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Right Moment, Right Place.
Catch this fan view of Jalen Green’s game-winning shot from last night, and read on for essential details about a jam-packed Sunday on ABC & NBC.
Jalen Green’s game-winner / via liamshrenk (IG)
5 TOPICS IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
February 22, 2026
ABC Doubleheader: Elite tandems on display as Harden & Donovan aim for 6-0 in OKC, while Joker & Jamal challenge in the Bay.
Sunday Night Basketball: The legendary Celtics-Lakers rivalry continues with Redick & Mazzulla at the helm.
Saturday’s Highlights: Brunson leads Knicks to an impressive 18-point comeback, and Jalen Green delivers a thrilling 2OT game-winner.
Roundup: Wemby and the Spurs dazzle in their eighth consecutive win, while the Pistons continue to dominate.
New Rookie Responsibilities: The 2025 Draft class shines on the court while facing less off-court responsibility.
FIRST UP … ⏰
We’ve got over 10 hours of basketball today…
Today’s 11-game lineup starts with an ABC doubleheader featuring the surging Cavs against the defending champion Thunder (1 ET | Watch Here), alongside the Nuggets facing the Warriors (3:30 ET | Watch Here).
Later in L.A., the Lakers will unveil a statue for former head coach Pat Riley (3:30 ET, NBA TV) before battling their historic rivals, the Celtics, in Sunday Night Basketball (6:30 ET, NBC & Peacock | Watch Here).
1. ABC DOUBLEHEADER: TOP TEAMS STAR AS CAVS FACE THUNDER & NUGGETS TAKE ON WARRIORS
Nick Cammett + Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
One tandem is fresh and undefeated, while the other boasts a storied history of success.
The Cavs and Nuggets will showcase two of the most electrifying duo performances as the Playoff rush begins.
Cavaliers at Thunder (1 ET, ABC): Riding a seven-game win streak and 5-0 since adding James Harden alongside Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland is putting pressure on the Knicks for third in the East. Meanwhile, a short-handed OKC squad has bagged three wins in their last four games.
- “We have so many options,” Harden noted about Cleveland. “It’s not solely about scoring but getting everyone engaged.”
- Historic Performance: Harden ranks 9th all-time in points (28,897) and 12th in assists (8,717).
- Impact on Team: Since joining the Cavs, Harden has consistently dished out at least eight assists per game, elevating the team from 13th to 5th in points scored in the paint (55.2).
- Jarrett Allen’s Surge: He’s benefited most with a jump to third in the league in paint points (16.8).
- Mitchell’s Consistency: He remains tied for the league lead with a total of 146 points since Harden’s debut.
Meanwhile, OKC faces a different scenario, featuring depth without their top scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen) for six games (3-3).
- Leading Scorers Since SGA’s Absence: Over the last few games, five different players have stepped up as the leading scorer.
Jason Miller/NBAE via Getty Images
Jamal Murray has matched Harden’s assist averages (8.6 per game) during this same span.
Nuggets at Warriors (3:30 ET, ABC): Denver comes off scoring a season-high 157 points in their last victory, with Murray and Nikola Jokić combining for 42 points by halftime. They finish a three-game road trip today.
- Dynamic Duo: Jokić continues to shine, leading in rebounds (12.3) and assists (10.5) for the season, while Murray enjoys career highs in points (25.6) and assists (7.6) per game.
- “He can dominate the game,” Jokić said of Murray, highlighting his stability.
- Murray’s Efficiency: Ranked 3rd in points off handoffs and 5th as a pick-and-roll handler this season.
- Jokić’s Contribution: He’s among the top 5 in roll-man possessions, shooting 56.3% in those situations.
Golden State rests two games ahead for the West’s eighth seed, backed by their league-leading 16.4 made threes per game and a top-10 defense.
2. SUNDAY NIGHT BASKETBALL: REDICK AND MAZZULLA HONOR COACHING LEGACIES
303 regular season encounters.
74 playoff battles.
77 years of memorable encounters.
The Celtics and Lakers are set to clash for the 304th time today (6:30 ET, NBC & Peacock).
Before this classic rivalry continues, L.A. will commemorate some of its legendary history.
The Lakers will unveil a statue for former coach Pat Riley (3:30 ET, NBA TV). NBA.com’s Shaun Powell shared insights on Riley’s significant contributions to the franchise:
“Riley defined Showtime,” highlighting his charisma and preparation.
He was one of the league’s first players’ coaches, establishing connections with his players.”
- “I’m a GQ coach,” Riley humorously claimed.
- Current coach JJ Redick has also made headlines for his fashion sense.
- More Parallels: Like Riley, Redick is a player-turned-coach known for his communication skills and expertise in the media.
Ishika Samant + Maddie Meyer/NBAE via Getty Images
Coaching the Lakers requires a unique approach, and Riley excelled with four NBA titles in seven Finals across nine seasons.
Three of Riley’s Finals occurred against today’s competitor, the Boston Celtics, highlighting the deep-rooted rivalry.
The rivalry continues under the leadership of two young, analytical coaches and friends: Redick and Mazzulla.
- “He’s a close friend,” Redick remarked about Mazzulla.
- “We had discussions about it,” Mazzulla noted regarding potentially joining Redick’s staff.
- Focusing on Shooting: Redick admires Mazzulla’s high-volume shooting strategies.
- Luka’s Role: Leading LA’s shooting attack, Dončić stands second in threes made (3.7) and attempted (10.4) per game.
The Lakers look for their second victory over Mazzulla’s Celtics after suffering a loss earlier this season.
3. SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: KNICKS STUN ROCKETS, JALEN GREEN WINS IN SECOND OVERTIME
Ishika Samant/NBAE via Getty Images
Houston started the fourth quarter with an 18-point lead.
Less than 10 minutes later, the Knicks had completed their largest comeback this season.
Knicks 108, Rockets 106: Tied at 103 with 30 seconds remaining, Jalen Brunson’s jumper secured New York’s first lead of the second half as they outscored Houston 33-15 in the fourth. | Recap
- Key Plays: Back-to-back steals from Jose Alvarado opened the door for Brunson to clinch the lead.
- Shooting Percentage: New York fired at a remarkable 59.1% in the fourth, while holding Houston to just 4-of-15 shooting.
- Brunson’s Performance: Scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half.
KD Surpasses KAJ: With his 430th game scoring 30+, Durant moved past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in all-time rankings.
Chris Coduto/NBAE via Getty Images
While New York dominated the fourth quarter, Phoenix shined in overtime.
Suns 113, Magic 110 (2OT): Jalen Green (16pts, 7reb, 5ast) netted a game-winning corner three, despite poor shooting and player injuries. | Recap
Green’s Insight: “I’m going straight for the ball,” he told his teammate during the final play.
- Game Equalizer: Orlando made a late-game push, tying it with a sequence leading to a dunk.
- Overtime Action: Leads exchanged before Green’s decisive shot.
“This is my first real game-winner,” Green expressed after his memorable shot.
Celebrating Success: Charles Barkley celebrated Green’s buzzer-beater live on air.
4. ROUNDUP: WEMBY’S DUNK SHOW, SPURS & PISTONS CONTINUE TO SHINE
The Spurs achieved their 40th win, marking eight consecutive victories, the longest streak in the league.
Spurs 139, Kings 122: Victor Wembanyama (28 pts, 15 reb, 6 ast, 4 blk) played a crucial role in their success against the Kings, matching the franchise’s eight-game win streak since his arrival. | Recap
- Notable Performance: Wemby has amassed over 200 points and 25 blocks during this stretch.
- Future Aspirations: Wemby joked about participating in a dunk contest someday.
- Display of Talent: He wowed fans with spectacular dunks throughout the game.
- Crowd Connection: Keldon Johnson expressed gratitude to the fans for their support during the team’s performances in Austin, Texas.
Jayden Mack/NBAE via Getty Images
Another prominent team reached the 40-win mark and secured their fifth consecutive victory.
Pistons 126, Bulls 110: Detroit dominated, spearheaded by Jalen Duren’s 26 points and 13 rebounds, alongside Cade Cunningham’s near triple-double effort. | Recap
- Cade’s Achievement: He leads the league in double-doubles.
- Detroit’s Stellar Run: With their eighth win in nine games, they’ve tied their second-best record through 55 games in franchise history.
Heat 136, Grizzlies 120: Miami scored efficiently against Memphis, maintaining a close game throughout. | Recap
- Heat’s Scoring Trend: This marks their 15th game scoring over 130 points this season, tying Cleveland for most in the league.
- Historical Comparison: Prior to this year, the Heat previously hit the 130-point mark only 30 times in their history.
Pelicans 126, Sixers 111: New Orleans defeated Philadelphia, with multiple players contributing to the scoreline and lost Tyrese Maxey to injury. | Recap
- Poole’s Performance: After a subpar previous game, Jordan Poole bounced back with a stellar outing.
- Rookie Moment: Derik Queen made a remarkable postgame interview appearance.
5. ROOKIE TRADITIONS
Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images
Kon Knueppel leads the league in total three-pointers made.
Cooper Flagg is among the top-10 for clutch points scored.
The 2025 Rookie class is making a notable impact this season.
Despite this, NBA rookies still face some traditional responsibilities, albeit less burdensome than before.
“Packing personal items for teammates can still appear on an NBA rookie’s to-do list,” said NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner, outlining how traditions persist in sports through generational shifts.
“I had to grab Chick-fil-A for the team,” shared Tre Johnson, a rookie, reflecting on a less intense experience.
Tune in to see featured rookies such as Egor Dëmin and Knueppel playing today on League Pass:
- Raptors at Bucks (3:30 ET)
- Mavericks at Pacers (5 ET)
- Knicks at Bulls (8 ET)
- Blazers at Suns (8 ET)
- Magic at Clippers (9 ET)
