Nikola Jokić led the Nuggets over the Celtics in the second half of our ESPN doubleheader.
What we know about Wednesday’s games:
The Pistons beat the Thunder 124-116 in the first half of our national TV doubleheader, as Cade Cunningham (29 pts, 13 ast) and Jalen Duren (29 pts, 15 reb) outlasted Jaylin Williams (30 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast).
The Nuggets defeated the Celtics 103-84, running away in the second half to defend home court in the nightcap.
The Spurs won their 10th game in a row, coming back from 15 down to defeat the Raptors 110-107 on the road.
FEBRUARY 26 // 12:48 ET
Wednesday’s results
Alperen Sengun (26 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast, 2 stl, 3 blk) is your top performer of the night.
FEBRUARY 26 // 12:38 ET
Nuggets defeat Celtics
This. Is. Beautiful. pic.twitter.com/NSRYL6cYOc
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) February 26, 2026
103-84, with Nikola Jokić putting up 30 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.
The Celtics went cold in the second half, putting up just 36 points in the Denver altitude as their shooting percentage dropped to 34.9% for the game. Jaylen Brown had 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead Boston.
Denver shot 41.9%, including 5-of-9 shooting from Tim Hardaway Jr., who put up 14 points to become Denver’s second-leading scorer. Spencer Jones was the top man for Denver with a +22 mark.
“They were very physical at the point of attack,” said Coach Joe Mazzulla afterwards. “They defended us well.”
FEBRUARY 26 // 12:12 ET
Nuggets take control
85-70 with 7:45 to go in Denver, as the Nuggets have outscored the Celtics by 16 points in the second half.
KJ Simpson makes it an 11-0 @nuggets run!
Watch on ESPN ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/n2P8VvHSBd
— NBA (@NBA) February 26, 2026
FEBRUARY 25 // 11:13 ET
Celtics up one at the half
48-47 on ESPN.
Derrick White has 18 points to pace the Celtics, while Nikola Jokić (13 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast) is doing his traditional thing.
The Celtics held Denver to 34% shooting in the first half, but only shot 41% themselves. Two good teams going at it.
Catch the finish to cap your night.
FEBRUARY 25 // 10:48 ET
The Joker at work
Celtics-Nuggets, live now on ESPN.
Stuck in the corner.
Clock winding down.
Losing the dribble.
Joker still finds a way to score 3 points. https://t.co/1hTmHzCjnR pic.twitter.com/um5YSf51nN
— NBA (@NBA) February 26, 2026
FEBRUARY 25 // 10:40 ET
Rockets beat Kings
128-97, as Alperen Sengun (26 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast) dropped a triple-double for Houston.
Alpi bringing the BOOM 💣 pic.twitter.com/TnUWIclQN6
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 26, 2026
Russell Westbrook had 22 points as he led the Kings against former teammate Kevin Durant.
FEBRUARY 25 // 10:20 ET
Bucks beat Cavaliers by a fingertip
Kevin Porter Jr. (20 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl) was the top man for the Bucks, who had seven players score in double figures as they beat the Cavaliers 118-116.
Jarrett Allen’s game-tying hook was ruled to have come after the buzzer, preserving Milwaukee’s second straight win. The Bucks have won eight of their last 10.
“Came down to the final fingertips, quite literally,” said Lisa Byington to wrap up the affair.
FEBRUARY 25 // 10:13 ET
Spurs come back to defeat Raptors
110-107, securing their 10th win in a row.
Devin Vassell (21 pts, 5 3PM) led six Spurs in double figures, while Victor Wembanyama (12 pts, 8 reb, 5 blk, 1 stl) did a bit of everything in holding down the middle.
Brandon Ingram (20 pts, 11 reb) and Immanuel Quickley (20 pts, 3 3PM) led the way for Toronto.
The Spurs won the fourth quarter 32-17 on the road to secure the victory.
FEBRUARY 25 // 10:00 ET
Close games abound
Spurs-Raptors, Cavs-Bucks and Thunder-Pistons are all within a few baskets as the clock winds down.
Check out the games!
FEBRUARY 25 // 9:22 ET
KPJ on the rise
Over his last three games, Kevin Porter Jr. has averaged 26.0 ppg, 8.0 ast and just 1.0 turnovers for the Bucks.
He’s staked them to a 73-65 lead over the Cavaliers with 8:51 to go in the third quarter, as Milwaukee goes on an 11-2 run.
KPJ has 5 steals in 16 minutes!
🔓🔓🔓🔓🔓 pic.twitter.com/wMaSSWCHyg
— NBA (@NBA) February 26, 2026
FEBRUARY 25 // 9:06 ET
Thunder down
Isaiah Joe and Brandon Carlson have been ruled out for the Thunder as they face the Pistons, meaning the defending champions are now down nine players, including three of their top four bigs.
How will this deep Oklahoma City team adjust? Tune in to ESPN to find out.
FEBRUARY 25 // 8:31 ET
Good job, GG
GG Jackson goes glass from halfcourt 😳 pic.twitter.com/D7ZX8JvvRf
— NBA (@NBA) February 26, 2026
FEBRUARY 25 // 8:25 ET
Spurs and Raptors in a good one
41-40 Raptors with 7:45 to go in the second quarter, as No. 5 in the East takes on No. 2 in the West.
Dylan Harper has 11 points to lead San Antonio, while Scottie Barnes has 9 to counter for Toronto, as well as this sick chasedown swat.
DENIED BY SCOTTIE 🛑 pic.twitter.com/yYCQgD0QzP
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 26, 2026
FEBRUARY 25 // 7:50 ET
Pistons rolling early
Check out the dime from Cade Cunningham, No. 4 on the latest Kia MVP Ladder.
Cade wraps it around to Ausar!
Battle of No. 1 seeds underway on ESPN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/N0Q67TqvNk
— NBA (@NBA) February 26, 2026
FEBRUARY 25 // 6:30 ET
Watch out for the Celtics
The Celtics’ best plays from the last 10 games.
Joe Mazzulla’s Boston Celtics are 9-1 in their last 10, as they incorporate new arrival Nikola Vučević into a multifaceted group featuring a variety of breakout players.
Mazzulla’s Celtics are third in net rating (+8.0), second in offensive rating (120.0), third in second chance points (17.4), second in shooting percentage on drives (52.5%), first in pull-up points per game (31.1) and first in screen assists per game (9.9).
Neemias Queta, Hugo González, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr. and Luka Garza have all found new roles in the NBA this season, but the Celtics are still flowing, as they form a coherent supporting cast behind Kia MVP candidate Jaylen Brown (29.2 ppg), Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, posting the second-best net rating by a bench in the league (3.6).
They get the third-greatest percentage of their points from 3-pointers (40.1%) while shooting the second-best percentage in the league in the paint (71.7%) — classic modern offense.
The Celtics keep the ball hopping, maintain near-immaculate spacing, and know their roles intimately.
Brown and Pritchard win one-on-one matchups and create advantages; White fills the gaps; Queta and Vučević finish around the rim; González, Walsh and Harper Jr. provide defensive hustle and 3-point shooting.
FEBRUARY 25 // 5:45 ET
Welcome to a six-game night in the NBA!
Jamal Murray and the Nuggets take on the Celtics in the second half of tonight’s ESPN doubleheader.
Our slate tonight is headlined by an ESPN doubleheader featuring four of the best teams in the Association! We’ve got Thunder-Pistons (7:30 ET) and Celtics-Nuggets (10 ET).
Here’s tonight’s complete schedule: