NBA Live Updates: Pistons vs. Celtics, Rockets vs. Nuggets
By USA News Today | Updated: December 16, 2025 – 2:12 AM ET
The NBA delivers a full slate of action tonight with five games on the schedule, headlined by a Peacock doubleheader featuring Pistons vs. Celtics and Rockets vs. Nuggets. Fans can follow all the key moments, highlights, and storylines as the night unfolds across the league.
The evening tips off in Boston before shifting west for a heavyweight matchup in Denver, where Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets host the high-powered Houston Rockets.
What to Know Heading Into Monday Night
Tonight’s Peacock doubleheader begins with Detroit at Boston (7 ET), a rematch after the Celtics recently snapped the Pistons’ 13-game winning streak earlier this season. The nightcap features Houston at Denver (9:30 ET), a showdown between two of the NBA’s most efficient offenses.
Elsewhere, the Memphis Grizzlies, winners of seven of their last 10 games, face the Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 ET), while Anthony Davis is listed as questionable for the Mavericks.
Jaylen Brown Takes Center Stage in Boston
With Jayson Tatum sidelined while recovering from ACL surgery, Jaylen Brown has elevated his game to new heights.
The four-time All-Star is posting career highs in scoring (29.9 points per game) and assists (4.8) while shooting nearly 50% from the field, helping Boston climb to third place in the Eastern Conference.
Brown has been the engine of the Celtics’ offense, ranking among the league leaders in usage rate and isolation scoring. Whether attacking the rim, pulling up from midrange, or stepping back from deep, Brown has become Boston’s go-to option in critical moments.
“If the offense stalls, the ball finds Jaylen,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said earlier this season. “His poise never changes.”
Pistons Look for Revenge Against Celtics
Detroit enters the matchup riding strong momentum, owning a 20–5 record and sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings. The Pistons previously defeated Boston on Oct. 26 but suffered a narrow loss on Nov. 26 when the Celtics ended their franchise-tying winning streak.
Cade Cunningham (26.9 points, 9.1 assists) and Brown currently rank No. 4 and No. 5 on the latest Kia MVP Ladder, adding even more intrigue to the Eastern Conference clash.
Rockets vs. Nuggets: Elite Offenses Collide
The night concludes with a marquee Western Conference battle between Houston and Denver, featuring the top two offenses in the NBA.
Denver leads the league in effective field-goal percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio, while Houston dominates the glass with the NBA’s best offensive rebounding rate and ranks second in defensive efficiency.
The Nuggets won the first meeting between the teams behind a near triple-double from Nikola Jokić, who continues to be a matchup nightmare for Houston. He’ll be opposed by rising star Alperen Şengün and veteran center Steven Adams in the paint.
Follow Along All Night
Stay with USA News Today for live updates, standout performances, and postgame takeaways as the NBA’s five-game night unfolds.