The Athletic NBA Daily – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Upside Down Night in the NBA + LeBron Keeps Streak Alive
Date: December 2, 2025
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita
Guest: Hunter Patterson

Episode Overview

This episode recaps a wild night in the NBA where favored teams suffered upset losses, a deep dive into the Pistons-Hawks matchup, and recognition of some remarkable individual achievements. The crew dissects key games, discusses breakout performances, and explores what these surprising results say about several contenders. Notable attention is given to LeBron James and his astonishingly enduring 10-point streak, plus conversation about young stars and their roles on emerging teams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Upset Night – Top Teams Fall to Underdogs

• Main Theme: Several top teams, namely the Bucks, Rockets, Nuggets, and Lakers, unexpectedly lost to teams with much poorer records.

• Bucks’ Loss to the Wizards

  • The hosts unanimously agree this was the most shocking result, given the Wizards’ dismal season and missing players.
  • Zena Keita: “The fact that Washington had two wins on the season and they didn’t have Alex Saar available... that’s a lock-in game—scheduled L for the Wizards.” (03:34)
  • The “old heads” (Chris Middleton and C.J. McCollum) spurred the Wizards, highlighting that experience mattered in crunch time.

• Rockets Stumbling against the Jazz

  • Dave: “They just completely crush the Jazz on Sunday… Monday, they look bad, real bad. To start the game, Kevin Durant winds up going 10 of 25... but he did not look very sharp.” (04:54)
  • Zena points out back-to-back fatigue and the improvement of Keonte George for Utah (8 turnovers, then 28 points and stellar play next night).

• Nuggets Losing Streak – Defensive Woes

  • Dave criticizes Nikola Jokic's defensive effort: “...their defense, but so is Nikola Jokic. Nikola Jokic is killing their defense.” (07:56)
  • The Mavericks' Ryan Nemhard has a historic night (see below).

2. Historic Rookie Performances

• Ryan Nemhard’s (Mavericks) Breakout Game

  • Zena: “First point guard in NBA history to record over 25 points, over 10 assists with zero turnovers, on 100% true shooting.” (08:41)
  • He’s a two-way contract player who’s forced Dallas to trust him with Jason Kidd, showcasing high IQ and methodical offense.

• Spencer Jones (Mavs) Noticed for Shooting

  • Dave: “I haven’t seen a guy shoot like that since the old Double Dribble game on Nintendo ... but it goes in, man!” (10:10)

3. Suns vs. Lakers – New Faces Step Up

• Colin Gillespie’s Deep Shooting

  • Dave revels in the Suns bench player’s 28-point show, going 8 of 14 from three.
  • Zena on the Suns’ culture: “I loved the energy that Dylan Brooks played with ... he is a culture setter and has totally changed who the Suns are.” (12:25)

• LeBron’s Streak Continues

  • Dave: “LeBron James’ 10-point streak still alive. It’s been going since the Bush Administration, folks.” (14:18)
  • The hosts joke about how long the streak may last.

4. Deep Dive: Pistons Edge Hawks Without Trae Young

[with Hunter Patterson, from 19:41]

Pistons’ Gritty Defense and Emerging Stars

• Hunter: “They just love muddied up, kind of not clean games that always come down to the wire ... different closing lineup ... Cade, Asar, Charis, and the Double Big lineup—Stu and Duran.” (20:11)
• Zena breaks down the Pistons’ versatility, excited by the “Double Big” approach and Jalen Duren’s improved ball-handling and physicality.

Clutch Play & Offensive Questions

• Cade Cunningham's Growth
  • Zena: “Most fourth-quarter points this season, third most points in the clutch.” (21:01)
  • The challenge: Who supports Cade in crunch time?
  • Hunter: “Probably a combination of him and J.D. ... they connect well in pick and roll situations.” (22:18)

Defensive Identity

• Dave: “Running... this big lineup... Cade Cunningham, Beef Stew, Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren. That's so much rim protection... nine blocks against the Hawks.” (23:37)
• Hunter: “Stu had five blocks tonight, Cade had three. Cade also had five steals... [he] guards the perimeter well.” (24:45)

Ron Holland’s Role and Growth

• Depth and Adaptability
  • Zena highlights improved discipline and efficiency: “Tonight was probably his most complete game of the season... way more disciplined now and way more efficient with his time.” (27:05)
  • Hunter: “[Ron] enjoys ... getting dirty and grimy and just buying into what makes this team what it is defensively... versatility is one of the most special parts about his game.” (28:08)

Jalen Johnson Shines for Hawks

• Hunter: “He had an amazing game, put up 29, 13 rebounds, 7 assists. The guy is a Swiss Army knife... seems like when he’s at his best.” (30:00)
• Dave: “You look at that little dunk score on NBA.com... he is a monster.” (30:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Upset Night:
  • Zena Keita [on the Bucks losing to the Wizards]:

    "Whatever you thought was gonna happen, flip that on its head." (02:31)

• On Ryan Nemhard’s breakout:
  • Zena:

    "This guy’s on a two way, by the way. Like Dallas is going to have to sign him before he gets to that 50 game mark. He has earned the trust of Jason Kidd because he is a heady player." (09:16)

• LeBron’s Streak:
  • Dave:

    "LeBron James 10 point streak still alive. So it has been going since the Bush administration, folks." (14:18)
    "His 10 point scoring streak can vote in next year's election." (14:23)

• On Colin Gillespie’s Heat Check:
  • Zena:

    “He was just, I mean, it was just instantaneous. He had a bright green light.” (14:02)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:07 - Open, introducing the episode’s theme of “upside down” NBA night
• 03:12 - Bucks’ shocking loss to Wizards analysis
• 04:47 - Rockets’ letdown against Jazz
• 07:34 - Nuggets’ home loss and defensive struggles
• 08:41 - Ryan Nemhard’s historic rookie performance
• 10:05 - Spencer Jones’ shooting form
• 11:24 - Colin Gillespie’s breakout for Phoenix
• 13:59 - LeBron’s streak discussed
• 19:41 - Pistons vs. Hawks in-depth segment with Hunter Patterson
• 21:01 - Cade Cunningham’s clutch stats
• 23:37 - Pistons’ elite defensive performance
• 27:05 - Ron Holland's emergence as a key depth piece
• 29:24 - Jalen Johnson’s rising star for the Hawks

Tone & Style

The hosts display an enthusiastic and conversational tone, laced with humor and genuine excitement about breakout performances and NBA chaos. They combine knowledgeable analysis with fun, relatable commentary, making the episode lively and engaging for hoop fans and casual listeners alike.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a whirlwind recap of an unpredictable NBA night, topped by a focus on the surging Pistons, standout rookie performances, and the lasting greatness of LeBron James. The hosts expertly blend statistical analysis, storytelling, and light-hearted banter, making sense of major upsets and spotlighting both rising and established stars. Whether you missed the games or just want deeper context, this episode delivers insight with personality and plenty of passion for basketball.