Starting 5: Why Jamal Murray’s 50-Ball was historic, Rockets trio shines, Flagg joins LeBron

Warning: The Blue Arrow is red-hot.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Dec. 4, 2025

Western Takeover: Jamal Murray erupts for 52, Sengun & Rockets overpower Kings

More West Wins: Fox & Kornet close for San Antonio, Flagg matches LeBron in Dallas dub

East Responses: Bucks knock off 1st-place Pistons, Knicks bounce back at MSG

Roundup: Avdija stays hot, Harden & Kawhi lead Clips, MPJ tops 30 again

Thursday Buckets: Tyrese Maxey & Anthony Edwards headline a night of elite scorers

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Last night’s scores and tonight’s slate…

Five games get underway tonight, beginning with the Warriors visiting the Sixers on NBA TV (7 ET | Tap to Watch).

Race for the Emirates NBA Cup: Narrated by Blake Griffin, watch the biggest moments that pushed both the East (NYK, TOR, MIA, ORL) and West (OKC, LAL, PHX, SAS) teams into the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals – which begin Tuesday, Dec. 9 on Prime.

1. WEST STARS SHINE: MURRAY GOES OFF, SENGUN FUELS ROCKETS

Dylan Buell/NBAE via Getty Images

In the previous three seasons combined, Jamal Murray averaged 17.6 ppg across October and November.

This season, he hasn’t needed any time to heat up – posting 23.3 ppg while shooting 41.5% from deep entering Wednesday.

Last night, that spark turned into a full blaze.

Nuggets 135, Pacers 120: Murray was unguardable in the 1st half, dropping 23 points on five 3s to build Denver an early lead. After the break, he was unconscious – going 5-of-5 from deep to finish with a season-high 52 as the Nuggets rolled to a bounce-back win. | Recap

• Fire Starter: After scoring 10 in the 1st quarter, Murray checked into the 2nd with 6:05 left and Denver up 5. Then, a step back 2. A pull-up 2. Two triples sandwiching a Nikola Jokić dunk. And a third trey before the buzzer
• Game Icer: The burst ignited a 22-3 avalanche to close the half, ballooning Denver’s lead to 24, before Murray staved off a late Pacers push with 18 points in the 4th
• Peak Form: Murray finished 19-of-25 from the field and a career-best 10-of-11 from deep, while Nikola Jokić flirted with another triple-double (24 pts, 8 reb, 13 ast)
• “You can tell when he gets in a certain rhythm, the way the ball comes off his hands … he just has that feeling,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman on Murray postgame. “There are nights when he can be really special.”

Anyone, Anytime: After 10 points in Monday’s loss, Wednesday marked Murray’s largest game-to-game point increase of his career (+42). He’s the third Nugget to score 50+ this season, joining Jokić and Aaron Gordon.

• Fifty History: It’s the earliest in a season a trio of teammates have each dropped 50+ points (21 games), surpassing Steph Curry, Kevin Durant & Klay Thompson’s record from 2018-19 (23 games)
• Sizzling Support: While Jokić sits top-5 in total points (5), rebounds (1) and assists (1), Murray and Gordon are one of two duos ever to each score 50+ on 10+ triples in the same season, joining Steph and Klay
• Team Impact: Although Gordon is currently out (hamstring), six other Nuggets are averaging 10+ ppg as Denver leads the NBA in scoring (125.1) and boasts a 15-6 record – its best start since 2009

Tim Warner/NBAE via Getty Images

Keeping pace out West? Houston, which, like Denver, sits just a half-game back of the 2nd-place Lakers.

Rockets 121, Kings 95: After a historic Monday outing, Alperen Sengun stuffed the stat sheet again (28 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast, 4 stl), while Kevin Durant (24 pts, 8 ast) and Amen Thompson (20 pts, 12 reb, 7 ast) also went to work, powering Houston past Sacramento. | Recap

• Grinding Them Down: The Rockets – the league’s top team on the glass – outrebounded Sacramento 62-32, helping spark a decisive 36-19 3rd quarter
• Sengun Shine: Houston is 12-3 since Nov. 1, with Sengun averaging 22.9 pts, 9.4 reb and 7.1 ast in that span
• King Boost: Maxime Raynaud and Malik Monk led Sacramento with 25 points apiece, as Russell Westbrook added 12 and 9 assists

2. MORE WEST WINS: SPURS & MAVS STAY ROLLING

The inaugural Clutch Player of the Year was at it again.

One night after pulling the Spurs back to a home win over Memphis, De’Aaron Fox did his thing in the Magic Kingdom.

Spurs 114, Magic 112: Fox (5 reb, 5 ast, 3 3s) logged 12 of his 31 points in the 4th quarter, this time thwarting a double-digit comeback with game-winning free throws, and Luke Kornet blocked Franz Wagner’s attempt at the buzzer to serve Orlando its first home loss since Nov. 9. | Recap

• “I was on the weak side… and just tried to make a play,” Kornet said of his win-sealing block and celebration. “Fortunately [Wagner] had to spin back… and I was able to get there and make the block.”
• Late Running Mate: Rookie Dylan Harper (5 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl) was right there again with Fox, with 10 of his 16 points in the 4th for his fourth straight double-figure game
• Magic Duo: Wagner (25 pts, 6 ast) and Jalen Suggs (24 pts) led Orlando in a loss that snapped its 3-game win streak
• On The Rise: Now 7-2 since Wemby’s injury, San Antonio is off to its best 21-game start since 2016-17, keeping pace with Denver and Houston

Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images

Signs of a good week:

• Saturday: Surpass LeBron as the youngest player ever to score 35 points in an NBA game
• Tuesday: Win Kia Western Conference Rookie of the Month
• Wednesday: Join King James in the record books again

Mavericks 118, Heat 108: Coming off games of 35 and 24 points, Cooper Flagg capped a historic three-game surge with a team-high 22 and 6 boards, as he and Anthony Davis (17 pts, 17 reb, 3 blk) guided Dallas past Miami for its third straight dub. | Recap

• Coop & The King: Flagg joins LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to total three straight 20+ point games at 18 years old or younger
• High Flagg: He’s averaging a team-best 27 ppg amid the win streak and 18.4 ppg since Nov. 1, along with 6.7 reb, 3.5 ast and 1.5 stl
• “The confidence my teammates have in me,” said Flagg on The Association, regarding the key to his breakout. “Trusting me to go out there and make plays and putting me in the right spots … I gotta give a lot of credit to them.”

3. EAST RESPONSES: BUCKS BEAT PISTONS, KNICKS BOUNCE BACK

Patrick McDermott + Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Facing 1st-place Detroit and its 2nd-ranked defense, the Bucks clutched up at home.

Bucks 113, Pistons 109: Kevin Porter Jr. (26 pts, 7 ast) and Ryan Rollins (22 pts, 8 ast) made up for the loss of Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) as the Bucks won their 10th game of the season. | Recap

• Engines Running: Tobias Harris (20 pts, 5 3s) and Cade Cunningham (17 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast) led Detroit, who trailed just once, by one point, before the 4th quarter finish
• Green Flag: AJ Green’s 11 4th-quarter points on three 3s helped slow the Pistons in their 16th clutch game, improving Milwaukee to 7-7 in crunch time

Knicks 119, Hornets 104: Karl-Anthony Towns dominated for 35 points and 18 rebounds as the Knicks kept the Hornets to a season-low 12 1st-quarter points and never looked back after Tuesday’s loss in Boston, improving to 11-1 at MSG. | Recap

• Buzzer Boost: A halftime buzzer beater spurred Jalen Brunson to net 15 of his 26 points in the final 24 minutes, where the Knicks built a 22-point lead
• Buzz Boys: LaMelo Ball (34 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast) led Charlotte, while top-scoring rookie Kon Knueppel had 13 points in his MSG debut

4. ROUNDUP: AVDIJA EATS, CLIPS & NETS DUB

Blazers 122, Cavaliers 110: Deni Avdija (27 pts, 8 reb, 7 ast) led a trio of 20-point scorers with Shaedon Sharpe (20 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast) and Caleb Love (20 pts, 4 3s) as Portland snapped a 3-game skid with a big road win. | Recap

• Portland History: Sharpe (22yr, 187d) became the youngest Blazer in franchise history to reach 3,000 points on a fadeaway jumper in the 2nd quarter
• Mitchell & Mobley: Donovan Mitchell (33 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) led the Cavs, while Evan Mobley was everywhere with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a season-high 5 blocks

Clippers 115, Hawks 92: LA entered Wednesday on a five-game skid. James Harden (27 pts, 9 ast) and Kawhi Leonard (21 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast) made sure it didn’t reach six, using a late 2nd-quarter surge to take control for good in a timely win over the Hawks. | Recap

• Big Z: Ivica Zubac was a force inside (14 pts, 17 reb), while Nickeil Alexander-Walker (21 pts) led Atlanta with Jalen Johnson out (calf)

Nets 113, Bulls 103: Michael Porter Jr. (33 pts, 5 3s) was a bucket shy of Monday’s season-high, as the Nets overcame Josh Giddey (28 pts, 11 reb, 11 ast) and the Bulls. | Recap

• Porter Major: Brooklyn has won consecutive games for the first time this season on the back of MPJ’s 68 combined points on 12 3s
• Long Distance: Nic Claxton (14 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast) stuffed the stat sheet while Noah Clowney (20 pts) added six 3s to Brooklyn’s season-high-tying total (19)

5. TOP SCORERS HEADLINE THURSDAY’S SLATE ON NBA TV & LEAGUE PASS

Tyrese Maxey had a mission in mind.

He sought a teamwide commitment to consistency. Before ever stepping onto the court this regular season, and even ahead of preseason, he vocalized that vision.

“We need a standard. This is who we are every single day,” Maxey said on Media Day.

Tonight (7 ET, NBA TV), the 76ers continue to pursue that standard. They host the Warriors in search of consecutive wins for the first time since Oct. 28, following a 6-7 finish in November.

• High Bar: Maxey has put power behind his words, averaging a career-high 32.5 ppg, which is good for 3rd-most behind Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• “M” In Mentor: The sixth-year guard — operating at the point — has played alongside rookie shooting guard VJ Edgecombe, quickly impressing the No. 3 overall pick
• “He’s so dynamic. He’s someone that’s really good at basketball,” Edgecombe said. “Shots he makes — I expect it now, at this point… it doesn’t even surprise me anymore.”

Golden State, meanwhile, has a chance to wash out the taste of defeat. After falling to Oklahoma City, it can return to the win column with a cross-conference triumph.

• Butler Does It? Jimmy Butler (knee) is questionable, but if he does play, he’ll add a considerable 19.5 ppg on 51.9% shooting into the Warriors’ equation

Maxey’s tear isn’t singular across the Association. Multiple stars are shining, and among them, Anthony Edwards is on a whole different level.

His Timberwolves take on the Pelicans tonight (8 ET, League Pass) at 6th place in the West.

• Fire Ant: The three-time All-Star has posted a scorching 38.3 ppg through the last six contests on a 55.6% shooting, crossing 40 points on three occasions
• Electric Ant: He’s also drained 30 of 62 shot attempts from beyond the arc in that time – good for a sparkling 48.4% 3-point percentage
• Carpenter Ant: By building one more 30-piece onto his streak, Edwards can snap a tie with Kevin Love for the most consecutive games of 30+ in franchise history

Jaylen Brown, too, has been on a heater. He’s hunting his fifth 30-plus scoring effort in the last six when the Celtics battle the Wizards tonight (7 ET, League Pass).

• Lakers at Raptors (7:30 ET, LP)
• Jazz at Nets (7:30 ET, LP)