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Detroit outlasted Charlotte 110-104 in a tense NBA contest that featured four ejections and a coach sent off, while Cleveland edged Denver 119-117 and Minnesota dominated Atlanta 138-116, with star guards Cade Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell and Anthony Edwards driving key wins across a dramatic night of league action.
Cunningham led Detroit with 33 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Tobias Harris hit important shots in the closing minutes as the Pistons held off Charlotte’s late charge. Duncan Robinson added 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting, helping Detroit move to 39-13 and tighten the race with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA’s best record.
The Hornets arrived on a nine-game winning run, yet Detroit controlled enough key stretches
to halt that surge and strengthen first place in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte rallied in the fourth quarter but never overturned the deficit, despite strong scoring from Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and rookie Kon Kneuppel.
The game’s mood changed sharply in the third quarter after an incident involving Jalen Duren and Moussa Diabate. Diabate fouled Duren on a drive, and Duren then turned and moved close to Diabate. Duren struck Diabate in the face with an open palm, sparking a confrontation between both NBA teams.
Diabate responded by throwing a punch at Duren and attempted to pursue Duren as Duren walked away. Miles Bridges then punched Duren, and Isaiah Stewart left the Detroit bench area to confront Bridges. Officials reviewed the clash and ejected Duren, Stewart, Diabate and Bridges for their roles in the fight.
Tension continued into the final period, when Hornets coach Charles Lee argued a no-call and needed to be restrained while shouting at officials. Lee was ejected in the fourth quarter, adding to a turbulent NBA night. Despite the distractions, Detroit maintained composure across the closing possessions.
Best angle of Beef Stew vs. Bridges. Watch Duncan Robinson for comedic effect. pic.twitter.com/9OjSDpzvLeRob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 10, 2026
Miller led Charlotte with 24 points, while Ball and Kneuppel each scored 20 points in the loss. Detroit’s win left the Pistons half a game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA’s top overall record, underlining how the result affected both the standings and Charlotte’s halted winning streak.
In Denver, the Cleveland Cavaliers overturned a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Nuggets 119-117, with James Harden and Donovan Mitchell sharing the spotlight. Denver had led by as many as 11 points in the final period but went cold, shooting 6-for-18 from the field in the quarter.
Harden, playing his second game since being traded to Cleveland, delivered 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Harden’s step-back three-pointer tied the game 117-117 with 32 seconds remaining. Mitchell then attacked in the final second and drew a foul from Jamal Murray, earning two decisive free throws.
Mitchell finished with 32 points, 10 assists, two steals and two blocks, and converted both free throws with 0.9 seconds left. Cleveland’s win gave the Cavaliers eight victories from their last nine NBA outings. The result added pressure on Denver, whose recent form at home has slipped noticeably.
Nikola Jokic recorded 22 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for an NBA-leading 19th triple-double this season but missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer. Murray posted 17 points and 11 assists, yet the Nuggets have now lost four of their last five and sit 2-5 across their previous seven home games.
NBA Timberwolves surge as Edwards and Randle dominate Hawks
Minnesota’s 138-116 victory over Atlanta was built on a powerful second quarter and balanced contributions. The Timberwolves, who had dropped three of four and gone 5-8 across their last 13 NBA games, responded with strong pace and efficient shooting to re-establish momentum in the Western Conference race.
Edwards scored 30 points, including 21 before half-time, as Minnesota won the second quarter 40-22 and built an 81-56 lead at the break. Julius Randle added a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, his third this season, while recent trade addition Ayo Dosunmu scored 21 points from the bench.
Atlanta played without Jalen Johnson, who missed the game due to left knee inflammation, and Dyson Daniels, sidelined by right ankle inflammation. Newly acquired forward Jonathan Kuminga also sat out with a left knee bone bruise. CJ McCollum tried to keep the Hawks competitive with 38 points, supported by Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
The night’s NBA results highlighted contrasting storylines, from Detroit’s stormy win over Charlotte and Cleveland’s late rally in Denver to Minnesota’s comfortable success against a short-handed Atlanta lineup. Across all three games, star guards and key role players shaped outcomes that affected both conference standings and current team momentum.
