Podcast Summary: Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective

Episode: Cavs Down Knicks + Spurs Expose Pistons? OKC’s Depth Showing Finals Repeat Chances?
Date: February 25, 2026
Host(s): Brian Windhorst (B), Tim Bontemps (C), Tim MacMahon (D)
Produced by: ESPN & Omaha Productions

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the latest NBA headlines, focusing on:

• The Cavaliers’ dominant win over the Knicks and what’s going wrong in New York
• How the Spurs’ defense and Victor Wembanyama exposed the Pistons’ playoff vulnerabilities
• Oklahoma City Thunder’s impressive depth and the financial and roster crossroads looming as they eye a potential Finals repeat
• A look at Jalen Brown’s MVP case and the Celtics, Jokic and the struggling Nuggets, and Jonathan Kuminga’s strong Hawks debut.

Throughout, Windhorst and his panel interweave stats breakdowns, storytelling, sharp critiques, and a dose of NBA media inside baseball, keeping the tone analytical yet conversational.

1. Cavaliers Dominate the Knicks: Defensive Masterclass or Knicks Meltdown?

(Segment starts ~05:12)

Key Points:

• Game Result: Cavs 109, Knicks 94. Only 94 points allowed by Cleveland, highlighting their rising defensive identity.
• Knicks’ Third Quarter Collapse:
  • Knicks scored just 11 points in Q3 (3-24 FG, 1-12 3PT, 4-8 FT).
  • "That's how you score 11 points in a quarter and how you get down by 20." (C, 06:09)
• Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT):
  • Only five shots, scored 100% from the field but was nearly invisible.
  • “I'm going to call him catsperson friendly ghost today because he was gone. Could not find him.” (D, 07:36)
• Cavs' Lineup Experimentation: Dean Wade starting, using three near seven-footers for size, now that Mobley is healthy.
• Jared Allen's Impact:
  • Strong game, sparking debate about Brooklyn’s decision to trade him in the Harden deal:
  • "If the Nets had not given Jared Allen away... I think the Nets would have won the title... when Kevin Durant's toe was about that much on the line." (C, 08:14–09:03)
• Harden, Mitchell, and Allen:
  • Harden providing playmaking but not many FTs (0 this game, avg. 4 per game w/ Cavs).
  • “James Harden will absolutely maximize a big who's willing to screen and roll hard to the rim.” (D, 10:26)
  • Donovan Mitchell struggled (5-18 FG), but got to the line (14 FTAs).
• Knicks' Troubles:
  • “Like, the Knicks stunk it up. And honestly, the Knicks stunk it up for most of the game the other night against the Rockets and got lucky...” (D, 10:26)
  • Recent trend: getting blown out, scraping by tankers.
  • Calls for featuring KAT more—a recurring theme for their offense.
• Windhorst’s Take: Losing in Cleveland isn't a disaster, but New York’s underlying issues (inconsistent offense, rotations, focus) are mounting.

2. Spurs Defeat and Expose the Pistons: Playoff Weaknesses Laid Bare

(Segment starts ~16:48)

Key Points:

• Spurs Win Streak: Up to nine with this win; “tremendous win for the Spurs to go up there.”
• Cade Cunningham's Rough Night:
  • Shot 5-26 FG (1-15 2nd half), three shots blocked by Wemby.
  • Detroit’s offense grinds to a halt if Cade is smothered—“The entire spurs defense was loaded up on Cade Cunningham … there wasn’t a plan B.” (C, 18:18)
• Victor Wembanyama's Defensive Impact:
  • Could camp out in the paint with no threat from Detroit’s non-spacing bigs.
  • “Victor leads the league in reconsiders by a whole lot.” (D, 21:46)
  • “I’ll never forget … his coach Vincent Collet told me he was the first … to defend the rim and the corner three at the same time.” (B, 24:37)
• Detroit’s Problematic Shooting/Spacing:
  • PISTONS: 7-36 from 3; SPURS: 18-40 from 3 (huge +33 difference).
  • Duncan Robinson cold (3-11), Holland takes too many (1-6), Asar Thompson benched for lack of offense.
• Implications for Playoffs:
  • Opponents may mimic the Spurs’ blueprint—packing the paint, challenging non-shooters.
  • "They have some real questions to answer on offense." (C, 20:15)
• Defensive Praise for Spurs:
  • Stefan Castle—co-hosts tout him as a first-team All-Defense guy already.
• Physicality and Psychology:
  • Pistons tried to “punk” the Spurs, but “Spurs are not very punkable ... you're not going to intimidate Wemby.” (D, 27:07)

3. Thunder’s Depth and Looming Crunch: The Repeat Window and Salary Questions

(Segment starts ~32:13)

Key Points:

• Short-Handed Win Over Toronto:
  • No SGA, Jalen Williams, or A.J. Mitchell, Thunder still win behind Cason Wallace’s breakout (27p, 8r, 7a).
  • "He’s made his impact primarily on the defensive end. They’ve needed him to be an on ball creator and he has answered the bell.” (D, 39:43)
• Wallace’s Emergence:
  • “He is a big-time playmaker ... I cannot overstate what a massive development that is for the Thunder.” (D, 41:56)
  • 4 of his six 20+ point games this month, lots of growth due to injuries to core creators.
• Thunder’s Upcoming Salary Cap Squeeze:
  • “Jalen Williams … next year, he's making $41.5 million. Nice. $35 million jump.” (C, 34:12)
  • Chet Holmgren also due a huge raise.
  • Discussion about team options (Dort, Hartenstein, etc.)—Thunder face the ‘second apron’ and decisions about who to extend, trade, or let walk.
  • “Teams around the league are looking, saying, what are the Thunder going to do with their roster this summer?” (C, 36:18)
• Immediate Focus:
  • Despite the contract talk, repeating is front and center. “The first order of business is defending a championship … Cason Wallace’s growth is a huge development for their chances.” (D, 39:43)
• Team Stats and Resilience:
  • Thunder continue to rack up wins without their stars—indication of elite system and depth.
  • Wallace: “assisted turnover almost at 5 to 1 … that’s pretty good.” (B, 39:43)
• What it Means for Playoff Scenarios:
  • Wallace’s comfort “could be a factor in a playoff series if someone is in foul trouble or hurt—this kind of development matters.” (B, 42:07)

4. Celtics, Nuggets, and the MVP/Narrative Debate

(Segment starts ~43:03)

Key Points:

• Celtics Rolling:
  • Post All-Star break, 7-of-8 wins on Western road trip. Jaylen Brown leading way.
  • LeBron after Celtics-Lakers: “Gave Jalen a shoutout, thought he was being underrated.” (B, 44:00)
• Jaylen Brown—Properly Rated?:
  • Bon Temps: “Second team All-NBA … finished sixth in the last straw poll … The idea he’s being underrated is off base.” (C, 44:01–45:48)
  • Citing stats and context: “He’s on the fringe of the MVP conversation … nothing to be insulted by.” (D/C, 47:05–47:51)
• Nuggets’ Clutch Problems:
  • Denver now with a losing clutch record (14-15); net rating in clutch: 26th; struggles blamed on injuries.
  • “Jokic and Jamal Murray have long histories of being great clutch performers, and it's just not happening this year.” (B, 48:46)
  • Still, panel expects them to be “right in the thick of things if they have a healthy roster come playoff time.” (D, 48:57)

5. Other Quick Hits and Notable Moments

• Jonathan Kuminga's Big Hawks Debut:

  • 27 points in first game for Atlanta after trade from the Warriors; opportunity opens up due to Jalen Johnson’s injury. (B, 50:48 + C, 50:48–51:46)
  • Quip from McMahon: “I dare someone in that Warriors beat crew to ask Steve Kerr what he thought of Kuminga's debut for the Hawks.” (D, 51:55)

• Spurs, Tanking, and Lottery Luck:

  • Spurs as successful tankers—won the Wemby lottery.
  • Humorous suggestion: “The league office should have to approve 10 day contracts for losing teams in the second half of the season. I'm serious about that.” (D, 29:30)

• NBA Trash Talk and Toughness:

  • Recap of Myron Gardner vs. Scottie Pippen Jr. “There’s a lot of yapping for a dude who hasn't done anything in the league yet.” (D, 28:32)

• Great Quote:

  • On Wembanyama: “He leads the league in reconsiders by a whole lot.” (D, 21:46)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Knicks’ Atrocious Third Quarter:

  • “The Knicks went 3 for 24 from the field in the third quarter. Or 1 for 12 for 3 and 4 for 8 from the line. And that right there, folks, is how you score 11 points in a quarter...” (C, 06:09)

• On Jared Allen's Impact:

  • “If the Nets had not given Jared Allen away in the James Harden trade ... I think the Nets would have won the title...” (C, 09:03)

• On KAT’s Disappearing Act:

  • “I'm going to call him catsperson friendly ghost today because he was gone. Could not find him.” (D, 08:00)

• On Wemby’s Defense:

  • “Victor leads the league in reconsiders by a whole lot.” (D, 21:46)
  • “He was the first player ... who could defend the rim and the corner three at the same time.” (B, 24:49)

• On Cason Wallace’s Emergence:

  • “...he’s made his impact primarily on the defensive end. They've needed him to be an on ball creator and he has answered the bell.” (D, 39:43)

• On Celtics MVP Debate:

  • “He’s a second team all NBA player ... The idea that he’s being underrated or not giving enough respect ... is off base.” (C, 44:01–45:09)

Takeaways

• The Knicks’ offensive struggles have reached critical mass, with a lack of identity and questionable stars utilization (KAT invisible, Brunson struggling).
• The Cavaliers’ evolution, powered by Harden’s facilitating and Allen’s resurgence, positions them for a strong finish.
• The Spurs, built around Wembanyama and Castle, are laying out a defensive blueprint that could haunt the Pistons and similar teams in the playoffs.
• The Thunder’s insane depth and player development (Wallace!) give them serious repeat potential, but their salary cap situation will force tough summer decisions.
• Jaylen Brown is getting his respect, even if the MVP trophy is out of reach—while the Celtics continue to roll.
• Injuries and clutch struggles cloud the Nuggets’ chances but don’t count them out.
• The episode concludes with wit, stats, and a reminder that NBA narratives are never as simple as they seem.

Highly Recommended Segments (Timestamps):

• [06:09] – Knicks’ disastrous third quarter and Cavs defense
• [08:14–09:03] – “What-if” with the Nets, Jared Allen, and the Harden trade
• [18:18–21:46] – Spurs defense, Wemby’s impact, and Pistons’ playoff weakness
• [24:37–25:04] – Coaching story on Wembanyama's defensive uniqueness
• [32:13–42:07] – Thunder’s depth, contract squeeze, Cason Wallace’s leap
• [44:01–47:51] – Jaylen Brown’s MVP candidacy, context, and critique
• [48:46–48:57] – Nuggets’ clutch woes and playoff outlook

Endnote:

The Hoop Collective delivers its trademark blend of banter, deep stat dives, and strategic storytelling, giving listeners key context for each developing NBA storyline without straying far from the court (or the locker-room). Suitable for the hardcore follower and casual hoops fan alike.