Kon Knueppel went off before he went out on Friday night. The rookie guard erupted for 16 points in the first quarter of the Charlotte Hornets’ 120-105 win over the Orlando Magic (17-14), but the No. 4 overall draft pick suffered a right ankle injury late in the first half that sidelined him the rest of the game.

Head coach Charles Lee said afterward that it sounded like the X-rays on Knueppel’s ankle were negative, and that the Hornets (11-20) will get more information about Knueppel when the team returns home, as reported by The Charlotte Observer.

With less than 30 seconds to go in the second quarter, Knueppel appeared to roll his ankle after landing on the shoe of Magic guard Desmond Bane on a contest in the paint. 

While Knueppel was quiet in the second quarter before his injury, he turned heads with his first-quarter outburst, which saw him make all four of his 3-point attempts.

The Duke product has enjoyed record-breaking success from beyond the arc this season. Earlier this week, during a 139-132 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 20-year-old Knueppel became the fastest player in NBA history to make 100 3s.

He needed only 29 games to do it, surpassing Lauri Markkanen, who reached the milestone in 41 games with the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18. 

Knueppel came into Friday’s matchup in Orlando averaging 19.4 points per game on 47.4% shooting, with a 41.9% clip from long range.

Like college teammate Cooper Flagg, Knueppel has swiftly translated his skill set to the NBA.

Knueppel’s injury is the latest the Hornets have taken on this season. They were notably down two of their top-three centers Friday, as both Ryan Kalkbrenner and Mason Plumlee weren’t available.

Still, Charlotte found a way to win on the road. Seven different Hornets scored in double figures. LaMelo Ball led the charge with 22 points and splashed four 3s, albeit with six turnovers attached to his stat line. Collin Sexton, in just his second game back from a quad injury, chipped in 13 points off the bench.

The Hornets have been playing better basketball of late, but losing Knueppel for any significant amount of time could stunt that progress.

Kon Knueppel went off before he went out on Friday night. The rookie guard erupted for 16 points in the first quarter of the Charlotte Hornets’ 120-105 win over the Orlando Magic (17-14), but the No. 4 overall draft pick suffered a right ankle injury late in the first half that sidelined him the rest of the game.

Head coach Charles Lee said afterward that it sounded like the X-rays on Knueppel’s ankle were negative, and that the Hornets (11-20) will get more information about Knueppel when the team returns home, as reported by The Charlotte Observer.

With less than 30 seconds to go in the second quarter, Knueppel appeared to roll his ankle after landing on the shoe of Magic guard Desmond Bane on a contest in the paint. 

While Knueppel was quiet in the second quarter before his injury, he turned heads with his first-quarter outburst, which saw him make all four of his 3-point attempts.

The Duke product has enjoyed record-breaking success from beyond the arc this season. Earlier this week, during a 139-132 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 20-year-old Knueppel became the fastest player in NBA history to make 100 3s.

He needed only 29 games to do it, surpassing Lauri Markkanen, who reached the milestone in 41 games with the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18. 

Knueppel came into Friday’s matchup in Orlando averaging 19.4 points per game on 47.4% shooting, with a 41.9% clip from long range.

Like college teammate Cooper Flagg, Knueppel has swiftly translated his skill set to the NBA.

Knueppel’s injury is the latest the Hornets have taken on this season. They were notably down two of their top-three centers Friday, as both Ryan Kalkbrenner and Mason Plumlee weren’t available.

Still, Charlotte found a way to win on the road. Seven different Hornets scored in double figures. LaMelo Ball led the charge with 22 points and splashed four 3s, albeit with six turnovers attached to his stat line. Collin Sexton, in just his second game back from a quad injury, chipped in 13 points off the bench.

The Hornets have been playing better basketball of late, but losing Knueppel for any significant amount of time could stunt that progress.

The Los Angeles Lakers have hit their first rough stretch of the season. If they want to get out of it, they’re probably going to have to do it without Austin Reaves.

Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain (the gastrocnemius is a muscle in the calf) and will be out until he’s re-evaluated in four weeks, the Lakers announced Friday via Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.

The announcement comes two weeks after Reaves first suffered a mild left calf strain, which caused him to miss three games. He was deemed ready to return last week, but left Thursday’s game against the Houston Rockets with another calf injury and will now be out for at least a month.

It’s a badly timed injury for the Lakers. The team has lost three games in a row, with losses in six of its past 10 games, and is now sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference. Its loss Thursday was one-sided to the point the Rockets led by double digits for the entire second half. Then, in postgame, head coach JJ Redick ripped into the roster and promised an”uncomfortable” practice Saturday for certain players.

Reaves probably wasn’t one of those players Redick had an issue with. He has been one of the NBA’s breakout players this season, averaging career highs nearly across the board and supplying an effective complement for stars Luka Dončić and LeBron James.

If Reaves can return in exactly four weeks from Friday, that’s 14 games he’ll be missing. The NBA trade deadline is not long after that on Feb. 5, which is significant given the trade speculation around him.

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis is likely to miss several upcoming games after suffering a groin injury on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Davis exited the Mavericks’ 126-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day after experiencing right-groin spasms. He ran to the sideline during the first half and didn’t return to the floor. 

Dallas ruled him out at halftime.

The Mavericks will reportedly evaluate Davis daily with the forward a potential trade target this season.

Davis tallied 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal before he left the game.

Another injury for Davis

This injury for the 32-year-old Davis is the latest in a season and a career filled with them. Davis missed 14 consecutive games early in the season with a calf strain. He’s now missed 14 or more games in 11 of his 14 NBA seasons.

The Mavericks acquired Davis as the centerpiece of the return in the trade that sent franchise cornerstone and perennial All-NBA guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in his prime at 25 years old. They were aware of Davis’ injury history when they acquired him. 

Davis missed 24 of a possible 33 games with the Mavericks last season due to injury following the midseason trade. He’s missed 16 of 31 games this season and now appears to be in line to miss more time. The Mavericks dropped to 12-20 with Thursday’s loss, good for 11th place in the Western Conference. 

There is still quite a ways to go in the 2025-26 NBA season, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are off a great start. 

Though they’ve fallen off their scorching pace to start the season, they still could threaten the Golden State Warriors’ single-season wins record of 73.

Only two teams in league history have won more than 70 games in a single season. The first was the Chicago Bulls during the 1995-96 campaign, when they won 72 games. The Warriors broke that record by one in 2016. The Bulls won the NBA championship in their record-breaking season, while the Warriors ultimately fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers during their Finals run.

[Get more Thunder news: Oklahoma City team feed]

The reigning NBA champion Thunder were on a good pace, but a recent loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and three losses to the San Antonio Spurs, have left them behind pace to hit the mark.

It’s still early. A lot can change between now and April. But the Thunder’s campaign is definitely something to keep an eye on. Here’s everything you need to know about the Thunder’s quest to set the NBA’s single-season wins record.

OKC’s current pace: 68.8 wins

OKC’s last game

Most wins in NBA history, single season

73: Golden State Warriors, 2015-16
72: Chicago Bulls, 1995-96
69: Chicago Bulls, 1996-97
69: Los Angeles Lakers, 1971-72
68: Oklahoma City Thunder, 2024-25
68: Boston Celtics, 1972-73
68: Philadelphia 76ers, 1966-67

Thunder vs. ‘95-96 Bulls vs. ‘15-16 Warriors

Record after 31 games
‘25-26 Thunder: 26-5 (.839)
‘95-96 Bulls: 27-3 (.900)
‘15-16 Warriors: 29-1 (.967)

Longest win streak
‘25-26 Thunder: 16
‘95-96 Bulls: 18
‘15-16 Warriors: 24

SGA vs. MJ vs. Steph 
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 32.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 6.5 APG (29 games)
Michael Jordan: 30.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.3 APG (82 games)
Stephen Curry: 30.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.7 APG (79 games)

OKC’s upcoming schedule

Dec. 28: vs. 76ers
Dec. 29: vs. Hawks
Dec. 31: vs. Trail Blazers
Full schedule

Tracking Thunder’s historic start

Largest average margin of victory in a season
‘25-26 Thunder: 13.9
‘24-25 Thunder: 12.87
‘71-72 Lakers: 12.28
‘70-71 Bucks: 12.26
‘95-96 Bulls: 12.24

Highest net rating in a season
‘25-26 Thunder: 14.7
‘95-96 Bulls: 13.4
‘24-25 Thunder: 12.8
‘96-97 Bulls: 12.0
‘25-26 Rockets: 11.9

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102 on Christmas Day in a hotly contested battle between the top two teams in the West — their third meeting in less than two weeks.

Veteran guard De’Aaron Fox led the way with 29 points on an efficient 12-for-19 shooting. Backcourt mate Stephon Castle added 19 points of his own, with Victor Wembanyama chipping in 19 points and 11 rebounds from the bench. Harrison Barnes and Dylan Harper combined for 27 points and nine rebounds.

Leading up to Thursday afternoon, the biggest storyline surrounding this matchup was whether the Spurs, having beaten the Thunder twice this season, were worthy of the “rival” label. But on an afternoon when San Antonio used a 17-4 run to eliminate an early eight-point deficit, took complete control of the game, and limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 22 points on 19 shots for their third win over the champs inside of two weeks, it’s nearly impossible to shake the label now.

Jalen Williams finished the game with 12 points and six assists, Chet Holmgren had 10 and starting center Isaiah Hartenstein added 13 points and 12 rebounds. No other Thunder teammate finished with more than 12 points.

With the win, the Spurs have now won eight straight (not including the NBA Cup Final), firmly cementing them as the second -best team in the West — and true contenders heading into the new year.

San Antonio’s continued insistence on bringing Wembanyama off the bench has proven to be a tactical advantage, allowing their array of physical guards to set the tone before introducing the 7-foot-5 Frenchman. Oklahoma City found it difficult to find a suitable defensive approach to keep the Spurs out of the paint, despite an aggressive 2-3 zone. At the other end, Wemby’s presence forced the Thunder away from the rim but couldn’t convert on many of their open looks, shooting just 25 percent from deep. Key reserve Alex Caruso, who is shooting just 32 percent from 3 this year, missed 10 of 12 of his long-range shots.

The Thunder, who have now lost four out of six, must regroup quickly in their upcoming homestand against the 76ers, Hawks and Blazers to close 2025. Their next chance at a rematch with San Antonio will be Jan. 13.

The New York Knicks trailed by 17 points in the fourth quarter before point guard Jalen Brunson came through in a big way. Brunson’s 13-point fourth quarter helped lead the Knicks to a dramatic 126-124 comeback road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Brunson finished the game with 34 points and four assists. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled against Cleveland’s twin-tower lineup. KAT had 11 points but scored a crucial last-minute put-back to help seal the game for the Knicks.

Despite another 30-point performance from last year’s NBA Clutch Player of the Year, the Knicks’ bench played a key role in the comeback. What was once an Achilles’ heel for the Knicks during the Tom Thibodeau era has become an asset under head coach Mike Brown. 2021 Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson finished the game with 25 points and five 3-pointers.

[Get more Knicks news: New York team feed]

Second-year point guard Tyler Kolek had another strong showing, contributing 16 points, nine assists and going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Reserve center Mitchell Robinson may not have scored, but his 13 rebounds, including eight offensive boards, kept possessions alive.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Darius Garland added 20 points and 10 assists for a double-double. Evan Mobley finished with 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench in his first game back from a five-game absence due to a Grade 1 left calf strain. Jaylon Tyson also added 16 points off the bench.

Despite the close score, both teams are heading in opposite directions. The Knicks currently sit second in the East at 21-9. They are the Emirates NBA Cup champions, and their 15-2 home record trails only OKC.

The Cavaliers are 17-15, ranking seventh in the East. They’ve gone 4-6 in their last 10 games. The Knicks will play the Hawks in their next game on Saturday, while the Cavaliers will face the Houston Rockets on the same day.

If you didn’t already have enough going on on Christmas Day between opening presents and carving roast beast, the NBA has once again gifted us with a daylong roster of games to keep fans occupied well into the night. There are five NBA Christmas Day matchups, all of which will air on ABC and ESPN, and will stream on platforms like DirecTV, Fubo, and ESPN Unlimited. 

Kicking things off at 12 p.m. ET is a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and recently crowned NBA Cup winners, the New York Knicks. After that is a matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by the Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors, and the Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers. The night will end with a 10:30 p.m. ET contest between the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets. After which point, you’ll be ready for a long winter’s nap. 

A complete schedule of the day’s events is below, including tip-off times, how to watch, and more. Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s Christmas Day NBA games.

How to watch 2025 Christmas Day NBA games:

Date: Thursday, Dec. 25

Time: 12 p.m., 2:30 p.m, 5 p.m., 8 p.m, 10:30 p.m. ET 

TV channels: ABC, ESPN

Streaming: DirecTV, Fubo, ESPN Unlimited and more

Which teams are playing basketball on Christmas Day?

The NBA’s Christmas Day games have been a part of the league’s schedule for years, and this year, there will be five back-to-back games broadcast on ABC and ESPN on Thursday. The schedule for the day is as follows:

Thursday, December 25

• Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks, 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT (ABC, ESPN)

• San Antonio Spurs vs. OKC Thunder, 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT (ABC, ESPN)

• Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors, 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT (ABC, ESPN)

• Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT (ABC, ESPN)

• Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets, 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT (ABC, ESPN)

Watch ABC/ESPN via DirecTV

Watch on ESPN Unlimited

How to watch the NBA on Christmas Day:

More ways to watch the NBA on Christmas Day: 

Thanks to last week’s massive 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Carolina Panthers will have a chance to clinch the NFC South in Week 17. But they’ll need a little help.

For one, they’ll have to take care of business themselves—against the NFC-leading Seattle Seahawks at home. And that, of course, shouldn’t be an easy task—as the Seahawks will enter Bank of America Stadium at 12-3 and as the No. 1 overall seed in the conference.

The help, obviously, would have to come at the expense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—who are currently one game behind the Panthers for the division lead. Carolina would benefit from a Tampa Bay loss to or tie with the 6-9 Miami Dolphins.

So, here’s the playoff-clinching scenario:

• Panthers win versus Seahawks
• Buccaneers loss or tie at Dolphins

If those outcomes are met, the Panthers will capture their first division title since 2015 (and their first postseason berth since 2017) this Sunday.

And if they are not, then the Panthers and Buccaneers will match up for a winner-take-all showdown for the NFC South at Raymond James Stadium in Week 18.

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: What are the playoff-clinching scenarios for the Panthers in Week 17?