Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks face Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers at 7 ET on Peacock.
Enjoy the best of Monday’s slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights from around the league, as nine-time All-Star Paul George returns to action.
What we know about Monday night’s games:
Paul George is expected to return tonight against his former team as the Philadelphia 76ers take on James Harden and the LA Clippers (7 ET, League Pass).
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks travel to Cleveland for a tough divisional contest against Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers on Peacock (7 ET).
Cade Cunningham remains out for the Pistons, while Jalen Duren is back. Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Darius Garland and Jalen Brunson are out. Cooper Flagg is available, while Nikola Jokić is questionable.
6:30 PM / NOVEMBER 17, 2025
Daniss Jenkins rises as Pistons seek 10th straight win
Going into the season, Dannis Jenkins was walking a long journey.
After attending four colleges, finishing as a second All-Big East selection as a graduate student at St. John’s, he went undrafted in 2024, then signed a two-way contract with the Pistons, appearing in seven games last season (1.0 ppg, 0.3 reb, 0.4 ast).
But he was ready this season.
As Detroit suffered a string of injuries, Jenkins has stepped into a starring role. Over the last three games, he’s averaging 20.3 points, 7.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals, as well as 3.0 three-pointers on 56.3 percent shooting from deep.
Jenkins plays — and speaks — with tremendous energy and focus, moving speedily with his head up on the court.
He can jitterbug into the lane for a drive, rise up for an open three and deliver an eye-popping dime, dropping several slick bounce passes in this latest run.
Jenkins also has a flair for the dramatic. He hit a game-tying three for the Pistons in their 137-135 overtime win over the Wizards on Nov 10, then knocked down a half-court buzzer-beater at the third quarter horn in Detroit’s latest 114-105 win over Philadelphia.
“I don’t know how many people watched my journey, my story. Every place I’ve been, that’s who I’ve been… I don’t back down from nobody. I’m going to compete at the highest level, and I’m going to talk,” said Jenkins. “I’m not afraid of nothing.”
Daniss Jenkins speaks after Detroit’s win over Philadelphia.
Jenkins and the Pistons look to keep a historic win streak going tonight against the Pacers (7 ET, League Pass).
It’s the longest winning streak for Detroit since 2007-08, when they went to the Eastern Conference Finals.
5:30 PM / NOVEMBER 17, 2025
Paul George is back on a 8-game night in the NBA
Paul George is ready to return tonight for the Philadelphia 76ers as they take on James Harden and the LA Clippers on League Pass.
Welcome to an eight-game Monday in the NBA, headlined by the return of Paul George as the Philadelphia 76ers face the LA Clippers (7 ET) and the Milwaukee Bucks facing the Cleveland Cavaliers (7 ET) on Peacock.
Paul George, a nine-time All-Star, is ready to be a leader for a tough Sixers squad, including Tyrese Maxey (32.0 ppg, fourth in the NBA) and VJ Edgecombe (15.6 ppg, 5.7 reb, 37.9 3PT%, fourth in the latest Kia Rookie Ladder), who have flourished in his absence.
Philly stands at 7-5, just above the Play-In Tournament positions. Jared McCain, who flashed last year as a promising scoring talent, is also getting back. Joel Embiid is out tonight, but not expected to miss extended time. There’s room for this squad to come together.
“I do think there’s a lot to look forward to. We’ve been leaning on each other,” George said ahead of the season, noting the team’s camaraderie. “Guys are committed to getting better. We’re hungry… The motivation is there. We’re just hanging on one another.”
George’s stats dipped in his first season in Philadelphia, but with a year of healing and stability under his belt, he’s ready to start with clear focus and energy.
“I do think I’ve still got a lot of game in me,” said George. “Playing at a high level — that’s who I am.”
The Clippers were one shot away against the Boston Celtics on Sunday, losing 121-118 after former Sixer James Harden missed a game-tying three at the buzzer after pushing Boston to the brink throughout the second half, scoring 32 of his 37 in the second stanza.
Harden became the oldest player to put up a triple-double with 40+ points in the prior game, a 133-127 overtime win over the Mavericks (41 points, 14 reb, 11 ast).
What will the resurgent Beard have tonight for his former squad? How will George, a former Clipper himself, respond to live action? Check it out on League Pass.
In national action, we’ll have Giannis Antentokounmpo (32.6 ppg, 11.3 reb, 7.1 ast, 63 FG%), who has been playing some of the best basketball of his career so far this season, and his new running mates like Ryan Rollins (16.9 ppg, 5.4) and Kyle Kuzma (13.5 ppg, 4.1 reb).
Keep an eye on Kuzma tonight.
He had one of his best games of the season (29 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast, 4 stl) in the Bucks’ 147-134 win over the Hornets on Friday in Emirates NBA Cup 2025 Group Play, but scored just a single point in their 118-95 loss to the Lakers Sunday.
He’s achieved a plus-minus of zero so far this season.
In wins, Kuzma is +39, with a usage rate of 19.8, a true shooting percentage of 65.3 and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.45.
In losses, he’s -39, with a higher usage rate — 21.7 — but a lower TS% (51.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.00).
Donovan Mitchell, as always, is also worthy of your attention.
The Cavs’ star scored 14 fourth-quarter points to rally Cleveland over Memphis 108-100, part of his 30 on the night. He’s sixth in the NBA at 30.4 ppg, while Giannis is second.