Friday Night Hoops 🏀
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.
And Jaren Jackson Jr. seals it on the other end with the block!!
Grizzlies get the W in Orlando! https://t.co/31iYB8xfBa pic.twitter.com/tWKuBqAxdn
— NBA (@NBA) February 22, 2025
Wiggins FTs Force OT
WE’RE GOING TO OVERTIME IN TORONTO 🚨@MiamiHEAT 107@Raptors 107
5 extra minutes on NBA League Pass!
— NBA (@NBA) February 22, 2025
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.
TINGS A GWAAN👌 pic.twitter.com/6SOHsiu1Sz
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 22, 2025
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.
🏀 FRIDAY’S FINAL SCORES 🏀
Donovan Mitchell scores the game-high 27 PTS as the @cavs win their 6th game in a row and stay atop the East!
Evan Mobley: 21 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 3 STL
Ty Jerome: 19 PTS, 2 STL pic.twitter.com/srZ0Zb8OWP
— NBA (@NBA) February 22, 2025
👀 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.
ALEX SARR 20 PIECE 🔥
22 PTS ⚡️ 7 REB pic.twitter.com/yZ5X2RW3Rh
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) February 22, 2025
And it was a behind-the-back dish??
SHEESH 😮💨 https://t.co/ejJyR7P6Ov pic.twitter.com/OSXVHmVBjw
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) February 22, 2025
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.
Goga with the block
Paolo with the lay pic.twitter.com/eiIvqLU2CO
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 22, 2025
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.
AT THE BUZZER 🚨
END 1 | SAS 27, DET 36 pic.twitter.com/iZoPN9PnmC
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 22, 2025
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.
KPJ with the ferocious flush! pic.twitter.com/1aObIWSyAG
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 22, 2025
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.
23-7 run to close the third 💪
END Q3 | MEM 80, ORL 83 pic.twitter.com/ZoJfFbQ1cs
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) February 22, 2025
GG Jackson is largely responsible for Memphis clawing back, as he sank three straight triples to even the game.
GG JACKSON ONE-MAN RUN 🎯🎯🎯
3 straight 3PM to bring the Grizzlies all the way back to end the 3Q! pic.twitter.com/G368vcHMvz
— NBA (@NBA) February 22, 2025
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.
KO THROWS IT UP TO Z 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/gaV15R9UvP
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 22, 2025
Trey Murphy III continues his breakout season by doing what he does best, knocking down triples.
he hot 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DPBK8Gr21s
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 22, 2025
Knicks Fall Behind Big
at the half pic.twitter.com/L6Q0AZ66JM
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 22, 2025
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.
Friday five 🖐️@Ticketmaster | #sponsored pic.twitter.com/8OTXXVmXHl
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 22, 2025
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.
keep hooping @The_ColeAnthony pic.twitter.com/cQtpPx1W46
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 22, 2025
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.
Wiggins got the steal on one end & the 3 on the other 👌
Tune in on FanDuel Sports Network 📺 pic.twitter.com/bkx79Of1ls
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 22, 2025
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.
Spida with the CIRCUS and-1 🎪
Cavs leading the Knicks on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/vP4uDJrOao
— NBA (@NBA) February 22, 2025
Cavs 1Q Explosion 💣
SPIDA ➡️ DR3. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/mEn2WWyzOq
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 22, 2025
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.
Khris Middleton’s first bucket as a Wizard 🪄
MIL-WAS on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/DJPgLFHRsD
— NBA (@NBA) February 22, 2025
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.
elite company 🪄 pic.twitter.com/OJpwKqdR8a
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 21, 2025
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.
KEYS FOR A KEY EASTERN CONFERENCE MATCHUP.@keybank | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/4hDM8S3RkI
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 21, 2025
Tonight’s Top Stories 📰👇
- Eastern Conference Heavyweight Showdown: One of the first games on the slate, features a pair of teams aiming to be conference champions. The Cleveland Cavaliers have set the pace in the East all season long, and continued their regular season success last night against Brooklyn. The Knicks are coming off an overtime slugfest with the Chicago Bulls in which they won, 113-111. Only one of these teams, however, will be victorious on night two of a back-to-back set.
- Western Conference Play-In watch: Tonight’s matchup between the Kings and Warriors comes with high stakes. The two teams have identical 28-27 records, and claim the 9th and 10th spot in the West. Sacramento has won both of their previous meetings this season, and a win tonight would give them the outright tiebreaker for end-of-year seeding.
- Heat looking to snap 4-game skid: Miami has been on shaky footing since the Jimmy Butler trade, dropping their last four games and falling to 8th in the East. A win tonight against a streaky Toronto Raptors squad would be a big step in getting back on track.
