Another week, another running, falling, ice-cold 3 for a Pacers win — this time from Obi Toppin.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
March 18, 2025
The Closers: Indy & Denver beat the Wolves & Warriors to snap the league’s longest active win streaks
West Race: Rockets rally to keep No. 2 while Grizzlies and Lakers swap spots
East Race: Knicks & Pistons hold with wins, while Heat drop in the Play-In
Play-In Roundup: Bulls rise in the East, while Suns & Blazers stay in mix out West
Tuesday Preview: Celtics-Nets & Warriors-Bucks on NBA TV lead a four-game slate
BUT FIRST … ⏰
An NBA TV doubleheader awaits…
The defending champion Celtics go for their fourth straight 50+ win season when they host the Nets (7:30 ET) to tip off an NBA TV doubleheader. That’s followed by Giannis and the Bucks visiting Steph and the Warriors (10 ET) in a clash of two-time league MVPs.
1. STREAK SNAPPERS: PACERS TAME WOLVES IN OT, NUGGETS TOP WARRIORS
Entering Monday night, the Timberwolves (eight straight) and Warriors (seven straight) held the two longest active win streaks in the NBA.
For the second straight day — after the Cavs’ loss on Sunday — the night ended with new teams atop the longest streak list. This time courtesy of the shorthanded Pacers and Nuggets.
Pacers 132, Wolves 130 (OT): Obi Toppin scored six of his season-high 34 points on back-to-back 3s in the final 30 seconds – including the game-winner with 3.5 to play – as the Pacers snapped Minnesota’s eight-game win streak behind a familiar shot. | Recap
- Last Tuesday, Tyrese Haliburton hit a fading 3 from the corner (while being fouled) with 3.4 seconds left to complete a game-winning 4-point play to pull the Pacers even with the Bucks at 36-28
- Last night, it was Toppin’s turn to drain a fading 3 from the corner (this time without a foul) in the closing seconds to seal a Pacers win and again pull even in the standings with the Bucks at 38-29
With Haliburton sidelined – along with fellow starters Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith – it was Toppin who led eight Pacers in double figures in the win.
- Indy Three: Toppin joins Paul George (4x) and Turner (3x) as the only players in Pacers history with multiple games tallying 30+ pts, 10+ reb and 5+ 3pm
- Minny One: Ant Edwards (38 pts) posted his 40th game with 35+ points, passing Karl-Anthony Towns for the most in Wolves history
- Postseason Race (IND ↔️): Pacers remain No. 5 with the win, losing the tiebreaker to No. 4 MIL, 1.0 games up on No. 6 DET
- Postseason Race (MIN ↔️): Wolves remain No. 7 with the loss, in a virtual tie (down .003 in win percentage) with No. 6 GSW, 1.0 games up on No. 8 LAC
Nuggets 114, Warriors 105: Despite playing without Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun, the Nuggets pushed their win streak over the Warriors to nine straight – ever since Golden State eliminated Denver in the 2022 First Round – while also snapping the Warriors’ seven-game win streak entering Monday night. | Recap
- Star Trio: Aaron Gordon dropped 38 points for his highest-scoring game as a Nugget, Michael Porter Jr. added 21 points and 10 boards, and Russell Westbrook posted his 203rd career triple-double (12 pts, 12 reb, 16 ast) in the win
- Only Two Losses: Jimmy Butler (23 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast) suffered his second loss in uniform with the Warriors despite posting his sixth 20+ point game since the trade
- Postseason Race (DEN ↔️): Nuggets remain No. 3 with the win, losing the tiebreaker to No. 2 HOU, 1.0 games up on No. 4 LAL & No. 5 MEM
- Postseason Race (GSW ↔️): Warriors remain No. 6 with the loss, in a virtual tie (up .003 in win percentage) with No. 7 Minnesota, 1.0 games up on No. 8 LAC
2. ROCKETS RALLY FOR 7TH STRAIGHT WIN, REMAIN NO. 2 IN WEST
The NBA’s longest active win streak now belongs to Houston, which extended its run to seven straight in a thriller against the Sixers.
Rockets 144, Sixers 137 (OT): The Rockets overcame a 25-point deficit and a career-high 46 points from Quentin Grimes to keep their streak alive. Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. each went for 30 points and five 3s to lead the rally. | Recap
- Right On Time: Alperen Sengun played a total of one second in the 4th quarter. But he made it count, hitting the clutch tip-in off Smith’s missed free throw with 3.5 seconds left to tie game and force OT
- A Philly First: Grimes became the first player in Sixers franchise history to record 45+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ 3pm in a game
- A Houston Second: The 25-point comeback matched the largest for the Rockets in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98)
- Playoff Race (HOU ↔️): Rockets remain No. 2 with the win, holding the tiebreaker with No. 3 DEN, 1.0 games up on No. 4 LAL & No. 5 MEM
Lakers 125, Spurs 109: With LeBron James still on the mend, it was the Austin & Luka show on Monday night in L.A. Reaves (30 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast) and Dončić (21 pts, 9 reb, 14 ast) combined for 51 points and 20 assists as the Lakers won their eighth straight game at home. | Recap
- 1-2 Step: After Reaves danced with the defender for the stepback middy, LeBron rose from the Lakers bench to provide the shimmy
- Playoff Race (LAL ⬆️): Lakers rise to No. 4 with the win, holding tiebreaker with No. 5 MEM, 1.0 back of No. 2 HOU & No. 3 DEN
Kings 132, Grizzlies 122: The Kings got 22+ points and 6+ assists from Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine to overcome a season-high 44 points from Desmond Bane and the loss of Domantas Sabonis (ankle) to snap a four-game skid. | Recap
- One Of A Kind: Bane (7-7 3P) became the first player in Grizzlies history to record 40+ points and 5+ 3pm on 100% shooting from 3
- Postseason Race (MEM ⬇️): Grizzlies fall to No. 5 with the loss, losing the tiebreaker to No. 4 LAL, 1.0 games back of No. 2 HOU & No. 3 DEN
- Postseason Race (SAC ↔️): Kings remain No. 9 with the win, 3.5 games back of No. 8 LAC, 2.0 games up on No. 10 DAL
3. KNICKS, PISTONS STAY LOCKED IN PLAYOFF POSITION, HEAT DROP IN PLAY-IN
Knicks 116, Heat 95: Miami scored the game’s first 12 points and led 49-47 at the half. But Mikal Bridges scored 15 of his 28 points in the 3rd as the Knicks outscored the Heat 41-15 to take control and hand Miami its eighth straight loss. | Recap
- All Hart: Josh Hart (12 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast) posted his eighth triple-double of the season, matching Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier (1968-69) for the most in a season in franchise history
- Finding A Way: After dropping their first game without Jalen Brunson (ankle), the Knicks have won three of their last four without the All-Star PG. Fellow All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns scored 15 straight in the 1st half and finished with 23 points
- Postseason Race (NYK ↔️): Knicks remain No. 3 with the win, 5.5 games back of No. 2 BOS, 5.0 games up on No. 4 MIL
- Postseason Race (MIA ↔️): Heat fall to No. 10 with the loss, losing the tiebreaker to No. 9 CHI, 5.5 games up on No. 11 TOR
Pistons 127, Pelicans 81: Cade Cunningham (24 pts, 8 ast) and Simone Fontecchio (season-high 23) combined for 47 points to help the Pistons match the second-largest win (+46) in franchise history despite a game-high 30 points and a must-see poster from Zion Williamson. | Recap
- Don’t Look Now: Check out this smooth no-look dime from Ausar Thompson to Cunningham for the transition finish at the basket
- Playoff Race (DET ↔️): Pistons remain No. 6 with the win, 1.0 games back of No. 5 IND & No. 4 MIL, 5.5 games up on No. 7 ATL
4. ROUNDUP: BULLS MOVE UP, SUNS & BLAZERS STAY IN PLAY-IN CONTENTION
Bulls 111, Jazz 97: Coby White led all scorers with 26 points, while Tre Jones added 18 and a season-high 12 dimes to lead the Bulls to their fifth win in the last six games and climb within the East Play-In field. | Recap
- Postseason Race (CHI ⬆️): Bulls rise to No. 9 with the win, holding the tiebreaker with No. 10 MIA, 2.5 games back of No. 8 ORL
Suns 129, Raptors 89: Devin Booker (27 pts, 6 ast) and Ryan Dunn (17 pts, 6 reb) combined for 44 points to lead seven Suns in double figures as Phoenix led by as many as 40 and cruised to the win. | Recap
- Postseason Race (PHX ↔️): Suns remain No. 11 with the win, 1.0 games back of No. 10 DAL, 2.0 games up on No. 12 POR
- Postseason Race (TOR ↔️): Raptors remain No. 11 with the loss, 5.5 games back of No. 10 MIA
Blazers 112, Wizards 97: Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe combined for 46 points and seven 3s, while rookie Donovan Clingan added a double-double (11 pts, 13 reb) and showed off his hype man skills as the Blazers won their second straight. | Recap
Postseason Race (POR ↔️): Blazers remain No. 12 with the win, 2.0 games back of No. 11 PHX and 3.0 games back of No. 10 DAL
5. WARRIORS-BUCKS LEADS TUESDAY’S 4-GAME SLATE
After a slow start to 2024-25, the rejuvenation of the Warriors after trading for Jimmy Butler has been one of the biggest stories of the second half.
The Dubs enter tonight’s matchup against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks having won eight of their last nine games (10 ET, NBA TV).
- Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself: The Warriors have looked like a new team with the addition of Butler – sporting a 14-2 record with him in the lineup and ranked in the top five in both offensive and defensive rating since the trade
- Forgot About Dray: Butler’s presence has also fueled Draymond Green, who has risen to 8th in the league in average plus/minus (+8.9, min. 10 games played)
- Next Up: The Greek Freak (30.4 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 6.0 apg) is on pace for his third season averaging at least 30-10-5, breaking a tie with Wilt and Oscar Robertson for the most such seasons in NBA history
Nets at Celtics (7:30 ET, NBA TV): Boston hosts Brooklyn tonight, looking to secure its fourth straight 50+ win season.
- The Celtics are 12-2 against division rivals and squeezed by the Nets this past Saturday with the help of Kristaps Porziņģis, who delivered 24 points in his first game back since Feb. 26
Cavaliers at Clippers (10:30 ET, League Pass): After their franchise best 16-game win streak was snapped by the Magic on Sunday, the Cavaliers will look to start a new streak when they visit the Clippers.
- The Cavs lost their first game since Feb. 4 and will look to ignite their offense after being held to 103 (third lowest of the season) on Sunday. They still rank second in the league in scoring at 122.5 ppg
- Clippers’ Stifling Defense: LA ranks No. 2 in defensive rating at 109.3 and ranks top three in steals at 9.6 per game
- The Kawhi Leonard and James Harden partnership has been paying off in the stretch run, with LA winning three straight and six of its last seven games. Harden (27.2 ppg, 9.8 apg) and Kawhi (24.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg) have combined to average 51.2 ppg in March
Hawks at Hornets (7:00 ET, League Pass): Trae Young and the Hawks look to continue their hold on the seventh spot in the East when they visit LaMelo Ball in Charlotte.
- Young scored 35 points and made all 21 of his free throws against the Hornets last Wednesday
- Dropping Dimes: Young is averaging a career-high 11.5 assists per game this season
