![\"NBA:](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/27797733.jpg\")
Dec 11, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens (11) dunks the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nTrey Murphy III scored 24 points as the New Orleans Pelicans snapped a seven-game skid with a 143-120 win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Bryce McGowens added a career-high-tying 23 points — going 5-for-5 on 3-point attempts — and Jordan Poole contributed 22 off the New Orleans bench in his first game since Nov. 4 following a left quad strain.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n McGowens scored 10 points without a miss in the fourth quarter, which New Orleans dominated 38-23 to seize control of the contest.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Shaedon Sharpe posted 21 and Sidy Cissoko finished with a personal-best 20 for Portland, which took its sixth loss in seven games.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Nuggets 136, Kings 105<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Nikola Jokic poured 23 of his game-high 36 points into a first-half runaway as visiting Denver crushed Sacramento.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Despite failing to add to his league-league total of 11 triple-doubles, Jokic also found time for a game-high 12 rebounds and eight assists, helping Denver beat Sacramento for a third time in four meetings this season. Peyton Watson chipped in with 21 points for the Nuggets, who have won 11 consecutive road games.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Malik Monk had a team-high 18 points for the Kings, who lost for the sixth time in their past seven games. In a head-to-head with Jokic, one of his primary challengers for all-time triple-double leadership, Sacramento’s Russell Westbrook had 17 points but just three rebounds and five assists.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n Bucks 116, Celtics 101<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Kyle Kuzma scored a season-high 31 points to lead Milwaukee to a win over visiting Boston.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Bobby Portis added 27 on 11-of-13 shooting off the bench for the Bucks, who snapped a two-game skid. Kevin Porter Jr. compiled 18 points, 13 assists and 10 boards as Milwaukee prevailed without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Jaylen Brown led Boston with 30 points while Jordan Walsh added 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The Celtics had their five-game winning streak end.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Rockets 115, Clippers 113<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson teamed up to spearhead a fourth-quarter rally that carried Houston to a victory over visiting Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Sengun (22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, four steals) contributed two critical post baskets down the stretch. Thompson posted 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, including a three-point play with 17.2 seconds left that broke a 110-110 tie.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Los Angeles’ Kawhi Leonard was dynamic on both ends, posting 24 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Ivica Zubac dominated the interior, producing 33 points on 13-of-14 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds. James Harden (22 points, seven assists) drilled a 3-pointer with 37.1 seconds left that tied the game at 110-110, but the Clippers could not avoid their eighth loss in nine games.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n –Field Level Media<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n