Starting 5, March 9: Celtics cool off Lakers, Steph & Jimmy shine for Warriors, plus 3 national games today

Steal. Slam. Statement.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
March 9, 2025

Boston Beats L.A.: How JT, JB and the C’s defense cooled off the red-hot Lakers

Championship DNA: In a Playoff-like battle between bitter rivals, Boston’s core came through

Roundup: Steph hits 25K as Dubs win again, four games decided by 3 points or less and more

ABC Matinee: SGA & Jokić duel amid historic seasons before Dallas hosts Phoenix

Tonight On ESPN: Can the Cavs make it 14 straight? Plus, postseason implications out West

BUT FIRST … ⏰
A star-studded Sunday slate…

Top Kia MVP Candidates Collide: ABC’s doubleheader begins with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander facing Nikola Jokić as the Thunder host the Nuggets (1 ET). Then, Kevin Durant and the Suns visit the Mavs in a battle (3:30 ET).

Primetime Showdown: Tonight on ESPN, the NBA-best Cavs aim for their 14th straight win as they face Giannis and the Bucks (8 ET).

1. CELTICS STAND TALL AT TD GARDEN, SNAPPING LAKERS STREAK

Surging into Saturday on an eight-game win streak and an NBA-best 20-4 record since Jan. 15, LeBron James, Luka Dončić and the red-hot Lakers looked to earn a signature win at TD Garden.

Instead, the C’s sent a defending championship statement.

Celtics 111, Lakers 101: Jayson Tatum put on a clinic with 40 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, while Jaylen Brown dropped 31 to help Boston build a 22-point lead and stave off a late Lakers push for a marquee win in a back-and-forth rivalry bout. | Recap

• Boston’s Best: It’s the 29th time Tatum & Brown have each scored 30+ points in the same game – the 8th-most all-time and 20 more than the next closest Celtics duo (Larry Bird & Kevin McHale: 9)
• Luka & LeBron: Dončić led L.A. with 34 points on five 3s and 8 boards, while James added a near triple-double (22 pts, 14 reb, 9 ast) before leaving the game with 6:44 left due to an apparent groin injury

The Lakers entered Saturday allowing the fewest points of any team amid their 20-4 run (106.3 ppg), which included a 117-96 win over Boston in late January.

But in the rematch – their first meeting with Dončić donning Purple & Gold – it was the defending champs’ defense that opened things up and slammed the door shut.

• Shutdown C’s: After taking a 58-54 lead into halftime, the Celtics held the Lakers to just 13 points in the 3rd – including a 4-minute scoring drought – to push their lead past 20
• L.A. Storms Back: Luka caught fire in the 4th, dropping 14 points to fuel a 16-2 run that trimmed the deficit to four — mirroring the Cavs’ 22-point comeback from last week at TD Garden
• The Final Stand: But the C’s defense clamped down again, limiting the Lakers to six points in the final 4:36, while Tatum and Brown carried the load offensively to snap their rival’s longest win streak in five years
• “We were aggressive. We set the tone for the physicality of the game,” said Brown postgame. “We have a great team. It’s an honor to be part of a winning group.”

2. CELTICS’ CHAMPIONSHIP CORE RISES TO THE OCCASION

Entering the final day of February, Tatum and Brown hadn’t each scored 30+ points in the same game all season. Now, with the Playoffs looming and the C’s title defense heating up, they have twice.

The first came in last week’s much-anticipated duel against the NBA-best Cavs, where they combined for 83 points – their most-ever as a duo.

The second came last night, with the two former champs stepping up once more in a clash of contenders and delivering when it mattered most.

• Clutch Combo: With the Lakers roaring back, Tatum and Brown took over offensively, combining for 17 of the Celtics’ 24 4th quarter points
• Back & 4th: Yet everything seemed to be falling for Dončić, as he cut the lead to four with a banked-in 3, quieting a once-raucous TD Garden
• But The Jays Didn’t Flinch: Brown quickly responded with a 3 of his own to give the crowd life, before Tatum splashed another one possession later, sending the Garden into a frenzy
• Then, The Daggers: A driving layup from Brown put the C’s up 10 with 1:44 left, before a Tatum steal and two free throws secured the win

All-Around Impact: Tatum (2 stl, 1 blk) and Brown (3 stl) not only combined for 71 points but also set the tone defensively, as Boston held L.A. to its second-lowest point total during its 20-4 run — making it 20-5.

• “When your best players take pride in individual defense, I think it sets the tone for your team,” said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla on the Jays. “And those guys take on that challenge.”

Core Contributions: Like last year’s title run, it wasn’t just the Jays who shined, as Boston’s veteran lineup flexed its championship DNA, starting with its oldest player, Al Horford (14 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk).

• Heart & Hustle: Horford, 38, checked both James and Dončić, finishing with the game’s best DefRtg among players who logged 25+ minutes (100.0)
• Floor General: In the 3rd, Horford didn’t leave the floor as Boston held L.A. to 4-of-23 shooting (21.7%), while its top perimeter defenders, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, helped limit the Lakers to 1-of-10 from 3
• “Pivotal,” said Brown on Horford’s impact. “He’s the ultimate connector for us on both ends … he was battling with LeBron, he was rebounding … we need him ready to go in the Playoffs.”

3. ROUNDUP: STEPH & JIMMY COOK, FANTASTIC FINISHES & MORE

Warriors 115, Pistons 110: In a game that featured 22 ties and 22 lead changes, Steph Curry (32 pts) and Jimmy Butler III (26 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast) combined for 58 points as Golden State outscored Detroit 31-23 in the 4th to notch its 11th win in 13 games. | Recap

• Four In A Row: Curry (21) and Butler (17) dropped 38 points in the 2nd half, including 13 from Steph in the 4th to extend the Warriors’ win streak to four
• 25K Club: In the win, Curry became the 26th player all-time to hit 25,000 career points
• Cade Cunningham finished with 31 points for the Pistons, who have now dropped two straight

Hawks 120, Pacers 118: After squandering a 20-point lead, Trae Young (36 pts, 8 ast) scored or assisted on Atlanta’s final 14 points, including three clutch free throws in the final seven seconds to stave off the Pacers for the second time in three days. | Recap

• Ice Trae Cooking: It’s Young’s eighth 35+ point, 7+ assist game this season – trailing only SGA (12) and Jokić (11) for the most in the NBA – and his fourth since February

Hornets 105, Nets 102: Down 14 with 7:09 left, the Hornets closed the game on a 22-5 run behind Miles Bridges (26 pts, 12 reb, 5 ast), who delivered the game-sealing block to top D’Angelo Russell (28 pts, 7 ast) and the Nets, snapping Charlotte’s nine-game skid. | Recap

Rockets 146, Pelicans 117: Dillon Brooks tallied 27 points on seven 3s, Alperen Sengun added 20 points and a poster, while Amen Thompson recorded a double-double (15 pts, 11 ast) as the Rockets poured in a season high for their second straight win over the Pels. | Recap

Magic 111, Bucks 109: Entering Saturday on a five-game skid, Paolo Banchero (29 pts) and the Magic jumped out to a 34-20 1st-quarter lead and held on late for a timely win over the Bucks, despite big nights from Giannis Antetokounmpo (37 pts, 11 reb) and Damian Lillard (26 pts). | Recap

Wizards 118, Raptors 117: With the Raptors down one, Jamal Shead appeared to call game at the buzzer, but got the shot off a millisecond too late, as the basket was waved off, and the Wizards survived. Jordan Poole led all scorers with 34 points on seven treys. | Recap

Bulls 114, Heat 109: Josh Giddey recorded his third triple-double of the season (26 pts, 10 reb, 12 ast), and the Bulls won the 4th quarter 36-20 to earn a comeback dub in Miami, handing the Heat their third straight loss. | Recap

4. ABC MATINEE: SGA & JOKIĆ CLASH, MAVS HOST SUNS

No NBA player had ever scored 92+ points on 55% shooting while going perfect from the line (min. 20+ FTA) over two games.

Until Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did it Wednesday.

No NBA player had ever recorded 30+ points, 20+ rebounds and 20+ assists in a game.

Until Nikola Jokić did it Friday.

Today (1 ET, ABC), two of the top Kia MVP candidates – each hooping at a historic level – go head-to-head as the top-seeded Thunder host the 3rd-place Nuggets in a West duel.

• Shai’s Surge: In his eight outings since the All-Star break, SGA is averaging 34.8 points on a 54.8/51.2/90.0 shooting split – numbers only matched by Steph Curry (2x) and George Gervin in an eight-game stretch
• Joker’s Tear: Meanwhile, Jokić has three triple-doubles in his last five outings and 16 since the New Year. No other player has more than four in that span

Even more amazing? Their dominant play has actually left more numbers on the table. Despite sitting out a combined 25 4th quarters amid wins, SGA (14) and Jokić (11) are still in a league of their own statistically.

Today, both players are on the precipice of rare single-season milestones.

• Chasing 30: With one more triple-double, Jokić will become just the fourth-ever player to notch 30 in a season, which would also set a new personal career-high for triple-doubles in a season
• The First Three? Russell Westbrook (3x), Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain
• Shai’s Streak: SGA is after his 58th straight 20+ point game, a single-season streak accomplished by only three players in the last 50 years – Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan

Will we see more history – and which Kia MVP candidate will come out on top?

Jokić’s historic 30/20/20 outing on Friday came at the hands of Phoenix, which clawed back from 21 points down and forced OT with a Kevin Durant buzzer-beater, only to fall short in the extra frame.

After a hard-fought loss, KD and the Suns have another massive West duel against the Mavs in the second leg of Sunday’s ABC doubleheader (3:30 ET).

• Outside Looking In: Durant is coming off 29 and 34-point outings, but Phoenix is 3-6 since the All-Star break, leaving it 2.5 games back of the West’s No. 10 seed

Both fighting for postseason position, which squad will bounce back?

5. STREAKING CAVS FACE BUCKS ON ESPN + LEAGUE PASS SPOTLIGHT

Only two teams in NBA history have notched three 12+ game win streaks in a single season – the 2006-07 Mavs and this year’s Cavs.

For Cleveland, those three streaks include:

• A 15-0 start to the season
• A 12-0 stretch between December and January
• A current 13-0 run entering tonight’s game against Milwaukee (8 ET)

For perspective, besides Cleveland, only five other teams have 40+ wins this season (OKC, BOS, LAL, DEN, NYK). The Cavs have 40 in their three win streaks alone – and they’ve shown no signs of slowing down.

• Red-Hot: During its current heater, five Cavs are scoring in double figures, boosting Cleveland’s NBA-best scoring average to 126.1 ppg
• Championship Company: The only other teams to post 125+ ppg over a 13-game win streak? The 1959-60 Celtics and ‘71-72 Lakers – who each won the NBA Finals
• Interior Boost: While Cleveland leads the league in 3P% (39.2), Evan Mobley has been a force inside, as he’s the only player averaging 20+ pts, 10+ rebs and 1.5+ blk in the last 12 games (20.0 ppg, 10.6 rpb, 1.9 bpg)

With a win tonight, the Cavs can become just the seventh team in NBA history to notch two 14+ win streaks and the third since 2000.

• Standing In Their Way? Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and the Bucks, who hold 4th place in the East
• Deer Duo: Dame (38.5) and Giannis (33.5) have thrived against Cleveland this year, combining for 72.0 ppg, but the Cavs lead the season series 3-0
• Another Nail-Biter? Two of those matchups have been decided by a combined 3 points, including a last-second Donovan Mitchell game-winner in November to keep the Cavs’ opening win streak alive

Four months later, Cleveland will look to extend its streak again.

Five games get underway tonight on League Pass, including a matchup between the Spurs and Wolves, with Anthony Edwards and Minnesota seeking their fifth straight win to move within percentage points of Golden State for the West’s No. 6 seed.

Right behind the Wolves lurk the Clippers (1 GB) and Kings (1.5 GB), who meet tonight in LA (9:30 ET).

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