NBA Doncic Leaves Early With Leg Contusion As Lakers Fall To Clippers

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Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant and Cade Cunningham led standout performances across the NBA on 21 December 2025, as the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons each posted convincing wins. All three games were shaped by dominant scoring bursts and decisive three-point shooting, or in Detroit’s case, strong play inside the arc.

The Rockets delivered the night’s other major statement by ending the Denver Nuggets’ six-game winning streak with a 115-101 victory. Durant and Reed Sheppard combined for accurate shooting from distance, while Houston’s perimeter defence held Denver to under 30% from long range, shifting momentum firmly towards the visitors.

Leonard produced a season-best 32 points as the Clippers beat the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 103-88, halting a five-game slide. The Clippers pulled away behind efficient three-point shooting, while LeBron James’ season-high 36 points were not enough to compensate for the Lakers’ poor accuracy from deep across four quarters.

The game turned further when Luka Doncic, the NBA’s scoring leader, did not appear after half-time because of a lower leg contusion. Doncic had 12 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes, after missing the first six shot attempts, and entered the contest following a 45-point triple-double at Utah on Thursday.

James Harden added 21 points and 10 assists for the Clippers, with John Collins contributing 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Clippers converted 16 of 43 three-pointers. Leonard matched his season mark with four makes, Harden also hit four, and Brook Lopez added three from the bench, punishing the Lakers’ perimeter defence.

The Lakers struggled heavily from long range, missing 32 attempts. James went 3 of 7 from behind the arc, Doncic finished 1 of 6 and Marcus Smart went 0 for 9. That outside drought limited any potential comeback, despite James approaching his 41st birthday on 30 December with another high-volume scoring display.

Durant led Houston with 31 points, while Sheppard supplied 28, including 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range. Sheppard closed the third quarter by scoring the final 11 points, stretching a once-tight contest and creating a cushion the Nuggets could not meaningfully reduce during the last period.

Houston finished 19 of 35 from three-point range, a 54% rate that underpinned the 115-101 win and avenged a recent defeat in Denver. Durant went 5 of 6 from deep, and Jabari Smith added 22 points while hitting 5 of 11 threes. Denver, by contrast, shot 8 of 29 from long range, at 27%.

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 25 points, and Jamal Murray added 16, but Denver’s second unit could only narrow the deficit to 107-97 late. Sheppard then responded with a steal and slam that effectively sealed the contest. Nuggets coach Dave Adelman was ejected with 8:40 remaining after protesting a non-call on Jokic.

Pistons vs Hornets highlights and NBA results

Cunningham guided Eastern Conference leaders Detroit to a 112-86 victory over the Charlotte Hornets with a triple-double. Cunningham recorded 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, all despite sitting out the closing four minutes as both coaches rested starters after the margin grew, reflecting Detroit’s control.

Jalen Duren posted 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Tobias Harris scored 19 as Detroit registered a seventh win from nine contests. Duncan Robinson added 15 points and Ausar Thompson scored 14, meaning all five Pistons starters reached double figures, even though the team missed all 28 three-point attempts on the night.

Charlotte, which had improved recently with five wins in nine games following a 4-14 opening, could not keep pace. Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges each scored 19 points, and Brandon Miller finished with 14. LaMelo Ball fouled out after scoring eight points on 3-for-14 shooting, further reducing Charlotte’s offensive options.

The results left the Clippers stabilising after a losing streak, the Rockets ending Denver’s momentum, and the Pistons strengthening their position at the Eastern summit. Strong star performances, contrasting three-point fortunes and key injuries or foul trouble each played central roles across a notable night of NBA action.