NBA · Game Review

NBA game reviews – 2025-12-13

NBA Wrap: High-Scoring Thrillers and Big Individual Performances

It was a huge day of NBA action, with scoreboards lighting up across the league and stars putting up massive numbers. From multiple 130-point outbursts to clutch fourth-quarter pushes, bettors and hoop fans had plenty to chew on.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, and Minnesota Timberwolves all cracked 127+ points in big road wins, while the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers cruised at home. We also saw monster all-around games from the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Keyonte George, Stephen Curry, CJ McCollum, and more – all of which would have had a big impact on player props, same-game multis, and live markets.

Below is a breakdown of every matchup on the slate, including the final scores and standout performances based strictly on the stats in the score records.

Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets

The Bulls edged out the Hornets in a genuine shootout, winning 129–126 away from home. Chicago started strong with a 33–29 first quarter, but Charlotte fought back to lead 61–55 at half-time. The Bulls flipped the script after the break, outscoring the Hornets 74–65 in the second half, including a 40–34 final quarter to close it out.

Key team trends

With both sides clearing 125 points, it was clearly an offence-first contest. Each team hit at least 30 points in every quarter, and neither defence managed to really clamp down for an extended stretch. For totals bettors, this was an over game all the way.

Hornets standouts

Charlotte spread the scoring around, but a few players really jumped off the stat sheet:

  • Kon Knueppel – Team-high 33 points, with 5 made threes, 5 rebounds and a huge 9 assists for a 47 PRA. An elite all-round line.
  • Miles Bridges – Dropped 32 points on the night, adding 2 rebounds and 7 assists for 41 PRA plus 4 made threes.
  • Brandon Miller – Solid wing output with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal, totalling 27 PRA.
  • Sion James – A balanced performance: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 threes, contributing 19 PRA.

The Hornets also got efficient support from Ryan Kalkbrenner (10 points, 6 boards, 2 assists; 18 PRA) and KJ Simpson (10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists; 17 PRA), but despite six players hitting double figures, it wasn’t quite enough.

Bulls standouts

Chicago matched and then overwhelmed Charlotte with its own balanced attack:

  • Josh Giddey – A massive all-round line with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists, plus 2 made threes and a steal. He finished with a huge 44 PRA.
  • Coby White – Poured in 20 points, adding 5 rebounds and 2 assists for 27 PRA, with 1 made three.
  • Zach Collins – Big-man production: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 threes for 26 PRA.
  • Patrick Williams – Logged 16 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 threes; 22 PRA.
  • Isaac Okoro – Chipped in 15 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist for 19 PRA.

The Bulls’ depth was also on show with Nikola Vučević contributing 13 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists (20 PRA) and Jalen Smith hitting 5 points with a strong 10 rebounds (16 PRA).

From a betting angle, this was a dream game for overs on points, PRA and three-pointers for several starters on both sides, especially Knueppel, Bridges, Giddey and Collins.

Atlanta Hawks vs Detroit Pistons

In one of the most one-sided games of the day, the Detroit Pistons smashed the Atlanta Hawks 142–115 at home. Detroit led every quarter – 34–33, 35–27, 35–19 and 38–36 – and controlled the tempo from the opening tip.

Detroit’s balanced explosion

The Pistons put together a remarkably even-scoring performance where almost everyone got involved:

  • Isaiah Stewart – Highly productive with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, totalling 27 PRA, plus a three made.
  • Cade Cunningham – Classic playmaking guard line: 15 points, 1 rebound and 6 assists (22 PRA), with 2 threes and 2 steals.
  • Jalen Duren – Frontcourt presence with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal + 1 block (23 PRA).
  • Ausar Thompson – Stuffed the sheet with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 2 blocks for 19 PRA.
  • Isaiah Stewart, Jaden Ivey (10p/2r/4a; 16 PRA), Ron Holland (12p/5r/3a; 20 PRA) and Duncan Robinson (15p/4r/2a; 21 PRA) all added solid scoring and supporting stats.

Defensively, the Pistons were active. Ausar Thompson and Cade Cunningham each posted 4 combined steals + blocks, while Javonte Green and Tobias Harris also chipped in multiple stocks, giving Detroit plenty of transition opportunities.

Hawks’ bright spots

Despite the loss, a few Atlanta players still posted strong numbers:

  • Jalen Johnson – A standout with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists suspected from his lines (he logged 19 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists would overshoot his listed 30 PR/31 PA/42 PRA – so sticking only to recorded data): officially, he finished on 19 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists implied by his 30 PR and 31 PA, total 42 PRA. Even without assuming anything extra, we know his 42 PRA was huge.
  • Dyson Daniels – Very active all night: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, plus a steal and a block, for a big 33 PRA.
  • Nickeil Alexander-Walker – Scored 22 points with 2 rebounds and 0 assists listed in RA (2 RA, 22 PA; 24 PRA), hitting 4 threes.
  • Onyeka Okongwu – Frontcourt effort: 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 blocks, giving him 20 PRA and a massive 11 combined turnovers + steals + blocks.

Detroit’s 142-point output and broad spread of double-digit scorers made this a goldmine for team-total and PRA overs, while Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels were clear standouts for Atlanta backers.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Washington Wizards

In another high-octane clash, the Cleveland Cavaliers outlasted the Washington Wizards 130–126 on the road. Cleveland came out firing with a 35–24 first quarter, took a 62–60 lead into half-time, then survived a big third quarter from Washington (40–23 to the Wizards) before exploding for 45 points in the fourth to seal the win.

Donovan Mitchell lights it up

Donovan Mitchell delivered one of the performances of the day:

  • 48 points
  • 4 rebounds
  • 4 assists
  • 8 made threes
  • 2 steals

He finished with a monstrous 56 PRA, clearly driving Cleveland’s offence and closing kick. For anyone on Mitchell points or threes overs, this was a comfortable cash.

Support cast for the Cavs

  • Evan Mobley – Strong two-way outing: 23 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, plus 2 made threes and 19 RA, ending with 42 PRA.
  • Darius Garland – Efficient guard play with 18 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals (27 PRA).
  • Jaylon Tyson – Gave them 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists (22 PRA) with a made three.
  • Craig Porter – Bench impact: 4 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals (13 PRA).

Collectively, the Cavs got reliable scoring from multiple directions, but Mitchell’s 48 was the headline.

Wizards’ big numbers in defeat

Washington matched Cleveland punch for punch for most of the night and had its own slate of strong stat lines:

  • CJ McCollum – Veteran guard brilliance with 27 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 made threes and a steal (37 PRA).
  • Carlton Carrington – Monster usage: 27 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 made threes, giving him a huge 41 PRA.
  • Marvin Bagley III – Double-double machine with 15 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists (32 PRA).
  • Kyshawn George – Contributed 15 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 threes (20 PRA).
  • Tristan Vukcevic (14p/5r/1a; 20 PRA) and Jamir Watkins (15p/8r/1a; 24 PRA) rounded out a deep offensive showing.

With both sides hitting 126+ points and multiple players clearing 25 PRA, this was the kind of game that rewards overs and same-game multis heavily tied to star guards and stretch bigs.

Indiana Pacers vs Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers defended home court with a professional 115–105 win over the Indiana Pacers. Philly edged the first half 63–58 and then closed strongly again in the fourth (25–15) after Indiana mounted a small third-quarter push (32–27).

Joel Embiid and Paul George lead the way

The Sixers’ stars took care of business:

  • Joel Embiid – Dominant interior presence with 39 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 made threes and a steal (51 PRA).
  • Paul George – Two-way production: 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 threes and a steal for 34 PRA.
  • VJ Edgecombe – Strong supporting night: 22 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 threes, totalling 31 PRA.

Philadelphia also got value from Quentin Grimes (10p/9r/4a; 23 PRA) and Dominick Barlow (10p/8r/1a; 19 PR, 19 PRA), giving them a good balance across the rotation.

Pacers contributors

The Pacers struggled to keep up offensively but still saw solid lines from several players:

  • Andrew Nembhard – A very respectable 18 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, with a made three (30 PRA).
  • Pascal Siakam – All-around impact with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a three and a steal (27 PRA).
  • Isaiah Jackson – Frontcourt energy: 7 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist plus defensive activity (17 PRA).
  • T.J. McConnell – Bench engine with 15 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and a made three (22 PRA).

For punters, Embiid and George delivered as expected in both points and PRA markets, while Nembhard and Siakam offered value as Pacers options even in a losing effort.

Utah Jazz vs Memphis Grizzlies

In a back-and-forth offensive showcase, the Utah Jazz held off the Memphis Grizzlies 130–126 away from home. Memphis led 64–61 at half-time, but Utah turned it up after the break, winning the second half 69–62 on the back of a huge 42-point third quarter.

Keyonte George goes off

Keyonte George delivered one of the biggest all-round stat lines of the day:

  • 39 points
  • 6 rebounds
  • 8 assists
  • 5 made threes
  • 2 steals

He finished at 53 PRA, driving Utah’s offence and punishing Memphis from deep and at the line.

Jazz depth and frontcourt strength

  • Lauri Markkanen – A big scoring display with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 threes and a steal (37 PRA).
  • Jusuf Nurkic – Huge on the boards: 13 points, 17 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 1 block for a massive 37 PRA.
  • Kevin Love – Veteran lift off the bench: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 threes (29 PRA).
  • Brice Sensabaugh – Efficient role player with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 triples (16 PRA).

Multiple Jazz players cleared 25+ PRA, making Utah an excellent side for stat-based bets in this one.

Grizzlies’ stars respond

Memphis didn’t go quietly, putting up big lines of their own:

  • Cedric Coward – A breakout-type performance: 17 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 made threes (35 PRA).
  • Ja Morant – Classic lead-guard stat line with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists and 2 threes (35 PRA).
  • Santi Aldama – Versatile forward play: 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 triples and a steal + block, totalling 31 PRA.
  • Cam Spencer – Sharpshooting guard with 20 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 made threes (26 PRA).

With both teams comfortably over 120 points and so many players filling up the box score, this clash would have been ideal for over-based markets and same-game multis built around points + threes combos.

Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks

Dallas defended home court with a solid 119–111 win in a matchup where both sides traded runs but the Mavs closed stronger. Brooklyn led 33–32 after the first quarter, but Dallas flipped the script in the second (33–28) and shut the door in the fourth (29–19).

Mavericks: AD and the kids shine

The Mavs’ mix of star power and young talent proved too much:

  • Anthony Davis – Vintage AD performance with 24 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, finishing on 41 PRA.
  • Cooper Flagg – Impressive all-round output: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal and 1 block (35 PRA).
  • Max Christie – Steady production: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 made threes and 2 steals (24 PRA).
  • Klay Thompson – Still a threat from deep with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 threes (16 PRA).
  • P.J. Washington Jr. – Complementary force: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks (19 PRA).

Dallas also got quality minutes from Dwight Powell (7p/3r/1a; 11 PRA) and Naji Marshall (17p/1r/4a; 22 PRA), rounding out a deep rotation.

Nets’ contributors

  • Michael Porter Jr. – The standout for Brooklyn, pouring in 34 points with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 made threes, good for 41 PRA.
  • Noah Clowney – Quietly effective: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 three and 2 steals (19 PRA).
  • Danny Wolf – Bench spark with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 threes (25 PRA).
  • Nic Claxton – Interior anchor: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block (28 PRA).

Brooklyn had enough individual performances to keep them in the contest, but Dallas’ combination of AD’s dominance and strong contributions from Christie, Flagg and Thompson proved decisive – and particularly profitable for points + rebounds props.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Golden State Warriors

The Minnesota Timberwolves closed the night with a big 127–120 road win over the Golden State Warriors. Golden State actually led 63–61 at half-time and held a narrow edge entering the fourth, but Minnesota erupted for 39 points in the final quarter to flip the result.

Timberwolves’ frontcourt and wings step up

Minnesota got huge performances across the board:

  • Julius Randle – A star-level outing with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 threes, totalling 42 PRA.
  • Rudy Gobert – Dominated inside: 24 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, plus a steal and a block, for a massive 39 PRA.
  • Naz Reid – Super-sub energy: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 threes (29 PRA).
  • Donte DiVincenzo – Two-way impact with 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 made threes (31 PRA).
  • Jaden McDaniels – All-round wing work: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 three and a steal (27 PRA).

Terrence Shannon Jr. (9p/4r/3a; 16 PRA) and Jaylen Clark (2p/1r/2a; 5 PRA) rounded out a deep, high-energy rotation that helped Minnesota win the second half 66–57.

Stephen Curry still cooking

The Warriors might have fallen short, but Stephen Curry once again lit up the box score:

  • 39 points
  • 5 rebounds
  • 5 assists
  • 6 made threes

He finished on 49 PRA, more than holding up his end. He had help too:

  • Quinten Post – Impressive stretch big with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 threes (25 PRA).
  • Jimmy Butler – Not his most explosive scoring game but still efficient: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists (28 PRA).
  • Moses Moody – Secondary scoring with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 three (17 PRA).
  • Trayce Jackson-Davis – Interior presence: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks (16 PRA).

In betting terms, this contest was loaded with value: multiple players cleared 25 PRA, Curry again sailed past common points lines, and both Randle and Gobert delivered big double-double style outputs in a winning effort.

Conclusion: Huge Numbers Across the Board – Time to Sharpen Your Edges

From the Bulls and Cavs grinding out narrow road wins to the Pistons and Sixers cruising at home, this slate was stacked with high scores and big stat lines. We saw:

  • Multiple games clearing 240+ total points, including 129–126, 130–126 and 130–126 finals.
  • Star turns from Donovan Mitchell (48 points, 56 PRA), Keyonte George (39 points, 53 PRA), Stephen Curry (39 points, 49 PRA), Joel Embiid (39 points, 51 PRA) and more.
  • Excellent value from versatile role players like Kon Knueppel, Jalen Johnson, CJ McCollum, Cedric Coward, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo, all comfortably hitting strong PRA numbers.

For punters, days like this are a reminder that understanding team styles, pace, and how usage is spread across the roster is crucial for finding value in odds – whether you’re backing totals, same-game multis, or player props on points, rebounds, assists and threes.

If you want to make the most of these kinds of performances, don’t just rely on one book’s prices. Use our odds comparison tool to line up the best markets across multiple bookmakers in seconds, find the top price on your preferred bets, and squeeze every bit of value out of days like this.

Before you place your next NBA wager, jump into our odds comparison platform, check the latest lines on totals and player markets, and make sure you’re getting the sharpest number available.