Enjoy the best of Thursday’s New Year’s Day schedule with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.
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Kawhi Leonard’s scoring outburst was the top story of the night. Read on to learn more!
What we know after Thursday’s games:
The Rockets won their fourth straight game, defeating the Nets 120-96 behind Amen Thompson (23 pts, 10-of-12 shooting).
Norman Powell (36 pts, 7 3PM) led the Heat to a 118-112 road win over the Pistons, overcoming Cade Cunningham’s big night (31 pts, 8 reb, 11 ast).
Tyrese Maxey (34 pts. 8 reb, 10 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk) sparked the Sixers to a 123-108 win over the Mavericks on NBA TV.
The Clippers beat the Jazz 118-101, as Kawhi Leonard dropped 45 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter.
1:05 AM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Clippers defeat Jazz
118-101, led by an incredible performance from Kawhi Leonard, who took over down the stretch.
It’s a six-game win streak for the Clippers, led by the Klaw, who’s averaging 39.0 ppg over that span. Tonight’s performance was vintage Kawhi.
Kyle Anderson led the Jazz with 22 points in defeat.
12:50 AM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Kawhi going off
Clippers up 107-96 over the Jazz with 3:54 remaining, as an all-time great does good work.
12:20 AM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Celtics knock off the Kings
120-106, as Jaylen Brown put up 29 points and 10 rebounds to lead Boston.
The Celtics have now won three in a row and stand 1.5 games behind the Knicks for second in the Eastern Conference.
12:09 AM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Jazz making a comeback
11:40 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Kings and Celtics dueling in Sacramento
88-all in the Golden One Center heading to the fourth quarter.
Jaylen Brown has 21 points, while DeMar DeRozan leads the Kings with 17.
11:17 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Clippers leading Jazz
35-26 with 8:42 to go in the second quarter. James Harden and Kawhi Leonard both have 11 points so far.
10:50 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Sixers defeat Mavericks
123-108, led by Tyrese Maxey (34 pts. 8 reb, 10 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk).
VJ Edgecombe (23 pts, 5 reb) came up with a huge block down the stretch. The rook has bounce.
10:35 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
A quick start in Sacramento
Payton Pritchard started off hot, but it’s 40-35 Sacramento with 9:51 to go in the second quarter.
10:20 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Sixers up after three
92-85 Philadelphia as the fourth quarter gets underway in Dallas.
Maxey’s 23 leads the Sixers; Max Christie has 15 to pace the Mavs.
10:00 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Edgecombe makes his own dash
VJ Edgecombe, following in Tyrese Maxey’s footsteps from earlier, takes the steal and races away for two here.
Sixers up 77-68 with 5:21 to go in the third; Edgecombe leads Philly with 18 points (7-of-11 shooting).
9:50 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Norm nailed the threes tonight
Powell is now shooting 47.9/39.8/86.4 from the field this season. Read more about the talented scorer’s off-the-court grind here.
9:35 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Heat hold on to defeat Detroit
Norman Powell led the way with 36 points, including 7 three-pointers, while Jaime Jaquez added 19 and this clutch bucket to take control against the Pistons in a 118-112 win.
9:30 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Pistons rallying against the Heat
Detroit ball, 116-112 Miami with 45 seconds to go. Catch the finish on League Pass!
9:15 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Maxey racing to the bucket
No one runs more in the NBA than Tyrese Maxey. He leads the league with 2.8 miles covered per game — including this burst to the rim.
9:00 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Norman Powell on fire
8:15 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Ausar starts the break
7:30 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Amen soars through the air
7:00 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Pistons rolling against Miami
6:30 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Starting the New Year with Sengun
6:00 PM / JANUARY 1, 2026
Welcome to a five-game night in the NBA!
Here’s tonight’s schedule: