Nightly Beat: NBA Update & Highlights from Dec. 20

Three exciting games are slated for tonight:

Friday Night Hoops

Charlotte at Philadelphia (7:00 ET, NBA League Pass)

Milwaukee at Cleveland (7:30 ET, NBA TV & NBA League Pass)

Oklahoma City at Miami (8:00 ET, NBA League Pass)

Embiid back for Sixers

Joel Embiid will start for the Philadelphia 76ers tonight after missing a game and a half with a sinus fracture that he suffered on Dec. 13 against the Indiana Pacers. The Sixers are going for their second straight win over the visiting Charlotte Hornets tonight.

Tip off is set for 7:00 ET on NBA League Pass.

Thunder getting ready in Miami

The Thunder arrive in style for their matchup with the Miami Heat, tipping off at 8:00 ET on NBA League Pass. OKC will try for their seventh win in a row, while Miami aims to bounce back from a tough overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday.

Top StorylinesThe Milwaukee Bucks are back in action after winning the Emirates NBA Cup Title on Tuesday, as they travel to Cleveland to square off in a divisional matchup with the league-leading Cavaliers. Giannis Antetokounmpo earned MVP honors for the tournament after leading his team on an unbeaten run that was capped by his 26 points, 19 rebounds, ten assists, two steals and three blocks in the title game.The Cavs play host to the aforementioned Bucks going for their league-best 24th win. Cleveland is 14-1 at home, including a 116-114 win over Milwaukee on Nov. 4 where Darius Garland scored a season-high 39 points and dished out eight assists.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Heat in Miami after topping the Orlando Magic last night. The runners-up in the Emirates NBA Cup will go for their seventh consecutive win tonight, as their loss to the Bucks on Tuesday does not count toward their overall season record. SGA was more of himself yesterday against the Magic, finishing with 36 points (15-26 FG), four rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks.