NBA game reviews – 2025-12-08

Big NBA Scores and Standout Performances: Today’s Slate Reviewed

It was a massive day of NBA action with blowouts, tight finishes and some absolutely huge individual stat lines right across the board. From the Celtics lighting it up in Toronto, to the Thunder piling on 131 in Utah, there was no shortage of talking points for punters and hoops tragics alike.

Below is a game-by-game breakdown of all the matchups listed in today’s schedule. Every score, run and standout performance comes straight from the official box-score data provided in the score_records feed, so you can trust the numbers when you’re thinking about how these results might shape the markets in upcoming fixtures.

Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors

The Boston Celtics walked into Toronto and took care of business, beating the Raptors 121–113 in a high-scoring clash. Boston were listed as the away side in the data and finished with 121, while Toronto, the home side, closed on 113.

The tone was set early. Boston dropped 34 points in the first quarter to Toronto’s 26, immediately putting the Raptors on the back foot. The pace only picked up in the second term, with the Celtics again winning the quarter 43–33. By half-time, Boston led 77–59, a massive 18‑point cushion built on relentless offence.

Credit to the Raptors, they didn’t roll over. The third quarter belonged to the home side: Toronto outscored Boston 32–20, trimming the margin and injecting life back into the contest. Heading into the fourth, the Celtics’ lead had been chopped to just six points, and the game was suddenly back in the balance.

But Boston steadied. The fourth quarter was tight – Boston edged it 24–22 – enough to lock in the road win and keep Toronto at arm’s length down the stretch. Over the second half, Toronto actually won the scoreboard battle 54–44, but that brutal first-half deficit proved too big to overcome.

While the JSON feed doesn’t provide individual player box scores for this game, the flow of scoring tells the story: Boston’s explosive first half was the difference, while Toronto’s third-quarter surge showed there’s still plenty of fight in this Raptors lineup. For anyone tracking overs, live totals or comeback markets, this one delivered plenty of in-play swings.

Denver Nuggets vs Charlotte Hornets

In Denver, the Nuggets did enough across four quarters to see off the Charlotte Hornets 115–106. The final tally in the records has the Nuggets as the away side with 115 and the Hornets, at home, posting 106.

The game started evenly with both teams locked at 34–34 after the first quarter. Charlotte nudged ahead at the main break, taking a slim 58–57 lead thanks to a 24–23 second quarter. From there, though, Denver took control. The Nuggets outscored the Hornets 30–23 in the third and 28–25 in the fourth, winning the second half 58–48 and closing the door on any home upset.

Star Power: Jokić and Murray Lead the Way

The player metrics in the JSON paint a very clear picture: Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray carried the load for Denver, with strong support from the rest of the starting group.

Nikola Jokić (away):
- 28 points (player points)
- 9 rebounds (player rebounds)
- 11 assists (player assists)
- 48 PRA (player pra) and 37 PR (player pr)
- 4 made threes (player threes)
That’s classic Jokić: borderline triple-double production with elite playmaking and outside shooting. His 20 rebounds + assists alone show how much of the offence ran through him.
Jamal Murray (away):
- 34 points
- 3 rebounds and 5 assists
- 42 PRA, 37 PR, and 39 points+assists
- 2 threes
Murray’s scoring punch – 34 on the night – was critical, especially after half-time when Denver needed a lift to overturn the deficit.

Supporting Cast and Defensive Impact

Denver’s depth also showed up in the numbers:

Peyton Watson contributed 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist, for 19 PRA – a solid all-round effort with 1 block and 1 steal in his line.
Cameron Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas each finished with 8 points, and both added 4 rebounds. Johnson chipped in 3 assists, while Valanciunas added 3 assists of his own.
Tim Hardaway Jr. provided perimeter shooting and scoring punch with 14 points, 2 threes, plus 3 rebounds and 2 assists (17 PRA).
Defensively, Spencer Jones stood out with 2 steals and 2 steals + blocks combined, while Jokić and Hardaway both logged multiple “stocks” (steals + blocks) and turnovers combined, each posting 5 tos + steals + blocks.

Hornets’ Response: Bridges and Miller Put Up Numbers

On the Hornets’ side, Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller did their best to keep Charlotte in touch:

Miles Bridges:
- 24 points
- 9 rebounds and 8 assists
- 41 PRA, 33 PR, and 32 points+assists
Bridges was a stat-sheet stuffer, flirting with a triple-double and clearly central to everything Charlotte did offensively.
Brandon Miller:
- 17 points
- 5 rebounds and 5 assists
- 27 PRA and 22 PR
- 1 steal, 1 block, and 7 tos + steals + blocks
Miller’s line shows both his upside and his growing usage – lots of contributions across categories, but also turnovers (5 in total).

Rookie contributors like Liam McNeeley (13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists; 19 PRA) and Kon Knueppel (14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists; 22 PRA) added balance, but Denver’s star duo was the decisive edge.

Golden State Warriors vs Chicago Bulls

Over in Chicago, the Golden State Warriors absolutely steamrolled the Bulls, running out 123–91 winners. Golden State, listed as the away team, exploded out of the gates with a 38–25 first quarter and never really looked back.

By half-time the Warriors led 60–46, and while the Bulls fought back with a 30–27 third quarter, Golden State slammed the door shut in brutal fashion with a 36–15 final term. The second half split was 63–45 to the visitors – a dominant two-way performance.

Brandin Podziemski and Jimmy Butler Torch the Bulls

The Warriors’ attack was balanced but headlined by Brandin Podziemski and Jimmy Butler, who both produced big all-round numbers.

Brandin Podziemski:
- 21 points
- 8 rebounds and 7 assists
- 36 PRA and 29 PR
- 5 made threes
- 2 steals and strong on-ball impact (5 tos + steals + blocks)
Podziemski’s 21‑8‑7 night, backed by elite three-point shooting, was one of the standout fantasy and prop lines of the day.
Jimmy Butler:
- 19 points
- 8 rebounds and 6 assists
- 33 PRA and 27 PR
- 2 steals and 2 made threes
Butler delivered his usual all-round output with efficient scoring and strong playmaking.

Big Man Punch: Quinten Post and Gui Santos

Up front, Golden State got massive contributions from Quinten Post and Gui Santos:

Quinten Post:
- 19 points
- 4 rebounds and 1 assist
- 24 PRA and 23 PR
- 5 threes, plus 1 steal and 1 block
Post’s stretch big role – 19 points with five from long range – stretched the Bulls’ defence to breaking point.
Gui Santos:
- 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists
- 15 PRA with 3 tos + steals + blocks
Santos provided energy and glass work off the bench, cleaning up the boards and doing the dirty work.

The Warriors also got strong contributions from Pat Spencer (12 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists; 23 PRA but with 4 turnovers) and De’Anthony Melton (13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist; 15 PRA, 3 steals, 3 threes). Moses Moody chipped in 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist (16 PRA, 3 threes) for a very efficient line.

Bright Spots in a Tough Night for Chicago

For the Bulls, it was mostly one-way traffic against them, but a few players still produced noteworthy lines:

Josh Giddey:
- 18 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists
- 26 PRA and 21 PR
- 3 made threes
- High involvement with 7 tos + steals + blocks, but that also included 4 turnovers
Giddey did what he could as a primary ball handler, but the Warriors’ defensive pressure told over four quarters.
Matas Buzelis:
- 16 points
- 3 rebounds and 1 assist
- 20 PRA and 19 PR
- 2 steals, 1 block, and 2 threes
Another high-upside showing from Buzelis, who flashed his two-way potential despite the heavy loss.
Coby White (12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist; 14 PRA) and Jevon Carter (13 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists; 16 PRA, 3 threes) rounded out the main scoring options, but Chicago never found the sustained offence needed to keep up with Golden State’s barrage.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers

In one of the tighter contests of the day, the Los Angeles Lakers travelled to Philadelphia and edged out the 76ers 112–108. The away side (Lakers) finished on 112 in the JSON data, with the Sixers, as the home side, close behind on 108.

The first quarter was even at 30–30. Philly then seized momentum in the second, winning the period 30–23 to take a 60–53 half-time lead. Coming out of the main break, the Lakers flipped the script with a big 34–24 third quarter, and they held their nerve in the fourth, edging it 25–24. Overall, Los Angeles dominated the second half 59–48 to steal the result on the road.

Luka Dončić and LeBron James Put on a Show

The Lakers’ backcourt/wing duo of Luka Dončić and LeBron James delivered monster stat lines that carried them over the line.

Luka Dončić:
- 31 points
- 15 rebounds and 11 assists
- 57 PRA and a huge 46 PR
- 2 made threes and 1 block
That’s a full-fledged triple-double line, with a massive rebounding and playmaking load. Even with 5 turnovers, Dončić dominated the stat sheet.
LeBron James:
- 29 points
- 7 rebounds and 6 assists
- 42 PRA and 36 PR
- 4 threes, plus 1 steal and 1 block
LeBron’s shooting from deep and all-round production was the perfect complement to Dončić’s triple-double.

Frontcourt Support: Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura

The Lakers’ big men also played a key role:

Deandre Ayton:
- 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists
- 28 PRA and 26 PR
- 1 steal and 1 block
A classic double-double night for Ayton, owning the glass and providing interior scoring.
Rui Hachimura:
- 17 points
- 6 rebounds and 1 assist
- 24 PRA and 23 PR
- 3 threes
Hachimura’s floor spacing and scoring punch off the wing gave the Lakers the extra offensive push they needed.

Austin Reaves chipped in a handy 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists (19 PRA), while Jaxson Hayes added 3 points, 5 rebounds, and 0 assists but made a big defensive impact with 3 blocks.

Maxey’s Monster Line Not Quite Enough for Philly

The Sixers had plenty of their own standouts, led by Tyrese Maxey and a strong front line.

Tyrese Maxey:
- 28 points
- 7 rebounds and 9 assists
- 44 PRA and 35 PR
- 5 made threes, plus 2 steals and 2 blocks (4 steals+blocks)
Maxey’s player tos + steals + blocks metric came in at 8, reflecting how heavily involved he was at both ends – though it included 4 turnovers.
Joel Embiid:
- 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
- 25 PRA and 23 PR
- 1 steal and 1 block
Andre Drummond (off the bench):
- 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds
- 23 PRA and 23 PR
- 1 steal and 1 block, with 0 turnovers
Drummond’s numbers show he made full use of his minutes, bullying the glass and providing interior presence.
VJ Edgecombe and Paul George also delivered balanced lines:
- Edgecombe: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists (23 PRA, 20 PR, and 2 threes).
- George: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists (21 PRA, 18 PR, 1 three).

In the end, Philly’s strong first half wasn’t enough to contain a Lakers side powered by two MVP-calibre performances. For spread and total bettors, this was a textbook example of how momentum shifts across quarters can flip a game that looked like the home side’s early on.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Utah Jazz

The highest-scoring affair of the day came in Utah, where the Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the Jazz 131–101. In the JSON feed, OKC are the away side with 131; Utah, at home, finished on 101.

The Thunder came flying out of the blocks with a huge 45–20 first quarter, effectively putting the game to bed inside 12 minutes. They kept the pressure on with a 29–28 second quarter to take a 74–48 lead into half-time. Utah did improve after the break, but Oklahoma City still won the third 32–23, before the Jazz salvaged some pride with a 30–25 final quarter. The Thunder took the second half 57–53, underscoring how complete their performance was.

Thunder’s Balanced Barrage: Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren Shine

The Thunder spread the scoring load beautifully, with a number of players clearing strong PRA marks.

Jalen Williams:
- 25 points
- 3 rebounds and 8 assists
- 36 PRA and 28 PR
- 1 three, plus 2 steals
Williams’ 25‑8‑3 line, along with 2 steals, highlights his status as a key playmaker and scorer for OKC.
Chet Holmgren:
- 25 points
- 9 rebounds and 1 assist
- 35 PRA and 34 PR
- 1 three, 2 blocks, and 1 steal
Holmgren combined interior dominance with outside shooting and rim protection, exactly the blend that makes him so dangerous.
Aaron Wiggins:
- 19 points
- 3 rebounds and 1 assist
- 23 PRA and 22 PR
- 5 threes and 2 tos + steals + blocks
Wiggins’ perimeter shooting – 19 points with five made triples – blew the game wide open in tandem with OKC’s early run.
Kenrich Williams:
- 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists
- 24 PRA and 18 PR
- 2 threes, plus 6 assists and 2 turnovers
Ousmane Dieng (off the bench):
- 14 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists
- 19 PRA and 16 PR
- 4 made threes
Ajay Mitchell: 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists (13 PRA); and Cason Wallace: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists (12 PRA, including a standout 5 steals and 6 tos + steals + blocks).

Across the board, OKC’s rotation was stacked with effective stat lines – excellent signs for future spread and total markets given the number of players capable of filling it up.

Jazz Young Core Shows Fight Despite the Scoreline

The Jazz copped the scoreboard damage early, but their young core still put up encouraging numbers.

Kyle Filipowski:
- 21 points
- 10 rebounds and 2 assists
- 33 PRA and 31 PR
- 1 made three, plus 3 steals
Filipowski’s double-double and active defence pop off the page from a fantasy and prop-tracking perspective.
Taylor Hendricks:
- 20 points
- 5 rebounds and 1 assist
- 26 PRA and 25 PR
- 4 threes, plus 1 steal and 1 block
Walter Clayton Jr:
- 20 points
- 2 rebounds and 9 assists
- 31 PRA and 22 PR
- 2 made threes
Clayton’s 9 assists and strong scoring make him one to watch for assists and PRA markets going forward.
Ace Bailey: 13 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists (18 PRA); Keyonte George: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists (16 PRA, but 6 turnovers); and Jusuf Nurkic: 7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists (17 PRA) rounded out the main contributions.

For Utah, the story in the numbers is clear: their offensive talent is there, but turnovers (George with 6, several others with multiple miscues) and that brutal 45–20 opening quarter killed any chance of a close finish.

Conclusion: A Huge Night for Punters – What It Means Next

Across the board, today’s NBA slate delivered:

A big road win for the Celtics in Toronto built on a massive first half.
A controlled Nuggets victory in Charlotte, powered by huge lines from Jokić and Murray.
A blowout Warriors win over the Bulls featuring bombs from Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler and Quinten Post.
A tight, high-quality clash in Philly where the Lakers overcame a half-time deficit behind triple-double brilliance from Luka Dončić and a big night from LeBron.
An offensive explosion as the Thunder dropped 131 on the Jazz, led by Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and a wave of hot perimeter shooting.

For Aussie punters, these stat lines and scoring trends are exactly the sort of detail that can give you an edge: which teams start fast, who’s consistently clearing PRA lines, which rotations are spreading the scoring load, and where turnovers might be dragging down efficiency.

Before you place your next wager, make sure you’re getting the best possible price on every market. Use our odds comparison tool to line up prices from multiple bookies, spot the value, and back your reads with confidence. With performances like these shaping the markets day by day, having sharper odds on your side is non‑negotiable.