Golden State made its move in the 3rd quarter.
But the 4th belonged to Shai, as OKC rolled to the fourth-best start in NBA history.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Dec. 3, 2025
Beat ‘Em To Join ‘Em: SGA powers Thunder over Warriors for 4th-ever 21-1 start
40s Night: Ant Man, Jaylen Brown sizzle to secure clutch wins
Tuesday Roundup: Tyrese Maxey takes over, Toronto ends skid, Fox fuels Spurs
Rookie Shine: Cooper Flagg & Kon Knueppel take center stage after All Rookie months
Tonight On League Pass: Three top-5 teams from each Conference take the floor tonight
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Nine games come your way tonight…
Monthly Awards: Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Denver’s Nikola Jokić were named the Kia NBA East and West Players of the Month, respectively, for October and November. See the full monthly award list here.
1. BEAT ‘EM TO JOIN ‘EM: SGA, OKC ENTER HISTORIC START CLUB
In pursuit of just the fourth 21-1 start in NBA history, the OKC Thunder led by 19 at halftime Tuesday.
Then, the Curry-led Warriors ignited, winning the 3rd quarter 44-28. Seth Curry, that is.
At the 6:35 mark in the 4th with OKC down by 3, SGA returned.
Less than two minutes later, Shai’s jumper put OKC up for good, igniting an 18-5 game-sealing run in classic Thunder fashion.
Thunder 124, Warriors 112: 38 points, a season-high five 3-pointers, and a steady hand (3-4 FG in 4th) from SGA guided the Thunder to a 13th-straight win and historic 21-1 start, holding off six Warriors in double figures without Steph (quad) and Jimmy Butler III (exited, knee). | Recap
- “Just go out there and trust my work,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame of his late approach. “They [teammates & coaches] trust it, I trust it. We live and die by it. It’s been good so far.”
- Point Collector: The effort was Shai’s league-leading 18th 30-point game of the season. He joins Giannis and MJ as the only players to total 700+ points on 54.0 FG% or better through the first 22 games of a season in the last 40 years
- Key Combo: Jalen Williams (22 pts, 6 ast) and Chet Holmgren (21 pts, 8 reb) combined for 17 4th quarter points to help the Thunder keep rolling
- Streak Season: This 13-game win streak ranks 2nd-longest in OKC franchise history, trailing only the 15-game streak that started a year ago to the day (Dec. 3). It also matches Detroit’s league-best streak from this season
- Strength In Numbers: Brandin Podziemski’s 17 points led Golden State, with a boost from Seth Curry’s season debut (14 pts), and a career-high tying outing from Pat Spencer (17 pts)
The Thunder join the 2015-16 Warriors (30-1 start), 1993-94 Rockets (22-1), and 1969-70 Knicks (23-1) as the only teams to ever start 21-1, but the dominance only starts with the record.
“You grow up watching those teams, and now we’re kinda emulating something they were doing,” Jalen Williams said. “And then we also get to play some of the players that were on that (Warriors) run. It’s very surreal.”
- How They Win: Through 22 games, the Thunder are allowing 6.8 points per 100 less than the next closest team this season
- D Feeds O: Their 325 point differential through the first 22 games is second to only the 2015-16 Warriors (327 pt diff through 22 games)
- Maintaining Identity: So far this season, only 5 players have totaled 30+ points against OKC’s top-rated defense (103.8 DefRtg)
OKC can match Houston’s third-best start in NBA history when they take the court Friday, hosting Dallas on Prime Video (9:30 ET).
2. A PAIR OF 40-PT PERFORMANCES POWER TUESDAY
Anthony Edwards received the inbound pass down a bucket with under 10 seconds to play.
With the play developing in front of him, Ant took the fastest possible path to a tie game: a run right at the rim.
Timberwolves 149, Pelicans 142 (OT): Edwards’ quick decision and season-high 44 points helped Minnesota force overtime, where Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert combined (16 pts) to outscore New Orleans (13 pts) for the Wolves’ 3rd straight win. | Recap
- Scoring Tear: Ant, who’s averaging 38.3 points per game over his last six, ties Tyrese Maxey for 2nd-most 40-point games this season (4), trailing only SGA (5)
- “He was due to have a moment in this game,” Wolves head coach Chris Finch said of Edwards, who had 30 of his 44 points in the 2nd half. “He’s been playing at an unbelievable level all season.”
- Howl At This: Gobert (26 pts, 13 reb) and Randle (16 pts, 6 ast) helped Minnesota match its 3rd-highest score ever, and 3rd-highest in the league this season, behind only Utah (152, 150)
- Potent Pels: NOLA recorded its 2nd-highest total this year, with 33 points from Trey Murphy III (career-high 15 reb) and a trio of 20+ point scorers: Saddiq Bey (22), Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears (21 apiece)
The 500th meeting between the Knicks and Celtics played out much like their historic rivalry; a back-and-forth battle of big runs.
Celtics 123, Knicks 117: After the Knicks raced out to a 39-25 start, Jaylen Brown’s season-high 42 points put the Celtics in control, weathering Mikal Bridges’ 17-point 4th quarter flurry to end New York’s four-game win streak. | Recap
3. TUESDAY ROUNDUP: MAX MAXEY, RAPTORS REIGNITE, SPURS SURGE
As Washington hung within 5 points early in the 3rd quarter, Tyrese Maxey flipped a switch.
76ers 121, Wizards 102: Maxey exploded for 20 of his game-high 35 points in the 3rd – nearly outscoring Washington (23 pts) by himself – pushing Philly on to a 36-point lead and eventual victory over Tristan Vukcevic (16 pts) and the Wiz. | Recap
- 35+ Club: Maxey (35 pts, 6 ast, 4 stl) got his 8th 35+ point game this season, an amount only Luka (10), SGA (8) and Donovan Mitchell (8) have also reached
- Big In Philly: Maxey’s 649 points this season marks just the 5th time a Sixer has reached that total through the first 20 games, joining Joel Embiid (2x), Allen Iverson and Wilt
- Big Everywhere: Factor in his 150 assists, and Maxey’s just the 5th player in NBA history to reach those numbers through 20 games, joining Luka, Harden, Iverson and Tiny Archibald
With the Blazers mounting a 13-point 4th quarter comeback and the shot clock dwindling, Toronto found its dynamic duo of forwards for victory.
Raptors 121, Trail Blazers 118: Ingram (21 pts, 6 reb) scored on the Raptors’ final three possessions, including this dagger dunk, and Defensive Player of the Month Scottie Barnes denied Deni Avdija with under 10 seconds left as Toronto held on to snap a two-game skid. | Recap
- Group Roar: Barnes’ big night (28 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast, 3 3s, 2 blk) led Toronto, while Immanuel Quickley (23 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast, 5 3s) made it a trio of 20+ point scorers
- Portland Pack: Averaging a triple-double over his last 3 games, Deni (25 pts, 8 reb, career-high 14 assists) combined with Shaedon Sharpe (23 pts) and Toumani Camara (21 pts, career-high 6 3s) on this block-and-break
Spurs 126, Grizzlies 119: Harrison Barnes logged season-highs in points (31) and 3-pointers (7) and De’Aaron Fox got 11 of his 29 points in a 4th quarter that saw the Spurs go from down-7 to up-7, as they snapped the Grizzlies’ 3-game win streak. | Recap
- Grizz Gamers: Cam Spencer (21 pts) led Memphis, while Zach Edey (19 pts, 15 reb) joined Jonas Valančiūnas (2x), Steven Adams and Zach Randolph as the only Grizzlies to grab 15+ boards in 4 straight games
- Surging Spurs: Now 6-2 without Wemby, San Antonio is off to its best 20-game start (14-6) since 2016-17. Read on for more about the Spurs’ matchup tonight in Orlando ⬇️
4. STAR ROOKS TAKE CENTER STAGE: FLAGG & KNUEPPEL LOOK TO STAY HOT
Exactly one year ago, Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg were freshman teammates at Duke, preparing to play Auburn in one of their first real tests at the college level.
Fast forward to today, and they’re shining at the pinnacle of the sport.
Named East & West Kia NBA Rookies of the Month yesterday for October & November, Knueppel and Flagg stand atop the Kia Rookie Ladder while pacing their class in scoring.
And the two surging rooks both take the floor tonight.
Heat at Mavericks (8:30 ET, NBA TV): On Saturday, Flagg dropped a career-high 35 points, surpassing LeBron James as the youngest player to score 35+ in an NBA game at 18 years and 343 days.
On Monday, he followed it up with 24, leading Dallas past Denver for its second straight win. Now, Flagg and the Mavs face another potent offense in Miami.
- On The Rise: Flagg averaged 13.9 ppg on 40.3% shooting in his first 10 outings. Since then (Nov. 8), he’s posted 19.3 ppg at a 50.5% clip. But it’s not just shots falling – it’s how he’s attacking
- Downhill Threat: Flagg averaged 10.5 drives per game in his first 10 outings. In his last 11, he’s upped that to 12.2, pushing his points in the paint from 7.6 to 12.4 per game – the most of any rookie in that span
Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images
Complete Package: Flagg’s aggression is only one piece. He ranks 1st on the Mavs in total points, 2nd in rebounds and steals, 3rd in assists and 4th in blocks – and he keeps making big plays in big moments.
That includes back-to-back clutch buckets on Monday, followed by a key rebound and game-sealing steal to top Denver.
- “He’s done that for us all season,” said Jason Kidd postgame on Flagg. “The big rebounds, the big blocks, a big basket. [In the] clutch, he’s not afraid…
- “We give him the ball, and he seems like he’s been there before.”
Hornets at Knicks (7:30 ET, LP): The only rookie averaging more points than Flagg? Kon Knueppel (18.3), who’s buried a record 73 triples through his first 21 games and plays his first NBA game at MSG tonight against the Knicks.
- Can’t Miss: Knueppel is shooting 41.5% from deep, the 4th-best mark of any player this season with 60+ made 3s. And he’s more than just a spot-up shooter
- Full Bag: Knueppel ranks 4th in the NBA in points per play as the “roll man,” and 3rd among rookies in ppg off drives (9.5), while shooting 50% on pull-up 3s
- “[He] consistently takes what the defense is giving him,” said Hornets coach Charles Lee last week of Knueppel. “He’s able to score in a lot of different ways … and gotten some really good looks.”
- Fire vs. Fire: Tonight, Knueppel’s hot hand will look to top Jalen Brunson and the Knicks at The Garden, where New York is 10-1 this season
5. LEAGUE PASS ROUNDUP: A NIGHT OF TOP 5 TEAMS AWAITS
Wins on wins on wins.
They’re piling high for Orlando and San Antonio — and fast. Combined, they have 12 victories in their last 16 games.
None of them, though, have come against each other. That changes tonight (7 ET, League Pass) when the Magic host the Spurs in a battle of top-5 seeds in each Conference.
- Abracadabra: With nine triumphs in its last 11 outings, Orlando has slingshotted itself all the way from 12th place on Nov. 6 to 5th as of Tuesday
- Driving Force: Desmond Bane has 37 points in consecutive outings while the team around him owns the 6th-best offensive rating since Nov. 10 — the first of their nine recent wins
- In The Saddle: The Spurs, meanwhile, have maintained 5th place since Victor Wembanyama’s Nov. 14 calf injury by rattling off six wins in their last eight games
- The Test: De’Aaron Fox (24.1 ppg) has assumed the role of leading scorer, but he’ll have to go against Orlando’s defense tonight, which qualified as the 5th-best in November
Elsewhere in the West, the Rockets hit the hardwood opposite the Kings tonight (8 ET, League Pass), sitting 3rd in the Conference as their star duo keeps rolling.
- Afterburners: Facing the Jazz on Monday, Kevin Durant put up a game-high 32 points while Alperen Sengun submitted a 31-point, 14-assist double-double
- Watch Them Soar: Houston has produced a sparkling 13-3 record following back-to-back losses to open the 2025-26 season
- On Both Ends: Dominance hasn’t been one-dimensional, either — the team owns a No. 3 defensive rating (111.1) and an even-better No. 2 offensive rating (122.0)
Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images
San Antonio and Houston sit just ahead of the 5th place Nuggets, but all three are one game back of the 2nd seed in the West. Tonight (7 ET, League Pass), the Nuggets open a three game road trip against the Pacers, looking to gain ground in the standings.
- Light Work: Seven-time All-NBA selection Nikola Jokić is fresh off a season-high 20 rebounds in Denver’s loss to Dallas on Monday, complementing 29 points and 13 assists
- Inch By Inch: That was his 11th triple-double of 2025-26, giving him 30.6% of all triple-doubles in the NBA this season
Four more matchups round out tonight’s League Pass slate as squads across the Association look to set a winning tone for the month ahead.
Cade Cunningham (28.2 pts) guides the first-place Pistons against Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.6 pts) and the Bucks (8 ET).
- Trail Blazers at Cavaliers (7 ET)
- Clippers at Hawks (7:30 ET)
- Nets at Bulls (8 ET)
