Nightly Pulse: NBA News & Highlights from Feb. 21
Catch up on tonight’s NBA action as several teams resume play following the All-Star break.
NBA.com Staff
Friday Night Hoops 🏀
Cavaliers 142, Knicks 105
Grizzlies 105, Magic 104
Bucks 104, Wizards 101
Heat @ Raptors – Watch
Pistons @ Spurs – Watch
Pelicans @ Mavericks – Watch
Thunder @ Jazz – Watch
Warriors @ Kings – 10:00PM ET
Grinding out the W 💪
Tonight’s Grizzlies-Magic matchup was a true treat. The lead see-sawed throughout the final quarter, as it did the entire game. Memphis managed to hold on for the win, despite Santi Aldama missing a pair of free throws in the final seconds. That gave Orlando a chance to win, down by just one, however Jaren Jackson Jr. got the key defensive stop as the buzzer sounded.
Wiggins FTs Force OT
Andrew Wiggins got fouled on a corner three-point attempt and sank all three free throws to tie this one up at 107 apiece. Both teams had a shot to take the lead after but could not, with Bam Adebayo’s floater just before the buzzer rimming off.
Cavs Rout NY 😨
Cleveland sent an emphatic message to the rest of the league with a lopsided 142-105 victory at home over the Knicks. Tonight’s win showcased the gap between the Cavaliers and the rest of the conference at this moment. The team shot 19-37 from three, and more than 60% from the field.
👀 Heat on Verge of 5th Straight Loss
The Toronto Raptors are playing good team basketball and are now only three points behind Miami. Toronto’s home crowd will try to will their team to victory, which would mark the 5th straight loss for Miami if they drop this one.
Wizards Within Two 🚨
Washington has reached a new offensive gear late in the fourth and are on the verge of a comeback upset win. The Bucks are without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the remainder of the game after fouling out. Damian Lillard was also sidelined for this one.
Paolo Express 🚆
Banchero steamrolls his way to the rin, keeping his foot on the pedal as the Magic try to hold off a Grizzlies comeback. We’re in the final minutes of a good one in Orlando.
Castle at the Buzzer ✅
Stephon Castle helped his team salvage momentum with a buzzer-beating floater to end the first quarter. He came off the bench and has had success early, but his team trails to the Pistons, 36-27.
KPJ Hammer 🔨
The Bucks have a double-digit lead and will hope to ride that to victory in the fourth quarter against the Wizards. Kevin Porter Jr. had a powerful flush, flashing the scoring upside that he brings to this Milwaukee squad.
Grizzlies Storm Back 😳
This game has gone back and forth in each quarter, but the third has been especially volatile. Orlando led by as many as 17 midway through the period, before the lead was completely erased as the Grizzlies caught fire from deep. Paolo Banchero sank a triple just before the quarter ended to give the Magic a three-point lead going into the final frame.
GG Jackson is largely responsible for Memphis clawing back, as he sank three straight triples to even the game.
Pelicans Dynamic Offense 🔥
New Orleans is flashing their offensive upside early against the Mavericks. Zion Williamson slams down the alley-oop from near halfcourt from Kelly Olynyk. Olynyk was acquired from Toronto in the deal that sent Brandon Ingram to the Raptors.
Trey Murphy III continues his breakout season by doing what he does best, knocking down triples.
Knicks Fall Behind Big
This matchup between two top-three seeds in the Easter conference has been completely one-sided. Cleveland led by 27 points at halftime. 77 points are the most the Knicks have relinquished in the first half all season.
Fox 🤝 CP3
The San Antonio Spurs will roll out De’Aaron Fox and Chris Paul alongside each other in the starting backcourt. With Victor Wembanyama ruled out for the season, the recently acquired Bismack Biyombo will get the starting nod at center tonight.
Barnes Back in Action
Good news for Toronto fans as Scottie Barnes’ ankle scare appears to not be too serious. Barnes headed to the locker room toward the end of the first quarter against the Heat, but has returned to the court halfway through the second quarter.
Knotted at Halftime 🪢
It’s anybody’s game in Orlando, as the Magic and Grizzlies head to the locker room tied at 53. Memphis claimed a seven-point advantage after the first quarter. Orlando would answer in the second, led by Cole Anthony and Franz Wagner who have 12 and 11 points respectively.
Scottie Barnes Heads to Locker Room
The young Raptors star needed assistance to the sideline after appearing to injure his ankle while guarding a Bam Adebayo drive. He eventually was aided to the locker room for further evaluation. His team is trailing by double-digits against Miami after one period, 30-19.
2-Way Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins demonstrates in one sequence why his addition is appealing for Heat culture. He gets the steal on one end, and drains the triple on the other. This is his third game with Miami since being acquired in the Jimmy Butler trade.
Donovan Mitchell helps Cleveland extend their lead with the acrobatic finish plus the foul. Mitchell now has a team-high 15 points with several minutes to go before halftime.
Cavs 1Q Explosion 💣
Cleveland has scored with ease all season, especially so in the opening quarter. That remains true tonight as they lead 41-29 against the Knicks after one. They sunk 17-23 field goals in that frame, led by Evan Mobley with 13 early points.
New Chapter 📖
Khris Middleton scored his first career points for the Washington Wizards tonight, after being dealt there at the deadline. Prior to the trade, Middleton spent his entire career in Milwaukee.
As a team, the Wizards are rolling early against a short-handed Milwaukee team. The Bucks are struggling offensively without Damian Lillard, shooting just 35% in the first period. Washington leads 32-19 after one.
Who’s Stopping Paolo?
The Memphis Grizzlies will be tasked with taming Paolo Banchero, who’s coming off of an incredible performance last night. Banchero torched Atlanta for 36 points, 11 rebounds and five assists – and most importantly, the win.
OG Returns for NY
Head Coach Tom Thibodeau will have a boost in his starting lineup tonight, as OG Anunoby suits up for his first contest since February 1st. His return softens the blow of not having Josh Hart for the second night in a row. His presence will help on the defensive end, as they try to slow down one of the league’s most potent offenses.
Cleveland’s Keys 🔑
The Cavaliers’ are prioritizing matching New York’s physicality. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will be tasked with taming Karl-Anthony Towns, while imposing their will on the offensive end.
Tonight’s Top Stories 📰👇
Follow along as 26 teams resume regular season play following the NBA Cup championship break
Follow along with the highlights, scores and reaction from tonight’s NBA games.
Check out the scores, highlights and analysis from Monday with all 30 teams in action and great matchups all across the slate.
See all the highlights, reaction and scores as tonight’s NBA action unfolds.
Denver has climbed the Western Conference standings over the last 3 weeks.
RotoWire highlights the top waiver wire targets for Week 18 of fantasy action.
LeBron drops 40 to make history, KAT & Paolo do work, the Nuggets keep cooking, East powers return to action and more.
DFS picks for Friday’s 9-game slate in the NBA.
The 3-time scoring champ hits a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer in Milwaukee to reach another significant scoring milestone.
Lakers star plays in his 1,542nd career game and becomes the 1st player with multiple 40-point games after turning 40.
If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page.
NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLC’s Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network
Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Use limited data to select advertising. Measure content performance. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised content. Create profiles to personalise content. Measure advertising performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content.
List of Partners (vendors)
LATEST
Additional Tracking Preferences
NEWS
Nightly Pulse: NBA News & Highlights from Dec. 19
Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Jan. 24
What happened around the NBA on Nov.4
Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Jan. 17
NUGGETS EYE FIRST 10-GAME STREAK UNDER MALONE
NBA FANTASY: WEEK 18 WAIVER WIRE ADDS
STARTING 5: KNICKS, CAVS SET TO SQUARE OFF
NBA FANTASY: DFS LINEUP PICKS FOR FEB. 21
HARDEN BECOMES 13TH TO ECLIPSE 27K POINTS
LEBRON MOVES UP TO NO. 3 IN GAMES PLAYED
We and our partners process data to provide:
RELATED
Cavs shoot 61 percent to blow out Knicks
Donovan Mitchell scored 17 of his 27 points in the second quarter and Evan Mobley finished with 21 points, fueling the host Cleveland Cavaliers to a 142-105 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday.
Mitchell made 10 of 15 shots from the floor — including 5 of 7 from 3-point range — before sitting out the fourth quarter.
Mobley sank 9-of-11 attempts from the floor and collected eight rebounds and three steals for Cleveland, which cruised to its sixth straight win and 10th in the last 11 games.
The Cavaliers shot a robust 60.9 percent from the floor and dominated the interior with a 66-38 advantage in points in the paint.
Cleveland’s Ty Jerome scored 19 points and De’Andre Hunter drained four 3-pointers to highlight his 16-point performance off the bench. Jarrett Allen had 10 points before exiting in the third quarter with an injured right hand.
New York’s Jalen Brunson scored 16 of his 26 points in the first quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns added 23 points and Mikal Bridges finished with 14.
OG Anunoby had five points in his return from a six-game absence due to a right foot sprain for the Knicks, who saw their three-game winning streak come to a halt.
Cleveland exploited the interior en route to a 41-29 lead at the end of the first quarter. Mobley made all four of his shots from the floor to score 10 points for the Cavaliers.
Cleveland extended its lead to 55-36 following a 14-2 run in the second quarter. New York tried to keep pace, but Mitchell followed a dunk by Mobley with back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Cavaliers a 77-50 advantage at halftime.
Sam Merrill’s 3-pointer extended Cleveland’s lead to 106-73 with 2:52 remaining in the third quarter. The Cavaliers scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter and put it on cruise control from there.
Cleveland’s Dean Wade scored two points in his return from an 11-game absence due to a bone bruise in his right knee.
–Field Level Media
Copyright 2025
4 Nations Face-Off Proves One Thing: The NHL Needs More Of This
Best Sports Betting Picks Today: College Basketball, NBA Predictions For February 21st
Three Overrated College Football Teams Headed Into 2025
Let’S Overreact To Luka Doncic’S First Three Games With The Los Angeles Lakers
These Five MLB Bottom Feeders Are Already Pretty Much Eliminated From 2025 Playoffs
Best Sports Betting Picks Today: 4 Nations Face-Off, NBA Bets For February 20th
Three Big Storylines As 2025 NBA Season Inches Closer To Playoff Time
Netflix Wants Sunday Afternoon Regular Season NFL Games, And That’S A Great Idea
Gloves Off Or Game On? USA Vs. Canada Rematch Promises Fireworks
Three Storylines Entering 2025 MLB Spring Training: Dodgers, Mets, & More
All-Stars Donvan Mitchell and Evan Mobley power East-leading Cavaliers to 142-105 blowout of Knicks
CLEVELAND — – Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points, Evan Mobley added 21 and the Cleveland Cavaliers bullied the New York Knicks from the start Friday night, winning 142-105 in a matchup of two of the Eastern Conference’s top teams.
Only the Cavs looked elite, winning their sixth straight and improving the NBA’s best record to 46-10. Cleveland has won 34 games by double digits.
Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and Karl-Anthony Towns 23 for the Knicks, who beat Chicago in overtime on Thursday in their first game back from the All-Star break.
New York couldn’t use a back-to-back as any excuse as the Cavs won in Brooklyn a night earlier. It was the Knicks’ most-lopsided loss this season.
Cleveland got a scare in the first half when All-Star guard Darius Garland hit his head on the floor while taking an awkward fall. Garland, who missed significant time last season with a broken jaw, stayed in the game.
The Cavs played most of the second half without center Jarrett Allen, who injured his right hand. X-rays were negative.
Takeaways
Knicks: New York was without versatile swingman Josh Hart, who missed his second straight game with a sore right knee.
Cavaliers: Dean Wade’s return from injury makes Cleveland as healthy as it has been in months. Wade gives coach Kenny Atkinson defensive depth and versatility.
Key moments
Mitchell went on a tear late in the first half, dropping 3-pointers in final 1:43 as Cleveland opened a 27-point halftime lead.
Key stat
Mitchell loves facing the Knicks. He came in averaging 30.7 points. 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in his previous nine regular-season games against them.
Up next
It’s a big weekend for both teams as the Knicks are in Boston on Sunday. The Cavs host the top-scoring Memphis Grizzlies that night.
——
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nbabr/]
