On Tuesday night, two of college basketball’s most storied programs, No. 6 Duke and No. 18 Kentucky, will face off in a highly anticipated early-season clash.

The matchup will be the final game of the 2024 Champions Classic, hosted at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, kicking off at 9 p.m. ET, following a game featuring No. 1 Kansas and Michigan State.

This game marks Duke’s first significant challenge of the season after victories over Maine and Army. It will also be the debut of Blue Devils freshmen stars Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel on a national stage. Flagg, projected to be the top pick in the upcoming NBA draft, is currently averaging 15.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.5 steals this season.

An interesting subplot for Tuesday’s game is the new leadership on the Kentucky sidelines, as Mark Pope takes over this year after John Calipari’s departure to Arkansas during the offseason. Pope was a member of the Wildcats’ 1996 national championship team.

As the Blue Devils enter this matchup, they hold five wins in their last seven meetings at the Champions Classic. Duke’s historical record in this event stands at 8-5, tying them with Kansas for the best overall performance among the participating teams which include the Blue Devils, Jayhawks, Spartans, and Wildcats.

Stay tuned here for live scores, updates, highlights, and additional information from the Duke vs. Kentucky game in the 2024 Champions Classic:

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Duke basketball vs Kentucky score updates

This section will be updated after tip-off

Duke vs Kentucky live updates

(This section will be updated with new information)

Second half: Duke 56, Kentucky 50

Sion James injured

Duke guard Sion James is seen favoring his right arm and shoulder after a collision with Kentucky’s Amari Williams during a screen play. James is the second Blue Devil to exit in recent minutes, alongside Khaman Maluach.

Cooper Flagg scores 14 points

Cooper Flagg executes a smooth spin move along the baseline, securing an easy basket inside, bringing his point total to 14 on 5-of-11 shooting. Duke leads by nine at 54-45.

Duke’s defense holds strong

The Blue Devils’ defense remains effective as Kentucky commits its eighth turnover of the night, sending the game into the under-16 media timeout with Duke ahead by five at 50-45.

Kon Knueppel currently leads the game with 14 points and has delivered several key passes to kick off the second half. He maintains his presence on the court despite two fouls.

Khaman Maluach boasts a dunk

Cooper Flagg assists Khaman Maluach for a slam dunk, marking Duke’s first points of the second half, expanding their lead to 48-42.

Otega Oweh sinks crucial three for Kentucky

Otega Oweh nets a vital three-pointer on a second chance for Kentucky, narrowing Duke’s lead to 46-40.

Khaman Maluach shaken up but recovers

Duke’s Khaman Maluach seemed to have hurt his right knee after colliding with a Kentucky player in the paint. He momentarily remained on the floor before standing up.

Halftime: Duke 46, Kentucky 37

Duke heads into halftime with a 46-37 advantage after a solid final nine minutes. The Blue Devils controlled the pace for much of the half, impressively making only one turnover and dominating Kentucky 28-6 in points scored in the paint.

The star freshmen duo from Duke, Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg, each lead the game with 12 points at halftime.

Halftime statistics:

• Field goal percentage: Duke 48.6%, Kentucky 36.7%
• 3-point percentage: Kentucky 43.8%, Duke 25%
• Turnovers: Kentucky 7, Duke 1
• Rebounds: Duke 21, Kentucky 20
• Bench points: Kentucky 9, Duke 2
• Points in the paint: Duke 28, Kentucky 6
• Assists: Kentucky 8, Duke 7

Kentucky struggles with shooting

Amari Williams misses a jumper in the paint as Kentucky fails to convert a field goal in the last 3:22. Duke leads 46-37 with just 5.2 seconds left in the first half.

Khaman Maluach scores a four-point play

Duke extends its lead to 10 points, its largest of the night, as Khaman Maluach contributes with back-to-back baskets, including a dunk off The play started with a pass from Kon Knueppel followed by a putback from an offensive rebound.

Tyrese Proctor scores with a stepback 3-pointer

Duke is finding its rhythm as the first half winds down. Tyrese Proctor nails an open 3-pointer, increasing their lead to 36-29. Kentucky coach Mark Pope calls a timeout after his team fails to capitalize, going just 2 of their last 11 shots.

Otega Oweh breaks Kentucky’s shooting slump

Otega Oweh, a key player for the Wildcats, stops Duke’s 9-0 scoring run with an inside putback. Early in the game, Kentucky has a slight edge in rebounding, leading 17-15 against Duke.

Duke’s run puts them ahead by four

Duke’s defense transitions into offense, highlighted by Kon Knueppel’s steal at half court, leading to an easy score for Cooper Flagg. This basket expands Duke’s streak to 7-0, prompting Mark Pope to call a timeout with the score at 28-24 in favor of the Blue Devils.

Cooper Flagg reaches double digits

Cooper Flagg makes both free throws, bringing his first-half total to 10 points. Duke trails Kentucky 24-23 with 8:47 left on the clock.

Duke in the bonus

From now on, the Blue Devils will be shooting free throws for the rest of the first half due to Andrew Carr of Kentucky receiving his second foul. Kon Knueppel misses the free throw, keeping Duke down by three at 24-21.

Amari Williams scores tough basket, finishes 3-point play

Amari Williams, a physical force for Kentucky, connects on a jumper and draws a foul, successfully completing the 3-point play to return Kentucky’s lead to three at 24-21.

Amari Williams quickly nets a jumper

Responding immediately, Amari Williams scores for Kentucky with a jumper just before the media timeout at the under-12 mark. The Wildcats are ahead 21-19 in this Champions Classic contest.

Sion James ties the game with a dunk

Sion James ties the game at 19-19 with a dunk during a fast break, following a defensive rebound gathered by Caleb Foster who found James sprinting down the court.

Kentucky starts strong from beyond the arc

Kentucky races ahead with consecutive 3-pointers from Kerr Kriisa and Ansley Almonor, taking the lead to 6-0 in the last 54 seconds. The Wildcats opened the game by hitting 5 of 5 from three-point range against Duke.

Cooper Flagg scores with a pull-up jumper

Duke’s standout freshman guard, Cooper Flagg, finds an opening and drills a pull-up jumper, putting the Blue Devils back in front at 13-12.

Duke leads at first media timeout

As the game approaches the under-16 media timeout, Duke holds a narrow advantage over Kentucky, leading 11-9. Tyrese Proctor is the star of the game thus far, scoring seven points and hitting all three of his field goal attempts.

Duke and Kentucky settling into the game

With 16:53 remaining in the first half, the score is tied 6-6, as both teams exchange early baskets and find their scoring rhythm.

Pregame

Kentucky fans dress up as The Pope

The first appearance of the night from a fan of Big Blue Nation dressed in a Mark Pope Kentucky uniform, resembling The Pope.

Duke’s Champions Classic history

Duke comes into Tuesday’s Champions Classic with an 8-5 overall record and has won 3 out of 4 times against Kentucky in this prestigious college basketball event. Their 8-5 record is currently tied with Kansas for the best among Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, and Kentucky.

Kentucky’s Champions Classic history

Kentucky enters the Champions Classic with a 5-8 overall record and has a 1-3 record against Duke in this annual college basketball event. The Wildcats are currently on a two-game losing streak against the Blue Devils in the Champions Classic.

Here’s a historical record of previous matchups between Kentucky and Duke in the Champions Classic:

• 2012: Duke 75, Kentucky
• 2015: Kentucky 74, Duke 63
• 2018: Duke 118, Kentucky 84
• 2021: Duke 79, Kentucky

Kentucky’s arrival at Champions Classic

The Wildcats are onsite for their match against the No. 6 Duke in the Champions Classic. Dressed in their home white uniforms, Kentucky has a historical record of 1-3 against Duke in this event.

Duke’s uniforms against Kentucky

In this Champions Classic matchup, Duke will wear their alternate black uniforms against Kentucky.

Cooper Flagg’s performance stats

In his first two games at Duke, Flagg has recorded a shooting percentage of 44% from the field (25.0% from three) while averaging 15.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

Here’s a detailed look at Flagg’s individual performances:

• vs. Maine: 6 of 15 shooting (40%) from the field, scoring 18 points with seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals
• vs. Army: 5 of 10 shooting (50%) from the field, contributing 13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals

Kon Knueppel’s performance stats

Over two games at Duke, Knueppel boasts a shooting percentage of 56.5% from the field (50.0% from three), averaging 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.

Here’s a breakdown of Knueppel’s game performances:

• vs. Maine: Shooting 8 of 14 (57.1%) from the field for 22 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal
• vs. Army: Shooting 5 of 9 (55.6%) from the field, scoring 15 points, along with two rebounds, two assists, and a steal

Who is Kentucky’s basketball coach? Mark Pope in his first season

Mark Pope, a former center for Kentucky, is in his first season at the helm of the Wildcats. The captain of the 1996 national championship team was hired in April following John Calipari’s move to Arkansas. Before taking over at Kentucky, Pope led BYU, achieving a record of 110-52.

overall record spanning five seasons.

Extension of the Champions Classic

Before the 2024 Champions Classic, ESPN PR made an announcement on X (formerly Twitter) confirming that the annual event featuring Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan State will continue through the 2028-29 college basketball season.

The upcoming Champions Classic is set for November 18, 2025, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Where to watch Duke vs Kentucky?

• Broadcast Channel: ESPN
• Live Streaming: Watch ESPN app | Fubo (with free trial)

The matchup between Duke and Kentucky will be broadcast on ESPN, featuring Dan Shulman as the play-by-play announcer, with Jay Bilas serving as an analyst and Jess Sims reporting from the sidelines. You can also stream the game on Watch ESPN or Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Stream Duke vs Kentucky in the Champions Classic through Fubo (free trial)

Duke vs Kentucky game time

• Date: Tuesday, November 12
• Time: 9 p.m. ET
• Venue: State Farm Arena (Atlanta)

The Champions Classic game between Duke and Kentucky will start at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 12 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Duke vs Kentucky: A Brief History

• Series Record: Duke leads 9-5
• Duke’s Most Recent Victory: 2021 (Duke 79, Kentucky 71)
• Kentucky’s Most Recent Victory: 2015 (Kentucky 74, Duke 63)

Predictions for Duke vs Kentucky

Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer: Duke 82, Kentucky 74

“While the Wildcats have a wealth of experience, the Blue Devils bring considerable big-game expertise with players like Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor. Kentucky’s offense is exciting and should be enjoyable to watch throughout the season. Nevertheless, I anticipate that Duke, through the effective scoring of Kon Knueppel and the defensive skills of Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach, will make the crucial stops late in the game to frustrate Big Blue Nation in SEC territory.”

Betting Odds for Duke vs Kentucky

Odds provided by BetMGM as of Monday, November 11

• Moneyline: Duke -250 | Kentucky +195
• Spread: Duke (-6.5)
• Over/Under: 159.5 points

Duke Basketball Schedule for 2024-25

Here is the schedule for Duke’s games in November 2024-25, including start times.

All times are in ET

• Monday, November 4: vs. Maine (Win, 96-42)
• Friday, November 8: vs. Army (Win, 100-58)
• Tuesday, November 12: vs. Kentucky, Champions Classic, 9 p.m.
• Saturday, November 16: vs. Wofford, Noon
• Friday, November 22: at Arizona, 10:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 26: vs. Kansas, Vegas Showdown, 9 p.m.
• Friday, November 29: vs. Seattle, Vegas Showdown, 7 p.m.

Kentucky Basketball Schedule for 2024-25

Here’s a look at Kentucky’s November 2024-25 schedule, including available start times.

• Monday, November 4: vs. Wright State (Win, 103-62)
• Saturday, November 9: vs. Bucknell (Win, 100-72)
• Tuesday, November 12: vs. Duke, Champions Classic, 9 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 19: vs. Lipscomb, 7 p.m.
• Friday, November 22: vs. Jackson State, 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 26: vs. Western Kentucky, 6:30 p.m.
• Friday, November 29: vs. Georgia State, 7 p.m.