Nine straight wins. Another signature statement.
On the road against the East-best Pistons, Wemby’s Spurs stayed winning, matching the franchise’s longest heater since 2019.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Spurs Top Pistons: Vassell opens, Wemby closes as San Antonio sinks Detroit
Monday Roundup: Rockets climb to No. 3 out West, Kings snap losing streak
Knicks At Cavs: Two red-hot rivals collide in a top-4 East duel, with a new superstar in the fold
Wolves At Blazers: Ant’s ‘unstoppable’ pursuit meets the West’s proven giant slayers
Power Rankings Spotlight: Rising Celtics, resilient Thunder take center stage tonight on League Pass
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Eleven games tip off tonight, headlined by a Peacock doubleheader as the Cavs host the Knicks (7:30 ET | Tap to Watch), before the Wolves visit the Blazers (10 ET | Tap to Watch).
1. STATEMENT SPURS: SAN ANTONIO BEATS DETROIT FOR 9TH STRAIGHT DUB
No. 1 in the East vs. No. 2 out West.
The Pistons’ five-game win streak colliding with the Spurs’ eight-game run.
Cade Cunningham squaring off with fellow top-five Kia MVP Ladder member Victor Wembanyama.
Monday night in Detroit had it all – and when it was time to take control, San Antonio seized the moment.
Spurs 114, Pistons 103: Devin Vassell caught fire from deep (28 pts, 7 3s), while Victor Wembanyama was a monster on both ends (21 pts, 17 reb, 6 blk), sparking a 2nd-half swing as the Spurs stormed past the Pistons for their ninth straight win. | Recap
Opening Flurry: The Spurs jumped out to a 14-2 lead, before Detroit answered with a 16-4 run to tie the game at 18
Back & Forth Bout: Neither team led by more than six the rest of the half, as Vassell hit five 3s, while Cunningham (16 pts, 10 ast) and Jalen Duren (25 pts, 14 reb) drove Detroit
Then, The Turn: Down 62-61 in the 3rd, Wembanyama found Vassell for a go-ahead 2. Two minutes later, Vassell returned the favor, hitting Wemby for 3 to help cap a 13-2 burst
The Spurs never looked back – and Wemby made sure of it, dropping 14 points, 10 boards and 5 blocks in the 2nd half as San Antonio outscored Detroit 57-48.
The Closer: That included 11 4th-quarter points from Wembanyama, who punctuated the win with a late block-turned alley-oop hammer
The Closing Hand: Finding him for the lob? Stephon Castle (16 pts, 11 ast), who added 4 points and 4 dimes in the 4th, while Vassell knocked down two more triples
“We’re super talented,” said Vassell on the win. “Any night it could be anybody’s night. We’re all super humble, and we all play to win.”
Spurs Ball: That selflessness is what’s fueled San Antonio’s nine-game win streak – its longest since the 2018-19 season – with a collective attack surrounding a Kia MVP candidate who continues to deliver.
The Scorers: During the streak, seven Spurs have averaged double figures, with San Antonio posting an NBA-best 126.3 ppg
The Stoppers: That continuity has translated to the other end, where the Spurs rank 3rd in DefRtg and held Detroit to its lowest field goal percentage this season (37.7%)
The Superstar: To cap the 9-0 run? Another special night from Wemby, who became just the third player in Spurs history to post 20+ points, 15+ rebounds, 5+ blocks and 8+ offensive boards in a game
The Other Two? David Robinson (3x) and Tim Duncan (3x)
2. ROUNDUP: SMITH JR. FUELS ROCKETS, KINGS SNAP STREAK
As the Spurs stayed streaking, a new No. 3 emerged behind them out West.
Rockets 125, Jazz 105: Jabari Smith Jr. went off for 31 points, 9 boards, 3 steals and 3 blocks, while Kevin Durant added a double-double (18 pts, 12 ast) to guide Houston to a near wire-to-wire win over Lauri Markkanen (29 pts) and Utah. | Recap
On The Rise: Alperen Sengun (16 pts, 9 reb, 9 ast) and Amen Thompson (20 pts, 7 reb, 8-9 FG) added 36 combined points, as Houston (35-21) jumped Denver (36-22) for 3rd in the West
Kings 123, Grizzlies 114: Russell Westbrook posted team highs in points (25) and assists (7), while Precious Achiuwa was a force inside (22 pts, 12 reb), powering Sacramento past Memphis to snap the Kings’ 16-game losing streak – their longest in franchise history. | Recap
“Super proud of how these guys continue to come and compete at a really high level,” said Kings coach Doug Christie on the win.
“I asked Russ to set the tone for us with the energy … and I thought he really did that.”
3. TONIGHT: RIVALS COLLIDE AS KNICKS-CAVS OPENS PEACOCK DOUBLEHEADER
Since Jan. 21, only two teams in the NBA have 12+ wins: the Knicks and Cavaliers.
In that span, Cleveland has gone an NBA-best 12-2, including a 5-1 mark since acquiring James Harden, to jump from 7th to 4th in the East.
At the same time, New York has gone 12-3, jockeying with Cleveland for 3rd.
Tonight on Peacock (7:30 ET), the two rivals meet for the first time since the Harden trade, both red-hot and separated by just one game.
Cavs’ Climb: Since inserting Harden into the lineup on Feb. 7, Cleveland’s offense has played more methodically and more efficiently – slowing its pace to boost its scoring.
Fast & Furious: Before Harden’s arrival, the Cavs ranked 8th in overall pace and 7th in OffRtg
Even Smoother: With Harden directing traffic, Cleveland’s dipped to 19th in pace while jumping to 3rd in OffRtg
The Key? Two of the league’s top guards working as one, with Harden and Donovan Mitchell meshing in real time, while another scoring threat emerges.
Facilitating: Harden’s taking six fewer shots per game with Cleveland this season than he did with LA, while his assists have jumped to 8.7 per game
Spacing: He’s also shooting a scorching 47.1% from 3 with the Cavs, stretching the defense to open lanes inside
Diving: A primary interior target? Jarrett Allen, whose scoring has spiked from 13.9 to 20.7 ppg since Harden’s arrival
Driving: Meanwhile, Mitchell’s career-best scoring average (28.6 ppg) has stayed steady alongside Harden, with Spida taking 2.7 fewer 3s per game and boosting his ppg in the paint from 10 to 13.7
“It’s a luxury,” said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson on having both Harden and Mitchell. “I think James’ arrival has given Don a different energy.”
That energy adds a new wrinkle to a rivalry built on similar styles.
While Cleveland ranks 5th in OffRtg this season, the Knicks rank 3rd and enter tonight just as hot, with wins over Denver, Boston and Houston amid their 12-3 surge.
And as Harden has given Cleveland an extra jolt offensively, New York has locked down defensively.
Clamps: The Knicks rank 1st in DefRtg over their last 15 games, holding opponents to just 102.9 ppg
Continuity: Over that stretch, seven Knicks are averaging double figures, providing balance on both ends for a league-best +13.7 net rating
Captain: Leading the charge? Jalen Brunson, posting 23.7 pts and 6.3 ast amid the 12-3 run
“You gotta have a guy,” said Knicks coach Mike Brown on Brunson. “And when I say a guy, I mean a league MVP. And we have a guy.”
Now, Brunson will look to lead New York to a 3-0 record against Cleveland this season.
But tonight presents a new test, with Harden, Mitchell and a retooled Cavs squad eyeing a critical win.
4. LATER ON PEACOCK: ANT LEADS WOLVES AGAINST RISING BLAZERS
“Unstoppable. As long as I can get to that point, I’m good.”
That’s what Anthony Edwards told The Athletic when asked about his mindset entering this season – and lately, he’s been playing like it.
Nine days ago, Edwards was named All-Star Game MVP, leading the young USA Stars past the veteran USA Stripes in the championship to win the event’s first-ever U.S. vs. World format
Five days later, he erupted for 40 points in 38 minutes to power the Wolves past the Mavs
On the season, Edwards is averaging a career-high 29.5 ppg while shooting a personal-best 40% from 3 and 49.5% from the field
But it’s not just the numbers – it’s the confidence, the belief that any night can turn into an eruption.
“All I want them to say is we couldn’t guard him,” said Edwards in October when asked what he wants this season beyond a championship.
Many nights, teams can’t. Only Luka Dončić (32.8 ppg) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.8) are averaging more ppg than Ant this season. In 48 outings, he has 26 30-pieces, matching his total from last season.
That production has Minnesota in 6th out West, just one game back of the 3rd-place Rockets.
Tonight (10 ET, Peacock), the Wolves face a stiff road test in Portland, an upstart squad going without All-Star Deni Avdija (back) — but one that’s made a habit of rising to elite competition.
Beating The Best: The Blazers join the Hornets as the only teams this season to beat each of the top four teams out West: OKC, San Antonio, Houston and Denver
Portland’s Edge? Wearing teams down with size and strength, as it ranks 6th in the NBA in rebounds and 2nd in offensive boards
The Anchor: Sophomore standout Donovan Clingan has been the tone-setter inside, averaging a double-double, including 20.3 points and 13.3 boards over the last three games
Now, the Blazers enter the night on a 5-2 run, pushing for position in the West Play-In race. Can they stay rolling, or is Edwards ready to erupt again?
5. POWER RANKINGS SPOTLIGHT: TOP-10 TEAMS ON LEAGUE PASS TONIGHT
As March nears, the Celtics continue to march upward.
Boston has held 2nd in the East for 40 straight days, capped by an 8-1 stretch that’s pushed it back into the top five of John Schuhmann’s latest Power Rankings.
Tonight on League Pass (9 ET), the C’s seek a fourth straight win as they visit Phoenix – another top-10 team on Schuhmann’s rankings and another opportunity for Boston to show its best against tough competition.
Recently, that’s where the Celtics have thrived, writes Schuhmann:
The Celtics have the fifth-best record (17-12) in games played between the 16 teams currently over .500. They’re 4-1 within that group in February, allowing just 105.9 points per 100 possessions over those five games. | Read More
As Boston surges in the East, OKC has held its ground atop the West despite key absences.
Ahead of tonight’s matchup against Toronto (7:30 ET, LP), the Thunder remain No. 3 in John Schuhmann’s latest rankings as they continue to find different ways to win:
The defending champs are playing without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, but have come out of the break with two wins. They ended the Cavs’ seven-game winning streak on Sunday afternoon and remain two games in the loss column ahead of the Spurs…
Sunday was the third time this season that the Thunder made more than half of their 3-point attempts (21-for-41) and they’re now 27-5 when they’ve shot the league average (35.9%) or better from deep. | Read More
Seven more games tip off on League Pass, including the Sixers visiting the Pacers (7 ET), with Tyrese Maxey fresh off a 39-point outburst.
The night closes in Los Angeles, where Luka Dončić, LeBron James and the Lakers host the Magic (10:30 ET).
Wizards at Hawks (7:30 ET)
Mavericks at Nets (7:30 ET)
Hornets at Bulls (8 ET)
Heat at Bucks (8 ET)
Warriors at Pelicans (8 ET)