The first NBA games of 2026 featured three strong winning streaks, as the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Houston Rockets all stayed hot. Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell and Kevin Durant led their teams to double-digit victories, with each side stretching unbeaten runs that could influence early conference races.
Houston recorded the most comfortable margin, beating the Brooklyn Nets 120-96 and collecting a fourth straight win. Kevin Durant produced 22 points and a season-high 11 assists for the Rockets, while Amen Thompson top-scored with 23. Houston controlled both halves in Brooklyn and never trailed on the way to a rare road victory there.
Alperen Sengun returned after missing two games with a left calf problem and delivered 20 points. Sengun also
added six rebounds and six assists while shooting 8-for-12 from the field. Tari Eason contributed 15 points and nine rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. plus Reed Sheppard scored 14 each, giving the Rockets balanced scoring across the starting group.
Brooklyn struggled without leading scorer Michael Porter Jr., who sat out because of illness. Porter entered the night averaging a career-best 25.8 points per game. Starting guards Egor Demin and Terance Mann were also unavailable through injury. Cam Thomas managed 21 points, but the Nets slipped to a second straight defeat after their first three-game winning streak of the season.
The Clippers produced the day’s highest individual performance, as Kawhi Leonard erupted for 45 points in a 118-101 win over the Utah Jazz. Los Angeles extended its winning streak to a season-best six games, but needed a late push after earlier wasting a 21-point cushion against a depleted Utah side.
Leonard stayed on court as the lone Clippers starter for much of the fourth quarter and closed the game. Leonard scored 20 points in the final period alone, matching Utah’s total for the quarter, while playing with visible blood on the nose after a scratch. Los Angeles hit seven consecutive 3-pointers during that stretch, with Leonard knocking down four.
Started the year with a W. pic.twitter.com/g7OK2AZhDt LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 2, 2026
NBA winning streak update: Heat edge Pistons after late scare
In Detroit, the Miami Heat also stretched a winning run, beating the Pistons 118-112 for a fourth straight victory. Norman Powell led Miami with 36 points, while Bam Abdebayo contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds. The Heat built a 22-point second-half lead, but Detroit narrowed the gap and forced a tense finish.
The Pistons, leaders of the Eastern Conference, trailed 114-103 with two minutes left yet rallied again. Detroit scored six quick points, and after a Powell miss, Javonte Green hit a 3-pointer to make it 114-112 with 46.4 seconds remaining. Jaime Jaquez Jr. then sank a short jumper to restore a two-possession margin, and an Ausar Thompson turnover forced Detroit into late fouls.
Powell, scoreless in the fourth quarter until then, sealed the result by hitting two free throws. Jaquez ended with 19 points, while Andrew Wiggins added 17 for Miami. Cade Cunningham posted 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for Detroit, which has now dropped three of its last four games.4 in a row pic.twitter.com/lqMLjw59WB Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 2, 2026
The results continued positive trends for all three winners, with the Clippers and Rockets both enjoying strong offensive balance around their main stars. Miami showed late-game composure on the road against a conference leader, while the Nets, Jazz and Pistons left with issues to address around depth, injuries and defensive lapses.
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