Starting 5: Pistons, Cavs get key wins; Looking ahead to Tuesday's slate

New threads. Same Beard. Same buckets.

In his second game as a Cav, James Harden came up clutch – again.

All-Star Saturday Spotlight: Five All-Stars, one rook and a two-time champ headline the State Farm 3-Point Contest

Hot Streaks: Harden & Mitchell rally Cavs, Pistons edge Hornets, Black & Bane boost Magic

Key West Wins: JDub delivers in return, Warriors win late, Ant ignites Wolves

Roundup: Avdija returns as Camara catches fire, Sensabaugh seals it, Pels & Nets win

Tonight on NBA TV: Streaking Spurs visit Lakers, Sengun & KD face Kawhi in All-Star clash

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Four games tip off tonight, highlighted by an NBA TV doubleheader as the Clippers visit the Rockets (8 ET | Tap to Watch), before the Lakers host the Spurs (10:30 ET | Tap to Watch).

All-Star Countdown: 2026 NBA All-Star in Los Angeles is just three days away. Follow along in the NBA App for all the latest All-Star buzz.

Don’t have the NBA App? Download it here.

• Friday, Feb. 13: Ruffles All-Star Celebrity Game at Kia Forum (7 ET, ESPN) & Castrol Rising Stars at Intuit Dome (9 ET, Peacock) – secure your tickets here using promo code NEWS26
• Saturday, Feb. 14: NBA All-Star Saturday at Intuit Dome (5 ET, NBC & Peacock)
• Sunday, Feb. 15: The 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome (5 ET, NBC & Peacock)

NBA Rookies Battle in 2K: Pelicans rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen are meeting in a winner-take-all NBA 2K League event. Watch SHOWDOWN tonight at 4 ET.

1. ALL-STAR SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT: STATE FARM 3-POINT CONTEST

Ahead of All-Star weekend, we’re breaking down all three events from a can’t-miss All-Star Saturday (5 ET, NBC & Peacock), starting with the State Farm 3-Point Contest.

The Format Is Simple: In the two-round contest, players attempt to score as many points as possible from multiple 3-point locations within 70 seconds.

• The top three scorers from the first round advance to the championship round, where the highest score determines the winner

The Field Is Stacked: The eight-player pool features five 2026 All-Stars: Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray and Norman Powell.

• Rookie & Vet: They’re joined by rookie sensation and Castrol Rising Star Kon Knueppel, along with Bobby Portis, who’s shooting 45.6% from deep this season
• Rounding Out The Field? One of the contest’s three two-time champions, Damian Lillard, who aims to earn his third 3-Point title as he continues to rehab from a torn Achilles suffered last April

More To Come: We’ll be back later this week with a deeper dive on each shooter ahead of All-Star Saturday (5 ET, NBC & Peacock).

2. HOT STREAKS: CAVS SURGE, PISTONS COOL HORNETS, MAGIC WIN AGAIN

The Cavs didn’t trade for James Harden to wait. They did it to win.

Paired with Donovan Mitchell, Harden wasted no time delivering, as the two combined for 32 4th-quarter points in the Beard’s Cleveland debut.

Two nights later, they took over late again – continuing the Cavs’ climb.

Cavaliers 119, Nuggets 117: Nikola Jokić was in his bag, notching his third straight triple-double (22 pts, 14 reb, 11 ast) to help Denver build a 106-96 lead with 7:28 left.

It was too much time for the Cavs’ new duo. Harden sparked an 11-4 burst with four consecutive dimes, while Mitchell followed with a driving bucket and two assists to Jarrett Allen inside.

Then, Harden brought it outside, drilling a game-tying stepback 3 with 32 seconds left, before Mitchell sank the deciding shots: a pair of go-ahead free throws with 1 tick left to stun Denver. | Recap

• Surging: Cleveland is 9-1 in its last 10, including four straight wins to move just 1.5 games back of Boston for 3rd in the East
• Starring: Mitchell (32 pts, 10 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk) and Harden (22 pts, 10 reb, 7 ast, 3 blk) combined for 55 points, 17 dimes and 5 blocks
• Sealing: That two-way effort sparked a 26-14 closing run. Scoring or assisting on 25 of those points? Mitchell and Harden
• “It’s a luxury,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said postgame on having both stars in late-game situations. “I think James’ arrival has given Don a different energy.”

The Hornets entered Monday scorching, one win from matching their longest streak in franchise history.

They left with a reminder from the East’s top team.

Pistons 110, Hornets 104: Cade Cunningham was operating (33 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast), and Detroit staved off a late Charlotte push thanks to Tobias Harris’ dagger turnaround with 40 seconds left to end the Hornets’ 9-game heater. | Recap

• Interior Muscle: Brandon Miller (24 pts, 4 3s), Kon Knueppel (20 pts, 5 3s) and LaMelo Ball (20 pts, 4 3s) combined for 13 triples, but Detroit was too much inside, outscoring Charlotte 60-26 in the paint
• Defense Wins: It’s the Pistons’ fifth win in six games, moving to an East-best 39-13. Amid the 5-1 run, they’ve allowed just 105.3 ppg
• Tempers Flare: Charlotte’s Moussa Diabaté and Miles Bridges were ejected, along with Detroit’s Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, following a 3rd-quarter altercation
• Kon Hits 1K: Despite the loss, Knueppel became the fastest player in NBA history to pair 1,000 career points with 175 made 3s

Anthony Black entered this season with nine career 20-point games.

He now has 18 this season – and the Magic have won three straight.

Magic 118, Bucks 99: Black (26 pts, 5 reb, 2 stl) and Desmond Bane (25 pts, 8-11 FG) were cooking as the Magic used a 36-20 3rd-quarter run to pass Kevin Porter Jr. (28 pts, 7 ast) and the Giannis-less Bucks. | Recap

• Franz Returns: Franz Wagner added 14 points and 5 assists in his return from a 10-game absence, while Jalen Suggs did his thing (7 pts, 10 ast, 5 stl)

3. KEY WEST WINS: THUNDER TOP LAKERS, WARRIORS & WOLVES DUB

Franz wasn’t the only star back from injury on Monday, as Jalen Williams returned with a bang.

Thunder 119, Lakers 110: After missing 10 games with a hamstring strain, JDub hit his stride when it mattered most, scoring 10 of his game-high 23 points in the 4th to fend off LeBron James (22 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast), Austin Reaves (16 pts, 7 ast) and a late Lakers’ push. | Recap

• Depth Delivers: Six other Thunder scored in double figures with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out (abdominal), including Isaiah Joe (19 pts), Alex Caruso (season-high 17 pts) and Chet Holmgren (13 pts, 10 reb, 2 blk)
• Back On Track: The win snaps a two-game slide for OKC, as it improves to an NBA-best 41-13

While the Thunder staved off a late rally, the Warriors completed one.

Warriors 114, Grizzlies 113: Down as many as 17 in the 3rd, the Dubs stormed back with a 29-15 4th quarter, closing on an 11-0 run, capped by a wild sequence that saw Al Horford somehow feed Gui Santos (16 pts, 8 reb) for the game-winning layup with 19 ticks left. | Recap

• Veteran Savvy: Horford finished with 16 points, 9 boards and 6 assists, punctuated by decisive plays on both ends to seal the clutch win
• “Al Horford was incredible,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr postgame. “On both ends of the floor – he kinda took over that game … we were probably due for one of those.”
• All Hands: Pat Spencer (17 pts, 7 ast) led six Warriors with 14+ points, earning a hard-fought dub with Steph Curry out (knee)

With Minnesota seeking a timely win, Anthony Edwards wasted no time taking over.

Wolves 138, Hawks 116: Edwards poured in 21 of his 30 points in the 1st half, as the Wolves jumped out to an early lead and never trailed again to top the shorthanded Hawks, despite CJ McCollum’s 38 points. | Recap

• Star Spark: Edwards added 6 boards, 6 dimes and 2 steals, while Julius Randle posted a triple-double (18 pts, 12 reb, 10 ast), halting Minnesota’s 1-3 slide

4. ROUNDUP: CAMARA POPS OFF, SENSABAUGH SEALS IT, PELS & NETS WIN

In his first game since Jan. 30, All-Star Deni Avdija didn’t miss a beat, but another Blazer stole the show.

Blazers 135, Sixers 118: Avdija stuffed the stat sheet (26 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast) in his return from a back injury, while Toumani Camara caught fire, going 8-of-10 from 3 en route to a career-high 30 points to power Portland past Tyrese Maxey (30 pts) and Philly. | Recap

• Blazing: Camara’s eight 3s are also a career-high, as he helped spark a 49-point 3rd for Portland, its second-highest scoring quarter in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98)

Jazz 115, Heat 111: Brice Sensabaugh nailed two huge treys in clutch time, capped by a go-ahead stepback with 47 ticks left, before sinking the game-sealing free throws to lift Utah over Bam Adebayo (23 pts, 11 reb, 5 ast) and Miami. | Recap

• JJJ Eats: Jaren Jackson Jr. was sharp on both ends in his second game with Utah (22 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl), while Lauri Markkanen added 17 points and 8 boards

Pelicans 120, Kings 94: Russell Westbrook became the 14th player in NBA history to reach 27K career points before throwing down this mean putback jam.

But Trey Murphy III (21 pts, 7 ast) and rookie Jeremiah Fears (20 pts, 2 stl, 2 blk) were too much for Sacramento, as NOLA rolled to its second straight win. | Recap

Nets 123, Bulls 115: Nic Claxton scored a career-high 28 points along with 10 boards, while rookie Nolan Traore posted 13 points and 13 dimes as Brooklyn outlasted Anfernee Simons (23 pts, 7 ast) and the new-look Bulls. | Recap

• Helper History: Traore’s 13 assists are a Nets franchise record for a teenager

5. TONIGHT ON NBA TV: SPURS-LAKERS, CLIPPERS-ROCKETS

Last season, the Spurs entered the All-Star break in 12th place, 20 games back of the West-leading Thunder.

One year later, the gap has all but vanished. San Antonio sits just four games back of OKC for the top spot in the West, fueled by a dramatic leap from its young core.

Victor Wembanyama has vaulted into the Kia MVP conversation.

Reigning Kia ROY Stephon Castle continues to elevate – fresh off earning West Player of the Week honors – and the Spurs are riding a four-game win streak that’s pushed them past OKC for the No. 2 spot in John Schuhmann’s latest Power Rankings:

The Spurs matched their win total from last season with a wire-to-wire victory over the shorthanded Thunder on Wednesday, finishing 4-1 against the champs. 

Then they swept a home-and-home set with the Mavs to climb within three games in the loss column of Oklahoma City. | Read More

Tonight (10 ET, Peacock), San Antonio seeks another marquee win in a top-5 West matchup, visiting LeBron James, Austin Reaves and the Lakers.

Earlier on Peacock (8 ET), another top-5 West team takes the floor as All-Stars Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun lead the Rockets against Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers.

• All-Star Sengun: After posting a triple-double in a win over OKC on Saturday (17 pts, 12 reb, 11 ast), Sengun earned his second straight All-Star bid on Sunday, filling in for the injured SGA
• Second Jump: The performance was a snapshot of what Sengun’s done all season, orchestrating the offense with a career-best 6.3 assists per game, along with 20.8 points and 9.4 boards
• Elite Versatility: Only two other players are averaging at least 20/9/6 this season: Nikola Jokić and Jalen Johnson
• “He is a perennial guy who should be there every year,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka of Sengun’s All-Star selection. “He is motivated to do that and become that.”

Tonight, Sengun faces another scorching All-Star in Leonard, fresh off a 41-point takeover on Sunday as the Clippers’ resurgence continues.

On League Pass, the Knicks look to keep pace near the top of the East, hosting the Pacers (7:30 ET), while the red-hot Cooper Flagg leads the Mavs against the Suns (9 ET).