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Nightly Pulse: NBA News & Highlights from March 26

Keep up with the latest NBA scores, highlights and news from around the Association with tonight's Nightly Pulse live blog.

NBA.com Staff

🏀 NBA scores tonight

Wizards 119, 76ers 114

Clippers 126, Knicks 113

Lakers 120, Pacers 119

Raptors 116, Nets 86

Nuggets 127, Bucks 117

Celtics 132, Suns 102

🔑 Key NBA takeaways tonight

  • Lakers prevail in thriller vs Pacers: The Lakers jumped out to a big lead tonight but Indiana battled back in front of the home crowd and managed to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Indiana went up by one with 42 seconds to go. After a back-and-forth sequence, the Lakers got the ball with eight seconds to go with Luka Dončić grabbing a defensive rebound and going the length of the floor. Dončić’s floater bounced out, but LeBron James was waiting in the wings for a game-winning tip-in to get the W. 
  • Jokić dominates in return: Nikola Jokić returned from a five-game absence and, of course, dropped a triple-double in a win over the Bucks. The Joker went viral with a no-look pass you need to see to believe. Jokić showed no rust in his first game since March 15.
  • Celtics cruise in the desert: Boston was facing adversity, having to play a hot Suns team in its fourth straight game on the road. And had to do so without Jayson Tatum. And yet, Boston landed some haymakers early and cruised to a blowout win over Phoenix. Boston has now won seven in a row and 12 of the last 13.

🏆Top NBA stat lines tonight

  • Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers: Season-high 18 assists to go with 16 points and two steals vs Lakers.
  • Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets: 39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in return as Nuggets defeat Bucks, 127-117.
  • Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks: 34 points, 14 rebounds vs Clippers.

🎥 Celtics put on show in Phoenix

Celtics 132, Suns 102

Boston made it look easy on its way to a seventh consecutive win Wednesday, beating the Suns 132-102.

The Celtics started the game with all seven of their field goals coming via the three. It didn’t slow down from there as Boston put on a barrage from beyond the arc, finishing with 22 made 3’s. That number is tied for the fourth-most by the Celtics this season and the 23rd time that they’ve made at least 20 treys in a game.

Kristaps Porziņģis led the way with 30 and four Celtics made at least four three-pointers on the night.

☘️ Celtics drop 73 in first half

The Celtics started hot from three and didn’t cool off much for the rest of the half as they hit 14 triples at a 43.8 percent clip en route to 73 first-half points. The Suns kept pace through the first quarter but struggled offensively in the second with just 16 points.

Even without Jayson Tatum, the ball movement and execution have been on point tonight for Boston.

Catch the second half on ESPN.

⛰️ Nuggets beat Bucks in Jokić’s return

The Bucks battled throughout the night despite missing its star power with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard sidelined. Brook Lopez led the way with 26 points and Ryan Rollins had a solid effort off the bench with 17 points.

However, a shorthanded Bucks squad was ultimately outlasted by the Nuggets, who got Nikola Jokić back in the fold after a five-game absence. Joker was phenomenal with yet another triple double as he notched 39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the win.

The Bucks finish their five-game Western Conference road swing with a 2-3 mark and will return home to face the Knicks on Friday.

The Nuggets have three more home games on tap during this stretch, beginning Friday against the Jazz.

🤯 Jokić … How??

Nikola Jokić is having himself a night in his first game back since March 15. Through three quarters, the Joker’s up to 31 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Check out one of the assists below. We’re out of words to describe it.

We need another angle.

🍀 Celtics come out sizzling

The Celtics have made seven shots in the opening four minutes. All of them from three-point land. What else is new?

Boston is 0-1 on non-threes to start the game. Even without Jayson Tatum tonight, the Celtics are showing their elite shooting prowess.

Catch the action now on ESPN.

🗣️ LeBron calls game in Indy

Lakers 120, Pacers 119

An amazing fourth quarter deserved an equally amazing finish and that’s what we had tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

James had been largely held in check with 11 points going into the final seconds, but his heady play to follow the Luka Dončić miss and tip in the game-winner was all that mattered.

There were other terrific performances all around with Tyrese Haliburton dropping a season-high 18 assists and Dončić popping for 34 points.

A game with two playoff teams definitely had playoff energy.

🪴 Harden’s Garden

Clippers 126, Knicks 113

Los Angeles began a four-game east coast road swing tonight and powered its way to a convincing win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

James Harden was on fire all night, going 6-for-9 from three on his way to a team-high 29 points. Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac turned in strong efforts as well as each recorded a double-double.

📸 Photo finish in Indy

The Pacers and Lakers are going back-and-forth with four lead changes in the fourth quarter so far. The Pacers trailed by as many as 17 but have come storming back.

Catch the ending between these two future playoff teams on ESPN.

🃏 Joker is BACK

Nikola Jokić is back from a five-game absence and looking like his usual, dominant self.

Spin move ➡️drive ➡️dunk in traffic 😤

Whew.

👨‍🍳 Haliburton dishing it up

Tyrese Haliburton has 17 assists through three quarters in tonight’s game against the Lakers. That’s a season high and we’ve still got a quarter to play.

The Pacers trailed by as many as 17 earlier in the game but enter the fourth quarter down just three.

Catch the thrilling finish on ESPN.

😯 Clippers taking charge at the Garden

The Clippers popped off for 40 points in the third quarter to turn a one-point halftime deficit into a 10-point lead. James Harden is unconscious from deep with six threes on nine attempts. Overall, the Clippers are shooting 56 percent from beyond the arc.

🪄 Wizards hold on for W in Philly

Wizards 119, 76ers 114

Big games from Alex Sarr (24 points), Justin Champagnie (18) and Jordan Poole (18) helped the Wizards pick up the road win tonight in Philadelphia.

The Wizards never trailed after the early moments and led by as many as 18. However, the 76ers made a charge in the fourth quarter and outscored the Wizards by seven in the period to make it close at the end.

The win snaps a five-game losing skid for the Wizards.

💪 Dončić leads Lakers to big halftime lead

LA’s Luka Dončić put up 19 points in the first half, including going 4-for-6 from deep, to help give the Lakers a 13-point halftime advantage over the Pacers.

Catch the second half now on ESPN.

🍿 Knicks and Clippers going back-and-forth

The Knicks have scratched out a one-point halftime lead over the visiting Clippers, 55-54. The stars have been showing out with Karl-Anthony Towns going for 15 points and seven rebounds while James Harden has countered with 13 points of his own.

Catch the second half action on NBA League Pass

🟢 Joker good to go

Nikola Jokić is available to play in tonight’s game against the Bucks. Joker had missed the last five games with an ankle injury. The team went just 2-3 in his absence and his return will represent a huge boost to its lineup.

Catch the action on NBA League Pass starting at 9 Eastern.

🤷‍♂️ A bucket is a bucket

Toronto’s Orlando Robinson used his head when he came up with the idea for this shot. Hey, still counts.

🟠 Suite sixteen

The Tennessee Volunteers’ men’s basketball team is in the house for tonight’s Pacers-Lakers game. The Vols are in town for their Sweet 16 matchup across the street at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday when they take on Kentucky.

Not surprisingly, the Vols are getting the royal treatment tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

🧙‍♂️ Wizards working magic from 3-point range

The Wizards have come out on fire from deep tonight against the 76ers with nine triples in the first quarter alone. Alex Sarr and Justin Champagnie have been especially dialed in with a combined six threes on seven attempts.

🗣️ Drop and give me 10

Luka Dončić hit the halfcourt shot in warmups ahead of tonight’s game against the Pacers, which means one thing: pushups for everyone else.

🏹 Logo 3 from JP

Jordan Poole pulled up from deep and drilled the triple to help fuel the Wizards’ hot start in Philadelphia tonight. The Wizards have opened a double-digit lead on the Sixers halfway through the first quarter. Tune in now on NBA League Pass.

🤩 Primetime lineups

Pacers vs Lakers on ESPN

The Pacers look to extend their winning streak to five games tonight when the Lakers come to town. Here’s how both teams are lining up as we get set for tip-off.

📰 Top NBA news storylines tonight

  • Playoff caliber matchups: Tonight’s slate has just six games but several of them will showcase playoff teams, highlighted by the Knicks-Clippers, Bucks-Nuggets, and Celtics-Suns showdowns.
  • Eye on the East: The No.3, 4, and 5 seeds in the East are all in action tonight. The Knicks hold the No.3 spot and lead the No.4 Pacers by three games with just over two weeks left to go. The fifth-seeded Bucks are looking to hold serve, but will have to do so without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard against the Nuggets.
  • Clippers begin Eastern Conference road swing: The Clippers are battling for a top six seed in the West and the upcoming stretch is critical. Their four-game road swing begins tonight in New York against the Knicks.

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