What’s up hoop fans, and welcome to another Full Timeout. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We’ve got an exciting slate of NBA games today, and I’m looking forward to all the matchups. Which game are you most excited for? The Spurs get a rematch against OKC, Steph and Klay reunite on Christmas in a Warriors vs. Mavericks showdown, and after everyone’s done eating — before it gets too late — we’ll see LeBron and the Lakers take on Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.

After being blessed with an incredible NBA Cup Finals where the Knicks took down the Spurs, it’s hard not to be excited about what Christmas has in store. That game had nothing but pure hoops and playoff-level energy — and crazy enough, the Knicks haven’t lost consecutive games since Halloween.

Meme of the Week → There’s been a lot of tension between LeBron and Dillon Brooks lately. Every-time they play Brooks is looking to make a statement. They’re literally going so hard they recreated the KAT and Boogie meme:

Historic Nights → Cooper Flagg became the first 18-year-old to score 40+ points in an NBA game. He dropped 42 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 140–133 loss to the Utah Jazz. Radford guard Dennis Parker Jr. poured in 53 points in a 107–77 win over Coppin State this past Sunday, setting the highest single-game scoring mark since 2019.

Trade Market Watch → As we get closer to the trade deadline, the league is heating up. The Brooklyn Nets have reportedly begun shopping Michael Porter Jr., the Charlotte Hornets are open to moving Collin Sexton, and the Sacramento Kings have made Malik Monk available for trade. Several front offices are clearly repositioning ahead of February.

Wildcats Bounce Back → Kentucky picked up a much-needed win over previously #22 St. John’s. Jayden Quaintance’s presence was immediately felt in his return, as he posted 10 points and 8 rebounds in just 17 minutes to help the Cats secure a 78–66 home dub.

The Return → According to Chris Haynes, Jayson Tatum is expected to return this season. No timetable yet, but his potential comeback would be a massive swing for the Celtics and the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Injury Report Update → NBA teams will now be required to resubmit injury listings on game days between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time, with public reports on NBA.com updated every 15 minutes in an effort to address sports betting concerns.

Who else remembers scouts raving about Deni Avdija during the 2020 NBA Draft, calling him the best international prospect in that class? Well, that finally looks like it’s taking shape. Although the Portland Trail Blazers are 12–17 and sitting in 10th place in the West, Deni has been on an absolute tear — and no one’s talking about it.

As a rookie, Avdija averaged 6.3 PPG, 1.2 APG, and 4.9 RPG. Now, at age 24 in his sixth year in the NBA, he’s putting up 25.8 PPG, 6.4 APG, and 7.1 RPG. He also has the efficiency to back it up, shooting nearly 50% from the field, 37% from three, and 81% from the free-throw line. Avdija’s true-shooting percentage has stepped into 60% territory for the first time in his career, showing improved efficiency alongside his scoring jump. Not to mention, his estimated plus-minus sits at +2.7, ranking in the 92nd percentile across the league.

And for the eye test — I mean, come on — it’s clear he’s an All-Star. To put the icing on the cake, Deni has the best field-goal percentage in the clutch at 55% (minimum 20 clutch FGA). That ranks him above guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (50%), Cade Cunningham (48.6%), Jaylen Brown (47.6%), and Donovan Mitchell (45%), just to name a few. Which honestly checks out, because every time my team plays the Blazers, he’s always going off on us. I know the league tends to have some bias baked into All-Star voting, but Avdija 100% deserves to be one this year — and he’s already got my vote.

🔥 Clutch or Cap 🧢?
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If there’s one Power Five conference with the biggest question mark this season, it’s the SEC. There isn’t a clear runaway favorite — instead, there’s a group of teams that all look capable of coming out on top. At the top, you’ve got the usual suspects: Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida. All five have the talent, depth, and coaching to make a real run. But what makes this SEC race different is the number of legitimate sleepers lurking right behind them.

Vanderbilt is no joke. Their offense is efficient, disciplined, and they’re projected extremely well by KenPom. Georgia quietly has the nation’s top scoring offense, which is wild when you think about how little national buzz they’re getting. And Oklahoma has already proven they can surprise people after knocking off Oklahoma State — they’re better than most expected. The numbers back it up too. The SEC currently leads the nation with seven teams inside the top 30 of the NET rankings, according to bracketologists like Busting Brackets.

It’s still super early but if I had to choose one today, give me Alabama, in my Pat McAfee voice. They’re balanced, explosive offensively, and built for high-possession games — and Labaron Philon is that dude. He’s been on an absolute tear and gives Alabama a guard who can control pace, get buckets, and close games. And the SEC schedule makers clearly understood the assignment. Alabama opens conference play at home vs. Kentucky (1/3), then immediately hits the road to face #11 Vanderbilt (1/7). That’s not easing into league play — that’s asking for all the smoke. The SEC race is wide open, but if Alabama survives that early stretch, don’t be surprised if they’re the team standing at the end.

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📈 Rising:

📉 Falling:

📈 Rising:

📉 Falling:

Man, do we have an exciting slate for Christmas game day! LeBron and Luka take on Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets in what should be a fun one. Both teams have been struggling as of late, hovering around .500 over their last 10 games. Houston, in particular, has had issues on the road, currently sitting at 9–8 away from home.

If the Rockets want to win this one, they’ll need to step up defensively instead of trying to simply outscore teams. This matchup actually sets up well for them, with Sengun and KD working down low. I doubt Deandre Ayton has much success stopping both of them — let alone one.

Both teams desperately need a win here. The Rockets are 1–4 over their last five games, while the Lakers sit at 2–3 in that same stretch. I see this one staying close throughout, with Houston ultimately pulling it out due to their ability to compete on both ends of the floor and play with a bit more consistency.
🎯 Full Timeout Pick: Rockets

I know Anthony Edwards can’t wait to talk trash tonight against the reigning Player of the Month, Nikola Jokić. What hurts the Nuggets in this one is their availability — they’ll be without Christian Braun (ankle), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), and Cam Johnson (knee).

Denver currently leads the season series 2–0, but missing that many key role players makes this a tough spot. This one should be there for the taking for Minnesota. Unless Jokić gives us a full-blown playoff-preview performance, I’ve got Ant-Man and the Wolves taking care of business.
🎯 Full Timeout Pick: Timberwolves

Catch you at the next one,