Starting 5, Feb. 26: Lakers win in Luka Dončić’s first game vs. Mavs; Streaking squads keep rolling

Teammates or opponents … always hermanos.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Feb. 26, 2025

Luka, Lakers Top Mavs: Luka drops triple-double vs. former team, LeBron takes over in 4th

Sights & Sounds From L.A.: The images, plays and quotes that defined Tuesday night

Roundup: Cavs, Celtics, Warriors extend win streaks; Grizzlies, Suns stage OT thriller

ESPN Doubleheader: An East Playoff rematch & two West teams seeking the postseason

League Pass Tonight: Streaking Celtics & Pistons clash to lead a seven-game slate

BUT FIRST … ⏰
The end of an era in the W…

On Tuesday, three-time WNBA champion Diana Taurasi announced her retirement after a two-decade run in the league.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver: “You can’t tell the story of the WNBA without Diana. She helped build the league into what it is today and inspired generations of fans and players, including many who have gone on to play in the WNBA.”

Tonight’s ESPN doubleheader features a 2024 Playoff rematch between the Sixers and Knicks (7 ET) followed by a Texas showdown between Spurs and Rockets (9:30 ET) – two teams looking to end Playoff droughts.

1. LUKA LEADS LAKERS TO WIN IN FIRST MATCHUP WITH MAVS

Just 23 days after executing one of the biggest blockbuster trades in history — and with the eyes of the hoops world on L.A. for Luka Dončić’s first game against his former team — the Lakers and Mavs gave fans a bit of everything on Tuesday night.

• Luka’s first L.A. triple-double (19 pts, 15 reb, 12 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk)
• A vintage LeBron James 4th-quarter takeover (16 of 27 points in final frame)
• A vintage Klay Thompson heater from deep (11 straight Mavs points to tie it)
• A brilliant Kyrie Irving performance (game-high 35 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk)

It all added up to the Lakers’ third straight win and 13th victory in their last 16 games.

Lakers 107, Mavericks 99: After the pregame handshakes and hugs between former teammates were done, Luka (9 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast in 1st quarter) and the Lakers jumped on top of the Mavs early, leading by as many as 16 points in the 1st half.

But the Mavericks battled back, winning the 3rd quarter 26-19 to set up a 4th quarter that was pure cinema. | Recap

• Klay Catches Fire: It took just 1:58 of game time for Thompson to splash a trio of 3s to help the Mavs complete their rally and tie the game in the 4th
• Closing Time: After a Naji Marshall 3 knotted the game at 91 with 6:17 to play, the Lakers outscored the Mavs 15-8 to close the game
• L.A. Trio: LeBron (27 pts, 12 reb), Austin Reaves (20 pts, 3 3pm) & Rui Hachimura (15 pts, 2 blk) provided all the support Luka needed
• Luka’s Night: In an emotional performance, Dončić scored or assisted on 51 of L.A.’s 107 points while becoming the 8th player to record a triple-double in the first game against their former team
• Luka & Kareem: With the Captain sitting courtside, Luka joined Kareem as the only Lakers since 1973-74 to post 15+ pts, 15+ reb, 10+ ast, 3+ stl and 2+ blk in a game

2. SIGHTS & SOUNDS FROM LUKA’S FIRST GAME VS. MAVS

There was a buzz throughout the arena reminiscent of a Playoff game from the moment Luka emerged from the tunnel to take the court.

The bond that Luka and Kyrie built over the past two seasons in Dallas was evident by their interactions pregame and postgame. But within the game’s 48 minutes, it was all about competition.

• Luka On Kyrie: “Kai is my hermano. We go way beyond basketball.”
• Kyrie On Facing Luka: “It was fun. It was fun competing. Lot of high-level basketball players out there.”

Luka needed less than two minutes to get his first two points against his former teammates – driving into the lane, decelerating and adjusting between two defenders for the layup.

It was also Anthony Davis’ first trip back to L.A. since the trade. Although he was sidelined due to injury, the Lakers honored Davis with a tribute video and standing ovation for the 2020 champion.

• LeBron on AD’s Moment: “One of my best friends … It was great to see him get that recognition.”

Luka had his first double-digit assist game with the Lakers, including this no-look overhead dish to Austin Reaves for 3.

Luka’s final dime of the night went to LeBron, whose layup sealed the win, putting the Lakers up eight with 32 seconds to play.

Luka and the Lakers got the win to maintain their hold on No. 4 in the West. After meeting with his former teammates postgame and a few interviews, Luka was ready for the night to be done.

Luka On His Emotions: “I can’t even explain, it’s a different game. The closure is going to take a while. I’m glad this game is over. A lot of emotions. Every day is better.”
Luka’s Postgame Plans: “I’m going straight to sleep”
LeBron On Luka’s Night: “I thought he handled it tremendously”

3. ROUNDUP: CAVS, CELTICS, WARRIORS EXTEND STREAKS; GRIZZ TOP SUNS IN OT

Cavaliers 122, Magic 82: Ty Jerome dropped 20 points off the bench, while a trio of Cavs – De’Andre Hunter, Max Strus and Evan Mobley – dropped 17 points apiece to lead Cleveland to its 8th straight win and 48th of the season, matching last year’s total with 24 games to play. | Recap

Celtics 111, Raptors 101: Jaylen Brown (24), Derrick White (22) and Payton Pritchard (20) combined for 66 points, while Jayson Tatum added his 26th double-double of the season (19 pts, 11 ast) to lead the Celtics to their 6th straight win and 10th in their last 11 games. | Recap

Warriors 128, Hornets 92: The Warriors improved to 6-1 since acquiring Jimmy Butler, winning their fourth straight game on Tuesday behind a balanced attack. Buddy Hield (16), Steph Curry (15) and Draymond Green (15) led seven Warriors in double figures in the win. | Recap

Grizzlies 151, Suns 148 (OT): In Memphis, clutch time belonged to Ja Morant as he scored 17 of his 29 points in the 4th quarter and overtime – including the final 11 points of regulation to force the extra five minutes.

Phoenix led 148-144 with 1:17 to play in OT before Memphis closed the game on a 7-0 run – a 3 by Santi Aldama, a tip-in by Brandon Clarke and a dunk by rookie Jaylen Wells. Kevin Durant missed two deep 3s in the closing seconds that would have forced 2OT. | Recap | Must-See Finish

• The Three Bears: Jaren Jackson Jr. (28 pts, 2 blk) and Desmond Bane (25 pts, 9 ast) joined Ja with 25+ points for the Grizzlies
• Light Up The Scoreboard: The 299 combined points makes this the highest-scoring game of the season
• The Suns Quintet: The Suns had five players score 20+ in a game for the first time since 1990: Devin Booker (28), KD (26), Bradley Beal (24), Bol Bol (23) & Grayson Allen (21) combined for 122 points

Rockets 100, Bucks 97: Jalen Green posted his third straight game with 25+ points, while Alperen Sengun added 23 points and 11 boards to lead the Rockets past the Bucks, snapping Milwaukee’s four-game win streak despite a combined 49 points from Giannis and Dame. | Recap

Pelicans 109, Spurs 103: Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson combined for 42 points to lead the Pelicans past the Spurs for the second time in three days. Devin Vassell (20 pts) and De’Aaron Fox (15 pts, 9 ast, 6 stl) led the Spurs, who dropped their third straight. | Recap

4. TONIGHT ON ESPN: AN EAST PLAYOFF REMATCH & A TEXAS SHOWDOWN

Sixers at Knicks (7 ET, ESPN): Last spring, New York and Philadelphia waged an epic first-round series that the Knicks won by more games (4-2) than they did cumulative points (650-649).

However, the regular season has been a different story. The Knicks are 5-1 against the Sixers in the past two regular seasons – including a 2-0 mark in 2024-25 – and look to clinch the season series tonight at MSG.

Both teams enter tonight’s game looking to get back on track.

• The Knicks are coming off back-to-back road losses to the top two teams in the East (Cleveland and Boston) by a combined 50 points. Despite the losses, NY remains locked in at No. 3 in the East
• The Sixers have dropped eight straight games – matching their longest losing streak in eight years – to fall to 12th in the East

Must-See Matchup: Keep an eye on the point guard duel between New York’s Jalen Brunson and Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey. When these two last met, Brunson scored 16 of his game-high 38 in the 4th quarter and OT as the Knicks prevailed despite Maxey’s 33 points.

While the early game features teams with recent Playoff pedigree (Philly with seven straight appearances, NY with three in the last four years), the latter game features two teams hungry for the postseason spotlight.

Spurs at Rockets (9:30 ET, ESPN): The Rockets (2020) and Spurs (2019) are trying to end four- and five-year Playoff droughts, respectively.

• Houston: After a 10-2 stretch from Jan. 5-28 elevated the Rockets to No. 2 in the West, Houston has gone 4-8 since to drop to No. 5
• San Antonio: Tuesday’s loss dropped the Spurs to No. 13 in the West, 4.5 games back of the final Play-In spot. With Wemby likely out for the season (the Spurs are 3-7 without him), can De’Aaron Fox and Chris Paul lead the Spurs on a late-season run?

5. TONIGHT ON LEAGUE PASS: STREAKING SQUADS MEET IN MOTOWN

Wednesday pits two hot teams against each other as Cade Cunningham and the Pistons host Jayson Tatum and the Celtics (7 ET).

Boston has come into its own with the Playoffs less than two months away – now having won 10 of its last 11 and gaining breathing room with a 4.5-game lead on New York for second in the East.

There’s movement in the Motor City, though, as Detroit has won seven straight games to slingshot into the No. 6 seed.

• Burning Rubber: The Pistons own more victories this season (32) than the past two seasons combined, and have 24 contests left to achieve their first winning campaign since 2015-16
• The Secret? Making shots. Detroit’s 125.1 ppg and 50.5 FG% rank 2nd & 3rd, respectively, across all teams’ last seven games
• Besting the Best: And in that span, Detroit outranks Boston in OffRtg (No. 3 vs. 4), DefRtg (No. 3 vs. 8) and NetRtg (No. 3 vs. 4)

But it was exactly three years ago today when the Celtics started what’s since become a 12-game unbeaten stretch in their head-to-head series against the Pistons.

• Numbers Don’t Lie: Boston has handled this matchup three times so far in 2024-25, racking up 120+ points in each win
• Treys for Days: On pace to break the single-season record for 3-point attempts per game, the Celtics are making 18 3s per game during their 10-1 stretch – the most in the league – at a 38.4% rate
• Joker’s Company: Tatum and Nikola Jokić are the only players leading their respective squads in total points, rebounds and assists
• Can Detroit punctuate its turnaround with a statement game against Boston and win eight straight for the first time since 2008-09?

Tonight’s League Pass slate features six more matchups, including key battles in the tight Eastern Conference postseason races and Zach LaVine following his 42-point game on Monday.