NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
Historic Winning Streak: Still Going Strong. ✅
Playoff Qualification: Secured. ✅
5 HEADLINES IN TODAY’S ISSUE 🏀 March 6, 2025
Eastern Powerhouses: The Cavaliers lock in Playoff berth with their 12th consecutive victory, while a Boston duo connects for a staggering 19 (!!) three-pointers.
Star Performances: The Beard scores 50 for the first time in over five years, and SGA shines once again.
Highlights: Giannis reaches 20K points, Denver stages a fourth-quarter comeback, while the Wolves and Wizards claim victories.
Tonight on TNT: The Sixers and Celtics go head-to-head before the Knicks take on the resurgent, redefined Lakers.
League Pass Feature: Will Steph, Jimmy, and the Warriors keep their momentum? Plus, playoff implications for the East Play-In.
BUT FIRST… ⏰ Historical teams clash…
TNT Doubleheader: An iconic Eastern rivalry unfolds in Boston as the Sixers battle the Celtics (7:30 ET). Following that, LeBron, Luka, and the Lakers aim for their eighth consecutive victory against the visiting Knicks (10 ET).
Lakers-Celtics Showdown: On Saturday, the Lakers will visit the Celtics for a much-anticipated matchup between the second seeds from each conference (8:30 ET, ABC).
Today’s Reads: LA Times features Derrick Jones Jr.’s defensive progress… The Athletic discusses SGA’s path to Kia MVP contention… Indy Star highlights Tyrese Haliburton’s impressive run… CBS Sports explores the Grizzlies’ unconventional offensive strategies.
1. CAVS EXTEND STREAK AND SECURE PLAYOFF SPOT; PRITCHARD AND WHITE ACHIEVE HISTORIC 40s
What you might have already heard: The Cavaliers are headed to the postseason.
What you may not know: March 5 marks the earliest date in five years for a team to clinch a playoff spot.
And the Cavaliers aren’t resting on their laurels.
Cavaliers 112, Heat 107: After relinquishing a 17-point lead in the second quarter, the Cavs faced a 7-point deficit with just over six minutes remaining. They rallied with a 19-7 closing run to claim their 12th victory in a row, becoming the first team to secure a playoff spot this season. | Recap
The Celtics began the season by equaling the record for the most three-pointers in a game with 29.
Currently averaging 17.9 made threes per game, Boston is on track to break the single-season record.
And on Wednesday, two of the Celtics’ sharpshooters contributed significantly to their historic season from beyond the arc.
Celtics 128, Blazers 118: Payton Pritchard (43 points, 10 threes) and Derrick White (41 points, 9 threes) lit up TD Garden with an impressive combined total of 19 triples on just 32 attempts (57.6%), amassing 84 points together, helping the C’s triumph over the Blazers despite Jayson Tatum’s absence (shoulder). | Recap
2. INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES: CLASSIC HARDEN, STELLAR SHAI
While Pritchard and White hit 40 for the first time, a legendary scorer turned back the clock with a 50-point performance.
Clippers 123, Pistons 115: Detroit entered Wednesday on fire, boasting a remarkable 10-1 record over their previous 11 games, supported by the league’s top defensive rating during that span.
But then “The Beard” unleashed his scoring, as James Harden tallied 50 points with six triples and added 5 assists to edge out Cade Cunningham (37 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists), ending LA’s three-game losing streak. | Recap
Wednesday marked just the fourth time this season that four different players scored 40 or more points in one night. Fittingly, the league’s leading scorer was among them.
Thunder 120, Grizzlies 103: Following a game in which he scored 51 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 41 on 14-of-25 shooting, along with 8 assists and 2 steals, leading OKC to its fifth consecutive win against Ja Morant (24 points, 6 assists) and Memphis. | Recap
3. RECAP: GIANNIS REACHES 20K, DENVER MAKES A COMEBACK, WOLVES & WIZARDS PREVAIL
Bucks 137, Mavericks 107: Giannis Antetokounmpo (32 points, 15 rebounds) and Damian Lillard (34 points, 5 assists) each scored over 30 for the seventh time this season—the highest duo in the NBA—powering the Bucks to their fourth consecutive victory over Klay Thompson (28 points, 6 threes) and the Mavs. | Recap
Nuggets 116, Kings 110: After trailing from the first minute, Denver outscored Sacramento 32-17 in the fourth quarter to surge past the Kings, with Nikola Jokić (22 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists), Jamal Murray (24 points, 8 assists), and Russell Westbrook (25 points) leading the way. | Recap
Wolves 125, Hornets 110: Don’t overlook the Wolves. Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels each scored 29 points, helping Minnesota defeat LaMelo Ball (28 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) and Charlotte for their third consecutive win. | Recap
Wizards 125, Jazz 122: Rookies Kyshawn George (23 points, 7 rebounds) and Alex Sarr (21 points, 2 blocks) led a balanced effort from the Wizards, who managed to hold off Johnny Juzang (27 points) and the Jazz, recording their third win in five outings. | Recap
4. TONIGHT ON TNT: LAKERS TAKE ON KNICKS IN L.A., BOSTON FACES PHILLY
Eight of the last ten NBA champions have concluded the regular season ranked in the top five for either defensive rating or clutch win percentage.
Since January 15, the Lakers have claimed the top positions in both categories.
The Lakers are currently on a 19-4 run that began not with Luka Dončić’s arrival or even in February—when LeBron James was honored as the Western Conference Player of the Month—but in mid-January as they found their flow and established a tenacious, defensive-focused identity.
Strength vs. Strength: This has given them a 10-1 record in clutch situations since January 15, with only the Knicks boasting a better clutch win percentage at 10-0.
Tonight (10 ET TNT), the Lakers welcome New York, aiming to achieve their first eight-game winning streak since the 2019-20 season—the last time they ranked in the top five for both defensive rating and clutch win percentage.
That season concluded with an NBA championship for Los Angeles.
While the Lakers’ defensive prowess has flourished since January, the Celtics have displayed impressive balance throughout the season.
Boston is the sole team in 2024-25 ranked among the top five for both offensive rating (119.0, 3rd) and defensive rating (110.2, 5th).
Despite their consistent performance on both ends, the C’s have not relied on one set starting lineup, utilizing 23 different configurations this season—the tenth highest in the NBA.
Coming Up? Another Rivalry: After facing the Sixers tonight (7:30 ET, TNT), the Celtics will host the Lakers on Saturday for a highly anticipated showdown (8:30 ET, ABC).
5. LP FEATURE: WARRIORS HIT BROOKLYN + EAST PLAY-IN SIGNALS
The sun shines brightly in the Bay Area as the Steph Curry-Jimmy Butler partnership propels the Warriors through their best stretch since the early season.
Warriors at Nets (7:30 ET): Since acquiring Butler, Golden State has gone 9-1 with him on the court, climbing from 10th to 6th in the West. They will face a Nets team that has lost five straight games.
Bulls at Magic (7 ET): Chicago has struggled, losing nine of their last eleven, and Orlando has dropped five of their last six, though Paolo Banchero recently tallied his second and third 40+ point games of the season over the past three contests.
Pacers at Hawks (7:30 ET): Tyrese Haliburton has been on fire from three-point range, shooting 22-of-36 in his last five games.
Meanwhile, the Hawks continue to perform well against top Eastern teams, now standing at 8-6 against the Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks, and Bucks.
Rockets at Pelicans (8 ET): New Orleans has won five of their last eight games, making strides during an injury-plagued season. Zion Williamson has been a key factor, averaging 26.1 points during this span, including a high of 37 points on Tuesday.
