New threads, same Buckets.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION

Feb. 9, 2025

First Impressions: AD makes Mavs history, while Jimmy & Steph ignite an epic rally

Shining in the Spotlight: Reaves (45) and Tatum (40) take over on the national stage

Marquee West Wins: The conference’s best clash, Denver stays hot, Wolves halt Blazers

Saturday Roundup: Paolo’s clutch Magic, Trae & Harden operate, Kings earn a timely W

Curtain Call: Beloved basketball icon Hubie Brown calls his final game (2 ET, ABC)

BUT FIRST …

A special Sunday…

Brown’s Farewell: Legendary coach and broadcaster Hubie Brown will call his last NBA game today on ABC as the Bucks host the 76ers (2 ET). Check out NBA.com’s Q&A with Brown on his Hall of Fame career here.

1. DAZZLING DEBUTS: AD DOMINATES, JIMMY & STEPH COOK

One week after being traded to Dallas in a deal that rocked the basketball world, Anthony Davis rocked American Airlines Center with a monster debut – that ended in a bittersweet Mavs win.

Mavericks 116, Rockets 105: In a historic introduction, Davis became just the third Mav in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) to record 20+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists in any half, putting Dallas up 17 at the break.

But AD exited the game with a lower-body injury in the 3rd quarter, as Houston climbed back in it. However, the Mavs held on in the 4th to secure the win, handing the Rockets their sixth straight loss. | Recap

Brought to Dallas for his elite two-way rim presence, AD was introduced to a standing ovation before standing tall on both ends – letting his new city know, “I’m here.”

• Davis Domination: In just 30:56 of action, AD recorded 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks
• AD’s Impact: That led to a franchise record 18 blocks for Dallas, while his 16 boards were the most by any player in their Mavs debut
• Christie & Kai Close: After AD went down in the 3rd, Max Christie (23 pts, 4 3s) – packaged in the deal with Davis – and Kyrie Irving (13 pts, 6 ast) combined for 18 points in the 4th to slam the door
• “It was great,” said Davis on his debut welcome. “[The fans] helped with my energy … and obviously it’s a big-time win.”
• Regarding AD’s Injury? “It’s nothing serious,” said Davis postgame

There’s a new duo in the Bay, and they were golden on Saturday.

Warriors 132, Bulls 111: Playing in his former home arena in Chicago, Jimmy Butler tallied 25 points in his Warriors debut, as the Warriors rallied from 24 points down in the 3rd for the win.

Steph Curry went nuts, dropping 24 points on five 3s in the 3rd to ignite a 56-13 run that carried into the 4th, as Golden State stormed past Chicago for its third-largest comeback in the play-by-play era. | Recap

California Chemistry: Curry also added 6 assists while Butler chipped in 4, as Golden State tallied 34 helpers en route to its 4th-highest scoring game this season.

• “Opposites attract in life,” said Butler on his connection with Curry. “I don’t think I could be a better complement to him and vice versa.”
• “He’s an amazing player,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr on Butler. “But I’m most impressed with his passing.”
• “His passing changes everything and connects the game,” Kerr continued. “Just his presence out there – he’s a lion.”

1. NATIONAL STAGE STATEMENTS: REAVES ERUPTS, TATUM TAKES OVER

In a matchup between two contenders playing their best ball of the season, Austin Reaves delivered one of the best outings of his career.

Lakers 124, Pacers 117: With LeBron James out, Reaves took control – and went off – dropping a career-high 45 points on 14-of-26 shooting along with 7 boards, 7 dimes and 3 steals to stave off Pascal Siakam (23 pts), Tyrese Haliburton (19 pts, 9 ast) and the Pacers. | Recap

• Purple & Gold Greats: Reaves is just the fourth Laker to record 45/5/5 in a game since 2000, joining LeBron, AD and Kobe
• Lake Show Surging: To get there, he scored 25 in the 2nd half, including 14 in the 4th to secure L.A.’s fifth straight win, improving to 11-2 in its last 13 games
• Up Next, Luka? The Lakers return to action Monday against Utah, with Luka Dončić expected to make his team debut (10:30 ET, LP)

Two East powers collided Saturday at MSG, where the C’s flexed their championship DNA.

Celtics 131, Knicks 104: Jayson Tatum set the tone on the first bucket of the game with a highlight shake and slam to give Boston a lead it never relinquished, as he poured in 40 points to lead the defending champs to an emphatic dub. | Recap

• Boston 3-Party: Tatum splashed seven triples, while Payton Pritchard added 25 points on six 3s for Boston’s fifth win in six games
• Spark Plug: It’s Pritchard’s 17th game this season with 5+ treys, joining Wayne Ellington (2017-18) and Malik Beasley (also this season) as the only reserves ever to do so
• Jalen Brunson turned in 36 points for New York, which dropped 2.5 games back of Boston for 2nd in the East 

3. MARQUEE WEST WINS: OKC & DENVER EXTEND STREAKS, WOLVES TOP BLAZERS

In a battle between the top two teams out West, the first-place Thunder doused the red-hot Grizzlies.

Thunder 125, Grizzlies 112: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32) notched his 20th straight 25+ point game, while Aaron Wiggins (26) and Jalen Williams (25) added 20-pieces as OKC stymied Memphis, handing the Grizz just their second loss in 12 games. | Recap

• Best vs. Best: OKC is now 2-0 vs. Memphis this season, holding its league-leading offense to 109 ppg – nearly 15 points below its season average (123.5)
• Rolling Thunder: OKC’s win streak is now five games, while Memphis’ ended at four

Nuggets 122, Suns 105: The walking triple-double, Nikola Jokić, finished one assist shy of adding to his NBA-best total (24) with 26 points, 11 boards and 9 dimes, while Jamal Murray scored 30 for Denver’s sixth straight dub. | Recap

Wolves 114, Blazers 98: After trailing by 13 late in the 3rd quarter, Minnesota outscored Portland 38-14 in the 4th to snap the Blazers’ win streak at six games. Jaden McDaniels led the way with a career-high 30 points in the absence of Anthony Edwards (hip). | Recap

4. ROUNDUP: PAOLO WINS IT, TRAE & HARDEN FEAST, KINGS DUB

Magic 112, Spurs 111: Franz Wagner posted 33 points and a career-high 12 boards, and the Magic closed the game on a 10-2 run, capped by Paolo Banchero’s game-winning jumper with 24 ticks left to rally past Victor Wembanyama (18 pts, 9 reb, 4 stl, 4 blk) and the Spurs. | Recap

• 4th-Quarter Magic: It’s Orlando’s 9th win this season when entering the 4th quarter without the lead – the most in the NBA
• Their Secret? Locking down, as the Magic own the best 4th-quarter DefRtg (102.0) and the best clutch DefRtg (92.1)

Kings 123, Pelicans 118: Zion Williamson (season-high 40 pts) and CJ McCollum (31 pts) combined for 71, but it wasn’t enough to slow down Sacramento, as Domantas Sabonis (27 pts, 16 reb) sparked a 45-22 Kings 3rd quarter to help his team overcome a 20-point deficit and hold on for the win. It was Sabonis’ league-leading 46th double-double of the season. | Recap

Hawks 125, Wizards 111: Trae Young was operating (35 pts, 14 ast, 5 3s), as Atlanta dished out 36 dimes to outpace the Wizards for its third win in four games, despite Bub Carrington’s career-high 23 points. | Recap

• Atlanta Assists: It’s the Hawks’ 26th game this season with 30+ assists – the most in franchise history
• Trae Time: Meanwhile, it’s Young’s 23rd career game with 35+ pts, 10+ ast, and 5+ 3s, passing Damian Lillard for third-most all-time
• Maestros: The only two players with more such games? Luka Dončić (25) and James Harden (34)

Clippers 130, Jazz 110: Speaking of which, Harden cooked on Saturday (23 pts, 17 ast), while Ivica Zubac ate (26 pts, 15 reb), and Norman Powell added 26 points to power the Clips past Utah, halting LA’s 3-game slide. | Recap

5. TODAY ON ABC: LEGEND HUBIE BROWN CALLS HIS FINAL GAME

For more than a half-century, Hubie Brown has blessed the basketball world with unparalleled passion and knowledge of the game – first in the classroom as a teacher, then on the court as a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, and for the past 3+ decades, courtside as a broadcaster.

“It’s the most remarkable thing and it’s not hyperbole,” said Brown’s broadcasting partner Mike Breen. “He has probably taught more people about the game of basketball than anybody that’s ever lived.”

On Sunday (2 ET, ABC), the beloved basketball icon – whose enthusiasm and wisdom have defined his 35-year run as a national TV and radio analyst, including calls for 18 NBA Finals – will be on the mic one last time as the Bucks host the 76ers.

But after all these years, despite his legendary resume and revered preparation, the 91-year-old Hall of Famer still gets butterflies before tip-off.

• “You’re always nervous,” Brown said. “Because you want to be able to paint the picture, you want to be able to educate the fan to another level of expertise, and you realize it’s a team doing it, not yourself.”

According to his colleagues and peers, nobody has done it better.

• Breen: “You can feel and hear it in his voice how much he loves the game. He explained it where somebody who’s followed the league their whole life and somebody who just recently started watching could understand what he’s saying. He appealed to every type of NBA fan.”
• Kevin Harland: “Hubie Brown has brought more than I think any of us can comprehend to the game of basketball and the televising of basketball.”

Two more games tip off on League Pass, beginning with the Pistons hosting the Hornets (1 ET), before the Rockets aim to snap their 6-game slide as they face the Raptors (2 ET).

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