Victor Wembanyama produced a masterclass to guide the San Antonio Spurs to a remarkable 25-point comeback victory against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
The French phenomenon recorded 27 points and 10 rebounds as his side rallied from a 75-50 third-quarter deficit to triumph 116-112.
With just 16 seconds remaining on the clock, the 22-year-old secured the go-ahead basket to complete San Antonio’s biggest turnaround of the campaign.
It marked a 14th victory in 15 outings for the in-form franchise.
“I was about to pass out, I’ve got zero left right now,”
Wembanyama admitted during his on-court interview immediately following the buzzer.
“That was one of the best wins. That was one of the best games, best parts of my career, my basketball life.”
The result improves the Spurs’ record to 46-17, leaving them trailing Western Conference leaders the Oklahoma City Thunder by just 2.5 games.
Doncic shines in Lakers victory
Elsewhere, Luka Doncic posted 44 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-117 home success over the Indiana Pacers.
The Slovenian guard stepped up in the absence of LeBron James, who was sidelined with elbow and foot issues.
It was Doncic’s 10th 40-point haul of the season, moving him past Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards for the league lead in that category.
Anunoby helps Knicks thrash Nuggets
London-born forward OG Anunoby registered a season-high 34 points as the New York Knicks cruised to a 142-103 win at the Denver Nuggets.
Denver’s night was compounded by an injury to Jamal Murray, who missed the second half after rolling his left ankle on team-mate Nikola Jokic’s foot.
The Knicks remain third in the Eastern Conference standings following the dominant performance.
Tatum returns for Celtics
Second-placed Boston Celtics claimed a 120-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks as Jayson Tatum made his long-awaited return.
The six-time All-Star contributed 15 points in 27 minutes on the court.
This was Tatum’s first appearance of the season following a ruptured Achilles sustained during the previous play-offs.
Victor Wembanyama inspired the San Antonio Spurs to a stunning 116-112 victory over the LA Clippers, overcoming a 25-point deficit in one of the franchise’s greatest comebacks.
Wembanyama exhausted after historic rally
The Spurs trailed significantly in the third quarter but rallied to secure their 14th win in 15 games.
It marked the club’s second-largest comeback in the play-by-play era, dating back to the 1997-98 season.
Wembanyama scored a team-high 27 points, including a decisive dunk from a De’Aaron Fox pass with just 16 seconds remaining.
“I’ve got zero left right now,” said the 21-year-old French phenomenon immediately after the game.
“That was one of the best wins. That was one of the best games, best parts of my career, my basketball life.”
‘Best 30 hours of basketball’
The victory came on the second night of a back-to-back, following a win against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.
San Antonio have now improved their record to a league-best 14-1 since 1 February.
Wembanyama, who also contributed 10 rebounds and four blocks, described the sequence of victories as the “best 30 hours of basketball” of his life.
De’Aaron Fox was instrumental in the turnaround, scoring or assisting on 25 of San Antonio’s 35 fourth-quarter points.
“This one felt good,” said Fox, who finished with 19 points and nine assists. “This one felt better than yesterday.”
Spurs overcome Leonard return
Former San Antonio star Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 30 points for the Clippers but faced boos from the home crowd throughout the night.
The visitors had built a commanding lead, with Brook Lopez scoring 17 points in the first half alone.
By the third quarter, the Clippers held a 75-50 advantage before the Spurs mounted their resurgence.
San Antonio head coach Mitch Johnson praised his squad’s mental toughness given the physical fatigue of the schedule.
“The competitive response and the character the guys showed to really try to band together and fight through the mental, physical, and emotional fatigue was commendable,” Johnson said.
Jayson Tatum recorded a double-double on his return from a torn Achilles as the Boston Celtics secured a commanding 120-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
The five-time All-Star contributed 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in his first NBA appearance in 298 days.
It marked a significant milestone for the 26-year-old forward, who had been sidelined since undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured tendon 10 months ago.
Despite acknowledging he still has a “long way to go” regarding his fitness, Tatum described the comeback as a positive move forward.
Overcoming early anxiety
The return did not begin smoothly for the Celtics talisman, who missed his first six attempts from the field.
Early nerves were evident when he missed a dunk in the second quarter after creating a clear path to the rim.
Tatum admitted feeling anxious and struggling to adjust to the speed of the game after nearly 43 weeks on the sidelines.
“It’s been a long time coming just to get to this point. Nights and days I dreamed about this moment and anticipation, the crowd.”
He noted that the pace of the game initially felt overwhelming.
“I just kind of felt like I was a step off or moving too fast. But the game started to slow down as I just kind of relaxed a little bit.”
Immediate impact on return
A put-back dunk late in the second quarter settled the forward, sparking a run where he converted six of his next 10 shots.
His presence proved decisive for Joe Mazzulla’s side, with the hosts outscoring Dallas by 20 points during his 27 minutes on the court.
Boston dominated the second half, outscoring the Mavericks 62-47 to seal a comfortable win at TD Garden.
Teammate Jaylen Brown praised Tatum’s willingness to return to action ahead of the typical 12-month rehabilitation window.
“I commend him being able to put himself on the line a little bit to come back and be a part of something bigger. I think that is his mentality.”
Managing the recovery process
Tatum expressed relief at simply being able to compete again after the lengthy layoff.
“I really was just kind of grateful. I had a real sense of gratitude of just being back on the floor, playing basketball.”
While the victory marked a successful step in his rehabilitation, the Celtics have not confirmed if the forward will feature in Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This was his first competitive outing since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals last season.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following a traffic stop in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Police confirmed that officers stopped the vehicle at roughly 01:00 local time on Friday.
Following an investigation at the scene, the 30-year-old was taken into custody before being released following the booking process around 03:30.
Suns gathering information
The NBA franchise acknowledged the incident involving their player in a brief official release.
“We are aware of the situation involving Dillon Brooks and are gathering more information,” the Phoenix Suns said in a statement.
“We have no further comment at this time.”
Brooks sidelined by injury
The forward has not featured in Phoenix’s last five games owing to a fractured left hand.
He sustained the injury during a victory over the Orlando Magic on 21 February.
Despite the setback, the defensive specialist is expected to return to the court towards the end of the regular season.
Brooks had been enjoying a productive campaign, averaging 20.9 points along with 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
That scoring figure represents a significant improvement in form, increasing by almost seven points compared to last season.
Kristaps Porzingis faces an uncertain future with the Golden State Warriors after a persistent illness sidelined the centre following just one appearance for his new franchise.
The Latvian international arrived in the Bay Area via a trade on 4 February but has played only once since the move.
His solitary appearance came against his former side, the Boston Celtics, on 19 February.
Despite a promising debut, the 30-year-old has been unable to return to the court as he manages a complex medical condition.
Encouraging signs cut short
Porzingis displayed glimpses of his unique skillset during his brief cameo against the reigning NBA champions.
The 7ft 3in forward recorded a plus-15 rating in just under 10 minutes of play, hitting a long-range three-pointer and blocking shots.
His performance validated the Warriors’ decision to acquire him midseason, seeking size to bolster their frontcourt.
Stephen Curry, the franchise talisman, was immediate in his praise for the new arrival.
“[He brings] a size and presence we’ve been looking for a while.”
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors guard
However, the optimism was short-lived.
Porzingis was expected to feature against the Denver Nuggets three days later but fell ill in his hotel room and could not attend the arena.
Hopes of a return against the Los Angeles Lakers were also dashed as the player was ruled out again.
Battle with rare condition
The former All-Star’s absence is linked to a diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
Doctors from the Boston Celtics identified the autonomic condition last year, which can cause dizziness, rapid heart rate, and extreme fatigue.
Symptoms reportedly surfaced after the player contracted a virus more than 12 months ago.
Following his debut, Porzingis appeared visibly exhausted while speaking to the media, yawning uncontrollably despite apologising for the display.
“I felt all right. Far from being in perfect shape. But I think for [the] first game back after a while, getting some energy back, feeling good.”
Kristaps Porzingis, speaking after his Warriors debut
The “Unicorn” remains one of the NBA’s most effective players when healthy, significantly improving team net ratings during stints with the Celtics and Atlanta Hawks.
Yet durability remains a persistent concern for the veteran.
He has missed a combined 110 games over the past two-and-a-half seasons due to various ailments.
While the Warriors remain hopeful, no definitive timeline has been set for his return to rotation.
LeBron James has become the NBA’s all-time leader for field goals made, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing record during the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets.
The 39-year-old converted a turnaround baseline jump shot over forward Zeke Nnaji late in the first quarter to reach the historic milestone.
That basket was the 15,838th of his illustrious career, moving him one clear of fellow Lakers legend Abdul-Jabbar.
A relentless scoring machine
James had already overtaken the Hall of Fame centre as the league’s all-time leading scorer in February 2023.
Since breaking that record with a step-back jumper two seasons ago, the forward has pushed his career total beyond 43,000 points.
Earlier in the current campaign, he also became only the second player in franchise history, alongside Kobe Bryant, to record 1,000 three-pointers for the team.
He also recently passed Michael Cooper to move into fifth place on the club’s all-time assists list.
‘His greatest hits are insane’
Speaking before the game in Denver, Lakers head coach JJ Redick compared the longevity and output of his star player to rock icon Bruce Springsteen.
“I’m a big Bruce Springsteen fan… LeBron’s greatest hits, he just keeps adding to them,” said Redick.
“He just plays and plays and plays. And the greatest hits are just… he’s got a hell of a catalogue.”
Closing in on games record
With the scoring and field goal records now secured, the four-time MVP is approaching another significant durability milestone.
James is currently second on the all-time list for games played with 1,606 appearances.
He trails Robert Parish’s record of 1,611 and is on pace to surpass the former Boston Celtics centre on 16 March against the Houston Rockets.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is expected to make his long-awaited season debut against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday following a 10-month injury absence.
The 28-year-old has been sidelined since tearing his right Achilles tendon during the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the New York Knicks last season.
Sources indicate the six-time All-Star is now physically ready to play and will inform the franchise of his final decision ahead of the game at TD Garden.
Tatum underwent surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery less than 24 hours after sustaining the damage in Game 4 of that series.
A different Boston landscape
Despite missing their talisman, the Celtics have remained highly competitive and currently sit second in the Eastern Conference standings.
Much of that success is attributed to Jaylen Brown, who has thrust himself into the MVP conversation while leading the charge for Joe Mazzulla’s side.
The team has also received significant contributions from 2024 title winners Derrick White and Payton Pritchard.
This resilience has validated Mazzulla’s strategy, which shifted following the off-season departures of veterans Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford.
“I may have to coach completely differently than the year before,” Mazzulla said in October.
“In years past, you had an older, more experienced roster, four or five All-Stars on the team together. So your process is different.”
Schedule favours recovery
The focus now shifts to reintegrating the five-time All-NBA selection into a roster that has seen young talents like Neemias Queta and rookie Hugo Gonzalez step up.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist is likely to face a minutes restriction as he rebuilds his match fitness after nearly a year away from the court.
Boston’s immediate schedule aids this process, with no back-to-back fixtures on the docket for the next 12 games.
This favourable run offers the forward a chance to build consistency before the Celtics launch another bid to emerge from the East.
Breanna Stewart scored 32 points to lead Mist to the 2026 Unrivaled championship with an 80-74 victory over top seeds Phantom.
The league co-founder was named MVP of the final after guiding her team to the title in Medley, Florida on Wednesday night.
Stewart seized control of the game by scoring Mist’s first 12 points of the second half to overcome a side they had lost to twice during the regular season.
Plum heroics in vain
Phantom guard Kelsey Plum produced a formidable individual display, finishing with a game-high 40 points on 14-for-21 shooting.
Despite adding six rebounds and five assists, Plum’s efforts were not enough to secure the trophy.
Arike Ogunbowale added 19 points and Allisha Gray contributed 12 for Mist, ensuring the team split the $600,000 winners’ pool.
Dramatic conclusion
The contest ended in controversial fashion when an offensive foul originally called against Stewart was overturned to a blocking foul following a video review.
That decision allowed the three-time WNBA champion to sink the decisive free throw to seal the victory.
“What I’ll remember the most about this Mist team is we might not be the loudest, but we’re going to work the hardest.”
Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled champion
“Just focused on doing it for my team,” Stewart added regarding her performance.
Stewart adds to legacy amid WNBA uncertainty
Victory adds another accolade to the Syracuse native’s extensive collection, which already includes four NCAA titles, three Olympic gold medals and two EuroLeague crowns.
The 3-on-3 league, played on a shortened 72-foot court with an 18-second shot clock, was established by Stewart and Napheesa Collier to provide competition during the traditional off-season.
However, this final could mark the last professional women’s basketball game in the United States for the immediate future.
The WNBA and its players’ union have yet to agree on a new labour deal for the upcoming season, which is scheduled to begin in two months.