2020 NBA Christmas: Updates, highlights and stats from each game

NBA.com Staff

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2020 NBA Christmas: Updates, highlights and stats from each game image

Once again, the NBA had a loaded Christmas Day slate, with five games to fill out the day.

The action began with the Miami Heat hosting the New Orleans Pelicans. The Milwaukee Bucks then took on the Golden State Warriors, followed by Brooklyn Nets-Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks-Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers-Denver Nuggets.

If you missed out on the action, get up to date with all the highlights news and reaction from a big day of Christmas hoops.

NBA Christmas Day live score, updates, highlights

LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets

Final: LA Clippers 121, Denver Nuggets 108

The Clippers hang on without Kawhi Leonard down the stretch. Paul George finished with 23 points and nine assists while Nikola Jokic tallied 24 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.

Jamal Murray knocks down a corner three but the Nuggets still trail 116-105 with 2:43 left.

Kawhi Leonard has taken an accidental elbow from teammate Serge Ibaka. Leonard took the shot to the face and has left the court to head for the locker room. With the Clippers holding a 108-97 lead with 5:22 to play, this could sour an impressive night from the Clippers.

Hang on a second. Dozier lays one in and Denver are cutting into the LA lead. Clippers lead 98-85 with 10:43 left in the game.

End of the third quarter: LA Clippers 98, Denver Nuggets 79

The Clippers have pushed away as Paul George is up to 21 points on 5-for-9 shooting from three. It looks like we are heading for another blowout in the Christmas Day finale.

Serge Ibaka with the throw down!

Nikola Jokic is now just three boards and two assists away from a triple-double but the Clippers still hold a 16-point edge with 7:23 left in the third.

The Clippers have been scorching hot from deep all night, with 12 triples in the first half alone.

Halftime: LA Clippers 72, Denver Nuggets 55

A 40-point second quarter has given the Clippers complete control behind 25 combined points from Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

For Denver, Nikola Jokic is on triple-doube watch with 16 points, five rebounds and six assists. Two of those points came off a sweet dish from Monte Morris.

End of first quarter: LA Clippers 32, Denver Nuggets 26

Coming off a great Game 1 against the Lakers, Paul George hasn't lost his touch. His red-hot touch has the Clippers up by six after the first 12 minutes. 

On the other side, for the Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. leads them with quick eight points. 

Pregame

The new city edition jerseys for the Denver Nuggets

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks

Final: Los Angeles Lakers 138, Dallas Mavericks 115

The champs get on the board. Five players score in double figures while the team shoots 51-of-91 (56.0%) from the field.

Anthony Davis top scores with 28, LeBron James finishes with a double-double of 22 points and 10 assists while Montrezl Harrell is the spark off the bench with 22 points in 28 minutes on 10-of-13 shooting of the field.

On the other hand, the Mavericks had six players in double figures but nobody really had it going other than Doncic scoring 27. Dallas have now started their season 0-2. 

End of third quarter: Los Angeles Lakers 99, Dallas Mavericks 85

The Lakers don't let their foot off the gas pedal. They maintain a double-digit almost all through the third period, which included some stellar team basketball like this: 

Doncic scores 12 in the period but it isn't enough while reserve Montrezl Harrell is the Lakers' highlights scorer in the period with nine.

Halftime: Los Angeles Lakers 69, Dallas Mavericks 57

A Kyle Kuzma buzzer-beating three to end the half gives the Lakers a double-digit going into the locker rooms.

Despite nine of their 11 turnovers coming in the second period, the hosts' lights-out shooting keeps them ahead in the game - 27-of-44 from the field. Anthony Davis leads all scorers with 18 points while LeBron James is doing damage with his scoring and passing - 14 points and seven assists.

Josh Richardson moves to nine points while Doncic is still the team's top-scorer with 11. 

End of first quarter: Los Angeles Lakers 33, Dallas Mavericks 27

The defending champs get off to a better start this time, hold a slim lead of three after the first 12 minutes. Their All-Stars - LeBron and AD - have combined for 17 of the team's points including this connection in fastbreak. 

For the Mavericks, Doncic leads the way with eight points and two assists while playing all of the first quarter. Dorian Finney-Smith also chips-in with eight.

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics

Final: Brooklyn Nets 123, Boston Celtics 95

The Nets have blown this one out on the fourth, with the benches now cleared and Brooklyn holding a 116-92 lead. Irving (37) and Durant (29) have put on a show.

Caris LeVert putting on the ball handling clinic as the Nets roll on in the fourth and still lead by double-digits.

Brooklyn with a hot start to the fourth and now lead 95-79 with 9:44 left in the game. The bad news for Boston? The lead has expanded for the Nets with Durant on the bench.

End of the third: Brooklyn Nets 86, Boston Celtics 77

A real danger period for Boston as they fall behind 82-70 with 2:30 left in the quarter. Durant and Irving have combined for 49 points in a dominant display thus far.

Durant is now up to 21 points on 3-for-4 shooting from three. The Celtics are continuing to hang around and trail 73-70 with 4:35 left in the third quarter.

Kevin Durant is COOKING to start the second half. The former MVP is scoring from all ranges as the Nets regain the lead, 64-61 with 8:10 left in the third.

Halftime: Brooklyn Nets 51, Boston Celtics 54

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have 25 points combined, as the Celtics hold on to a slender lead at the half. Kyrie Irving leads all scorers on the floor with 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting.

Semi Ojeleye sticks with it for the finish. Ojeleye has eight points to lead the Celtics as they take a 43-39 with 3:48 left in the half.

Jeff Green with the follow slam!

End of the first quarter: Brooklyn Nets 26, Boston Celtics 22

Nets guard, Spencer Dinwiddie has headed to the locker room after a collision with Tristan Thompson.

DeAndre Jordan with the finish through contact!

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Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving could hardly have been any more impressive in their debut against Golden State on opening night. They now face the Boston Celtics in a battle between two Eastern Conference contenders.

Golden State Warriors vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Final: Milwaukee Bucks 138, Golden State Warriors 99

The Bucks get their first win of the season behind a game-high 31 points from Khris Middleton.

Tough game for the Warriors, who shot 34-for-99 from the field and 10-for-45 from 3-point range.

End of Third Quarter: Milwaukee Bucks 100, Golden State Warriors 76

This ... is going to be tough for the Warriors to come back from. 

Following a scorching first half, Khris Middleton poured in 10 more points in the third quarter to bring his total up to 31 for the game.

The two-time All-Star also has five assists.

The Bucks are running away with this one. 

Bobby Portis gives Milwaukee its largest lead of the game with a 3-pointer off of a pass from Khris Middleton.

The Bucks have thrown the first punch, going on a 14-8 run to open the third quarter. Their lead is now up to 16 points.

Halftime: Milwaukee Bucks 66, Golden State Warriors 56

The first half was the Khris Middleton show. 

The two-time All-Star poured in a game-high 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field and 4-for-6 from 3-point range.

James Wiseman has been the bright spot for Golden State with 14 points.

History!

With a 3-pointer in the second quarter, Stephen Curry has moved into second place on the franchise's all-time scoring list, passing Rick Barry.

The only player now ahead of Curry? Wilt Chamberlain.

Andrew Wiggins is starting to make things happen for the Warriors.

After scoring two points on 1-for-5 shooting from the field in the first quarter, Wiggins has six points on 3-for-7 shooting in the second quarter with 6:29 still to go. He's been much more aggressive about getting to the basket.

End of First Quarter: Milwaukee Bucks 33, Golden State Warriors 25

Strong showing on both ends of the court so far from the Bucks.

Not only did they put up 33 points, they held the Warriors to 25 points on 7-for-25 shooting from the field in the first quarter. Stephen Curry is tied with James Wiseman for team-high honours with seven points, but he's missed four of his five shot attempts to open the game.

Khris Middleton, meanwhile, leads the Bucks in scoring with 10 points, and Jrue Holiday has thrown a couple of dimes.

James Wiseman is showing his potential early.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft already has seven points midway through the first quarter on 2-for-2 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line.

His first bucket came on a dunk...

...while his second came from the perimeter.

Pregame

The starters are in for the second Christmas Day game.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Miami Heat

Final: Miami Heat 111, New Orleans Pelicans 98

The Heat took control down the stretch to win by double-figures.

Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson finished the game with 28 points and 25 points, respectively, while Duncan Robinson led the way for the Heat with 23 points on 7-for-13 shooting from 3-point range.

Robinson tied the Christmas Day record for most 3s in a game.

New Orleans won't go away but Miami is keeping its distance and Duncan Robinson is more than just a shooter.

End of Third Quarter: Miami Heat 88, New Orleans Pelicans 79

Brandon Ingram is up to a game-high 28 points while Duncan Robinson leads the way for Miami with 21 points, all from beyond the arc. New Orleans has cut it to within single digits, meaning we could be in for an entertaining finish.

This has become quite the Christmas debut for Zion Williamson, who is up to 24 points and 10 rebounds in the third quarter. New Orleans still trails by double digits but Williamson is doing his part in helping his team claw back.

Jimmy Butler is not on the floor to open the second half and is out for the remainder of the game with right ankle stiffness.

Halftime: Miami Heat 66, New Orleans Pelicans 53

After trailing by as many as 23 points, the New Orleans Pelicans outscore the Miami Heat 15-5 to make things closer heading into the half. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson lead the Pelicans with 16 points apiece while Duncan Robinson finished the half with a game-high 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting from deep.

Robinson's six 3-pointers set a new Christmas Day record for 3s in one half while he is one triple shy of tying the record for most 3s in a Christmas game.


The Miami Heat are now 10-for-15 from beyond the arc and hold a 50-32 lead five minutes into the second quarter. Miami knocked down seven triples in the first frame alone.


End of First Quarter: Miami Heat 29, New Orleans Pelicans 26

One quarter is in the books in Miami and the Heat have a three-point lead after trailing by as many as eight points in the first quarter. Duncan Robinson leads all scorers with 12 points (on 4-for-5 shooting from deep) while Brandon Ingram leads the Pelicans with eight points.

Zion Williamson gets the first Christmas Day bucket of his career. Something tells me it'll be the first of very many.


Pregame

The starters are in for today's matinee, it's the Christmas debut for former No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson.


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NBA.com Staff

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