26 points and 27 candles marked a memorable birthday for Luka.
Luka’s Birthday Performance brought the Lakers back into winning form.
Stay tuned for a comprehensive recap of an action-packed Sunday in basketball.
5 KEY STORIES FROM TODAY’S GAME DAY 🏀
March 1, 2026
ABC Doubleheader: Spurs look to continue their winning streak in New York; Ant eyes a big game against the Nuggets.
Sunday Night Basketball: Are the Sixers and Celtics set for another thrilling chapter in their long-standing rivalry?
Saturday Highlights: Birthday boy Luka guides the Lakers back to winning ways, while Adebayo’s Heat push past the Rockets.
Roundup: The Hornets keep their momentum going, Raptors’ starters shine, and the Pelicans sweep the Jazz.
LET’S DIVE DEEPER … ⏰
March kicks off with an exciting 11-game lineup…
Prepare for a thrilling Sunday with 11 games spread over 10 hours, starting with ABC’s matinee doubleheader.
ABC Doubleheader: The Spurs begin against the Knicks (1 ET | Watch Here), swiftly followed by Ant and the Wolves taking on the Nuggets (3:30 ET | Watch Here).
Sunday Night Basketball: With the last three encounters decided by just one basket, the storied matchup between the Sixers and Celtics keeps fans on the edge (8 ET on NBC & Peacock | Watch Here).
More Classics Set for Tuesday: NBC/Peacock revisits the 90s with Spurs visiting the Sixers (8 ET), bringing back memorable NBA On NBC commentators like Bob Costas and Doug Collins.
1. ABC DOUBLEHEADER: SPURS ROLL INTO MARCH AT MSG; ANT READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN DENVER
The hottest squad in the league kicks off both the day and month, aiming to maintain their unbeaten vibe from February.
Spurs at Knicks (1 ET): After winning 11 consecutive games for the first time in a decade, San Antonio opens ABC’s doubleheader in the challenging Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks have a strong 22-8 home record this season.
It’s Victor Wembanyama’s first appearance at The Garden since Christmas Day 2024, where he had an unforgettable impact.
- Christmas Memory: Wemby delivered a stunning 42 points, 18 rebounds, 6 threes, and 4 blocks, achieving a unique statistic combo.
- The Knicks took that game, thanks to Mikal Bridges’ 40-point performance. Although San Antonio won the last two regular-season meetings, Vic aims for his first win at MSG.
- Team Collaboration: Achieving victory will require collective effort, as San Antonio leads the league with 124.8 ppg and 31.6 apg for February.
- “After the All-Star break, we held a team discussion emphasizing that every game matters now,” Julian Champagnie shared. “We’re aiming for something significant. We’re establishing ourselves.”
The Knicks focused on tightening their defense in February, achieving a 6th-best defensive rating with 108.4, supporting impressive performances such as Jalen Brunson’s remarkable 22-point first quarter on Friday.
San Antonio will respond with Stephon Castle on the perimeter, who consistently challenges the league’s best shooters.
Notable shooting stats of opponents guarded by Castle:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 6-19
- Jalen Williams: 3-10
- Luka Dončić: 8-21
- Cade Cunningham: 3-13
- Devin Booker: 2-9
- Cooper Flagg: 5-12
Wolves at Nuggets (3:30 ET): Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves visit Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets, two teams contending for the Western Conference playoff standings.
Boasting identical records of 37-23, Denver currently holds the 4-seed owing to its 3-0 advantage in the season series, which could be pivotal for a potential first-round playoff matchup.
As crunch time approaches in this tense rivalry, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski notes that Minnesota has a clear go-to option:
“In his sixth year in the league, [Ant] has developed a knack for clutch moments that rivals the best in the NBA. He has a strategy, and stopping him is a challenge,” Krawczynski wrote.
“My relationship with my coach is extraordinary,” Edwards shared after a 31-point performance in a narrow victory. “He gives me great advice, and I had to trust him—most of the time, I do.” | Read More
- Franchise Milestone Ahead? Ant (29.6 ppg) is close to becoming Minnesota’s first-ever 30.0+ ppg scorer.
- Holiday Matchup: The last clash between the Nuggets and Wolves occurred on Christmas Day, where Joker posted a historic 56-point, 16-rebound, and 15-assist game, the first of its kind in NBA history.
2. SUNDAY NIGHT BASKETBALL: RIVALRY BETWEEN SIXERS AND CELTICS HEATS UP
The historic clash between the Sixers and Celtics re-enters the spotlight for their 475th match tonight on NBC/Peacock’s Sunday Night Basketball (8 ET).
This rivalry’s legacy is shining this season, with the first three encounters decided in the closing moments.
- Game 1, Oct. 22: On season opener night, VJ Edgecombe (34 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast) made an early statement, while Tyrese Maxey (6 ast, 54.2 FG%) led Philly to a narrow 117-116 win.
- Game 2, Oct. 31: On Halloween, Jaylen Brown scored 32 points in Philadelphia, where a solid defensive effort sealed the Celtics’ 109-108 win.
- Game 3, Nov. 11: Maxey (21 pts), Justin Edwards (22 pts, 8-9 FG), and a crucial bucket from Kelly Oubre Jr. late lifted the Sixers to a 102-100 series lead.
This regular-season finale for both teams features a duel between two of the top five scorers, with both Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey averaging 29.1 ppg.
- Back From Break: Maxey has been exceptional since the All-Star Break, posting averages of 30.8 points and 7.4 assists in recent games.
- Consistent Against Boston: His performance against the Celtics this season (29.0 ppg, 58.3 3P%) further elevates his assists to 9.7 in this rivalry.
- JB Vs. PHI: Brown matches up effectively with Maxey (27.0 ppg, 5.0 reb, 5.0 ast), showcasing impressive shooting metrics.
- Pressing Forward: With Joel Embiid (oblique injury) sidelined for the next three games, Philly looks to Edgecombe for added scoring, who recently averaged 20.0 points in his last five games.
Roundup: Other Eastern contenders hit the court tonight, with the Cavs striving to maintain their momentum at the Nets (3:30 ET) and the top seed Pistons facing the Magic (6 ET).
- Bucks at Bulls (3:30 ET)
- Grizzlies at Pacers (5 ET)
- Blazers at Hawks (6 ET)
- Thunder at Mavericks (8 ET)
- Pelicans at Clippers (9 ET)
- Kings at Lakers (9:30 ET)
3. SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS: LUKA’S BIRTHDAY PERFORMANCE HELPED LAKERS; HEAT OVERCOME ROCKETS
On his 27th birthday, Luka Dončić nearly scored as many points as his age.
The best gift was securing an end to L.A.’s three-game losing streak.
Lakers 129, Warriors 101: Dončić (26 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast) led the way as the Lakers jumped to a 33-16 lead and held on to secure the win. Luka, LeBron (22 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast), and Austin Reaves (18 pts) combined for 66 points, contributing to 20 of L.A.’s 29 assists. | Recap
- “We executed well as a team today,” Luka noted, reflecting on the game with James and Reaves. “We need to keep sharing the ball.”
- Special Tribute: LeBron added 20 of his 22 points in the first half, after getting motivation from his daughter, Zhuri, before the game.
- Triple Milestone: Hitting four 3-pointers, James became just the second Laker to reach 1,000 career 3s, achieving a unique milestone across multiple franchises.
- Birthday Celebrations: A mic’d-up Draymond Green wished Luka well, while the Lakers celebrated by unveiling a jersey cake for him.
- Shining Bright: Gui Santos (14 pts) led the undermanned Warriors on the day he signed a multi-year extension.
- Moving Up: Holding the final playoff position in the West, L.A. moved 1.5 games ahead of the 7th-place Suns and 4.5 ahead of the Warriors.
The Heat are eyeing a guaranteed playoff spot as they sit in 8th place.
Saturday’s win against the Rockets boosts their playoff prospects.
Heat 115, Rockets 105: After alternating leads early, Miami secured the win with a 9-2 run in the final stretch, led by Adebayo (24 pts, 11 reb, 3 3s). Pelle Larsson added 10 of his 20 points in that critical moment. | Recap
- Kevin Durant (32 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast) led the Rockets, surpassing Kobe for the fifth-most 30+ point games in history.
- Next Player Up: Tyler Herro (18 pts) made his first start since mid-January, stepping in for injured Norman Powell.
- Future Prospects: Houston maintains third in the West, only half a game ahead of Denver, while Miami is chasing a playoff spot.
“We’re among the top-5 offensively and defensively, and we know our place,” Andrew Wiggins reflected postgame.
“Consistency is key as we push forward.”
4. ROUNDUP: HORNETS KEEP WINNING, RAPTORS’ STARTERS DOMINATE, PELICANS SWEEP
Hornets 109, Blazers 92: Charlotte kicked off the game with a 25-12 run, led by Brandon Miller (26 pts, 8 reb) who tallied four of his six 3s in the second quarter as Buzz City took control early.
- Coby White (20 pts) debuted at home after recovering from injury and was warmly welcomed by his college coach and local fans.
- Riding the Wave: The Hornets, now in 9th place, have won four straight games, going 14-3 since January 22.
Raptors 132, Wizards 125: All five Toronto starters each contributed over 18 points, led by Immanuel Quickley (27 pts, 11 ast), who spearheaded an 11-2 scoring stretch in the third to gain control.
- Stellar Starts: The Raptors’ quintet of Quickley, Brandon Ingram (24 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast), RJ Barrett (21 pts, 5 reb), Scottie Barnes (18 pts), and Jakob Poeltl (18 pts, 10 reb, 3 stl) accounted for 108 of their 132 points.
- Family Energy: This marked the fourth occasion this season where each starter scored 15+ points, their highest total since the 2021-2022 season.
- Depth Matters: The Raptors are one of only two teams this season with multiple games featuring all starters hitting 15+ points.
- Chasing Success: Holding firm in 5th place in the East, Toronto is aiming to close in on Cleveland.
Pelicans 115, Jazz 105: Saddiq Bey (24 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl) spearheaded New Orleans, supported by rookie Jeremiah Fears (18 pts) who recorded a career-high 11 rebounds to secure his second double-double against the Jazz.
5. NBA MAILBAG: JAMAL CRAWFORD RESPONDS TO FAN INQUIRIES
20-year NBA veteran and NBC analyst Jamal Crawford took on over 20 fan-submitted questions, touching on various basketball topics ahead of his assignment for tonight’s Sixers-Celtics game:
Will the Celtics emerge as favorites in the East if Jayson Tatum returns? – from Sean in Boston
“The Celtics, based on their current form, could already be considered favorites. It’s impressive to see them perform so well without Tatum. Jaylen Brown has stepped up tremendously…”
Did you foresee Tyrese Maxey’s rapid development (currently 5th in scoring)? What steps can he take to grow even more? – from Marcel in Pittsburgh
“His growth wasn’t something I anticipated this quickly. However, his talent and work ethic are undeniable. To join the elite ranks, he must focus on winning,”
What aspect of Jaylen Brown’s game stands out this season? – from Mike in Milford, MA
“His leadership. His scoring was expected, yet his role as a leader is more evident now. He’s setting up other players and contributing significantly to the team’s success…” | Read More
