Today’s Update
Daniss Jenkins put up 30 points and 8 assists on 76% true shooting and led DET past LAL 113–110. Jenkins hit the go-ahead jump shot with 0:24 left in the 4th quarter. Jenkins poured in 10 points in the 4th quarter.
30 PTS · 4 REB · 8 AST
D. Jenkins hit the go-ahead jump shot with 0:24 remaining in the 4th quarter. Daniss Jenkins was 11-for-18 from the field for DET. Luka Dončić anchored the defense with 3 steals.
Pascal Siakam put up 37 points and led IND past ORL 128–126. Siakam scored from all three levels — 14 at the rim, 8 from midrange, and 6 from three. Siakam poured in 10 points in the 4th quarter.
37 PTS · 6 REB · 1 AST · 2 BLK · 2 STL
Pascal Siakam led IND with 37 points on 13-for-26 shooting. Paolo Banchero had 39 points, 6 assists for ORL in the loss. P. Banchero kept ORL in it with 11 4th-quarter points. IND connected on 16 threes (45.7%) to ORL's 12. ORL committed 11 turnovers vs. 7 for IND.
Victor Wembanyama put up 26 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks and powered SAS to a 25-point rout of MIA, leading by as many as 30. Wembanyama did the damage at the rim with 18 of 26 points from close range. SAS dominated the glass 62–38.
26 PTS · 15 REB · 4 AST · 5 BLK
SAS pulled away with a 27-16 run starting at 3:03 in the 1st quarter into the 2nd quarter (6:21 remaining). Key stretch: V. Wembanyama 9 pts (1 three), H. Barnes 6 pts (2 threes).SAS shot 47.5% from the field vs. 40% for MIA. Victor Wembanyama anchored the defense with 5 blocks.
SAC 126, BKN 122 — SAC seized control with a 10-4 run starting at 1:46 in the 3rd quarter into the 4th quarter (10:59 remaining). Key stretch: D. Carter 7 pts, D. McDermott 3 pts (1 three). M. Monk led the 4th quarter push with 12 points. B. Saraf kept BKN in it with 12 4th-quarter points. SAC dominated the boards 51–25. Malik Monk was 7-for-13 from three for SAC. Malachi Smith anchored the defense with 3 steals.
MIN 102, BOS 92 — Bones Hyland led MIN with 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting. Jaylen Brown had 29 points for BOS in the loss. B. Hyland led the 4th quarter push with 7 points. MIN shot 42.9% from the field vs. 35.8% for BOS.
DEN 128, POR 112 — DEN pulled away with a 33-22 run starting at 3:30 in the 2nd quarter into the 3rd quarter (4:41 remaining). Key stretch: N. Jokić 12 pts (2 threes), C. Braun 6 pts. DEN shot 54.4% from the field vs. 43.3% for POR.
Karl-Anthony Towns has transformed his game over the last month. Over 15 games, KAT is averaging 21.5 points and 12.2 rebounds on 59.0% shooting — up from 19.5/11.7 on 46.7% earlier this season. The biggest shift: he's attacking the rim at 62.9% accuracy (up from 56.7%) while his three-point shot has caught fire at 44.2% (up from 34.9%). His net rating has surged to +13.9 from +8.3, and the Knicks are 11-4 in those games. KAT is recording a 20-point/10-rebound double-double in 47% of his games this stretch. The formula is simple — more paint, less settling — and it's pushing NYK within half a game of the 2-seed.
Last 15G: 21.5 PPG · 12.2 RPG · 59.0% FG · 44.2% 3P · +13.9 NET · 11-4
The Oklahoma City Thunder have rattled off 12 straight wins. Sitting at 57-15 on the season.
During the streak they're outscoring opponents by +10.8 per game (season: +11.3). Over this stretch they rank 3rd in defensive efficiency league-wide.
Minnesota (44-28) and Denver (44-28) are deadlocked atop the #4 seed in the West.
Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing at 98.2 possessions per game over the past three weeks, down from their 101.9 season average. Their recent opponents average a 100.0 pace, lending context to the shift. The defense has been the casualty, allowing a 117.3 rating over this stretch compared to 111.5 for the season. They’re 4-3 during this stretch.
Pace: 101.9 → 98.2 · Off: 115.3 → 115.8 · Def: 111.5 → 117.3 · Opp avg pace: 100.0
Matas Buzelis is averaging 7.6 fourth-quarter points over 5 recent games — up 3.0 from the 4.6 season average. A different player when it matters.
Q4 PPG: 4.6 season → 7.6 recent
2-way tie for the 4th seed in the West — Denver Nuggets (44-28) and Minnesota Timberwolves (44-28) are all 13.0 games back. Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves climbed into the tie after last night. Tiebreakers currently order them DEN-MIN. DEN (6-4 last 10): ball movement up to 31.4 APG (season: 28.5). MIN (5-5 last 10): dialed back threes to 32.7 attempts (season: 37.0).
Houston Rockets dropped to the 6th seed after the Minnesota Timberwolves broke a tie for the 5th (43-28, L1). A week ago they held the 4th seed. 5-5 in their last 10. They've gone cold from three — 33.4% over their last 10 vs 36.4% on the season. Their defensive activity has dropped — 8.3 steals and 4.6 blocks per game vs 8.7 and 5.7 on the season.
Atlanta Hawks fell 0.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors for the 5th seed after a tie was broken (40-32, W2). 9-1 in their last 10. Their defense has tightened, holding opponents to 109.7 per game — 6.8 fewer than their 116.5 season average. They're shooting 50.3% from the field, up from 47.3%.
Golden State Warriors closed the gap on the LA Clippers for the 9th seed to 1.5 games, down from 2.0 (34-38, W1). 2-8 in their last 10. They're crashing the offensive glass — 13.5 offensive rebounds per game, up from 11.5.
New York Knicks are just 0.5 games behind the Boston Celtics for the 2nd seed (47-25, W6). 7-3 in their last 10. They've pulled back on threes — 34.5 attempts per game, down from 38.8.
Philadelphia 76ers are just 1.0 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the 6th seed (39-33, L1) — the last direct playoff spot is within reach. 5-5 in their last 10. They've gone cold from three — 30.0% over their last 10 vs 34.7% on the season.
