Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics erupted for 148 points to dominate the struggling BrooklynNets, while the Memphis Grizzlies piled more woes to the Dallas Mavericks’ struggles at home.
February’s final Saturday NBA slate delivered everything fans hoped for—from overtime thrillers to remarkable shooting and personal milestones.
BRUNSON ECLIPSES 7K POINTS FOR KNICKS; PISTONS, THUNDER WIN OT THRILLERS
- New York Knicks (38-22) def. Milwaukee Bucks (26-32), 127-98: Jalen Brunson erupted for22 of his game-high 27 points in the first quarter as the Knicks cruised to a 29-point rout of the Bucks.
Brunson also surpassed the 7,000-point mark as a Knick, reaching the milestone in just 265 games — the fastest in franchise history.
- Detroit Pistons (44-14) def. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-24), 122-119: Behind Jalen Duren’s dominant 33-point, 16-rebound performance, the Pistons stormed back late and gutted out a hard-fought overtime victory over a short-handed Cavaliers squad.
Cade Cunningham added 25 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds as Detroit matched last season’s 44-win total — with 24 regular-season games still remaining.
[RELATED: NBA: Pistons ride Jalen Duren 33-16 double-double to nip undermanned Cavs in OT]
- OKC Thunder (46-15) def. Denver Nuggets (37-23), 127-121: In a clash of Western Conference heavyweights, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned to fire 36 points as the champion Thunder dominated in overtime to handle the Nuggets.
Chet Holmgren contributed 15 points and a career-high 21 rebounds in a fiery contest that saw Nikola Jokic clash with Lu Dort, who was ultimately ejected following a Flagrant 2 foul.
[RELATED: NBA: Returning SGA powers brave Thunder OT comeback vs Nuggets]
- Boston Celtics (39-20) def. Brooklyn Nets (15-44), 148-111: The Celtics rode a scorching shooting display to overwhelm the reeling Nets, who dropped their eighth straight game.
Boston drained 22 three-pointers, shot 67 percent from the field, and led by as many as 41 points in a dominant outing.
[RELATED: NBA: Celtics drop 148, sink 22 threes in 37-point obliteration of Nets]
- Memphis Grizzlies (22-36) def. Dallas Mavericks (21-38), 124-105: Cam Spencer poured in 25 points as the Grizzlies handed the Mavericks their seventh straight home loss.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper notched his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, helping Memphis also snap a three-game skid.
Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.