NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
### Steal. Smash. Declaration.
**5 HEADLINES IN TODAY’S ISSUE 🏀 March 9, 2025**
**Boston Triumphs over L.A.:** How Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the Celtics’ defense stifled the sizzling Lakers.
**Championship Spirit:** In an intense battle worthy of the playoffs, Boston’s core players delivered for their team.
**Highlights:** Steph reaches 25K points as the Warriors clinch another victory; four matches decided by three points or fewer, and much more.
**ABC Matinee:** SGA and Jokić face off during their extraordinary seasons, as Dallas prepares to take on Phoenix.
**Tonight on ESPN:** Can the Cavaliers secure their 14th consecutive win? Plus, crucial playoff implications out West.
**BUT FIRST… ⏰ A star-studded Sunday lineup…**
—
**Top Kia MVP Contenders Clash:** The ABC doubleheader kicks off with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander going head-to-head with Nikola Jokić in Oklahoma City as the Thunder host the Nuggets (1 ET). Following that, Kevin Durant and the Suns take on the Mavericks in a must-see matchup (3:30 ET).
**Main Event:** Tune in tonight on ESPN as the NBA-leading Cavaliers aim for their 14th straight victory against Giannis and the Bucks (8 ET).
—
### 1. CELTICS STAND STRONG AT TD GARDEN, HANDING LAKERS A SETBACK
With an impressive eight-game winning streak and an astounding 20-4 record since January 15, LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and the blazing Lakers sought a signature win at TD Garden on Saturday.
Instead, the Celtics delivered a powerful statement worthy of a defending champion.
**Celtics 111, Lakers 101:** Jayson Tatum showcased his skill with 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Jaylen Brown added 31 in helping Boston establish a 22-point lead, fending off a late charge from the Lakers in this storied rivalry. | Recap
Despite the Lakers entering this matchup allowing the fewest points in the league during their 20-4 stretch (106.3 ppg), including a 117-96 victory over Boston in late January, the rematch revealed that the champions’ defense was pivotal in sealing the game.
—
### 2. CELTICS’ CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE SHINES THROUGH
As February was coming to a close, Tatum and Brown had yet to each score over 30 points in the same contest this season. Now, with the playoffs on the horizon and Boston’s quest for a title intensifying, they have accomplished this feat twice.
Their first joint explosion occurred in last week’s much-anticipated showdown against the league-leading Cavaliers, where they combined for 83 points—their highest total as a duo.
The second instance unfolded last night, with the dynamic duo once again stepping up in a battle of contenders to secure a crucial win when it mattered most.
**All-Around Performance:** Tatum (2 steals, 1 block) and Brown (3 steals) not only combined for 71 points but also set the tone on defense, limiting L.A. to its second-lowest scoring output during their dominant 20-4 stretch, bringing their record to 20-5.
**Key Contributions:** Echoing the success of last year’s championship run, it wasn’t solely the star duo shining this time around. Boston’s experienced roster displayed its championship pedigree, starting with veteran leader Al Horford (14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block).
—
### 3. ROUNDUP: STEPH & JIMMY THRIVE, THRILLING FINISHES, AND MORE
**Warriors 115, Pistons 110:** In a tightly contested match featuring 22 ties and 22 lead changes, Steph Curry (32 points) and Jimmy Butler III (26 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) combined for 58 points, leading Golden State to a 31-23 fourth quarter advantage and their 11th win in 13 games. | Recap
**Hawks 120, Pacers 118:** After letting a 20-point lead slip, Trae Young (36 points, 8 assists) scored or assisted on Atlanta’s final 14 points, hitting three crucial free throws in the last seven seconds to fend off the Pacers for the second time in three days. | Recap
**Hornets 105, Nets 102:** Down by 14 points with 7:09 remaining, the Hornets finished strong with a 22-5 run, led by Miles Bridges (26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists), who delivered the game-sealing block against D’Angelo Russell (28 points, 7 assists), ending Charlotte’s nine-game losing streak. | Recap
**Rockets 146, Pelicans 117:** Dillon Brooks erupted for 27 points with seven three-pointers, Alperen Sengun contributed 20 points and a highlight-reel dunk, while Amen Thompson recorded a double-double (15 points, 11 assists) in the Rockets’ season-high scoring effort during their second consecutive win over the Pelicans. | Recap
**Magic 111, Bucks 109:** After entering Saturday amidst a five-game losing streak, Paolo Banchero (29 points) and the Magic jumped out to a 34-20 lead in the first quarter and clung to a late victory over the Bucks, despite significant contributions from Giannis Antetokounmpo (37 points, 11 rebounds) and Damian Lillard (26 points). | Recap
**Wizards 118, Raptors 117:** With a last-second opportunity, Jamal Shead’s buzzer-beater appeared good but was ruled too late, resulting in a narrow win for the Wizards, led in scoring by Jordan Poole with 34 points on seven three-pointers. | Recap
**Bulls 114, Heat 109:** Josh Giddey tallied his third triple-double of the season (26 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists) and helped the Bulls dominate the fourth quarter 36-20, securing a comeback victory in Miami and handing the Heat their third consecutive loss. | Recap
—
### 4. ABC MATINEE: SGA & JOKIĆ IN A SHOWDOWN, MAVS HOSTING SUNS
No NBA player had previously scored 92+ points with 55% shooting while going perfect at the free-throw line (minimum 20 attempts) over two games—until Shai Gilgeous-Alexander achieved it on Wednesday.
No NBA player had ever notched 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 20+ assists in a single game—until Nikola Jokić pulled it off on Friday.
This afternoon (1 ET, ABC), two leading Kia MVP contenders—both performing at historic levels—will face off as the top-seed Thunder hosts the 3rd-place Nuggets in a Western Conference showdown.
More impressively, their stellar performances have left more potential achievements unclaimed. Both SGA (14) and Jokić (11) have missed a combined 25 fourth quarters during victories but still maintain remarkably high statistics.
Today, both athletes are on the verge of remarkable single-season milestones.
Will history be made again, and who among these Kia MVP candidates will emerge as the victor?
Jokić’s historic 30/20/20 performance on Friday came against Phoenix, where the Suns rallied from a 21-point deficit, forcing overtime with a buzzer-beater from Kevin Durant, only to come up short in the extra period.
Following a tough loss, KD and the Suns will seek redemption in a crucial matchup against the Mavericks in the second half of today’s ABC doubleheader (3:30 ET).
Both teams are vying for crucial playoff positions; who will rebound stronger?
—
### 5. CAVALIERS IN WINNING STREAK AS THEY FACE BUCKS ON ESPN & LEAGUE PASS
Historically, only two teams in NBA history have recorded three streaks of 12 or more consecutive wins in a single season—the 2006-07 Mavericks and the current Cavaliers.
For Cleveland, those three win streaks include:
For context, aside from the Cavaliers, only five other teams have more than 40 wins this season (OKC, BOS, LAL, DEN, NYK). The Cavs have amassed 40 of their wins during their three streaks alone—and their momentum shows no signs of abating.
With a victory tonight, the Cavaliers can join the exclusive club of only seven teams in NBA history to achieve two streaks of 14 or more wins, with only two teams having done so since 2000.
Four months later, Cleveland aims to pursue yet another win streak.
Tonight, five games will kick off on League Pass, including a matchup between the Spurs and Timberwolves, with Anthony Edwards and Minnesota hunting for their fifth straight win to inch closer to Golden State for the West’s No. 6 seed.
Right behind them, the Clippers (1 GB) and Kings (1.5 GB) are poised to clash tonight in L.A. (9:30 ET).
Want to share the Starting 5 with a friend? Send them this link.
