A classic LeBron tomahawk to open his document 1,612th NBA recreation.
A clutch KD triple to cross MJ for fifth on the all-time scoring listing.
Electric game-winners from each their squads to cap a historic evening … earlier than the Celtics & Wolves wrap up the weekend on Sunday Night Basketball tonight (8 ET, NBC & Peacock).
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION
March 22, 2026
All-Time Epic: LeBron & KD make historical past, Luka makes magic, Kennard & Thompson make winners
Best Out West: Shai’s 40 sparks OKC’s eleventh straight dub, Wemby dominates as Spurs preserve tempo
More Fire: Garland erupts in OT win, Hornets roll, Harden & Mitchell ignite Cavs rally
Roundup: Hawks bounce again, Ace & Edgecombe duel, Bucks beat Suns
Sunday Night Basketball: Tatum, Brown and the surging C’s host the Wolves on NBC
BUT FIRST …
Sunday hoops…
Five video games tip off at this time, beginning with Blazers-Nuggets on NBA TV (5 ET | Tap to Watch), earlier than the Wolves and Celtics take middle stage on NBC’s Sunday Night Basketball (8 ET | Tap to Watch).
1. LEBRON & KD CLIMB ALL-TIME LISTS IN THRILLING WINS
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The opening second of Lakers-Magic marked historical past, as LeBron James handed Robert Parish (1,611) for essentially the most NBA video games performed all-time.
The closing second? More Lakers magic, as Luke Kennard known as recreation for his or her ninth straight dub.
Lakers 105, Magic 104: James did a little bit of every thing (12 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl), whereas Luka Dončić (33 pts, 8 ast, 4 stl) remained red-hot together with his ninth straight 30-piece, however the Lakers nonetheless trailed by 5 coming into the 4th.
Then Austin Reaves turned up, dropping 11 of his 26 factors in the 4th to present Los Angeles one final look, down one with 2.6 ticks left. And with Orlando centered on the Lakers’ star trio, Marcus Smart discovered Kennard slipping behind the protection:
Catch. Shoot. Splash. Nine in a row for the Lakeshow. | Recap
- The Closer: Kennard completed with 13 factors on 5-of-7 capturing and three 3s, capped by the first-game winner in the ultimate 5 seconds of his nine-year profession
- “We were looking at LeBron for the first option,” mentioned Lakers coach JJ Redick. “Maybe Luka coming off the double … but [Marcus] recognized Luke was wide open. As soon as he caught it and released it, we knew it was in.”
- The Conductor: While Kennard iced L.A.’s ninth straight dub, it’s been Dončić driving the cost, turning into the primary participant in NBA historical past to attain 30+ pts in each recreation amid a 9-0 run
- The Magic: He’s doing it at a 40 ppg clip, becoming a member of Wilt Chamberlain as the one gamers to common 40+ over a 9-game win streak
Julio Aguilar + Gary Bassing/NBAE through Getty Images
The King: As Luka posts unprecedented numbers amid the streak, LeBron continues to dunk on Father Time – not solely breaking one other all-time document, however making successful performs evening after evening.
At age 41, James is averaging 19 factors, 7.3 boards, 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals amid the Lakers’ streak, whereas capturing 60.3% from the sector.
And it’s not simply the numbers, it’s the power – from diving for loose balls in crunch time to opening his milestone evening with a vintage tomahawk.
- The Perspective: Just how absurd is James’ run? Now in Year 23, he has performed in opposition to 36% of all NBA gamers in historical past and appeared in 28.8% of all NBA seasons
- The Players: That contains 200+ opponents from 4 completely different many years of draft courses (pre-2000, 2000-10, 2011-20 and 2021-current)
- The Production: He nonetheless ranks top-3 on the Lakers in whole factors, assists and rebounds this season, pushing Los Angeles to third in the West
- “He’s had an awesome season. He’s had an awesome career,” mentioned Redick of James postgame. “There’s just a deep-seated love for the game of basketball … a lot of guys love putting on a show – he loves all of it.”
While LeBron climbed atop the all-time video games performed listing, Kevin Durant handed one other legend on the all-time scoring listing – capped by one other wild win on the horn.
Rockets 123, Heat 122: Durant scored 27 factors to cross Michael Jordan (32,292) for fifth all-time, however Bam Adebayo (32 pts, 21 reb) and the Heat used a late run to take a one-point lead with 5.4 seconds left.
However, Houston had the final phrase, as Amen Thompson got here flying in off a KD miss to tip house the game-winner at the buzzer, sending Toyota Center right into a frenzy. | Recap
- Young Finisher: Thompson ended the evening with 24 factors, 18 boards and his 2nd profession game-winner as Houston outscored Miami 36-26 in the 4th to remain 2.5 GB of the Lakers for third in the West
- Young Floor General: Reed Sheppard was scientific (23 pts, 14 ast), turning into the youngest Rocket to put up 20+ pts, 10+ ast and no turnovers since turnovers had been first tracked in 1977-78
The Moment: But it was Durant who led the best way, fittingly passing Jordan – his idol and one of many recreation’s all-time closers – with a lead-extending triple with 3:35 left, the second of his back-to-back 3s in clutch time.
- “He personifies everything I believe in,” mentioned Durant on Jordan postgame. “He set the bar high, and it’s pretty cool to reach that bar. And I want to keep inspiring the people that’s coming behind me as well.”
Logan Riely/NBAE through Getty Images
In the ultimate seconds, that inspiration confirmed up in actual time. With Durant – a feared nearer in his personal proper – swarmed and compelled into an off-balance try, Thompson made his transfer, crashing the glass to cap a particular evening with a particular win.
- “Being on a team with greatness like that, it’s inspiring,” mentioned Thompson of Durant, who has climbed from Eighth to fifth on the all-time scoring listing this season. “Witnessing him break these records, it’s been really cool to watch.”
- Added Durant: “I want more.”
Logan Riely/NBAE through Getty Images
2. BEST OUT WEST: THUNDER WIN 11TH STRAIGHT, SPURS KEEP PACE
Amid a document evening, the reigning champs stored rolling.
Thunder 132, Wizards 111: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was masterful, dropping 40 factors (17-27 FG) and seven dimes, whereas Isaiah Hartenstein sparked OKC on each ends (9 pts, 20 reb, 10 ast) because the Thunder pulled away for his or her eleventh straight W — the longest energetic win streak in the NBA. | Recap
- Electric Company: Hartenstein joined Russell Westbrook & Shai as the one Thunder in the OKC-era to document 20+ reb and 10+ ast in a daily season recreation
- Shai Scorching: It’s SGA’s second 40-ball in three video games and his fifth 35+ level recreation amid OKC’s present 11-0 run
- 11 Squared: Following a 16-game heater in November and December, the Thunder now have two 11+ recreation win streaks this season, after additionally recording two final season
- Rare Heat: They’re simply the second group in NBA historical past to put up a number of 11+ recreation win streaks in consecutive seasons, becoming a member of the Warriors (2014-15 to 2016-17), who did it in three straight years
Ronald Cortes/NBAE through Getty Images
Three video games again of OKC? The Spurs, who’re additionally streaking.
Spurs 134, Pacers 119: Victor Wembanyama was dominant (20 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast, 5 blk), whereas rookie Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson dropped 24 factors apiece, as San Antonio rolled to its fifth straight win. | Recap
- Head Above: It’s Wemby’s 14th recreation this season with 5+ blocks. No different participant has greater than 5 such video games
3. MORE HEAT: GARLAND ERUPTS, HORNETS ROLL, CAVS RALLY
Glenn James/NBAE through Getty Images
And how about yet another eruption – with a aspect of additional hoops?
Clippers 138, Mavericks 131 (OT): Darius Garland went off for a season-high 41 factors and 11 dimes, whereas Kawhi Leonard (34 pts) scored the game-tying bucket with 19 seconds left in the 4th to pressure OT, the place LA outscored Dallas 16-9 to snap a four-game slide. | Recap
- DG From 3: Garland went 8-of-12 from deep, becoming a member of Chris Paul and James Harden as the one Clippers to document 40+ pts, 10+ ast, and 5+ 3s in a daily season recreation
- Flip For 8: With the win, LA jumps Portland for Eighth place through tiebreaker, with each groups at 35-36
Don’t look now, however Charlotte is stacking wins once more.
Hornets 124, Grizzlies 101: LaMelo Ball splashed seven 3s en path to a game-high 29 factors, whereas Brandon Miller scored 22 as Charlotte earned its third straight dub with a close to wire-to-wire win. | Recap
- Humming: Charlotte is 5-1 in its final six, shifting one recreation again of Miami for Ninth in the East
Speaking of three straight…
Cavaliers 111, Pelicans 106: Down 15 with 10:13 left, Donovan Mitchell (27 pts, 7 reb) and James Harden (20 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast) fueled a 35-18 4th quarter for Cleveland, which raced previous Zion Williamson (25 pts, 6 reb) and NOLA for its third win in a row. | Recap
- Takeover Time: Mitchell (12 pts) and Harden (13 pts) mixed for 25 in the 4th, with Harden scoring all 20 of his factors in the 2nd half
- Race For 3: The Cavs sit two video games again of the Knicks for third in the East, however New York can be scorching, winners of 5 straight
4. ROUNDUP: HAWKS REBOUND, ROOKS DUEL, BUCKS WIN
Adam Hagy + Chris Gardner/Getty Images
After seeing their 11-game win streak snapped on Friday, the Hawks obtained again on monitor.
Hawks 126, Warriors 110: Dyson Daniels shined on each ends (28 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 4 stl), CJ McCollum scored 23 and the Hawks used a 39-20 third quarter to grab management, topping the Steph-less Warriors for a bounce-back win. | Recap
76ers 126, Jazz 116: Ace Bailey was cooking for Utah (25 pts, 7 reb, 5 blk), buying and selling buckets with fellow rookie VJ Edgecombe (22 pts, 13 reb), whereas Quentin Grimes added 25 (9-14 FG), lifting the shorthanded Sixers previous the Jazz. | Recap
- East Chaos: Both 39-22, Atlanta (sixth) and Philly (seventh) are separated through tiebreaker. Right behind them sit Eighth-place Orlando (0.5 GB) and Ninth-place Miami (1 GB)
- Utah Ace: Bailey is the primary rookie in Jazz historical past to document 25+ pts, 5+ reb and 5+ blk in a recreation
Bucks 108, Suns 105: Ryan Rollins was balling (26 pts, 10 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl) because the Bucks staved off Jalen Green (24 pts), Devin Booker (14 pts, 7 ast) and the Suns regardless of being with out Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee). | Recap
5. NBC SUNDAY NIGHT BASKETBALL: SURGING CELTICS HOST WOLVES
Winslow Townson + David Sherman/NBAE through Getty Images
Sixteen days have handed since Jayson Tatum made his long-awaited return – and, as all through his nine-year profession, successful has adopted.
On Sunday Night Basketball (8 ET, NBC), Tatum and the Celtics welcome the Wolves, having received 18 of their final 23 video games. Another victory would make 5 in a row for Boston because it tries to realize floor on the 1st-place Pistons.
- Starting Strong: Tatum has averaged 19.6 factors, 8.6 rebounds and three.4 assists in seven video games since his return, main to 6 wins
- All-Around Impact: That contains 5 video games of 20+ factors, together with three double-doubles, whereas posting a 103 DefRtg – the perfect mark of any Celtic since his return (min. 3 GP)
- “As the games go on, you get more reps, and you get more in a routine,” Tatum mentioned after scoring 24 in a win over Golden State on Wednesday. “You feel more and more comfortable each game and just kind of play in the flow.”
Jesse D. Garrabrant + Tyler Clouse/NBAE through Getty Images
As Tatum feels the movement, Jaylen Brown fuels the Celtics’ hearth.
- Jay Button: Brown is contemporary off a game-high 30 factors on Friday, his thirty second recreation with 30+ in 2025-26. Tatum set the franchise document at 42 again in 2021-22
- Defense First: On the opposite finish, Boston boasts a 107.5 DefRtg since Feb. 1, which ranks 2nd in the league in that span. On the season, it’s 4th in DefRtg (111.7)
The Wolves shall be with out four-time All-Star Anthony Edwards (knee). But a fellow former All-Star teammate has proven that he can carry the load with Ant out.
- Leading The Pack: Julius Randle has performed 13 video games with out Edwards this season. In these video games, he’s averaged 25.8 pts, 6.6 reb and 4.5 ast
Sunday hoops start with the Nuggets and Blazers – each preventing for West postseason place – squaring off on NBA TV (5 ET, NBA TV). A trio of video games comply with on League Pass:
- Nets at Kings (6 ET)
- Wizards at Knicks (7:30 ET)
- Raptors at Suns (9 ET)
