Starting 5 Daily Newsletter Live Updates: Players and teams to watch before the NBA season resumes tomorrow Enjoy players to watch, teams to consider and historic highlights as we gear up for the NBA season to resume tomorrow night. Ben Lambert, for NBA.com Updated on February 19, 2026 2:17 AM We’ll have a 2022 NBA Finals rematch for you tomorrow night as Stephen Curry and the Warriors take on Jaylen Brown and the Celtics. Last night’s live blog: Winners from All-Star Weekend 2026 Download the NBA App What we know on Wednesday night: The NBA season resumes tomorrow with 10 games, including Pistons-Knicks (7:30 ET) and Celtics-Warriors (10 ET) on Prime. We’ll have players to watch, trends and some historic fun for you tonight! Enjoy your night with the NBA.com live blog. FEBRUARY 18 // 9:15 ET Some art for the evening Float like a butterfly, sting like Buzzer Beater P ⏳ pic.twitter.com/4cCsr2J3wG — Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 18, 2026 FEBRUARY 18 // 8:45 ET A moment for Chris Paul A legend retired this season. Five years from now, he’ll be in Springfield. "Chris Paul, A.K.A. the Point God." 2nd ALL-TIME in assists. 2nd ALL-TIME in steals. 21 years running the point & defending the point of attack… congrats on a LEGENDARY career, @CP3! pic.twitter.com/hZzRsnlbVW — NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2026 "Anticipation. That's all it is." 🔒 2,728 steals (2nd all-time) 6-time SPG leader 9-time All-Defense CHRIS PAUL, DEFENSIVE DYNAMO over his 21-year career! pic.twitter.com/cHS2Au8OBO — NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2026 FEBRUARY 18 // 8:00 ET Looking back at the 2022 NBA Finals Before the Celtics and Warriors hook up on Prime tomorrow night (10 ET), let’s take a look back at the 2022 NBA Finals. The Warriors still boast Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Gary Payton II and Moses Moody from this series. The Celtics have Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White and Sam Hauser, as well as the injured Jayson Tatum. Al Horford, a Celtic in 2022, is now a Warrior; Kristaps Porziņģis, a champion with the Celtics in 2024, is too. Brown’s grown in confidence as a scorer since then, reaching fourth in the NBA at 29.3 ppg. Pritchard, a little-used reserve in 2022, hit the signature shot of the Celtics NBA Finals win in 2024, then took home Kia Sixth Man of the Year in 2024-25. Curry’s still near the peak of his powers — his scoring is actually up this year, 27.2 ppg to 25.3 in 2021-22, although his assists and rebounds have dipped. Draymond’s down in the latter two categories as well — 2021-22 was his last All-Star season. If the Warriors want to make a run, they’ll need Porziņģis to step up and reach peak form. It’d be one more link between these two teams, years after they went toe-to-toe on the highest stage. FEBRUARY 18 // 7:10 ET Player to watch: Luka Dončić The Don is leading the Association with 32.8 ppg in his eighth season, adding 7.8 reb and 8.6 ast while shooting 47.3/34.5/78.1 from the field. He’s the only player in NBA history to hit those benchmarks. But he’s third in the latest Kia MVP Ladder, earning a few demerits for nagging injuries. If Dončić can stay healthy in the second half, this might be the year he breaks through and wins his first MVP award. He’s missed 12 games so far this season and played 42. That leaves just five games of leeway. Ideal Luka is as dominant as it gets. If he can become durable as well, watch out. FEBRUARY 18 // 6:30 ET Remembering a classic Knicks-Pistons duel Before the East-leading Detroit Pistons take on the New York Knicks on Prime tomorrow night, we flash back to 1984, when Isiah Thomas and Bernard King led these Eastern Conference titans in the 1984 NBA Playoffs. It was a classic battle. The Knicks won the fourth quarter of Game 1 by 13 points to earn a 94-93 win. Bill Laimbeer had 32 points and 15 rebounds to help the Pistons battle back in Game 2, overcoming 46 points from Bernard King. King put up 46 points again in Game 3 to lead the Knicks to a win; Thomas responded with 32 points and 16 assists in Game 4 to extend the series, as Kelly Tripuka added 42 for Detroit. In the climatic Game 5, King, playing through two dislocated fingers and the flu, scored 44 points and added 12 rebounds. The Knicks had the lead late, but Isiah Thomas scored 16 points in 94 seconds to bring Detroit back into it, sending it to overtime. Ultimately, the Knicks took the contest 127-123, as King set the scoring record for a five-game Playoff series with 42.6 ppg. Thomas had 35 points and 12 assists before fouling out late, remaining brilliant in defeat. FEBRUARY 18 // 6:00 ET Player to watch: Hugo González Hugo González's best defensive plays of 2026-26. The NBA’s net rating leader at the All-Star break? Hugo González, the 28th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Celtics’ rookie has brought consistent energy and defensive intensity in his initial campaign, raising the effort level in every contest. González is active, quick and surprisingly strong at 200 pounds. He races around trying to make plays — it takes a rare athlete to even attempt that in the NBA, and he can make it look good at times, although it’s largely youthful exuberance. He’s also a bulldog in one-on-one matchups defensively, clearly focused and engaged on that end. In his most common matchups, the 6’6″ wing has held All-Stars Pascal Siakam to 6-of-17 shooting over 12:21 and Cade Cunningham to 2-of-8 shooting over 6:47. He reminds me of former Celtic Avery Bradley — with his quick, agile feet, he’s often just as fast as he needs to be to get anywhere on the court. Keep track of González’s 3-point shooting in the coming campaign — he’s currently shooting 35.8% on 1.4 attempts per game, but that’s buoyed by a hot November, when he shot 55.6% from range. If he can find his stroke, ride the streaks and deliver, he’ll be an asset for the Celtics on into the postseason. FEBRUARY 18 // 5:30 ET Get locked in for the second half of the NBA season We’ll bring you players to watch, teams to consider and historic looks back this evening, as we gear up for the 2025-26 NBA season to resume tomorrow night. Settle in and enjoy, hardcore fans. The NBA will be back in just one sleep. Related 'Sophomore' Ladder: Ranking second-year standouts As the 2026 All-Star break wraps up, we take a look at the league's best second-year players this season. Best game to watch for all 30 teams as season resumes With 36 games in Week 18, the playoff chase could come more into view as the stretch run gets rolling. 14 milestones within reach in homestretch These statistical milestones could be within reach in the final months of the 2025-26 season. 10 storylines to follow after All-Star break Here are 10 things that could happen, or not, in the final weeks of the season.
Live Updates: Players and teams to watch before the NBA season resumes tomorrow
