Historic win streak: Still alive. ✅
Playoff spot: Solidified. ✅
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
March 6, 2025
East Beasts: Cavs punch Playoff ticket with 12th straight win, Boston duo combines for 19 (!!) treys
Star Eruptions: The Beard drops 50 for the first time in 5+ years, SGA goes off – again
Roundup: Giannis hits 20K, a 4th-quarter rally in Denver, Wolves & Wizards win
Tonight On TNT: Sixers & Celtics clash before the Knicks visit the red-hot, and redefined, Lakers
League Pass Spotlight: Can Steph, Jimmy & the Dubs stay rolling? Plus, East Play-In implications
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Historic clubs collide…
TNT Doubleheader: A classic East rivalry takes place in Boston as the Sixers face the Celtics (7:30 ET). Then, LeBron, Luka and the Lakers seek their eighth straight win as they host the Knicks (10 ET).
Lakers-Celtics Showdown: Speaking of classic rivalries, the Lakers will visit the C’s this Saturday on ABC in an iconic showdown between both conference’s No. 2 seeds (8:30 ET, ABC).
Today’s Reads: LA Times on Derrick Jones Jr.’s defensive elevation … The Athletic on how SGA forged his own path to Kia MVP conversations … Indy Star on Tyrese Haliburton’s scorching stretch … CBS Sports on the Grizzlies’ unconventional offense.
1. STREAKING CAVS SEAL PLAYOFF SPOT, PRITCHARD & WHITE POST HISTORIC 40s
Something you probably already knew: The Cavaliers are Playoff-bound.
Something you may not have known: March 5 is the earliest a team has clinched a Playoff berth in five seasons.
And Cleveland’s not satisfied.
Cavaliers 112, Heat 107: After squandering a 17-point 2nd-quarter lead, the Cavs found themselves down 7 with 6:11 left, but came alive with a 19-7 closing run to notch their 12th straight win, becoming the first team to secure a Playoff spot this season. | Recap
- Historic Heaters: With the victory, the Cavs join the 2006-07 Mavs as the only teams to tally three 12+ game win streaks in a single season
- All-Stars Deliver: Donovan Mitchell (26 pts, 7 reb), Darius Garland (15 pts, 10 ast) and Evan Mobley (16 pts, 13 reb) scored or assisted on 24 of the Cavs’ 26 points in the 4th, overcoming Bam Adebayo’s season-high 34 points
- Clutch Cavs: That improves Cleveland to an NBA-best 20-6 in clutch games and 52-10 overall
- “It’s great to be in the Playoffs,” said Spida postgame. “But this is just another step in our journey. We got a lot more to accomplish … we have a special group.”
The Celtics opened the season by tying the single-game record for 3s in a game with 29.
Averaging 17.9 triples per game, Boston remains on pace to break the single-season record.
And on Wednesday, two of Boston’s best marksmen added to the C’s landmark season from deep.
Celtics 128, Blazers 118: Payton Pritchard (43 pts, 10 3s) and Derrick White (41 pts, 9 3s) lit up TD Garden with a combined 19 triples – yes, nineteen – on just 32 attempts (57.6%), combining for 84 points to power the C’s past the Blazers despite being without Jayson Tatum (shoulder). | Recap
- Unprecedented: Both finishing with career highs, Pritchard and White’s 19 combined treys are the most by a duo in a single NBA game
- Unreal: They’re also the first Celtics duo to each score 40+ in the same game and the first set of teammates to notch their first 40-pieces in the same game in NBA history
- Off The Bench, On The List: Pritchard, who shot 10-of-16 from deep, joins JR Smith (2x) and Bogdan Bogdanovic as the only reserves to tally 40+ pts and 10+ 3s in a game
- A 40/10 First: He’s also the only Celtic – starter or reserve – to ever reach that mark
2. STAR OUTBURSTS: VINTAGE HARDEN, CLASSIC SHAI
While Pritchard & White hit 40 for the first time, an all-time bucket-getter turned back the clock for 50.
Clippers 123, Pistons 115: Detroit entered Wednesday red-hot, holding a 10-1 record in its last 11 games thanks to a league-best 105.7 DefRtg in that span.
But then the Beard went ballistic, as James Harden dropped 50 points on six 3s while adding 5 dimes to outduel Cade Cunningham (37 pts, 7 reb, 10 ast), snapping LA’s three-game slide. | Recap
- Opening & Closing: Harden dropped 23 points in the 1st quarter and added 14 in the 4th, including a clutch 3, to seal the dub
- 50 Club Regular: It’s Harden’s first 50-piece since December 2019 and the 24th of his career, the most of all active NBA players and one shy of Kobe Bryant (25) for the 3rd-most all-time
Wednesday was just the fourth night this season to feature four different 40+ point scorers. Fittingly, the league’s top scorer was among them.
Thunder 120, Grizzlies 103: One game after dropping 51 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 41 on 14-of-25 shooting, along with 8 dimes and 2 steals, as OKC pulled away from Ja Morant (24 pts, 6 ast) and the Grizz for its fifth straight win. | Recap
- Another Day With Shai: It’s SGA’s NBA-best 10th 40+ point game this season, and his 92 points between Monday & Wednesday are the most in his career in a two-game span
- Walking Buckets: It’s also SGA’s 57th straight 20+ point game. The last player to record such a streak? James Harden in 2019
3. ROUNDUP: GIANNIS HITS 20K, DENVER RALLIES, WOLVES & WIZARDS WIN
Bucks 137, Mavericks 107: Giannis Antetokounmpo (32 pts, 15 reb) and Damian Lillard (34 pts, 5 ast) each totaled 30+ points for the 7th time this season – the most by any NBA duo – as the Deer outpaced Klay Thompson (28 pts, 6 3s) and the Mavs for their fourth straight dub. | Recap
- Giannis Hits 20K: In the win, Giannis, 30, eclipsed 20,000 career points, becoming the sixth-youngest player to reach the milestone, trailing only LeBron (28), KD (29), Kobe (29), Wilt (29) and MJ (29)
- Big Company: Giannis also joins Kareem & Shaq as the only players to hit 20K with a field goal percentage of 55% or higher
- Next Up? 30K, according to Giannis: “1,000% I’m going to get there … I’m going to show up every day, and I’m going to do it.”
Nuggets 116, Kings 110: Trailing since the opening minute, Denver outscored Sacramento 32-17 in the 4th to race past the Kings late, with Nikola Jokić (22 pts, 15 reb, 6 ast), Jamal Murray (24 pts, 8 ast) and Russell Westbrook (25 pts) leading the charge. | Recap
- Global Gift: With a fan traveling from South Korea to see him play, Russ scored 12 points in the 4th to seal the W before gifting him his signed game-worn jersey
- Mile-High Air: With the win and Memphis’ loss, Denver holds a two-game lead for 3rd out West
- DeMar DeRozan dropped 35 points for Sacramento, which saw its four-game win streak end
Wolves 125, Hornets 110: Don’t forget about the Wolves. Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels scored 29 points apiece, as Minnesota topped LaMalo Ball (28 pts, 10 reb, 6 ast) and Charlotte for its third win in a row. | Recap
- Wild West Race: Minnesota (54.7%) sits behind Golden State (54.8%) for the final West Playoff spot (the No. 6 seed) via win percentage, followed by the Clippers (1 GB) and Kings (1.5 GB)
Wizards 125, Jazz 122: Rookies Kyshawn George (23 pts, 7 reb) and Alex Sarr (21 pts, 2 blk) led seven Wizards in double figures, as Washington staved off Johnny Juzang (27 pts) and Utah for its third win in five games. | Recap
4. TONIGHT ON TNT: LAKERS FACE KNICKS IN L.A., BOSTON BATTLES PHILLY
Eight of the last 10 NBA champions have finished the regular season top five in either defensive rating or clutch win percentage.
Since Jan. 15, the Lakers rank first and second in those two categories
The Lakers’ current 19-4 run didn’t start with Luka Dončić’s arrival or even in February, when LeBron James earned Western Conference Player of the Month. It started in mid-January, as the Lakers found their rhythm and locked into a hard-nosed, defensive-minded identity.
- Since Jan. 15, three Lakers rank in the top five in DefRtg (min. 16 GP, 20+ mpg): Dorian Finney-Smith (1st), Jaxson Hayes (4th) and Gabe Vincent (5th)
- Stars Stepping Up: Meanwhile, LeBron James and Austin Reaves stand 2nd & 3rd in DefRtg among players logging 30+ minutes per game (min. 20 GP)
- Cohesive Heart: In that same span, the Lakers rank 3rd in defensive rebounds, 2nd in charges drawn and 1st in opponent FG%, fueling an NBA-best 107.9 DefRtg
- Clutch Dominance: L.A.’s defense has clamped down even tighter in crunch time, posting a 69.0 clutch DefRtg amid the run — 15+ points better than any other team
Strength vs. Strength: That’s led to a 10-1 clutch record since Jan. 15, with only one team posting a higher clutch win percentage in that span — the Knicks at 10-0.
Tonight (10 ET TNT), the Lakers host New York, looking to notch their first 8-game win streak since 2019-20 — the last season they finished top five in both DefRtg and clutch win percentage.
That year ended with an NBA title for Los Angeles.
While the Lakers’ defensive intensity has shined since January, the Celtics’ balance has been on display all season.
Boston is the only team in 2024-25 ranked top five in both OffRtg (119.0, 3rd) and DefRtg (110.2, 5th).
Despite their consistency on both ends, the C’s haven’t relied on one specific starting five, rolling out 23 different starting lineups this season — the 10th most in the NBA.
- Steady Force: One player has remained constant – Jayson Tatum, who has started 58 of Boston’s 62 games while leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and 3s
- Scary Arsenal: One of those four games came last night, which saw Derrick White & Payton Pritchard – Boston’s 4th & 5th leading scorers – each drop 40+ points in historic fashion
- “The way those two played just shows a lot about who they are,” said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla after Wednesday’s win.
- “They do a lot of the dirty stuff when we’re fully healthy … to have a night like this where those two can show what they’re capable of, it was good for us.”
Up Next? Another Rival: After hosting the Sixers tonight (7:30 ET, TNT), the Celtics welcome the Lakers on Saturday for a must-see showdown (8:30 ET, ABC).
5. LP SPOTLIGHT: DUBS ROLL INTO BROOKLYN + EAST PLAY-IN IMPLICATIONS
The sun shines bright in The Bay as the Stephen Curry-Jimmy Butler tandem has the Warriors on their best stretch since the first weeks of the regular season.
Warriors at Nets (7:30 ET): Since trading for Butler, Golden State is 9-1 with him in the lineup, jumping from 10th in the West to 6th. Winning ways clash with a Nets squad that has dropped five straight.
- All-Around Turnaround: Across their last eight, the Warriors qualify among the top five in both OffRtg (5th) and DefRtg (2nd)
- Cooking With Gas: Curry is averaging 28.3 pts on 52.1/44.3/92.9 shooting splits in his last eight games
Bulls at Magic (7 ET): Chicago has dropped nine of its last 11 and Orlando five of six, but Paolo Banchero recently notched his second and third 40+ point games this season across the last three outings.
- Up For Grabs: Not only is the season series on the line at 1-1, but both the 8th-place Magic and 10th-place Bulls are battling for position in the SoFi Play-In Tournament
Pacers at Hawks (7:30 ET): Tyrese Haliburton has been lighting it up from deep with a 22-for-36 clip on 3-pointers through the last five contests.
The Hawks, meanwhile, have continued to handle the beasts of the East better than any, now at 8-6 combined against the Cavs, Celtics, Knicks and Bucks.
- Swooping In: Atlanta owns a comfortable 4-game lead on Chicago for 9th place, and with a victory tonight, would jump to 8th should the Magic lose
Rockets at Pelicans (8 ET): Claiming five of their last eight, New Orleans has generated positive movement amid an injury-riddled season. Zion Williamson has been the recent catalyst, averaging 26.1 points during that span, with a high of 37 on Tuesday.
