Two teams with something to prove are about to square off. The Orlando Magic are banking on the return of their star Paolo Banchero to shake off their recent struggles, while the Philadelphia 76ers are still trying to figure out what’s gone wrong this season. Here’s what to watch in Sunday’s showdown. After missing over two months with an oblique tear, Paolo Banchero came back in style on Friday, dropping 34 points, hitting five 3-pointers, and grabbing seven rebounds in a narrow 109-106 loss to the Bucks. The Magic didn’t get the win, but they’re thrilled to have their star back. The 76ers’ season hasn’t gone as planned. They’re six games under .500 after a 3-14 start, and even the

The Boston Celtics aim to avoid consecutive home losses when they welcome the New Orleans Pelicans to TD Garden on Sunday. The game provides Boston an opportunity to right the ship after a lackluster performance against the Sacramento Kings on Friday. Boston, now 13-7 at home, has been in a rut, splitting its last 12 games (6-6). The team is coming off a 114-97 defeat to Sacramento, where offensive inefficiency and turnovers plagued their performance. The Celtics struggled mightily in the second half, scoring just 42 points and falling apart in the fourth quarter, where they were outscored 38-21. Jayson Tatum’s eight turnovers were a glaring issue in a game where Boston shot just 26.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar season rolls on as the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Washington Wizards on Sunday. Fresh off a dominant performance against the New York Knicks, Gilgeous-Alexander has further solidified his status as one of the league’s premier talents and an MVP frontrunner. The Thunder rebounded emphatically from their first loss in 16 games with a commanding 126-101 victory over the Knicks on Friday. Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded the effort, tallying 39 points in just 29 minutes on an ultra-efficient 15-of-21 shooting. The seventh-year guard continues to showcase an MVP-caliber season, averaging 31.5 points, 5.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game. He leads the NBA with 22 games of 30 or more points this season. Coach Mark Daigneault lauded

Two of the hottest teams in the NBA are about to go head-to-head. The Indiana Pacers are on a roll, crushing every team they’ve faced in 2025. But now, they’ve got their biggest challenge yet: the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers, who are riding a franchise-best 12-game winning streak. Game on. The Pacers couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year. Five games, five double-digit wins. That’s dominance. If they can take down the Cavs on Sunday, they’ll hit a season-high six-game winning streak. The Pacers are thriving by attacking the paint and playing unselfish basketball. But can they keep it up against a team like Cleveland? The Cavs are on a whole other level. At 33-4, they’re off to