The Boston Celtics of Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez, the Miami Heat of Mexico’s Jaime Jaquez and the Houston Rockets of Kevin Durant began their 2026 season on Thursday with three wins on the road against the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets, respectively.
In addition, Kawhi Leonard opened the new year in stellar fashion, scoring 45 points in the Los Angeles Clippers’ 118-101 win over the Utah Jazz.
Look at the sequence of Hugo Gonzalez 🔍☘️
From waiting open in the corner on the offensive end to avoiding 2 points from the opponent under his own hoop.
Total commitment. pic.twitter.com/rqsn79zgeF
– NBASpain (@NBAspain) January 2, 2026
The former Toronto Raptors star had scored 55 points last Sunday against the Detroit Pistons and led a Clippers team that rebounded this season with a streak of six consecutive wins.
Leonard finished the matchup for the Jazz with 45 points (16-of-29 shooting and six 3-pointers) and seven rebounds, supported by 20 points from James Harden.
Hugo Gonzalez, the Celtics’ 28th overall pick in the last draft, started 2026 with three points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal in the Celtics’ 120-106 win over the visiting Kings.
The 19-year-old Madrid native finished with a sparkling +20 plus-minus rating, the best mark on Joe Mazzulla’s team. He took two shots in California, connected on a three-pointer and forgave an inbound in the fourth period.
Jaylen Brown was Boston’s leading scorer with 29 points and ten rebounds. The Celtics have six wins in their last seven games and are in third place in the East (21-12), behind the New York Knicks (23-10) and Detroit Pistons (25-9).
The Kings, in which DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points, are second to last in the West with a record of 8-26.
Miami prolongs Detroit’s regression
Toughest pic of 2026 so far? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/qkLRI9K2ac
– Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 2, 2026
The Heat extended their winning streak to four in a row with a 118-112 win over the East-leading Detroit Pistons, who have lost three of their last four games.
Norman Powell led the Heat with 36 points, supported by a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds from Bam Adebayo. Mexico’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. left his signature in Detroit with 19 points and five assists coming off the bench.
The Pistons wasted Cade Cunningham’s 31 points and, despite continuing to lead the East (25-9), saw their lead over the New York Knicks (23-10) shrink.
Another victory on the road was secured by the Philadelphia 76ers, who defeated the Dallas Mavericks 123-108.
The return of Anthony Davis after two games off due to an abductor problem was not enough for the Mavs, in which rookie Cooper Flagg, chosen with the number one pick in the last draft, did not score more than 12 points.
Tyrese Maxey sealed 34 points for the Sixers and Joel Embiid contributed 22 points.
Former’ Durant assaults Brooklyn
sharing the ball & creating opportunities 🤝 pic.twitter.com/YHK2fycqpl
– Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 2, 2026
Durant, who played in Brooklyn from 2019-2023, returned to his former home with 22 points and 11 assists to lead the Rockets’ comfortable 120-96 win at Barclays Center.
The Rockets continued their good form in the NBA and won their fourth consecutive victory to increase their record to 21 wins and ten losses, the fourth best mark in the Western Conference.
The Nets, meanwhile, suffered their second consecutive setback and their 10-21 record leaves them in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference.
Durant scored 10 of his 22 points in a great second half, in which he showed off his vast technical arsenal with some spectacular hanging baskets and layups.
Filed under: Celtics Heat and Rockets
With information from EFE
