Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Feb. 9

Posted by February 9, 2025 NBA
Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Feb. 9

🏀Sunday hoops🏀

  • Hornets 102, Pistons 112 (Final)
  • 76ers 127, Bucks 135 (Final)
  • Raptors 87, Rockets 94 (Final)

📝Top stories📝

1. The Pistons won their second in a row, taking advantage of the short-handed Hornets. After a red-hot start, Detroit cooled off in the second half, seeing their lead of 28 points dwindle to just two. The Pistons shut the door late though, and finished off a 112-102 victory. Detroit moves to 27-26 on the season, as Charlotte falls to 13-37.

2. The Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it didn’t matter as Damian Lillard went off for 43 points and led Milwaukee to the victory. Big efforts from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey were not enough, as the 76ers have now lost three in a row. Most notably the game featured the final broadcast of the legendary Hubie Brown.

3. The Rockets stayed grounded for much of the game, scoring just 37 points in the first half, but a 36-point fourth quarter lifted them to victory. The W ends a six-game losing streak that has caused Houston to fall to fifth in the West.

🌟🌟Top performers🌟🌟

  • Damian Lillard: 43 points, (8-15 3PT), seven rebounds, and eight assists.
  • Tyrese Maxey: 39 points (16-23 FG), four rebounds, and five assists.
  • Cade Cunningham: 19 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds.

Houston ends skid

The Rockets stopped their six-game losing streak with a 94-87 win over Toronto.

Brooks (19) and Green (18) led the scoring for Houston, while Amen filled out the stat sheet with eight points, 10 boards, five assists, four steals, and a block. Jeff Green and Landale were solid after Sengun exited in the opening minutes due to a back issue. Green finished with 14 and five rebounds, while Landale dropped a double-double, posting 11 points and 10 boards.

🦌Fear the deer🦌

The Bucks made a season-high 24 triples on their way to a 135-127 win over the Sixers.

Milwaukee was without Giannis, but Lillard stepped up in his absence, scoring 43 points and adding seven boards and assists. Trent Jr. was also key off the bench, scoring 23, and adding three steals, while Bobby Portis added a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Maxey led Philadelphia with 39 points on 16-23 shooting, and Embiid finished with 27 and 12 boards. Yabusele scored 18 off the bench.

⌚Dame time⌚

Lillard is lighting it up in Milwaukee, leading the Bucks with 37 points on 12-23 shooting, while also chipping in seven boards, and six dimes.

The Bucks have built up a 112-93 lead early in the fourth quarter.

🚀Green detonates🚀

It wouldn’t be a Rockets game without at least one Jalen Green highlight dunk.

Today’s comes from the baseline as he gets the feed on his way to the rim, then attacks it with a strong one-handed finish for two of his nine points.

The Rockets have taken the lead from Toronto and are up 71-69 early in the fourth.

Detroit drives to victory🚗💨

The Pistons almost let this one get away, as the Hornets narrowed the lead down to two at the 7:48 mark of the fourth. However, Detroit turned it up from there, outscoring Charlotte 20-12 down the stretch to secure the 112-102 win.

Charlotte’s comeback was initiated by Seth Curry catching fire and finishing with 26 points, while Miles Bridges was also a large part of the effort finishing with 30 points and nine rebounds.

Cunningham led the Pistons with a 19-point, 10-rebound, and 12-assist triple-double. Duren was also key with a double-double, scoring 16 and pulling down 12 boards while dishing out six assists. Harris was the team’s leading scorer with 20, while Beasley contributed 17 off the bench.

🚨At the buzzer🚨

Gary Trent Jr. nails a three as time expires, to give Milwaukee a 65-63 lead over Philadelphia at halftime.

Trent has 11 off the bench, while Lillard leads the team with 19.

The Sixers continue to be fueled by Embiid and Maxey, who have now combined to score 50 of the team’s 63 points. Maxey leads the way with 26 on 11-7 shooting, while Embiid has poured in 24 on 6-10 shooting, including 9-10 from the charity stripe, and eight rebounds.

Low-scoring battle in Houston

The Raptors and Rockets have reached halftime, with Toronto leading 42-37.

These two teams have struggled to get much going on offense, shooting a combined 27-88.

Despite the overall shooting struggles, Immanuel Quickley leads all scorers with 18 points.

The Rockets lost Alperen Sengun to a back issue three minutes into the game. In his place, Jock Landale has chipped in nine points and seven rebounds, while Dillon Brooks leads their scoring attack with 11.

Hornets buzzing🐝

The Pistons have been outscored 17-2 in the fourth quarter, and Charlotte now only trails by two, after being behind as much as 28 earlier in the contest.

A big part of the comeback has been Seth Curry, who now has 24 points on 9-14 shooting.

📈High scoring affair📈

The Bucks and 76ers are piling up the points early, with Milwaukee holding a 40-39 lead after a quarter of play.

While the scoring for the Bucks has been more spread out. as Kyle Kuzma and Lillard each have nine, the same can’t be said for the Sixers. Instead, Maxey and Embiid have combined to score 35 of the team’s first-quarter points, on 13-19 shooting.

🚘Pistons cruising🚘

Detroit enters halftime with a 66-46 lead.

They’ve never trailed against the short-handed Hornets in this one, and have led by as much as 28.

Seth Curry is leading the scoring for Charlotte with 12 points on 3-5 long-range shooting.

The Pistons are still being led by Harris, who has scored 16 on 7-8 shooting. Cunningham and Beasley each have 11, while Cade has added six rebounds and five assists.

Underway in Milwaukee

A pair of threes kick off the action. First, a triple by Damian Lillard, followed by a trey from Joel Embiid.

These teams are now knotted up at 12, just over four minutes into the action. Embiid leads all scorers with seven.

🛠️Pistons firing🛠️

Detroit has jumped out to a large 41-17 lead over the Hornets early in the second quarter.

Tobias Harris leads the team with 14 points on 6-6 shooting, while Malik Beasley has added 11 on 3-5 long-range shooting. Cade Cunningham has four assists, including this lob to Jalen Duren,

Starting5️⃣

Joel Embiid was questionable for Sunday’s game against Milwaukee but will suit up and start for the 76ers.

Joining him in the starting five are Paul George, Justin Edwards, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Tyrese Maxey.

Guerschon Yabusele, who is pictured, will not start after all but will play.

📋Game notes📋

  1. The Hornets and Pistons will each be going for a second consecutive win when they square off at 1 ET in Detroit. The Pistons will have Cade Cunningham returning to the starting lineup after sitting out Friday’s victory over the 76ers with an ankle injury. Dennis Schröder and Lindy Waters III will also be available to make their team debuts after being acquired at the trade deadline. Meanwhile, Charlotte will remain without LaMelo Ball (ankle). 
  2. The Rockets have been spiraling, as losers of six in a row, and they have now fallen to the fifth seed in the West. They’ll have an opportunity to pick up a win when they host the Raptors, who after a hot stretch, have dropped three consecutive games. 
  3. Milwaukee and Philadelphia will headline Sunday’s slate with a nationally televised matchup on ABC. The broadcast will feature the legendary Hubie Brown calling his final game. The Bucks will remain without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), while Joel Embiid (knee) is questionable for the 76ers. Both teams are coming off Friday night losses.

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