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Nightly Pulse: NBA News & Highlights from Feb. 22

Catch up on tonight’s NBA action as several teams resume play just after the All-Star break.

NBA.com Staff

⛹️❤️🏀Saturday’s Schedule⛹️❤️🏀

Phoenix Suns 121, Chicago Bulls 117 (Final)
Brooklyn Nets 105, Philadelphia 76ers 103 (Final)
Los Angeles Lakers 123, Denver Nuggets 100 (Final)
Utah Jazz 124, Houston Rockets 115 (Final)
Portland Trail Blazers 141, Charlotte Hornets 88 (Final)

Top Storylines of the Night 👉📝

1. The Lakers blow out the Nuggets on ABC. Denver entered that matchup with a nine-game winning streak, but LA grabbed a dominant wire-to-wire 123-100 victory. Luka Doncic had his best game since the trade, leading the way with 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
2. Suns snap four-game losing streak with a win over the Bulls. Phoenix got at least 25 points from Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in their 121-117 win over Chicago.
3. Nic Claxton hits-game winner to grab the Nets a win over the Sixers. Tyrese Maxey hit a game-tying three on the previous possession, but Claxton made a tip-in at the buzzer to snatch a win for the Nets. That gives the Sixers seven-straight defeats.

🌟🌟 Top Performers of the Night 🌟🌟

1. Luka Doncic led LA with 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals in a blowout win over the Denver Nuggets.
2. Tyrese Maxey tallied 31 points, two rebounds and five assists in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
3. Devin Booker had 29 points, four rebounds and eight assists in a victory over the Chicago Bulls.
4. Kevin Durant collected 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in that win as well.
5. Josh Giddey provided 24 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in a loss to the Phoenix Suns.
6. Alperen Sengun had 27 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in a defeat against the Utah Jazz.
7. Keyonte George totaled 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists off the bench in a victory over the Houston Rockets.

Trail Blazers Throttle Hornets, 141-88 😮😮😮

This is the second-largest blowout of the season.

Anfernee Simons led Portland with 25 points, three rebounds and four assists.

Toumani Camara collected 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Shaedon Sharpe led the bench with 20 points, three rebounds and five assists. Jabari Walker provided 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Jazz Defeat Rockets, 124-115 🎹🎷🥁🎼

Utah rode a 37-25 fourth quarter to this comeback victory.

Alperen Sengun led Houston with 27 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

Jalen Green had 25 points, three rebounds and 10 assists.

Keyonte George led Utah with 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists off the bench.

Lauri Markkanen had 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Blazers Lead Hornets at the Half, 73-40 🌲🌲🌲

Portland has won 10 of their last 15 games and this sort of performance shows why.

Anfernee Simons leads Portland with 22 points and three assists.

Deni Avdija had 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Charlotte Hornets (League Pass, Live)

Lakers Defeat Nuggets, 123-100🍿⭐📽️

Los Angeles snapped Denver’s nine-game winning streak with this wire-to-wire win.

LA had four players score at least 20 points for the first time all season.

Luka Doncic led the way with 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

LeBron James had 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

Rockets Lead Jazz at the Half, 62-56🚀🚀🚀

Alperen Sengun leads Houston with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Jalen Green has 12 points, three rebounds and four assists.

Amen Thompson tallied 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Keyonte George leads Utah with 20 points, six rebounds and two assists off the bench.

He’s the only Utah player in double figures.

Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets (League Pass, Live)

Nets Defeat Sixers, 105-103 🗽🌉🏙 Claxton Hits Game-Winner

Cam Johnson led the Nets with 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Claxton finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and five blocks.

Tyrese Maxey led Philly with 31 points and five assists.

He hit a game-tying shot with 20 seconds left, but Claxton’s putback ended things for Brooklyn.

This marks Philly’s seventh straight defeat.

Lakers Lead Nuggets at the Half, 63-54🍿⭐📽️

Luka Doncic leads the way with 19 points, five rebounds and five assists.

LeBron James had 15 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Aaron Gordon amassed 14 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Nikola Jokic collected 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

Los Angeles won the turnover battle, 11-3.

Lakers Lead Nuggets After Q1, 38-31 ⭐⭐⭐

Luka Doncic is having his best game for LA, collecting 16 points, four rebounds and three assists in the opening frame.

Nikola Jokic leads Denver with seven points, six rebounds and four assists.

The Lakers had more rebounds, steals, assists, and blocks than Denver while committing fewer turnovers.

Nets Lead Sixers at the Half, 63-52 🗽🗽🗽

Cameron Johnson leads the way with 12 points, two rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Nic Claxton has nine points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Tyrese Maxey leads Philly with 15 points.

Joel Embiid had 10 points, three rebounds and five assists.

Nuggets vs. Lakers on ABC 🍿⭐📽️

Denver and Los Angeles match up in one of the games of the season.

Not only are these teams scorching but this is the first time Denver sees this new-look LA team with Luka Doncic.

Doncic and Jokic have an amazing friendship, and it’ll be fun to watch them battle here.

The Nuggets have won 13 of their last 14 games over the Lakers in total.

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (ABC/League Pass, 8:30 ET)

Suns Defeat Bulls, 121-117 🌞🌞🌞

Devin Booker led Phoenix with 29 points, four rebounds and eight assists.

Kevin Durant collected 27 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Bradley Beal provided 25 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Josh Giddey led Chicago with 24 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.

Sixers Starting Five 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George are all finally healthy and playing together.

They desperately need a win over the Brooklyn Nets, with Philly entering this matchup losing six straight games.

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn Nets (League Pass, 7:30 ET)

 

Top Storylines 👉📝

1. Lakers and Nuggets renew rivalry. Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic are close friends, but this is the first time they have faced each other since Luka was traded to LA. Denver has owned Los Angeles over recent years, winning 13 of their last 14 games over them since 2021.
2. Rockets look to gain ground against Jazz. Houston has been one of the biggest surprises this season, and they sit just two games behind the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies in second place.
3. Trail Blazers and Hornets close the night. Portland has quietly been a much better team in the second half, posting a 10-5 record across their last 15 games. Charlotte is looking to improve on their 14-40 record.

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