LeBron James FTW 💥
Needing a win, L.A. got a new epic moment from its 21-year NBA veteran.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
March 27, 2025
At the Buzzer: LeBron James’ tip-in ends Pacers’ win streak
Wednesday Roundup: Jokić drops masterpiece in return, Clippers halt Knicks from clinching
OKC-MEM Preview: A clash of elite defenses and offenses meet in Western Conference duel
Things Heat Up in the East: Four teams in the Play-In race lace up
League Pass Spotlight: Several playoff contenders are in action tonight
BUT FIRST … ⏰
A eight-game slate awaits…
NBA TV: Paolo Banchero and the Magic look to win their fourth game in a row when they host Anthony Davis and the Mavericks at home (7 ET).
Tonight on League Pass: Trae Young and the Hawks are seeking to improve their playoff positioning when they visit the Heat in Miami (7:30 ET). Then, the Rockets hunt for their 11th victory in Houston’s last 12 games (9 ET).
Today’s Reads: AP on the Pistons’ turnaround year, and how the best could be yet to come … Andscape on how Jaylen Brown welcomes the ‘mental fortitude’ needed during Ramadan
1. LEBRON BEATS THE BUZZER TO SNAP PACERS’ WIN STREAK
On a night when it seemed like nothing was falling for him, LeBron James prevailed in the end, tipping in a Tissot Buzzer Beater to snap the Pacers’ five-game win streak.
Lakers 120, Pacers 119: James finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Luka Dončić led the way with 34 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and six three-pointers as Los Angeles ended its three-game losing streak. | Recap
- Elite company: It was LeBron’s eighth career game-winning buzzer-beater (reg. season and playoffs), tying him for the most in the last 25 years with Kobe Bryant and Joe Johnson
- Race to the Finish: It was his third career buzzer beater against the Pacers, twice before in the Playoffs
- LeBron: “It was great to come into a hostile environment, and get a win in that fashion.”
Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images
Not only did James deliver with flair for the dramatic, but he was also in danger of snapping his legendary streak of double-digit scoring. He entered the fourth quarter with just three points on 0-for-6 shooting from the field, but down the stretch, he scored on four straight possessions, leading to 11 points before the buzzer-beater.
- Close one: He has scored 10+ points in 1,283 straight games
- Before the streak: It was an eight-point performance against the Bucks on January 5, 2007. For reference, Luka was seven years old when James started the streak
- LeBron on not shooting the ball well: “One thing about my game… I can always do other things on the floor to help our team win”
The Lakers jumped to fourth in the West, owning the tiebreaker over the Grizzlies who are both 44-28. Meanwhile, the Pacers stay fourth in the East by 1.5 games ahead of the Pistons, and remain three games behind the No. 3 Knicks
- Tyrese Haliburton added 16 points and 18 assists, marking his 12th consecutive points-assists double-double. He’s the first player since John Wall (13 straight) in 2017 to have such a streak
- Haliburton: “This is the first time I’ve ever been walked off in the NBA. It’s only fitting it was him.”
- Reactions: Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Pat Mahomes & more went to social media to shout out The King
2. ROUNDUP: NIKOLA JOKIĆ DOMINANT IN RETURN, CELTICS WIN SEVENTH STRAIGHT
Nuggets 127, Bucks 117: Making his return after a five-game absence, Nikola Jokić didn’t show any signs of rust, as the 3x MVP went for 39 pts, 10 reb & 10 ast — including a potential Dime of the Year.
Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo (foot) and Damian Lillard (deep vein thrombosis). | Recap
- Jokić put up his 30th triple-double of the season – joining Russell Westbrook (3x), Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history with at least 30 triple-doubles in a single season
- “He was outstanding,” said Nuggets head coach Michael Malone about Jokić postgame, “I did see a guy that looked rested, looked explosive, and looked as efficient and dominating as ever.”
Throughout Jokić’s career, his win% when recording a triple-double is 78.8%, second best among his peers to record at least 30 triple-doubles in a season.
- Wilt Chamberlain: 88.5 win%
- Russell Westbrook: 73.9%
- Oscar Robertson: 72.4%
The Nuggets remain third in the West by a game over the Lakers and are within 1.5 games of the No. 2 seeded Rockets.
The Bucks dropped to sixth in the East and are 1.5 GB from (5) Pistons and 2 GB from the (4) Pacers.
- Revving Up: The Pistons are a top five team in the East this late in the season for the first time since 2007-08, when they finished 2nd in the conference
Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics 132, Suns 102: With Jayson Tatum sitting out with an ankle injury, Kristaps Porziņģis stepped up, leading the team with 30 points and four threes as the Celtics won their seventh straight game. Jaylen Brown added 24 points, five assists, and four threes. | Recap
- The Celtics continue to inch close to catching up with the No. 1 Cavaliers and are within 4.5 games for the lead spot in the East
Kevin Durant scored 30 for the Suns, whose four-game win streak came to an end. Phoenix remains 10th in the West, holding the tiebreaker over the 11th-place Mavs, but has dropped to half a game behind the 9th-place Kings
Clippers 126, Knicks 113: New York will have to wait to secure a playoff spot as James Harden (29 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 threes) and Kawhi Leonard (27 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists) combined for 56 points to lead the Clippers past the Knicks for their ninth win in their last 11 games. Karl Anthony-Towns dropped his 51st double-double of the season for New York, putting up 34 points and 14 rebounds. | Recap
- LA jumps the Warriors for the sixth and final NBA Playoff spot in the West, owning the tiebreaker with both teams at 41-31
Raptors 116, Nets 86: Orlando Robinson dropped 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Toronto in a wire-to-wire win over Brooklyn. Scottie Barnes and R.J. Barrett added 15 points each in the win, while Nic Claxton put up 22 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks for the Nets. | Recap
Wizards 119, 76ers 114: Alex Sarr continues to make his mark in the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year race. The first-year center scored 24 points on 10-17 shooting and had two blocks to power the Wizards past the 76ers in Philly. Jordan Poole and Jusitn Champagnie both chipped in with 18 points a piece in the win to end Washington’s five-game skid. | Recap
3. LP SPOTLIGHT: GRIZZLIES AND THUNDER SET TO CLASH IN WEST DUEL
What happens when the NBA’s leader in team PPG meets the best team in Opp PPG?
A battle between two of the top five teams in the West will highlight the eight-game slate on League Pass. The No. 1 Thunder (60-12) will host the No. 5 Grizzlies (44-28) in a matchup between elite defenses and offenses (8 ET).
Oklahoma City enters the matchup after earning its 60th win of the season and are currently on a seven-game winning streak.
- “My Whole Life is Consistent”: Over a year ago SGA said those famous words, and the Thunder have taken to heart, becoming one of the most consistent teams in the league. They haven’t lost back-to-back games since mid-November
- More History: The Thunder can reach their eighth consecutive win and 61st on the season, setting a new OKC-era record for wins in a season while inching closer to the franchise record set by the 1995-96 Sonics with 64 Ws
- More Streaking: SGA looks for his 66th consecutive 20+ pt game, trailing only Michael Jordan (69 straight games, 1990-91), Oscar Robertson (76, 1963-64) and Wilt Chamberlain (80 twice: 1961-62, 1963-64) as the only players with longer streaks in a single season
Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images
While SGA leads the charge, there has been an abundance of players who have stepped during the team’s win streak as Jalen Williams has been sidelined with a hip injury.
- Cason Wallace leads the team in FG% at 60.5 in six games played
- Lu Dort adds 51.5 FG% and 40.9 3P% in over 30 min in four games played
- Aaron Wiggins leads the team in +/- with 14.8 in five games played
The Grizzlies have been without Ja Morant (hamstring) for the last five games. The team will look to continue to lean on Jaren Jackson Jr. (19.8 pts in last five games) and Desmond Bane (23.4 ppg in last five games) until Morant returns.
4. EAST SPOTLIGHT: PLAY-IN RACE HEATS UP
Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images (Paolo), David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images (Anthony Davis)
All four squads currently sitting in Eastern Conference Play-In spots hit the hardwood tonight, continuing to tussle for higher seeding with the regular season winding down.
Mavericks at Magic (7 ET): Orlando is the first of the quartet in action, now having won three in a row for the first time since Nov. 21. Its shut-down defense has been the linchpin – qualifying as the league’s best with 106.1 ppg allowed – but Paolo Banchero deserves his flowers.
- Serious Sorcery: The 3rd-year forward has scored 30+ points in four consecutive contests, marking a Magic first since recently-inducted team Hall of Famer Dwight Howard in 2011.
- Monstrous March: Banchero is averaging 30.2 ppg on 50.2 FG% and 39.5 3P% this month. Among those who have played 10 or more games in March, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (35.4) and Luka Dončić (31.4) have more to their name
Dallas, meanwhile, is on the outside looking in. The return of Anthony Davis should provide a spark as they only sit 0.5 games behind Sacramento for the 9th.
Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images
Hawks at Heat (7:30 ET): The dichotomy of Trae Young and Dyson Daniels drives Atlanta’s backcourt, but with an 0.5-game lead for 7th, Orlando is right on its tail. Miami sits in 10th place and is just one behind Chicago.
- Give: Marking a career-best, Young is up to 11.4 apg in 2024-25 as a 7th-year guard. He leads the league in ball-handler points off the pick-and-roll as well as points created off assists
- Take: Daniels has been tenacious defensively while Young facilitates offensively, ranking first in steals (3.1 per game) to complement his 6.0 deflections average – a record since they were first tracked in 2015-16
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Lakers at Bulls (8 ET): After a dramatic finish for the Lakers, they have another tough test tonight. Coby White has ushered a late-season resurgence for Chicago, guiding eight victories in its last 10.
- Three’s A Crowd: White’s three-game tear of 35+ points has him on the cusp of an exclusive club. With a fourth, he would join DeMar DeRozan and Michael Jordan (6x) as the only ones to accomplish such for the Bulls
- Giddey Up: In support of his teammate’s remarkable run, Josh Giddey has nearly averaged a triple-double in March with 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game while shooting 40.0% from 3-point land
5. LP SPOTLIGHT: PLAYOFF CONTENDERS IN ACTION
G Fiume/Getty Images
A slew of other Playoff contenders are active tonight on the League Pass slate, and every game means something in the final sprint to the postseason.
Pacers at Wizards (7 ET): After falling at the buzzer to the Lakers last night, Indy is still keeping a close eye on 3rd place in the East, at 3 games behind. Tyrese Haliburton’s recent scorching stretch as a facilitator has made all the difference.
- Sharing Is Caring: During Haliburton’s points-assists double-double streak, he’s totaled 151 assists and only 13 turnovers, joining only Muggsy Bogues in 1989 as the only players since 1977-78 with at least 150 assists and 15 TOs or less
Spurs at Cavaliers (7 ET): Cleveland inches closer and closer to securing the East’s No. 1 seed, as it hosts San Antonio tonight with a 4.5-game lead and 10 contests remaining. A victory would put the Cavaliers one shy of 60, which they haven’t hit since 2009-10.
Jamie Sabau/NBAE via Getty Images
Rockets at Jazz (9 ET): An 11th victory in Houston’s last 12 contests is up for grabs as the group looks to expand a 1.5-game lead on Denver for the West’s No. 2 seed. The Jazz had the Rockets’ number last time around, winning their only meeting back on Feb. 22.
- Ghost Of A Chance: The Rockets have reached a whole new level in stifling the opposition’s ability to start or develop possessions. They rank 1st in opponent rebounds and 2nd in opponent assists across their last 11 games
Trail Blazers at Kings (10 ET): Domantas Sabonis and Co. have dropped four straight and eight of their last 10, and are now caught in a Play-In deadlock. Sacramento is half a game up on Phoenix for 9th, while Dallas is hot on their tracks at 11th.
