Chapter 1: What happened in the Clippers vs. Nuggets game?
Good morning and welcome to the NBA Daily for February 20th, 2026, presented by Amazon Prime. I'm Dave DeFore, here with Espera Henne, coming up, the Clippers steal one from the Nuggets, Kevin Durant had a big night in Charlotte, and James Edwards is here to talk some smack about the Knicks. Good morning, everybody. What's up? Trying to get James in trouble.
I'm not going to get James in any more trouble than he gets himself in. Actually, look, the Knicks, we need to talk some smack about the Knicks. And we do in the second segment of the show, guys. But first, let's talk some smack about the Nuggets, man. The Clippers. The Clippers. Trade away James Harden and Avicii Zubac.
Chapter 2: How did Kevin Durant perform against the Hornets?
We all feel like, all right, they're not going to be any good anymore. And then they steal a game from the Nuggets at Intuit Dome, right? Fresh off the All-Star break. You know, you'd think that the Nuggets would be fresh. They were not ready. And once again, it's Jamal Murray at the free throw line with a chance to tie the game. And he misses what would have been
The game-tying free throw with 0.9 seconds left. The Clippers win 1-14. And S, this was just... You called it. We were watching the end of this one together.
It was bizarre.
And you said, what if he misses again?
I gave the broadcaster jinx. That's right. Would we call it the podcaster jinx? Yeah. I remember, I think like three weeks ago, it was me, you, and Hunter Patterson. He was in Detroit or he was in Denver. Yeah. And he was basically doing the game versus Detroit. And Jamal Murray went to the line twice to try and nail that game and get the Nuggets the win. And he missed.
And it was the same situation. He got fouled up three, ended up losing. And this time, it felt like the Nuggets didn't have a chance anyways because the Clippers pulled away multiple times in clutch.
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Chapter 3: What issues are the Knicks facing after their loss to the Pistons?
Brooke Lopez had this wide open drive to the lane dunk. That should have probably been an and one, actually. Yeah. Sure. And then the Clippers were up for Murray hit a three, got them in position to get fouled, but just missed the free throw. This is a guy who's like an 88 percent free throw shooter.
So just bizarre for him to have multiple opportunities like this to to brick and choke a game that we got to give credit to the wall.
He was shooting those free throws into the wall. I mean, you've experienced the wall. A lot of pressure. Listen, it's pretty loud. I mean, even what the little fan section that they had at All-Star Game, a lot of that, I think, is their perception because it's such a steep angle. I mean, it looks like a lot of people. It's a sea of people.
So we're going to give credit to the wall, not anyone else on the free throw defense there.
I'd like to personally one day try to sneak into the wall with the opposing team's Jersey, just to see if I could pull it off.
I feel like security is going to throw you out. The Clippers, they've run a tight ship around there. Kawhi had 23. Continues to be pretty good, although this wasn't his best game. A little bit of a minutes limit for him, but it was a team effort for them, and we got to tip the cap to Benedict Matherin.
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Chapter 4: What are the problems with Karl-Anthony Towns in the Knicks' offense?
His Clipper home debut puts up 38 points off the bench. That's a season high 12 of 13 from the free throw line. And S this is sort of the thing that they brought him in for. You can see where he fits. If he can be, let's say a lower budget, Norm Powell for them, this team, maybe it's not so much of a drop off losing James Harden.
I think he could hit the highs of a Norm Powell too. You know, I mean, Norm is obviously now an all-star and he had an all-star caliber season for the Clippers last year.
Chapter 5: What defensive challenges do the Knicks need to address?
But I think Matherin has the capability of putting up nights that remind you or can at least replicate what Norm provided for this Clippers team. I mean, Matherin was a guy who was on a finals team for the Pacers last year. He had some huge moments in the playoffs for them. So I know he can get to that level. It's just about doing it consistently. And also like,
shot selection is always going to do a thing with Mather. And so once he was starting to feel it in this game, you could see he was forcing it a little bit too much, but they needed it. And I thought he was awesome. He got it in multiple different ways, whether it was getting to the free throw line.
And you can see where they could use that. I mean, just some of the stuff that he's going to bring over from that Indiana system, I think will help. He had a crazy finish on a layup off a really nice cut to the basket late in the game. I just, I couldn't believe he made that shot.
Once Garland comes back, man, I don't know. The Clippers might be cooking with something, but who knows? We'll see.
Brooke Lopez kind of bounced back, had a big block down the stretch of this game. Look, man, we can't take the Clippers seriously after trading away two of the three best players. But pretty big win for a team that's still hanging in the play-in race. The Nuggets, though. I just feel like the Nuggets want to fast forward to the playoffs. They need Aaron Gordon back.
This defense is just atrocious. Are you not concerned at all? I am concerned. Okay. I'm very concerned about the Nuggets defense. Nikola Jokic, look. He's the greatest offensive player maybe ever in NBA history. But what's happening right now on defense, it looks like he's just disinterested. I don't think he really wants to run all that hard right now.
I guess I get it when you've had this much success and they've been hurt all year. Yeah, I understand. Like, look, it's a long season. I can get it.
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Chapter 6: How is Cade Cunningham making a case for MVP?
But man, I've got some real concerns because come playoff time, you know, are they going to be as sharp? You know, they haven't had all year to kind of get their stuff together. You know, you're hoping Aaron Gordon can come back here in the next couple of weeks and you've got time to rebuild that chemistry. Remember, Cam Cam Johnson still hasn't.
really looked great when they've been at full health. Like we haven't seen what that looks like. And some of these other guys that they're missing, Peyton Watson's not been out there. Julian Strother, I think, is a guy they need to figure out how he fits when they're at full health. He had six threes last night. I mean, that's a guy that I think you're going to need.
So I still there's there are questions about the Nuggets for sure.
It's hard. Like, how much do I take into consideration that this is the 24th best or, if you will, worst defense this season? Like, this is a team that's supposed to contend for a championship. It's basically unheard of for a team with that poor of a defense to win a championship. Yeah. Like there are maybe a few examples in NBA history.
So how much are you going to take that for the injuries or is it going to be, I don't know, something that they can work in as the season progresses, you know?
Right. I mean, again, extenuating circumstances are what they are.
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Chapter 7: What are the Pistons' strengths and weaknesses this season?
They have not been healthy, but it raises a lot of questions. Kevin Durant, by the way, answered every question. For the Rockets. Every single time. I mean, every time they needed a bucket. Did he not? Did he not deliver the last 10 points of the game for the Rockets scored by Kevin Durant? The Rockets, they beat our Hornets. Yes. 105, 101.
Chapter 8: Can the Pistons maintain their success heading into the playoffs?
Now I will give the Hornets. We're going to tip the cap. They're down two starters right now. They were hanging tough, had a chance to win the game. But, you know, look, what are you going to do, man? Kevin Durant is just he's automatic sometimes.
Yeah. And especially you're not going to win that many games when Brandon Miller is five to 22 and the ball is five to 14. Like the shooting was tough here for them. And I thought they made a game of it regardless. There was a huge three con canipple hit in that fourth quarter to help the Hornets try to get involved in this game. But to your point, man. Kevin Durant was incredible in this game.
Thirty five points hit this incredible clutch shot in the dying seconds of this one to really seal the game. Yep. Those are the type of stuff that that's that's what they need from Kevin Durant all year.
He also I don't think that we've talked about this at all this year. Me and you hit three blocks in the first quarter of this game had a steal. He is having a pretty impressive two way season at 37 years old. I don't know that we've ever seen anyone defend the way that he has, actually, at his age. Because normally, by then, guys stop. But he can't on this team.
They actually need him to defend it the way he has. And I don't know if I've seen anyone bring this up, to be honest with you.
Yeah, I'm glad you brought it up because I think especially with – Shen Goon is having a down defensive season. Like he's not having – some of the same qualities we just talked about with Jokic very much so apply to Alper and Shen Goon. But that's why Kevin Durant has had to cover so much.
And the wing trio, if you will, of him, Jabari Smith Jr., a man Thompson, Tari Eason, when he's on the floor, those guys have had to paper over a lot of issues, especially at the point of attack with Reed Shepard. And then at the back line with Shangoon, they have to paper over a lot credit to Kevin Durant. He's, I think he's always been an underrated defender, but just being able to
One, be this help side rim protector for them, clean up stuff when Shang-Goon isn't there. It's a huge part of what he does. Also, he has to make and take tough shots all the time. So his responsibility is insane on this Rockets team.
But they held this Hornets team to 101 points, which is – that's something. Ime Odoko, he coaches up the defense quite – I mean, extremely well. Finding out ways to guard like LaMelo Ball's point of attack, I like how they mixed it up. Sometimes it was a man –
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