Head at the rim and triple-double in hand, Stephon Castle skies for the slam.
What a way to reach 40 points for the first time.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Feb. 8, 2026
Sunday Preview: Knicks, Celtics spar for 2nd place; Go-to scorers Ant & Kawhi collide
History Out West: Joker unseats Big O, Castle’s 40-point triple-double, KD climbs ranks
Eastern Heat: Harden & Spida rule 4th, Hornets’ streak hits 9, Sixers’ duo takes desert
Roundup: LeBron, Lakers pull away late, Magic make a stand, Nets, Blazers roll
All-Start Countdown: Meet the Slam Dunk and Shooting Stars participants
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Early hoops with 4 Sunday matinees…
Get an early Sunday start with the Knicks’ and Celtics’ classic rivalry (12:30 ET, ABC) before a scorers showdown between Ant and Kawhi as the Clippers visit the Wolves (3 ET, ESPN).
All-Star Saturday: The NBA announced Saturday the participants for the AT&T Slam Dunk and Kia Shooting Stars competitions during NBA All-Star Saturday (Feb. 14, 5 ET, NBC/Peacock), before the 75th All-Star a week from today (Feb. 15, 5 ET, NBC/Peacock). Read on for full details in Section 5.
1. SUNDAY PREVIEW: KNICKS, CELTICS SPAR FOR 2ND PLACE, ANT & KAWHI COLLIDE
Sole possession of 2nd place in the East is on the line today, as ESPN and ABC team up for doubleheader action with an early start.
Knicks at Celtics (12:30 ET, ABC): Two classic rivals who have been 2nd or 3rd in the East interchangeably since Dec. 20 meet, with Boston currently holding a one-game edge.
Both clubs are also 8-2 in their last ten games.
Despite playing without Jayson Tatum and four more regular rotation pieces from last season, the Celtics are right back near the top of the East standings
How? It starts with Jaylen Brown being a natural as the offensive lead, adding over 7 ppg to his average (29.5), making him a top-4 scorer in the league
Following suit, Derrick White (17.4 ppg) has added a point per game and Payton Pritchard (17.3 ppg) has added 3, as last season’s 4th and 5th-ranked C’s scorers have stepped up to be 2nd and 3rd options, respectively
Now, Nikola Vučević adds interior scoring (9.3 PITP), rebounding (9.0) and additional assists (3.8) in what Boston hopes will be a quick integration in a year of adjustments
“Everybody’s leaned in from the beginning of the year,” Brown said Friday. “We’ve been building chemistry.”
“When you’re on the same page, you trust and believe in each other, you empower each other – that’s half the battle.”
Clippers at Wolves (3 ET, ESPN): Today’s ABC/ESPN doubleheader concludes with two All-Star guards who’ve taken their offensive games to new levels in 2025-26.
Anthony Edwards is having a career year, not only in scoring (29.8 ppg), but in efficiency too, shooting 49.4% from the field
In the clutch, Ant’s been even better, bumping up to 59.2 FG% while ranking 3rd in total clutch points (113) and made 3-pointers (11)
“I think the biggest leap this season is how he closes games,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said of Ant. “He’s more comfortable knowing when to pull back and involve others, which has helped him be more effective down the stretch.”
Similarly, Kawhi Leonard’s increased offensive emphasis (career-best 27.7 ppg) has made him a top-10 4th-quarter scorer (7.1 ppg) and All-Star for the 7th time.
“I’m just in attack mode,” Leonard said of his scoring approach. “Trying to stay in the moment, keep being aggressive.”
Ant and the TWolves look to get back in the win column with just a one game advantage for the final guaranteed Playoff spot in the West, while LA holds the final SoFi Play-In position.
Roundup: Two more matinee showdowns take place on League Pass as the Wizards welcome the Heat (2 ET), and the Raptors host the Pacers (3 ET).
2. HISTORY OUT WEST: JOKER, CASTLE, KD ALL ENTER RARE AIR
The Joker just passed another all-timer.
Nuggets 136, Bulls 120: Nikola Jokić’s (22 pts, 14 reb, 17 ast) 182nd career triple-double made history and pushed Denver through a back-and-forth game of 11 ties and 10 lead changes, positioning the Nuggets to run away with the 4th quarter, 39-16. | Recap
Passing Big O: Joker surpassed Oscar Robertson (181) for 2nd place on the all-time triple-doubles list while dishing a season-high 17 assists
“I think that’s the right way to play basketball,” Jokić said of his playmaking accomplishment. “Hopefully I’m going to continue to play like that.”
In Flow: Denver improves to 141-41 in the 182 games Jokić has registered a triple-double, including 13-5 this season
In Wemby and Cooper Flagg’s third-career showdown, Stephon Castle stole the show.
Spurs 138, Mavericks 125: Castle set a new career-high with 40 points and logged his second-career triple-double (12 reb, 12 ast, 3 stl, 78.9 FG%) as the Spurs compiled a 42-point 2nd quarter in an 81-point 1st half and held Flagg to 14 points to win their 4th straight.
Castle reached the 40-point mark for the first time on this monster putback slam in the 4th. | Recap
Castle and David Robinson (2x) are the only Spurs with 40+ point triple-doubles, with Stephon collecting assists while The Admiral swatted 10+ blocks in his
The reigning ROY is the third-youngest player in league history to notch a 40+ point triple-double, behind LeBron James and Luka Dončić
Castle and Wilt Chamberlain are now the only players ever to log a 40+ point triple-double while shooting 75% or better from the field
“It doesn’t feel real,” Castle said postgame. “It can be anybody’s night on any given day. Tonight it was my night.”
“We know we’ve got one of the best players in the league right now,” Wemby said of Castle’s performance and the slam for 40. “I think his head was level with the rim, it was crazy.”
Main Event: Wemby (16 pts, 11 reb) edged Coop by a bucket head-to-head, as Flagg was kept under 30 points for the first time in five games
Kevin Durant continued climbing all-time lists in Saturday’s complete team effort for Houston.
Rockets 112, Thunder 106: Alperen Sengun (17 pts, 12 reb, 11 ast) logged his 10th career triple-double, Tari Eason contributed a season-high 26 points and Houston used two key runs to erase a 15-point deficit and defeat OKC for the first time this season.
The Rockets closed the 2nd quarter with a 12-3 run, and ended the 3rd on a 15-4 closeout to vanquish OKC’s double-digit lead, never trailing again by more than a bucket. | Recap
Joining Legends: Sengun joined James Harden (46) and Hakeem Olajuwon (14) as the only Rockets players ever with double-digit career triple-doubles
KD Climbs: While netting 20 points, Durant became the 10th player ever to reach 2,300 made 3s, and moved into 9th place on the all-time field goals made list
Thunderous Welcome: Jared McCain (5 pts, 14 min) received a standing ovation in his Thunder debut and logged his first OKC points a quarter later
3. EASTERN HEAT: HARDEN HELPS CAVS, HORNETS’ STREAK HITS NINE
Donovan Mitchell, the league’s leading 4th-quarter scorer, already had the clutch covered.
That’s precisely why new addition James Harden makes Spida and the Cavs doubly dangerous late in games.
Cavaliers 132, Kings 126: Harden (15) and Mitchell (17) combined for 32 of Cleveland’s 39 4th-quarter points in their first game together, scoring the final 16 in a 16-5 run to capture the lead for good after 17 lead changes and 11 ties.
Harden scored 23 overall and dished eight assists in his Cavs debut, while Mitchell led all scorers with 35 points and Jarrett Allen added 29 with 10 rebounds. | Recap
Winning Welcome: Harden is the first player in over five years to net 15+ points in the 4th quarter of a team debut, with Zion Williamson last doing so in his NBA debut (Jan. 2020)
“I told Don just do what he do and I’ll figure it out,” Harden said of playing with Mitchell for the first time.
“He’s the leader of this team and I’m just here to support him and do whatever it takes to help.”
Hornets 126, Hawks 119: Miles Bridges (26 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast) and Buzz City tied their 2nd-longest win streak ever with a 9th straight W, closing on a 17-9 run to take command of a back-and-forth game featuring 12 ties and 23 lead changes. | Recap
Threes In Bunches: Kon Knueppel (23 pts, 8 reb, 6 3s) broke Saddiq Bey’s rookie record with his 14th game of five or more triples
Jalen Johnson (31 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast) became the fourth player ever with 1,100+ points, 500+ rebounds and 400+ assists through the first 50 games of a season, joining Joker (4x), Big O (2x) and Westbrook (2x)
Going For 10: Charlotte will look to match the franchise’s longest win streak ever (10 games) Monday night, hosting Detroit (7 ET)
Sixers 109, Suns 103: The duo of Joel Embiid (33 pts, 9 reb) and Tyrese Maxey (29 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast) overpowered Dillon Brooks (28 pts) and Devin Booker (21 pts, 9 ast), with Philly using a key 23-6 run across the 1st and 2nd quarters to pull away for good. | Recap
D-Book Back: Booker played 32 minutes and shot 5-of-12 from the field with one 3 in his return after missing seven games (ankle)
Ty & AI: Tyrese Maxey joins Allen Iverson as the only 76ers players to ever total 1,400 points and 100 steals in the first 50 games of a season
4. ROUNDUP: LAKERS PULL AWAY, MAGIC MAKE STAND, NETS & BLAZERS ROLL
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Lakers 105, Warriors 99: A decisive 11-0 Laker run midway through the 4th quarter expanded a one-point game into a double-digit lead, propelling LeBron (20 pts, 7 reb, 10 ast) and L.A. past Moses Moody (25 pts) and the Warriors for a third straight win. | Recap
Shooters’ World: Luke Kennard netted 10 points (2-4 3FG) in his Laker debut, while Pat Spencer scored 14 for Golden State (2-5 3FG) in his first game under full contract
Magic 120, Jazz 117: Orlando took its first lead since the 2nd quarter with under 30 seconds to play, closing the game on a 10-2 run to erase a 17-point Utah lead and spoil Jaren Jackson Jr.’s Jazz debut (22 pts, 3 stl).
The Magic then got three game-sealing stops, with blocks from Jalen Suggs (12 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 4 stl, 2 blk) and Wendell Carter Jr, and a final steal from Suggs to get away. | Recap
Blazers 122, Grizzlies 115: Jerami Grant (29 pts) led all scorers and Donovan Clingan (20 pts, 19 reb) had a huge double-double as Portland erased an 11-point 2nd-half deficit to sweep the two-game series in the Northwest from Memphis. | Recap
Big Fellas: Clingan joins Bill Walton as the only Trail Blazers players with multiple 20+ point, 15+ rebound games before the age of 22
Nets 127, Wizards 113: Brooklyn burst out with a 46-point 1st quarter on the way to an 80-point half, with Michael Porter Jr. (23 pts, 6 reb) leading seven Nets in double figures past Washington and Will Riley’s career-high 27 points. | Recap
Jumpstart: Brooklyn achieved its highest-scoring quarter since April of 2023 with 46 game-deciding points in the 1st
5. ALL-STAR COUNTDOWN: MEET ALL-STAR SATURDAY PARTICIPANTS
The NBA announced the participants for the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest and Kia Shooting Stars competition Saturday, one week before they’ll take the court for All-Star Saturday at the Intuit Dome in LA (Feb. 14, 5 ET on NBC & Peacock).
AT&T Slam Dunk Contest
A new Slam Dunk champion will be crowned in the third and final event of All-Star Saturday. Let’s look at the high-flying résumés of the four first-time contestants jumping it up:
Carter Bryant, Spurs (rookie)
The 6-6 forward was selected 14th overall by San Antonio in June’s Draft and impressed with the 2025 Draft Combine’s fourth-highest Max Vertical Leap (39.50”)
Jaxson Hayes, Lakers
The 7-foot center and 7-year vet isn’t afraid to throw out contest-caliber slams in-game.
Keshad Johnson, Heat
The high-flying, 2nd-year, 6-6 forward didn’t waste time showing off his hops after entering the league, taking flight in Summer League in 2024.
Jase Richardson, Magic (rookie)
The 6-1 guard and 25th overall pick in June’s Draft is the son of two-time AT&T Slam Dunk champion Jason Richardson (2002 and 2003).
Kia Shooting Stars
The timed shooting competition returns as the first event of All-Star Saturday, with four teams of three – each featuring two NBA players and one NBA legend – competing in the event.
Let’s meet the teams, reflecting NBA All-Star connections, school and team affiliations, and family ties:
Team All-Star: Two 2026 All-Star Game teammates for Team USA Stars are joined by a multi-time All-Star NBA legend.
2026 All-Star Scottie Barnes, Raptors (50.3 FG% / 30.6 3P% this season)
2026 All-Star Chet Holmgren, Thunder (56.5 FG% / 35.7 3P% this season)
3X All-Star Richard Hamilton
Team Cameron: Three Duke University alums who starred at Cameron Indoor Stadium team up.
2026 All-Star Jalen Johnson, Hawks (50.1 FG% / 35.4 3P%)
2026 Rising Star Kon Knueppel, Hornets (48.5 FG% / 42.4 3P%)
14-year NBA veteran Corey Maggette
Team Harper: A decorated NBA champion pairs up with his two NBA sons.
5X NBA champion Ron Harper Sr.
Spurs guard Dylan Harper (45.4 FG% / 24.5 3P%)
Celtics guard-forward Ron Harper Jr. (37.5 FG% / 31.6 3P%)
Team Knicks: Two 2026 All-Stars and Knicks teammates join up with a New York favorite and current front office fixture.
2026 All-Star Jalen Brunson, Team USA Stripes (46.7 FG% / 37.3 3P%)
2026 All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, Team World (46.5 FG% / 35.6 3P%)
2X All-Star Allan Houston