Feb. 25 Recap: Wolves edge out Thunder in thrilling victory; Luka Dončić prepares to face Mavericks tonight

How many consecutive victories has Jalen Duren and the Pistons secured?

Detroit matched Cleveland for the longest active win streak in the NBA with its 7th straight win on Monday.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION

Feb. 25, 2025

Lakers-Mavs Showdown: Everything to know before Luka faces his former team for the first time

Finding His Way: Luka enters tonight’s marquee matchup coming off his best game as a Laker

Tuesday Preview: Streaks on the line for the Cavs, Celtics, Bucks and Warriors

Monday In The West: Ant block caps 25-point comeback, Joker drops 19 dimes, LaVine heats up

Monday In The East: Pistons win 7th straight, Hawks & Heat swap spots while Bulls hold in Play-In

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Luka vs. his former squad is just a few hours away…

TNT Doubleheader: The Cavs go for their third 8-game win streak of the season when they visit the Magic (7:30 ET), followed by the must-see showdown as Luka and the Lakers host Kyrie and the Mavs (10 ET).

Today’s Reads: Dallas Morning News on how the Mavs ‘can’t wait’ for first showdown vs. Luka … Associated Press on Luka being ready for his first game vs. Mavs.

1. LUKA & LAKERS VS. MAVS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

In just his fifth game as a Laker, Luka Dončić will face some familiar faces when the Mavs visit Los Angeles tonight (10 ET, TNT, TruTV, Max).

Tonight mark’s Luka’s first game against his former team after spending 6+ seasons in Dallas – from being acquired on draft night in 2018 until the Feb. 2 blockbuster trade that sent Luka, Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber to L.A. for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Beyond the reunion, this game is pivotal for both teams in their pursuit of postseason position in the competitive Western Conference.

L.A. Rising: The Lakers have the best record in the NBA since Jan. 15 (14-4) and the fourth-best record since Christmas Day (18-8) – a run that has seen the Lakers climb from 7th to 4th in the West and enter tonight 2.5 games back of 2nd.

Luka’s Last Outing: Dončić is coming off his best game as a Laker, posting 32 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals in the Lakers’ win in Denver on Saturday to snap the Nuggets’ 9-game win streakLeBron’s Hot Streak: James is averaging 29.1 points over the last six games, during which he became the first player age 40+ in NBA history to post multiple 40+ point games (42 on Feb. 6 vs. Warriors, 40 on Feb. 20 vs. Blazers)Reaves On A Roll:

Since Christmas Day, Austin Reaves has been on one of the best stretches of his career, averaging 21.3 points, 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds

Mavs Making New Path: Dallas is 5-4 since the trade and enters tonight 8th in the West as the Mavs try to climb back into the top 6 while overcoming a depleted frontline with Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively currently sidelined.

All Eyes On Kyrie: Irving has scored 30+ points in four of the seven games he’s played since the trade, including a 42-point game against Golden State on Feb. 12Familiar Face: Irving has reached the Finals with his “hermano” Luka (2024 in Dallas, with their fathers sharing the moment) and LeBron James (2015-17 in Cleveland) and now faces both of his former running mates simultaneouslyNew Partner:

Christie has quickly established himself as a key contributor for the Mavs, averaging 15.3 points and 4.9 rebounds

2. LUKA FINDING HIS WAY IN LOS ANGELES

“Luka, it’s good to have you back” – JJ Redick while addressing the Lakers after their 123-100 win over Denver.

Coming off a calf injury that had sidelined him since Christmas Day, Dončić’s first three games in the purple and gold were about shaking off the rust, finding a rhythm and learning his new teammates.

First 3 Games: 14.7 ppg, 35.6 FG%, 20.8 3P%, 5.3 apg, 4.0 tovGame 4 on Saturday: 32 pts, 45.5 FG%, 44.4 3P%, 7 ast, 1 tov“Finally felt like myself

… That’s why I was smiling the whole game.” – Luka immediately after the win

Tonight, Luka will follow up his first dominant performance as a Laker by facing his former teammates when the Mavs visit L.A. – a game that has been circled on the calendars of hoops fans since the blockbuster trade.

Can Luka join this list of players – including one of his new teammates – who showed out in the first game vs. their former teams following a trade?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Oct. 28, 1975 | LAL@MIL): 30 pts, 20 reb, 9 blk, 5 ast – the first player to hit those marks in a game (still one of only two players ever)Charles Barkley (Nov. 2, 1996 | HOU@PHX): 20 pts, career-high 33 rebShaquille O’Neal (Dec. 25, 2004 | MIA@LAL): 24 pts, 11 reb, 3 blkLeBron James

(Dec. 2, 2010 | MIA@CLE): 38 pts, 15-25 FG, 8 ast

The bond between Luka and LeBron continues to grow each time they share the court. Starting with their first assist to each other, it didn’t take long for the duo to find a signature play: long-range dimes from Luka to LeBron.

Luka has assisted LeBron eight times in his first four games – with LeBron returning the favor five times – as L.A. has a 118.8 offensive rating and 14.2 net rating in the 80 minutes they’ve played together.

Mirror Images: By teaming Luka and LeBron, the Lakers not only have two generational talents on the roster, they have two of the game’s greatest all-around players sharing the court.

27-7-7: Only two players in NBA history hold career averages of at least 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists – Luka and LeBron242-184: The new teammates share the exact same win-loss record through their first 426 games as Luka gets ready for game No. 427 and LeBron for game No. 1,544 tonightLuka’s numbers

are

very similar

– and even slightly ahead – of where LeBron’s were through 426 career games

As they get set to share the court for the fifth time, what does the rest of this season and the future hold for L.A.’s newest dynamic duo?

3. TUESDAY PREVIEW: STREAKS ON THE LINE

The Cavs are the only team in the NBA this season with multiple 8+ game win streaks – accounting for two of the season’s five such streaks:

15 Games: Cavs (Oct. 23-Nov. 17) & Thunder (Dec. 3-Jan. 5)12 Games: Cavs (Dec. 13-Jan. 9)9 Games:

Nuggets (Jan. 31-Feb. 20), Knicks (Dec. 15-Jan. 1)

With a win in Orlando tonight (7:30 ET, TNT, TruTV, Max), the Cavs can make it three 8+ game win streaks – becoming the first team to do so since the Suns had four during the 2020-21 season.

Playoff Rematch: The Cavs defeated the Magic in the only seven-game series of the 2024 First Round. With the series tied 2-2, Donovan Mitchell averaged 39 ppg over the final three games to lead the Cavs to the East SemisSeason Series Clincher?

In their first matchup this season, Mitchell and Darius Garland combined for 47 points to lead the Cavs past the Magic. A Cavs win tonight would clinch the season series with one game to play (March 16)

The Cavs aren’t the only team putting a win streak on the line Tuesday night. Tap into League Pass to catch these three hot teams.

Celtics (at Raptors, 7 ET): Boston goes for its sixth straight win as the Celtics try to keep pace with the Cavs. Toronto snapped a 10-game losing streak to Boston in January. Can the Raptors make it two straight against the defending champs?Bucks (at Rockets, 8 ET): Milwaukee seeks its fifth straight win as the Bucks battle the Pacers – with matching 32-24 records – for the No. 4 seed in the EastWarriors (vs. Hornets, 10 ET): Golden State is 5-1 since acquiring Jimmy Butler and goes for a fourth straight win as the Warriors try to climb out of the Play-In packRounding out a five-game slate

on League Pass: Suns at Grizzlies (8 ET) and Spurs at Pelicans (8 ET)

4. WOLVES MAKE MONSTER COMEBACK, JOKIĆ DROPS DIMES, LAVINE HEATS UP

On Sunday, the Thunder used an 18-2 4th-quarter run to seize control of the game and held off the Wolves for the road win.

On Monday, the Wolves turned the tables and secured their largest comeback win in the last 25 years.

Timberwolves 131, Thunder 128 (OT): Down by as many as 25, the Wolves stormed back, outscoring the Thunder 41-19 in the 4th quarter and closing regulation on a 16-0 run to force overtime.

Despite being held to just six points in the 2nd half and OT combined, Anthony Edwards made the biggest play of the night – a game-winning rejection of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s potential go-ahead layup with 13 seconds to play in the extra frame. | Recap | Déjà Vu For Ant-Man

Rare Air: Entering last night, teams over the last 20 seasons trailing by at least 16 points in the final 3:45 or less remaining in regulation were 1-8624. Minnesota made it 2-8624, joining the Kings, who beat Minnesota on Jan. 27, 2020Four Pack: Jaden McDaniels (27 pts, 10 reb), Naz Reid (22, 11), Terrence Shannon Jr. (17, 10) and Edwards (17, 13) became the second Wolves quartet to post double-doubles in the same gameSGA 30-Pieces:

Shai (39 pts) notched his 35th 30+ point game of the season, joining James Harden (2014-17), Kobe Bryant (2005-08) and Allen Iverson (2000-03) as the only players since 2000-01 with three straight seasons with 35+ 30-point games

After having their nine-game win streak snapped on Saturday by the Lakers, the Nuggets needed only two minutes to take the lead for good on Monday in Indianapolis.

Nuggets 125, Pacers 116: Nikola Jokić was in conductor mode on Monday, orchestrating the Nuggets’ offense with precision passes to the tune of a career-best 19 dimes to go with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals to lead Denver past Indy. | Recap

Joker & Wilt: Jokić’s 19 assists are tied with Wilt (Feb. 2, 1968) for the 2nd most in a game by a center. Wilt holds that record with 21 dimes from that same season (Mar. 19, 1968)10+ Assists:

Jokić now has 32 games with 10+ assists

this season alone

… that’s more than any player listed at center in NBA history besides Giannis Antetokounmpo (67), Domantas Sabonis (75) and Wilt (80) for their

entire career

. Jokić has 210 such games

Kings 130, Hornets 88: Zach LaVine put on a shooting display only matched by five players in NBA history – scoring a season-high 42 points on 16-of-19 (84.2%) shooting, including 8-of-9 (88.9%) from beyond the arc – to lead the Kings back over .500. | Recap

The only other five players to score 40+ points with 5+ 3s while shooting 80% on both FGs and 3s: Paul Pierce (2012), Klay Thompson (2019), Jamal Murray (2021), Devin Booker (2022) and Myles Turner (2023)

Blazers 114, Jazz 112: Portland got a combined 48 points from Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant and used an 18-3 run to close the 1st half to seize control of the game before holding off a late Jazz push to win their second straight game. | Recap

5. DEEEEEEETROIT BASKETBALL: PISTONS WIN 7TH STRAIGHT

Yes, that’s seven ‘Es’ in the ‘Detroit’ above – one for each of the Pistons’ seven straight wins to climb to 32-26 on the season.

Pistons 106, Clippers 95: Cade Cunningham (32 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast) posted his second straight 30+ point game to lead the Pistons past the Clippers and within one game of No. 4 in the East Playoff race. | Recap | KD’s Praise For Cade On HooperVision

The Last Time: The Pistons’ seven-game win streak matches their longest run since 2014-15 and 2008-09The Last 2 Seasons: The Pistons’ 32 wins surpasses their win total from the past two seasons combined (17 in 2022-23, 14 in 2023-24)Cade On Detroit’s Mentality:

“We still feel like we have to earn the league’s respect.”

While the Pistons are looking to lock up a guaranteed Playoff spot, a number of teams in the East Play-In race were in action on Monday night.

Hawks 98, Heat 86: Atlanta used a balanced offense and a stifling defense to snap a three-game losing streak. Onyeka Okongwo (17 pts) led six Hawks in double figures, while Atlanta allowed its fewest points in nearly four years (82 vs. Cavs on Mar. 14, 2021). | Recap

Great Barrier Thief Strikes Again: Dyson Daniels (10 pts, 7 stl) posted his 11th game with 5+ steals, joining Chris Paul (2x), Allen Iverson, Larry Hughes and Monta Ellis as the only players with 11+ games in a season since 2000-01Play-In Race Update:

The Hawks leap over the Heat for the No. 8 spot in the East by .002 in win percentage. The teams meet again on Wednesday in Miami

Bulls 142, Sixers 110: Josh Giddey (25 pts, 16 reb) and Kevin Huerter (23 pts, 7 3pm) combined for 48 points to lead Chicago to a season-high 142 points and a win to snap a six-game losing streak. | Recap

Play-In Race Update: Chicago maintains hold on No. 10 spot (1.5 up on No. 11 Brooklyn and 2.5 up on No. 12 Philly, which dropped its 8th straight

Wizards 107, Nets 99: Jordan Poole (26 pts, 5 3pm) and Bilal Coulibaly (20 pts) helped the Wizards snap a six-game losing streak. The Nets have dropped two of their last three after winning six of seven to get back in the Play-In race.  | Recap

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