Today’s Update
Luka Dončić put up 42 points and 12 assists on 69% true shooting and led LAL past CLE 127–113. Dončić did it from deep, hitting 6 threes for 15 of 42 points.
42 PTS · 5 REB · 12 AST · 2 STL
LAL erased the deficit with a 36-19 run starting at 2:54 in the 1st quarter into the 2nd quarter (3:34 remaining). Key stretch: L. Dončić 11 pts (3 threes), D. Ayton 9 pts. CLE committed 14 turnovers vs. Luka Dončić was 6-for-13 from three for LAL.
Jalen Suggs put up 20 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals on 73% true shooting and led ORL past PHX in a tight one, 115–111.
20 PTS · 8 REB · 7 AST · 4 STL
J. Suggs led the 4th quarter push with 7 points. Jalen Suggs anchored the defense with 4 steals.
Kevin Durant put up 27 points and 8 assists on 68% true shooting and led HOU past NYK 111–94. Durant did it from deep, hitting 4 threes for 12 of 27 points. HOU shot 53.8% from the field vs. 42.4% for NYK.
27 PTS · 6 REB · 8 AST · 2 BLK
HOU pulled away with a 22-5 run in the 1st quarter (11:21 to 6:52 remaining). Key stretch: K. Durant 10 pts (2 threes), T. Eason 5 pts (1 three). HOU racked up 35 assists to NYK's 22.
Jalen Duren put up 31 points and 9 rebounds on 96% true shooting and led DET past TOR 127–116. Duren did the damage at the rim with 24 of 31 points from close range. DET shot 60.3% from the field vs. 48.3% for TOR.
31 PTS · 9 REB · 3 AST
DET pulled away with a 18-6 run in the 3rd quarter (8:39 to 4:59 remaining). Key stretch: D. Robinson 8 pts (2 threes), J. Duren 4 pts. Jalen Duren was 12-for-13 from the field for DET.
The Charlotte Hornets have engineered the most dramatic turnaround of the 2025-26 season. After starting 16-28, Charlotte has gone 24-8 since January 22 — outscoring opponents by +11.3 per game. Their three-point shooting surged from 37.5% to 40.2%, while opponents went from shooting 48.6% to 45.7%. They slowed their pace from 100.3 to 98.0 possessions per game and started dominating the glass — outrebounding opponents by 9.0 per game, up from +4.8 before. Most telling: they went from 0-8 in close games to 5-3. At 40-36, they sit 9th in the East.
Since Jan 22: 24-8 · +11.3 margin · 40.2% 3PT · 45.7% Opp FG
The Atlanta Hawks traded Trae Young in January and transformed their play. After starting 19-21, Atlanta has gone 24-12 since the trade — flipping their net rating from -0.3 to +4.5 per game. The defense tightened dramatically, holding opponents to 47.4% shooting (down from 48.7%). Jalen Johnson stepped into the alpha role averaging a near triple-double, while the supporting cast found their identity. At 43-33, they sit 5th in the East.
Since the trade: 24-12 · +4.5 margin · 47.4% Opp FG · 37.2% 3PT
Victor Wembanyama is anchoring the NBA's most dominant two-way season. The 7-foot-4 third-year center leads the league in blocks at 3.1 per game — 1.3 ahead of #2 Jay Huff — while averaging 24.5 points and 11.4 rebounds. He ranks 6th in defensive rating (102.9) and 1st in plus/minus (+10.8). He is the only player in the NBA averaging 20+ points and 1.5+ blocks. Over the last 15 games, his blocks have climbed to 3.7 per game as San Antonio has gone 14-1. The Spurs are 57-18 on the season.
24.5 PPG · 11.4 RPG · 3.1 BPG · 50.4% FG · 35.1% 3P · 57-18
The San Antonio Spurs have rattled off 9 straight wins, 9-1 in their last 10. Sitting at 57-18 on the season.
During the streak they're outscoring opponents by +17.6 per game (season: +8.2). Over this stretch they rank 2nd in scoring and 5th in defensive efficiency league-wide. Their defense has been the engine — holding opponents to 106.4 per game, down from 111.3 on the season. Ball movement is up to 31.8 assists per game from 27.9.
Houston (46-29) and Minnesota (46-29) are deadlocked atop the #5 seed in the West.
Memphis Grizzlies have ramped up their three-point volume to 44.1 attempts per game over the past three weeks, up from 38.9 on the season. Both ends have suffered — their offense has dropped to 106.2 (from 110.3) and the defense has slipped to 121.5 (from 114.5). They’re 2-7 during this stretch.
Pace: 103.1 → 103.6 · Off: 110.3 → 106.2 · Def: 114.5 → 121.5 · Opp avg pace: 100.5
Darius Garland is averaging 9.6 fourth-quarter points over 8 recent games — up 3.2 from the 6.4 season average. A different player when it matters.
Q4 PPG: 6.4 season → 9.6 recent
2-way tie for the 9th seed in the East — Miami Heat (40-36) and Charlotte Hornets (40-36) are all 15.0 games back. Tiebreakers currently order them MIA-CHA. MIA (3-7 last 10): their defense has softened, allowing 125.1 PPG (season: 117.8). CHA (7-3 last 10): their defense has tightened to 105.3 PPG allowed (season: 111.4).
2-way tie for the 5th seed in the West — Minnesota Timberwolves (46-29) and Houston Rockets (46-29) are all 13.5 games back. Tiebreakers currently order them MIN-HOU. MIN (6-4 last 10): dialed back threes to 32.7 attempts (season: 37.0). HOU (6-4 last 10): ball movement up to 28.9 APG (season: 25.3).
Cleveland Cavaliers fell further behind the New York Knicks for the 3rd seed — now 1.0 games back, they were 0.5 (47-29, L1). 7-3 in their last 10. They've slowed to 99.5 possessions per game from 101.8, a conscious shift toward half-court play. They're shooting 51.3% from the field, up from 48.0%.
Denver Nuggets fell further behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the 3rd seed — now 2.0 games back, they were 1.5 (48-28, W6). 8-2 in their last 10. They've increased three-point volume to 38.8 attempts per game (season: 35.6) and converting at 41.8% (season: 39.5%). Ball movement is up — 32.8 assists per game over the last 10 vs 28.8 on the season.
Toronto Raptors are just 0.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the 5th seed (42-33, L1). 6-4 in their last 10. They're shooting 39.6% from three over their last 10, up from 35.0% on the season. Ball movement is up — 33.0 assists per game over the last 10 vs 29.4 on the season.
Philadelphia 76ers are just 1.0 games behind the Toronto Raptors for the 6th seed (41-34, L1) — the last direct playoff spot is within reach. 6-4 in their last 10. Their defensive pressure has spiked — blocks up to 7.0 from 5.8.
| Player | Team | Status | PPG | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | GSW | Out | 27.2 | Right Patellofemoral (Pain Syndrome) |
| Lauri Markkanen | UTA | Out | 26.7 | Right Hip (Impingement) |
| Keyonte George | UTA | Out | 23.6 | Right Hamstring (Strain) |
| Norman Powell | MIA | Out | 22.1 | Illness - Upper Respiratory |
| Zach LaVine | SAC | Out | 19.2 | Right 5th Finger (Tendon Repair) |
| Andrew Nembhard | IND | Out | 16.9 | Lower Back Injury |
| Russell Westbrook | SAC | Out | 15.2 | Right Toe Injury NOT YET SUBMITTED (Management) |
