Flight 23. Year 23. Still dunking on Father Time.
After landing on USA Stripes for the 75th All-Star Game, LeBron took flight in Brooklyn.
See the full All-Star rosters in Section 2 ahead of the new U.S. vs. World format.
But first, read on & buckle up for tonight’s fifth meeting this season in the Spurs-Thunder rivalry, as the West’s top two teams clash on ESPN (9:30 ET) ⬇️
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Tonight On ESPN: Spurs & Thunder collide for Round 5, Nuggets visit streaking Knicks
All-Star Rosters Set: Stars, Stripes & World gear up for a three-team All-Star showdown
Tuesday’s Best: Pistons edge Nuggets in crunch time, Thunder hit 40 dubs, Brown & Flagg duel
Streaks & Showtime: Knicks (W7) and Sixers (W5) stay hot, LeBron & Lakers light up Brooklyn
Roundup: Collier’s clinic, Gillespie’s hot hand, Johnson’s triple-double, Kuz’s big night
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Seven games tip off tonight, headlined by an ESPN doubleheader as the Nuggets visit the Knicks (7 ET | Tap to Watch), before the Spurs host the Thunder in a rivalry duel between the West’s top two seeds (9:30 ET | Tap to Watch).
Trade Tracker: A flurry of reported deals went down yesterday with the NBA trade deadline approaching (Thursday at 3 p.m. ET), including James Harden reportedly traded to the Cavs for Darius Garland, and Jaren Jackson Jr. dealt to Utah. You can catch every official deal here.
January’s Best: The Lakers’ Luka Dončić and Celtics’ Jaylen Brown were named the Kia NBA West and East Players of the Month, respectively, for January. See the full monthly award list here.
Kia Rookie Ladder: The Starting 5 has your first look at Steve Aschburner’s newest Kia Rookie Ladder, with a red-hot Cooper Flagg reclaiming the top spot.
1. TONIGHT ON ESPN: THUNDER-SPURS ROUND 5, NUGGETS-KNICKS AT MSG
Four times the Spurs and Thunder have gone head-to-head this season.
Four times they’ve put on a show, with each meeting another chapter in their rivalry.
Now comes Round 5.
Tonight (9:30 ET, ESPN), OKC and San Antonio renew one of the league’s top rivalries for the fifth and final time this regular season. The two squads are 1st and 2nd out West, with the Thunder holding a 6-game edge at the top.
History: The defending champs claimed their latest meeting on Jan. 13, 119-98, but the Spurs won the previous three by an average of 12.3 ppg – making a point of beating the best
“This is our next step, because this OKC team, they’re not just first in the league,” said Victor Wembanyama in December. “They’re way ahead of everybody.”
Regardless of the outcome for San Antonio, Stephon Castle has shown up regularly on the scoreboard.
The Spurs, though, aren’t exempt from another All-Star season by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Castle Cooks: The 2nd-year guard has posted a team-high 21.3 ppg against the Thunder in 2025-26 while shooting 57.7% from the field and 50% on 3s
Shai Sizzles: With 29.5 ppg on a 50.6 FG%, the reigning Kia MVP has excelled against San Antonio, and can see their rivalry growing in the years to come
“There’s a good chance,” SGA said in December. “They are young, really good, have a lot of talent (and) play the right way. They play a good brand of basketball.”
But first, the Nuggets pay a visit to the streaking Knicks (7 ET, ESPN), who seek their eighth straight win.
Duel of Duos: All-Stars Nikola Jokić (8th selection) and Jamal Murray (1st) will go toe-to-toe with fellow All-Stars in Jalen Brunson (3rd) and Karl-Anthony Towns (6th)
Strength Meets Strength: Also in the matchup, Denver’s No. 1 OffRtg of 120.8 meets with New York’s mark of 119.2, good for No. 3
2. ALL-STAR ROSTERS REVEALED: USA STARS, USA STRIPES, TEAM WORLD
The 2026 All-Star rosters for the event’s new U.S. vs. World format are officially set.
The 75th All-Star Game, taking place Sunday, Feb. 15, in Los Angeles (5 ET, NBC & Peacock), will feature a round-robin mini-tournament between three teams: USA Stars, USA Stripes and Team World. | Full Format Explained
On Tuesday, Peacock revealed the rosters for all three teams, with the younger U.S. All-Stars placed on USA Stars and the older group placed on USA Stripes. Team World is composed of international players.
USA Stars: The Stars are stacked with youth and athleticism, with every player 25 or younger outside of Devin Booker (29).
Fresh Faces: That includes three first-time All-Stars in Jalen Duren, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Johnson
Floor Generals: The Stars will be led by four All-Star starters: Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards and Booker
USA Stripes: The veteran Americans fit the name, having earned their stripes through a combined 73 All-Star appearances.
The OGs: Making a record 22nd All-Star appearance, LeBron James joins his fellow NBA OGs, Steph Curry (12) and Kevin Durant (16), with a whopping 50 All-Star nods between the three legends
Decorated Core: Three other Stripes have 5+ All-Star selections: Jaylen Brown (5), Donovan Mitchell (7) and Kawhi Leonard (7), who was added to the All-Star field on Tuesday by Commissioner Adam Silver
Team World: The international squad is just as loaded, boasting the top four players on the current Kia MVP Ladder in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama, respectively.
Fan Favorites: Another former two-time Kia MVP guides the squad in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the East fan vote, while Dončić paced the West
Balanced Globe: Multi-time All-Stars Karl-Anthony Towns (6) and Pascal Siakam (4) round out the frontcourt, while guards Jamal Murray and Deni Avdija make their first All-Star appearances
The uniforms and court design for the 75th All-Star Game also dropped Tuesday.
Set to be played at the LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome, both the threads and the hardwood drew inspiration from the city of Los Angeles and the new U.S. vs. World format – celebrating the city’s rich basketball history and the league’s global influence.
The Ruffles All-Star Celebrity Game rosters were also revealed. The fan-favorite event, held at the Kia Center, helps tip off 2026 All-Star on Friday, Feb. 13, and you could be there – secure tickets now using promo code NEWS26.
3. TUESDAY’S BEST: PISTONS & THUNDER DUB, BROWN & FLAGG DUEL
With a 20-point lead evaporating and Denver’s top-rated offense on a tear, the Pistons appeared in danger of letting a signature win slip away.
Instead, they dug in.
Pistons 124, Nuggets 121: Down big in the 3rd quarter, the Nuggets came alive with a 41-point 4th, where Jamal Murray (32 pts, 8 ast) splashed a 3 to cut the lead to 2 with 2:05 left.
But the Pistons never blinked. Tobias Harris quickly answered with a 3, before Cade Cunningham added a clutch driving layup, followed by a string of late free throws to stave off Denver for a marquee dub. | Recap
Closing Conductor: Cunningham finished with 29 points and 10 dimes, driving Detroit’s offense, which scored on each of its final six possessions
Depth Delivers: Duncan Robinson (20 pts, 6 3s) joined Cade and four other Pistons in double figures, helping overcome Murray and another big night by Nikola Jokić (24 pts, 15 reb)
Pistons Purring: It’s Detroit’s third straight win and its ninth in 11 games, improving to an East-best 37-12
A 1st-quarter flourish made OKC the first team to 40.
Thunder 128, Magic 92: Isaiah Joe (22 pts, 5 3s) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (20 pts, 5 reb, 9 ast) led an OKC group that built a 25-point lead with a 39-14 1st quarter and never looked back, topping Jalen Suggs (20 pts, 6 ast) and Orlando for win No. 40. | Recap
A First, A 121st: SGA recorded his 121st game of 20+ points, while Isaiah Hartenstein (12 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast) secured his first career triple-double
While OKC hit 40, Jaylen Brown and Cooper Flagg exchanged 30s.
Celtics 110, Mavericks 100: After dropping a career-high 49 on Thursday and 34 on Saturday, Flagg’s record tear continued with an all-around clinic (36 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast, 2 blk).
But Brown (33 pts, 11 reb) always seemed to have an answer, while Payton Pritchard added 26 points and 7 dimes to push Boston past Dallas for its third straight win and fourth in five games. | Recap
Early Ignition: Brown dropped 15 in the 1st quarter as Boston took an early lead and never trailed again, moving to 32-18
Winter-Long Heat: Brown is averaging 30.3 ppg since Dec. 1 as the Celtics are 21-9 in that span – tied with Detroit for the NBA’s most wins
Flagg Flying: Despite the loss, Flagg (19yr, 44d) became the youngest player in NBA history to record three straight 30-pieces.
And while the numbers keep rising, his company keeps shrinking.
Teenage Takeover: Flagg’s 119 points over his last three outings are the most ever by a teenager in a three-game span
Special Company: He’s now just the fourth player 19 or younger to record multiple 35/5/5 games
The Others? LeBron James (4), Kevin Durant (2) and Luka Dončić (2)
4. STREAKS & SHOWTIME: KNICKS & SIXERS WIN AGAIN, LAKERS SHINE
Tied with the C’s at 32-18 are the surging Knicks, who just keep winning.
Knicks 132, Wizards 101: Mikal Bridges (23 pts, 5 ast) and Jalen Brunson (21 pts) led seven Knicks in double figures to a wire-to-wire win over Washington for a season’s-best seventh win in a row as New York keeps pace in the East. | Recap
Sixers 113, Warriors 94: VJ Edgecombe’s (25 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast) first career 25/5/5 game led eight Philly scorers in double figures, without Joel Embiid (leg), over Pat Spencer (13 pts) and a Warriors club without Steph for the Sixers’ fifth straight win. | Recap
Austin Reaves is back, and LeBron has his trailer ⬆️.
Lakers 125, Nets 109: Reaves returned from a 19-game absence (15 pts in 20 min), while James (25 pts, 7 ast, 3 stl) and Luka Dončić (24 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast) shined as the Lakers never trailed after 9:44 in the 1st quarter to finish their eight-game road trip 5-3. | Recap
Scoring At 41: Before this season, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1x) was the only player to record a 25-point game at 41 or older. Since turning 41 on Dec. 30, James has seven
Soaring At 41: He’s still throwing down off-the-glass oops, too – the first of two vintage jams that lit up Barclays Center
5. ROUNDUP: COLLIER, GILLESPIE & JOHNSON TAKE OVER, BUCKS ROLL
Twenty-two dimes, one timely dub.
Jazz 131, Pacers 122: Isaiah Collier (17 pts, 5 reb, 22 ast) became the youngest player in NBA history to dish 20+ assists in a regular season game as Utah beat Indy to snap its six-game skid. | Recap
Major Distribution: Collier is the first player this season to record 20+ assists in a game
Stock Rising: The only player in Utah history to drop more dimes in a single game? John Stockton (11x)
Suns 130, Blazers 125: After falling into a 19-point 1st quarter hole, Collin Gillespie willed Phoenix back (career-high 30 pts, 10 ast, 8 3s), combining for 14 triples with Grayson Allen (24 pts, 6 3s), who buried the dagger trey with 56 ticks left to top the Deni Avdija-less Blazers. | Recap
Sunny In The Valley: Phoenix, which was without Devin Booker (ankle), is 16-7 in its last 23 games, including four wins in its last five
Undrafted, Unconscious: Gillespie is just the third undrafted player to post 30/10 on eight 3s, joining Fred VanVleet and Jeremy Lin
Hawks 127, Heat 115: Jalen Johnson (29 pts, 11 reb, 11 ast) paced all scorers with his ninth triple-double, and CJ McCollum (26 pts, 6 3s) had his highest-scoring game as a Hawk, as Atlanta topped Miami for a fifth win in its last seven games. | Recap
Joker Then JJ: Johnson’s ninth triple-double (11th of his career) trails only Nikola Jokić (16) for most in the NBA this season
Rewind To ‘06: Prior to the game, Miami honored the 20th anniversary of its 2006 NBA title team, where Shaq had fresh hijinks for D-Wade & Co.
Bucks 131, Bulls 115: After falling behind in the opening minute, Milwaukee unleashed 77 1st-half points, its most since 2024, and never looked back thanks to Kyle Kuzma (season-high 31 pts, 10 reb, 6 ast) and Ryan Rollins (21 pts, 7 reb, 10 ast). | Recap
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