NBA roundup: Hornets work OT to snap Celtics' streak
Tue Nov 21 12:42am ET
Field Level Media
Miles Bridges, recently reinstated from an NBA suspension, drilled a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds left in overtime as the Charlotte Hornets pulled out a 121-118 victory against the visiting Boston Celtics on Monday.
Charlotte delivered a startling fourth-quarter comeback, scoring the last nine points in regulation over the final two minutes, en route to snapping a four-game losing streak. LaMelo Ball contributed 36 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Hornets. Ex-Celtic Gordon Hayward had 20 points.
Bridges finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Jayson Tatum scored 31 of his 45 points in the first half for the Celtics, whose six-game winning streak ended. He also had team-high totals in rebounds (13) and assists (six). Boston's Payton Pritchard added 21 points.
Nuggets 107, Pistons 103
Reggie Jackson had 21 points and six assists as visiting Denver overcame the ejection of Nikola Jokic to beat Detroit, handing the Pistons their 12th straight loss.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone was ejected with 1:21 remaining in the first quarter for arguing with the officials. Jokic was tossed with 1:22 left in the first half after picking up his second technical.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope supplied 20 points for the Nuggets, who snapped a four-game road losing streak. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 27 points and nine assists, while Marvin Bagley III had 18 points and eight rebounds.
Bucks 142, Wizards 129
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 42 points, leading Milwaukee to its best offensive performance of the season in a win over host Washington.
Antetokounmpo also grabbed 13 boards and dished eight assists. Damian Lillard chipped in 22 points and seven assists while Khris Middleton added 18 for the Bucks, who won their fifth game in a row.
Jordan Poole turned in his best performance as a Wizard, scoring 30 points. Kyle Kuzma added 22 while dishing a game-high 13 assists for Washington, which has lost six consecutive games.
Heat 118, Bulls 100
Bam Adebayo had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Duncan Robinson added 22 points to lift visiting Miami to a victory against Chicago.
Robinson shot 6-for-9 from long range as Miami drilled 17 3-pointers en route to its eighth win in nine games. Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 19 points and Jimmy Butler had 16 for the Heat, who led by as many as 24 points.
Coby White paced the Bulls with a season-high 20 points, while Nikola Vucevic put up 18 as Chicago lost for the fourth time in five games.
Pelicans 129, Kings 93
Brandon Ingram scored 31 points, Zion Williamson added 26 and host New Orleans ended Sacramento's six-game winning streak.
Williamson scored 18 points in the second quarter to help the Pelicans take a 13-point halftime lead, and Ingram scored 18 third-quarter points as the lead expanded to 31 at the end of the period.
Harrison Barnes scored 16 points, De'Aaron Fox had 14 and Domantas Sabonis added 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Kings, who trailed by as many as 41 in the fourth quarter.
Timberwolves 117, Knicks 100
Anthony Edwards scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, helping Minnesota pull away from New York in Minneapolis.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 20 points for Minnesota, which won for the ninth time in its past 10 games. Rudy Gobert had 16 points and made all seven of his field-goal attempts as the Timberwolves won for the ninth time in 10 games.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 25 points to go along with a team-high six assists. Julius Randle tallied 21 points and 14 rebounds, Immanuel Quickley scored 15 off the bench and Mitchell Robinson amassed 10 points and 11 boards for the Knicks, who had won six of their previous seven games.
Clippers 124, Spurs 99
Paul George poured in 28 points and Kawhi Leonard added 21 as visiting Los Angeles turned it on in the fourth quarter to roll past San Antonio.
Norman Powell and Daniel Theis hit for 19 points apiece off the bench for the Clippers, with Harden scoring 13 and dishing out 10 assists and Russell Westbrook hitting for 10 points.
Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 22 points while Cedi Osman had 17. Rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama had nine points on 4-of-12 shooting for San Antonio.
- Thunder open NBA season as heavy repeat favorites
- Pacers F Aaron Nesmith signs multi-year extension
- Pacers give F Aaron Nesmith 2-year, $40.4M extension
- Blazers announce multi-year extensions for Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara
- Hawks G Dyson Daniels receives four-year, $100M extension
- Nuggets sign Christian Braun to 5-year, $125 million extension
- Bulls G Coby White (calf) to miss at least two weeks
- Blazers sign Toumani Camara, Shaedon Sharpe to extensions
- Thunder pick up options on Cason Wallace, Nikola Topic
- Kevin Durant, Rockets reach 2-year, $90M extension
- Nuggets waive C Moses Brown, F Kessler Edwards
- Knicks waive C Alex Len, G Garrison Mathews and F Matt Ryan
- Pacers to waive veteran G Cam Payne
- Domantas Sabonis (hamstring) to be reevaluated in one week
- Clippers sign F Jahmyl Telfort to two-way deal
- Grizzlies G Scotty Pippen Jr. to undergo toe surgery
- Warriors waive guards Seth Curry, LJ Cryer
- Bulls' Zach Collins out at least 4 weeks after wrist surgery
- Celtics star Jaylen Brown (hamstring) ailing as season approaches
- 2025-26 NBA Preview: Atlantic Division capsules
Cleveland Cavaliers point guardDarius Garland(toe) is unavailable for Wednesday's season opener against the New York Knicks. Garland underwent offseason toe surgery and is close to returning, but he will be sidelined for at least the season opener. While the 25-year-old is unavailable, Lonzo Ball will likely get the nod to start, while Donovan Mitchell will likely see an abundant amount of scoring opportunities. Mitchell posted averages of 29.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in games without Garland in Cleveland.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) is listed as doubtful ahead of Wednesday's game against the Spurs. Head coach Jason Kidd indicated on Tuesday morning that Gafford was questionable. However, his designation on the injury reports suggests he won't be out there for the opener. With Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II likely to see most of the work underneath the rim, there's a chance P.J. Washington also spends time at the four and five spots throughout the contest. If so, Naji Marshall could receive a bump in minutes. Still, Marshall has been a streaky scorer during his career, making him a risky fantasy option for managers in any format.
Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's meeting in Orlando. The 21-year-old averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 boards, and 1.1 blocks last season and is projected to take a leap in his sophomore campaign. However, he rolled his ankle at the end of Tuesday's practice, putting his availability for the opener in jeopardy. With an 82-game schedule on tap, head coach Erik Spoelstra could play it safe by giving him the night off. If that's the case, Bam Adebayo may slide over to the five spot, with Nikola Jovic or Andrew Wiggins in line to enter the starting lineup.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (ankle) is listed as probable heading into Wednesday's opener against the Cavs. The injury report doesn't look good for New York, with the Knicks already ruling out Mitchell Robinson (ankle) and Josh Hart (back). To make matters worse, Karl-Anthony Towns (quadriceps) is questionable. Anunoby is coming off a fantastic season, averaging a career-high 18.0 points with 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals. If he's available, he's certainly a must-start in any fantasy format. The 28-year-old would also be in line to smash DFS projections, even more so if KAT can't suit up. However, if Anunoby suffers a setback along the way and can't get out there on Wednesday, Guerschon Yabusele and Miles McBride could see a bump in production.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (rest) will be unavailable for Wednesday's season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 27-year-old big man is expected to be load-managed throughout the regular season after missing most of the 2024-25 campaign recovering from two ankle surgeries. When active, Robinson averaged 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 17.1 minutes per game across 17 contests. Fantasy managers should approach with caution, as he has appeared in just 48 total games over the past two regular seasons.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (quadriceps) is questionable for Wednesday's opener versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. It's been known KAT is dealing with this issue, although it's unknown if it will keep him out for the first game of the 2025 campaign. Mitchell Robinson (ankle) has already been ruled out, so another absence at the five spot wouldn't be an ideal scenario for head coach Mike Brown in his debut with the team. At any rate, if Towns can't get on the floor, Guerschon Yabusele, who averaged 11.3 points and 6.2 rebounds in 43 starts for the Sixers last season, would be worth considering for streaming purposes. He will be in line for even more work if OG Anunoby (ankle), who is probable, suffers a setback heading into opening tip.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, New York Knicks forwardJosh Hart(back) will be sidelined for Wednesday's season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hart continues to deal with a lingering back issue that kept him sidelined for most of the preseason. Mitchell Robinson (rest) has also been ruled out for the contest. New York will likely rely uponJordan Clarkson for extra scoring, whileMiles McBrideandGuerschon Yabuselecould also see extra minutes on the floor. Hart is coming off a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting averages of 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, making him a valuable fantasy option once he is healthy.
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason appears to be lined up to be a restricted free agent next offseason, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, who reports that the rookie did not sign his rookie extension before Monday's deadline. When healthy, the Bucket from the Bayou has shown a high ceiling, but he has battled a leg injury that has limited him from playing back-to-backs. This year, he's expected to be a key part of Houston's bench rotation after averaging 12.0 points and 6.4 rebounds last year. He'll definitely be a name to watch on the market next year if he can play his way into a bigger role in his fourth year with the Rockets.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (hamstring) is questionable for Boston's season-opening matchup with the 76ers. He strained his hamstring in the final game of the preseason but has been able to put in consecutive full practices. He said he's feeling great now but is taking it one day at a time. which is a great sign for his potential availability. He's trending towards being available, but since he's questionable and the team is sure to be careful with him, you'll want to check back before tip-off before plugging him into any lineups. If he is out, Anfernee Simons and Josh Minott would be the top candidates to pick up more work in his absence.
According to Michael Scotto of USA Today, Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Maxi Kleber (oblique) will be re-evaluated in two weeks after suffering a left oblique strain. The veteran big man joins LeBron James (back) on the sidelines to open the 2025-26 campaign. Kleber was expected to provide veteran leadership coming off the bench, but his latest setback could limit his early-season minutes. Once healthy, the 33-year-old will likely struggle to earn consistent minutes and is expected to make only a minimal fantasy impact this season.
Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) will miss Tuesday's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's recovering from an offseason ankle procedure and doesn't have a set timetable for his return. Houston snapped up Finney-Smith on a four-year, $53 million contract in the summer, indicating that the team values him quite highly. Once he is healthy, Finney-Smith is expected to have a regular role in the rotation. In the meantime, Tari Eason may see increased playing time off the bench, with veteran Jeff Green also a candidate to fill some of the vacant minutes.
Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Isaiah Joe (knee) will miss Tuesday's season-opening matchup against the Houston Rockets. He has failed to shake off a knee injury, which Joe sustained during the preseason. With Joe on the shelf, the Thunder are forced to start the season without a skilled three-point sniper. Last season, Joe sank 41.2 percent of his three-point shots on 6.3 attempts per game, averaging a career-high 10.2 points. Joe's absence means that players like Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins will have a chance to step up and contribute more against Houston.
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland (toe) is not expected to play in Wednesday's season opener against the New York Knicks, according to Cleveland.com. Garland is considered "ahead of schedule" in his recovery from offseason toe surgery, but it looks like the season opener comes too soon for him to be ready for action. Garland's absence is set to give Lonzo Ball an opportunity to start, while much of the Cavaliers offense will run through Donovan Mitchell without him. Mitchell has averaged 29.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in games without Garland in Cleveland.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso (ankle) is not on the injury report ahead of Tuesday's season opener against the Houston Rockets. The defensive specialist appeared to have injured his ankle in the Thunder's preseason finale against the Denver Nuggets last week, but he has fully recovered for Tuesday. Due to Isaiah Joe's (knee) absence, Caruso could pick up additional minutes on Tuesday. However, he is clearly a much valuable player in real life than he is in fantasy hoops.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (knee) is considered questionable for Wednesday's season opener against the New York Knicks, according to Cleveland.com. A week ago, Hunter sustained a knee contusion in a preseason contest against the Detroit Pistons. On Monday, he was only a limited participant at practice. Jaylon Tyson is seen as the favorite to start if Hunter can't play against the Knicks. A starting role would significantly boost Tyson's fantasy stock. During his rookie campaign last year, the 22-year-old had a minimal role, averaging 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.6 minutes.
Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith has agreed to a two-year contract extension ahead of the new season, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. He's signing a two-year, $40.4 million deal, which includes a trade kicker. Nesmith will begin his fourth campaign with the Pacers and could have a significantly larger role on offense due to Tyrese Haliburton's (Achilles) absence and Myles Turner's departure. Last season, Nesmith averaged 12.0 points and 4.0 rebounds with career-high shooting percentages. He went 43.1 percent from deep and 50.7 percent overall from the field. Indiana kicks off its campaign on Thursday night with a rematch of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome (calf) will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced. He sustained a high-grade right calf strain in Friday's preseason finale against the Miami Heat. The injury will delay Jerome's debut with the Grizzlies, who signed him to a three-year, $28 million contract as a free agent this offseason. Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) is out indefinitely and Ja Morant (ankle) isn't at 100 percent either, so Memphis' backcourt is already battling injuries before the season has even begun. This could lead to rookie Javon Small playing a significant role in the rotation from the start.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (wrist) is listed as inactive for Tuesday's opening night game against the Houston Rockets. Williams will likely be in attendance to take part in the team's ring ceremony to honor the 2024 NBA Championship, but he is officially ruled out for the season opener. The 24-year-old underwent surgery in the offseason to repair a torn ligament in his wrist, so he'll need more time to heal before he's back with his star-studded team. He averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game last season. Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins should get more playing time in Williams' absence. Oklahoma City having stronger depth than any other team in the league allows the club to play it safe and avoid playing Williams until he's closer to 100% healthy and ready for high-level basketball.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN Atlanta Hawks guardDyson Daniels agreed to a four-year, $100 million rookie contract extension with the franchise on Monday. Daniels was named NBA's Most Improved Player of the Year last season after averaging 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists across 33.8 minutes per contest in 76 appearences. He also made first-team All-Defense and finished second-place for Defensive Player of the Year after leading the NBA with 3.0 steals per game.
Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appealreports that Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (ankle) is expected to be available to suit up for Wednesday's regular season opener versus the New Orleans Pelicans. Morant sprained his left ankle during practice in early October and has had a long list of injuries the last few seasons. During the 2024-25 campaign he averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.4 minutes per contest across 50 appeearences. Despite playing in just 58 games in the last two seasons the 26-year-old still remains a top fantasy asset when he is healthy.
