com/FBbYd1kkeQ
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
7:20 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Houston’s chemistry heats up
Alperen Sengun (7.4 apg) is second in the NBA in assists by a center this season, tallying 89. Here, the crosscourt pass is no problem as he finds Jabari Smith Jr.
Sengun crosscourt dime ➡️ Smith Jr. triple
Houston seeking their 5th win in a row on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/aMk61gIpn5
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
Check out more about Sengun’s chemistry with Kevin Durant below, as well as in our intro to tonight’s action.
Sharing is caring… Alpi & KD are proving that 💯
Houston/Cleveland on ESPN: https://t.co/Ay8AjAXaHD https://t.co/8g8sQivW0a
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2025
6:30 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Kon Knueppel is money
Kon Knueppel (17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 40.2 3PT%) has risen to No. 1 in the latest Kia Rookie Ladder, earning the spotlight ahead of tonight’s game against the Pacers.
Knueppel’s been a steadying force for the Charlotte Hornets in his rookie season, both on and off the court.
He’s strong and sturdy on the drive, showing off a polished handle, considered footwork and some athletic pop, which compliments his ever-present shooting touch.
Kon’s 11th in the NBA in 3-pointers made this season with 45 — just behind teammate Miles Bridges — and first among rookies, routinely sending Hornets play-by-play man Eric Collins into ecstatics.
His stroke is repeatable and comfortable, with little wasted motion. Check how straight his guide arm is — there’s clean backspin on his heat-seeking missile of a shot.
On.a team with plenty of talented scorers, Knueppel’s found a role as a complimentary outlet, finding ways to get buckets in the flow of the offense.
Along with Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner, he’s part of a youth movement that’s lifted the Hornets. They look to get rolling again and snap a three-game losing streak tonight against the Indiana Pacers (7 ET).
6:00 PM / NOVEMBER 19, 2025
Rockets-Cavs highlights a nine-game NBA night
Kevin Durant and the Rockets face the Cavaliers in the opening half of tonight’s ESPN doubleheader.
We’ve got a dynamite ESPN doubleheader for you tonight, featuring Kevin Durant and the new-look Rockets facing Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs (7 ET), followed by Knicks-Mavericks (9:30 ET).
The Rockets, who are looking for their 10th win in 11 games, have shot to the top of the NBA’s offensive rating rankings at 123.4.
Durant (25.9 ppg, 51.0 FG%) has gelled with Alperen Sengun (23.0 ppg, 10.3 reb, 7.4 ast, 1.2 stl, 1.0 blk) and Amen Thompson (17.3 ppg, 6.1 reb, 5.2 ast, 1.2 stl) to form one of the top trios in the league.
KD had particular praise for Sengun after he put up a 30-point, 12-rebound, 8-assist effort in Sunday’s 117-113 victory over the Magic.
“I’ve played with a lot of specialists as big men — guys that do a great job of screening, rebounding, being physical — but nobody who can score quite like that,” said Durant. “No disrespect to the players I’ve played with, but I’m sure they feel the same way — that’s how good Alpi is.”
Sengun reciprocated in his remarks, noting their building chemistry and Durant’s unselfish will to win.
“We trust each other a lot,” said Sengun. “It’s going to get better and better… We have a whole season.”
The Cavaliers have steadily risen to second in the Eastern Conference at 10-5, led by Mitchell’s scoring brilliance and a stalwart defense.
Cleveland’s posted the seventh-best defensive rating in the league at 112.8, backing Mitchell, who is averaging 30.9 ppg — the highest mark of his career — while shooting 50.9 percent from the field.
They’re also forcing 17.4 turnovers per game — third in the Association.
“There’s room to grow,” Mitchell said after a 118-106 win over the Bucks on Monday. “We’re in a good place, and we’re going to continue to get better.”
Who will take a step towards the top tonight? Check it out on ESPN.
Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:
- Houston Rockets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 ET, ESPN
- Charlotte Hornets vs. Indiana Pacers, 7 ET
- Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7 ET
- Golden State Warriors vs. Miami Heat, 7:30 ET
- Washington Wizards vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 ET
- Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 8 ET
- Sacramento Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:30 ET
- New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks, 9:30 ET, ESPN
- Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10 ET
