Luka Dončić dropped 60 points as the Lakers won their eighth straight game by defeating the Heat.
Recap the best of Thursday’s slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.
What we know about Thursday night’s games:
The Hornets raised Dell Curry’s No. 30 jersey to the rafters in style, defeating the Magic 130-111 on NBA TV.
Luka Dončić (60 pts, 7 ast, 5 stl) and LeBron James (19 pts, 15 reb, 10 ast) lifted the Lakers over the Heat 134-126, earning Los Angeles’ eighth-straight win.
Victor Wembanyama (34 pts, 12 reb, 3 stl) hit a game-winner with 1.1 seconds remaining to take the Spurs over the Suns 101-100, clinching their spot in the Playoffs.
MARCH 20, 2026 // 12:52 ET
Thursday’s results
Luka Dončić (60 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 5 stl) is your top performer of the night.
MARCH 19, 2026 // 11:01 ET
One time for The Don
Luka Dončić’s third-ever 60+ point game, and his first since dropping 73 against the Hawks on Jan. 26, 2024.
🚨 LUKA JUST DROPPED 60 POINTS 🚨
🪄 60 PTS
🪄 7 REB
🪄 5 STL
🪄 9 3PM
It’s the first 60-PT game for a Lakers player since Kobe Bryant scored 60 PTS in his final NBA game on April 13, 2016 vs the Jazz. pic.twitter.com/6lf8h82phH
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2026
MARCH 19, 2026 // 10:46 ET
The Pelicans are flying
Trey Murphy III (27 pts, 5 3PM) lifted the Pelicans to their third straight win — and seventh straight at home — as they defeated the Clippers 105-99.
The game saw 14 lead changes and 14 ties, seesawing back and forth until the home team took control.
TREY MURPHY SIUUUUUUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/KYITsz0yIH
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 20, 2026
MARCH 19, 2026 // 10:32 ET
A Wemby game-winner
Victor Wembanyama (34 pts) knocked down a jumper with 01.1 remaining to lift the Spurs to a 101-100 win over the Suns, clinching a spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
.@wemby CALLED GAME 🚨 pic.twitter.com/VONi66nxqT
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 20, 2026
“Are you not entertained?!” Keldon Johnson asked the crowd afterwards, then led them in a chant: “MVP! MVP! MVP!”
MARCH 19, 2026 // 10:25 ET
The Don at work
Lakers up 124-119 with 1:24 to go on League Pass. Luka’s delivering a classic ridiculous performance.
LUKA’S GOT 50 PTS!
THE LAKERS ARE HUNGRY FOR THEIR 8th WIN IN A ROW 🔥 pic.twitter.com/L9C0VrhJ5t
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2026
MARCH 19, 2026 // 9:18 ET
Say it with me now: LeBron James
LeBron is sizzling from the field 🔥
Last night: 30 PTS (13-14 FGM)
Tonight: 11 PTS (5-5 FGM) pic.twitter.com/Zh2awoSjdg
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2026
The Heat are up 65-59 at the half, though.
MARCH 19, 2026 // 8:52 ET
Rasheer to the rack
The St. Joseph’s product just took flight for the Suns, who lead the Spurs 47-44 with 4:48 to go in the second quarter. A 74.1 on the Dunk Score scale!
🚨 RASHEER FLEMING POSTER 🚨 pic.twitter.com/qJ0wNACld8
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 20, 2026
MARCH 19, 2026 // 8:35 ET
Hornets up big at the half
On the night they celebrate franchise legend Dell Curry, the Hornets have their shooting touch. They’re up 72-53 at the half on the Magic, knocking down 56.5% of their shots from the field, including nine 3-pointers.
Coby White — former Mr. Basketball in North Carolina and Tar Heel legend — leads the Hornets with 19 points.
MARCH 19, 2026 // 8:32 ET
Only one LeBron
The King abides. 1,611 NBA games and still going strong.
“He’s competing against Father Time, and he’s giving Father Time hell.”
Coach Erik Spoelstra on LeBron tying Robert Parish tonight for most games played in NBA history 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZvTIaTCZeb
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2026
MARCH 19, 2026 // 7:50 ET
Ausar aloft
One of the best defenders in the NBA at work. He’s ninth in the Association with 2.7 stocks per game — 1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks.
Ausar Thompson with a roaring rejection 🚫
Smacked it off the backboard! pic.twitter.com/V9bplqb30E
— NBA (@NBA) March 19, 2026
MARCH 19, 2026 // 7:19 ET
Magic up early, but Hornets rallying
Desmond Bane (9 pts on 3-of-3 shooting) is leading the way for the Magic, who have a 19-15 lead with 6:37 to go in the first quarter. But the Hornets just forced a timeout with a LaMelo Ball (11 pts) fast break slam.
The national TV spotlight is on these squads tonight — catch the contest on NBA TV and League Pass.
MARCH 19, 2026 // 5:45 ET
Dell Curry’s jersey to be raised to the rafters
NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner has a look at Hornets legend Dell Curry for you before his jersey is retired for all time at the Spectrum Center tonight.
“He played for Charlotte longer than anyone else and better than most. Curry retired as the franchise’s leader in games (701), points (9,839), field goals (3,951) and 3-pointers made (929). Kemba Walker eventually passed him in points, buckets and 3-pointers. Still, Curry ranks in the team’s Top 10 in 10 categories, including steals (fourth) and assists (10th).
Before his son Stephen made 3-point shooting his brand with Golden State, Dell Curry put the family name on it as one of the NBA’s sharpest of shooters. He was the only player in the 1990s, for instance, to shoot better than 40% from the arc in seven consecutive seasons.
More than a marksman, he was also a super sub, finishing seventh or higher in balloting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award for five straight years. Curry won it in 1993-94, when he helped Charlotte to its second .500 finish by playing all 82 games off the bench. At 29, he set career highs in appearances, shots, field goals, assists and scoring (16.3 ppg).
Curry, at 34, spent the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, hitting a career-best 47.6% of his 3-pointers. Then he wrapped up with three seasons with the Toronto Raptors, for whom he played 19 of his 51 playoff games.
He retired as the NBA’s all-time leader in bench scoring (11,147), and he still ranks third, trailing only Lou Williams (13,396) and Jamal Crawford (11,279).”
Check out the piece for thoughts from Dell, Stephen and Seth Curry on his career and this historic night.
MARCH 19, 2026 // 5:15 ET
Welcome an eight-game night in the NBA!
Kon Knueppel’s Hornets are facing Paolo Banchero and the Magic on NBA TV tonight.
Our slate tonight is highlighted by Magic-Hornets on NBA TV, as Charlotte celebrates the retirement of team legend Dell Curry’s No. 30 jersey.
The Hornets lead the season series 2-1, having taken the last two contests — 120-105 on Dec. 26 and 124-97 on Jan. 22 — after the Magic had beaten them five straight times dating back to the 2024-25 season.
Here’s tonight’s complete schedule: