Ten straight wins. Zero regard for the rim.
A Jalen Duren detonation punctuated Detroit’s longest win streak since 2007-08.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Best In Basketball: A heater that defines Detroit and another OKC strike
East Nail-Biters: Bulls overcome Jokić history, Sixers rally again, Heat & Raptors come up clutch
Monday Roundup: Spida jumps on Bucks early, Wolves outpace Mavs
Coast 2 Coast Tuesday: Fox faces a surging rook, Suns & Blazers look to bounce back
Lauri vs. Luka: Two blazing scorers go toe-to-toe – plus a potential LeBron return
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC & Peacock headlines a six-game slate as the Spurs host the Grizzlies (8 ET), before the Suns visit the Blazers (8 PT).
On League Pass, the Pistons seek their 11th straight win as they face the surging Hawks (7:30 ET).
1. EAST TO WEST BEST: PISTONS EXTEND STREAK, THUNDER STRIKE AGAIN
The Pistons’ last 10-game win streak came when Jalen Duren was four years old.
On the eve of his 22nd birthday, he powered their next one – and made history doing it.
Pistons 127, Pacers 112: With Cade Cunningham out (hip), Duren dominated with 31 points on 12-of-13 shooting, along with 15 boards and 1 poster to push the Pistons past the Pacers for their 10th straight dub – Detroit’s longest win streak since 2007-08. | Recap
- An Early Present: Duren is the youngest player ever to record 30+ pts and 15+ reb on at least 90% shooting in a game and the first to do it since Dwight Howard in 2010
- Interior Monster: It’s his 15th career 20-point, 15-rebound game – the 6th-most by a player before turning 22 – and his fourth this season, tying Wemby for the most in the NBA
- “He just continues to dominate,” said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff postgame. “That’s the only way you can say it.”
- Stepping Up: With Cunningham missing his third straight game, Daniss Jenkins stayed hot, dropping a career-high 26 points and 8 assists
Culture Driven: Duren and Jenkins ignited Monday’s win, but Detroit’s heater is rooted in its core identity – toughness, defense and depth.
Last night, all three were on full display.
- Strength In Numbers: Four different Pistons have led the team in scoring during the streak – Cunningham, Duren, Paul Reed and Javonte Green – and five hit double figures on Monday
- Inside Edge: That scoring starts inside, where Detroit leads the league in points in the paint and outscored Indy 66-48
- Grit & Grind: On the other end, the Pistons’ 3rd-ranked defense held the Pacers to just 41.7% shooting while forcing 21 turnovers
- Championship Formula: Outside of Detroit, only one other team in the last decade has totaled 110+ steals and 50+ blocks during a 10+ game win streak – last year’s Thunder
Speaking of which, the reigning champs keep on rolling.
Thunder 126, Pelicans 109: In its highest-scoring quarter this season, OKC dropped 49 in the opening frame to build a 25-point lead, earning a wire-to-wire win behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23 pts, 8 ast) and Chet Holmgren (26 pts, 9 reb). | Recap
- Storm: At 14-1, the Thunder are off to their best 15-game start in the OKC era, with an NBA-best +15.5 point differential
- Surge: That includes six straight wins – all by double digits
2. EAST STATEMENTS & CLOSE CALLS: 4 GAMES, 4 NAIL-BITERS
Four East squads stamped statement wins on Monday, all decided by 3 points or less.
And Chicago had to beat a Joker ace to join the club.
Bulls 130, Nuggets 127: In another all-around masterclass, Nikola Jokić racked up 36 points, 18 boards and 13 dimes to rally the Nuggets from 13 down in the 4th.
But Chicago held on thanks to a lead-extending triple from Nikola Vučević with 33 ticks left, before Ayo Dosunmu (21 pts) and Kevin Huerter (20 pts) iced it at the stripe, snapping Denver’s 7-game win streak while halting its own 5-game slide. | Recap
- Go-To Giddey: Josh Giddey joined Dosunmu and Huerter with 20+, tallying 21 points, 14 boards and 6 assists
- Passing Wilt: But the night’s ultimate playmaker was Jokić, who passed Wilt Chamberlain for the 2nd-most 30/15/10 games in NBA history – trailing only Oscar Robertson (29)
- Chasing Oscar: Jokić also matched Wilt with his 12th career 35/15/10 game – just one back of Robertson for the most all-time
- Even Scarier? The Joker is nearly averaging 35/15/10 in his last five outings (37.0 pts, 14.2 reb, 10.2 ast)
Paul George is back – and the Sixers are never out.
76ers 110, Clippers 108: George did a bit of everything in his season debut (9 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 2 blk), while Tyrese Maxey took over, dropping 27 of his 39 points after the half to erase a 10-point deficit in the 4th, powering Philly past LA late. | Recap
- Cardiac Sixers: There have been 14 4th-quarter comebacks of 10+ points this season. Four of those belong to Philly – the most of any team
- Philly Finisher: That starts with Maxey, who leads the league in 4th-quarter points and now has five 35+ point games – tied for the 2nd-most this season
- Final Shot: James Harden led LA with 28 points, but couldn’t get to 31 as his potential go-ahead 3 at the buzzer just missed
Heat 115, Knicks 113: After falling to New York on Friday in a 140-132 shootout, Miami survived a frantic ending to get its revenge, as Davion Mitchell hit a late clutch free throw before a wild sequence that saw Karl-Anthony Towns’ last-second shot rim out. | Recap
- Bringing The Heat: Norman Powell (19 pts), Kel’el Ware (16 pts, 14 reb) and Mitchell (18 pts) powered Miami, while Miles McBride (25 pts) led New York
Raptors 110, Hornets 108: With the score tied and 18 seconds left, RJ Barrett dropped in a go-ahead layup for Toronto, before Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes came up with back-to-back game-saving blocks on the other end to edge out Kon Knueppel (24 pts, 7 reb) and Charlotte in a thriller. | Recap
- Raptors Rolling: Barnes (6 reb, 6 ast) and Barrett scored 16 apiece, while Ingram led Toronto with 27, securing the Raptors’ eighth win in nine games
- Dino Defense: It’s Toronto’s first 8-1 stretch since 2022, anchored by the league’s No. 2 defense in that span
- 4 More Thrillers: Catch all four of the wild endings on our Fantastic Finishes YouTube series
3. MONDAY ROUNDUP: CAVS & WOLVES WIN
Nobody has piled up more 2nd-half points this season than Donovan Mitchell.
But on Monday, he flipped the script to spark Cleveland.
Cavaliers 118, Bucks 106: Mitchell dropped 25 of his game-high 37 points in the 1st half to erase an early 14-point deficit, before Cleveland outscored Milwaukee 26-18 in the 4th to improve to 10-5. | Recap
- Money Mitchell: Spida has tallied three straight 30-pieces and is pouring in 32.8 ppg in November – trailing only Jokić for the most in the NBA
- Giannis Exit: Ryan Rollins (25 pts) led the Bucks after Giannis Antetokounmpo left in the 2nd quarter with a groin strain
Wolves 120, Mavericks 96: Naz Reid (22 pts, 12 reb) led six Wolves in double figures and Minnesota never trailed after 7:06 in the 1st quarter, outpacing Cooper Flagg (15 pts) and the Mavs to move to 9-5. | Recap
4. COAST 2 COAST TUESDAY: SPURS VS. GRIZZ, SUNS VS. BLAZERS
After another wild night of hoops, Coast 2 Coast Tuesday takes center stage on NBC & Peacock.
Grizzlies at Spurs (8 ET): With Victor Wembanyama (calf) and Stephon Castle (hip) out, San Antonio will lean on its veteran star, De’Aaron Fox, to deliver again as it faces Jaren Jackson Jr. and Memphis.
- Fox Feelin’ It: Fox dropped a season-high 28 points and 11 assists to lead the Spurs past the Kings on Sunday, marking his fourth 20-piece in his first five games this season
- Spurs Ball: Fox wasn’t alone, as seven different players scored in double figures for San Antonio, which racked up a season-high 38 assists
- Rookie vs. Vet: Fox’s potential matchup tonight? This year’s No. 11 pick, Cedric Coward, is emerging as a two-way star
- Memphis Menace: At 6-foot-5, Coward boasts a 7-foot-2 wingspan, allowing him to guard inside and out while tallying the 3rd-most blocks and 2nd-most steals for the Grizz this season
- Two-Way Trouble: Coward, No. 2 on the Kia Rookie Ladder, has scored fewer than 10 points just once and joins Kon Knueppel as the only rooks averaging 12+ pts and 6+ reb while shooting over 37% from 3
Suns at Blazers (11 ET): After ripping off five straight wins, Phoenix fumbled a 22-point lead in the 4th quarter on Sunday to fall to Atlanta. Now, the Suns seek a bounce-back dub to continue their surge.
- Triple Threat: Phoenix is pouring in 121.3 ppg amid its 5-1 stretch, with 70.4 pts coming from Devin Booker (25), Dillon Brooks (23.6) and Grayson Allen (21.8)
- The Engine: Booker has thrived as a playmaker, leading the Suns in assists and on pace to average 7+ dimes in consecutive seasons for the first time in his career
- The Enforcer: Brooks has brought his trademark fire, ranking 3rd on Phoenix in steals and 1st – unofficially – in energy
- “Every single night, he laces them up to an extreme, competitive level,” said Suns coach Jordan Ott. “We feel it. The whole building feels it … we need that energy.”
Big-Game Blazers: On the other side, Deni Avdija (26 pts) and Shaedon Sharpe (22.1 pts) lead a young Blazers squad.
- Giant Slayers: Along with handing OKC its only loss, Portland has knocked off Denver, Golden State and the Lakers. Can it grab another big dub tonight?
5. ON LEAGUE PASS: LAURI & LUKA DUEL IN LOS ANGELES
Two stars at the peak of their powers. Two teams riding their momentum. One collision course under the L.A. lights.
Tonight (10:30 ET), Luka Dončić and Lauri Markkanen bring two of the league’s hottest hands to Crypto.com Arena, where the Lakers host the Jazz on League Pass.
Both stars rank top-5 in scoring thanks to historic runs – including a career surge from Markkanen.
- Lauri Unlimited: Markkanen has dropped 47, 40 & 35 in his last three outings – the highest-scoring 3-game stretch of his career, one that hasn’t been matched by a Utah player since Karl Malone (1997-98)
- Historic Rhythm: Only four other Jazz have tallied consecutive 40-pieces – Malone, Mitchell, Adrian Dantley and Pete Maravich
- Solo Summit: The only one to do it with 5+ triples in both games? Markkanen
But Lauri’s not chasing history, he’s chasing growth – guiding a young Jazz squad with six of its next seven top scorers under the age of 25.
That starts with Keyonte George, who opened Sunday 2-of-9 from downtown. He finished 3-of-10, capped by the game-winner.
- “The biggest testament to Lauri is he was empowering me the whole time down the stretch,” said George after the win. “He passed me the ball back and was like, ‘Go at ’em.”
Markkanen’s leadership and trust are paying off. Utah already has two last-second game-winners this season, with three of its five victories coming in the clutch.
The only player with more 40-pieces this season than Lauri? Luka, who leads the league in scoring with a historic 34.4 pts, 8.9 reb and 8.9 ast per game – numbers no player has matched through his first 10 games.
And Dončić’s unprecedented start coincides with unmistakable joy: nailing 3/4-court shots after the whistle, joking about his newfound bounce, and, of course, some friendly jawing with Austin Reaves.
- “When I came [to the Lakers], I was probably a little more quiet, trying getting to know people,” said Luka last week. “Right now, I’m just being myself. Joking around a lot, trash-talking…
- “I think the biggest thing for a team to win is having great chemistry, and I think we have that.”
That chemistry has fueled the Lakers’ best start in five years (10-4), with Luka not only erupting offensively, but selling out defensively, ranking top-3 on the team in steals, blocks, deflections and loose balls recovered per game.
And he’s enjoying every bit of it.
- “Every time I’m on the court, I just forget about everything. Just do what I do. What I enjoy doing … playing basketball,” said Luka last week. “It’s my job, which is the best job in the world.”
Potential King Sighting: Luka could get his co-star back tonight as LeBron James is listed as questionable to make his season debut.
Three more matchups tip off on League Pass, including the Pistons seeking their 11th straight win against the Hawks, who have won five straight (7:30 ET).
- Warriors at Magic (7 ET)
- Celtics at Nets (7:30 ET)
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