NBA roundup: Malik Monk delivers in OT as Kings edge Lakers
Mon Oct 30 12:45am ET
Field Level Media
Malik Monk saved 11 of his 22 points for overtime, Kevin Huerter drilled a key 3-pointer with 32 seconds to go and the Sacramento Kings outlasted the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 132-127 on Sunday night.
De'Aaron Fox went for a game-high 37 points for the Kings, who overcame Domantas Sabonis fouling out and a late surge by LeBron James. Sabonis had 12 points and a team-high 15 rebounds before fouling out.
Monk had two 3-pointers, a three-point play and two free throws in the extra five minutes, the foul shots coming with 15.2 seconds remaining to clinch the win after James had made his third basket of overtime to get the Lakers within 130-127 with 23.6 seconds left.
Anthony Davis and James both recorded double-doubles for the Lakers. Davis collected a team-high 30 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, while James totaled 27 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. D'Angelo Russell finished with 17 points and a game-high nine assists.
Nuggets 128, Thunder 95
Nikola Jokic scored 28 points with 14 rebounds and five assists as Denver coasted past host Oklahoma City.
Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points, Jamal Murray 19 and Peyton Watson a career-high 17 off the bench for the Nuggets. The win was the third consecutive for the defending champions to start the season and Denver's fourth consecutive win in Oklahoma City.
Rookie Chet Holmgren led the Thunder with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was just 2-of-16 from the floor, finishing with seven points, his lowest scoring total since December 2019.
Warriors 106, Rockets 95
Stephen Curry scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, burying four late 3-pointers that helped Golden State beat host Houston.
After the Rockets secured their first lead since late in the first quarter on a driving layup from Jalen Green with 6:42 left in the game, the Warriors reclaimed the advantage at 88-87 when Draymond Green scored through a foul. Green missed the ensuing free throw, but the Warriors corralled the offensive rebound and Curry followed with a three at the 5:09 mark that pushed the lead to 91-87.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 21 points and nine rebounds. Alperen Sengun added 19 points and seven assists while Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in 14 points and eight boards. Houston finished with a 46-24 advantage in points in the paint and committed only seven turnovers.
76ers 128, Blazers 98
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey posted double-doubles, Tobias Harris chipped in 24 points and Philadelphia won for the second time in as many days, thumping visiting Portland.
Embiid complemented game highs in points (35) and rebounds (15) with seven assists, six blocks and two steals for the 76ers, who were coming off a tough 114-107 win at Toronto.
Shaedon Sharpe had 20 points and Malcolm Brogdon supplied 18 to pace the Trail Blazers, who were opening a four-day, three-game trip.
Hawks 127, Bucks 110
Trae Young's 20 points led eight Atlanta scorers in double figures, and the Hawks led wire to wire en route to a rout over host Milwaukee.
The Hawks shot 47-of-93 from the floor, including 15-of-37 from 3-point range, led by Bogdan Bogdanovic's 4-of-7. Bogdanovic led three Hawks reserves in double figures with 17 points. Onyeka Okongwu added 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Saddiq Bey scored 13 points with nine rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a game-high 26 points while Damian Lillard -of-12 for six points, and was scoreless until the second half. Malik Beasley scored 18 points, Brook Lopez had 13 points and Bobby Portis scored 12 points off the bench for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.
Clippers 123, Spurs 83
Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points in 28 minutes as Los Angeles rolled over San Antonio in the first road game for rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama.
Paul George and Russell Westbrook each scored 19 points for the Clippers, who improved to 2-0 at home and rebounded from a disappointing two-point defeat on the road against the Utah Jazz on Friday. Bones Hyland scored 18 points and Ivica Zubac had 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field for Los Angeles.
Devin Vassell scored just two of his 14 points in the second half and Cedi Osman added 12 for the Spurs, who went 1-1 at home. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 No. 1 overall selection in this year's draft, scored 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting.
- NBA roundup: Pacers down Kings, continue rebound from 2-16 start
- Terry Rozier pleads not guilty to sports betting charges
- Magic F Franz Wagner could miss weeks with ankle injury
- NBA roundup: Luka Doncic, LeBron James lead Lakers past 76ers in return
- Magic F Franz Wagner (leg) injured vs. Knicks
- Thunder G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (elbow) out vs. Jazz
- NBA roundup: Timberwolves surge past James Harden, Clippers
- NBA roundup: Kevin Durant hits 31K career points in Rockets' win
- Lakers without LeBron James, Luka Doncic vs. Celtics
- Ex-NBA champ Elden Campbell died by drowning
- NBA roundup: Lakers win, but LeBron James' double-figure streak ends
- Clippers waive F Jahmyl Telfort as roster adjustments continue
- Lakers' Luka Doncic (personal) out vs. Raptors
- Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) out 2-4 weeks
- NBA roundup: Jamal Murray nets 52 as Nuggets extend road win streak
- Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo out for game with right calf strain
- Suns' Devin Booker (groin) will miss at least 1 week
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks discussing future
- Warriors G De’Anthony Melton (knee) set to return vs. 76ers
- NBA fines 76ers for violating rules leading up to Joel Embiid's return
Toronto Raptors forward Jamison Battle (ankle) is doubtful for Tuesday's matchup against New York, keeping the second-year wing on the fringes of the rotation. Battle has averaged 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 11.3 minutes across his last five appearances, offering no fantasy utility even when active. His absence does not change Toronto's rotation, as Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Ochai Agbaji already dominate the forward minutes. Managers can safely look elsewhere for streaming value, as Battle remains off the fantasy radar.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jacob Toppin (shoulder) has been ruled out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum suffered in a late-November G League outing. He logged only spot minutes with Atlanta, producing eight points across five brief appearances, so his absence carries no fantasy consequences. The Hawks' forward rotation remains fully intact, with Jalen Johnson anchoring the position and Asa Newell and Mouhamed Gueye holding reserve roles. No player gains meaningful opportunity from this injury, and managers can safely disregard Toppin in all formats.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Ben Sheppard (calf) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left calf strain and will miss at least 10 more days after already sitting out the past two contests. He averaged 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 25.0 minutes across 22 games, so his absence has minimal impact outside deeper formats. The main fantasy ripple is added opportunity for rookie Ethan Thompson, who logged six points and five rebounds in 28 minutes in the last game and profiles as a deeper-league streamer, while T.J. McConnell and Garrison Mathews gain modest bumps.
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (ankle) will miss Tuesday's game in Toronto after exiting Sunday's win over Orlando. His absence frees up backcourt minutes, putting veteran scorer Jordan Clarkson on the streaming radar despite a quiet zero-point outing in 17 minutes Sunday. McBride had averaged 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists over his last five games, shooting 45.5 percent from the field, so his removal creates a clearer secondary role for Clarkson and a slight usage bump for the remaining starters. Managers in shallow formats can stream accordingly.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (calf) will travel for Wednesday's NBA Cup matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. He has missed 11 straight games with a left calf strain but participated fully in Sunday's practice, putting him close to a return. Fantasy managers should keep him on the bench but ready to activate. His last healthy stretch included 27.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 36.0 minutes. If he sits again, Luke Kornet remains a low-usage streaming big, while Kelly Olynyk and Jeremy Sochan profile as deeper-league options.
Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (hip) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's NBA Cup clash against the Orlando Magic. He didn't practice on Monday and could miss the big matchup due to a left hip contusion. Smith was a starter for Miami last time out against the Sacramento Kings. However, with Tyler Herro (toe) and Davion Mitchell (groin) on track to return to the lineup on Tuesday, Smith's role will be very different if he gets cleared for action. Pelle Larsson (hip), who is also expected to return on Tuesday, could play a few extra minutes in Smith's absence.
Toronto Raptors point guard Jamal Shead (quadriceps) is considered questionable for a meeting with the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup on Tuesday. He could miss his first game of the season due to a right quadriceps contusion. With RJ Barrett (knee) on the shelf, Shead has regularly logged 20-plus minutes on the floor. In Sunday's loss to the Boston Celtics, Shead even started the second half after Ja'Kobe Walter struggled. If Shead exits the lineup, players like Walter and Ochai Agbaji will have an opportunity to take on a larger workload. However, neither player has offered consistent fantasy production in 2025-26.
Miami Heat guard/forward Pelle Larsson (hip) practiced on Monday and is listed as probable for Tuesday's NBA Cup matchup against the Orlando Magic. He was unavailable on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings due to a hip problem. Larsson's fantasy value has plummeted in recent weeks as Miami has returned to full health. Since Tyler Herro's season debut on Nov. 24, Larsson has been limited to 5.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 20.6 minutes per game. Across his last two outings, Larsson has shot just 1-for-9 from the field, scoring four points. Currently, the Swedish youngster isn't a good fantasy option.
Miami Heat point guard Davion Mitchell (groin) looks set to return to the lineup for Tuesday's NBA Cup game against the Orlando Magic, as the team has listed him as probable on the injury report. Due to right groin tightness, Mitchell was unavailable on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings. With him out, Dru Smith (hip) made his first start of the season. The 27-year-old had a minimal impact and will return to the bench on Tuesday if he can play. Smith is considered questionable for the matchup. Mitchell has logged three double-doubles as Miami's starting point guard in 2025-26, averaging 9.7 points and 7.8 assists. He could make a big impact in Tuesday's game, as Orlando allows the eighth-most fantasy points per game to point guards this season.
Toronto Raptors guard/forward RJ Barrett (knee) will be out for at least one more week, the team announced Monday. He is recovering from a right knee sprain and will need at least a week off after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection. Barrett will miss a ninth consecutive game on Tuesday night against the New York Knicks. During his absence, Ja'Kobe Walter has run with the starters. He has not performed well, even failing to make a single field goal over the past two games. In Sunday's loss to the Boston Celtics, Jamal Shead (quadriceps) started the second half instead of Walter. On Tuesday, Shead could be in the first unit right from the start, but he is currently considered questionable for the game with a quadriceps contusion.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (toe) is listed as probable for Tuesday's NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Orlando Magic. He has sat out a pair of games due to a right big toe contusion, but Herro appears to be on track to return to action on Tuesday night. The 2025 All-Star practiced fully on Monday. Kel'el Ware has started back-to-back games during Herro's absence and will presumably drop back to the second unit for Tuesday's action. This may actually be good news for his fantasy prospects, as Ware recorded a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double in his last appearance off the bench. As a starter, he managed nine points and 14 boards across the past two games.
New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) is considered questionable for Tuesday's NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Toronto Raptors. The big man is dealing with tightness in his left calf. Towns practiced on Monday, which is a good sign that he might be ready to return from a one-game absence. Assuming Towns remains out, the Knicks will lean on Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti at the center position. Robinson returned to the starting lineup on Sunday against the Orlando Magic, grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds in 25 minutes. He also contributed well on the defensive end. Hukporti had six points, seven rebounds, and three blocks off the bench in 23 minutes.
Pelicans' C Derik Queen recorded a triple-double, finishing with 33 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in a 132-135 loss to the Spurs on Monday, Dec. 8.
Timberwolves' G Anthony Edwards scored 40 points on 15-of-21 shooting in a 105-108 loss to the Suns on Monday, Dec. 8.
Kings' G Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds in a 105-116 loss to Indiana on Monday, Dec. 8.
According to James Ham of ESPN 1320, Sacramento Kings forwardKeegan Murray(back/shoulder) will play against the Indiana Pacers on Monday. The 25-year-old sharpshooter has been dealing with right trapezius soreness, but the injury won't keep him out of action during tonight's tilt. Murray is averaging 16.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 1.2 threes per game since returning from a thumb injury. Fantasy managers should still expect Murray to play a prominent role in the Kings' frontcourt this evening despite the setback.
Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republicreports that Minnesota Timberwolves guardAnthony Edwards(illness) will play against the Phoenix Suns on Monday. Edwards was considered questionable ahead of Monday's matchup due to an illness. However, the 24-year-old star guard is feeling well enough to take the court this evening. Edwards has logged just 26 points in his last two contests after finishing with 44 points across 47 minutes in a 149-142 win over the Pelicans on December 2.
James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramentoreports that Sacramento Kings guardDennis Schroder(hip) will miss his sixth consecutive contest on Monday against the Indiana Pacers due to a right hip flexor strain. Schroder carried a questionable tag earlier, but he has since been downgraded to unavailable for this evening's matchup. Malik MonkandNique Clifford will continue to receive extra minutes coming off the bench with Schroder sidelined. Monk is averaging 13.3 points, 2.4 assists, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.9 threes per contest while Clifford registers 4.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
On Monday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Orlando Magic forwardFranz Wagner (ankle) could be out of action 2-to-4 weeks due to a high left ankle sprain. However, an MRI showed no structural damage on the 24-year-old's left leg, according to Charania. Wagner's injury occurred during Sunday's 106-100 loss to the Knicks. With Wagner on the shelf, fantasy managers should expect forwards Jett Howard and Tristan da Silva to take on extra minutes.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Poole (quad) will miss his 18th consecutive game on Monday while dealing with a quad strain. His timetable is still unclear, so there's no telling how much time he'll continue to miss. While he's sidelined, Jeremiah Fears and Bryce McGowens have been anchoring the backcourt with Trey Murphy III mixed in as well. Fears has been delivering good value and has now started in 22 of his 24 games played. In those starts with added minutes, he's averaged 15.9 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 42.7% from the floor with a usage of 26.1%.
