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$Anthony Davis (adductor strain) to be reevaluated in 2 weeks Текст: •Get NBA League Pass TODAY DALLAS (AP) —If the Dallas Mavericks can get mostly healthy by mid-March, there should be time for the defending Western Conference champions to play their way into a decent playoff position. Coach Jason Kidd understands it might be a big “if.” “You’re never guaranteed to be healthy,” Kidd said Thursday after the Mavericks announced that recently acquired star Anthony Davis will be out at least two more weeks but is making “good progress” in recovery froma groin injurysustained in his Dallas debut. The Dallas Mavericks today announced that Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis, who suffered a left adductor strain on Feb. 8 against Houston, is making good progress. Davis will be re-evaluated in two weeks with further updates to follow, as necessary. — Mavs PR (@MavsPR)February 20, 2025 “Beginning of the season, we had injuries right off the bat,” Kidd said. “And so it would be great to get healthy. But if we’re not healthy, we’ve got to deal with the cards that we have and put guys in a position to be successful.” The Mavericks are eighth in the West heading into their return from the All-Star break Friday night at home against last-place New Orleans. Dallas is well within range of the top six, which would avoid the Play-In Tournament. “I would say that our goals are still attainable,” Kidd said. “It’s a matter of, ‘Can we get healthy?’” The 31-year-old big man suffered the non-contact injury in the third quarter of his debut in Dallas, dousing the brilliance of his arrival: 31 minutes, 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in the Mavs’116-105victory. Two days later, Davis — an All-Star in 2025 —was replacedon the All-Star team by his new teammate Kyrie Irving. The Mavs had hoped that Davis’ defense and interior play would enhance the perimeter talent of guards Irving and Klay Thompson. Dallas is 30-26 andNo. 8 in the Western Conference, two losses back of a top-six guaranteed playoff berth. The 10-time All-Star had missed his last two games with the Lakers because of an abdominal injury before the seismic trade that sent fellow superstar Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. Davis then sat the first two games he could have played for Dallas before suiting up against the Rockets. “He’s doing better,” Kidd said. “I saw him in the weight room and then on the court shooting, so a lot of positive stuff. It’s always good to see.” The groin injury only intensified criticism of Dallas general manager Nico Harrison over a trade that infuriated many Mavericks fans. Doncic was out the last five-plus weeks of his Dallas career with a calf injury that has plagued the 25-year-old the past few seasons, but the 31-year-old Davis has a much longer history of injuries. Davis’ absence is the biggest for a depleted Dallas frontcourt. The top three centers — Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell — are out with injuries and have no timelines for a return. Powell is the closest of the three to being ready. Forward P.J. Washington Jr., a key piece of the deep playoff run last season after being acquired before the trade deadline, sprained an ankle the same day Davis went down. Washington is listed as questionable against the Pelicans. Lively, the promising second-year pro who has battled injuries since the Mavs drafted him in the first round in 2023, has a stress fracture in his ankle. The 21-year-old hasn’t played since Jan. 14. Gafford sprained a knee Feb. 10 against Sacramento and could miss several weeks. Powell hasn’t played in a month because of a hip injury, but went through non-contact drills Thursday and is expected to be listed as doubtful against New Orleans. The Mavericks added 7-foot-2 center Moses Brown on a 10-day contract, giving them a second option until others get healthy. In the last two games before the break, the only healthy big man on the roster was 7-foot Kylor Kelley. The 27-year-old rookie on a two-way contract hasn’t played much even with the depleted frontcourt. The 25-year-old Brown has played for seven teams in six seasons, including the Mavericks in 2021-22. His longest stint was 43 games with Oklahoma City in 2020-21, when he also had his career highs at 8.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Brown’s career averages are 5.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. “I see it as a big opportunity,” Brown said. “They’re going to need size to be able to bang and to deal with the guys that we’re playing against these coming weeks. I’m here for it. I’m 100% ready.”$

Anthony Davis (adductor strain) to be reevaluated in 2 weeks Текст: •Get NBA League Pass TODAY DALLAS (AP) —If the Dallas Mavericks can get mostly healthy by mid-March, there should be time for the defending Western Conference champions to play their way into a decent playoff position. Coach Jason Kidd understands it might be a big “if.” “You’re never guaranteed to be healthy,” Kidd said Thursday after the Mavericks announced that recently acquired star Anthony Davis will be out at least two more weeks but is making “good progress” in recovery froma groin injurysustained in his Dallas debut. The Dallas Mavericks today announced that Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis, who suffered a left adductor strain on Feb. 8 against Houston, is making good progress. Davis will be re-evaluated in two weeks with further updates to follow, as necessary. — Mavs PR (@MavsPR)February 20, 2025 “Beginning of the season, we had injuries right off the bat,” Kidd said. “And so it would be great to get healthy. But if we’re not healthy, we’ve got to deal with the cards that we have and put guys in a position to be successful.” The Mavericks are eighth in the West heading into their return from the All-Star break Friday night at home against last-place New Orleans. Dallas is well within range of the top six, which would avoid the Play-In Tournament. “I would say that our goals are still attainable,” Kidd said. “It’s a matter of, ‘Can we get healthy?’” The 31-year-old big man suffered the non-contact injury in the third quarter of his debut in Dallas, dousing the brilliance of his arrival: 31 minutes, 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in the Mavs’116-105victory. Two days later, Davis — an All-Star in 2025 —was replacedon the All-Star team by his new teammate Kyrie Irving. The Mavs had hoped that Davis’ defense and interior play would enhance the perimeter talent of guards Irving and Klay Thompson. Dallas is 30-26 andNo. 8 in the Western Conference, two losses back of a top-six guaranteed playoff berth. The 10-time All-Star had missed his last two games with the Lakers because of an abdominal injury before the seismic trade that sent fellow superstar Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. Davis then sat the first two games he could have played for Dallas before suiting up against the Rockets. “He’s doing better,” Kidd said. “I saw him in the weight room and then on the court shooting, so a lot of positive stuff. It’s always good to see.” The groin injury only intensified criticism of Dallas general manager Nico Harrison over a trade that infuriated many Mavericks fans. Doncic was out the last five-plus weeks of his Dallas career with a calf injury that has plagued the 25-year-old the past few seasons, but the 31-year-old Davis has a much longer history of injuries. Davis’ absence is the biggest for a depleted Dallas frontcourt. The top three centers — Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell — are out with injuries and have no timelines for a return. Powell is the closest of the three to being ready. Forward P.J. Washington Jr., a key piece of the deep playoff run last season after being acquired before the trade deadline, sprained an ankle the same day Davis went down. Washington is listed as questionable against the Pelicans. Lively, the promising second-year pro who has battled injuries since the Mavs drafted him in the first round in 2023, has a stress fracture in his ankle. The 21-year-old hasn’t played since Jan. 14. Gafford sprained a knee Feb. 10 against Sacramento and could miss several weeks. Powell hasn’t played in a month because of a hip injury, but went through non-contact drills Thursday and is expected to be listed as doubtful against New Orleans. The Mavericks added 7-foot-2 center Moses Brown on a 10-day contract, giving them a second option until others get healthy. In the last two games before the break, the only healthy big man on the roster was 7-foot Kylor Kelley. The 27-year-old rookie on a two-way contract hasn’t played much even with the depleted frontcourt. The 25-year-old Brown has played for seven teams in six seasons, including the Mavericks in 2021-22. His longest stint was 43 games with Oklahoma City in 2020-21, when he also had his career highs at 8.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Brown’s career averages are 5.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. “I see it as a big opportunity,” Brown said. “They’re going to need size to be able to bang and to deal with the guys that we’re playing against these coming weeks. I’m here for it. I’m 100% ready.”

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DALLAS (AP) —If the Dallas Mavericks can get mostly healthy by mid-March, there should be time for the defending Western Conference champions to play their way into a decent playoff position.

Coach Jason Kidd understands it might be a big “if.”

“You’re never guaranteed to be healthy,” Kidd said Thursday after the Mavericks announced that recently acquired star Anthony Davis will be out at least two more weeks but is making “good progress” in recovery froma groin injurysustained in his Dallas debut.

The Dallas Mavericks today announced that Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis, who suffered a left adductor strain on Feb. 8 against Houston, is making good progress.

Davis will be re-evaluated in two weeks with further updates to follow, as necessary.

— Mavs PR (@MavsPR)February 20, 2025

“Beginning of the season, we had injuries right off the bat,” Kidd said. “And so it would be great to get healthy. But if we’re not healthy, we’ve got to deal with the cards that we have and put guys in a position to be successful.”

The Mavericks are eighth in the West heading into their return from the All-Star break Friday night at home against last-place New Orleans. Dallas is well within range of the top six, which would avoid the Play-In Tournament.

“I would say that our goals are still attainable,” Kidd said. “It’s a matter of, ‘Can we get healthy?’”

The 31-year-old big man suffered the non-contact injury in the third quarter of his debut in Dallas, dousing the brilliance of his arrival: 31 minutes, 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in the Mavs’116-105victory. Two days later, Davis — an All-Star in 2025 —was replacedon the All-Star team by his new teammate Kyrie Irving.

The Mavs had hoped that Davis’ defense and interior play would enhance the perimeter talent of guards Irving and Klay Thompson. Dallas is 30-26 andNo. 8 in the Western Conference, two losses back of a top-six guaranteed playoff berth.

The 10-time All-Star had missed his last two games with the Lakers because of an abdominal injury before the seismic trade that sent fellow superstar Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. Davis then sat the first two games he could have played for Dallas before suiting up against the Rockets.

“He’s doing better,” Kidd said. “I saw him in the weight room and then on the court shooting, so a lot of positive stuff. It’s always good to see.”

The groin injury only intensified criticism of Dallas general manager Nico Harrison over a trade that infuriated many Mavericks fans. Doncic was out the last five-plus weeks of his Dallas career with a calf injury that has plagued the 25-year-old the past few seasons, but the 31-year-old Davis has a much longer history of injuries.

Davis’ absence is the biggest for a depleted Dallas frontcourt. The top three centers — Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell — are out with injuries and have no timelines for a return. Powell is the closest of the three to being ready.

Forward P.J. Washington Jr., a key piece of the deep playoff run last season after being acquired before the trade deadline, sprained an ankle the same day Davis went down. Washington is listed as questionable against the Pelicans.

Lively, the promising second-year pro who has battled injuries since the Mavs drafted him in the first round in 2023, has a stress fracture in his ankle. The 21-year-old hasn’t played since Jan. 14.

Gafford sprained a knee Feb. 10 against Sacramento and could miss several weeks. Powell hasn’t played in a month because of a hip injury, but went through non-contact drills Thursday and is expected to be listed as doubtful against New Orleans.

The Mavericks added 7-foot-2 center Moses Brown on a 10-day contract, giving them a second option until others get healthy. In the last two games before the break, the only healthy big man on the roster was 7-foot Kylor Kelley. The 27-year-old rookie on a two-way contract hasn’t played much even with the depleted frontcourt.

The 25-year-old Brown has played for seven teams in six seasons, including the Mavericks in 2021-22. His longest stint was 43 games with Oklahoma City in 2020-21, when he also had his career highs at 8.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Brown’s career averages are 5.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

“I see it as a big opportunity,” Brown said. “They’re going to need size to be able to bang and to deal with the guys that we’re playing against these coming weeks. I’m here for it. I’m 100% ready.”

21 February 2025
Understanding Victor Wembanyamas season-ending shoulder diagnosis Текст: •Get NBA League Pass TODAY The news Thursday that San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama wasdiagnosed with deep vein thrombosisand will miss the rest of the 2024-25 NBA season sent shock waves through the league and stunned its fans, not to mention the Spurs and the All-Star’s international fanbase. It also triggered the obvious question:What is deep vein thrombosis? Here is a breakdown of that condition (DVT), some causes and treatments; we’ve also catalogued some previous instances in which young athletes have been afflicted by it. DVT happens when a blood clot forms in a deep vein located in the lower leg, thigh, pelvis, or arm,according to WebMD.com. The condition can cause swelling and pain, though sometimes there are no noticeable symptoms at all. DVT can be serious because the clots can break loose and travel through the bloodstream and attach to the lungs, blocking blood flow in what is called a pulmonary embolism. The 7-foot-3 Frenchman was diagnosed after returning to San Antonio from All-Star weekend. His treatment requires the Spurs to shut down the 21-year-old for the rest of their 2024-25 schedule. The Spurs (23-29) have 30 regular-season games left, beginning Thursday night against Phoenix (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT). They enter Thursday ‘sitting 12th place in the Western Conference, with their regular-season finale set for April 13 vs. Toronto. pic.twitter.com/rTlFYch2Rr — San Antonio Spurs (@spurs)February 20, 2025 Most cases of DVT involve blood clots in the legs. Developing one in a shoulder is less common, though certainly possible. “There are biological reasons that might make one’s blood more prone to clot,” Dr. Jonathan Reiner told NBA.com. Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences and a specialist in interventional cardiology, Dr. Reiner is also a CNN medical analyst. “And there might be mechanical reasons, particularly in the shoulder of an NBA athlete. Someone who’s jamming the basketball violently. There’s obviously a lot of contact and collision. Those are the kinds of things that might damage a vein.” Reiner said bleeding in the shoulder area from a prior contact injury could lead to a hematoma that might compress a vein. Then there is this: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). This can lead to blood clots, Reiner said, when one or more veins gets trapped and/or damaged under the collarbone. Physical therapy and pain reliefcan be effectivein instances of TOS. But most cases of DVT are attacked via blood thinners or surgery. Blood thinners are widely considered to pose a problem for athletes in contact sports due to the likelihood of bleeding through injury. Dr. Evan Jeffries, a physical therapist and NBA & NFL “injury insider,”told Newsweek: “The main thing is that they caught it early and it did not dislodge and spread to close organs such as brain/heart/lungs. He will be on blood thinners for at least three months and will have to show negative scans to work his way back to basketball.” Neither Reiner nor Jeffries indicated Wembanyama’s condition would jeopardize his playing career or be life-threatening, given proper treatment. Yes, with varying degrees of success. The best-known is likely Hall of Fame forwardChris Bosh. Bosh’s career wascut short in 2016when, at age 32, he was diagnosed with clots that traveled to his lungs. He missed the final months of the 2014-15 season and wasdone in 2015-16after 53 games. The 6-foot-11 power forward sought medical opinions that might clear him to attempt a comeback before retiring in 2019. That’s the same yearBrandon Ingram, traded earlier this month from New Orleans to Toronto, was found at age 21 tohave a TOS clotin his right arm. The deep venous thrombosis wasalleviated by surgeryand Ingram returned to become an All-Star the next season. Former Cleveland centerAnderson Varejaomissed the second half of 2012-13 when a blood clot thatdeveloped in the wakeof quadriceps surgery. He was put on blood thinners, the Cavaliers said, and returned the following season. Detroit’sAusar Thompsondid not finishlast season’s schedule and missed the Pistons’first 18 games this seasonafter being diagnosed with blood clots. Only after being cleared the the league’s Fitness-to-Play panel was the second-year wing permitted to participate in late November. ForwardChristian Koloko, now with the Lakers,suffered from blood clotsthat cost him the entire 2023-24 season. Athletes in the NHL, NFL and other sports have been sidelined by DVT but recovered. Serena Williams, arguably the most dominant tennis player in history, was found tohave a pulmonary embolismin 2011 but was able to return to championship form. * * * Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail himhere, findhis archive hereandfollow him on X. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.

•Get NBA League Pass TODAY

The news Thursday that San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama wasdiagnosed with deep vein thrombosisand will miss the rest of the 2024-25 NBA season sent shock waves through the league and stunned its fans, not to mention the Spurs and the All-Star’s international fanbase.

It also triggered the obvious question:What is deep vein thrombosis?

Here is a breakdown of that condition (DVT), some causes and treatments; we’ve also catalogued some previous instances in which young athletes have been afflicted by it.

DVT happens when a blood clot forms in a deep vein located in the lower leg, thigh, pelvis, or arm,according to WebMD.com. The condition can cause swelling and pain, though sometimes there are no noticeable symptoms at all.

DVT can be serious because the clots can break loose and travel through the bloodstream and attach to the lungs, blocking blood flow in what is called a pulmonary embolism.

The 7-foot-3 Frenchman was diagnosed after returning to San Antonio from All-Star weekend. His treatment requires the Spurs to shut down the 21-year-old for the rest of their 2024-25 schedule. The Spurs (23-29) have 30 regular-season games left, beginning Thursday night against Phoenix (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT). They enter Thursday ‘sitting 12th place in the Western Conference, with their regular-season finale set for April 13 vs. Toronto.

pic.twitter.com/rTlFYch2Rr

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs)February 20, 2025

Most cases of DVT involve blood clots in the legs. Developing one in a shoulder is less common, though certainly possible.

“There are biological reasons that might make one’s blood more prone to clot,” Dr. Jonathan Reiner told NBA.com. Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences and a specialist in interventional cardiology, Dr. Reiner is also a CNN medical analyst.

“And there might be mechanical reasons, particularly in the shoulder of an NBA athlete. Someone who’s jamming the basketball violently. There’s obviously a lot of contact and collision. Those are the kinds of things that might damage a vein.”

Reiner said bleeding in the shoulder area from a prior contact injury could lead to a hematoma that might compress a vein.

Then there is this: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). This can lead to blood clots, Reiner said, when one or more veins gets trapped and/or damaged under the collarbone.

Physical therapy and pain reliefcan be effectivein instances of TOS. But most cases of DVT are attacked via blood thinners or surgery.

Blood thinners are widely considered to pose a problem for athletes in contact sports due to the likelihood of bleeding through injury.

Dr. Evan Jeffries, a physical therapist and NBA & NFL “injury insider,”told Newsweek: “The main thing is that they caught it early and it did not dislodge and spread to close organs such as brain/heart/lungs. He will be on blood thinners for at least three months and will have to show negative scans to work his way back to basketball.”

Neither Reiner nor Jeffries indicated Wembanyama’s condition would jeopardize his playing career or be life-threatening, given proper treatment.

Yes, with varying degrees of success. The best-known is likely Hall of Fame forwardChris Bosh.

Bosh’s career wascut short in 2016when, at age 32, he was diagnosed with clots that traveled to his lungs. He missed the final months of the 2014-15 season and wasdone in 2015-16after 53 games. The 6-foot-11 power forward sought medical opinions that might clear him to attempt a comeback before retiring in 2019.

That’s the same yearBrandon Ingram, traded earlier this month from New Orleans to Toronto, was found at age 21 tohave a TOS clotin his right arm. The deep venous thrombosis wasalleviated by surgeryand Ingram returned to become an All-Star the next season.

Former Cleveland centerAnderson Varejaomissed the second half of 2012-13 when a blood clot thatdeveloped in the wakeof quadriceps surgery. He was put on blood thinners, the Cavaliers said, and returned the following season.

Detroit’sAusar Thompsondid not finishlast season’s schedule and missed the Pistons’first 18 games this seasonafter being diagnosed with blood clots. Only after being cleared the the league’s Fitness-to-Play panel was the second-year wing permitted to participate in late November.

ForwardChristian Koloko, now with the Lakers,suffered from blood clotsthat cost him the entire 2023-24 season.

Athletes in the NHL, NFL and other sports have been sidelined by DVT but recovered. Serena Williams, arguably the most dominant tennis player in history, was found tohave a pulmonary embolismin 2011 but was able to return to championship form.

* * *

Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail himhere, findhis archive hereandfollow him on X.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.

21 February 2025
Starting 5, Feb. 20: LaMelo’s late dagger leads Hornets past Lakers, plus KD returns to Austin Текст: LaMagic in Los Angelesto tip off the 2nd half of the regular season. 5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀Feb. 20, 2025 Hornets Sting Lakers:Charlotte knocks off Los Angeles for a dramatic clutch dub KD Returns To Austin:From Longhorn to NBA legend, KD’s journey comes full circle tonight C’s Surge Into Philly:The defending champs look to stay hot against East rival Mile-High Efficiency:The secret to Denver’s eight-game win streak lies inside LP Lineup:Two premier offenses clash, while East powers make their Playoff push BUT FIRST … ⏰We’re just getting warmed up… Nine games tip off tonight,headlined by a TNT doubleheader. First, Jayson Tatum and the C’s face Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers in Philly (7 ET). Then, the Spurs host Kevin Durant and the Suns in Austin (9:30 ET). 1. HORNETS RALLY PAST LAKERS FOR CLUTCH WIN The first game backfrom the All-Star break? A last-second thriller in Los Angeles. Hornets 100, Lakers 97:In their third game as a duo, LeBron James (26 pts, 7 reb, 11 ast,1 mammoth poster) and Luka Dončić (14 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast) both stuffed the stat sheet, but the Hornets rallied for a gutsy win behindMiles Bridges and LaMelo Ball. |Recap B&B Buckets:Bridges finished with a game-high 29 points and a career-high 5 steals, while Ball added 27 points and 6 assists. In the 2nd half,the duo went off for 35 points, with Ball pouring in 18 and Bridges adding 17 – leading to the Hornets’ first road win in over a month. On the other side,the Lakers – who entered Wednesday with an NBA-best 12-3 record since Jan. 15 – have now dropped two in a row as they continue to find their rhythm with Dončić in the fold. 2. TONIGHT ON TNT: KD RETURNS TO AUSTIN AS THE SPURS HOST THE SUNS The last time Kevin Durantplayed meaningful minutes in Austin, he was an 18-year-old freshman for the Longhorns, torching Texas A&M for 30 points – including Texas’ final five in double OT – to seal a rivalry win. That was Feb. 28, 2007. Eighteen years later,he returns to the city where his rise to superstardom began, as the Spurs host the Suns at UT’s Moody Center (9:30 ET, TNT). Last week,Durant matched Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,101 games) as the third-fastest player to score 30,000 career points, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. Last weekend,he returned to the Bay Area as a 15-time All-Star, where he helped lead Golden State to two NBA championships. Tonight,his February comes full circle on a campus where his legacy extends beyond hardware. One of the purest scorersthe game has ever seen, Durant has gotten buckets at every stop of his career – whether it’s burning defense in the Burnt Orange or making history at hoops’ highest level. 3. CELTICS BRING STREAKING SUCCESS TO PHILLY TONIGHT The 40-win club,which already features Cleveland and Oklahoma City, will welcome a third member if Boston secures a win over Philadelphia tonight (7 ET, TNT). In the previous meeting,Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown teamed up for 56 points as part of a 26-point comeback that’s tied for the season’s largest in a 118-110 triumph on Feb. 2. Seven timesover their last eight, the Celtics have won, including victories over the 1st-place Cavaliers and 3rd-place Knicks – their best stretch since going 10-1 from Nov. 13 to Dec. 6. Tyrese Maxeywas on fire prior to the break with 25 or more points in 18 consecutive games played from Jan. 6 to Feb. 9, but the 76ers have dropped seven of their last eight. 4. DENVER EYES NINTH STRAIGHT WIN BEHIND OFFENSIVE SURGE The last timethe Nuggets won nine straight games was in January 2023, opening a year that saw them win their first NBA title in franchise history. That season,Denver entered the All-Star break with 18 losses. Last week,the Nuggs hit the break with 19 – riding an eight-game heater into tonight’s game against Charlotte (9 ET, LP) as they look to match their longest win streak since their championship campaign. While the Jokerhas been dominant all season, two players have been just as key to Denver’s recent surge – Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray. Both MPJ and Murrayhave seen their scoring and shooting percentage skyrocket amid Denver’s eight-game heater – and this is no accident. Their secret?Attacking the cup. The Result?Denver ranks first in ppg off cuts (16.3), first in ppg off post-ups (8.7) and third in ppg off handoffs (7.5) – leading to one of the league’s most prolific offenses, despite ranking 28th in 3s made (31.2). Tonight,as Denver seeks nine in a row, Malone also eyes his 500th career win. Will he hit the milestone, or will the Hornets knock off another West contender? 5. LEAGUE PASS LINEUP: ELITE OFFENSES & EAST POWERS IN ACTION The Pacers opened Decemberwith a 15-point loss to the Grizzlies. By Dec. 8, Indy had fallen to 10-15, marking the first time it was five games below .500 since the 2022-23 season. Since then,last year’s East finalists have gone 20-8, jumping from 9th in the East to 4th. Tonight (7 ET, LP),they’ll face Memphis again in a matchup between two of the hottest teams in hoops. Three other beastsin the East will resume their seasons tonight, including two playing in the same city. Cavaliers at Nets (7:30 ET):After a season-worst three-game skid, Cleveland won eight of its last nine outings to enter the All-Star break at 44-10 – tied with OKC for the best record in the NBA. Bulls at Knicks (7:30 ET):At MSG, the 3rd-place Knicks will look to improve to 11-3 in their last 14 games. But New York has failed to run with the Bulls this season, as Chicago has taken both matchups. Clippers at Bucks (8 ET):Up next, in a battle between two All-Star OGs, Damian Lillard and the Bucks (5th in the East) will face James Harden and the Clips (6th in the West), with both teams gearing up to make a Playoff push. Two more gamestip offon League Pass, as the Hawks host the Magic (7:30 ET), before Luka, LeBron and the Lakers cap the night in Portland (10 ET).

LaMagic in Los Angelesto tip off the 2nd half of the regular season.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀Feb. 20, 2025

Hornets Sting Lakers:Charlotte knocks off Los Angeles for a dramatic clutch dub

KD Returns To Austin:From Longhorn to NBA legend, KD’s journey comes full circle tonight

C’s Surge Into Philly:The defending champs look to stay hot against East rival

Mile-High Efficiency:The secret to Denver’s eight-game win streak lies inside

LP Lineup:Two premier offenses clash, while East powers make their Playoff push

BUT FIRST … ⏰We’re just getting warmed up…

Nine games tip off tonight,headlined by a TNT doubleheader. First, Jayson Tatum and the C’s face Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers in Philly (7 ET). Then, the Spurs host Kevin Durant and the Suns in Austin (9:30 ET).

1. HORNETS RALLY PAST LAKERS FOR CLUTCH WIN

The first game backfrom the All-Star break? A last-second thriller in Los Angeles.

Hornets 100, Lakers 97:In their third game as a duo, LeBron James (26 pts, 7 reb, 11 ast,1 mammoth poster) and Luka Dončić (14 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast) both stuffed the stat sheet, but the Hornets rallied for a gutsy win behindMiles Bridges and LaMelo Ball. |Recap

B&B Buckets:Bridges finished with a game-high 29 points and a career-high 5 steals, while Ball added 27 points and 6 assists.

In the 2nd half,the duo went off for 35 points, with Ball pouring in 18 and Bridges adding 17 – leading to the Hornets’ first road win in over a month.

On the other side,the Lakers – who entered Wednesday with an NBA-best 12-3 record since Jan. 15 – have now dropped two in a row as they continue to find their rhythm with Dončić in the fold.

2. TONIGHT ON TNT: KD RETURNS TO AUSTIN AS THE SPURS HOST THE SUNS

The last time Kevin Durantplayed meaningful minutes in Austin, he was an 18-year-old freshman for the Longhorns, torching Texas A&M for 30 points – including Texas’ final five in double OT – to seal a rivalry win.

That was Feb. 28, 2007.

Eighteen years later,he returns to the city where his rise to superstardom began, as the Spurs host the Suns at UT’s Moody Center (9:30 ET, TNT).

Last week,Durant matched Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,101 games) as the third-fastest player to score 30,000 career points, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan.

Last weekend,he returned to the Bay Area as a 15-time All-Star, where he helped lead Golden State to two NBA championships.

Tonight,his February comes full circle on a campus where his legacy extends beyond hardware.

One of the purest scorersthe game has ever seen, Durant has gotten buckets at every stop of his career – whether it’s burning defense in the Burnt Orange or making history at hoops’ highest level.

3. CELTICS BRING STREAKING SUCCESS TO PHILLY TONIGHT

The 40-win club,which already features Cleveland and Oklahoma City, will welcome a third member if Boston secures a win over Philadelphia tonight (7 ET, TNT).

In the previous meeting,Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown teamed up for 56 points as part of a 26-point comeback that’s tied for the season’s largest in a 118-110 triumph on Feb. 2.

Seven timesover their last eight, the Celtics have won, including victories over the 1st-place Cavaliers and 3rd-place Knicks – their best stretch since going 10-1 from Nov. 13 to Dec. 6.

Tyrese Maxeywas on fire prior to the break with 25 or more points in 18 consecutive games played from Jan. 6 to Feb. 9, but the 76ers have dropped seven of their last eight.

4. DENVER EYES NINTH STRAIGHT WIN BEHIND OFFENSIVE SURGE

The last timethe Nuggets won nine straight games was in January 2023, opening a year that saw them win their first NBA title in franchise history.

That season,Denver entered the All-Star break with 18 losses.

Last week,the Nuggs hit the break with 19 – riding an eight-game heater into tonight’s game against Charlotte (9 ET, LP) as they look to match their longest win streak since their championship campaign.

While the Jokerhas been dominant all season, two players have been just as key to Denver’s recent surge – Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray.

Both MPJ and Murrayhave seen their scoring and shooting percentage skyrocket amid Denver’s eight-game heater – and this is no accident.

Their secret?Attacking the cup.

The Result?Denver ranks first in ppg off cuts (16.3), first in ppg off post-ups (8.7) and third in ppg off handoffs (7.5) – leading to one of the league’s most prolific offenses, despite ranking 28th in 3s made (31.2).

Tonight,as Denver seeks nine in a row, Malone also eyes his 500th career win. Will he hit the milestone, or will the Hornets knock off another West contender?

5. LEAGUE PASS LINEUP: ELITE OFFENSES & EAST POWERS IN ACTION

The Pacers opened Decemberwith a 15-point loss to the Grizzlies. By Dec. 8, Indy had fallen to 10-15, marking the first time it was five games below .500 since the 2022-23 season.

Since then,last year’s East finalists have gone 20-8, jumping from 9th in the East to 4th.

Tonight (7 ET, LP),they’ll face Memphis again in a matchup between two of the hottest teams in hoops.

Three other beastsin the East will resume their seasons tonight, including two playing in the same city.

Cavaliers at Nets (7:30 ET):After a season-worst three-game skid, Cleveland won eight of its last nine outings to enter the All-Star break at 44-10 – tied with OKC for the best record in the NBA.

Bulls at Knicks (7:30 ET):At MSG, the 3rd-place Knicks will look to improve to 11-3 in their last 14 games. But New York has failed to run with the Bulls this season, as Chicago has taken both matchups.

Clippers at Bucks (8 ET):Up next, in a battle between two All-Star OGs, Damian Lillard and the Bucks (5th in the East) will face James Harden and the Clips (6th in the West), with both teams gearing up to make a Playoff push.

Two more gamestip offon League Pass, as the Hawks host the Magic (7:30 ET), before Luka, LeBron and the Lakers cap the night in Portland (10 ET).

21 February 2025
Chris Paul set to reach No. 2 all-time in steals Текст: For the second time this season, Chris Paul will pass Jason Kidd for 2nd place on an NBA all-time list. Once Paul passes Kidd, the top three all-time in assists and steals will match with Utah Jazz legend John Stockton’s first on both leaderboards, followed by Paul, then Kidd — atrio among the best point guardsin NBA history. Playing in his 20th NBA season, Paul has led the NBA in steals six times (2007-08, ’08-09, ’10-11, ’11-12, ’12-13, ’13-14) and is a nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, including seven First-Team selections. Paul matched Kidd’s career steals total while playing 67 fewer games. Paul is one of 17 players in NBA history to average at least two steals per game throughout their career — and one of only six to do so while playing in over 1,000 games. The others on that list are Stockton, Michael Jordan, Maurice Cheeks, Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen — all of whomare Hall of Famers. When Paul takes the court on Thursday, he’ll do so against a Phoenix team he has collected 109 steals against in his career over 49 matchups. The Suns are one of 13 teams that Paul has at least 100 steals against and his 2.22 steals per game average against Phoenix is the sixth highest against any opponent. After nearly a dozen years of the Stockton-Kidd top two in steals and assists, Paul is on the verge of completing his climb to No. 2 on both lists. While Stockton has a commanding lead for the top spot, Paul will continue to add to his numbers, making it more difficult for another player to enter the top two.

For the second time this season, Chris Paul will pass Jason Kidd for 2nd place on an NBA all-time list.

Once Paul passes Kidd, the top three all-time in assists and steals will match with Utah Jazz legend John Stockton’s first on both leaderboards, followed by Paul, then Kidd — atrio among the best point guardsin NBA history.

Playing in his 20th NBA season, Paul has led the NBA in steals six times (2007-08, ’08-09, ’10-11, ’11-12, ’12-13, ’13-14) and is a nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, including seven First-Team selections.

Paul matched Kidd’s career steals total while playing 67 fewer games. Paul is one of 17 players in NBA history to average at least two steals per game throughout their career — and one of only six to do so while playing in over 1,000 games.

The others on that list are Stockton, Michael Jordan, Maurice Cheeks, Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen — all of whomare Hall of Famers.

When Paul takes the court on Thursday, he’ll do so against a Phoenix team he has collected 109 steals against in his career over 49 matchups. The Suns are one of 13 teams that Paul has at least 100 steals against and his 2.22 steals per game average against Phoenix is the sixth highest against any opponent.

After nearly a dozen years of the Stockton-Kidd top two in steals and assists, Paul is on the verge of completing his climb to No. 2 on both lists. While Stockton has a commanding lead for the top spot, Paul will continue to add to his numbers, making it more difficult for another player to enter the top two.

21 February 2025
NBA Fantasy: DFS lineup picks for Feb. 20 Текст: Welcome to the Thursday NBA DFS slate. The NBA is officially back from its annual All-Star break. With that, we’re ready to lock and load for the rest of the season. If you’re going to play NBA DFS, you must keep in mind lineup announcements and stay tuned for late swapping. That will be the easiest way to stay ahead of the field and in the money. We have a nine-game slate tonight, which is the perfect amount of games, in my humble opinion. Ultimately, it’s about making the right choices and picking your spots, which is why I’m here. Let’s break down the top plays for this slate. Nikola Jokić (C – DEN) Charlotte being a slow-paced team takes away a bit of the ceiling here, but with the Hornets already playing in a road back-to-back, potentially withoutMark Williams, Nikola Jokić is in a spot to do Jokić-type things tonight. I always sound like a broken record when discussing Jokić, but Denver has found their groove with eight straight wins and he has scored over 66 DraftKings points in six of his last seven games. It’s insane what his production, consistency, and ceiling provide you in DFS. With the bigger slate today, there should be plenty of value that opens up to allow your Jokić rostership to be warranted. De’Aaron Fox (PG, SG – SAS) I hate when a player is a clear better play on one site over the other, but if you are a FanDuel truther, you might want to skip this one. Otherwise, De’Aaron Fox lines up to be an excellent option tonight.Fox will be one of the highest-rostered players on the slate. Fox is already averaging 43 DraftKings points a night and it doesn’t get discussed enough how bad the Suns have been this year. They rank 26th in defensive efficiency over their last 10 games (25th for the whole season) and the Spurs have only been playing faster as the year progresses. Fox might be a lock button tonight with his price and the Spurs’ current lineup. Miles Bridges (PF, SF – CHA) I didn’t expect to be discussing multiple players in Charlotte-Denver this early in the article considering the options we have for the rest of the slate but here we are. The Hornets are indeed playing in the second leg of the back-to-back, but that just means more usage for Miles Bridges. LaMelo Ballis expected to be out and Denver plays at the fifth-fastest pace in the league. We saw a 33% usage rate yesterday against the Lakers and you can expect similar numbers tonight. Against a sub-par defense with a faster pace and more possessions, Bridges lines up for another potential 50+ DraftKings point outing tonight. Karl-Anthony Towns (C – NYK) I’ll throwJalen Brunsonin this paragraph as well with both Knicks options looking like cash game locks tonight. The Bulls have allowed the second-most fantasy points across the board with the third-most to point guard and center positions this year. Even if you look at recent splits within the last 10 games, their defense has taken a further step back, ranking third-worst in the league, while their pace has stayed the same – the third-highest in the league. New York is in line for a lot of points tonight with an additional bump playing at home. Neither Karl-Anthony Towns nor Brunson will break the bank, so they offer a high ceiling while still being able to fill out your lineup with trustworthy options. Anfernee Simons (PG, SG – POR) I can’t say this is the sexiest option but considering Portland’s current lineup, all of the usage is going to funnel through Anfernee Simons.Deandre AytonandJerami Grantare both expected to miss today’s game. Monitor Grant, though, as he’s a bit more in the air. If that’s the case, Simons is an easy go-to. Not only will he get higher usage on the court but withScoot Hendersonalso expected out, Simons might play 37 minutes again tonight. With the high-efficiency numbers, you won’t need as much volume against the Lakers, who still rank in the top 10 in pace of play over the last 10 games and might be short-handed tonight as well playing in a back-to-back. Paolo Banchero (PF, SF – ORL) Between Paolo Banchero andFranz Wagner, one is going off tonight, I can smell it. This is a banged-up Hawks team that has played faster than anyone in the league over the last 10 games and is the biggest pace-up spot the 29th-ranked Magic could ask for. Only two other teams have allowed more fantasy points a game to opposing power forwards. I don’t know if Atlanta will have an answer to Orlando’s offense. After his injury, people seemed quick to forget about Banchero’s 86 DraftKings point outing. We’ve seen his ceiling and he’s established his floor by covering 40 fantasy points in three of his last four games with 46 against Atlanta 10 days ago. Banchero is too cheap for such an incredible matchup and makes for a great cash game play. Kevin Durant (PF, C – PHX) Usually, I go high-risk, high-reward with GPP options, where the outcome is unlikely but one that would put you in rare air if it hits. With Kevin Durant tonight, I’m mostly confused about his rostership. I project him to as a ~15% optimal player tonight, but he’s coming in near 5% at first rostership look. San Antonio has been playing faster and no team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing power forwards than the Spurs over the last 15 games.Devin Bookeris back but withBol Bolnow starting, Durant’s usage is only going to climb from its 30% rate as-is. He also has quite a friendly matchup. This is asmashplay for me. Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND) Another player set to smash that only comes in at 8% rostership currently is Tyrese Haliburton. Memphis, on the surface, has the seventh-most efficient defense but has dropped to 18th in the last 10 games. Which team comes to play tonight? Either way, the Grizzlies have consistently been in the top three teams in terms of possession rate, so this is more of a high-volume opportunity. The game total is at 250. How can there not be more rostership on Indy and Memphis?Myles Turnerslots well and while others are priced for a high total game, they still offer a rare ceiling potential. Haliburton may lead the pack from the options as he’s been consistently scoring and should cover 40 fantasy points tonight easily. Austin Reaves (PG, SG, SF – LAL) This one is a bit more of a Hail Mary butLuka DončićandLeBron Jamesare both listed as questionable tonight. If either doesn’t play, Austin Reaves lines up to be a clear late swap option. If they both do, Reaves is a sneaky GPP play. Yes, he’s coming off a pretty weak outing, which is exactly why I don’t expect him to see much rostership tonight no matter how the dominoes fall with Los Angeles. Earlier this month, Reaves returned 70 fantasy points against Indianapolis, so he’s shown the capacity for such needed outputs. Elfrid Payton (PG – CHA) This only plays if LaMelo Ball is out. If he is, I don’t expect you to need much convincing here. Between Elfrid Payton andNick Smith Jr., both currently sit as excellent value options if Mark Williams and Ball are both ruled out tonight. If that happens, Charlotte will be one of the higher-rostered teams on the slate. Chris Paul (PG – SAS) For the same reasons I love De’Aaron Fox, Chris Paul is a great value option. He’s going to see high rostership, so you might want to keep him to your cash lineups, but his usage will get a big bump against a weak defense. The Suns have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing point guards in their last 30 games with even more allowed in their last 15 outings. Paul should see more scoring and I expect him to play over 30 minutes, projecting him for around 31 DraftKings points tonight. Santi Aldama (PF – MEM) Santi Aldama may be coming off the bench but the Grizzlies’ frontcourt piece still plays consistent minutes — around 24 a night. When he’s on the court, Aldama’s usage rate gets close to 20%. He’s cleared 30 fantasy points in two of his last three games. Considering the total tonight and how many possessions and scoring we will see, it’s quite reasonable to expect another similar performance out of Aldama against Indianapolis.

Welcome to the Thursday NBA DFS slate. The NBA is officially back from its annual All-Star break. With that, we’re ready to lock and load for the rest of the season. If you’re going to play NBA DFS, you must keep in mind lineup announcements and stay tuned for late swapping. That will be the easiest way to stay ahead of the field and in the money.

We have a nine-game slate tonight, which is the perfect amount of games, in my humble opinion. Ultimately, it’s about making the right choices and picking your spots, which is why I’m here. Let’s break down the top plays for this slate.

Nikola Jokić (C – DEN)

Charlotte being a slow-paced team takes away a bit of the ceiling here, but with the Hornets already playing in a road back-to-back, potentially withoutMark Williams, Nikola Jokić is in a spot to do Jokić-type things tonight.

I always sound like a broken record when discussing Jokić, but Denver has found their groove with eight straight wins and he has scored over 66 DraftKings points in six of his last seven games. It’s insane what his production, consistency, and ceiling provide you in DFS. With the bigger slate today, there should be plenty of value that opens up to allow your Jokić rostership to be warranted.

De’Aaron Fox (PG, SG – SAS)

I hate when a player is a clear better play on one site over the other, but if you are a FanDuel truther, you might want to skip this one. Otherwise, De’Aaron Fox lines up to be an excellent option tonight.Fox will be one of the highest-rostered players on the slate.

Fox is already averaging 43 DraftKings points a night and it doesn’t get discussed enough how bad the Suns have been this year. They rank 26th in defensive efficiency over their last 10 games (25th for the whole season) and the Spurs have only been playing faster as the year progresses. Fox might be a lock button tonight with his price and the Spurs’ current lineup.

Miles Bridges (PF, SF – CHA)

I didn’t expect to be discussing multiple players in Charlotte-Denver this early in the article considering the options we have for the rest of the slate but here we are. The Hornets are indeed playing in the second leg of the back-to-back, but that just means more usage for Miles Bridges.

LaMelo Ballis expected to be out and Denver plays at the fifth-fastest pace in the league. We saw a 33% usage rate yesterday against the Lakers and you can expect similar numbers tonight. Against a sub-par defense with a faster pace and more possessions, Bridges lines up for another potential 50+ DraftKings point outing tonight.

Karl-Anthony Towns (C – NYK)

I’ll throwJalen Brunsonin this paragraph as well with both Knicks options looking like cash game locks tonight. The Bulls have allowed the second-most fantasy points across the board with the third-most to point guard and center positions this year.

Even if you look at recent splits within the last 10 games, their defense has taken a further step back, ranking third-worst in the league, while their pace has stayed the same – the third-highest in the league. New York is in line for a lot of points tonight with an additional bump playing at home. Neither Karl-Anthony Towns nor Brunson will break the bank, so they offer a high ceiling while still being able to fill out your lineup with trustworthy options.

Anfernee Simons (PG, SG – POR)

I can’t say this is the sexiest option but considering Portland’s current lineup, all of the usage is going to funnel through Anfernee Simons.Deandre AytonandJerami Grantare both expected to miss today’s game. Monitor Grant, though, as he’s a bit more in the air. If that’s the case, Simons is an easy go-to.

Not only will he get higher usage on the court but withScoot Hendersonalso expected out, Simons might play 37 minutes again tonight. With the high-efficiency numbers, you won’t need as much volume against the Lakers, who still rank in the top 10 in pace of play over the last 10 games and might be short-handed tonight as well playing in a back-to-back.

Paolo Banchero (PF, SF – ORL)

Between Paolo Banchero andFranz Wagner, one is going off tonight, I can smell it. This is a banged-up Hawks team that has played faster than anyone in the league over the last 10 games and is the biggest pace-up spot the 29th-ranked Magic could ask for.

Only two other teams have allowed more fantasy points a game to opposing power forwards. I don’t know if Atlanta will have an answer to Orlando’s offense. After his injury, people seemed quick to forget about Banchero’s 86 DraftKings point outing. We’ve seen his ceiling and he’s established his floor by covering 40 fantasy points in three of his last four games with 46 against Atlanta 10 days ago. Banchero is too cheap for such an incredible matchup and makes for a great cash game play.

Kevin Durant (PF, C – PHX)

Usually, I go high-risk, high-reward with GPP options, where the outcome is unlikely but one that would put you in rare air if it hits. With Kevin Durant tonight, I’m mostly confused about his rostership. I project him to as a ~15% optimal player tonight, but he’s coming in near 5% at first rostership look.

San Antonio has been playing faster and no team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing power forwards than the Spurs over the last 15 games.Devin Bookeris back but withBol Bolnow starting, Durant’s usage is only going to climb from its 30% rate as-is. He also has quite a friendly matchup. This is asmashplay for me.

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND)

Another player set to smash that only comes in at 8% rostership currently is Tyrese Haliburton. Memphis, on the surface, has the seventh-most efficient defense but has dropped to 18th in the last 10 games. Which team comes to play tonight? Either way, the Grizzlies have consistently been in the top three teams in terms of possession rate, so this is more of a high-volume opportunity.

The game total is at 250. How can there not be more rostership on Indy and Memphis?Myles Turnerslots well and while others are priced for a high total game, they still offer a rare ceiling potential. Haliburton may lead the pack from the options as he’s been consistently scoring and should cover 40 fantasy points tonight easily.

Austin Reaves (PG, SG, SF – LAL)

This one is a bit more of a Hail Mary butLuka DončićandLeBron Jamesare both listed as questionable tonight. If either doesn’t play, Austin Reaves lines up to be a clear late swap option. If they both do, Reaves is a sneaky GPP play.

Yes, he’s coming off a pretty weak outing, which is exactly why I don’t expect him to see much rostership tonight no matter how the dominoes fall with Los Angeles. Earlier this month, Reaves returned 70 fantasy points against Indianapolis, so he’s shown the capacity for such needed outputs.

Elfrid Payton (PG – CHA)

This only plays if LaMelo Ball is out. If he is, I don’t expect you to need much convincing here. Between Elfrid Payton andNick Smith Jr., both currently sit as excellent value options if Mark Williams and Ball are both ruled out tonight. If that happens, Charlotte will be one of the higher-rostered teams on the slate.

Chris Paul (PG – SAS)

For the same reasons I love De’Aaron Fox, Chris Paul is a great value option. He’s going to see high rostership, so you might want to keep him to your cash lineups, but his usage will get a big bump against a weak defense.

The Suns have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing point guards in their last 30 games with even more allowed in their last 15 outings. Paul should see more scoring and I expect him to play over 30 minutes, projecting him for around 31 DraftKings points tonight.

Santi Aldama (PF – MEM)

Santi Aldama may be coming off the bench but the Grizzlies’ frontcourt piece still plays consistent minutes — around 24 a night. When he’s on the court, Aldama’s usage rate gets close to 20%. He’s cleared 30 fantasy points in two of his last three games.

Considering the total tonight and how many possessions and scoring we will see, it’s quite reasonable to expect another similar performance out of Aldama against Indianapolis.

21 February 2025
NBA Fantasy, Salary Cap Edition: Week 18 outlook Текст: The final sprint of the regular season is upon us. Entering the post All-Star break, the title push begins for favorites and hopefuls alike, and a lot could change in the fantasy landscape. NBA Fantasy Salary Gameplayers will need a keen, critical eye to make the most of available points as time winds down toward the postseason. Here are all the need-to-knows during Week 18: Grizzlies (36-18) vs. Pacers (30-23): Thursday (7 p.m. ET, League Pass) Both squads are rounding into form at just the right time. Memphis has won 11 of its last 14 dating back to Jan. 15, while Indiana has been markedly better in the new year, now 14-5 in 2025 after ending 2024 at 16-18. Things are looking up for the often-injuredJa Morantwith 37-plus fantasy points in four consecutive contests between Feb. 3 and 11, marking a first this campaign.Tyrese Haliburtonleads all Pacers with 2023 total fantasy points (TFP), butPascal Siakam’s 35-plus fantasy points in eight of the last nine games are fueling the engine. Knicks (36-18) vs. Cavaliers (44-10): Friday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) The Knicks are within striking distance of the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed, sitting just 2.5 games back of the Boston Celtics (39-16), and haven’t seen the Cavaliers since Oct. 28. They’ll have three shots at the top dog in the east down the stretch starting with Friday’s battle. Karl-Anthony Townssteamrolled his way into the All-Star break with 128.4 combined fantasy points in his previous two outings, as he dropped 40-plus points consecutively for the first time all season. Over in Cleveland,Evan Mobleyhas been worth watching, surpassing the 60-fantasy-point threshold for the third and fourth times this campaign on Feb. 5 and 10. Lakers (32-21) vs. Nuggets (36-19): Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) The league’s hottest streak belongs to the Nuggets, entering the home stretch with eight wins in a row. That pedigree will be tested by a Lakers squad that has won 10 of its last 13, but which just suffered back-to-back losses to the Utah Jazz (13-41) and Charlotte Hornets (14-39). Exemplary basketball was played byAustin Reavesfrom Feb. 1 to 10 – scoring 40-plus fantasy points in all five games during that span – but his role has scaled back a bit withLuka Dončićentering the equation.Jamal MurrayandMichael Porter Jr.rank second and third among all Nuggets with 1861.5 and 1666.5 TFP, respectively, but both are on Thursday’s injury report. Shining in defeat wasLeBron Jamesvia his game-high 57.9 fantasy points as the Lakers fell 100-97 to the Hornets in commencing the season’s final stretch. He’s now topped 50 in four of his last six appearances en route to 21 times overall. Miles Bridgesled the way in Wednesday’s cross-conference upset, racking up 52.2 for one of his biggest nights all year. He had only reached the 50-point plateau three times before, and has now done so on four occasions since Week 10. But Charlotte hasLaMelo Ballto thank above all – his late bucket and pair of free throws built its decisive three-point advantage, and capped what would go into the books as 42.0 fantasy points. He’s now scored 40 or more in 76.4% of his outings this season. There’s no one team playing multiple games more than the others in Week 18, so your focus should be on acquiring top value for weeks to come.ConsiderQuentin Grimeson your shortlist – someone who’s finding his way rather quickly in a new home. The fourth-year guard improved his fantasy output from 21.4 to 27.9 to 33.4 to 53.8 across his first four games with the Philadelphia 76ers (20-34), and his 30 points scored last time out on Feb. 12 were a season high. Fantasy general managers can add him for just $5.1M. Karlo Matković– twice placing in the top four of GameDay top-value scorers during Week 17 – is another recent riser. He had just 67.5 TFP to his name across the New Orleans Pelicans’ (13-42) first 48 games, but has now produced 25 or more in four of the last seven. His bargain-bin salary of $4.3M won’t require you to move much money around, and he could be a quality mid-to-low bench option if you’re searching for a little extra points boost.

The final sprint of the regular season is upon us. Entering the post All-Star break, the title push begins for favorites and hopefuls alike, and a lot could change in the fantasy landscape.

NBA Fantasy Salary Gameplayers will need a keen, critical eye to make the most of available points as time winds down toward the postseason.

Here are all the need-to-knows during Week 18:

Grizzlies (36-18) vs. Pacers (30-23): Thursday (7 p.m. ET, League Pass)

Both squads are rounding into form at just the right time. Memphis has won 11 of its last 14 dating back to Jan. 15, while Indiana has been markedly better in the new year, now 14-5 in 2025 after ending 2024 at 16-18.

Things are looking up for the often-injuredJa Morantwith 37-plus fantasy points in four consecutive contests between Feb. 3 and 11, marking a first this campaign.Tyrese Haliburtonleads all Pacers with 2023 total fantasy points (TFP), butPascal Siakam’s 35-plus fantasy points in eight of the last nine games are fueling the engine.

Knicks (36-18) vs. Cavaliers (44-10): Friday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

The Knicks are within striking distance of the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed, sitting just 2.5 games back of the Boston Celtics (39-16), and haven’t seen the Cavaliers since Oct. 28. They’ll have three shots at the top dog in the east down the stretch starting with Friday’s battle.

Karl-Anthony Townssteamrolled his way into the All-Star break with 128.4 combined fantasy points in his previous two outings, as he dropped 40-plus points consecutively for the first time all season. Over in Cleveland,Evan Mobleyhas been worth watching, surpassing the 60-fantasy-point threshold for the third and fourth times this campaign on Feb. 5 and 10.

Lakers (32-21) vs. Nuggets (36-19): Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

The league’s hottest streak belongs to the Nuggets, entering the home stretch with eight wins in a row. That pedigree will be tested by a Lakers squad that has won 10 of its last 13, but which just suffered back-to-back losses to the Utah Jazz (13-41) and Charlotte Hornets (14-39).

Exemplary basketball was played byAustin Reavesfrom Feb. 1 to 10 – scoring 40-plus fantasy points in all five games during that span – but his role has scaled back a bit withLuka Dončićentering the equation.Jamal MurrayandMichael Porter Jr.rank second and third among all Nuggets with 1861.5 and 1666.5 TFP, respectively, but both are on Thursday’s injury report.

Shining in defeat wasLeBron Jamesvia his game-high 57.9 fantasy points as the Lakers fell 100-97 to the Hornets in commencing the season’s final stretch. He’s now topped 50 in four of his last six appearances en route to 21 times overall.

Miles Bridgesled the way in Wednesday’s cross-conference upset, racking up 52.2 for one of his biggest nights all year. He had only reached the 50-point plateau three times before, and has now done so on four occasions since Week 10.

But Charlotte hasLaMelo Ballto thank above all – his late bucket and pair of free throws built its decisive three-point advantage, and capped what would go into the books as 42.0 fantasy points. He’s now scored 40 or more in 76.4% of his outings this season.

There’s no one team playing multiple games more than the others in Week 18, so your focus should be on acquiring top value for weeks to come.ConsiderQuentin Grimeson your shortlist – someone who’s finding his way rather quickly in a new home.

The fourth-year guard improved his fantasy output from 21.4 to 27.9 to 33.4 to 53.8 across his first four games with the Philadelphia 76ers (20-34), and his 30 points scored last time out on Feb. 12 were a season high. Fantasy general managers can add him for just $5.1M.

Karlo Matković– twice placing in the top four of GameDay top-value scorers during Week 17 – is another recent riser. He had just 67.5 TFP to his name across the New Orleans Pelicans’ (13-42) first 48 games, but has now produced 25 or more in four of the last seven.

His bargain-bin salary of $4.3M won’t require you to move much money around, and he could be a quality mid-to-low bench option if you’re searching for a little extra points boost.

21 February 2025
Christian Braun elevates his game with every opportunity for Nuggets Текст: •Get NBA League Pass TODAY Selected 21st overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Christian Braun quickly became a key part of the Nuggets’ rotation as a rookie, joining a team full of veterans with championship goals. Braun averaged just 15.5 minutes coming off the bench during his first NBA campaign. Due to his limited role and modest numbers in the box score, it was easy to overlook Braun’s contributions to Denver’s championship season. His rise became evident, particularly as the team advanced to the NBA Finals. Rather than taking on a smaller role on the biggest stage, Braun earned more playing time, averaging 16.3 minutes in five NBA Finals matchups. He played a major role in a pivotal Game 3 win over the Heat in Miami, with the series tied 1-1. The rookie saw 19 minutes off the bench and scored 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Veteran guard Bruce Brown departed Denver in free agency following the Nuggets’ championship run in 2023, opening up greater opportunities for Braun in his sophomore campaign. The Kansas product seized this role, and his time on the floor rose to 20.2 minutes. Braun cemented himself as a key role player for a contending team, and proved he could have a greater impact. The 2024 offseason brought forth another critical juncture for the Nuggets and Braun with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope entering free agency. His departure to Orlando left a hole in Denver’s starting lineup, and Braun was in a prime position to fill it. The 23-year-old has taken his latest opportunity and left no doubt that he earned the role. Now averaging 33.3 minutes, Braun has more than doubled his scoring output in comparison to last season, averaging 15.0 points. He’s also doing it with efficiency, not just volume, shooting a career-best 57.8% from the floor. His66% true-shooting percentageis also second among guards to appear in more than nine games this season. He’s a force in transition,scoring 5.3 fast break points per game, second only to Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Braun’s growth has allowed the Nuggets to stay in contention in the West, despite key departures in the recent off season. Don’t miss Braun and the Nuggets in action tonight when they host the Hornets (9 p.m. ET,NBA League Pass).

•Get NBA League Pass TODAY

Selected 21st overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Christian Braun quickly became a key part of the Nuggets’ rotation as a rookie, joining a team full of veterans with championship goals. Braun averaged just 15.5 minutes coming off the bench during his first NBA campaign. Due to his limited role and modest numbers in the box score, it was easy to overlook Braun’s contributions to Denver’s championship season.

His rise became evident, particularly as the team advanced to the NBA Finals. Rather than taking on a smaller role on the biggest stage, Braun earned more playing time, averaging 16.3 minutes in five NBA Finals matchups. He played a major role in a pivotal Game 3 win over the Heat in Miami, with the series tied 1-1. The rookie saw 19 minutes off the bench and scored 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting.

Veteran guard Bruce Brown departed Denver in free agency following the Nuggets’ championship run in 2023, opening up greater opportunities for Braun in his sophomore campaign. The Kansas product seized this role, and his time on the floor rose to 20.2 minutes. Braun cemented himself as a key role player for a contending team, and proved he could have a greater impact.

The 2024 offseason brought forth another critical juncture for the Nuggets and Braun with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope entering free agency. His departure to Orlando left a hole in Denver’s starting lineup, and Braun was in a prime position to fill it.

The 23-year-old has taken his latest opportunity and left no doubt that he earned the role.

Now averaging 33.3 minutes, Braun has more than doubled his scoring output in comparison to last season, averaging 15.0 points. He’s also doing it with efficiency, not just volume, shooting a career-best 57.8% from the floor. His66% true-shooting percentageis also second among guards to appear in more than nine games this season. He’s a force in transition,scoring 5.3 fast break points per game, second only to Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Braun’s growth has allowed the Nuggets to stay in contention in the West, despite key departures in the recent off season. Don’t miss Braun and the Nuggets in action tonight when they host the Hornets (9 p.m. ET,NBA League Pass).

21 February 2025
Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Feb. 20 Текст: Julian Strawther chipped in 16 points (5-10 FG, 4-7 3PM, 2-2 FT) to profile as the Nuggets’ third shooter on a night when Michael Porter Jr. finished with just six points (2-11 FG, 0-3 3PM, 2-2 FT). Miles Bridges posted an incredible all-around performance for Charlotte, headlined by efficient scoring en route to a season-high 36 points (12-23 FG, 5-10 3PM, 7-7 FT). He added 13 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block without recording a turnover. Keepin it going! Mal: 34 PTS (7 3PM) / 4 ASTJok: 29 PTS (6 3PM) / 17 REB / 9 ASTAG: 18 PTS / 7 REB / 2 ASTJulian: 16 PTS / 4 REB / 2 ASTpic.twitter.com/Cd1j8cuOov — Denver Nuggets (@nuggets)February 21, 2025 Overcoming a 2-for-15 shooting start from the field, Towns finished Thursday’s victory with 32 points (14-30 FG, 2-10 3PM), 18 rebounds, two assists and two steals to lead all scorers. A double-double from Jalen Brunson (22 points, 12 assists) and defensive heroics from Mikal Bridges were other key factors in New York’s win. Miles McBride was the Knicks’ second-leading scorer with 23 points, delivering stellar two-way play with six rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks. Josh Giddey’s 27-point, 16-rebound double-double popped despite Chicago’s defeat. The 22-year-old delivered a season-best scoring performance while matching his season-high with four made threes. KAT drops 32 & 18 in the@nyknicksOT win 😤 Its his 3rd straight game with 30+ PTS and 10+ REB as New York wins their 3rd straight!pic.twitter.com/IKOHlRtmvw — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Mikal Bridges with a clutch, game-saving block after a savvy play call from Bulls’ coach Billy Donovan at the end of regulation. Bridges also blocked Coby White on Chicago’s prior possession, so the Bulls and Knicks head to overtime tied at 104. Bridges has struggled offensively, but he’s stuffing the stat sheet with 13 points (6-16 FG), nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks. HUGE MIKAL BRIDGES BLOCK TO FORCE OT 🤯pic.twitter.com/Q3JqY4pL0i — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 In a contest where only four players exceeded 12 points and only one player exceeded eight rebounds, the star power of James (40 points, 14-24 FG, 4-8 3PM, 8-8 FT) and co-starring of Austin Reaves (32 points, 9-21 FG, 2-8 3PM, 12-13 FT) catalyzed a 110-102 victory for the Lakers. Notably, James also had 11 turnovers, accounting for half of the Lakers total as a team. Toumani Camara was a factor, as the second-year forward set a new career high with five steals. Adding 19 points (7-8 FG, 3-4 3PM, 2-2 FT) and seven rebounds, Camara’s momentum was on display after earning a Rising Stars appearance at All-Star weekend. Avdija’s signature downhill prowess was on display as well, with the 24-year-old matching his second-highest scoring performance of the season. LeBron James with another 40-ball at 40 🤩 👑 40 PTS👑 8 REB👑 4 AST👑 2 STL👑 4 3PMpic.twitter.com/RKKXAqSBea — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 San Antonio was limited to a nine-man rotation Thursday, but each player scored at least eight points and five players hit multiple threes en route to a 112-109 upset victory over Phoenix. De’Aaron Fox (26 points, nine rebounds, seven assists) was San Antonio’s fulcrum, with Phoenix cutting their deficit to two points on two separate occasions midway through the fourth quarter when Fox was playing off-ball or briefly resting. Rookie Stephon Castle’s physicality and strength translated to his 12 points (4-12 FG), 10 rebounds and three steals while helping guard Kevin Durant (22 points, 9-13 FG). Royce O’Neale led the Suns in scoring, as the 31-year-old notched a career high 27 points (10-16 FG, 6-12 3PM, 1-2 FT). His four turnovers contributed to a grand total of 18 for Phoenix as a team, however, which proved to be a serious difference-maker compared to San Antonio having just nine total turnovers. Just wish for him to be healthy. Period ❤️ DeAaron on the Wemby news with@JaredSGreenbergafter the Spurs W 🎙️pic.twitter.com/jJwf0ms5cQ — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT)February 21, 2025 Reminiscent of Boston tying the NBA record with 29 made threes on Opening Night vs. the Knicks, the 76ers fell victim to the Celtics’ bombardment Thursday. Boston rained in 24 of 54 3P attempts (44.4 3P%) after starting 19 for 39 from deep. Payton Pritchard led the impressive shooting with a team-high 28 points (10-18 FG, 8-15 3PM). Jayson Tatum notched his second triple-double of the season. The versatility of his game continues growing, as Tatum combined for just two triple-doubles across his first seven years in the league. JT finished with a triple-double and had his fingerprints all over this game making him tonight’s@GatoradePlayer of the Game 💪pic.twitter.com/sJbh2Q2tmD — Boston Celtics (@celtics)February 21, 2025 We picked up where we left off before the break and snagged a win in Philadelphia.https://t.co/q05UPEbEtL — Boston Celtics (@celtics)February 21, 2025 Banchero’s 36 points (11-25 FG, 3-10 3PM, 11-16 FT), 10 rebounds and five assists was largely matched by Trae Young’s 38 points (13-28 FG, 4-13 3PM, 8-10 FT), three rebounds and six assists, but the former led his team to a 114-108 victory as Orlando prevailed. No other Hawk exceeded 13 points, while Franz Wagner co-starred for the Magic with 25 points (9-18 FG, 0-3 3PM, 7-11 FT) in efficient fashion. Paolo Banchero was a FORCE on the scoreboard for the Magic in their win in Atlanta! 💪 36 PTS💪 10 PTS💪 5 ASTpic.twitter.com/IOgeP7haaG — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Thursday night, James Harden became the 13th player in NBA history to score 27,000 points in his NBA career! James Hardens catch-&-shoot 3 for 27k career PTS!https://t.co/PJiyGhJqv0pic.twitter.com/6pjCOOqbC3 — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Kawhi Leonard posted a team-high 25 points for the Clippers, but he was not part of the closing lineup after topping out at 32 minutes of action. Ivica Zubac boomed for 20 points and 15 rebounds, absorbing some of the offensive void created by Norman Powell (knee) being unavailable. Giannis Antetokounmpo was dynamic in limited run as well, posting a team-high 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists in just 24 minutes of gameplay. Brook Lopez co-starred with 22 points (8-14 FG, 4-7 3PM), shooting with confidence and scoring inside with conviction. He also had seven rebounds and four blocks. Brook Lopez hits one from way downtown then sends one back on the other end 🎯🚫pic.twitter.com/Ob6sBeke6e — NBA (@NBA)December 27, 2024 Born and raised in the New York/Connecticut area, Donovan Mitchell lead all scorers with 26 points, while Jarrett Allen posted a monster double-double with 16 points and 20 rebounds — representing a new season-high and his ninth game of the year with at least 15 rebounds. Cameron Johnson led Brooklyn with 18 points (6-11 FG, 3-6 3PM), although the Nets connected on just 40.0% of 95 shots as a team in total. Stam warm and sleep tight, Cleveland. 😴#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/nCZtNcm7bN — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025 After trailering for the majority of the first half, Indiana’s offense ignited and never looked back — posting 50 points in the second quarter and ultimately entering halftime with a 19-point lead. That lead would expand to as large as 26 in the third quarter despite the Grizzlies cutting it to four at one point. Ultimately, Indiana never relinquished the lead in the second half. Steady offensive play from Tyrese Haliburton (22 points, nine assists) and Bennedict Mathurin (16 points, one assist), as well as elite two-way contributions from Myles Turner (17 points, 10 rebounds, seven blocks) anchored the Pacers. BLOCK PARTY for Myles Turner ❌ ✅ Season-high 7 blocks✅ 4th player this season to record 7+ in a game 💪 56.0 FPTs ➡️ 17 PTS | 10 REB | 7 BLKpic.twitter.com/VkozEHfPAc — NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy)February 21, 2025 Jarrett Allen block✔️ Darius Garland tough drive✔️ Donovan Mitchell dime✔️ Evan Mobley slam✔️ Cavaliers lead Brooklyn 83-77 entering the fourth quarter. Mitchell leads all scorers with 24 points, while Cameron Johnson (17 points) and Keon Johnson (14 points) lead the offensive attack for Brooklyn. WHAT. A. SEQUENCE.@_bigjayy_+@dariusgarland22|#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/mmbzSIF2La — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025 THIS IS MADNESS.@spidadmitchell➡️@evanmobley|#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/6ZtTeBGagg — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025 Karl Anthony-Towns scored 20 points in the third quarter to bring his total to 26 points along with 15 rebounds as the Knicks hold a narrow 83-81 edge over Chicago. Josh Giddey is assembling a sizable double-double of his own, accumulating 14 points and 13 rebounds in under 20 minutes of action thus far. .@karltownsgoin coast-to-coast for the SLAM 💥pic.twitter.com/HqklcCG9e3 — NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks)February 21, 2025 Mathurin has 16 points (6-9 FG) to join a well-balanced attack from Indiana, featuring two fancy finishes plus the foul on perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jaren Jackson Jr. Mathurin’s advantage creation to the hoop has looked elite throughout Thursday’s game. Bennedict Mathurin with the fancy finish 🤯pic.twitter.com/or3OW1Uvod — Indiana Pacers (@Pacers)February 21, 2025 Bennedict Mathurin with the tough take 💪pic.twitter.com/ZXDiaJ7Et1 — Indiana Pacers (@Pacers)February 21, 2025 Nae’Qwan Tomlin checks in for Cleveland, representing the rookie’s first NBA minutes. Tomlin finished his collegiate career at Kansas St. and is among the top combo-forward athletes in the G League. Checking in for the first time in Wine & Gold, NaeQwan Tomlin. 😃#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/RfLzNznxGZ — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025 Kuzma hits from well beyond halfcourt to beat the Q1 buzzer. He has totaled 11 points to lead all scorers through the opening minutes of the second quarter. Kyle Kuzma from beyond half-court 🤯pic.twitter.com/c1oHwyZ8fU — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA)February 21, 2025 In his second game with the Clippers, Ben Simmons continues acclimating and shows off his passing chops with a nice lob to the high-flying Derrick Jones. WHAT A LOB ‼️ BEN SIMMONS ↗️ DERRICK JONES JR.pic.twitter.com/d9PrguKUCX — LA Clippers (@LAClippers)February 21, 2025 Bane getting into his bag and capitalizing on Memphis’ quick ball movement to punish his defender. Desmond Bane my OH my…😮‍💨😮‍💨 Filthy jab step and a beautiful step-through for 2!pic.twitter.com/R4Le7GT7YM — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Boston isn’t missing a beat in their return to action after the All-Star Break. The Celtics have opened up a double-digit lead over Philadelphia in the first half, fueled by a barrage of threes and crisp facilitating from Jayson Tatum. LUKE KORNET DROPPED THE HAMMER 🔨pic.twitter.com/V8LeGmckE5 — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT)February 21, 2025 Payton Pritchard is up to 5 3PM in the half 🎯 Celtics have 11 3PM with 8 minutes to go in the first half 👀pic.twitter.com/lY7NnO1xd6 — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Philadelphia looks to upset Boston led by a currently healthy Joel Embiid. The 76ers have posted an 8-9 record with Embiid on the court this season, but Philadelphia has gone just 12-25 without the MVP-caliber big man. Thursday marks the 14th occasion in which Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey have played together this season through Philadelphia’s first 55 games. that Kansas connection 👀pic.twitter.com/tN8A6GSRQB — Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers)February 21, 2025 No better way to tune into a busy night of ball than the CrunchTime broadcast on NBA TV: Nine games of action tonight! 🍿 Dont miss any of the top moments with#CrunchTime, starting at 8:30pm ET on the NBA APP 📱pic.twitter.com/fNEBcC4Ocz — NBA TV (@NBATV)February 20, 2025 Top Storylines👉📝

Julian Strawther chipped in 16 points (5-10 FG, 4-7 3PM, 2-2 FT) to profile as the Nuggets’ third shooter on a night when Michael Porter Jr. finished with just six points (2-11 FG, 0-3 3PM, 2-2 FT).

Miles Bridges posted an incredible all-around performance for Charlotte, headlined by efficient scoring en route to a season-high 36 points (12-23 FG, 5-10 3PM, 7-7 FT). He added 13 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block without recording a turnover.

Keepin’ it going!

Mal: 34 PTS (7 3PM) / 4 ASTJok: 29 PTS (6 3PM) / 17 REB / 9 ASTAG: 18 PTS / 7 REB / 2 ASTJulian: 16 PTS / 4 REB / 2 ASTpic.twitter.com/Cd1j8cuOov

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets)February 21, 2025

Overcoming a 2-for-15 shooting start from the field, Towns finished Thursday’s victory with 32 points (14-30 FG, 2-10 3PM), 18 rebounds, two assists and two steals to lead all scorers.

A double-double from Jalen Brunson (22 points, 12 assists) and defensive heroics from Mikal Bridges were other key factors in New York’s win.

Miles McBride was the Knicks’ second-leading scorer with 23 points, delivering stellar two-way play with six rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks.

Josh Giddey’s 27-point, 16-rebound double-double popped despite Chicago’s defeat. The 22-year-old delivered a season-best scoring performance while matching his season-high with four made threes.

KAT drops 32 & 18 in the@nyknicksOT win 😤

It’s his 3rd straight game with 30+ PTS and 10+ REB as New York wins their 3rd straight!pic.twitter.com/IKOHlRtmvw

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Mikal Bridges with a clutch, game-saving block after a savvy play call from Bulls’ coach Billy Donovan at the end of regulation. Bridges also blocked Coby White on Chicago’s prior possession, so the Bulls and Knicks head to overtime tied at 104.

Bridges has struggled offensively, but he’s stuffing the stat sheet with 13 points (6-16 FG), nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

HUGE MIKAL BRIDGES BLOCK TO FORCE OT 🤯pic.twitter.com/Q3JqY4pL0i

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

In a contest where only four players exceeded 12 points and only one player exceeded eight rebounds, the star power of James (40 points, 14-24 FG, 4-8 3PM, 8-8 FT) and co-starring of Austin Reaves (32 points, 9-21 FG, 2-8 3PM, 12-13 FT) catalyzed a 110-102 victory for the Lakers.

Notably, James also had 11 turnovers, accounting for half of the Lakers total as a team. Toumani Camara was a factor, as the second-year forward set a new career high with five steals. Adding 19 points (7-8 FG, 3-4 3PM, 2-2 FT) and seven rebounds, Camara’s momentum was on display after earning a Rising Stars appearance at All-Star weekend.

Avdija’s signature downhill prowess was on display as well, with the 24-year-old matching his second-highest scoring performance of the season.

LeBron James with another 40-ball at 40 🤩

👑 40 PTS👑 8 REB👑 4 AST👑 2 STL👑 4 3PMpic.twitter.com/RKKXAqSBea

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

San Antonio was limited to a nine-man rotation Thursday, but each player scored at least eight points and five players hit multiple threes en route to a 112-109 upset victory over Phoenix.

De’Aaron Fox (26 points, nine rebounds, seven assists) was San Antonio’s fulcrum, with Phoenix cutting their deficit to two points on two separate occasions midway through the fourth quarter when Fox was playing off-ball or briefly resting.

Rookie Stephon Castle’s physicality and strength translated to his 12 points (4-12 FG), 10 rebounds and three steals while helping guard Kevin Durant (22 points, 9-13 FG).

Royce O’Neale led the Suns in scoring, as the 31-year-old notched a career high 27 points (10-16 FG, 6-12 3PM, 1-2 FT). His four turnovers contributed to a grand total of 18 for Phoenix as a team, however, which proved to be a serious difference-maker compared to San Antonio having just nine total turnovers.

“Just wish for him to be healthy. Period” ❤️

De’Aaron on the Wemby news with@JaredSGreenbergafter the Spurs W 🎙️pic.twitter.com/jJwf0ms5cQ

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT)February 21, 2025

Reminiscent of Boston tying the NBA record with 29 made threes on Opening Night vs. the Knicks, the 76ers fell victim to the Celtics’ bombardment Thursday. Boston rained in 24 of 54 3P attempts (44.4 3P%) after starting 19 for 39 from deep.

Payton Pritchard led the impressive shooting with a team-high 28 points (10-18 FG, 8-15 3PM).

Jayson Tatum notched his second triple-double of the season. The versatility of his game continues growing, as Tatum combined for just two triple-doubles across his first seven years in the league.

JT finished with a triple-double and had his fingerprints all over this game making him tonight’s@GatoradePlayer of the Game 💪pic.twitter.com/sJbh2Q2tmD

— Boston Celtics (@celtics)February 21, 2025

We picked up where we left off before the break and snagged a win in Philadelphia.https://t.co/q05UPEbEtL

— Boston Celtics (@celtics)February 21, 2025

Banchero’s 36 points (11-25 FG, 3-10 3PM, 11-16 FT), 10 rebounds and five assists was largely matched by Trae Young’s 38 points (13-28 FG, 4-13 3PM, 8-10 FT), three rebounds and six assists, but the former led his team to a 114-108 victory as Orlando prevailed.

No other Hawk exceeded 13 points, while Franz Wagner co-starred for the Magic with 25 points (9-18 FG, 0-3 3PM, 7-11 FT) in efficient fashion.

Paolo Banchero was a FORCE on the scoreboard for the Magic in their win in Atlanta!

💪 36 PTS💪 10 PTS💪 5 ASTpic.twitter.com/IOgeP7haaG

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Thursday night, James Harden became the 13th player in NBA history to score 27,000 points in his NBA career!

James Harden’s catch-&-shoot 3 for 27k career PTS!https://t.co/PJiyGhJqv0pic.twitter.com/6pjCOOqbC3

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Kawhi Leonard posted a team-high 25 points for the Clippers, but he was not part of the closing lineup after topping out at 32 minutes of action. Ivica Zubac boomed for 20 points and 15 rebounds, absorbing some of the offensive void created by Norman Powell (knee) being unavailable.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was dynamic in limited run as well, posting a team-high 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists in just 24 minutes of gameplay. Brook Lopez co-starred with 22 points (8-14 FG, 4-7 3PM), shooting with confidence and scoring inside with conviction. He also had seven rebounds and four blocks.

Brook Lopez hits one from way downtown then sends one back on the other end 🎯🚫pic.twitter.com/Ob6sBeke6e

— NBA (@NBA)December 27, 2024

Born and raised in the New York/Connecticut area, Donovan Mitchell lead all scorers with 26 points, while Jarrett Allen posted a monster double-double with 16 points and 20 rebounds — representing a new season-high and his ninth game of the year with at least 15 rebounds.

Cameron Johnson led Brooklyn with 18 points (6-11 FG, 3-6 3PM), although the Nets connected on just 40.0% of 95 shots as a team in total.

Stam warm and sleep tight, Cleveland. 😴#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/nCZtNcm7bN

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025

After trailering for the majority of the first half, Indiana’s offense ignited and never looked back — posting 50 points in the second quarter and ultimately entering halftime with a 19-point lead. That lead would expand to as large as 26 in the third quarter despite the Grizzlies cutting it to four at one point.

Ultimately, Indiana never relinquished the lead in the second half. Steady offensive play from Tyrese Haliburton (22 points, nine assists) and Bennedict Mathurin (16 points, one assist), as well as elite two-way contributions from Myles Turner (17 points, 10 rebounds, seven blocks) anchored the Pacers.

BLOCK PARTY for Myles Turner ❌

✅ Season-high 7 blocks✅ 4th player this season to record 7+ in a game 💪

56.0 FPTs ➡️ 17 PTS | 10 REB | 7 BLKpic.twitter.com/VkozEHfPAc

— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy)February 21, 2025

Jarrett Allen block✔️

Darius Garland tough drive✔️

Donovan Mitchell dime✔️

Evan Mobley slam✔️

Cavaliers lead Brooklyn 83-77 entering the fourth quarter. Mitchell leads all scorers with 24 points, while Cameron Johnson (17 points) and Keon Johnson (14 points) lead the offensive attack for Brooklyn.

WHAT. A. SEQUENCE.@_bigjayy_+@dariusgarland22|#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/mmbzSIF2La

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025

THIS IS MADNESS.@spidadmitchell➡️@evanmobley|#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/6ZtTeBGagg

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025

Karl Anthony-Towns scored 20 points in the third quarter to bring his total to 26 points along with 15 rebounds as the Knicks hold a narrow 83-81 edge over Chicago.

Josh Giddey is assembling a sizable double-double of his own, accumulating 14 points and 13 rebounds in under 20 minutes of action thus far.

.@karltownsgoin coast-to-coast for the SLAM 💥pic.twitter.com/HqklcCG9e3

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks)February 21, 2025

Mathurin has 16 points (6-9 FG) to join a well-balanced attack from Indiana, featuring two fancy finishes plus the foul on perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jaren Jackson Jr.

Mathurin’s advantage creation to the hoop has looked elite throughout Thursday’s game.

Bennedict Mathurin with the fancy finish 🤯pic.twitter.com/or3OW1Uvod

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers)February 21, 2025

Bennedict Mathurin with the tough take 💪pic.twitter.com/ZXDiaJ7Et1

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers)February 21, 2025

Nae’Qwan Tomlin checks in for Cleveland, representing the rookie’s first NBA minutes. Tomlin finished his collegiate career at Kansas St. and is among the top combo-forward athletes in the G League.

Checking in for the first time in Wine & Gold, Nae’Qwan Tomlin. 😃#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/RfLzNznxGZ

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025

Kuzma hits from well beyond halfcourt to beat the Q1 buzzer. He has totaled 11 points to lead all scorers through the opening minutes of the second quarter.

Kyle Kuzma from beyond half-court 🤯pic.twitter.com/c1oHwyZ8fU

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA)February 21, 2025

In his second game with the Clippers, Ben Simmons continues acclimating and shows off his passing chops with a nice lob to the high-flying Derrick Jones.

WHAT A LOB ‼️

BEN SIMMONS ↗️ DERRICK JONES JR.pic.twitter.com/d9PrguKUCX

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers)February 21, 2025

Bane getting into his bag and capitalizing on Memphis’ quick ball movement to punish his defender.

Desmond Bane my OH my…😮‍💨😮‍💨

Filthy jab step and a beautiful step-through for 2!pic.twitter.com/R4Le7GT7YM

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Boston isn’t missing a beat in their return to action after the All-Star Break.

The Celtics have opened up a double-digit lead over Philadelphia in the first half, fueled by a barrage of threes and crisp facilitating from Jayson Tatum.

LUKE KORNET DROPPED THE HAMMER 🔨pic.twitter.com/V8LeGmckE5

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT)February 21, 2025

Payton Pritchard is up to 5 3PM in the half 🎯

Celtics have 11 3PM with 8 minutes to go in the first half 👀pic.twitter.com/lY7NnO1xd6

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Philadelphia looks to upset Boston led by a currently healthy Joel Embiid. The 76ers have posted an 8-9 record with Embiid on the court this season, but Philadelphia has gone just 12-25 without the MVP-caliber big man.

Thursday marks the 14th occasion in which Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey have played together this season through Philadelphia’s first 55 games.

that Kansas connection 👀pic.twitter.com/tN8A6GSRQB

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers)February 21, 2025

No better way to tune into a busy night of ball than the CrunchTime broadcast on NBA TV:

Nine games of action tonight! 🍿

Don’t miss any of the top moments with#CrunchTime, starting at 8:30pm ET on the NBA APP 📱pic.twitter.com/fNEBcC4Ocz

— NBA TV (@NBATV)February 20, 2025

Top Storylines👉📝

21 February 2025
Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Feb. 20 Текст: Julian Strawther chipped in 16 points (5-10 FG, 4-7 3PM, 2-2 FT) to profile as the Nuggets’ third shooter on a night when Michael Porter Jr. finished with just six points (2-11 FG, 0-3 3PM, 2-2 FT). Miles Bridges posted an incredible all-around performance for Charlotte, headlined by efficient scoring en route to a season-high 36 points (12-23 FG, 5-10 3PM, 7-7 FT). He added 13 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block without recording a turnover. Keepin it going! Mal: 34 PTS (7 3PM) / 4 ASTJok: 29 PTS (6 3PM) / 17 REB / 9 ASTAG: 18 PTS / 7 REB / 2 ASTJulian: 16 PTS / 4 REB / 2 ASTpic.twitter.com/Cd1j8cuOov — Denver Nuggets (@nuggets)February 21, 2025 Overcoming a 2-for-15 shooting start from the field, Towns finished Thursday’s victory with 32 points (14-30 FG, 2-10 3PM), 18 rebounds, two assists and two steals to lead all scorers. A double-double from Jalen Brunson (22 points, 12 assists) and defensive heroics from Mikal Bridges were other key factors in New York’s win. Miles McBride was the Knicks’ second-leading scorer with 23 points, delivering stellar two-way play with six rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks. Josh Giddey’s 27-point, 16-rebound double-double popped despite Chicago’s defeat. The 22-year-old delivered a season-best scoring performance while matching his season-high with four made threes. KAT drops 32 & 18 in the@nyknicksOT win 😤 Its his 3rd straight game with 30+ PTS and 10+ REB as New York wins their 3rd straight!pic.twitter.com/IKOHlRtmvw — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Mikal Bridges with a clutch, game-saving block after a savvy play call from Bulls’ coach Billy Donovan at the end of regulation. Bridges also blocked Coby White on Chicago’s prior possession, so the Bulls and Knicks head to overtime tied at 104. Bridges has struggled offensively, but he’s stuffing the stat sheet with 13 points (6-16 FG), nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks. HUGE MIKAL BRIDGES BLOCK TO FORCE OT 🤯pic.twitter.com/Q3JqY4pL0i — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 In a contest where only four players exceeded 12 points and only one player exceeded eight rebounds, the star power of James (40 points, 14-24 FG, 4-8 3PM, 8-8 FT) and co-starring of Austin Reaves (32 points, 9-21 FG, 2-8 3PM, 12-13 FT) catalyzed a 110-102 victory for the Lakers. Notably, James also had 11 turnovers, accounting for half of the Lakers total as a team. Toumani Camara was a factor, as the second-year forward set a new career high with five steals. Adding 19 points (7-8 FG, 3-4 3PM, 2-2 FT) and seven rebounds, Camara’s momentum was on display after earning a Rising Stars appearance at All-Star weekend. Avdija’s signature downhill prowess was on display as well, with the 24-year-old matching his second-highest scoring performance of the season. LeBron James with another 40-ball at 40 🤩 👑 40 PTS👑 8 REB👑 4 AST👑 2 STL👑 4 3PMpic.twitter.com/RKKXAqSBea — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 San Antonio was limited to a nine-man rotation Thursday, but each player scored at least eight points and five players hit multiple threes en route to a 112-109 upset victory over Phoenix. De’Aaron Fox (26 points, nine rebounds, seven assists) was San Antonio’s fulcrum, with Phoenix cutting their deficit to two points on two separate occasions midway through the fourth quarter when Fox was playing off-ball or briefly resting. Rookie Stephon Castle’s physicality and strength translated to his 12 points (4-12 FG), 10 rebounds and three steals while helping guard Kevin Durant (22 points, 9-13 FG). Royce O’Neale led the Suns in scoring, as the 31-year-old notched a career high 27 points (10-16 FG, 6-12 3PM, 1-2 FT). His four turnovers contributed to a grand total of 18 for Phoenix as a team, however, which proved to be a serious difference-maker compared to San Antonio having just nine total turnovers. Just wish for him to be healthy. Period ❤️ DeAaron on the Wemby news with@JaredSGreenbergafter the Spurs W 🎙️pic.twitter.com/jJwf0ms5cQ — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT)February 21, 2025 Reminiscent of Boston tying the NBA record with 29 made threes on Opening Night vs. the Knicks, the 76ers fell victim to the Celtics’ bombardment Thursday. Boston rained in 24 of 54 3P attempts (44.4 3P%) after starting 19 for 39 from deep. Payton Pritchard led the impressive shooting with a team-high 28 points (10-18 FG, 8-15 3PM). Jayson Tatum notched his second triple-double of the season. The versatility of his game continues growing, as Tatum combined for just two triple-doubles across his first seven years in the league. JT finished with a triple-double and had his fingerprints all over this game making him tonight’s@GatoradePlayer of the Game 💪pic.twitter.com/sJbh2Q2tmD — Boston Celtics (@celtics)February 21, 2025 We picked up where we left off before the break and snagged a win in Philadelphia.https://t.co/q05UPEbEtL — Boston Celtics (@celtics)February 21, 2025 Banchero’s 36 points (11-25 FG, 3-10 3PM, 11-16 FT), 10 rebounds and five assists was largely matched by Trae Young’s 38 points (13-28 FG, 4-13 3PM, 8-10 FT), three rebounds and six assists, but the former led his team to a 114-108 victory as Orlando prevailed. No other Hawk exceeded 13 points, while Franz Wagner co-starred for the Magic with 25 points (9-18 FG, 0-3 3PM, 7-11 FT) in efficient fashion. Paolo Banchero was a FORCE on the scoreboard for the Magic in their win in Atlanta! 💪 36 PTS💪 10 PTS💪 5 ASTpic.twitter.com/IOgeP7haaG — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Thursday night, James Harden became the 13th player in NBA history to score 27,000 points in his NBA career! James Hardens catch-&-shoot 3 for 27k career PTS!https://t.co/PJiyGhJqv0pic.twitter.com/6pjCOOqbC3 — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Kawhi Leonard posted a team-high 25 points for the Clippers, but he was not part of the closing lineup after topping out at 32 minutes of action. Ivica Zubac boomed for 20 points and 15 rebounds, absorbing some of the offensive void created by Norman Powell (knee) being unavailable. Giannis Antetokounmpo was dynamic in limited run as well, posting a team-high 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists in just 24 minutes of gameplay. Brook Lopez co-starred with 22 points (8-14 FG, 4-7 3PM), shooting with confidence and scoring inside with conviction. He also had seven rebounds and four blocks. Brook Lopez hits one from way downtown then sends one back on the other end 🎯🚫pic.twitter.com/Ob6sBeke6e — NBA (@NBA)December 27, 2024 Born and raised in the New York/Connecticut area, Donovan Mitchell lead all scorers with 26 points, while Jarrett Allen posted a monster double-double with 16 points and 20 rebounds — representing a new season-high and his ninth game of the year with at least 15 rebounds. Cameron Johnson led Brooklyn with 18 points (6-11 FG, 3-6 3PM), although the Nets connected on just 40.0% of 95 shots as a team in total. Stam warm and sleep tight, Cleveland. 😴#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/nCZtNcm7bN — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025 After trailering for the majority of the first half, Indiana’s offense ignited and never looked back — posting 50 points in the second quarter and ultimately entering halftime with a 19-point lead. That lead would expand to as large as 26 in the third quarter despite the Grizzlies cutting it to four at one point. Ultimately, Indiana never relinquished the lead in the second half. Steady offensive play from Tyrese Haliburton (22 points, nine assists) and Bennedict Mathurin (16 points, one assist), as well as elite two-way contributions from Myles Turner (17 points, 10 rebounds, seven blocks) anchored the Pacers. BLOCK PARTY for Myles Turner ❌ ✅ Season-high 7 blocks✅ 4th player this season to record 7+ in a game 💪 56.0 FPTs ➡️ 17 PTS | 10 REB | 7 BLKpic.twitter.com/VkozEHfPAc — NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy)February 21, 2025 Jarrett Allen block✔️ Darius Garland tough drive✔️ Donovan Mitchell dime✔️ Evan Mobley slam✔️ Cavaliers lead Brooklyn 83-77 entering the fourth quarter. Mitchell leads all scorers with 24 points, while Cameron Johnson (17 points) and Keon Johnson (14 points) lead the offensive attack for Brooklyn. WHAT. A. SEQUENCE.@_bigjayy_+@dariusgarland22|#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/mmbzSIF2La — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025 THIS IS MADNESS.@spidadmitchell➡️@evanmobley|#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/6ZtTeBGagg — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025 Karl Anthony-Towns scored 20 points in the third quarter to bring his total to 26 points along with 15 rebounds as the Knicks hold a narrow 83-81 edge over Chicago. Josh Giddey is assembling a sizable double-double of his own, accumulating 14 points and 13 rebounds in under 20 minutes of action thus far. .@karltownsgoin coast-to-coast for the SLAM 💥pic.twitter.com/HqklcCG9e3 — NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks)February 21, 2025 Mathurin has 16 points (6-9 FG) to join a well-balanced attack from Indiana, featuring two fancy finishes plus the foul on perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jaren Jackson Jr. Mathurin’s advantage creation to the hoop has looked elite throughout Thursday’s game. Bennedict Mathurin with the fancy finish 🤯pic.twitter.com/or3OW1Uvod — Indiana Pacers (@Pacers)February 21, 2025 Bennedict Mathurin with the tough take 💪pic.twitter.com/ZXDiaJ7Et1 — Indiana Pacers (@Pacers)February 21, 2025 Nae’Qwan Tomlin checks in for Cleveland, representing the rookie’s first NBA minutes. Tomlin finished his collegiate career at Kansas St. and is among the top combo-forward athletes in the G League. Checking in for the first time in Wine & Gold, NaeQwan Tomlin. 😃#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/RfLzNznxGZ — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025 Kuzma hits from well beyond halfcourt to beat the Q1 buzzer. He has totaled 11 points to lead all scorers through the opening minutes of the second quarter. Kyle Kuzma from beyond half-court 🤯pic.twitter.com/c1oHwyZ8fU — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA)February 21, 2025 In his second game with the Clippers, Ben Simmons continues acclimating and shows off his passing chops with a nice lob to the high-flying Derrick Jones. WHAT A LOB ‼️ BEN SIMMONS ↗️ DERRICK JONES JR.pic.twitter.com/d9PrguKUCX — LA Clippers (@LAClippers)February 21, 2025 Bane getting into his bag and capitalizing on Memphis’ quick ball movement to punish his defender. Desmond Bane my OH my…😮‍💨😮‍💨 Filthy jab step and a beautiful step-through for 2!pic.twitter.com/R4Le7GT7YM — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Boston isn’t missing a beat in their return to action after the All-Star Break. The Celtics have opened up a double-digit lead over Philadelphia in the first half, fueled by a barrage of threes and crisp facilitating from Jayson Tatum. LUKE KORNET DROPPED THE HAMMER 🔨pic.twitter.com/V8LeGmckE5 — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT)February 21, 2025 Payton Pritchard is up to 5 3PM in the half 🎯 Celtics have 11 3PM with 8 minutes to go in the first half 👀pic.twitter.com/lY7NnO1xd6 — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Philadelphia looks to upset Boston led by a currently healthy Joel Embiid. The 76ers have posted an 8-9 record with Embiid on the court this season, but Philadelphia has gone just 12-25 without the MVP-caliber big man. Thursday marks the 14th occasion in which Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey have played together this season through Philadelphia’s first 55 games. that Kansas connection 👀pic.twitter.com/tN8A6GSRQB — Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers)February 21, 2025 No better way to tune into a busy night of ball than the CrunchTime broadcast on NBA TV: Nine games of action tonight! 🍿 Dont miss any of the top moments with#CrunchTime, starting at 8:30pm ET on the NBA APP 📱pic.twitter.com/fNEBcC4Ocz — NBA TV (@NBATV)February 20, 2025 Top Storylines👉📝

Julian Strawther chipped in 16 points (5-10 FG, 4-7 3PM, 2-2 FT) to profile as the Nuggets’ third shooter on a night when Michael Porter Jr. finished with just six points (2-11 FG, 0-3 3PM, 2-2 FT).

Miles Bridges posted an incredible all-around performance for Charlotte, headlined by efficient scoring en route to a season-high 36 points (12-23 FG, 5-10 3PM, 7-7 FT). He added 13 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block without recording a turnover.

Keepin’ it going!

Mal: 34 PTS (7 3PM) / 4 ASTJok: 29 PTS (6 3PM) / 17 REB / 9 ASTAG: 18 PTS / 7 REB / 2 ASTJulian: 16 PTS / 4 REB / 2 ASTpic.twitter.com/Cd1j8cuOov

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets)February 21, 2025

Overcoming a 2-for-15 shooting start from the field, Towns finished Thursday’s victory with 32 points (14-30 FG, 2-10 3PM), 18 rebounds, two assists and two steals to lead all scorers.

A double-double from Jalen Brunson (22 points, 12 assists) and defensive heroics from Mikal Bridges were other key factors in New York’s win.

Miles McBride was the Knicks’ second-leading scorer with 23 points, delivering stellar two-way play with six rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks.

Josh Giddey’s 27-point, 16-rebound double-double popped despite Chicago’s defeat. The 22-year-old delivered a season-best scoring performance while matching his season-high with four made threes.

KAT drops 32 & 18 in the@nyknicksOT win 😤

It’s his 3rd straight game with 30+ PTS and 10+ REB as New York wins their 3rd straight!pic.twitter.com/IKOHlRtmvw

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Mikal Bridges with a clutch, game-saving block after a savvy play call from Bulls’ coach Billy Donovan at the end of regulation. Bridges also blocked Coby White on Chicago’s prior possession, so the Bulls and Knicks head to overtime tied at 104.

Bridges has struggled offensively, but he’s stuffing the stat sheet with 13 points (6-16 FG), nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

HUGE MIKAL BRIDGES BLOCK TO FORCE OT 🤯pic.twitter.com/Q3JqY4pL0i

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

In a contest where only four players exceeded 12 points and only one player exceeded eight rebounds, the star power of James (40 points, 14-24 FG, 4-8 3PM, 8-8 FT) and co-starring of Austin Reaves (32 points, 9-21 FG, 2-8 3PM, 12-13 FT) catalyzed a 110-102 victory for the Lakers.

Notably, James also had 11 turnovers, accounting for half of the Lakers total as a team. Toumani Camara was a factor, as the second-year forward set a new career high with five steals. Adding 19 points (7-8 FG, 3-4 3PM, 2-2 FT) and seven rebounds, Camara’s momentum was on display after earning a Rising Stars appearance at All-Star weekend.

Avdija’s signature downhill prowess was on display as well, with the 24-year-old matching his second-highest scoring performance of the season.

LeBron James with another 40-ball at 40 🤩

👑 40 PTS👑 8 REB👑 4 AST👑 2 STL👑 4 3PMpic.twitter.com/RKKXAqSBea

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

San Antonio was limited to a nine-man rotation Thursday, but each player scored at least eight points and five players hit multiple threes en route to a 112-109 upset victory over Phoenix.

De’Aaron Fox (26 points, nine rebounds, seven assists) was San Antonio’s fulcrum, with Phoenix cutting their deficit to two points on two separate occasions midway through the fourth quarter when Fox was playing off-ball or briefly resting.

Rookie Stephon Castle’s physicality and strength translated to his 12 points (4-12 FG), 10 rebounds and three steals while helping guard Kevin Durant (22 points, 9-13 FG).

Royce O’Neale led the Suns in scoring, as the 31-year-old notched a career high 27 points (10-16 FG, 6-12 3PM, 1-2 FT). His four turnovers contributed to a grand total of 18 for Phoenix as a team, however, which proved to be a serious difference-maker compared to San Antonio having just nine total turnovers.

“Just wish for him to be healthy. Period” ❤️

De’Aaron on the Wemby news with@JaredSGreenbergafter the Spurs W 🎙️pic.twitter.com/jJwf0ms5cQ

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT)February 21, 2025

Reminiscent of Boston tying the NBA record with 29 made threes on Opening Night vs. the Knicks, the 76ers fell victim to the Celtics’ bombardment Thursday. Boston rained in 24 of 54 3P attempts (44.4 3P%) after starting 19 for 39 from deep.

Payton Pritchard led the impressive shooting with a team-high 28 points (10-18 FG, 8-15 3PM).

Jayson Tatum notched his second triple-double of the season. The versatility of his game continues growing, as Tatum combined for just two triple-doubles across his first seven years in the league.

JT finished with a triple-double and had his fingerprints all over this game making him tonight’s@GatoradePlayer of the Game 💪pic.twitter.com/sJbh2Q2tmD

— Boston Celtics (@celtics)February 21, 2025

We picked up where we left off before the break and snagged a win in Philadelphia.https://t.co/q05UPEbEtL

— Boston Celtics (@celtics)February 21, 2025

Banchero’s 36 points (11-25 FG, 3-10 3PM, 11-16 FT), 10 rebounds and five assists was largely matched by Trae Young’s 38 points (13-28 FG, 4-13 3PM, 8-10 FT), three rebounds and six assists, but the former led his team to a 114-108 victory as Orlando prevailed.

No other Hawk exceeded 13 points, while Franz Wagner co-starred for the Magic with 25 points (9-18 FG, 0-3 3PM, 7-11 FT) in efficient fashion.

Paolo Banchero was a FORCE on the scoreboard for the Magic in their win in Atlanta!

💪 36 PTS💪 10 PTS💪 5 ASTpic.twitter.com/IOgeP7haaG

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Thursday night, James Harden became the 13th player in NBA history to score 27,000 points in his NBA career!

James Harden’s catch-&-shoot 3 for 27k career PTS!https://t.co/PJiyGhJqv0pic.twitter.com/6pjCOOqbC3

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Kawhi Leonard posted a team-high 25 points for the Clippers, but he was not part of the closing lineup after topping out at 32 minutes of action. Ivica Zubac boomed for 20 points and 15 rebounds, absorbing some of the offensive void created by Norman Powell (knee) being unavailable.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was dynamic in limited run as well, posting a team-high 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists in just 24 minutes of gameplay. Brook Lopez co-starred with 22 points (8-14 FG, 4-7 3PM), shooting with confidence and scoring inside with conviction. He also had seven rebounds and four blocks.

Brook Lopez hits one from way downtown then sends one back on the other end 🎯🚫pic.twitter.com/Ob6sBeke6e

— NBA (@NBA)December 27, 2024

Born and raised in the New York/Connecticut area, Donovan Mitchell lead all scorers with 26 points, while Jarrett Allen posted a monster double-double with 16 points and 20 rebounds — representing a new season-high and his ninth game of the year with at least 15 rebounds.

Cameron Johnson led Brooklyn with 18 points (6-11 FG, 3-6 3PM), although the Nets connected on just 40.0% of 95 shots as a team in total.

Stam warm and sleep tight, Cleveland. 😴#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/nCZtNcm7bN

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025

After trailering for the majority of the first half, Indiana’s offense ignited and never looked back — posting 50 points in the second quarter and ultimately entering halftime with a 19-point lead. That lead would expand to as large as 26 in the third quarter despite the Grizzlies cutting it to four at one point.

Ultimately, Indiana never relinquished the lead in the second half. Steady offensive play from Tyrese Haliburton (22 points, nine assists) and Bennedict Mathurin (16 points, one assist), as well as elite two-way contributions from Myles Turner (17 points, 10 rebounds, seven blocks) anchored the Pacers.

BLOCK PARTY for Myles Turner ❌

✅ Season-high 7 blocks✅ 4th player this season to record 7+ in a game 💪

56.0 FPTs ➡️ 17 PTS | 10 REB | 7 BLKpic.twitter.com/VkozEHfPAc

— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy)February 21, 2025

Jarrett Allen block✔️

Darius Garland tough drive✔️

Donovan Mitchell dime✔️

Evan Mobley slam✔️

Cavaliers lead Brooklyn 83-77 entering the fourth quarter. Mitchell leads all scorers with 24 points, while Cameron Johnson (17 points) and Keon Johnson (14 points) lead the offensive attack for Brooklyn.

WHAT. A. SEQUENCE.@_bigjayy_+@dariusgarland22|#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/mmbzSIF2La

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025

THIS IS MADNESS.@spidadmitchell➡️@evanmobley|#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/6ZtTeBGagg

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025

Karl Anthony-Towns scored 20 points in the third quarter to bring his total to 26 points along with 15 rebounds as the Knicks hold a narrow 83-81 edge over Chicago.

Josh Giddey is assembling a sizable double-double of his own, accumulating 14 points and 13 rebounds in under 20 minutes of action thus far.

.@karltownsgoin coast-to-coast for the SLAM 💥pic.twitter.com/HqklcCG9e3

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks)February 21, 2025

Mathurin has 16 points (6-9 FG) to join a well-balanced attack from Indiana, featuring two fancy finishes plus the foul on perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jaren Jackson Jr.

Mathurin’s advantage creation to the hoop has looked elite throughout Thursday’s game.

Bennedict Mathurin with the fancy finish 🤯pic.twitter.com/or3OW1Uvod

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers)February 21, 2025

Bennedict Mathurin with the tough take 💪pic.twitter.com/ZXDiaJ7Et1

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers)February 21, 2025

Nae’Qwan Tomlin checks in for Cleveland, representing the rookie’s first NBA minutes. Tomlin finished his collegiate career at Kansas St. and is among the top combo-forward athletes in the G League.

Checking in for the first time in Wine & Gold, Nae’Qwan Tomlin. 😃#LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/RfLzNznxGZ

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)February 21, 2025

Kuzma hits from well beyond halfcourt to beat the Q1 buzzer. He has totaled 11 points to lead all scorers through the opening minutes of the second quarter.

Kyle Kuzma from beyond half-court 🤯pic.twitter.com/c1oHwyZ8fU

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA)February 21, 2025

In his second game with the Clippers, Ben Simmons continues acclimating and shows off his passing chops with a nice lob to the high-flying Derrick Jones.

WHAT A LOB ‼️

BEN SIMMONS ↗️ DERRICK JONES JR.pic.twitter.com/d9PrguKUCX

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers)February 21, 2025

Bane getting into his bag and capitalizing on Memphis’ quick ball movement to punish his defender.

Desmond Bane my OH my…😮‍💨😮‍💨

Filthy jab step and a beautiful step-through for 2!pic.twitter.com/R4Le7GT7YM

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Boston isn’t missing a beat in their return to action after the All-Star Break.

The Celtics have opened up a double-digit lead over Philadelphia in the first half, fueled by a barrage of threes and crisp facilitating from Jayson Tatum.

LUKE KORNET DROPPED THE HAMMER 🔨pic.twitter.com/V8LeGmckE5

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT)February 21, 2025

Payton Pritchard is up to 5 3PM in the half 🎯

Celtics have 11 3PM with 8 minutes to go in the first half 👀pic.twitter.com/lY7NnO1xd6

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Philadelphia looks to upset Boston led by a currently healthy Joel Embiid. The 76ers have posted an 8-9 record with Embiid on the court this season, but Philadelphia has gone just 12-25 without the MVP-caliber big man.

Thursday marks the 14th occasion in which Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey have played together this season through Philadelphia’s first 55 games.

that Kansas connection 👀pic.twitter.com/tN8A6GSRQB

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers)February 21, 2025

No better way to tune into a busy night of ball than the CrunchTime broadcast on NBA TV:

Nine games of action tonight! 🍿

Don’t miss any of the top moments with#CrunchTime, starting at 8:30pm ET on the NBA APP 📱pic.twitter.com/fNEBcC4Ocz

— NBA TV (@NBATV)February 20, 2025

Top Storylines👉📝

21 February 2025
Chris Paul passes Jason Kidd for 2nd place on NBAs all-time steals list Текст: •Get NBA League Pass TODAY Chris Paul recorded the 2,685th steal of his career on Thursday night to pass Jason Kidd for second place on theNBA’s career steals leaderboard. With 5:24 remaining in the quarter, Paul stripped Devin Booker for his first steal of the night to move up the list. It’s the second time this season Paul has surpassed Kidd for second place on an NBA all-time list. On Dec. 8, Paul dished out his 12,092nd career assist to jump over Kidd into 2nd place on theNBA’s all-time assists leaderboard. John Stockton is the all-time leader with 3,265 steals — a record that may never broken. Congrats to@CP3of the@spursfor moving up to 2nd on the all-time STEALS list!pic.twitter.com/wJhFtxaDk6 — NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025 Playing in his 20th season, Paul has led the NBA in steals six times (2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14) and is a nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, including seven First-Team selections. Paul is one of 17 players in NBA history to average at least two steals per game throughout their career — and one of only six to do so while playing in over 1,000 games. The others on that list are Stockton, Michael Jordan, Maurice Cheeks, Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen — all of whom are Hall of Famers.

•Get NBA League Pass TODAY

Chris Paul recorded the 2,685th steal of his career on Thursday night to pass Jason Kidd for second place on theNBA’s career steals leaderboard.

With 5:24 remaining in the quarter, Paul stripped Devin Booker for his first steal of the night to move up the list.

It’s the second time this season Paul has surpassed Kidd for second place on an NBA all-time list. On Dec. 8, Paul dished out his 12,092nd career assist to jump over Kidd into 2nd place on theNBA’s all-time assists leaderboard.

John Stockton is the all-time leader with 3,265 steals — a record that may never broken.

Congrats to@CP3of the@spursfor moving up to 2nd on the all-time STEALS list!pic.twitter.com/wJhFtxaDk6

— NBA (@NBA)February 21, 2025

Playing in his 20th season, Paul has led the NBA in steals six times (2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14) and is a nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, including seven First-Team selections.

Paul is one of 17 players in NBA history to average at least two steals per game throughout their career — and one of only six to do so while playing in over 1,000 games.

The others on that list are Stockton, Michael Jordan, Maurice Cheeks, Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen — all of whom are Hall of Famers.

21 February 2025