NBA Weekly Recap: Historic Performances, Streaking Teams and Holiday Hoops Magic (December 22-28, 2025)

The Week That Was

What a week for NBA fans. From Nikola Jokic's Christmas Day masterpiece to Kawhi Leonard reminding everyone why he is still one of the game's most dominant players, Week 10 delivered everything we could ask for and more. The league's elite showed up when it mattered most, while some surprising teams continued to shake up the standings.

Christmas Day brought five thrilling matchups, headlined by Jokic's 56-point, 16-rebound, 15-assist triple-double in Denver's overtime thriller against Minnesota. It was the first time any player in NBA history has compiled at least 55 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a single game. Anthony Edwards countered with 44 points including a game-tying buzzer-beater to force overtime, only to be ejected in the extra period.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs continued their stunning emergence as legitimate contenders, sweeping a mini-series against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The young Spurs squad, led by Victor Wembanyama and newcomer De'Aaron Fox, won their eighth straight game before finally cooling off against Utah on Saturday.

Games of the Week

Game of the Week: Nuggets 142, Timberwolves 138 (OT) - Dec. 25

Christmas magic at its finest in Denver. Nikola Jokic put on what many are calling the greatest individual performance in Christmas Day history, posting an absurd 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists. The Joker also set an NBA record with 18 points in overtime alone, breaking Stephen Curry's previous mark. Anthony Edwards was equally heroic for Minnesota with 44 points, including a twisting corner three with 1.1 seconds left in regulation to force OT. Jamal Murray contributed 35 points and 10 assists for Denver.

Spurs 117, Thunder 102 - Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)

For the third time in two weeks, San Antonio toppled the league's best team. De'Aaron Fox led the way with 29 points, while Victor Wembanyama added 19 points and 11 rebounds off the bench in his return from a calf injury. Stephon Castle chipped in 19 points and 7 assists. The defending champions looked mortal, held to just 39% shooting.

Clippers 112, Pistons 99 - Dec. 28

Kawhi Leonard turned back the clock in a major way. The Klaw exploded for a career-high 55 points on 17-of-26 shooting, including 26 points in the third quarter alone. He added 11 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 blocks for one of the most complete performances of the season. Leonard's 55 tied James Harden's franchise record. The Clippers extended their winning streak to a season-best four games.

Knicks 126, Cavaliers 124 - Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)

The Knicks pulled off the largest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA Christmas Day history, erasing a 17-point deficit to stun Cleveland at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson led the charge with 34 points, including 13 in the final 7:15. Tyler Kolek (16 points, 9 assists) and Jordan Clarkson provided crucial bench contributions.

Hot Streaks & Cold Spells

Teams on Fire

San Antonio Spurs - 8-Game Win Streak (ended Dec. 27)
The hottest story in basketball. The Spurs ran off eight consecutive victories, including three wins over the defending champion Thunder. De'Aaron Fox has fit seamlessly alongside Victor Wembanyama. Their streak finally ended with a 127-114 loss to Utah on Saturday, but the message is clear: San Antonio is a contender.

Denver Nuggets - 6-Game Win Streak
Nikola Jokic is playing at an MVP level and the Nuggets are rolling despite missing several starters. At 22-9, Denver sits third in the West and looks poised for another deep playoff run.

Phoenix Suns - 5-Game Win Streak
The Suns have quietly put together an impressive run, climbing to 18-13 and solidifying their position in the Western Conference playoff picture.

Teams Struggling

Indiana Pacers - 8-Game Losing Streak
It has been a brutal stretch for Indiana. At 6-26, the Pacers are in free fall and head coach Rick Carlisle remains stuck at 999 career wins. Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin have provided individual highlights, but the team cannot find wins.

Atlanta Hawks - 7-Game Losing Streak
The Hawks have dropped seven straight heading into Week 11, with injuries to key players compounding their issues. Trae Young, Jalen Johnson and Kristaps Porzingis all missed Monday's loss to OKC. Atlanta has fallen to 15-19.

Player Standouts

• Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: 56 points, 16 rebounds, 15 assists on Christmas Day. The best statistical performance in NBA Christmas history and a new overtime scoring record with 18 points.
• Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers: Averaged 39.0 points over his last four games, culminating in a career-high 55 against Detroit. He looks healthier than he has in years.
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder: Extended his streak of 20-plus point games to 104 consecutive, chasing Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record of 126.
• Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics: Extended his streak of 30-plus point games to nine straight, tying Larry Bird for the longest run in franchise history.
• Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks: Registered 36 points and 15 rebounds in the Knicks' win over Atlanta, keeping New York near the top of the East.

Conference Standings

Top 5 in Each Conference (as of December 29, 2025)

Must-Watch Games This Week

• Pistons at Lakers - Tuesday, December 30
  The East's best team visits one of the West's hottest squads in a thrilling cross-conference showdown. Cade Cunningham leads Detroit's surprising run, while LeBron James and Luka Doncic look to build on a dominant win over Sacramento. 11 PM ET on NBC/Peacock.
• Knicks at Spurs - Wednesday, December 31 (New Year's Eve)
  A rematch of the NBA Cup Championship. Two weeks after the Knicks rallied to beat San Antonio 124-113 in the final, these teams meet again in San Antonio. It is the second-place team in the East versus the second-place team in the West.
• Thunder at Warriors - Friday, January 2
  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander brings his 104-game 20-plus point streak to Chase Center to face Stephen Curry and the Warriors. OKC is chasing the 1996 Bulls' 72-win record. 10 PM ET on Prime Video.

Final Thoughts

Week 10 reminded us why we love this game. Historic performances, dramatic comebacks and the emergence of new contenders made for appointment viewing all week long. As we head into 2026, the race for playoff positioning in both conferences is tighter than ever. The Spurs have announced themselves as legitimate title threats, the Pistons continue to shock the basketball world and superstars like Jokic, Kawhi and SGA are playing at historic levels.

Stay locked in to Nexairi Sport for your complete NBA coverage. Happy New Year and here is to another week of incredible basketball.