Chet Holmgren returned for the OKC Thunder after missing nearly three months due to injury. On the same night, the Atlanta Hawks completed a monumental comeback against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Miles Bridges activated his clutch genes, while Malik Beasley stepped up big-time for a Detroit Piston side missing Cade Cunningham. | Photos: Pistons, Hornets
The final Saturday before the 2025 NBA All-Star festivities saw a cardiac ending in Chapel Hill, Malik Beasley going off with career-high performance, and Chet Holmgren returning for the OKC Thunder.
MILES BRIDGES WINS IT FOR HORNETS, HAWKS COMPLETE 21-POINT COMEBACK OVER BUCKS
- Charlotte Hornets (13-36) def. San Antonio Spurs (22-17), 117-116: Miles Bridges hit a clutch triple with 1.1 seconds left as the Hornets eke out the victory against the Spurs, after the referees decided that De’Aaron Fox’s potential game winner did not make it in time.
- Sting Like a Double ’B’: Bridges finished with 25 points while LaMelo Ball had a 24-point, 10-assist double-double that snapped the Hornets’ six game losing skid in dramatic fashion.
- Cleveland Cavaliers (42-10) def. Washington Wizards (9-42), 134-124: The Cavaliers overcome Jordan Poole’s 45-point outburst for back-to-back wins.
- Star-spangled Trio: The All-Star trio of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley took command for the East-leading Cleveland squad, accounting for a combined 83 points in for a 18th road dub.
- Atlanta Hawks (24-28) def. Milwaukee Bucks (27-23), 115-110: Trae Young and the Hawks stormed back from 21 points down to spoil Kyle Kuzma’s Bucks debut.
[ALSO READ: Balanced Hawks erase 21-point deficit to spoil Kyle Kuzma’s Bucks debut]
MALIK BEASLEY DROPS CAREER-HIGH 36; OKC WELCOMES CHET HOLMGREN BACK
- Detroit Pistons (26-26) def. Philadelphia 76ers (20-31), 125-112: Malik Beasley went off with a career-high performance that propelled the Pistons past the 76ers to end a two-game skid.
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- Slick Malik: Without superstar Cade Cunningham, Beasley stepped up big time and dropped 36 points built off nine triples, as Detroit won the regular season series match-up over the 76ers for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
- OKC Thunder (41-9) def. Toronto Raptors (16-36), 121-109: Chet Holmgren marked a triumphant return after a 39-game absence that pushed the NBA-best Thunder to a fourth straight win.
[ALSO READ: Chet Holmgren returns as NBA-best Thunder roll past Raptors for fourth straight win]
- Brooklyn Nets (18-24) def. Miami Heat (25-25), 102-86: Cam Johnson and the Nets limited the Heat to just nine fourth quarter points en route to Brooklyn’s fourth win in the last five games.
- Phoenix Suns (26-25) def. Miami Heat (12-38), 135-127: Devin Booker exploded for a 47-point, 11-assist double-double in hard-fought Suns overtime victory over the Jazz.