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Enjoy the best of Wednesday’s slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights from around the league. Power Rankings, Week 4: Cavs, Knicks surge; Pistons reach Top 10 Kia Rookie Ladder: Knueppel grabs hold of No. 1 Last night’s live blog: Jokić’s masterclass caps a six-game night Download the NBA App What we know about Wednesday night’s games: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faces Luka Dončić — No. 1 and No. 5 on our Kia MVP ladder — as the defending champion Thunder host the Lakers at 9:30 ET on ESPN. The Magic, fresh off a brilliant buzzer-beater from Desmond Bane, travel to New York to take on Jalen Brunson and the Knicks at 7 ET on ESPN. The Heat, led by Norman Powell, and Cavaliers square off again after a 140-138 overtime thriller on Monday. Cade Cunningham is questionable for Detroit, as are Ja Morant and Anthony Davis for Memphis and Dallas. Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for the Bucks; so are Donovan Mitchell and LaMelo Ball for the Cavaliers and Hornets. Cooper Flagg is available for the Mavericks. 6:30 PM / NOVEMBER 12, 2025 Norman Powell is heating up in Miami The Miami Heat stand at 7-4, third in the Eastern Conference, playing at the league’s fastest pace. Norman Powell (24.5 ppg, 4.3 reb, 2.4 ast) has been a major reason for their success. He’s shooting 46 / 46 / 93 from the field so far this season, stepping for the injured Tyler Herro and continuing a scoring run that’s boosted him into the upper echelon of the league. Now 32, Powell has raised his scoring average in each of the last three seasons. He currently ranks 18th in the league in points per game, between Pascal Siakam and Zach LaVine, and could garner All-Star attention. Check the video above — Powell is quick off the catch. He’s consistently able to gain an advantage with his decisiveness, then capitalize with his skill, whether it’s from 3-point range, in the lane or at the rim. He doesn’t quite have the explosive leaping ability of his Raptors days, but he’s more than made up for it with craft and aggression. It’s a style that’s in keeping with the uptempo Heat, who seek to make it two straight over the Cleveland Cavaliers after taking a thrilling 140-138 win in overtime on Monday. “Our mentality, our focus, our internal belief as a team, is going to be more positive and higher expectations that the media would want to put on us,” Powell said earlier this season, crediting head coach Erik Spoelstra for imparting focus and resilience to the group. “There’s no moral victories, but we like the progression.” 6:00 PM / NOVEMBER 12, 2025 Welcome to a 12-game night in the NBA! Two Western Conference powers lead our Wednesday night slate, as the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, led by reigning Kia MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, take on Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers at 9:30 ET on ESPN. The Thunder have been rolling to start the season, surging to the top of the NBA with an 11-1 record. They’re fifth in offensive rating (119.4), first in defensive rating (105.4) and first in net rating (+14.0). Last year, their net rating stood at +12.8 — the best mark by any team in NBA history. Oh, and they’re still missing All-Star wing Jaylen Williams and defensive stalwart Luguentz Dort. It’s a special machine. SGA’s stats are eerily similar to last season’s MVP run — 32.8 ppg, 5.2 reb and 6.4 ast on 52 percent shooting vs. 32.7 ppg, 5.0 and 6.4 ast on, yes, 52 percent shooting. There’s no more consistent star in the NBA. Center Chet Holmgren has taken a step forward this season, though, upping his scoring and rebounding while making a blistering 73 percent of his two-point shots. Ajay Mitchell has stepped in to provide 17.0 ppg and wild energy, making up for some of J-Dub’s offensive juice. Former Laker and 2020 NBA Champion Alex Caruso is as tough on defense as ever; Aaron Wiggins is a consistent two-way threat. But the Lakers, with a record standing at 8-3, have the pieces to give them trouble. Luka (37.1 ppg, 9.4 reb, 9.1 ast) has been an unparalleled offensive force for much of this season, building chemistry with potential All-Star Austin Reaves (30.3 ppg). Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart provide size and two-way potential all around the floor, while Deandre Ayton is one of the fewer centers who might be more talented than Holmgren. It’s a thrilling matchup. Get locked in and enjoy. Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:
