The Athletic NBA Daily
Episode: Kawhi’s Game Winner + Knicks rock Sixers
Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita
Guest: James Edwards
Episode Overview
In this episode, hosts Dave DuFour and Zena Keita break down a wild NBA Monday night, focused on Kawhi Leonard's electrifying finish for the Clippers, the Knicks’ emphatic bounce-back win over the Sixers, and the dynamics around teams tanking for draft position. James Edwards joins to unpack New York’s season and what they need to solidify themselves as true contenders. Other notable games and broader league trends are discussed with sharp analysis and playful banter.
Main Topics & Key Insights
The Night's Chaos and 1-on-1 Tournament
- 13 games on Monday night: A packed schedule made for a frenetic night, including the debut of the NBA’s new 1-on-1 tournament, with bigs and guards split for early rounds.
- “At one point, Xena, I could not keep up with the amount of games.” — Dave DuFour (01:51)
Clippers Comeback: Kawhi’s Signature Moment
- Clippers 118, Rockets 117
- Kawhi Leonard scored 19 points in the 4th, including the game-winning pull-up with 2 seconds left. He also took on defending Kevin Durant late.
- Described as a “playoff-like” win despite the midseason, back-to-back fatigue scenario.
- Clippers have traded away James Harden and Ivica Zubac, but additions like Benedict Mathurin (who got to the line 10 times) and Brook Lopez (strong recent play) provide stability.
- Rockets' Late-Game Issues
- Houston again faltered in the 4th (19 points scored), hampered by turnovers (20+) and persistent struggles against blitz/pick-and-roll coverage.
- Quotes:
- “Kawhi Leonard is no doubt like a top 10 player this year. And we saw it last night, Xena, he put up 19 points in the fourth quarter, hit the game winning pull up in the lane and won with two seconds left.” — Dave DuFour (02:54)
- “He had teammates open, there was a crowd around him and he just spun away, faded away from the crowd. Hits the game winner in a mid range so very Kawhi like.” — Zena Keita (03:44)
Bucks Top Magic in Orlando: Cam Thomas' Impact
- Bucks 116, Magic 108
- No Giannis, but Cam Thomas (34 points off the bench) delivers a “revenge game” to a Magic team once rumored for his services.
- Orlando’s defense fails to contain Thomas; raises concerns over their ceiling even as they return to health.
- Quotes:
- “How come the Orlando Magic didn't sign Cam Thomas? Was this a Cam Thomas revenge game?” — Dave DuFour (07:17)
- “He can get you buckets. And how many teams in the league right now need a certified bucket? ... Did it look like they needed him against the Bucks.” — Zena Keita (08:02)
Tank Watch: Pacers, Nets & Jazz
-
Pacers and Nets:
- Indiana is now deep into “ethical tank” mode, resting Siakam and Zubac, but still win over Brooklyn. The discussion highlights the realities of tanking under the NBA’s competitive structure.
- “If there's anyone you're more impressed with with the Tank, it's actually Brooklyn ... these are legitimate, like names in comparison to a lot of more G league guys ... with the Indiana Pacers.” — Zena Keita (10:59)
-
Jazz blow out Kings:
- Utah wins big despite limited minutes for stars (Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr.), an approach Dave jokingly theorizes as “building a lead too big to tank away.”
- Critique of how blatant tanking can affect the integrity of the sport, but optimism about Jazz’s young core and potential draft boost.
- “Not playing your best players in a fourth quarter that's close and not calling a timeout, you do mess with the integrity of the sport.” — Dave DuFour (12:30)
Knicks Bounce Back: Statement Win Over 76ers
[17:27]
- Knicks 125, Sixers 76:
- A massive 49-point victory after a demoralizing loss to the Pacers the night before.
- Jose Alvarado: 26 points, 8 threes (tied career high), brought “energy, steals, deflections”—a “huge pickup.”
- Knicks continue a seesaw season: can look dominant or deflated from game-to-game but have shown recent strength (10 wins in last 12).
- “Jose, listen, I, I wrote today. He played all the hits plus some B sides ... The Knicks would have won comfortably without his 26 points.” — James Edwards (18:19)
[19:31]
- Consistency is Key
- Offense isn’t the chief concern—depth and shooting are strong—but defensive consistency will determine playoff ceiling.
- “It's all defensive. I don't really worry about this team offensively ... Defensively, is it. They're never going to be a great defensive team, but they have the tools to be good and we just don't see it enough.” — James Edwards (20:09)
- Karl-Anthony Towns’ shooting and OG Anunoby’s injury status (toe avulsion) are flagged as variables.
[21:55]
- Robinson’s Role & Health
- Mitchell Robinson (minutes ramping up in January—6/7 games with >24 minutes), but still can’t play back-to-backs; his rim protection and ability to “insulate Jalen [Brunson]” are vital for the Knicks’ defense.
[23:35]
- Sixers-Knicks Series Takeaways
- Knicks and Sixers split the season series; NY must learn to handle teams with multiple ball handlers like Maxey, especially if healthy Sixers meet Knicks in playoffs.
- “There is a level that [the Knicks] can get to. Defensively they were very. Maxi was good, but they took away everybody else and ... really stymied them.” — James Edwards (24:09)
All-Star Weekend Lookahead
[24:51]
- High Points Amid Format Frustrations
- James Edwards is especially excited to see Damian Lillard compete in the 3-point contest.
- “I got excited when I saw Dame was doing the three point contest … Dame is one of the good dudes in the NBA ... you just kind of root for.” — James Edwards (24:51)
- Shoutout to Jace Richardson (“bring it home for the fourth guy” like dad Jason in dunk contest nostalgia).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “[Kawhi] just spun away, faded away from the crowd. Hits the game winner in a mid range. So very Kawhi-like...” — Zena Keita (03:44)
- “Nobody wants to win.” (on Pacers vs. Nets tanking game) — Dave DuFour (11:25)
- “This Kangs is Kangs in right now...” — Zena Keita (12:00)
- “It's too obvious. It's too blatant that you're not trying to win ... is it sports?” — Zena Keita (13:13–13:33)
- “Jose Alvarado ... played all the hits plus some B sides ... The Knicks would have won comfortably without his 26 points...” — James Edwards (18:19)
- “Defensively ... they're never going to be a great defensive team, but they have the tools to be good and we just don't see it enough. And when we do see it, it's like, Holy crap.” — James Edwards (20:09)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:25: Show intro, setting stage for Kawhi’s heroics and Knicks discussion
- 02:54: Deep dive into Kawhi’s game-winning performance
- 05:08: Analyzing Clippers' new lineup and the Rockets' 4th quarter woes
- 07:17: Bucks beat Magic—focus on Cam Thomas' pivotal role
- 09:49: League-wide tanking discussion, highlighted by Pacers-Nets
- 11:25: Utah Jazz, tanking, and the “Kangs is Kangs’in”
- 17:27: Knicks dominate Sixers—Jose Alvarado’s big night
- 19:31: James Edwards on what’s next for New York Knicks
- 21:55: Discussing Mitchell Robinson’s health and impact
- 23:35: What Knicks learned from Sixers matchups
- 24:51: All-Star Weekend highlights and excitement
Overall Tone and Style
The episode flows with high-energy basketball banter, playful jabs, and sharp, insightful analysis. The hosts move briskly through major storylines, offering both big-picture takes and granular details, balancing humor (especially with “Kangs is kanging”) with earnest critique and appreciation for standout performances.
This summary delivers a comprehensive recap while retaining the vibrancy and personality of the podcast. Suitable for listeners who missed the episode or want to revisit its highlights and insights.