NBA

“If you don’t have that burning feeling, in your stomach, like if you’re not getting up to play KD or Steph... it’s like, I’ve done lost my drive of what this game was all about, and that’s competition.” TWO NBA OGs. ANOTHER CHAPTER OF KD/STEPH. 9:30 PM ET ON ESPN 🍿

STEPH/KD AS TEAMMATES: 🔥 3 seasons 🔥 2 championships 🔥 164-46 record 🔥 Curry: 26.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.9 APG 🔥 Durant: 26.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.2 APG STEPH/KD AS OPPONENTS: 🔥 40 matchups (24-16, Durant) 🔥 1 WCF series (4-3, Curry) 🔥 Curry: 25.5 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.8 3PM 🔥 Durant: 29.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.5 APG ANOTHER CHAPTER of @StephenCurry30 vs. @KDTrey5 tonight at 9:30pm/et on ESPN!

Steph and Luka… The two at the top 🤝 See the leaders in Gravity, Leverage AND FG% Above Expected from NBA Inside The Game Powered by @awscloud in action tonight! nba.smart.link/3wvb9czmf

30-8 run to force OT. 44-11 run to close it out. 22-point comeback win. New York pulled off a come-from-behind victory for the AGES in Game 1 of last year’s ECF! The Knicks and Cavs battle at 7pm/et on ESPN 🍿

Steph and KD square off for the 41st time in their careers! 🍿 Warriors vs. Rockets 📺 9:30pm/et on ESPN

This Rockets/Warriors matchup last April was INCREDIBLE 🍿 ▪️ KD: 31p, 8r, 8a ▪️ Steph: 29p in return ▪️ Alpy: 24p and game-winning lay Another chapter of Steph vs. KD as the 8-3 Warriors and the 8-3 Rockets clash at 9:30pm/et on ESPN!

On pace to lead the league in blocks for the 4th straight season, the first-ever unanimous Kia NBA DPOY is back in action TONIGHT vs. the Bulls at 8pm/et on NBA League Pass.

WEMBY: TOP 200 IN ALL-TIME BLOCKS 👽 With 8 blocks Monday night, Victor Wembanyama moved into the top-200 all-time with 675 for his career. He’s ONLY played 192 games 🤯

Read Jeff Zillgitt’s breakdown for his latest Kia Rookie Ladder on the NBA App. ➡️ nba.smart.link/7q36vthjj

GSW/HOU | 9:30pm/et, ESPN READ MORE: nba.com/news/stephen-curry-k…

In the previous 40 matchups, 33 were regular-season games and seven came in that classic 2016 Western Conference Finals when Curry’s Warriors came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Thunder. In those head-to-head matchups, Durant’s teams are 24-16. Curry has averaged 25.5 points, 6.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals while shooting 47.6% from the field and 41.4% on 3-pointers. Durant has averaged 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals and shot 47.6% from the field and 42.3% on 3s. There have been some classics between the two, including 31 times when at least one of them has scored at least 30 points in a game.

Durant’s role remains valuable to the Rockets even if he’s not scoring as much. His 21 points per game are the lowest since his rookie season, but Durant pointed out that his presence on the court makes Houston’s offense better. The 8-3 Rockets have the third-best offense (118.5 points per 100 possessions) with Durant shooting 49.6% from the field, 35.7% on 3s and 86.4% from the foul line. He’s also averaging 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 blocks.

Curry plays for the team that drafted him in 2009 and could be the last superstar to remain with the same team for his entire career. Durant, more in line with modern player movement, is with his fifth franchise. The Warriors are 8-3, winners of eight straight, and have the NBA’s second-best offense at 119 points per 100 possessions. Curry is averaging 30.6 points, 4.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds and shooting 50.3% from the field, 45.7% on 3-pointers and 98.7% on free throws. The Warriors, who won three titles in four seasons and four in eight seasons, would love one more with Curry, Draymond Green and Coach Steve Kerr.

Season No. 20 for the 38-year-old Durant, season No. 18 for the 38-year-old Curry – they remain vital contributors to teams with championship aspirations.

Kevin Durant is a 16-time All-Star and 12-time All-NBA selection, and Stephen Curry is a 12-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA honoree. Both are former scoring champions, All-Star MVPs and on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. Durant is No. 5 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, and Curry is No. 16.

KD AND STEPH DUEL FOR THE 41ST TIME: A THREAD 🧵 ✍️ NBA.com, @JeffZillgitt

AN EAST FINALS REMATCH IN MSG 🍿 Jalen Brunson and the Knicks seek their 5th straight W as they host Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers! 📺 7pm/et on ESPN

“I only dunk when she’s here!” Throwing it back to last Christmas… @TheRealCocoJ is a true inspiration to @spidadmitchell ❤️ CLE/NYK I 7pm/et, ESPN