The NBA opened 2026 with a slate that delivered instant drama, dominant individual performances and early statements from teams finding their rhythm as the season gathers pace.
Clippers vs Jazz: Kawhi Leonard Bleeds, Then Explodes for 45
The night’s defining moment came in Los Angeles, where Kawhi Leonard authored a gritty, dominant performance to lead the Los Angeles Clippers past the Utah Jazz 118–101, extending their winning streak to a season-best six games.
Leonard finished with 45 points, overcoming a bloodied nose suffered early in the contest after taking a shot to the face. Any discomfort only seemed to sharpen his focus. With the game tightly contested entering the final quarter, Leonard took complete control, scoring 20 points in the fourth alone — matching Utah’s entire output in the period.
The Clippers, who had earlier squandered a 21-point lead, slammed the door shut by knocking down seven consecutive three-pointers during the decisive stretch, four of them coming from Leonard. He was the lone Clippers starter on the floor for much of the fourth quarter, orchestrating the finish on both ends.
James Harden contributed 20 points, while Nicolas Batum added 14 points, hitting four of six attempts from beyond the arc. Los Angeles dominated early, racing to a 28–7 start as Utah missed its first six shots and managed just one rebound in the opening six minutes.
Utah responded with resilience, outscoring the Clippers 33–22 in the second quarter to trim the deficit to 53–50 at halftime, and briefly taking the lead during a third quarter that featured six ties. However, playing without starters Lauri Markkanen (knee), Keyonte George (illness) and Jusuf Nurkic (toe), the Jazz ran out of answers late.
Kyle Anderson led Utah with 22 points and eight rebounds, his first 20-point game in nearly three years. Brice Sensabaugh scored 20, Cody Williams added 18, and Isaiah Collier posted 16 points and 10 assists. Despite scoring 58 points in the paint and receiving 51 points from the bench, the Jazz fell for the sixth time in eight games.
Rockets vs Nets: Durant’s Brooklyn Return Fuels Houston Surge
The Houston Rockets continued their strong start to the new year as Kevin Durant marked his return to Brooklyn with 22 points and a season-high 11 assists, orchestrating a commanding win over the Nets. Rising star Amen Thompson led all scorers with 23 points, highlighting Houston’s growing depth and confidence. The Rockets remain unbeaten in 2026 and are riding a four-game winning streak.
76ers vs Mavericks: Maxey Takes Charge as Embiid Limited
In Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey stepped up in emphatic fashion, scoring 34 points to lead the 76ers past the Mavericks. With Joel Embiid on a minutes restriction, Maxey carried the offensive load. Dallas welcomed back Anthony Davis, who posted a double-double, but the continued absence of Kyrie Irving left the Mavericks short of perimeter firepower.
Heat vs Pistons: Powell Keeps Miami Rolling
The night closed in Miami, where Norman Powell stayed red-hot with 36 points as the Heat held off a late surge from the Pistons. Detroit threatened a comeback after trailing by 22, led by Cade Cunningham, but Miami’s experience proved decisive as they sealed a fourth straight win.
Celtics vs Kings: Brown Sparks Fourth-Quarter Pullaway
The Boston Celtics capped the New Year’s Day action with a 120–106 win over the Sacramento Kings, pulling away in the fourth quarter behind Jaylen Brown’s 29-point, 10-rebound performance. Derrick White added 16 points and seven assists, including the tiebreaking three early in the final period that set Boston on course for victory.
After entering the fourth quarter tied at 88, the Celtics seized control with an 11–2 run, while contributions from Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser off the bench helped Boston improve its record on the road trip. DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 25 points, but the Kings were unable to match Boston’s execution down the stretch.
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