Starting 5: Early look at everything ahead at NBA All-Star Weekend

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

2026 NBA All-Star: Everything you need to know before All-Star weekend in Los Angeles

Sunday Highlights: Knicks stay scorching, Kawhi erupts, Raptors & Heat dub

What’s Trending – East Heat: Streaking Charlotte, dominant Detroit and more East squads on the rise

What’s Trending – West Shine: Flagg’s record tear, Joker’s all-time climb and the wild West race

What’s Trending – Same Faces, New Places: Harden & JJJ debut as new additions make instant impacts

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Ten games tip off tonight, headlined by a Peacock doubleheader as the Bucks visit the Magic (7:30 ET), before the Lakers host the NBA-best Thunder (10 ET).

All-Star Countdown: 2026 NBA All-Star in Los Angeles is just four 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 the 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)

1. 2026 NBA ALL-STAR PRIMER: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

One of the most anticipated weekends on the NBA calendar is almost here.

2026 NBA All-Star tips off Friday in Los Angeles with a loaded slate of events leading into Sunday’s 75th All-Star Game, featuring a new U.S. vs. World mini-tournament (5 ET, NBC & Peacock).

The All-Star rosters for the new format dropped last week, splitting players into three teams: USA Stars (younger U.S. All-Stars), USA Stripes (veteran U.S. All-Stars) and Team World (made up of international players).

The three teams will face off in a round-robin featuring four 12-minute games, culminating with a winner-take-all final to crown this year’s All-Star champion.

All-Star weekend opens on Friday with the fan-favorite All-Star Celebrity Game (7 ET, ESPN) and Castrol Rising Stars (9 ET, NBC & Peacock), which features a four-team mini-tournament led by honorary coaches Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Austin Rivers.

• Draft Results: The Castrol Rising Stars were drafted to three teams – Team Melo, Team Vince and Team T-Mac – with rookies Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe selected with the top three picks, respectively
• G League Challengers: Rivers will coach the fourth squad, comprised of NBA G League standouts

Saturday brings an always-epic night of dunks and deep 3s with the return of Kia Shooting Stars, the State Farm 3-Point Contest and AT&T Slam Dunk.

The Kia Shooting Stars competition will feature four teams of two NBA players and one NBA legend, connected through All-Star appearances, school or team ties and family relationships. Tap here for full rosters.

Meet the contestants for the State Farm 3-Point Contest and AT&T Slam Dunk below, and stay tuned later this week for a deeper dive into each event.

• State Farm 3-Point Contest: Devin Booker (PHX), Kon Knueppel (CHA), Damian Lillard (POR), Tyrese Maxey (PHI), Donovan Mitchell (CLE), Jamal Murray (DEN), Bobby Portis (MIL), Norman Powell (MIA)
• AT&T Slam Dunk: Carter Bryant (SAS), Jaxson Hayes (LAL), Keshad Johnson (MIA), Jase Richardson (ORL)

Creator Cup Up Next: Before the All-Star festivities officially begin, Los Angeles will host some of the world’s top basketball social creators in Thursday’s PlayStation NBA Creator Cup, featuring a 3v3 hoops tournament at the LA Convention Center (10:30 ET, NBA App).

2. SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS: KNICKS TOP C’S, KAWHI DOMINATES, RAPTORS & HEAT DUB

Two of the East’s top three teams entered Sunday scorching.

The Celtics had won five straight. The Knicks had taken eight of nine, seeking a win in Boston to reclaim 2nd place.

They got it – in emphatic fashion.

Knicks 111, Celtics 89: Jalen Brunson was clinical (31 pts, 8 ast), scoring 15 in the 1st quarter as the Knicks jumped out to a 35-24 lead and never looked back, snapping Boston’s win streak to take possession of 2nd in the East. | Recap

• Locked In: New York’s defense, which leads the NBA in DefRtg amid its 9-1 run, held Boston to just 17.1% from 3 (7-of-41)
• Same Energy, New Boost: Josh Hart added 19 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted a double-double (11 pts, 10 reb) and Jose Alvarado provided a spark in his Knicks debut (12 pts, 2 ast, 2 stl)
• JB Leads C’s: Jaylen Brown led Boston with 26 points as he continues to thrive as a No. 1 option, ranking 4th in the NBA in scoring (29.4 ppg)

As the Knicks stayed hot, Kawhi Leonard caught fire.

Clippers 115, Wolves 96: Leonard put on a two-way show, dropping 41 points, while adding 8 boards and 4 steals to power LA past Anthony Edwards (23 pts, 1 monster poster) and Minnesota for the Clips’ second straight win after back-to-back losses. | Recap

• Klaw-ruptions: It’s Leonard’s fourth 40-point game in 2025-26, the most he’s had in a season
• Back On Track: Despite the losses, LA remains an NBA-best 19-6 since Dec. 20. In that span, Leonard is posting 30.5 ppg
• Full Attack: That’s boosted his average to a career-best 28 ppg on 19.7 FGA per game – his most since 2019-20. The key? Staying aggressive, says Clippers coach Tyronn Lue
• “Him getting to his spots was huge for us,” said Lue postgame. “Once he gets to his spots, he’s hard to guard.”

Raptors 122, Pacers 104: Scottie Barnes was a force on both ends (25 pts, 14 reb, 6 ast, 4 blk), as Toronto used a 44-26 3rd quarter to race past Indy for its seventh win in 10 games. | Recap

Heat 132, Wizards 101: Bam Adebayo (22 pts, 8 reb, 5 stl) and Kel’el Ware (19 pts, 14 reb) were everywhere, while Kasparas Jakučionis (22 pts, 6 ast) and Norman Powell (21 pts) added 20-pieces to pull the Heat past the Wiz. | Recap

• Back In Action: Miami will look to make it two straight wins tonight as it hosts Jaren Jackson Jr. and Utah on League Pass (7:30 ET)

3. WHAT’S TRENDING: SAME FACES, NEW PLACES, BIG BOOSTS

Last Thursday’s trade deadline is in the rearview, but the effects are only beginning to surface. A flurry of deals sent high-impact players to new cities, with early returns starting to show and more stars gearing up to make their debuts.

James Harden ➡️ Cavs: One of four players averaging 25+ pts and 8+ ast this season, Harden’s playmaking was on full display in his first game with Cleveland on Saturday, posting 23 points and 8 dimes in a Cavs win.

Darius Garland ➡️ Clippers: On the other side of the Harden deal, Garland provides speed and shot-creation to LA’s backcourt. While he’s still nursing a foot injury, his eventual return could help boost the Clips.

Jaren Jackson Jr. ➡️ Jazz: JJJ debuted for Utah on Saturday with 22 points, combining for 49 with his new frontcourt partner Lauri Markkanen (27) in an encouraging first look at the Jazz’s revamped interior.

Luke Kennard ➡️ Lakers: Kennard’s shooting made an instant impact for the Lakers on Saturday. The 49.7% 3-point shooter scored 10 points in his debut while going 2-of-4 from deep and adding 2 assists in a win over the Warriors.

Jose Alvarado ➡️ Knicks: Speaking of immediate difference-makers, Alvarado flashed in his first game with the Knicks on Sunday, injecting New York’s second unit with his patented two-way energy.

Nikola Vučević ➡️ Celtics: On the other side, Vučević showed his inside-and-out potential with Boston, recording 11 points, 6 boards and a block in his first game as a Celtic.

Anthony Davis ➡️ Wizards: Another versatile 5 found a new home in Anthony Davis. While AD remains out with hand and groin injuries, he’ll provide leadership for a young Wizards squad and eventually give Washington an elite interior anchor on both ends.

Trade Tracker: See every official trade ahead of last Thursday’s deadline here.

4. WHAT’S TRENDING: EAST HEAT ENTERING 10-GAME MONDAY

The hottest team in hoops resides in Charlotte.

The Hornets have won nine straight games – tied for their 2nd-longest win streak in franchise history – behind their surging young core of Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and rookie sensation Kon Knueppel.

• Triple Threat: Miller (21), Ball (18.2) and Knueppel (18) have combined for 57.2 ppg amid Charlotte’s 9-0 run, with all three shooting over 37% from deep
• Balanced Buzz: The result? The Hornets rank 1st in OffRtg, while also ranking 5th in DefRtg amid the heater
• Backcourt Boost: Charlotte’s got more firepower set to join the squad, too, as it acquired Coby White (18.6 ppg in 2025-26) from Chicago before last week’s trade deadline

Test vs. Best: Tonight, the Hornets will look to match their longest win streak in franchise history, seeking a 10th straight win as they host the East-leading Pistons on League Pass (7 ET).

• Hard-Nosed: Detroit is anchored by an elite defense of its own, ranking 2nd in DefRtg this season, with first-time All-Star Jalen Duren manning the middle
• Hard To Stop: On the other end, fellow All-Star Cade Cunningham leads the league in total assists while averaging 25.1 ppg

Playoff Push: Five games back of Detroit (38-13) are New York and Boston, each at 34-19, while seeds No. 4-6 are on the rise in Cleveland, Toronto and Philly.

• Cavs Climb: Cleveland’s won three straight games and is 10-2 in its last 12, moving 2 games back of New York & Boston
• New Duo: That’s capped by Harden’s Saturday debut, as he’ll look to keep rolling alongside Donovan Mitchell, who’s posting a career-best 28.9 ppg
• Heating Up: Toronto (1/2 GB) and Philly (1.5 GB) are right behind Cleveland, each with seven wins in their last 10
• Sixers Surge: Philly’s gone 6-1 in its last seven, with Joel Embiid averaging an NBA-best 33 ppg in that span
• West Tests: Tonight, Cleveland visits Denver in a heavyweight duel (9 ET, LP), while Philly travels to Portland (10 ET, LP)

Primetime On Peacock: Orlando is 2.5 games back of Philly and aims to gain ground with a third straight win as it faces Milwaukee — winners of three straight — on Peacock (7:30 ET).

• Rollins Rolling: Ryan Rollins has stepped up since Giannis Antetokounmpo’s calf injury on Jan. 23, leading Milwaukee with 22.7 ppg in that span
• Buck Boost: He could get a new running mate in the backcourt, as the Bucks signed Cam Thomas (15.6 ppg this season) on Sunday
• Paolo Heating: Paolo Banchero has done a bit of everything for Orlando, leading the team in points (23.7) and rebounds (8.1) per game since Jan. 15 while shooting 40% from 3

5. WHAT’S TRENDING: STARS SHINING AMID WILD WEST RACE

While a pack of East squads are on the rise, a rising star is emerging out West, with Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg coming off another record week.

• Taking Over: Back to No. 1 on the Kia Rookie Ladder, Flagg is posting a league-high 33 ppg over his last five outings, along with 8.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.4 blocks
• Historic Heat: That includes four straight 30-pieces, making Flagg the youngest player in NBA history to achieve such a feat
• Special Company: He’s also the first rookie since Michael Jordan (1985) to post four straight games of 30+ pts and 5+ reb

OKC Paces Wild West: As the Mavs look to make a postseason push out West, seeds No. 2-7 are separated by just 5.5 games, while the Thunder hold the top spot at an NBA-best 40-13.

• Defense: With SGA (abdominal) sidelined, OKC will look to lean on its top defense, which allows an NBA-best 107.9 ppg
• Development: First-time All-Star Chet Holmgren is thriving on both ends (17.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2 bpg), while Castrol Rising Star Ajay Mitchell has stepped up (14.1 ppg)
• Tonight (10 ET, Peacock), the Thunder visit the Lakers, who have won three straight behind LeBron James and the return of Austin Reaves
• Adding To The Showdown? Jalen Williams, who is set to return for OKC after missing 10 games with a hamstring injury

More superstars pace the West leaders, with Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs (3.5 GB) and Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets (6 GB) chasing OKC in the top three.

• Like He Never Left: Jokić hasn’t missed a beat since returning from his 16-game absence, averaging 24.6 pts, 12.4 reb, 8.8 ast in his first five games back
• Passing Big O: That’s capped by two straight triple-doubles, which moved him past Oscar Robertson (181) for the 2nd-most all-time
• Chasing Russ: He now sits 26 shy of breaking Russell Westbrook’s record (207). Tonight, Westbrook will lead the Kings against the Pelicans (8 ET, LP)
• Wemby Way: The 2nd-place Spurs continue to surge behind Wemby, who’s opened February with a bang (23 pts, 11 reb, 3.3 blk) as San Antonio has gone 4-0

More Monday Matchups: Anthony Edwards has also been lighting it up in February, pouring in 31.8 ppg ahead of Minnesota’s matchup tonight versus Atlanta (8 ET, LP).

Meanwhile, the 8th-place Warriors will look to gain ground in the Play-In as Golden State hosts Memphis (10 ET, LP).

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