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De’Aaron Fox leads the way as Spurs once again topple Thunder

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.

De’Aaron Fox leads the way as Spurs once again topple Thunder

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.

Brunson and the reserves lead Christmas comeback as Knicks beat Cavaliers 126-124

Jalen Brunson scored 34 points, reserve Jordan Clarkson had 25 and the New York Knicks came from 17 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124 on Thursday and win on Christmas Day for the third straight year.

Reserves Tyler Kolek and Mitchell Robinson sparked the comeback after the Cavaliers led 103-86 early in the final period. Kolek had 16 points and nine assists, and had fans chanting his name after a late block on Donovan Mitchell that originally was called a foul but was overturned on review. Robinson hustled after offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive and finished with 13 boards.

Brunson made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:05 remaining, after he, Kolek and Clarkson all hit from behind the arc in a 13-2 run that cut Cleveland’s 12-point lead to 111-110.

Mitchell had 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Darius Garland added 20 points and 10 assists, but the Cavaliers blew their chance at a third straight win.

Evan Mobley finished with 14 points and nine rebounds after missing five games with a strained left calf.

The Cavs raced to an 18-3 lead behind 10 points from Mitchell and led 38-23 after one quarter. But Clarkson opened the second with consecutive 3-pointers, and after a Cavs 3-pointer, the Knicks ripped off an 18-0 burst to take a 47-41 lead.

The Knicks made 12 of their first 14 shots in the second, before Mobley had Cleveland’s final four baskets as New York took a 60-58 edge into the break.

Cleveland quickly regained control in the third. Mitchell slammed down a lob pass that Garland threw from beyond halfcourt to cap a 10-3 burst to open the period, and Mitchell later hit a 3-pointer to cap an 18-4 spurt that turned a 71-all tie into an 89-75 advantage for the Cavs.

Up next

Cavaliers: Visit Houston on Saturday.

Knicks: Visit Atlanta on Saturday.

Knicks complete largest comeback of season, beat Cavaliers on Christmas Day, 126-124

The Knicks trailed by 17 points with about 10 minutes left in the game and found a way to complete their biggest comeback of the season, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day, 126-124.

Here are the takeaways…

— Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two fouls within the first three minutes of the game, forcing head coach Mike Brown to call timeout with the team down 5-0. Mitchell Robinson came in for Towns and then OG Anunoby, back after missing Tuesday’s loss, got New York on the board with an and-one layup. In the blink of an eye, the Cavs built an 18-3 lead as Donovan Mitchell made four of his first five shots while the Knicks as a whole missed 14 of their first 16 shots.

Jalen Brunson nailed a wing three and completed the four-point play to wake the team up. Jordan Clarkson and Mohamed Diawara helped out, both hitting three-pointers to cut the Cleveland lead down to six points. Brunson stayed in a groove and scored with under 30 seconds left on a scoop layup, but De’Andre Hunter hit a three of his own with the clock winding down to give the Cavs a 38-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.

— Cleveland shot a ridiculous 68 percent from the field and 55 percent from three (6-for-11) in the first quarter, while New York struggled at just 38 percent from the field and 25 percent from deep (3-for-12). 

— Clarkson opened the second quarter with two quick three-pointers, getting the Garden crowd on their feet and forcing a Cavs timeout. The Knicks rode the momentum and went on a 15-3 run to cut the Cleveland lead down to three points, 41-38. Mikal Bridges hit back-to-back jumpers to give New York their first lead of the game and Towns kept it going, extending their 18-0 run to make it a 47-41 game midway through the second quarter.

— Evan Mobley, playing in his first game since Dec. 12, began to find his footing and scored eight straight points for the Cavs to keep it a close game. Brunson connected on another four-point play and then Josh Hart‘s three-pointer with 32.8 seconds left put the Knicks up 60-58 heading into halftime. 

New York outscored Cleveland, 37-20, in the second quarter thanks to making seven three-pointers. Brunson and Clarkson each scored 14 points in the first half.

— The Cavs came out of the locker room hot, going on a 10-3 run capped off by Darius Garland delivering a gift-wrapped pass to Mitchell from halfcourt for the alley-oop jam. Hart tied the game at 71-71 with a three-pointer, but the Cavs went on another run as Jaylon Tyson scored six straight points to make it an 86-73 game with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter. Tyson kept it going with a three-pointer and a dunk to give him 11 points in the quarter.

Cleveland nearly duplicated their first quarter, outscoring New York 38-24 and building a 96-84 lead going into the fourth.

— The game looked to be getting out of hand for the Knicks, down 103-86, but the team somehow flipped it around after Hart left with an ankle injury (down 107-95). Clarkson, Tyler Kolek, and Brunson all caught fire as the captain tied it up at 113-113 with a three-pointer. 

Brunson made another clutch three to put New York up two points and then Towns charged in to score on a tip-in to make it a 123-119 game. Mitchell rocked the rim with a huge dunk, but Anunoby came right back with his own to push the lead to back to four points. Mitchell hit a crazy three-pointer to keep Cleveland alive before Towns iced the game with a free throw.

— New York outscored Cleveland 42-28 in the fourth quarter. Brunson finished with a team-high 34 points and made six threes, while Clarkson dropped 25 points off the bench with five three-pointers. Robinson had another monster performance on the glass, grabbing 13 rebounds off the bench, including eight offensive boards. Mitchell led the Cavs with 34 points of his own and Garland chipped in 20 points and 10 assists.

Game MVP: Tyler Kolek

Kolek was a burst of energy in the fourth quarter after Hart rolled his ankle. The guard scored 11 points with three three-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 16 points, nine assists, three rebounds, and a block. He was a plus-24 off the bench.

Highlights

What’s next

The Knicks will travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 8:00 p.m.

A’s, Tyler Soderstrom reportedly agree to 7-year, $86 million extension

Tyler Soderstrom’s gone from playing on a 1-year, $820,000 contract to a seven-year, $86 million deal that could ultimately escalate to $131 million.
Justine Willard/Athletics via Getty Images

The Athletics and left fielder Tyler Soderstrom have agreed to a seven-year, $86 million contract extension, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Thursday. 

The deal would be the largest guarantee in franchise history. It includes an eighth-year team option and escalators that could max out the contract at $131 million, according to the report.

The contract for Soderstrom comes with a lucrative pay raise and long-term security. He was previously slated to enter 2026 on a one-year, $820,000 deal. For the A’s, it secures the services of one of their key young players as they prepare for their move to Las Vegas. 

Soderstrom, 24, had a breakout campaign in 2025 in his third MLB season and first as a full-time starter for the A’s. In 158 games, Soderstrom slashed .276/.346/.474 with 25 home runs, 93 RBI and 8 stolen bases.

The A’s are scheduled to complete their move from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2028. In the interim, they’ll play in West Sacramento, California. When they arrive in Las Vegas, Soderstrom projects as one of the faces of the franchise. 

The A’s made the deal days after acquiring former All-Star second baseman Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets. They’re coming off a 76-86 season and a fourth-place finish in the AL West.

A’s, Tyler Soderstrom reportedly agree to 7-year, $86 million extension

Tyler Soderstrom’s gone from playing on a 1-year, $820,000 contract to a seven-year, $86 million deal that could ultimately escalate to $131 million.
Justine Willard/Athletics via Getty Images

The Athletics and left fielder Tyler Soderstrom have agreed to a seven-year, $86 million contract extension, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Thursday. 

The deal would be the largest guarantee in franchise history. It includes an eighth-year team option and escalators that could max out the contract at $131 million, according to the report.

The contract for Soderstrom comes with a lucrative pay raise and long-term security. He was previously slated to enter 2026 on a one-year, $820,000 deal. For the A’s, it secures the services of one of their key young players as they prepare for their move to Las Vegas. 

Soderstrom, 24, had a breakout campaign in 2025 in his third MLB season and first as a full-time starter for the A’s. In 158 games, Soderstrom slashed .276/.346/.474 with 25 home runs, 93 RBI and 8 stolen bases.

The A’s are scheduled to complete their move from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2028. In the interim, they’ll play in West Sacramento, California. When they arrive in Las Vegas, Soderstrom projects as one of the faces of the franchise. 

The A’s made the deal days after acquiring former All-Star second baseman Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets. They’re coming off a 76-86 season and a fourth-place finish in the AL West.

Jalen Brunson’s 13-point fourth quarter fuels Knicks’ comeback win over Cavaliers

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.

Jalen Brunson’s 13-point fourth quarter fuels Knicks’ comeback win over Cavaliers

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.

Knicks’ Josh Hart exits Christmas game vs. Cavaliers with ankle injury

Knicks wing Josh Hart suffered an ankle injury midway through the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday and left for the locker room.

Hart was driving down the lane in transition and stepped on an opposing player’s foot going for a layup, appearing to roll his ankle.

Despite being in clear pain, he stayed in to shoot two free throws and made both. 

Hart then limped to the locker room and was subbed out for Tyler Kolek.

New York trailed 107-95 with 7:43 remaining in the game at the time of the injury, but were able to pull off an improbable 17-point fourth-quarter comeback to beat Cleveland, 126-124.

Steph Curry rocks Klay Thompson’s shoes during Christmas Day game vs. Mavericks

Steph Curry rocks Klay Thompson’s shoes during Christmas Day game vs. Mavericks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Since parting ways with Under Armour in November, sneaker free agent Steph Curry has put a lot of thought into the shoes he wears when he arrives at the arena, when he warms up and when he plays in the games.

And Christmas Day was no different for the Warriors superstar.

After arriving in Kobe Bryant’s “Yellow Toe” Player Edition of Allen Iverson’s Reebok Question kicks and warming up in his original 2010 Nike Christmas sneakers, Curry wore Klay Thompson’s KT11 shoes during the actual game.

Curry and Thompson spent 13 years and 11 seasons as Warriors teammates before the latter asked out and was traded to the Mavericks following the 2023-24 NBA season.

While they no longer share the same backcourt, the love between the Splash Brothers remains unbreakable.

Before Thursday’s game, Curry and Thompson shared a quick embrace during their respective pregame warmup routines.

There’s rhyme and reason behind just about everything Curry does, and Thursday’s gesture clearly was a tribute to his former running-mate and lifelong friend.

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