Feb. 21: LeBron’s 40-point game leads the way as top Eastern teams clash on ESPN

Basketball is back in full swing, and Father Time has no answer for the King.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION

Feb. 21, 2025

Thursday Magic: LeBron turns in a historic 40-ball, KAT erupts again, Paolo joins elite company

Big West Wins: Jokić & Murray move Denver up, San Antonio responds in Austin

East Energy: Cavs & Celtics extend streaks, Pacers & Bucks make statements

Knicks at Cavs: Two of the NBA’s most explosive offenses meet in a heavyweight bout

West Duels: Can Houston stymie a red-hot Ant? NorCal Rivalry resumes and more

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Nine more games tonight…

ESPN Doubleheader: In a marquee East matchup, the 1st-place Cavs will host the 3rd-place Knicks (7 ET). Then, Anthony Edwards and the Wolves visit the Rockets out West (9:30 ET).

Wemby Out For Season: Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

1. STARS SHINE: LEBRON PASSES MJ, TOWNS TAKES OVER, PAOLO POPS OFF

On Wednesday, LeBron James missed two potential game-tying 3s in the final seconds as the Lakers fell to the Hornets.

One night later, the King responded – leaving no doubt.

Lakers 110, Blazers 102: With Luka Dončić out, James turned up, going 14-of-24 from the field on his way to 40 points, 8 boards, 4 assists and 2 steals, while Austin Reaves added 32 points and 7 dimes to lift Los Angeles over Portland, halting a two-game slide. | Recap

40 For 40: Just 52 days since his 40th birthday, James is now the only player with multiple 40-point games at 40+ years oldThe only other player with one? Michael JordanNo Slowing Down: And James did it on a milestone night, as he passed Vince Carter (1,541) for No. 3 on the all-time games played list“He really just defies anything that’s normal,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick on LeBron postgame. “It’s the mentality … he’s a billionaire playing the second night of a back-to-back at 40.”

In the Knicks’ final two games before the All-Star break, Karl-Anthony Towns posted consecutive double-doubles of 40 and 44 points, leading New York to two wins.

In the Knicks’ first game back, KAT picked up right where he left off.

Knicks 113, Bulls 111 (OT): In another monster performance, Towns tallied 32 points and 18 rebounds, capped by scoring the Knicks’ final six points in OT to edge out Josh Giddey (27 pts, 16 reb) and the Bulls at MSG. | Recap

Stars Step Up: Down 2 with 29 seconds left in regulation, Jalen Brunson (22 pts, 12 ast) splashed a game-tying stepback before Mikal Bridges forced OT with a huge block at the hornKAT Closes: Giddey scored the first points of OT, but the Knicks responded with a 9-0 run, capped by three straight buckets from Towns for their third straight win

In addition to LeBron & KAT, a third former No. 1 overall pick also put on a show Thursday.

Magic 114, Hawks 108: Trae Young turned in 38 points, but it wasn’t enough as Paolo Banchero stuffed the stat sheet (36 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) to rally Orlando from a 19-point 1st-half deficit for a big road dub. | Recap

Magical Company: With the performance, Paolo joins Shaquille O’Neal and Tracy McGrady as the only players in Magic history to record multiple 35/10/5 games“He’s a beast. He changes our team,” said Cole Anthony on Banchero postgame. “When he gets that look on his face, you know what time it is.”Great Barrier Thief: In just his 51st game, Dyson Daniels (10 pts, 11 reb, 3 stl) surpassed 150 steals on the season – the most throughout an entire season since 2018-19 (Paul George: 170, James Harden: 158)

2. WEST WINS: NUGGETS EXTEND STREAK, SPURS SPOIL KD’S HOMECOMING

Make that nine straight dubs for Denver!

Nuggets 129, Hornets 115: One night after dropping 29 in a win over the Lakers, Miles Bridges poured in 36 along with 13 boards and 7 dimes.

But Denver’s duo of Jamal Murray (34 pts, 7 3s) and Nikola Jokić (29 pts, 17 reb, 9 ast) were too much, igniting a 30-19 4th quarter to lead the Nuggets past the Hornets. | Recap

Mile-High Momentum: Denver’s nine-game win streak is its longest since the 2022-23 season, when it went on to win the NBA FinalsMoving Up: With the win and a Grizzlies loss, Denver jumped Memphis for 2nd place in the WestMalone’s Milestone: The victory also marked head coach Michael Malone’s 500th career win

Spurs 120, Suns 109: In his return to the University of Texas, where he was named the 2007 Naismith College Player of the Year as a freshman, Kevin Durant went 9-of-13 from the field for 22 points along with 5 boards.

But the Spurs, hours after learning they’d lost Victor Wembanyama for the season, responded with a gritty win behind De’Aaron Fox (26 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast) and seven double-digit scorers. | Recap

“He’s a very unique player,” said Fox on missing Wemby after the game. “One person isn’t going to be able to maintain the production that he gave us, so we have to come together.”CP3 Moves To 2nd In Steals: Amid a double-double (13 pts, 10 ast, 2 stl), Chris Paul passed Jason Kidd (2,684) for No. 2 on the all-time steals list

3. EAST ENERGY: CAVS, CELTICS & PACERS STAY HOT; BUCKS RALLY

The Knicks weren’t the only East power that opened their 2nd half with a bang, as four of the other top five teams in the standings made statements.

Cavaliers 110, Nets 97: Entering the night shooting an NBA-best 39.3% from 3, the East-leading Cavs went just 11-of-39 (28.2%) from downtown but earned a tough win behind Jarrett Allen’s double-double (16 pts, 20 reb) and Donovan Mitchell’s 26 points. | Recap

It’s the Cavs’ fifth straight W as they improve to 9-1 in their last 10 games

Celtics 124, 76ers 104: Jayson Tatum recorded his second triple-double of the season and the fourth of his career (15 pts, 11 reb, 10 ast), while Payton Pritchard splashed eight 3s for 28 points as the C’s outpaced the Sixers for their fourth straight win. | Recap

Bench Boost: It was Pritchard’s 18th game this season with 5+ 3s, joining Malik Beasley (19 this season) as the only reserves to hit the mark in NBA history40-Win Club: At 40-16, Boston joins OKC and Cleveland as the only teams to reach 40 wins this season while improving their NBA-best road record to 23-6Sixers Stars: Paul George (17), Tyrese Maxey (16) and Joel Embiid (15) combined for 48 points in the loss, as Philly has now dropped six straight

Pacers 127, Grizzlies 113: In a showdown between two high-octane offenses, Indy erupted for 50 points in the 2nd quarter to take control and never looked back for a big interconference dub. | Recap

Setting The Pace: Tyrese Haliburton (22 pts, 9 ast) and Myles Turner (17 pts, 10 reb, 7 blk) led the way for Indy, which is now an East-best 15-5 since the New Year

Bucks 116, Clippers 110: Trailing by 13 early in the 4th, Milwaukee outscored LA 36-21 in the final quarter behind Giannis Antetokounmpo (23 pts) and Damian Lillard (15 pts, 7 ast), edging out Kawhi Leonard (25 pts), Ivica Zubac (20 pts, 15 reb) and the Clips. | Recap

Greek Freak Returns: It was Giannis’ first game back after missing six outings with a strained calf and Milwaukee’s second straight winThe Beard Hits 27K: James Harden added 24 points in the loss, becoming the 13th player to eclipse 27,000 points in his career

4. EAST POWERS DUEL ON ESPN: A BATTLE OF ELITE OFFENSES

On Oct. 28, the Cavs beat the Knicks 110-104 to improve to 4-0. Two days later, Cleveland took first place in the East and hasn’t looked back – racing to a franchise-best 45-10 start.

Eight games back lurk the 37-18 Knicks, off to their best 55-game start since 1996-97, when names like Ewing and Starks graced the Garden floor.

Tonight (7 ET, ESPN), the two East powers collide – not just in a potential Playoff preview, but in a showdown between two of the league’s most explosive offenses.

Cleveland’s 122.5 ppg is 2nd in the NBA – on pace to shatter its single-season franchise record of 114.1, set in 1979New York’s 118.3 ppg ranks 4th, putting it on track to break its franchise record of 117.3, which has stood since 1959

Both teams can fill it up but do so in different ways. Cleveland ranks 2nd in made 3s (16.1 per game), while New York ranks 2nd in made 2s (31.3).

Yet, they’re each masters of the same action – the pick and roll.

(Note: all advanced stats reflect numbers entering Feb. 20 games)

Pick and roll stats are organized into two groups, ‘ball handler’ and ‘roll man.’ The Knicks lead the NBA in points per possession in both categories.

The Duo Behind The Dominance? Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who account for 61.9% of New York’s P&R points, with KAT often ‘popping’ instead of a traditional ‘roll’KAT’s Impact: Shooting a team-best 42.8% from 3, Towns’ ability to stretch the floor opens the lane for Brunson, who’s shooting a career-high 53.0% in the paintMore space also allows for more cuts, where Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Josh Hart combine for 8.8 ppg

While New York tops the league in pick-and-roll efficiency, the Cavs lead the NBA in pick-and-roll ppg (33.6)

The Operators? All-Stars Donovan Mitchell (480) and Darius Garland (448), who boast the 6th and 8th-most points as P&R ‘handlers’ in the NBAPick Your Poison: Overcommit to Mitchell or Garland, and Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen will punish you at the rim, ranking 2nd and 3rd in ppg off cuts

But What About The 3? Despite ranking 25th in isolation frequency, the Cavs get downhill through their pick-and-roll action, leading to the 3rd-most drives per game in the NBA (52.7)

Drive & Dish: When the defense collapses, Cleveland kicks it out for open looks, resulting in an NBA-best 40.2% on catch-and-shoot 3s and the league’s highest assist percentage off drives

In a battle of strength vs. strength, which offense will lead the way tonight?

5. ROCKETS HOST WOLVES ON ESPN, NORCAL CLASH & MORE ON LEAGUE PASS

Another All-Star duel tips off tonight as Anthony Edwards and the Wolves visit Alperen Sengun and the Rockets (9:30 ET, ESPN).

These teams have clashed three times this season, with Edwards averaging 31.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in those matchups, leading to back-to-back Minnesota wins.

Houston returned from last year’s break and shot into the stratosphere with a 13-1 stretch from March 2 to 29, but enters the latter half of this season having dropped seven of its last nine.

Now, the Rockets will look to emulate such success and recapture a higher seed after once holding 2nd in the west.

New Year, New Ant: Edwards is averaging 31.4 ppg in 2025, trailing only Kia MVP Ladder leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the most in the NBAShooters Gonna Shoot: That wealth of scoring largely comes from beyond the arc, as Edwards has gone 227-of-548 from 3 this season for a career-high 41.4%When It Rains, It Pours: He’s shot 10+ 3s in each of his last six games, and it’s translated in a big way, becoming the first player this season with three straight 40+ point games (Feb. 5, 6, 10)

But the Rockets excel at guarding the perimeter – allowing the 2nd-fewest 3-pointers per game and 2nd-fewest 3-point attempts overall.

To break through that wall, Minnesota can look to Naz Reid (14.5 ppg) and Jaden McDaniels (11.5 ppg) inside in Julius Randle’s absence as Houston surrenders the 7th-most shot attempts inside eight feet

Seven more games tip off on League Pass, featuring a fresh chapter in the NorCal rivalry as Zach LaVine and Jimmy Butler enter the fold with the Kings hosting the Warriors (10 ET).