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The second half of the regular season kicks off for the Los Angeles Magic.
🏀 **FIVE HEADLINES IN TODAY’S EDITION** 🏀 – Feb. 20, 2025
**Hornets Shock Lakers:** Charlotte topples Los Angeles in a thrilling finish.
**KD Makes His Return to Austin:** From Longhorn standout to NBA superstar, KD’s journey loops back tonight.
**Celtics Charge into Philly:** The reigning champions aim to keep their momentum against a conference rival.
**Denver’s High-Scoring Streak:** The key to Denver’s ongoing eight-game winning streak is unveiled.
**League Pass Showdown:** Two explosive offenses collide while Eastern contenders ramp up their playoff efforts.
**BUT FIRST… ⏰ We’re just getting started…**
Tonight marks the beginning of nine games, featuring a doubleheader on TNT. First up, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics take on Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers in Philadelphia at 7 PM ET. Later, the Spurs welcome Kevin Durant and the Suns in Austin at 9:30 PM ET.
1. **HORNETS PULL OFF DRAMATIC VICTORY OVER LAKERS**
In the opening game following the All-Star break, fans are treated to a nail-biter in Los Angeles.
**Hornets 100, Lakers 97:** In their third pairing, LeBron James (26 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 sensational dunk) and Luka Dončić (14 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists) put up impressive numbers, yet the Hornets secured a hard-fought win led by Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball. | **Game Recap**
**Bridges and Ball Shine:** Bridges led all scorers with 29 points and posted a career-best 5 steals, while Ball contributed 27 points and 6 assists.
In the second half, this dynamic duo exploded for 35 points, with Ball netting 18 and Bridges chipping in 17, capturing the Hornets’ first road victory in over a month.
Conversely, the Lakers, who started Wednesday with a league-leading 12-3 record since January 15, now face their second consecutive defeat as they adjust to Dončić’s integration.
2. **TONIGHT ON TNT: KD IS BACK IN AUSTIN AS THE SPURS TAKE ON THE SUNS**
Kevin Durant’s last significant appearance in Austin dates back to when he was an 18-year-old freshman representing the Longhorns, scoring 30 points against Texas A&M to clinch a double-overtime victory.
That moment was on February 28, 2007.
Fast forward eighteen years, and he returns to the city where his ascent to fame began, as the Spurs host the Suns at UT’s Moody Center at 9:30 PM ET on TNT.
Recently, Durant joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the third-fastest player to reach 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, contributing to Golden State’s two NBA championships.
This evening, Durant’s February comes full circle on the campus that shaped his legacy.
As one of the greatest scorers to ever play the game, Durant has proven his scoring prowess at each phase of his career, from dominating at Texas to achieving accolades at the highest levels of basketball.
3. **CELTICS BRING THEIR HOT STREAK TO PHILLY THIS EVENING**
If Boston adds a victory over Philadelphia tonight (7 PM ET, TNT), they will join Cleveland and Oklahoma City as the only teams with 40 wins.
In their prior matchup, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 56 points during a remarkable 26-point comeback, equaling the largest comeback of the season in a 118-110 victory on February 2.
Winning seven of their last eight games, the Celtics have claimed victories against the top-seeded Cavaliers and third-seeded Knicks, marking their strongest run since a 10-1 stretch from November 13 to December 6.
Tyrese Maxey was on fire before the break, scoring 25 or more points in 18 consecutive games from January 6 to February 9, although the Sixers have now lost seven out of their last eight matches.
4. **DENVER AIMS FOR NINTH STRAIGHT WIN THROUGH OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER**
The last occasion the Nuggets won nine games in a row was in January 2023, a season that culminated in the franchise’s inaugural NBA championship.
That year, Denver approached the All-Star break with 18 losses.
This week, they entered with 19, riding an eight-game winning streak into tonight’s clash against Charlotte (9 PM ET, LP), aiming to replicate their longest win streak since their championship run.
While Nikola Jokic has been stellar throughout the season, teammates Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray have been equally essential to the Nuggets’ recent performance.
Both players have seen significant increases in scoring and shooting efficiency during Denver’s eight-game surge – and it’s no coincidence.
Their strategy? Attacking the basket.
As a result, Denver ranks first in points per game from cuts (16.3), first in post-up points (8.7), and third in points off handoffs (7.5), creating one of the league’s most dynamic offenses, despite standing 28th in three-pointers made (31.2).
Tonight, as Denver seeks their ninth victory in a row, Coach Michael Malone also targets his 500th career win. Will he reach the milestone or will the Hornets upset another Western contender?
5. **LEAGUE PASS LINEUP: TOP OFFENSES & EASTERN POWERHOUSES IN ACTION**
In December, the Pacers suffered a 15-point defeat at the hands of the Grizzlies. By December 8, they found themselves at 10-15, marking their first instance of being five games under .500 since the 2022-23 season.
Since then, last year’s Eastern Conference finalists have turned it around, going 20-8 and climbing from 9th to 4th in the East.
Tonight (7 PM ET, LP), they’ll face Memphis once again in a battle between two of the league’s hottest teams.
Three other formidable teams from the East will resume play this evening, including two based in the same city.
**Cavaliers at Nets (7:30 PM ET):** After a difficult three-game losing streak, Cleveland has bounced back, winning eight of their last nine contests to close the All-Star break at 44-10, tying with Oklahoma City for the league’s best record.
**Bulls at Knicks (7:30 PM ET):** The third-seeded Knicks will seek to improve to 11-3 in their last 14 games at Madison Square Garden. However, they have struggled against the Bulls this season, having dropped both previous encounters.
**Clippers at Bucks (8 PM ET):** In a showdown featuring two All-Star veterans, Damian Lillard’s Bucks (5th in the East) will face off against James Harden’s Clippers (6th in the West), as both franchises gear up for a playoff push.
Additionally, two more games are set to begin on League Pass, with the Hawks hosting the Magic at 7:30 PM ET, followed by Luka, LeBron, and the Lakers finishing off the night in Portland at 10 PM ET.
