NBA Nightly Pulse: News & Highlights from Feb. 7

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Friday Night Slate

Spurs @ Hornets – 4:00 PM ET

Cavaliers @ Wizards – 4:00 PM ET

Bucks @ Hawks – 4:00 PM ET

Heat @ Nets – 4:30 PM ET

76ers @ Pistons – 4:30 PM ET

Raptors @ Thunder – 5:00 PM ET

Jazz @ Suns – 7:00 PM ET

Friday’s Top Storylines

1. Chet Holmgren returns for OKC: The top-seeded team in the Western Conference has fared just fine without their lead big man – which makes his return that much scarier for their opponents. The Thunder were 8-2 when Holmgren went down last November, they are now 40-9 and get to play their first regular season game with both Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in the lineup.

2. 76ers big-3 looking to win in Detroit: Philadelphia will have Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George all on the floor tonight. Embiid returned from an extended absence two games ago, yet sat in their most recent game versus the Heat. Paul George did suit up for that one, yet the the team fell to Miami 108-101. Currently 11th in the East, the full big-three will try to lead their team to victory against the 7th-seeded Pistons.

3. Intriguing Bucks-Hawks showdown: If recent trends continue, this could be the game of the night. Atlanta’s last two outings were shootouts decided by a combined three points. Trae Young drilled an unreal step-back, game winner to take down the Pistons on Monday, 132-130. On Wednesday, Victor Wembanyama’s free throw with two seconds left sealed defeat for the Hawks, 126-125. Be on the lookout for another exciting finish with the Bucks in town tonight.