NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
Basketball is in full force once again, and Father Time has yet to outpace the King.
**5 HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY’S EDITION** 🏀 February 21, 2025
**Thursday Showcase:** LeBron delivers a remarkable 40-point game, KAT shines once more, and Paolo joins the elite ranks.
**Big West Triumphs:** Jokić and Murray propel Denver forward, while San Antonio bounces back in Austin.
**Eastern Momentum:** The Cavaliers and Celtics extend their winning streaks, and the Pacers and Bucks make impactful statements.
**Knicks vs. Cavs:** A clash of two of the league’s most potent offenses in a heavyweight encounter.
**Western Showdowns:** Can Houston cool off a scorching Anthony Edwards? The Northern California rivalry reignites, among other exciting matchups.
**FIRST THINGS FIRST …** ⏰ Expect nine more games this evening…
**ESPN Doubleheader:** In a top-tier Eastern contest, the Cavs, currently in first place, will host the 3rd-ranked Knicks at 7 ET. Following that, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves will take on the Rockets out West at 9:30 ET.
**Wemby Out For Season:** Spurs’ star Victor Wembanyama has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and is anticipated to miss the rest of the 2024-2025 season.
### 1. STARS SHINE: LEBRON OUTDISTANCES MJ, TOWNS DOMINATES, PAOLO LIGHTS IT UP
After missing two crucial three-point attempts in the closing seconds of a close game against the Hornets, LeBron James came back with a vengeance the following night.
**Lakers 110, Blazers 102:** With Luka Dončić unavailable, LeBron took charge, shooting 14-of-24 from the field, accumulating 40 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Austin Reaves contributed significantly with 32 points and 7 assists, guiding Los Angeles to victory over Portland and snapping their two-game losing streak. | **Recap**
In the Knicks’ final two outings leading up to the All-Star break, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered back-to-back double-doubles with 40 and 44 points, securing two victories for New York.
In their first game back, KAT continued his dominant play.
**Knicks 113, Bulls 111 (OT):** In another stellar display, Towns recorded 32 points and 18 rebounds, including the Knicks’ last six points in overtime to narrowly defeat Josh Giddey (27 points, 16 rebounds) and the Bulls at Madison Square Garden. | **Recap**
Besides LeBron and KAT, a third former No. 1 overall pick also made headlines on Thursday.
**Magic 114, Hawks 108:** Trae Young scored 38 points, but it wasn’t sufficient as Paolo Banchero filled the stat sheet with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, leading Orlando to overcome a 19-point deficit in the first half for a significant road victory. | **Recap**
### 2. WESTERN VICTORIES: NUGGETS KEEP WINNING STREAK ALIVE, SPURS DOWNS KD’S HOMECOMING
Denver extends its winning streak to nine games!
**Nuggets 129, Hornets 115:** Following his 29-point performance against the Lakers, Miles Bridges exploded for 36 points, along with 13 rebounds and 7 assists. However, the formidable duo of Jamal Murray (34 points, 7 three-pointers) and Nikola Jokić (29 points, 17 rebounds, 9 assists) proved too formidable, combining for an impressive 30-19 fourth-quarter surge to secure the win. | **Recap**
**Spurs 120, Suns 109:** In his return to the University of Texas, Kevin Durant shot 9-of-13 for 22 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. However, the Spurs, after receiving news about Victor Wembanyama’s season-ending diagnosis, rallied for a resilient victory led by De’Aaron Fox (26 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) and seven players scoring in double figures. | **Recap**
### 3. EASTERN POWERHOUSES: CAVS, CELTICS, AND PACERS KEEP ROLLING; BUCKS COME FROM BEHIND
The Knicks weren’t alone in making a strong statement as the second half of the season commenced, as four other top five teams also made waves.
**Cavaliers 110, Nets 97:** The East-leading Cavaliers, shooting an impressive 39.3% from three-point range entering the night, struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 11-of-39 (28.2%). Nevertheless, they secured a solid victory thanks to Jarrett Allen’s double-double (16 points, 20 rebounds) and Donovan Mitchell’s 26-point contribution. | **Recap**
**Celtics 124, 76ers 104:** Jayson Tatum notched his second triple-double of the season and the fourth of his career (15 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), while Payton Pritchard lit it up with eight three-pointers for 28 points, as Boston claimed their fourth consecutive victory. | **Recap**
**Pacers 127, Grizzlies 113:** In a head-to-head contest featuring two high-scoring teams, Indiana surged with 50 points in the second quarter and held on for a commanding interconference win. | **Recap**
**Bucks 116, Clippers 110:** After falling behind by 13 at the start of the fourth, Milwaukee bounced back with a 36-21 final quarter, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo (23 points) and Damian Lillard (15 points, 7 assists), edging out Kawhi Leonard (25 points), Ivica Zubac (20 points, 15 rebounds), and the Clippers. | **Recap**
### 4. EASTERN STALWARTS CLASH ON ESPN: A CONTEST OF ELITE OFFENSIVE TEAMS
On October 28, the Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 110-104, marking an unbeaten start with a record of 4-0. Just two days later, Cleveland climbed to the top of the Eastern standings and has since been dominant, boasting a franchise-best 45-10 record.
Trailing eight games behind are the 37-18 Knicks, who are enjoying their best start through 55 games since the 1996-97 season, which featured icons like Ewing and Starks at Madison Square Garden.
Tonight (7 ET, ESPN), these two Eastern titans will face off—not only as a possible playoff preview but also in a contest between some of the most dynamic offenses in the league.
Both teams excel at scoring but approach it differently; Cleveland ranks second in three-pointers made (16.1 per game), while New York is second in two-pointers (31.3).
However, both teams are experts in executing the pick-and-roll play.
(Note: All advanced statistics reflect data as of February 20 games)
Pick-and-roll stats are categorized into two segments: ‘ball handler’ and ‘roll man.’ The Knicks lead the NBA in points per possession in both segments.
Last season, the Knicks were ranked 28th in ‘roll man’ efficiency, but after acquiring Towns, they now sit atop the league in that metric.
Despite New York leading the league in pick-and-roll effectiveness, the Cavaliers top the NBA in pick-and-roll points per game, averaging 33.6.
Mobley and Allen have combined for 50 alley-oops this season.
Garland ranks third in the league for assists following drives, averaging 2.0 per game.
In this showdown of strength versus strength, which offense will prevail tonight?
### 5. ROCKETS HOST WOLVES ON ESPN: NORCAL RIVALRY AND MORE LIVE ON LEAGUE PASS
Tonight welcomes another star-studded matchup as Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves visit Alperen Sengun and the Rockets (9:30 ET, ESPN).
The teams have faced off three times this season, with Edwards averaging 31.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, resulting in back-to-back victories for Minnesota.
Houston returned from last year’s break and soared to a 13-1 stretch from March 2 to 29, but now finds itself having lost seven of its last nine games.
The Rockets aim to regain that early success as they seek to enhance their playoff positioning after previously holding second place in the West.
Despite recent struggles, the Rockets thrive at defending the perimeter, allowing the second-fewest three-pointers per game and the second-fewest attempts overall.
An additional seven games tip-off on League Pass, including an exciting chapter in the Northern California rivalry as Zach LaVine and Jimmy Butler join the Kings hosting the Warriors (10 ET).
