The New Orleans Pelicans, Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors each claimed important wins, highlighted by strong fourth-quarter and bench performances. New Orleans stretched its winning streak to five games, Boston erased a 20-point gap against Indiana and Golden State returned to a .500 record with a dominant second half.
Boston delivered the night’s biggest comeback, turning a 69-49 second-half deficit into a 103-95 victory over the Indiana Pacers. The Celtics, now 18-11, leaned on their defence and held Indiana to less than 40-percent shooting, limiting the Pacers to 1 of 20 from beyond the arc after half-time.
The Pelicans’ 119-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks marked their fifth consecutive success, coming straight after a 1-16 slump
between Nov. 8 and Dec. 8. Zion Williamson came off the bench on a minutes restriction yet still scored 24 points, shooting 10 of 14 and collecting nine rebounds, four on the offensive glass.
Rookie Derik Queen continued a strong start with a third straight double-double in 34 minutes. Queen finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Saddiq Bey also scored 19 despite going 0 for 6 from long range. New Orleans’ surge followed the extended poor run that had threatened to derail their season.
| Team | Score | Top Scorer | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Pelicans | 119 | Zion Williamson (24) | Queen 19 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast |
| Dallas Mavericks | 113 | Anthony Davis (35) | 17 reb; Klay Thompson 20 pts |
Jaylen Brown powered Boston’s fightback, scoring 14 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter. Brown shot 11 for 25 and added nine rebounds, while Derrick White supplied 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting. Boston outscored Indiana 54-26 over the closing stretch to secure a third straight victory.
Pascal Siakam provided 25 points for the Pacers, with Andrew Nembhard contributing 20 points and seven assists. Indiana slipped to 6-23 with its fifth defeat in a row, struggling badly from distance and unable to respond once Boston tightened defensive pressure in the second half.
| Team | Score | Top Scorer | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 103 | Jaylen Brown (31) | 18-11 |
| Indiana Pacers | 95 | Pascal Siakam (25) | 6-23 |
Warriors and NBA results: Curry and Butler lift Golden State over Magic
The Warriors eased away from the Orlando Magic after half-time, winning 120-97 to halt a three-game slide and move to 15-15. Stephen Curry led with 26 points and six assists, while Jimmy Butler scored 21 points on only nine field-goal attempts and went 6 of 7 at the foul line.
Moses Moody added 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting as Golden State shot 51.7% overall. Paolo Banchero paced Orlando, now 16-13, with 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, and Desmond Bane scored 20. The Magic, missing Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, continued to struggle defensively after last season’s 105.5 points allowed per game rose to 115.0.
| Team | Score | Top Scorer | Defensive Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | 120 | Stephen Curry (26) | Shot 51.7% from field |
| Orlando Magic | 97 | Paolo Banchero (21) | Points allowed up by 9.5 |
Across the three games, established stars and emerging players shaped the NBA results. Williamson, Brown and Curry produced decisive performances, while Queen, Cooper Flagg and Banchero showed impact in varied roles. With several teams adjusting to injuries and form swings, these outcomes kept early-season standings tight.
