NBA · Game Review

NBA game reviews – 2025-11-23

NBA Sunday Wrap: High Scores, Big Performances and Late Drama

It was a massive day of NBA action with five games on the slate, and the scoreboard lit up from start to finish. Punters were treated to big offensive performances, monster stat lines and a couple of tight finishes that would’ve had line and total bettors sweating right to the final buzzer.

The Atlanta Hawks laid down a statement on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Detroit Pistons went into Milwaukee and piled on 129 points against the Bucks, and the Chicago Bulls edged the Washington Wizards by a single point in a 241‑point shootout. In Memphis, the Grizzlies clawed back from a half-time deficit to knock off the Dallas Mavericks, while the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets traded buckets all night in a 251‑point thriller.

Below is a game‑by‑game breakdown of the scores and standout performances, with an eye on the kind of numbers that matter if you’re betting sides, totals or player props.

Atlanta Hawks vs New Orleans Pelicans

Atlanta took care of business on the road, beating New Orleans 115–98. The Hawks outscored the Pelicans in three of the four quarters and controlled both halves, winning the first half 56–46 and the second half 59–52.

How the game flowed

New Orleans started the better of the two sides, taking the first quarter 25–21. From there, though, it was all Atlanta:

  • 2nd quarter: Hawks 35–21 Pelicans
  • 3rd quarter: Hawks 32–24 Pelicans
  • 4th quarter: Pelicans edged it 28–27, but the damage was already done

That 35–21 second quarter was the real turning point. Atlanta flipped a four‑point deficit into a 10‑point half‑time lead and never really looked back, a key detail for anyone chasing live totals or second‑half lines.

Key Hawks performers

Atlanta spread the load, but a few names stood out across the box score:

  • Kristaps Porziņģis: Led the way with 29 points, adding 7 rebounds and 4 assists. He was also a serious rim protector, finishing with 3 blocks and a combined 3 steals + blocks. For PRA backers, he delivered a huge 40 PRA (points + rebounds + assists) and 36 PR (points + rebounds).
  • Jalen Johnson: Stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists, just one dime away from a triple‑double. He also had 1 block and 4 turnovers, leading to a 38 PRA and 29 PR.
  • Vít Krejci: Hit the scoreboard and the glass with 21 points and 1 rebound, plus 0 assists, for 22 PRA. The shooting from deep was a highlight, knocking down 7 three‑pointers.
  • Dyson Daniels (listed for the away side): Notched 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for 26 PRA and 22 PR, while also contributing defensively with 1 steal, 1 block and 3 combined turnovers/steals/blocks.
  • Nickeil Alexander‑Walker: Contributed 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists for 19 PRA.

Pelicans bright spots

The Pelicans’ 98 points came with a relatively balanced output, but a few players still cleared useful prop lines:

  • Derik Queen: Finished with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists for a strong 32 PRA. He also chipped in 2 steals and 1 block, leading to 5 turnovers + steals + blocks.
  • Trey Murphy III: Dropped 19 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. His 4 made threes would’ve cashed most standard 3PM lines, and he ended with 32 PRA and 28 PR.
  • Saddiq Bey: Gave the Pelicans 18 points, a team‑high 11 rebounds and 5 assists, putting up a big 34 PRA and 29 PR.
  • Jose Alvarado: Bench production with 8 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist, including 2 made threes.

Overall, Atlanta’s efficiency and top‑end production from Porziņģis and Johnson were the difference, especially coming out of that dominant second quarter.

Detroit Pistons vs Milwaukee Bucks

In a high‑scoring contest in Milwaukee, the Detroit Pistons outgunned the Bucks 129–116. Detroit built their lead early, winning the first half 69–52, and held off a late Bucks push despite losing the second half 64–60.

Scoring breakdown

The Pistons consistently got points on the board, with three quarters of 30+:

  • 1st quarter: Pistons 30–26 Bucks
  • 2nd quarter: Pistons 39–26 Bucks
  • 3rd quarter: Pistons 35–33 Bucks
  • 4th quarter: Bucks 31–25 Pistons

That 39‑point second quarter from Detroit was decisive. Totals bettors would’ve been thrilled by the pace, with 69 first‑half points for the Pistons alone and 245 total points in the game.

Pistons standouts

  • Cade Cunningham: The star of the night with 29 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. That’s a massive 47 PRA and 37 PR, and a near triple‑double. He added 1 steal and 1 block, plus 4 turnovers, for 6 turnovers + steals + blocks.
  • Jalen Duren: Dominated inside with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, converting to 30 PRA and 25 PR. He also chipped in 3 turnovers.
  • Tobias Harris: Classic all‑round game with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for 27 PRA and 23 PR. He hit 3 three‑pointers and contributed defensively with 1 block.
  • Duncan Robinson: Lethal from deep, draining 5 three‑pointers on his way to 15 points. He added 3 rebounds and 2 assists, tallying 20 PRA.
  • Jaden Ivey: Solid support with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists for 13 PRA.

Bucks contributors

Milwaukee’s 116 points came from a well‑distributed effort, with several players posting strong fantasy and prop‑relevant lines:

  • Ryan Rollins: Exploded for 24 points, with 5 rebounds and 7 assists for a massive 36 PRA and 29 PR. He also hit 3 threes and added 3 steals and 2 blocks, ending on 6 turnovers + steals + blocks.
  • Bobby Portis: Produced 18 points, 7 rebounds2 assists for 27 PRA and 25 PR, plus 4 made threes. A dream outing for points, PR and 3PM overs.
  • Jericho Sims: Gave the Bucks 6 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists (total 14 PRA and 11 PR) along with 1 steal and 1 block.
  • AJ Green: Knocked down 5 three‑pointers for 15 points, adding 2 rebounds and 2 assists for 19 PRA.
  • Andre Jackson Jr.: Filled gaps with 6 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists for 15 PRA.

Detroit’s early offensive burst and the star power of Cade Cunningham were too much for the Bucks, but Milwaukee still offered plenty of value on player markets, particularly threes and PRA overs.

Washington Wizards vs Chicago Bulls

This one was a genuine shootout. The Chicago Bulls edged the Washington Wizards 121–120 in a one‑point thriller that finished with 241 total points. Washington led 70–64 at half-time, but Chicago lifted defensively late, winning the second half 57–50 and the final quarter 29–22.

Quarter‑by‑quarter scoring

  • 1st quarter: Wizards 41–40 Bulls
  • 2nd quarter: Wizards 29–24 Bulls
  • 3rd quarter: 28–28, all square
  • 4th quarter: Bulls 29–22 Wizards

For anyone on live markets, Chicago’s late push and the consistent scoring from both teams meant plenty of movement on line and total numbers.

Bulls stars and key contributors

  • Josh Giddey: A monster all‑round game with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, good for a 41 PRA and 30 PR. He also hit 2 threes and tallied 3 steals plus 1 block, with 6 turnovers + steals + blocks.
  • Nikola Vučević: Dominated inside with 28 points and 12 rebounds, plus 2 assists for a huge 42 PRA and 40 PR. He also nailed 3 three‑pointers, a big boost for stretch‑big markets.
  • Coby White: Delivered 20 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists for 29 PRA and 23 PR, including 3 made threes.
  • Josh Giddey & Vučević combo: Between them they combined for 46 points, 24 rebounds and 13 assists, a huge double‑anchor for same‑game multis.
  • Matas Buzelis: Contributed across the board with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist for 20 PRA, plus 3 blocks and 1 steal.

Wizards highlights

Washington fell just short on the scoreboard, but a number of their players turned in big stat lines:

  • Kyshawn George: Outstanding two‑way production with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. That’s 36 PRA and 29 PR. He also picked up 4 steals and had 8 turnovers + steals + blocks total.
  • Alexandre Sarr: Posted 16 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for a big 31 PRA and 27 PR. He hit 2 threes and contributed at the defensive end as well.
  • Corey Kispert: Knocked down 3 three‑pointers on his way to 20 points, with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, tallying 30 PRA and 25 PR.
  • Cam Whitmore: Added 20 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists for 29 PRA, including 2 made threes.
  • CJ McCollum: Logged 18 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists for 23 PRA, with 3 triples and a defensive contribution of 1 steal and 1 block.

In betting terms, this game was a goldmine for PRA and PR overs and three‑point props, with multiple players on both teams comfortably clearing typical market lines.

Memphis Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks

In Memphis, the Grizzlies (away side in the data) got the win 102–96 over the Mavericks. Dallas led 47–43 at half‑time, but Memphis roared home, winning the second half 59–49 and dominating the third quarter 33–26.

Game flow and totals

  • 1st quarter: Mavs 22–21 Grizzlies
  • 2nd quarter: Mavs 25–22 Grizzlies
  • 3rd quarter: Grizzlies 33–26 Mavs
  • 4th quarter: Grizzlies 26–23 Mavs

With only 198 total points, this was one of the lower‑scoring games of the day, and a contrast to the shootouts elsewhere. Unders backers on the total would’ve been happy, particularly with a relatively modest first half.

Grizzlies (away) performance

  • Zach Edey: Controlled the paint with 12 points and a massive 15 rebounds, plus 3 assists for 30 PRA and 27 PR. He was a defensive force too, with 4 blocks, 1 steal and 9 turnovers + steals + blocks.
  • Santi Aldama: Stuffed the stat sheet with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, totalling 32 PRA and 28 PR. He also hit 2 threes and picked up 1 steal and 1 block.
  • Cam Spencer: Key perimeter threat with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists (for 26 PRA and 21 PR), while knocking down 3 three‑pointers.
  • Vince Williams Jr.: Rounded game of 10 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for 26 PRA and 20 PR, plus 2 steals.
  • John Konchar: Contributed 4 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist, translating to 12 PRA and 11 PR.

Mavericks (home) highlights

  • Klay Thompson: Led Dallas with 22 points, adding 1 rebound and 0 assists for 23 PRA and 23 PR. He caught fire from deep, hitting 6 three‑pointers.
  • P.J. Washington Jr.: Strong all‑rounder with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, good for 27 PRA and 23 PR. He also added 2 blocks and 1 steal.
  • Brandon Williams: Gave Dallas 18 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists for 25 PRA, including 2 made threes and a couple of defensive plays.
  • Naji Marshall: Solid support with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for 24 PRA and 20 PR.
  • Cooper Flagg: Versatile game with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist (20 PRA), hitting 1 three and adding 1 steal and 1 block.

Memphis’ second‑half surge and advantage on the boards, led by Edey and Aldama, proved decisive in a game that was more about grinding out possessions than pure scoring fireworks.

Sacramento Kings vs Denver Nuggets

The late game was an offensive showcase, with the Sacramento Kings (away in the data) beating the Denver Nuggets 128–123. Sacramento trailed 65–61 at half-time but won the second half 67–58, storming home with a 37–31 fourth quarter.

Scoring summary

  • 1st quarter: Nuggets 35–30 Kings
  • 2nd quarter: Nuggets 30–31 Kings (Nuggets up 65–61 at the break)
  • 3rd quarter: Kings 30–27 Nuggets
  • 4th quarter: Kings 37–31 Nuggets

With 251 combined points, this was a huge result for overs bettors, and the fourth‑quarter explosion made for a dramatic finish for both sides, totals and live markets.

Nuggets (home) – Jokic brilliance and support cast

  • Nikola Jokić: Put on a masterclass with 44 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. That’s a massive 64 PRA and 57 PR. He also hit 3 three‑pointers and, remarkably, had 0 steals and 0 blocks but still completely dictated the game offensively.
  • Jamal Murray: Strong backcourt partner with 23 points, 2 rebounds and 9 assists, giving him 34 PRA. He drilled 3 threes and added 1 steal and 1 block.
  • Cameron Johnson: Sharpshooting wing with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for 29 PRA and 25 PR. He knocked down 4 three‑pointers, making him a standout for 3PM props.
  • Peyton Watson: Impactful across the board with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist (23 PRA), plus 3 made threes.
  • Bruce Brown: Modest scoring with 2 points, but added 3 rebounds and 3 assists for 8 PRA, the type of glue‑guy line that doesn’t always hit prop markets but matters on court.

Kings (away) – balanced attack to steal the win

Sacramento didn’t have a single 40+ point performance like Jokić, but their balanced scoring and depth carried them:

  • Russell Westbrook: Vintage all‑round stat line with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists, for a huge 38 PRA and 27 PR. He hit 2 threes and added 1 steal and 1 block.
  • Dennis Schröder: Another playmaker stepping up with 21 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists, totalling 31 PRA and 24 PR. He also nailed 3 threes.
  • Keegan Murray: Efficient wing performance with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist (25 PRA and 24 PR). He hit 3 three‑pointers and was active defensively with 2 steals and 1 block.
  • DeMar DeRozan: Classic mid‑range effort with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for 29 PRA and 24 PR, plus 1 block.
  • Sacramento depth: Precious Achiuwa, Drew Eubanks and Maxime Raynaud all chipped in with useful PRA numbers (each in double figures), combining inside scoring, rebounding and some passing to complement the guards.

Despite Jokić’s huge personal line, Sacramento’s spread of contributors and late surge in the fourth quarter proved enough to get over the line and reward anyone backing the Kings or the game total to go over.

Conclusion: Big Lines and Bigger Opportunities – Compare Your Odds Next Time

Across the board, this slate delivered almost everything a punter could ask for. We saw:

  • Blowout‑style wins like the Hawks over the Pelicans and Pistons over the Bucks, where early quarters dictated the result.
  • Tight, high‑scoring thrillers such as Bulls vs Wizards and Kings vs Nuggets, which turned into PRA and totals bonanzas.
  • A grind‑it‑out, lower‑scoring clash in Memphis vs Dallas, where rebounding and defence mattered as much as shot‑making.

Individual performances were enormous. Nikola Jokić posted 64 PRA, Cade Cunningham flirted with a triple‑double and dominated for 47 PRA, Josh Giddey did notch his triple‑double in Chicago, and Zach Edey put up a classic interior big man’s line with 15 boards and strong defensive counting stats. Three‑point shooters like Vít Krejci, Bobby Portis, AJ Green, Duncan Robinson, Klay Thompson and others cleared their 3PM marks comfortably.

Days like this are where having the right price really counts. Whether you’re backing team totals, player points, PRA lines or three‑point markets, small differences in odds can add up quickly over a full card of games.

Before you lock in your next NBA bet, make sure you’re getting the best value on offer. Use our odds comparison tool to line up prices from multiple bookies, find the top odds on every market, and give yourself the best possible edge over the long season.