{"id":155144,"date":"2026-02-07T16:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T16:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/155144\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T16:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T16:00:19","slug":"starting-5-feb-7-texas-sized-showdowns-headline-saturday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/155144\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5, Feb. 7: Texas-sized showdowns headline Saturday"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 3 to lead for good after trailing by 22.<\/p>\n

The block a minute later on the game-deciding drive.<\/p>\n

Derrick White and the Celtics rally to take over 2nd place in the East.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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

Feb. 7, 2026<\/p>\n

Saturday Spotlight: Wemby, KD, Flagg. Texas teams set to shine on national stage<\/p>\n

ABC\u2019s Primetime: LeBron, fresh Reaves lead Lakers against sharp-shooting Warriors<\/p>\n

Statement Wins: Celtics erase 22-point deficit, Pistons end Knicks\u2019 streak, Pels power up<\/p>\n

Roundup: Blazers Scoot past Grizz, Kawhi carries Clips over Kings, Bucks win third straight<\/p>\n

Countdown To All-Star: Highlighting three first-time selections taking the court today on League Pass<\/p>\n

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

Settle in for an all-day hoops haul\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

A 10-game Saturday puts the National spotlight on all three Texas teams, with Wemby vs. Flagg Round 3 on Prime (6 ET, Tap To Watch<\/a>) and KD\u2019s Rockets visiting OKC to start ABC\u2019s doubleheader (3:30 ET, Tap To Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Saturday Primetime on ABC then takes us to L.A., where LeBron, Austin Reaves and the Lakers host the Warriors (8:30 ET, Tap To Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

One Week From All-Star Saturday Night: 2026 NBA All-Star in Los Angeles arrives in just six days. The weekend of star-studded hoops looks like this:<\/p>\n

Friday, Feb. 13: Ruffles All-Star Celebrity Game at Kia Forum & Castrol Rising Stars at the Intuit Dome \u2013 secure your tickets here<\/a> using promo code NEWS26
\nSaturday, Feb. 14: NBA All-Star Saturday at Intuit Dome (5 ET, NBC & Peacock)
\nSunday, Feb. 15: The 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome (5 ET, NBC & Peacock)<\/p>\n

1. SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT: ALL 3 TEXAS TEAMS SET TO SHINE NATIONALLY
\n\"Kevin<\/p>\n

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

The national basketball spotlight will converge on the state of Texas all day today, in two games across two networks.<\/p>\n

Houston gets Saturday\u2019s action started at the home of the champs, looking to gain ground on the 1st place Thunder and avoid being swept in the season series (0-2).<\/p>\n

Rockets at Thunder (3:30 ET, ABC): Houston is keeping pace in the top half of a crowded Western Conference thanks in part to KD\u2019s chemistry with young playmaker Amen Thompson.<\/p>\n

Spend time Saturday morning\u00a0with Thompson in this NBA.com Inside Look<\/a>, where he talks about playing alongside Durant, point guard duties, lockdown defense and being part of the long and versatile Rockets lineup contending in the West
\nOn the other side, with SGA out through the break, OKC will lean on first-time All-Star and second-leading scorer Chet Holmgren (17.7 ppg), as their top defense looks to slow Houston\u2019s top-5 offense (117.3 OffRtg)<\/p>\n

\"Cooper<\/p>\n

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

Then, the spotlight shifts to Prime for two times the Texas in a rematch between Victor Wembanyama\u2019s Spurs and Cooper Flagg\u2019s Mavs.<\/p>\n

Mavericks at Spurs (6 ET, Prime): This two-game, home-and-home series concludes following Wemby and San Antonio\u2019s 135-123 Thursday win in Dallas.<\/p>\n

Flagg\u2019s Last Four: Coop scored 32 points Thursday, extending his streak as the youngest ever to score 30+ in four straight games
\nLeague Leader: Flagg leads all NBA scorers in that four-game span with 37.8 ppg, while averaging 9.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 56.2 FG%
\nWemby is no stranger to rookie records. In his first year, he became the first player ever to log 1,500+ points, 250+ blocks and 100+ 3s in a season
\nVictor still has a taste for record-setting, joining David Robinson last month as the only players to reach 3,440 pts, 1631 reb and 520 blocks in their first 150 games (since 1973-74)<\/p>\n

What will these two fast-start phenoms achieve in their third-career showdown after combining for 61 points<\/a> in Thursday\u2019s matchup?<\/p>\n

2. ABC\u2019S PRIMETIME: LEBRON, REAVES LEAD LAKERS AGAINST WARRIORS
\n\"Austin<\/p>\n

Nathaniel S. Butler\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

With the trade deadline behind us, the West Playoff race is starting to take shape.<\/p>\n

That shape? Gridlock.<\/p>\n

A conference that\u2019s seen razor-thin margins in its Playoff seedings the past few years now has five teams \u2014 from third to seventh \u2014 separated by just two games.<\/p>\n

Right in the center of that action are the fifth-place Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n

Tonight (8:30 ET, ABC), LeBron and the Lake Show face one of their fiercest rivals: an eighth-place Warriors team that knows all about cutting through Western Conference congestion, looking to make its own leap into Playoff position.<\/p>\n

LeBron and a fresh Austin Reaves lead L.A. against a Dubs squad relying on depth to execute its shooter-centric offense, with both Stephen Curry and Luka Don\u010di\u0107 out.<\/p>\n

Reaves\u2019 breakout season continues following his 19-game absence (calf), still on pace to be the first undrafted player to average 25+\/5+\/5+ for a season
\nNo Rust: Austin led the Lakers to a comeback win Thursday following Luka\u2019s injury, netting 21 of his 35 points in the 2nd half, with a minutes restriction
\n\u201cWe\u2019re just gonna keep him on a 25-minute limit,\u201d Lakers coach JJ Redick joked. \u201cIt\u2019s remarkable what he was able to do in his second game back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Pat<\/p>\n

Chris Coduto\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

In the Bay, the Dubs look to their depth, along with the touch that\u2019s made them the NBA\u2019s top 3-point shooting team by a distance.<\/p>\n

The gap between their league-leading 16.5 3PM per game and the second-place Celtics (15.5) \u2014 a full trey a game \u2014 is the same gap between the C\u2019s and the 9th-place Hawks (14.5).<\/p>\n

Pat Spencer has stepped up in the 13 games Steph\u2019s missed this season, averaging 11 ppg on 50% shooting from distance, including a career-high 20 points in Thursday\u2019s win
\nTwenty-3 Key: The Warriors trail only the Celtics (12) for most games with 20+ 3s this season, and are 10-1 when reaching that number from range<\/p>\n

Both teams made deadline deals to help their Playoff pushes, with Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is bringing height to the Warriors<\/a>\u2019 frontline, and Luke Kennard spotting up for L.A<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Roundup: The Hornets look to stretch their longest win streak of the century to nine, visiting the Hawks (7:30 ET), while Nikola Joki\u0107 can surpass Oscar Robertson for 2nd on the all-time triple-doubles list when the Nuggets take on the Bulls (8 ET).<\/p>\n

And James Harden is expected to make his Cavaliers debut in Sacramento tonight (10 ET).<\/p>\n

Wizards at Nets (3 ET)
\nJazz at Magic (7 ET)
\nSixers at Suns (9 ET)
\nGrizzlies at Blazers (10 ET)<\/p>\n

3. STATEMENT WINS: CELTICS STORM BACK, PISTONS STIFLE KNICKS
\n\"Payton<\/p>\n

Brian Fluharty\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Celtics 98, Heat 96: After trailing by 21 points at halftime, Boston stormed back behind 19 2nd-half points<\/a> from Payton Pritchard (24 pts) and stayed ahead in the clutch thanks to a 3-and-D flourish from Derrick White (21 pts, 5 ast, 4 blk) for a fourth straight win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

C\u2019s Comeback: Boston used a 23-5 run to tie the game at 72-all with under a minute left in the 3rd, capping a 36-15 game-altering quarter
\nClosing The Door: White drilled the corner triple to put the C\u2019s ahead<\/a> for good with 90 seconds left and then blocked Miami\u2019s driving attempt to tie it<\/a> a minute later
\nJaylen Brown\u2019s 29 points and seven rebounds led Boston throughout, while Andrew Wiggins (26 pts, 6 reb, 5 3s) and Norman Powell (24 pts) paced Miami<\/p>\n

\u201cGuys just stayed composed,\u201d Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107 (11 pts, 12 reb<\/a>) said after his Celtics debut. \u201cIt didn\u2019t bother them that we were down. Championship-caliber players. It was great to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pistons 118, Knicks 80: Daniss Jenkins (18 pts) led a Detroit offense that shot 53.0% from the field and was one triple shy of matching its season-high from distance (18) while holding Mikal Bridges (19 pts) and the Knicks to a season-low 80 points to end New York\u2019s eight game win streak. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

D-troit: The Pistons (2-0) have held New York to its two lowest scores this season, with Friday tying the third-lowest Knicks score since 2020
\n\u201cJust keeping that fire from last night and translating it into today, against a really good team,\u201d Cade Cunningham (11 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast) said of Detroit\u2019s followup to Thursday\u2019s loss to the Wizards. \u201cWe were all mad about that loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pelicans 119, Wolves 115: Ant Edwards\u2019 (35 pts, 5 reb, 5 3s) 23 1st-half points helped Minnesota build an 18-point lead, but New Orleans held the Wolves to 45 in the 2nd half and stormed back with an 8-0 run in a 4th quarter where Saddiq Bey scored 14 of his 30 points.<\/p>\n

Zion Williamson\u2019s (29 pts) and-1 take with under a minute<\/a> left put the Pels up for good, sealing the win with four stops on the Wolves\u2019 final two possessions. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

4. ROUNDUP: BLAZERS SCOOT PAST GRIZZ, CLIPS CARRY ON<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Blazers 135, Grizzlies 115: Portland scored 81 points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters to flip a double-digit deficit to a 30-point lead, as Jerami Grant (23 pts) and Jrue Holiday (20 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast) guided six more Blazers in double figures to snap their six game skid. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

In his season debut, Scoot Henderson (11 pts, 5 reb, 9 ast) returned from a hamstring injury to a standing ovation<\/a> and put up a strong statline in 21 minutes<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Clippers 114, Kings 111: 17 combined points from Kawhi Leonard (31 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast) and Kris Dunn (15 pts, 5 ast) in the 4th quarter put LA in control by double-digits, as the Clips outlasted Malik Monk\u2019s hot hand (18 pts, 6-9 3FG) to top the Kings. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Klaw Catches Blake: Kawhi tied Blake Griffin for most 30+ point, 5+ rebound, 5+ assist games (26) in Clipper history<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Bucks 105, Pacers 99: Up by as many as 20, Milwaukee withstood an 18-2 4th-quarter Indy run that made it a two possession game, as Kevin Porter Jr. (23 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast) and Bobby Portis (21 pts, 6 reb) responded with 11 combined points in the final 4 minutes to win it.<\/p>\n

Ryan Rollins added 22 points to help the Bucks secure their first three-game win streak of the season. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

5. COUNTDOWN TO ALL-STAR: 3 FIRST-TIMERS IN ACTION
\n\"Jamal<\/p>\n

Pamela Smith\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Next Sunday\u2019s All-Star Game (5 ET, NBC & Peacock) is set to feature a flock of fresh faces, with six of the 14 selected reserves making their All-Star debuts \u2014 with a brand-new format<\/a> on the way.<\/p>\n

NBA.com\u2019s Brian Martin highlights three first-timers<\/a> to get familiar with, in action today on League Pass:<\/p>\n

Jamal Murray \u2013\u00a0Nuggets @ Bulls (8 ET):<\/p>\n

\u201cA longtime member of the \u201cbest player to never be named an All-Star\u201d discussion thanks to his multiple 50+ point games, game-winning buckets, and big-game performances in both the regular season and playoffs, Murray breaks through in his ninth season while putting up career-best numbers in points (25.9), rebounds (4.3), assists (7.5), field goal (48.6%) and 3-point (43.2%) percentages.<\/p>\n

Murray was also a catalyst for keeping the Nuggets top three in the West while Denver dealt with a plethora of injuries. That includes leading the Nuggets to a 10-6 mark while three-time MVP and All-Star starter Nikola Joki\u0107 was sidelined for a month.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jalen<\/p>\n

Kevin C. Cox\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Jalen Johnson \u2013 Hawks vs. Hornets (7:30 ET):<\/p>\n

\u201cA year ago, Johnson\u2019s breakout season was halted by a torn labrum that required season-ending surgery. Back healthy to start the season, Johnson picked up where he left off and continued to elevate his game.<\/p>\n

The fifth-year forward is putting up career-best marks in points (23.2), rebounds (10.6) and assists (8.2) \u2014 joining All-Star starters Nikola Joki\u0107 and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only players averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists so far this season.<\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s ten triple-doubles, which quadruple his career total entering this season, rank second only to Joki\u0107 as Johnson\u2019s all-around game has earned him his first All-Star selection.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Chet<\/p>\n

Joshua Gateley\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Chet Holmgren \u2013 Thunder vs. Rockets (3:30 ET):<\/p>\n

\u201cIn his third NBA season, Holmgren anchors the league\u2019s top-ranked defense (105.7 DefRtg), ranking third in the league in blocked shots (2.0) and third in overall rim protection (49.2% allowed).<\/p>\n

This has helped OKC limit opponents to league lows of 107.9 points per game and 40.3 points in the paint per game.<\/p>\n

Holmgren has coupled his defensive excellence with career-best numbers on the glass (8.5) and in scoring (17.7 ppg) as OKC\u2019s second-leading scorer behind fellow All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.\u201d | Read More<\/a><\/p>\n