NBA scores: Clippers win 12th straight; Bulls surprise Knicks at home

As the holiday season arrives, many teams in the NBA are starting to decide whether they are contenders or not. The playoffs are still months away, but nearly two months into the season now, a front office can typically tell if their team has what it takes to make a run or not.

Here is a recap of all the NBA action from Thursday and Friday.

Thursday:

Just three games were played, with two being featured on TNT. The Thunder, who had won 12-straight games entering the day, fell to Ricky Rubio and the Timberwolves, 99-93. It was a close game throughout, but Kevin Durant was unable to lead a comeback against a hungry T-Wolves team.

In later action, the Heat continued to roll with a 110-95 win over the Mavericks. The Nuggets also defeated the Trail Blazers, 101-93, behind an impressive defensive performance.

Friday:

10 games were on the docket for Friday, although the Phoenix Suns did not play. The Clippers set a franchise record with their 12th-straight win following a 97-85 victory over the struggling Kings. Chris Paul led the way with 24 points and 13 assists.

Carmelo Anthony, who is dealing with a sprained ankle, saw himself and three others get ejected as the Knicks took on the Bulls. New York ended up falling short 110-106, which was just their second loss of the season at Madison Square Garden.

The Wizards continued to be on pace for arguably the worst season in American pro sports history. They fell to the struggling Pistons by 32 points on Saturday, giving them a 3-21 record.

For a complete look at the scoreboard, be sure to check out Sports Illustrated.