{"id":268948,"date":"2026-02-01T16:48:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T16:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/268948\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T16:48:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T16:48:19","slug":"starting-5-feb-1-sunday-night-basketball-pioneers-classic-headline-landmark-sunday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/268948\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5, Feb. 1: Sunday Night Basketball & Pioneers Classic headline landmark Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve never had a Sunday quite like this one.<\/p>\n

The first-ever Pioneers Classic tips at 3:30 ET on ESPN.<\/p>\n

The NBA All-Star reserves announcement awaits at 6 ET on NBC & Peacock in the new Basketball Night in America,\u00a0with Lenny Kravitz debuting the show\u2019s signature intro.<\/p>\n

Then, at 7 ET, Sunday Night Basketball premieres with a doubleheader on NBC, Peacock & Telemundo, starting at the World\u2019s Most Famous Arena.<\/p>\n

\"Lenny<\/p>\n

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

Feb. 1, 2026<\/p>\n

Sunday Night Basketball: Luka & LeBron\u2019s MSG visit ushers in NBC\/Peacock\u2019s newest showcase<\/p>\n

SNB Doubleheader: Shai faces Joker in season\u2019s first rematch of Thunder-Nuggets West Semis<\/p>\n

Pioneers Classic: Honoring the legacies of the NBA\u2019s first Black players as Bucks visit Celtics<\/p>\n

Play To Strengths: Hot Hornets handle Wemby, Embiid sends 40-pt reminder, Wolves surge again<\/p>\n

Win Any Way: Rockets ride Amen, balanced Bulls feature Dosunmu, Indy solves Atlanta<\/p>\n

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

Feb. 1st features fresh new NBA showcases and a 10-game slate\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

Cavs\/Kings Trade (Reports): Ahead of Thursday\u2019s trade deadline, ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania reports<\/a> Cleveland will send De\u2019Andre Hunter to Sacramento, with Dennis Schr\u00f6der and Keon Ellis heading to the Cavaliers in return.<\/p>\n

NBA Pioneers Day: In Section 3, celebrate the inaugural NBA Pioneers Day \u2014 honoring the 75th anniversary of the league\u2019s first Black players, on this first day of Black History Month \u2014 and get set for the first-ever NBA Pioneers Classic on ESPN between the Bucks and Celtics (3:30 ET | Tap To Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Then, Sunday Night Basketball: Check out Sections 1 & 2 to prep for tonight\u2019s doubleheader premiere featuring Lakers-Knicks at MSG (7 ET | Tap To Watch<\/a>) and Nuggets-Thunder (9:30 ET| Tap To Watch<\/a>) on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo.<\/p>\n

More All-Stars Unveiled: NBC\/Peacock\u2019s new Sunday night studio show Basketball Night in America will also reveal the 2026 NBA All-Star Game reserves at 6 ET, with seven players from each conference joining the 10 starters.<\/p>\n

1. SUNDAY NIGHT BASKETBALL: NBC\u2019S LATEST PREMIERES WITH LAKERS-KNICKS
\n\"Maria<\/p>\n

Jesse D. Garrabrant \/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

It\u2019s here: The place to close out your weekend with more of the best basketball this season has to offer.<\/p>\n

Sunday Night Basketball premieres tonight with a star-powered doubleheader featuring Lakers-Knicks at MSG (7 ET), and Nuggets-Thunder (9:30 ET) on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo.<\/p>\n

Basketball Night In America: NBA On NBC\u2019s familiar team of Maria Taylor and Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady will preview the night\u2019s action from Basketball Night In America, starting at 6 ET
\nFrom The (Peacock) Logo: WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark will join Basketball Night in America as a special contributor ahead of Lakers-Knicks
\nMore All-Stars Unveiled: Basketball Night in America will also reveal the 2026 NBA All-Star Game reserves at 6 ET
\nShare The Rock: NBC Sports\u2019 new weekly NBA primetime franchise will set a new tone with an intro starring GRAMMY Award-winning and Platinum artist Lenny Kravitz<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Adam Pantozzi\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Then, we tip it off.<\/p>\n

Lakers at Knicks (7 ET, NBC \/ Peacock \/ Telemundo): All-Star starters and former Mavs teammates Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and Jalen Brunson square off while LeBron James plays his 32nd career game at The Garden.<\/p>\n

LeBron at MSG: In 31 career games, James averages 28.2 ppg, 7.0 reb, 7.6 ast in the World\u2019s Most Famous Arena, with a 23-8 record
\n\u201cLotta excitement, I try to keep my composure,\u201d James has said of playing in NYC. \u201cIt\u2019s always special coming in this building. It\u2019s the Mecca of basketball.\u201d
\nGarden Luka: In a smaller sampling, Don\u010di\u0107 has strikingly similar numbers at MSG: 27.5 ppg, 8.8 reb, 7.6 ast (6 games, 4-2)<\/p>\n

Known for its offense, New York has held four of its last five opponents under 100 points, after holding only three teams under 100 in the previous 43 games.<\/p>\n

The Result? A five-game win streak, and a defense identity, to settle back into 2nd place in the East
\nOpponents may revere MSG, but these Knicks are 19-6 there \u2013 the 4th best home record in the NBA \u2013 and winners of three straight<\/p>\n

\"Luka<\/p>\n

2. SUNDAY NIGHT FINALE: MVPS CLASH IN THUNDER-NUGGETS PLAYOFFS REMATCH
\n\"Nikola<\/p>\n

Garrett Ellwood\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

With NBC\/Peacock\u2019s Sunday Night Basketball stage set, the premiere doubleheader concludes in Denver with a 2025 West Semis rematch \u2014 and a battle of the last two Kia NBA MVPs.<\/p>\n

Thunder at Nuggets (9:30 ET, NBC \/ Peacock \/ Telemundo): It\u2019s Strength vs. Strength as Denver\u2019s top-ranked offense (121.0 OffRtg) hosts OKC\u2019s top defense (105.7 DefRtg).<\/p>\n

Rivalry Crash Course: It\u2019s the first meeting between these two since OKC took Game 7 in last year\u2019s 2nd Round. They\u2019ll play four times in the final 33 games of this season
\nRecent History: Denver won last year\u2019s regular season series 3-1, before OKC turned the tables in the West Semis, 4-3, en route to their first championship
\n\u201cTheir main guys are great players that require unbelievable effort and energy to neutralize,\u201d Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Denver<\/p>\n

Denver kept pace in 3rd place during 31 days without Nikola Joki\u0107, dating back to his Dec. 29 knee injury.<\/p>\n

Full Strength: Joki\u0107\u2019s return Friday night produced a one-of-a-kind 31-pt, 12-reb, 5-ast statline in less than 25 minutes played
\nNo Slack: Jamal Murray (career-best 25.8 ppg) kept the Nuggets near the top of the West in Joki\u0107\u2019s absence, while Peyton Watson (career-high 14.7 ppg) stepped in as a bona fide No. 2 option
\nDuring the same stretch when Denver maintained 3rd place without Joki\u0107, OKC kept their defense atop the West (107.7 DefRtg), averaged the West\u2019s third-most points (117.9) and maintained a 5 game lead over everyone<\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander aims for his 120th consecutive game of 20 points or more in this matchup of the two most recent Kia MVPs.<\/p>\n

\"Shai<\/p>\n

3. PIONEERS CLASSIC: HONORING THE LEGACIES OF FIRST BLACK PLAYERS<\/p>\n

\"Myles<\/p>\n

The NBA is marking the start of Black History Month today with the first-ever NBA Pioneers Classic on ESPN between the Bucks and Celtics (3:30 ET), on the inaugural NBA Pioneers Day.<\/p>\n

NBA Pioneers Day honors the legacy and 75th anniversary of the NBA Pioneers: the league\u2019s first Black players, Chuck Cooper, Nat \u201cSweetwater\u201d Clifton and Earl Lloyd.<\/p>\n

Steve Aschburner has more on the moment \u2014 and the legacy \u2014 of the 1950 season, and the Pioneers who changed the game:<\/p>\n

The NBA\u2019s integration had begun<\/a>, with three men shouldering the load Jackie Robinson had lugged for baseball three years prior.<\/p>\n

\u201cChuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nathaniel Clifton transformed the NBA and inspired countless individuals through their courage and determination,\u201d said NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum. \u201cThese men embody the values of our game, and their legacy as pioneers is integral to our history.\u201d \u2026 | Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

Go to the NBA Pioneers Hub<\/a> for much more on today, and the season-long celebration of the 75th anniversary.<\/p>\n

With Boston and Milwaukee on the floor, this Pioneers Classic will heavily feature an aspect of the game that didn\u2019t exist when Cooper, Lloyd and Clifton made NBA history: the 3-point line.<\/p>\n

Long-Distance Specialists: The C\u2019s sink the second-most triples per game across the league this season (15.6) behind only the Bay, while the Bucks boast the second-best shooting percentage from 3 (39.0 3P%)
\nBrown Returns? After missing Friday night\u2019s game due to hamstring tightness, Celtics leading scorer Jaylen Brown isn\u2019t on today\u2019s injury report
\nTurner Rising: As the Bucks look to stop a 4-game skid and go without Giannis, they\u2019ll look Myles Turner to help: over the past four, Turner\u2019s averaging 20.8 ppg and 8.3 reb<\/p>\n

4. PLAY TO STRENGTH: HORNETS PASS HEAT CHECK, EMBIID\u2019S CLASSIC 40-BALL<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The NBA\u2019s longest active win streak belongs to Charlotte, where not even nine inches of snow and an Alien can stop the Buzz.<\/p>\n

Hornets 111, Spurs 106: Brandon Miller (26 pts, 8 reb) led all scorers while helping limit Wemby (16 pts, 8 reb), Collin Sexton hit a season-high five 3s with 21 pts, and LaMelo Ball (16 pts, 8 reb, 8 ast) was everywhere as Charlotte won its sixth straight game. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Best In 10: The Hornets\u2019 six-game win streak is the team\u2019s best since winning seven straight in 2016
\nOffensive Rise: During the streak, Charlotte ranks first offensively with a 123.1 OffRtg, along with the second-best Net Rating (15.6). They also lead the league in EFG% (60.0) and True Shooting (63.4%) in that span
\n\u201cWhen they threw their best shot, we threw ours right back,\u201d Sexton said of battling San Antonio. \u201cWe just dug deep and continued to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re coming,\u201d Sexton said of playing on national TV (Prime) Saturday. \u201cIt\u2019s not gonna happen overnight. It\u2019s gonna take an everyday process, and I feel like tonight was one of those.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sixers 124, Pelicans 114: Joel Embiid surged for 40 points<\/a> with a furious finish of 17 points in a 4th quarter where Philly\u2019s once 15-point lead evaporated. The big man closed spectacularly to ensure the Sixers\u2019 third straight win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Philly Finisher: After NOLA took a 107-104 edge with 6 minutes to play, Embiid (11 reb, 2 blk) poured in 10 in a 20-7 Philly victory closeout
\nJoel\u2019s first 40\u2013ball since Jan. 22 2024 places him with Tyrese Maxey as Philly\u2019s only 40-point scorers this season<\/p>\n

\"Anthony<\/p>\n

Tyler Clouse\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Out West, the Wolves are\u00a0once again the Conference\u2019s hottest team.<\/p>\n

Timberwolves 131, Grizzlies 114: Anthony Edwards (33 pts) and Julius Randle (27 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast) combined for 60 to give Minnesota a wire-to-wire win, its fourth in a row \u2014 all by double-digits. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Instant Impact: Ty Jerome (calf) made his season debut for the Grizzlies and led the team with 20 points and six assists<\/p>\n

5. WIN ANY WAY: ROCKETS TAP THOMPSON, DOSUNMU LEADS BULLS
\n\"Amen<\/p>\n

Logan Riely\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Rockets 111, Mavericks 107: Despite a 34-point follow-up to Cooper Flagg\u2019s NBA record for points in a game by a teen (49), Houston never trailed after the 2nd quarter or by more than two in this one, matching a season-high with 33 assists in a balanced attack. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Shine Time: Amen Thompson (21 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl) led six Rockets in double figures, including Kevin Durant (13 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast)
\nRacing Back: Flagg led Dallas with 10 points during a 4th quarter comeback that saw the Mavs erase a double-digit deficit to tie the game with under a minute to play before Houston held on
\nEncore: Coop\u2019s back-to-back 30+ point, 10+ rebound games mark just the third time this century a rookie has had two straight 30\/10 games, joining Michael Porter Jr. (2020) and Blake Griffin (3x)<\/p>\n

\"Cooper<\/p>\n

Houston has now won eight of its last 11 games.<\/p>\n

\"Ayo<\/p>\n

Issac Baldizon + Bobby Goddin\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Bulls 125, Heat 118: Ayo Dosunmu went off<\/a> for a season-high 29 points (8 reb, 9 ast, 5 3s), scoring 10 in the final frame to help Chicago survive Miami\u2019s 9-point rally to set up a rubber match for their three-game, four-day series tomorrow at 6 ET. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Not Alone: Buzelis (21 pts, 8 reb) supported Dosunmu tonight alongside Isaac Okoro (20 pts)
\nBring the Heat: Miami got 63 combined points from Pelle Larsson (22 pts 7 reb, career-high 5 stl), Bam Adebayo (21 pts, 11 reb), and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (20 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast)<\/p>\n

Pacers 129, Hawks 124: Indy turned a 9-point deficit into a 9-point, lasting advantage in a pivotal 45-34 2nd quarter where Jay Huff (16 pts) and Aaron Nesmith (23 pts) had 10 apiece. Andrew Nembhard (26 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast, 5 3s) paced the Pacers after a 15-point 1st<\/a>. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Return To Statlanta: Jalen Johnson led all scorers (33 pts, 12 reb, 10 ast, 3 stl) in his Eastern Conference-leading 8th triple-double this season and first since Jan. 2<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We\u2019ve never had a Sunday quite like this one. The first-ever Pioneers Classic tips at 3:30 ET on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":268949,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[4155,130613,85,46,32008,53850,140287,105,140286],"class_list":{"0":"post-268948","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-4155","9":"tag-february-1","10":"tag-il","11":"tag-israel","12":"tag-joel-embiid","13":"tag-nba-starting-5-newsletter","14":"tag-pioneers-classic","15":"tag-sports","16":"tag-sunday-night-basketball"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=268948"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268948\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/268949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=268948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=268948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}