Knicks' surge stuns East — turning point as Pistons cling
The NBA regular season is building momentum as teams head into the new year, and the race in the East has tightened dramatically. Detroit remains No. 1 after an explosive start, but the New York Knicks have closed to within a game — fueled by strong December offense and the boost of winning the NBA Cup. New York has leaned on depth with Josh Hart sidelined (ankle), as coach Mike Brown has extracted meaningful contributions from role players such as Tyler Kolek, Mohamed Diawara and Kevin McCullar Jr., helping the bench provide timely scoring and rebounding despite injuries.
Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder still sit atop the standings even after a rough month, and much of their upside centers on the gradual return of Jalen Williams from a right wrist injury. In 13 games back he’s averaging 17.3 points on 45% shooting — down from last season’s scoring clip — but remains a high-impact two-way wing who contributes across the board. San Antonio has emerged as a storyline as well: after highs that included three wins over defending champion Oklahoma City and a strong NBA Cup showing, the Spurs hit a small bump with consecutive losses. Victor Wembanyama called it “a transition in our season,” and De’Aaron Fox has urged the team to bring consistency against lesser opponents as the calendar flips.
Injuries continue to shape the title picture. The Denver Nuggets suffered a major blow when Nikola Jokic hyperextended his left knee and is expected to miss at least four weeks, magnifying the importance of potential returns from Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun, both of whom the team hopes can rejoin during the ongoing road swing. Lineups with Jamal Murray, Gordon and Braun have shown strong net rating when available, but Jokic’s absence will test Denver’s depth and rotations.
Other notable trends: the Detroit Pistons have struggled from long range in December (worst 3-point percentage in the league at 32.8%) and still await a consistent scoring lift from Jaden Ivey. The Houston Rockets, meanwhile, have steadied after a rough patch, ripping off three straight wins to reach 20-10; Kevin Durant has delivered multiple 30-point nights recently and Amen Thompson has provided all-around impact. As teams jockey for positioning and the play-in race begins to take shape, the next few weeks will be crucial in sorting contenders from pretenders heading into the stretch run.
Latest News
