Starting 5: LeBron's milestone nears, a Spurs-Pistons showdown and more

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

The King’s Quest: The Lakers visit the Nuggets with LeBron on the precipice of history

Also On Prime: KD leads Rockets against Warriors in jam-packed West race

League Pass Spotlight: Wemby’s surging Spurs run it back against the East-best Pistons

Wednesday’s Best: SGA & OKC hold firm at MSG, Hornets sting Celtics for 6th straight win

Roundup: Hawks extend streak, Kawhi & Maxey shine and a Holiday special

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Nine games tip off tonight, headlined by a Prime doubleheader as the Rockets host the Warriors (7:30 ET | Tap to Watch), before the Nuggets host the Lakers (10:30 ET | Tap to Watch).

1. ON PRIME: LEBRON EYES HISTORY AS LAKERS VISIT NUGGETS

He’s the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

He has more 10-point games, more 20-point games and more 30-point games than anyone in league history.

And tonight (10 ET, Prime), LeBron James, the scoring King with a resume that has defied Father Time himself, is on the cusp of another record as the Lakers visit the Nuggets.

• The Number: Sitting at 15,835 career field goals made, James needs three more to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) for the most in NBA history
• The Standard: Kareem’s mark has stood untouched for nearly four decades. Outside of LeBron, only Karl Malone (13,528) has eclipsed 12,000 field goals. Malone would still need over 2,300 buckets to reach Kareem

The Chase: Then, there’s James, who was four years old when Abdul-Jabbar scored his final regular-season basket in 1989.

Now he’s 41, with more than half his life spent as an NBA All-Star – with a record 22 selections – and still stretching the limits of what’s possible.

The King’s Road: One of James’ earliest career highlights on an NBA floor came in his rookie debut – a steal turned tomahawk slam that would later define vintage LeBron, foreshadowing the highlight machine he’d become.

But it wasn’t his first basket. That came on his first career shot: a 16-foot baseline jumper that was nothing but net – a quieter hint at how his game would grow.

Through all the dunks, chase-down blocks and no-look dimes, James’ scoring has remained constant – evolving with the league itself, from a relentless young slasher into an efficient three-level artist.

⬆️ From his first NBA basket to the shot that moved him past Kareem for the all-time scoring record, LeBron’s scoring arsenal has expanded across four eras, mastering all areas of the floor. ⬇️

• The Rookie (Cavs Pt. 1): James needed just 3:04 of game time to hit his first NBA field goal, a textbook jumper that laid the foundation for everything that followed (2003)
• The Power (Heat): In Miami, LeBron became an overwhelming force, punishing the rim at will, including the above one-handed hammer that produced an iconic image alongside Dwyane Wade (2010)
• The Evolution (Cavs Pt. 2): James’ game expanded in his second stint with Cleveland, as he shot 35.1% from 3 across four seasons, including a classic clutch fallaway in Washington (2017)
• The Master (Lakers): With Los Angeles, his scoring has reached its most refined form – manipulating space, mastering angles and fittingly passing Kareem’s scoring record with a midrange fadeaway (2023)

And now, with another record within reach, another chapter could be written tonight.

Alongside LeBron, tonight’s matchup – a pivotal duel in the West Playoff race – features two more special talents in Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić.

• Joker Brilliance: Jokić (28.7 ppg) leads the league in both assists (10.3) and rebounds (12.6) per game and has tallied 22 triple-doubles – twice as many as any other player
• Luka Magic: Dončić paces the league in scoring with 32.4 ppg, while averaging 8.6 dimes
• Playmaking Peak: They’re the only two players this season averaging 27+ pts and 7+ ast, and now collide for the first time since Feb. 2025
• The Stakes? The Lakers are just a half-game back of the Nuggets for 5th in the West, each seeking a key win – with a potential side of history looming

2. ALSO ON PRIME: KD’S ROCKETS HOST WARRIORS AMID CROWDED WEST RACE

The Rockets have won four of their last five games to keep a steady hold of the West’s No. 3 seed since Feb. 23.

But the West race is so tight, a bounce or two another way could send Houston as far back as 8th in any same five-game span.

• “It’s a fun time to be in the league,” Durant said amid Houston’s streak. “… Not knowing exactly who’s going to be around at the end of the season … You never know who can make a run in the Playoffs.”
• “You can’t afford to have off nights in our conference,” added Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “You can go from 3 to 7 pretty quickly.”

Associated Press writer Tim Reynolds has more:

“Would it surprise anyone if the Thunder, the Spurs, Houston, Minnesota or Denver survived the Playoff gauntlet in the West? Again, probably not. And feel free to add a few other teams to those lists as well…

“But this is the NBA’s parity era — seven franchises have won titles in the last seven years, a run never before seen in league history. It’s not inconceivable to think an eighth different champion is on the way.” | Read More

Tonight on Prime (7:30 ET), Durant and the Rockets resume their Playoff push, hosting the 8-seed Warriors – with 7.5 games separating them.

• More Milestones: Currently on a 3-game 30+ point streak, KD is three 30-pieces away from passing Karl Malone (435) for 4th-most all-time
• Chasing MJ: He’s also 225 points away from passing Michael Jordan for 5th on the all-time scoring list

3. LEAGUE PASS SPOTLIGHT: SPURS VS. PISTONS ROUND 2

It’s been less than two weeks – 10 days, to be exact.

Now comes the rematch of two top-tier squads.

The 1st-place Pistons and 2nd-place Spurs meet again tonight (8 ET, League Pass) in a cross-conference clash of title contenders. Location has shifted from Detroit to San Antonio, but the stakes have only heightened.

• Flashback: On Feb. 23, it was a 114-103 victory for the Spurs, marking their 9th straight. Victor Wembanyama was dominant defensively with 17 rebounds and six blocks
• “That’s what it’s going to take to beat teams like this,” said Spurs coach Mitch Johnson. “We can’t hang our hat on shotmaking or offensive creation or trying to score.”
• Fast-Forward: San Antonio has remained red-hot – now 12-1 dating back to Feb. 1. The Pistons, meanwhile, have won 11 of their last 14

Both squads have piled on wins thanks in part to elite guard play. That includes Cade Cunningham and Stephon Castle, a pair of dynamic two-way playmakers primed to meet again tonight.

• Tall Walls: Detroit shot 27.8% with Castle as the closest defender in their previous meeting, including Cunningham’s 3-for-13 mark from the field
• Silver Lining: But the two-time All-Star, who averages 25.2 points and 9.9 assists per game, still finished with a 16-point, 10-assist double-double in the loss
• No Breathing Room: Castle has held opponents to 42.9% shooting this season as the closest defender – 5th-lowest among guards in the league – while Wembanyama is 1st among all players at 40.9%

That’s not the only resemblance. These teams are built for matchups like these.

• Best On Best: The Pistons are 16-5 this season against teams currently in the Playoff picture, while the Spurs are 17-8 in that regard
• “Our guys respect everybody and want to give everybody their best shot,” said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “No matter who the opponent is, our guys always look forward to those challenges.”

Also on League Pass, Trae Young makes his Wizards debut as they host the Jazz (7 ET), before Anthony Edwards and the Wolves seek their fifth straight win, welcoming the Raptors (8 ET).

• Mavericks at Magic (7 ET)
• Nets at Heat (7:30 ET)
• Bulls at Suns (9 ET)
• Pelicans at Kings (10 ET)

4. WEDNESDAY’S BEST: THUNDER HOLD OFF KNICKS, HORNETS EXTEND STREAK

Defense travels. Poise closes.

And in a showdown between two teams with top-5 records, on the road in a raucous MSG, the defending champs stood their ground.

Thunder 103, Knicks 100: Chet Holmgren (28 pts, 8 reb, 6 3s) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26 pts, 8 ast) combined for 54 points, and the Thunder responded to a 40-point 3rd quarter from the Knicks by holding them to 20 in the 4th, capped by one last defensive stand. | Recap

• NY Push: After being held to 2 points in the 1st half, Jalen Brunson (16 pts, 15 ast) ignited a 24-9 Knicks run, erasing a 15-point deficit to take the lead entering the 4th
• OKC Answer: The Thunder countered with a 13-3 burst to regain control, then SGA drilled a clutch stepback trey to put OKC up 7 with 1:08 left
• Final Stand: The Knicks weren’t done, as a Josh Hart layup and Brunson triple cut the deficit to 3
• But with the Garden rocking and the ball back in New York’s hands, OKC forced two misses before the buzzer to seal a hard-fought dub

• “Late game, you just gotta figure it out – whatever it looks like,” said SGA. “Guys made plays, and we got out with a W.”
• Thunder Roll: It’s OKC’s fourth straight win and its seventh in eight games, moving to an NBA-best 49-15 overall and 18-10 in clutch games
• Shai’s Streak: With 15 in the 2nd half, SGA notched his 124th straight 20-point game, three shy of breaking Wilt’s record (126)

From the rolling Thunder, we move to the league’s longest-active win streak in Charlotte, which took flight again Wednesday.

Hornets 118, Celtics 89: Charlotte shot out to an 8-0 lead and never looked back, limiting Boston to its 2nd-lowest score this season en route to a sixth straight win and a 16-3 mark in its last 19 games.

And for the first time in franchise history, the Hornets have two straight 25+ point wins, extending their franchise record to 10-straight road victories.

Kon Knueppel (20 pts, 4 3s) led Charlotte, backed by 18 points apiece from Brandon Miller (5 reb, 3 stl) and LaMelo Ball (7 reb, 4 3s), to overpower Derrick White (29 pts), Jaylen Brown (20 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast) and a C’s squad whose three-game win streak ended. | Recap

• Dominant Wins: Charlotte’s six straight wins have all been by at least 15 points. It’s the longest such streak since the 2017-18 Warriors and the 2nd-longest streak in NBA history
• Sustained Sting: This 16-3 stretch is the franchise’s best 19-game span in over 25 years, with an average margin of victory of 13 ppg
• Buzz City Keys: Showcasing the league’s 6th-best D since Jan. 1, Charlotte held Boston to its 3rd-lowest FG% (38)
• Charlotte is now the 4th team ever, and first in over 60 years, to defeat the previous three NBA champs (Jan. 5: OKC, Jan. 18: DEN, last night: BOS) by 20+ points in a season

5. ROUNDUP: HAWKS & CLIPS STAY HOT, MAXEY LEADS PHILLY, HOLIDAY ERUPTS

To keep pace with the scorching Hornets in front of them, the 10th-place Hawks had to put more distance between themselves and the 11th-place Bucks.

Hawks 131, Bucks 113: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (23 pts, 5 3s), Onyeka Okongwu (21 pts, 8 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk) and Jalen Johnson (20 pts, 5 reb, 9 ast) helped erase Giannis (24 pts) and the Bucks’ 16-point 1st-half lead with a 32-18 3rd quarter on the way to a fifth straight win. | Recap

• Atlanta overcame Jonathan Kuminga’s absence (knee) to keep just a tiebreaker’s difference with Charlotte (32-31) for 9th-place

Clippers 130, Pacers 107: Kawhi Leonard was cooking (29 pts, 8 reb), Bennedict Mathurin remained red-hot (23 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast) and the Clips never trailed after the opening four minutes, outpacing Pascal Siakam (29 pts) and Indy for a third straight win. | Recap

• Epic Climb: LA is now 30-31 after its 6-21 start, sitting just a game back of Golden State for 8th in the West

76ers 106, Jazz 102: Tyrese Maxey posted a team-high in points (25) and assists (6), and Philly held Utah to 19 points in the 4th to rally late, halting its two-game slide. | Recap

• Sixer Spark, Jazz Bucket: Jabari Walker added a big double-double for Philly (22 pts, 10 reb), while Keyonte George tallied his second straight 30-piece for Utah (30 pts, 5 3s)

Blazers 122, Grizzlies 114: Jrue Holiday was unconscious from 3, going 8-of-11 from deep en route to a season-high 35 points. He didn’t stop there, adding 11 dimes and 5 boards as he and Jerami Grant (30 pts, 9 reb) powered Portland past Memphis. | Recap

• Holiday Special: Holiday is the fourth player in NBA history to tally 30+ pts, 10+ ast, 5+ reb and 5+ 3s in a game at 35 or older
• His Company? James Harden (5x), LeBron James and Steph Curry