Starting 5, Feb. 9: Anthony Davis shines in Mavs' debut, a vintage Stephen Curry & more from Saturday
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.”
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
According to his colleagues and peers, nobody has done it better.
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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