Bzzzzzzz.
That’s seven Zs for seven straight Hornet wins — their longest streak in a decade.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Monday’s Best: Hornets rally to extend streak, Sengun drops 39 to lift Rockets
Roundup: Sixers top Clips in statement win, Grizzlies outlast Wolves to snap skid
Coast 2 Coast Tuesday: Brown duels a red-hot Flagg in Dallas, Brooks leads Phoenix into Portland
League Pass Showdown: Inside Murray’s All-Star breakthrough ahead of Nuggets-Pistons
Power Rankings Spotlight: The surging Knicks climb Schuhmann’s latest rankings
BUT FIRST … ⏰
NBC’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday headlines tonight’s 10-game slate as the Mavs host the Celtics (8 ET | Tap to Watch), before the Suns visit the Blazers (8 PT | Tap to Watch).
The 2026 NBA All-Star rosters for the new U.S. vs. World format will be revealed on Peacock’s pregame show at 7 ET before Celtics-Mavs.
Below are more key dates to know, with 2026 NBA All-Star just 10 days away:
Thursday, Feb. 5: NBA Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET)
Friday, Feb. 13: Ruffles All-Star Celebrity Game at Kia Forum & Castrol Rising Stars at the Intuit Dome – secure your tickets here using promo code NEWS26
Saturday, Feb. 14: NBA All-Star Saturday at Intuit Dome (5 ET, NBC & Peacock)
Sunday, Feb 15: The 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome (5 ET, NBC & Peacock)
1. MONDAY’S BEST: HORNETS MAKE IT 7 STRAIGHT, SENGUN FUELS ROCKETS
The NBA’s longest active win streak belongs to the Charlotte Hornets.
Hornets 102, Pelicans 95: Facing a 22-point deficit in the 2nd quarter, Charlotte came roaring back behind LaMelo Ball (24 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast) and Kon Knueppel (17 pts, 9 reb, 4 3s), outscoring NOLA 53-31 in the 2nd half to earn its seventh straight win. | Recap
No-Quit Nest: It’s the Hornets’ largest comeback since October 2021 and their longest heater since March 2016
Century-Best Swarm: One more dub would match their longest single-season win streak since December 1999
Balanced Buzz: Amid the 7-0 run, Charlotte ranks 2nd in both OffRtg (120.6) and DefRtg (106.3)
Full Hive: Brandon Miller (8 reb, 4 ast) and Grant Williams (9 reb) added 16 points apiece in the win
What’s Next? For Miller, it’s simple: “Let’s do eight in a row.”
As the Hornets hum, the Rockets are starting to roll – and last night, Alperen Sengun put on a show.
Rockets 118, Pacers 114: With Kevin Durant out (ankle), Sengun dazzled, pouring in 39 points along with 16 boards and 5 dimes to power the Rockets past Pascal Siakam (27 pts, 5 ast) and the Pacers for Houston’s third straight dub. | Recap
Owning Inside: It’s Sengun’s first career 35/15/5 game, which included 7 offensive boards as Houston outscored Indy 30-8 in 2nd-chance points
Closing Edge: The points proved pivotal, as the matchup featured 17 ties and 18 lead changes, capped by a 26-20 close from Houston
Amen Ice: Amen Thompson added a double-double (16 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast), including the game-sealing free throw with four ticks left
Rockets Lift Off: Houston (31-17) is 8-2 in its last 10 games, moving 1.5 games back of San Antonio (33-16) for 2nd out West
2. ROUNDUP: SIXERS SEND STATEMENT, GRIZZLIES SNAP SKID
Speaking of win streaks, make that four straight for Philly.
76ers 128, Clippers 113: Tyrese Maxey caught fire from deep (29 pts, 7 3s, 6 ast), while Joel Embiid was operating from the midrange (24 pts, 5 reb).
But it was Dominick Barlow who made the biggest splash, posting a career-high 26 points along with 16 boards, including 10 on the offensive end, to lift Philly over Kawhi Leonard (29 pts, 6 ast) and LA. | Recap
Early Fire: Maxey dropped 16 in the 1st quarter on four 3s, as the Sixers jumped out to a 38-19 lead
Wire-To-Wire: They never looked back as Barlow extinguished a 4th-quarter LA run with a key and-1, followed by a big 3 to stretch the lead to 17
Climbing Higher: It’s just the Clippers’ fourth loss since Dec. 20, while the victory gives Philly its first four-game win streak since opening the season 4-0
Frequent Flyer: Oh, and Quentin Grimes printed this epic poster
Grizzlies 137, Wolves 128: Anthony Edwards turned up for 39 points and 7 boards to keep the Wolves within striking distance. But Memphis used a 19-3 run to take control early in the 4th and held on late to halt its six-game slide. | Recap
JJJ Delivers: Jaren Jackson Jr. (30 pts) led six Grizzlies in double figures, dropping 19 in the 2nd half to help spark the decisive run
Clutch Support: Ty Jerome made his presence felt in his second game back this season (19 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast), while Cam Spencer (16 pts, 4 3s) netted 8 straight points in the 4th to stave off a late Wolves push
Knockout Blow: Cedric Coward said goodnight with a monster two-handed hammer
3. COAST 2 COAST TUESDAY: CELTICS-MAVS, SUNS-BLAZERS
Jaylen Brown’s 30-point takeover in Sunday’s NBA Pioneers Classic marked yet another highlight in the five-time All-Star’s career season.
But it wasn’t the points that impressed Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla most.
It was his 13 rebounds.
“That’s another way that he leads,” said Mazzulla postgame on Brown’s hustle. “Understanding what gives us the best chance to win every night, and helping set the tone for the standard that we have on both ends of the floor.”
Brown is that standard. Through 51 games, he has 26 30-pieces, his most in a single season.
He’s averaging a career-high in points (29.4), rebounds (6.9) and assists (4.8) as Boston is tied for 2nd in the East with New York at 31-18.
But for Mazzulla, Brown’s growth has been about more than box-score production.
“Obviously, what he’s been doing for us on the offensive end,” said Mazzulla on Brown’s impact. “But all the little things that go into it. He knows that’s how he impacts winning.”
Tonight (8 ET, NBC), Brown meets a rising do-it-all star in rookie Cooper Flagg, five days removed from a 49-point outburst – the most points ever scored by a teenager in an NBA game.
Flagg’s follow-up? An all-around clinic against Houston (34 pts, 12 reb, 5 ast, 1 blk), giving him the most points in a two-game span (83) by a rookie in seven years.
And like Brown, Flagg’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet.
“He’s not about numbers, he’s about wins and losses,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd on Flagg last week. “That’s who he is. He competes to win … and he’s gonna be a champion sooner than later.”
Now, in a 2024 Finals rematch, Flagg faces a former champion at the top of his game in Brown, but Kidd doesn’t expect his rookie to back down.
“He competes against anybody and everybody,” said Kidd on Thursday. “Coop is up for any challenge.”
In the second leg of Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, Dillon Brooks looks to lead the Suns to their third win in four games as they visit the Blazers (8 PT, NBC).
Brooks Buckets: Named West Player of the Week for Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, Brooks has averaged 28.8 points over Phoenix’s last four games while shooting 54.5% from 3
Against The Best: That includes a career-high 40 last Thursday to beat the East-leading Pistons, handing Detroit just its second loss since Jan. 11
“His fire, his energy,” said Suns coach Jordan Ott on Brooks’ impact after the win. “That’s what big-time players do – they rise in big-time games, and this was a big-time game.”
Now, Brooks guides Phoenix into another big-time game as it faces Portland with both teams in Play-In position and pushing for momentum.
One potential key, with All-Stars Devin Booker (out) and Deni Avdija (doubtful) each nursing injuries: fire and energy.
4. ON LEAGUE PASS: NUGGETS VISIT PISTONS IN ALL-STAR CLASH
Jamal Murray waited nine seasons for his first All-Star nod.
This year, he left no doubt.
Averaging career-highs across the board while steering Denver through a wave of injuries, the Nuggets guard earned his long-awaited breakthrough Sunday – a moment that felt inevitable, writes AP’s Arnie Melendrez Stapleton:
Murray has already topped 30 points 13 times this season, beating his previous career mark of 11. He’s also one of a dozen players in the league to score 50 or more points in a game this season.
…Murray showed up to training camp in better physical shape this year, and Nuggets coach David Adelman said he also arrived with a sharper mind. | Read More
Tonight on League Pass (7 ET), Murray and Nikola Jokić lead the Nuggets against the East-leading Pistons.
Waiting on the other side are fellow All-Stars Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, as Denver’s top-ranked offense faces Detroit’s 2nd-ranked defense.
5. POWER RANKINGS SPOTLIGHT: KNICKS CLIMB AMID WIN STREAK
Right behind Detroit in the East, one of the NBA’s hottest teams is on the move.
The Knicks enter tonight’s matchup against the Wizards (7 ET) on a six-game heater, one that has them climbing both the standings and John Schuhmann’s latest Power Rankings:
The Knicks have rewarded those who didn’t panic, following a 2-9 stretch with six straight wins. That has them back in second place in the East, with some big matchups coming this week.
… New York’s bench minutes have been terrific of late, with the Knicks outscoring their opponents by more than 52 points per 100 possessions in Josh Hart’s 94 minutes off the floor over the winning streak. | Read More
League Pass delivers six more matchups, including Luka Dončić and LeBron James leading the Lakers into Brooklyn (7:30 ET).
Meanwhile, another pair of All-Stars – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren – take the floor as OKC hosts Orlando (8 ET).
Jazz at Pacers (7 ET)
Hawks at Heat (7:30 ET)
Bulls at Bucks (8 ET)
76ers at Warriors (10 ET)