NBA Score Today 2023: Live Updates and Final Results for All Games
Walking into my home office this morning, the familiar glow of my dual monitors illuminated my pre-coffee haze, and I instinctively navigated to my NBA scores dashboard. It’s a ritual I’ve maintained for over a decade, first as a beat reporter and now as an analyst. Today’s slate—December 28, 2023—promised some intriguing matchups, but my mind kept drifting to a piece of news I’d read just last night about Kai Sotto. The 7'3" Gilas Pilipinas center has officially linked up with Gunma Crane Thunders for the 2024-25 Japan B.League season, a move that gives him a fresh start in the Land of the Rising Sun after his unconventional path through the NBA’s periphery. It’s fascinating how basketball narratives weave together across continents, and as I tracked the live updates from tonight’s games, I couldn’t help but reflect on how player development isn’t always linear—sometimes it takes a detour through places like Gunma to find the right fit.
The Warriors-Celtics game was the headline act tonight, and what a show it delivered. Golden State edged out Boston 132-130 in an overtime thriller that had me jumping from my chair more than once. Steph Curry put up 38 points, including a ridiculous 28-foot step-back three with 12 seconds left in OT that essentially sealed it. I’ve seen a lot of Curry’s heroics over the years, but this one felt different—the Celtics had been clamping down all night, holding the Warriors to just 42% shooting from inside the arc, but you just can’t account for greatness. On the other side, Jayson Tatum’s 41 points and 11 rebounds were a masterclass in two-way play, yet it wasn’t enough. These are the kinds of games that remind me why I fell in love with basketball analytics; the numbers tell one story, but the intangibles—the clutch gene, the leadership under pressure—often write the final chapter. It’s something I think about with Sotto’s move to Japan. He may not be facing Tatum-level competition nightly, but the B.League’s physical style could be exactly what he needs to hone his interior presence and decision-making.
Meanwhile, out in Denver, the Nuggets handled the Suns 115-107 in a game that was closer than the final score suggests. Nikola Jokić, in his typical understated dominance, posted a triple-double: 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. I’ve always admired how Jokić makes everyone around him better—a trait that’s rarer than you’d think among superstars. Devin Booker poured in 35 for Phoenix, but their bench was outscored 42-28, a deficit that’s become a troubling trend this season. Watching Jokić operate in the high post, I kept thinking about how big men today are expected to do so much more than just rebound and score. For a player like Sotto, whose skill set includes passing flashes and perimeter shooting, the B.League could offer a platform to expand that versatility. The Crane Thunders finished last season with a 22-38 record, so they’ll likely lean on him heavily—a pressure cooker that might fast-track his growth in ways the G League or sitting on an NBA bench never could.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks and Bucks delivered a defensive slugfest, with Milwaukee prevailing 98-95. Giannis Antetokounmpo was his usual unstoppable self, dropping 31 points and grabbing 15 boards, but it was Brook Lopez’s 5 blocks that really caught my eye. Lopez has reinvented himself multiple times throughout his career, from a low-post scorer to a stretch-five, and now as a defensive anchor. That evolution is something I hope Sotto is paying attention to. At just 21, he’s got time, but he’ll need to add strength—he’s listed at 235 pounds, which is light for a center, even in Japan’s less physically imposing league. If he can bulk up to around 250 while maintaining his mobility, he could become a matchup nightmare overseas, much like Lopez became for the Bucks.
The night wrapped up with the Lakers pulling off a surprising 121-110 win over the Mavericks. LeBron James, at 38, looked ageless with 32 points and 9 assists, while Anthony Davis dominated the paint with 26 points and 16 rebounds. Luka Dončić’s 40-point triple-double felt almost routine for him, but Dallas’s defense collapsed in the fourth quarter, giving up 38 points. As I shut down my screens, I thought about how the NBA’s global pipeline keeps expanding. Sotto’s journey—from the Philippines to the G League Ignite, and now to Japan—is part of that tapestry. The B.League isn’t just a stepping stone; it’s becoming a legitimate alternative for players seeking meaningful minutes and cultural exposure. I’ve spoken to scouts who believe Sotto could average 12 points and 8 rebounds there if he adapts quickly, numbers that would put him on the radar for a future NBA call-up.
Reflecting on today’s games and Sotto’s new chapter, I’m struck by how basketball’s ecosystem is more interconnected than ever. The NBA’s scoreboards tell one story of superstars and championships, but beneath that are countless threads like Sotto’s—players grinding in lesser-known leagues, refining their games, and chasing dreams. As an analyst, I’ll always champion the underdog path because I’ve seen it pay off time and again. If Sotto can leverage his size and skill in Japan, we might just see him back on an NBA floor sooner than expected. For now, I’ll keep tracking both the daily scores and these quieter, yet equally compelling, journeys across the globe.
