{"id":678294,"date":"2026-03-25T14:12:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/678294\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T14:12:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:12:53","slug":"starting-5-nuggets-knicks-roll-along-thunder-celtics-marks-busy-wednesday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/678294\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5: Nuggets, Knicks roll along; Thunder-Celtics marks busy Wednesday"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

A triple-double 11 seconds into the 3rd quarter.<\/p>\n

A game-winner with 11 seconds left in the 4th.<\/p>\n

Another night, another Joker ace.<\/p>\n

\"Nikola<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

Coast 2 Coast Closers: Joki\u0107\u2019s gem lifts Denver & Mitchell outduels Paolo, as both come through in clutch<\/p>\n

Roundup: Brunson delivers late for Knicks\u2019 7th straight, Hornets catch fire from 3<\/p>\n

Tonight On ESPN: Pistons & Wolves rolling; depth tested against fellow Playoff contenders<\/p>\n

League Pass Spotlight: OKC & Boston meet again in heavyweight duel, featuring two elite defenses<\/p>\n

More On League Pass: Wemby makes his Kia MVP case as Spurs seek 7th straight W, visiting Grizz<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

Twelve games tip off tonight, headlined by an ESPN doubleheader as the Pistons host the Hawks (7 ET<\/a> | Tap to Watch<\/a>), before the Rockets visit the Wolves (9:30 ET<\/a> | Tap to Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

McClung, G League Scoring King: The Windy City Bulls\u2019 Mac McClung has passed Renaldo Major (5,299) to become the G League\u2019s all-time leading scorer<\/a> across the Tip-Off Tournament, regular season and Playoffs.<\/p>\n

1. COAST 2 COAST CLOSERS: JOKI\u0106 & MITCHELL DAZZLE ON NBC<\/p>\n

Nikola Joki\u0107 set his teammates up to score all night \u2013\u00a017 times to be exact.<\/p>\n

So in the game\u2019s final seconds, with the defense playing the passing lanes, Joker had set himself up to win it.<\/p>\n

Nuggets 125, Suns 123: Joki\u0107 (23 pts, 17 reb, 17 ast) completed his dominant night by draining the game-winner<\/a> with 11.5 seconds remaining, pushing his Nuggets past Devin Booker (22 pts, 8 ast) and the Suns for a third straight win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Fast 1st Half: A 35-point 1st quarter shot the Suns in front, before the Nuggets closed the half on a 21-8 run for a 10-point halftime lead, with Joki\u0107 (15\/11\/9) already a dime away from a triple-double
\nEleven seconds into the 3rd, Joker had the quickest (17:41) of his 29 triple-doubles this season, but Phoenix would storm back with a 38-point frame
\nMurray vs. Book: Jamal Murray\u2019s (21 pts, 6 ast) 7-point spurt in 3 minutes of the 4th put Denver up 6, only for Booker to score 8 points in a 14-6 answer, tying the game with 29.1 left<\/p>\n

\"Jamal<\/p>\n

Joker called game from there, with his elbow floater for the win.<\/p>\n

It marked just the seventh 23\/17\/17 game<\/a> ever, and he owns three of those seven.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just happens,\u201d Joki\u0107 said of his monster numbers. \u201cIt\u2019s just that kind of game<\/a>. They were cutting, and I was just finding them.\u201d
\nDown The Stretch: Joker has leveled up for six triple-doubles in his last 10 games, helping to keep the Nuggets in the thick of the West race
\nDust Settles: Denver stays in 4th place in the West, a half-game ahead of Minnesota. Phoenix holds 7th, 4 games back from the 6th and final Playoff spot<\/p>\n

\"Donovan<\/p>\n

Fourteen days ago, Orlando edged Cleveland with a Desmond Bane dagger in the closing seconds.<\/p>\n

Last night, Donovan Mitchell returned the favor.<\/p>\n

Cavaliers 136, Magic 131: Mitchell went off<\/a> for 42 points on 14-of-22 shooting, scoring 26 in the 2nd half. That included a driving floater with 14 ticks left to push a 3-point lead to 5, lifting Cleveland past Paolo Banchero (36 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) and Orlando for a fourth straight win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Spida Sense: Mitchell, who leads the league in 2nd-half points, shot 9-of-13 (69.2%) in the final two quarters and added the game-sealing free throws to ice it
\nBeard Boost: James Harden tacked on 26 points and 7 dimes as the Cavs improved to 11-4 with both he and Mitchell in the lineup
\nStars Surging: Amid the 4-0 run, Mitchell (29.3) and Harden (27.3) have combined for 56.6 ppg, with Harden adding 8 apg and shooting 53.1% from 3
\nEast Race: Cleveland remains 2.5 GB of New York for 3rd, while Orlando remains in 8th, holding a three-way tiebreaker over Charlotte & Miami<\/p>\n

2. ROUNDUP: BRUNSON DELIVERS DOWN STRETCH, HORNETS ERUPT<\/p>\n

\"Jalen<\/p>\n

Seven straight wins have the Knicks knocking on the door for 2nd in the East.<\/p>\n

Knicks 121, Pelicans 116: Jalen Brunson scored 15 of his game-high 32 points (7 ast) in the 4th, including 13 of New York\u2019s final 16 points, to lead seven Knicks in double figures for a seventh straight win, beating Zion Williamson (22 pts) and NOLA. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Early & Late: New York stormed out of the gates with a 42-point 1st quarter, and Brunson closed to keep the Knicks ahead throughout the 4th
\nMore Shine: OG Anunoby (5 3s) and Karl-Anthony Towns (14 reb) added 21 points apiece, while Jeremiah Fears (21 pts) backed Zion
\nNeck & Neck: New York and Boston are now both 5 games behind East-leading Detroit, with the Celtics holding 2nd via tiebreaker entering tonight\u2019s game vs. OKC (7:30 ET, League Pass)<\/p>\n

\"Kon<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t look now, but the Hornets are on another heater.<\/p>\n

Hornets 134, Kings 90: Coby White dropped 27 points on six 3s off the bench, as Charlotte hit 26 triples \u2013 tied for a franchise record \u2013 for the second time in 10 days, securing a fourth straight win to jump Miami for 9th in the East. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

LaMelo Moves Up: LaMelo Ball (20 pts, 8 ast) drilled six 3s, passing Dell Curry (929) for the 2nd\u2011most in franchise history
\nKon Chases Kemba: Kon Knueppel (14 pts) hit four treys, climbing to 2nd for the most 3s by a Hornet in a single season (247). He\u2019s 13 shy of Kemba Walker\u2019s franchise record (260 in 2018-19)
\nKia Rookie Ladder: That shooting has Knueppel holding the top spot on Steve Aschburner\u2019s latest Kia Rookie Ladder<\/a> in a tight race with his former Duke teammate, Cooper Flagg<\/p>\n

3. TONIGHT ON ESPN: HAWKS AT PISTONS, ROCKETS AT WOLVES<\/p>\n

\"Jalen<\/p>\n

With 20 days left until the postseason, the Pistons and Wolves are stacking wins without their superstars, Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards \u2014 leaning on depth to beat the best.<\/p>\n

Tonight on ESPN, Detroit seeks its fifth straight win as it hosts another surging squad: Atlanta (7 ET).<\/p>\n

Now 4-0 since Cunningham\u2019s lung injury, this stretch has put Detroit\u2019s identity on full display \u2013 no excuses, no drop-off, just production.<\/p>\n

JD Unleashed: Jalen Duren has dominated in Cade\u2019s absence, averaging 25.8 pts and 9.8 reb, including a career-high 36 points last Tuesday to spark the 4-0 run
\nThe Latest W? A 113-110 win over the Lakers behind Daniss Jenkins\u2019 career-high 30 points and game-winning bucket, snapping Los Angeles\u2019 9-game heater
\n\u201cOur guys, being who they are, they never give in,\u201d said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff after the win. \u201cThey find a way to come together. Because they are so tight. Because they want to win and play for one another.\u201d<\/p>\n

That togetherness has created a defensive buzzsaw. Detroit has totaled an NBA-best 742 steals and 488 blocks this season \u2013 numbers no team has matched through their first 71 games in more than 40 years.<\/p>\n

\"Daniss<\/p>\n

Now, Detroit faces an Atlanta squad that\u2019s 13-1 in its last 14, powered by one of the league\u2019s most potent attacks.<\/p>\n

Full Flock: Amid its 13-1 run, Atlanta ranks 1st in ppg (123.6) and 2nd in assists (30.6), while posting an NBA-best +16.4 point differential
\nIts Latest W? A 146-point outburst against Memphis behind 14 different scorers, 37 assists and 25 3s \u2013 tied for a Hawks single-game franchise record<\/p>\n

\"Bones<\/p>\n

Team ball has fueled Minnesota\u2019s 3-1 run since losing Edwards (knee), capped by its first win in Boston since 2005 on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Tonight (9:30 ET, ESPN), the 5th-place Wolves host the 6th-place Rockets, separated by just a half-game out West.<\/p>\n

Baseline: At the time of Edwards\u2019 injury, Bones Hyland (7.2) and Ayo Dosunmu (11.6) were combining for 18.8 ppg
\nTakeoff: Since then, they\u2019ve each topped that mark on their own, with Hyland posting 20 ppg and Dosunmu averaging 19 \u2013 two of five Wolves scoring 14+ ppg amid the 3-1 run
\nInstant Juice: That included a team-high 23 from Hyland in Boston \u2013 bringing a game-changing edge off the bench
\n\u201cI\u2019m just trying to give my teammates energy,\u201d said Hyland. \u201cWhen I check in, I\u2019m trying to change the swagger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, that swagger meets Houston\u2019s star power, with Kevin Durant (40 pts) and Alperen Sengun (33 pts, 13 reb, 10 ast) coming off massive outings in a loss to Chicago.<\/p>\n

Will the Rockets rebound, or will the Wolves\u2019 depth deliver again?<\/p>\n

4. ON LEAGUE PASS: DEFENSE DRIVES THUNDER, CELTICS IN MARQUEE REMATCH<\/p>\n

\"Jaylen<\/p>\n

The NBA\u2019s two most recent champions.<\/p>\n

Two of this season\u2019s top-4 teams.<\/p>\n

A top-5 scoring showdown between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.5 ppg) and Jaylen Brown (28.5 ppg).<\/p>\n

Opposing boosts from a pair of recent All-Star returns: Jalen Williams and Jayson Tatum.<\/p>\n

Tonight\u2019s Thunder-Celtics rematch (7:30 ET, League Pass), their second meeting in 13 days, is an elite matchup in many key ways \u2013 but perhaps none more impactful on the defensive end.<\/p>\n

Round 1: League-leading OKC bested Boston on March 12 for their seventh of 12 straight wins, the NBA\u2019s longest-active streak
\nJ-Dub\u2019s Back: Now, the Thunder go for a 13th consecutive W with Jalen Williams back in the mix, who tallied 18 points (8-14 FG) in 20 minutes in Monday\u2019s win
\nAlso Reintegrating: Boston\u2019s felt a similar lift from Tatum\u2019s return, who\u2019s averaging 19.1 pts, 8.9 reb and 2.8 3s in eight games<\/p>\n

Fueling OKC\u2019s streak is the defense that\u2019s held the league\u2019s top rating (106) all season.<\/p>\n

On the other side, Boston\u2019s D is right there behind the Thunder\u2019s since Feb. 1, with a 2nd-best 107.2 DefRtg.<\/p>\n

The GIF series below showcases some signature traits of these two tough defenses and how they earn an edge:<\/p>\n

\"Celtics\"<\/p>\n

The Celtics have held their opponents to 44.1% from the field in March \u2013 the 2nd-best mark in the NBA.<\/p>\n

\"Celtics\"<\/p>\n

Boston has contested the 6th-most 3-point shots (1,197) this season.<\/p>\n

\"Thunder\"<\/p>\n

Cason Wallace forces 4.5 deflections per game, the most in the league, helping lead OKC to a league-best 22.3 ppg off turnovers.<\/p>\n

\"Thunder\"<\/p>\n

The Thunder have forced 60 shot clock violations this year, the 4th-most in the NBA.<\/p>\n

Which premier defensive unit will make the stop that matters most tonight?<\/p>\n

5. MORE ON LEAGUE PASS: WEMBY LEADS STREAKING SPURS VS. GRIZZLIES<\/p>\n

\"Kon<\/p>\n

Since 2023-24, there have been 12 instances of a player recording 25+ points, 15+ rebounds and 5+ blocks in a game.<\/p>\n

Victor Wembanyama is responsible for half of them.<\/p>\n

On Monday, he tallied his fourth this season (26 pts, 15 reb, 5 blk), leading San Antonio past Miami for a sixth straight win and its 22nd in 24 games.<\/p>\n

As the wins \u2013 and numbers \u2013 stack up, so does Wembanyama\u2019s push for the Kia MVP. After his latest eye-popping performance, Wemby made his case for the award, as told by The Athletic\u2019s Jared Weiss:<\/p>\n

As the conversation evolved, [Wemby\u2019s] campaign took shape around three talking points.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that is undervalued, so far, in the MVP race,\u201d Wembanyama said. \u201cI believe I\u2019m the most impactful player defensively in the league. Second argument would be\u2026\u201d | Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

Tonight on League Pass (8 ET), Wemby\u2019s Spurs seek their seventh straight win as they visit the Grizzlies.<\/p>\n

Also On League Pass: Paul George returns as the Sixers host the Bulls (7 ET), the Heat face the Cavs in a key East duel (7:30 ET) and the Lakers look to rebound in Indy (7 ET) after seeing their nine-game win streak snapped in Detroit.<\/p>\n

Wizards at Jazz (9 ET)
\nMavericks at Nuggets (10 ET)
\nNets at Warriors (10 ET)
\nBucks at Blazers (10 ET)
\nRaptors at Clippers (10:30 ET)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A triple-double 11 seconds into the 3rd quarter. A game-winner with 11 seconds left in the 4th. Another…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":678295,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3768],"tags":[7,304,6,1136,191,3810,3806,2885],"class_list":["post-678294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-knicks","tag-basketball","tag-knicks","tag-nba","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-knicks","tag-newyork","tag-newyorkknicks","tag-starting-5"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116290234187966257","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=678294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678294\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/678295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=678294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=678294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=678294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}