Hornets Defeat Knicks, New Leader Emerges in Kia MVP Race, Weekend Preview

Friday’s slate opens with 10 games and an NBA TV doubleheader. The Cavs host the Heat at 7:30 ET, then the Mavericks visit Portland at 10 ET.

Three-game Thursday recap

Hornets Defeat Knicks

Charlotte beat New York 114-103. The Hornets used heavy three-point shooting to seize control.

Kon Knueppel finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. He also made six three-pointers.

LaMelo Ball added 22 points, five rebounds and six assists. Brandon Miller scored 21 with eight rebounds.

The trio combined for 69 points and made 14 of Charlotte’s 16 threes. Jalen Brunson led New York with 26 points and 13 assists.

Knueppel passed 250 career made threes. He became the only player age 22 or younger to reach that mark.

He also joined an exclusive rookie group who recorded 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five made threes.

Pistons roll past Pelicans

Detroit defeated New Orleans 129-108. Jalen Duren dominated with 30 points and 10 rebounds.

Duren added seven assists, two steals and two blocks. He shot 10-of-12 from the field.

That efficient line made Duren the first Detroit player with 30-plus, 10-plus and five-plus on at least 80 percent shooting.

He joined Isiah Thomas as a Pistons under 22 with a similar stat line. Detroit is 4-1 since Cade Cunningham’s injury.

The Pistons extended their East lead to four games over Boston.

Magic snap skid

Orlando edged Sacramento 121-117 to stop a six-game losing streak. Paolo Banchero had 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Desmond Bane contributed 23 points for the Magic, while DeMar DeRozan scored 33 for the Kings.

Jalen Suggs hit a key three with 27.4 seconds left. Orlando moved from 10th to 8th in the East.

New Leader Emerges in Kia MVP Race

Shaun Powell’s latest Kia MVP Ladder shows a new name atop the list. Victor Wembanyama claimed the No. 1 spot.

Sixteen days remain in the regular season. San Antonio has gone 23-2 during Wembanyama’s surge.

In that stretch, he recorded 90 blocks and an NBA-best plus-minus of +388. That mark led the league by 97.

Wembanyama rose from No. 3 to No. 1 on Powell’s ladder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sits at No. 2.

Nikola Jokić ranks No. 3, and Luka Dončić holds No. 4. Each player brings a distinct MVP case.

On NBA TV tonight

The Heat and Cavaliers meet in a rematch at 7:30 ET on NBA TV. Miami ended a five-game losing stretch Wednesday.

Miami sits 10th in the East, two games behind fifth-place Atlanta. Cleveland holds a four-game cushion for fourth.

James Harden and Donovan Mitchell combine for 47.7 points and 13 assists per game. Cleveland is 14-5 with Harden available.

The Trail Blazers host the Mavericks at 10 PM ET on NBA TV. Portland has the top defensive rating over its last 10 games.

Donovan Clingan has recorded 10 double-doubles this month. Since Jan. 1, he has 23 double-doubles, tied for second-most.

Where they stand in 2026

Filmogaz.com examined team performances since Jan. 1, 2026. Several clubs have turned their seasons around.

The Hornets were 11-22 on Dec. 31. They have gone 27-12 since the calendar flipped.

The Celtics are 28-12 in 2026. The Hawks have gone 25-13 over the same period.

The Clippers are 26-15 in the new year. These records reveal teams finding identity late in the season.

Weekend Preview

Fifteen games await Saturday and Sunday. Six of those are national television games with postseason implications.

Saturday’s national slate starts at 3 ET with Spurs at Bucks on Prime. San Antonio seeks an eighth straight win.

The Spurs are 22-4 against Eastern Conference opponents this season. They sit two games behind OKC for the West’s top seed.

Other Saturday highlights include Wolves at Pistons and Jazz at Suns. Sunday features Knicks at Thunder at 7:30 ET on NBC.

The weekend closes with Warriors at Nuggets on Sunday night. Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray will aim to continue Denver’s recent surge.

Additional notes

• The 2026 BAL season tips off today with 12 teams across three African cities.
• The Basketball Africa League Playoffs and Finals will run May 22–31 in Rwanda.
• Filmogaz.com will track the developing Kia MVP race, and provide a full Weekend Preview.