NBA December 17, 2025

Victor Wembanyama brings his generational talent to the World's Most Famous Arena tonight, and you better believe the MSG crowd is going to be electric. The rookie phenom has been everything San Antonio hoped for and more - averaging a near triple-double with blocks that belong on a highlight reel. But winning in Manhattan? That's a different animal entirely.

The Knicks at 17-9 are rolling. Jalen Brunson has become one of the league's most reliable closers, and this team feeds off the Garden's energy in ways that are hard to quantify. They play physical, they play tough, and they don't give rookies anything easy. Wemby's going to get his looks, but converting them against New York's length and intensity is a whole different challenge.

This is a measuring stick game for San Antonio's future franchise cornerstone. Can he deliver on the biggest stage in basketball? The Knicks are favored for good reason - they're the better team right now and they're at home. But nobody's turning off this game early because Wembanyama is must-see TV.

Cleveland's been the surprise of the league this season at 22-5, and they're showing no signs of slowing down at home. Donovan Mitchell is playing at an MVP level, and Evan Mobley has taken another leap on both ends of the floor. This Cavs team is deep, they're hungry, and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse has been a house of horrors for visiting teams.

Memphis at 15-11 is solid but dealing with the usual Ja Morant question marks. When he's healthy and locked in, the Grizzlies are as dangerous as anyone in the West. Their physicality and pace can overwhelm opponents, but Cleveland matches up well against that style. The Cavs have the length to contest everything and the discipline to not get sped up.

This is a tough spot for Memphis. Cleveland's been dominant at home, and the Grizzlies are on the second night of a back-to-back. The Cavs should control this one with their defensive identity and home court advantage.

Two teams that expected to be title contenders meeting up with disappointing records. the franchise at 14-12 has missed Kevin Durant since his trade to Houston, and Devin Booker has been shouldering an enormous load. They're still dangerous on any given night, but the consistency just isn't there without a true second star.

the Lakers roster (post-trade) is doing Luka things - carrying the offense night after night - but the supporting cast hasn't stepped up. Kyrie Irving's been inconsistent, and the defense has been a sieve all season. This is a must-win for a team that can't afford to fall further behind in the West.

Expect a high-scoring affair between two offensively gifted teams that struggle to get stops. Dallas has the home court advantage, but neither team inspires much confidence right now. This could go either way, but the desperation factor slightly favors the Mavs at home.

Indiana's season has been a disaster since Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury in the Finals. At 7-20, the Pacers are one of the worst teams in the league, and the energy around the franchise is at an all-time low. They're essentially playing out the string, hoping to develop young talent and position themselves for a good draft pick.

Chicago at 10-16 isn't much better, but they have more fight in them since their February roster changes. DeMar DeRozan is still capable of taking over games, and the young pieces are getting more opportunities. The Bulls are stuck in NBA purgatory - not bad enough to tank properly, not good enough to compete for anything meaningful.

Two struggling Central Division teams meeting up with little to play for. Indiana's home crowd might not even show up for this one. The Bulls should be able to grind out a win here, but expect an ugly game with both teams making plenty of mistakes.

Sacramento's fall from grace has been stunning. After making the playoffs for the first time in ages last year, they've completely collapsed to 7-19. since their February roster overhaul in February, the Kings have struggled to find their identity with Zach LaVine. The team chemistry is nonexistent. This is a franchise in complete disarray, and it shows every night on the court.

Portland at 11-15 is in rebuild mode but at least has a coherent vision. Anfernee Simons leads the offense, and they're developing young pieces for the future. The Blazers play hard at home, and Moda Center still brings solid energy for the loyal fanbase that stuck around through the tank years.

Two lottery-bound teams meeting on the West Coast. Portland should handle this at home - they're more cohesive and have something to prove. Sacramento looks like a team waiting for the trade deadline to blow it all up. The Blazers are worth watching in this one.