NBA fans get a five-game slate tonight, headlined by a Western Conference showdown between the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets in Denver. The action starts in Boston and runs through a late game in Los Angeles, giving viewers wall‑to‑wall basketball through the evening.
Full NBA schedule tonight
All times below are Eastern Time.
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics | 7:00 PM | TD Garden, Boston, MA |
| Toronto Raptors at Miami Heat | 7:30 PM | Kaseya Center, Miami, FL |
| Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz | 9:00 PM | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT |
| Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets | 9:30 PM | Ball Arena, Denver, CO |
| Memphis Grizzlies at LA Clippers | 10:30 PM | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA |
Why tonight’s games matter
The Rockets–Nuggets clash in Denver is a battle between two of the top three teams in the Western Conference standings, with Denver trying to protect home court after an unusually shaky stretch in its own arena. Houston is only a few games back in the loss column, so a road win would tighten the race and add weight to potential tiebreakers later in the season.
In the East, Boston’s meeting with Detroit gives the Celtics a chance to pad their record against a rebuilding Pistons squad, while Miami’s home date with Toronto is important in the crowded middle of the conference where every win can change play‑in and playoff seeding. Out West, both the Mavericks and Jazz, along with the Grizzlies and Clippers, are fighting to stay in the mix around the play‑in line, so each result could shuffle the lower half of the standings.
Expert win Predictions
| Matchup | Edge on paper | Likely winner* |
|---|---|---|
| Pistons at Celtics | Boston’s superior record and deeper rotation at home make them clear favorites. | Celtics |
| Raptors at Heat | Miami’s stronger defense and home advantage give them a slight edge over an inconsistent Toronto team. | Heat |
| Mavericks at Jazz | Dallas has the star power in the backcourt, but Utah’s altitude and improved recent form keep this close; still, Dallas gets a narrow nod. | Mavericks (close) |
| Rockets at Nuggets | Denver’s championship core and balanced offense at home make them marginal favorites, though Houston’s form suggests a tight contest. | Nuggets (tight game) |
| Grizzlies at Clippers | Memphis has been competitive, but the Clippers’ veteran talent and home crowd at the Intuit Dome should tilt this in their favor. | Clippers |
The expert predictions and favored teams listed are based on current form, recent performance, and statistical analysis as of December 13, 2025. These predictions are not guaranteed outcomes and are subject to change due to factors such as injuries, lineup changes, and in-game developments. Always refer to the latest news and official sources for real-time updates and adjustments to game expectations
Probable lineups tonight
These are typical starting groups this season; game‑time changes are always possible.
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Pistons at Celtics
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Detroit: Jaden Ivey, Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren.
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Boston: Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford.
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Raptors at Heat
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Toronto: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam (if still on roster role), Jakob Poeltl.
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Miami: Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic, Bam Adebayo.
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Mavericks at Jazz
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Dallas: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Maxi Kleber, Dereck Lively II.
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Utah: Collin Sexton, Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Walker Kessler.
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Rockets at Nuggets
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Houston: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun.
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Denver: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell‑Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic.
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Grizzlies at Clippers
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Memphis: Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, Ziaire Williams, Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama.
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LA Clippers: James Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Terance Mann, Ivica Zubac.
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Stars to watch and key stats
Nikola Jokic continues to operate as an MVP‑level hub for Denver, averaging a triple‑double range line with elite efficiency and ranking near the top of the league in both scoring and assists for a center. His matchup with Houston’s creative big Alperen Sengun, who is also putting up strong points, rebounds and assists numbers, makes the Nuggets–Rockets game especially intriguing.
In Boston, Jayson Tatum is leading the Celtics in scoring while contributing solid rebounding and playmaking, and the Pistons will rely heavily on Cade Cunningham’s improving all‑around numbers to keep pace. Miami’s Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo remain the heartbeat of the Heat on both ends, while Luka Doncic’s high‑usage scoring and assist totals for Dallas make every Mavericks game a potential showcase performance.
Where to watch and live streaming
Nationally in the United States, select games including Pistons–Celtics and Rockets–Nuggets are carried on NBC platforms and Peacock, with others available regionally and via NBA League Pass depending on your market. Local sports networks such as NBC Sports Boston, TSN/Sportsnet in Canada, Space City Home Network in Houston, Altitude Sports in Denver and Bally Sports SoCal in Los Angeles carry their home team broadcasts, and most matchups can also be streamed through NBA League Pass for out‑of‑market viewers.
