When the game slowed down, the pressure climbed, and overtime loomed, Nikola Jokić once again reminded the NBA why nights like this seem routine to him — even when they’re anything but.

The reigning Finals MVP delivered his 12th triple-double of the season, posting 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, as the Denver Nuggets edged the Houston Rockets 128–125 in overtime on Monday night. The win came in a matchup featuring two of the top three teams in the Western Conference, and it felt every bit like a playoff preview.

(Nikola Jokić )
(Denver Nuggets )

Jamal Murray rises when it matters

While Jokić anchored the night, Jamal Murray provided the finishing firepower. Murray poured in 35 points, including six of Denver’s 11 overtime points, and calmly knocked down 14 of 15 free throws.

It was Murray’s free throw with 2.3 seconds left in regulation — after an away-from-play foul on Amen Thompson — that forced overtime. Jokić had a chance to end it at the buzzer, but his deep three came up just short.

(Jamal Murray )

A finish worthy of the standings

The final 1:40 of regulation featured four ties and four lead changes, a stretch that left Ball Arena buzzing. Once in overtime, Denver briefly pulled away, taking a 124–117 lead after a Spencer Jones three-pointer.

But Houston refused to fold.

The Rockets clawed back within three and had the ball with 13 seconds remaining. Alperen Şengün launched a contested 24-foot three with under five seconds left — a shot that could’ve changed the night — but it rattled out, allowing Denver to escape.

Rockets stars answer the challenge

Houston didn’t leave Denver empty-handed in spirit. Alperen Şengün recorded his first triple-double of the season with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, showcasing why he remains central to the Rockets’ rise in the West.

(Alperen Şengün )

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant delivered an all-around performance with 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and five blocks, but it wasn’t enough to stop Houston’s third straight road loss.

(Kevin Durant )

Denver survives through adversity

The Nuggets’ win was even more impressive considering the circumstances. Denver was already without starters Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle), then lost Peyton Watson just six minutes into the game due to a right trunk contusion.

Despite the injuries, Denver leaned on experience, execution, and Jokić’s ability to bend the game to his will.

The victory marked Denver’s fifth straight win and their first home victory since November 8, reasserting their dominance at Ball Arena.

What this game says about the West

This wasn’t just another December win. It was a reminder that when games slow down and chaos sets in, the Nuggets still have the league’s most reliable constant.

Jokić didn’t celebrate wildly afterward. He rarely does.

For him, this was just another night — one where excellence looked effortless, and the Nuggets quietly sent a message to the rest of the West.

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Just under a month ago, the Detroit Pistons walked off the floor against the Boston Celtics knowing a winnable game had slipped through their fingers. That November loss didn’t just end a winning streak — it stayed with them.

On Monday night at TD Garden, that memory turned into motivation.

Led by a scorching performance from Cade Cunningham and a fearless bench unit, the Pistons delivered a 112–105 road win that felt far bigger than a single December result. It was payback. It was growth. And according to Cunningham, it was personal.

“Definitely wanted to come back and get that game back,” Cunningham said. “Great win for us.”

The plan: play faster, defend harder

Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff didn’t overcomplicate the rematch. After reviewing film from the earlier loss, his message was simple: increase the pace and take away Boston’s three-point looks.

The Pistons entered the night as one of the league’s fastest teams, while the Celtics had built their identity as the NBA’s slowest-paced squad. The contrast mattered.

Detroit pushed tempo when it could, but the real difference came on defense. The Pistons held Boston to just 25.6% shooting from three, a dramatic swing from their previous meeting.

Cade Cunningham’s statement night

Against one of the league’s toughest home environments, Cade Cunningham delivered a performance that screamed All-NBA intent.

• 32 points
• 10 assists
• 6 made three-pointers (season high)
• 85.2% composure despite five fouls

His biggest shot came with 7:53 left in the fourth quarter, just as Boston threatened to erase a double-digit deficit. Coming out of a timeout, Cunningham calmly buried his sixth three, silencing the crowd and stopping momentum cold.

“Just trusting my work,” he said. “Learning how to play with foul trouble without disappearing.”

It was leadership without theatrics — exactly what Detroit needed.

The bench flips the game

While Cunningham carried the offense early, the Pistons don’t win this game without their reserves.

Detroit’s bench poured in 47 points, overwhelming Boston’s second unit and changing the game in the third quarter.

• Caris LeVert: 13 points, steals, momentum plays
• Jaden Ivey: 10 points, 2 steals, relentless energy
• Javonte Green : clutch three, highlight dunk, three steals

One sequence defined the night: Cunningham drilled a three, Green answered with another, then turned a steal into a one-handed dunk over Derrick White . In seconds, Boston’s comeback hopes evaporated.

Celtics stars shine — but not enough

To their credit, the Celtics’ stars showed up.

Jaylen Brown finished with 34 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while White added 31 points, including five triples. But Boston couldn’t overcome Detroit’s balance or the Pistons’ third-quarter surge.

A brief switch to zone defense rattled Detroit early, triggering a 14–0 Celtics run, but the Pistons adjusted — something they failed to do weeks earlier.

A rare off night for Jalen Duren

Every winning story has a quiet subplot. For Detroit, it was Jalen Duren , who endured arguably his toughest outing of the season. Foul trouble limited his impact, and Isaiah Stewart closed stretches as Detroit leaned into smaller, quicker lineups.

It didn’t matter. This was a night about adaptability.

What this win really means

With the victory, the Pistons improved to 21–5 and 2–1 against Boston this season — no small feat against one of the NBA’s most complete rosters.

More importantly, they proved something to themselves.

They can lose, learn, adjust — and come back stronger.

For a young team chasing legitimacy, Monday night wasn’t just a win. It was a message.

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On a cold Monday night in Pittsburgh, Aaron Rodgers looked less like a quarterback chasing personal milestones and more like a conductor celebrating every note of his orchestra. As the Pittsburgh Steelers sealed a commanding 28–15 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, Rodgers wasn’t talking about himself. Instead, he was smiling, scanning the stat sheet, and naming players many teams had already given up on.

Kenneth Gainwell. Connor Heyward. Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Asante Samuel Jr. Adam Thielen.

“There’s some castoffs if you look at our roster,” Rodgers said afterward, grinning. “And that’s what makes it really special.”

For a franchise built on grit and reclamation stories, this win felt deeply Steelers-like.

Rodgers’ quiet masterclass

Statistically, Rodgers was ruthless in his efficiency. The veteran quarterback completed 23 of 27 passes — an 85.2% completion rate, his best since 2014 — for 224 yards, spreading the ball to eight different receivers. The Steelers scored touchdowns on four straight drives, something they hadn’t done since 2018.

This wasn’t vintage Rodgers forcing hero throws. This was Rodgers trusting the room.

That trust paid off quickly. Connor Heyward punched in a touchdown on a third-and-short tush push just before halftime, giving Pittsburgh its first points. Moments later, Rodgers reconnected with Marquez Valdes-Scantling — his former Green Bay Packers teammate — for a 19-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.

Rodgers smiled at him afterward.
“Happy to have you back.”

Valdes-Scantling summed it up simply: Rodgers isn’t afraid to throw to anyone. “If you can get open, he’ll find you.”

The value of players nobody wanted

Perhaps the most telling performance came from Kenneth Gainwell, who signed a one-year, $1.79 million deal — barely above the veteran minimum. Gainwell caught all seven of his targets for 46 yards and added 80 rushing yards on 13 carries.

“He’s super smart,” Rodgers said. “And I still can’t believe what we got him for.”

That sentiment extended across the roster. Adam Thielen, once released outright. Valdes-Scantling, bounced between teams. Asante Samuel Jr., unsigned for months. These weren’t headline signings — they were calculated bets on character.

Defense steps up when it matters

On the other side of the ball, Asante Samuel Jr. made his first start for Pittsburgh count immediately, intercepting Tua Tagovailoa in the opening quarter. Just seven months removed from spinal fusion surgery, Samuel’s presence energized a defense already playing with edge.

“Guys are buying in,” said Cam Heyward. “As soon as Thielen gets here, he’s studying. Samuel’s been itching for reps. Professionals know what’s required.”

Even players who didn’t show up on the box score earned praise. Fourth-string left tackle Dylan Cook, making his first career start, held firm enough to earn head coach Mike Tomlin’s respect.

“He upheld the standard,” Tomlin said. In Pittsburgh, that’s high praise.

Momentum in the AFC North race

The win strengthens the Steelers’ grip atop the AFC North, ahead of the Baltimore Ravens, and marks their first back-to-back wins since early October. With three brutal matchups ahead, linebacker Patrick Queen called this stretch “the part of the season where momentum is built.”

If this game was any indication, the Steelers aren’t relying on star power alone. They’re thriving on belief — belief in players others stopped believing in.

And as Rodgers made clear, that might be the most dangerous thing of all.

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