Beginning 5, March 16: Cavs search seventeenth straight win, up to date standings & extra

“Night time Night time” – Draymond Inexperienced needed to borrow Steph’s celebration after sealing Golden State’s seventh straight win.

---

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
March 16, 2025

ABC Matinee: Cavs eye seventeenth straight W (1 ET) earlier than KD and Suns go to Lakers (3:30 ET)

Tonight on ESPN: Bucks, Thunder meet in rematch of the Emirates NBA Cup Championship (9 ET)

Dubs Win: Golden State’s Seventh straight victory is historic for Steve Kerr

SGA Erupts: Thunder celebrity drops 48 factors in opposition to Pistons

Roundup: Jordan Poole nails epic game-winner in opposition to Nuggets

---

BUT FIRST … ⏰
An ABC/ESPN tripleheader awaits.

ABC Doubleheader: At present, the Cavaliers purpose for his or her seventeenth straight win as they host the Magic (1 ET). Then, Kevin Durant and the Suns go to the Lakers in a Western Convention battle (3:30 ET).

Primetime Hoops: Tonight on ESPN, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder go to Milwaukee to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in a rematch of the Emirates NBA Cup Championship (9:00 ET).

---

1. ON ABC: CAN CAVS MAKE IT 17 STRAIGHT?

First got here the excitement, because the Cavs began off the season with a franchise-record 15-0 begin.

Then got here the brief lists, with Cleveland’s newest run making them one in every of six groups ever with separate 15-game win streaks in a season.

Now, with the streak at a franchise-record 16 and the Cavs simply the seventh group in historical past to win 56 of their first 66 video games, all-time-elite common season standing is coming into view.

When Cleveland takes on Orlando right now on ABC (1 ET), in a rematch of final yr’s First Spherical sequence, the East leaders shall be trying to sweep the season sequence, 3-0, up the win streak to 17 and keep scorching scorching.

• Elite Standing: If Cleveland wins, the Cavs will simply be the fifth group to notch separate 15+ and 17+ streaks in a season
• 56 Membership: By successful 56+ of their first 66, the Cavs joined the 2015-16 Warriors & Spurs, the 1995-96 & 1996-97 Bulls, 1966-67 & 1982-83 Sixers as the one groups to ever do it
• Zooming In: Amongst that group, solely the 1966-67 Sixers (125.2 PPG) scored greater than the Cavs this yr (122.8 PPG), and solely the 2015-16 Dubs had extra APG (28.9, vs. CLE’s 28.5)
• High 3 All-Time Tempo: The Cavs’ win % has them on tempo to win 69 video games, tying the third-best document in NBA historical past. Their 11.2 level differential would rank prime 7 all-time

Cleveland In The Clutch: With Donovan Mitchell out the final two video games, the Cavs haven’t let up, because of their depth and a historic potential to come back by late in video games.

• Coach Kenny Atkinson: “We’re not letting go of the rope – mentally or bodily … A whole lot of groups once you lose your prime man there’s a giant drop-off. For us, there’s little or no drop off.”
• No Let Up: The Cavs have seven gamers averaging double-figures throughout this streak, led by the All-Star trio of Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley – one in every of simply three trios within the league with 18 PPG every (min. 50 GP)
• Elite Late: Cleveland is 22-6 in clutch video games this season – a 78.6 win proportion that may tie the fourth-best mark since clutch information began being tracked in 1996-97

The shorthanded Magic have responded to a five-game dropping streak by splitting their final 4 – and now discover themselves in the midst of the East Play-In group.

• The Rise Continues: Paolo Banchero’s 43-pt, 10-reb evening on Friday marked the most recent masterpiece from the Magic’s rising celebrity, who ranks fifteenth within the NBA in PIE, a measure of contributions (min. 30 mpg)

At 3:30 ET on ABC, the Lakers and Suns meet with each groups trying to achieve floor within the postseason race.

• Slowed Lake Present: After surging all the way in which to 2nd within the West, the Lakers have dropped 4 straight with LeBron out and Luka slowed by harm, falling to fifth
• Suns Eyeing Spot: Eleventh-place Phoenix, in the meantime, stands simply 1.5 video games behind the Mavs for the ultimate spot within the SoFi Play-In Match

At present, if Luka (day-to-day) can’t go once more, Austin Reaves will look to steer the Lakers to a much-needed W in opposition to Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and a Suns group in want of the identical.

• Reaves Rolling: In Friday’s loss to Denver, which noticed him change into the one Laker exterior of Kobe to place up 20 pts & 10 ast in a half, Reaves led all scorers, dropping 37
• Dynamic Duo: KD and E-book, the one pair of teammates within the prime 10 in scoring, hit eight of Phoenix’s season-high 24 threes final day trip in a win over Sacramento
• Season Collection: The Suns have taken two of three from L.A. up to now this yr. A win right now would give them their first back-to-back wins since late January

---

2. BUCKS, THUNDER LOCKED IN FOR NBA CUP FINAL REMATCH

It was mid-December in Las Vegas, and Giannis Antetokounmpo had cause to smile.

A month prior, a Bucks squad with excessive hopes had discovered itself sputtering in twelfth place within the East.

However as he seemed round after Milwaukee’s 97-81 Emirates NBA Cup Championship win over West-leading OKC, the newly minted NBA Cup MVP noticed a glimpse of what was to come back.

• Giannis: “It’s nice, it’s nice for our group. We’re getting higher. … We all know we’re leaving Vegas as a greater group. I’m so pleased with this group. Man, I’m so pleased with this group.”

Tonight on ESPN (9 ET), the 2 groups meet for the second time since Vegas. And for all that’s modified within the league since then, these two groups have put themselves in a Playoff place to chase a unique trophy.

• The Thunder, now with a double-digit lead over the No. 2 Rockets within the West, have occupied first place for every one of many 88 days because the Cup Championship
• Since mid-December, OKC has been the league’s prime protection (DefRTG, OppFG%, Opp 3PT%), fourth in Opponent PPG or fourth in PPG allowed
• In that very same time, 4th place Milwaukee – now in place for house courtroom within the First Spherical – has spent all however 9 days since then in 4th or fifth place within the East
• Milwaukee, second within the league in DefRtg because the All-Star break, has the Seventh-best DefRtg because the Cup Last – with the fifth greatest OppFG% and Opp 3PT%

Yet another factor that hasn’t budged? SGA and Giannis occupying two of the highest 4 spots within the Kia MVP Ladder.

• SGA made his first look in Shaun Powell’s High 3 going into the Cup Semifinals, with Nikola Jokić occupying the highest spot
• Since then, SGA’s bounced between first and second, whereas main the league in scoring (33.0 ppg) and getting buckets nearly any manner he chooses – 1st in drives per sport, 1st amongst guards in paint pts and elite effectivity within the mid-range
• Giannis, in the meantime, ranks third on the Ladder – and simply behind SGA in scoring (30.6 ppg), as the one two gamers within the league averaging 30+ an evening
• The Greek Freak is dominating the paint, getting his 30+ on 60% capturing, a yr after changing into the primary participant to ever accomplish that

Catch 5 extra video games Sunday on League Go, together with the Timberwolves looking for their eighth straight win going through off in opposition to the Jazz, because the race to the Playoffs picks up pace.

---

3. WARRIORS OUTLAST KNICKS, KERR MAKES HISTORY

A day after turning 37 and two days after changing into the primary participant in NBA historical past with 4,000 three-pointers, Stephen Curry led the Warriors to their seventh straight win.

Warriors 97, Knicks 94: The Dubs prolonged their scorching streak with a hard-fought win over New York, who had been with out Jalen Brunson (ankle).

Curry (28 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast) and Jimmy Butler (11 pts, 7 ast, 6 reb) each stuffed the stat sheet for Golden State, whereas Karl-Anthony Cities (29 pts) led New York within the loss. | Recap

• Staying Scorching: The Warriors are 14-1 with Jimmy Butler within the lineup as they transfer to 39-28 on the yr
• Tight Race: GSW went up a half sport on the Timberwolves as each groups are on seven-game win streaks within the battle for the ultimate top-6 Playoff spot

The sport was a historic one for head coach Steve Kerr, as he turned the all-time winningest coach in Warriors’ historical past.

• Together with his 558th regular-season win, Kerr surpassed Al Attles, who beforehand held the document with 557 wins
• Kerr reached this milestone in simply 860 video games, whereas Attles coached 1,075 video games for the franchise
• Kerr on the document: “It’s wonderful to do that … To have the ability to coach Steph, Draymond, Klay, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, I imply, we’ve been blessed with such unimaginable rosters all the 11 years.”

---

4. SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER CAN’T STOP SCORING

Contemporary off an announcement win over the Celtics on Wednesday to safe a Playoff spot, the Thunder proceed to distance themselves within the West because of the assistance from their celebrity, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Thunder 113, Pistons 107: SGA scored 48 factors on an environment friendly 17-of-26 capturing to steer a short-handed OKC group previous the Pistons. Cason Wallace added 20 factors, together with a clutch triple with 1:33 remaining to make it a six level sport.

On an evening when OKC went with out Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, SGA proved but once more why he’s working on a unique stage in the meanwhile along with his scoring prowess. | Recap

• Bucket Getter: It was SGA’s seventh 45+ level of the season – most such video games by a participant in a season since Stephen Curry in 2020-21
• All Alone: No different participant has scored 45+ greater than 3 times this season
• SGA is averaging 38.6 factors by seven video games in March – a tempo that may give him the very best scoring month within the NBA since Joel Embiid averaged 40.2 in December 2023

The Thunder moved to 55-12 and are 12.5 video games forward of the Nuggets and Rockets within the Western Convention standings.

• The Thunder at the moment are 23-1 in opposition to Jap Convention groups this season, with their solely loss coming in opposition to Cleveland in January
• OKC is on monitor for one of the best win proportion in opposition to a convention since 1970-71, the primary season the NBA realigned into conferences

---

5. ROUNDUP: JORDAN POOLE SHOCKS NUGGETS

Wizards 126, Nuggets 123: Jordan Poole shocked Denver with a clutch 35-footer with 1.8 seconds left to raise the Wizards to victory over the Nuggets. Rookie Alex Sarr added a career-high 34 factors within the win.

In the meantime, Nikola Jokić delivered one other spectacular efficiency, placing up 40 factors, 13 rebounds and 9 assists. | Recap

Rockets 117, Bulls 114: Houston received their sixth straight behind Jalen Inexperienced’s 28 factors and 5 3s. Inexperienced was clutch within the 4th quarter, scoring 11 factors within the interval together with a putback layup with 14.1 seconds remaining to ice the sport. | Recap

• Three-Means Tie: With Houston’s win and Denver’s loss, the Rockets, Nuggets and Grizzlies are tied at 43-25 with the Rockets taking on No. 2 within the West through tiebreaker, adopted by the Nuggets and Grizzlies

Bucks 126, Pacers 119, 4 days after Tyrese Haliburton’s beautiful 4-point play led to an OT win for Indy, Giannis (34 pts, 10 reb, 7 ast, 3 blk) and the Bucks avenged the loss regardless of one other large sport from Haliburton (24 pts, 15 ast, 5 stl). | Recap

• Bucks Pull Forward In Race For No. 4: Milwaukee now has a full-game lead within the 4/5 East race between the 2 groups and clinched the head-to-head tiebreaker by successful the season sequence 3-1

Celtics 115, Nets 113: Kristaps Porziņģis returned to the lineup after lacking the final eight video games as a consequence of an sickness, scoring 24 factors to steer Boston previous Brooklyn. Payton Pritchard now has essentially the most 3PM off the bench in a single season (220) in NBA historical past. | Recap

Grizzlies 125, Warmth 91: Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 31 factors and Desmond Bane added 22 to steer a Ja Morant-less Grizzlies group previous the Warmth. The Grizzlies are 4-1 of their final 5 video games. | Recap

Spurs 119, Pelicans 115: Devin Vassell scored 22 factors to raise San Antonio previous New Orleans, who had been with out Zion Williamson. | Recap