NBA roundup: Pelicans come back from down 25, top Jazz in OT
Tue Jan 21 3:23am ET
Field Level Media
CJ McCollum scored six of his 45 points in overtime and the host New Orleans Pelicans set a franchise record by overcoming a 25-point deficit in defeating the Utah Jazz 123-119 on Monday night.
Dejounte Murray had 26 points and 11 assists, Trey Murphy III scored 24 points and Jordan Hawkins added 18 for the Pelicans, who had beaten the Jazz 136-123 on Friday night.
Keyonte George scored 23 points to lead Utah. Isaiah Collier added 20 points and 11 assists, Walker Kessler had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Svi Mykhailiuk also scored 19 points.
McCollum made a layup to start the scoring in overtime, and he scored four more points to help the Pelicans take a 118-113 lead. George made a layup and added two free throws to get Utah within one with 49.7 seconds left, but Murphy answered with a 3-pointer to put the game on ice.
Utah scored the first 14 points of the game, led 38-19 after one quarter, took its largest lead at 46-21 early in the second and led by 20 at halftime.
Celtics 125, Warriors 85
Jayson Tatum led six Boston scorers in double figures with a game-high 22 points as the Celtics steamrolled Golden State in San Francisco as part of the NBA's Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate.
Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 18 points and Jaylen Brown scored 17 for Boston. Golden State had not lost by 40 at home since Jan. 15, 1985. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 18 points but was just 4-for-12 from 3-point range.
The Warriors were held to 34.8 percent shooting overall and 26.4 percent shooting from deep, connecting on just 14 of 53 3-point tries. Andrew Wiggins really struggled for Golden State, missing all four of his 3-point attempts and finishing just 1-for-11 from the floor in a four-point effort.
Pistons 107, Rockets 96
Cade Cunningham scored 19 of his game-high 32 points in the third quarter and Jalen Duren added a double-double without missing a shot to help visiting Detroit beat Houston.
Cunningham added nine rebounds and seven assists to offset his 10-turnover performance. Duren posted 16 points on 8-of-8 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds plus four steals and two blocks for the Pistons, who snapped a two-game skid.
Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 20 points and tied his season best with six steals. Jalen Green added 19 points as Houston lost for the second time in three games.
Hornets 110, Mavericks 105
LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges each scored 23 points and Charlotte defeated visiting Dallas to notch its first three-game winning streak of the season.
Nick Smith Jr. finished with 19 points and Mark Williams scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter for the Hornets, who hit 17 shots from 3-point range. Reserves Moussa Diabate and Cody Martin each added 10 points.
Kyrie Irving's 33 points and Daniel Gafford's season-high 31 points were tops for the Mavericks, who managed to score only five points in the last six minutes. Dallas was 6-for-32 (18.8 percent) from long range.
Grizzlies 108, Timberwolves 106
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 15 of his team-high 24 points in the fourth quarter to lead Memphis past visiting Minnesota, improving the Grizzlies' home record to 16-5.
Desmond Bane added 22 points and Ja Morant contributed 19 points and seven assists for Memphis, which won for the fourth time in five games. Jackson led the team with 11 rebounds.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32 points and Naz Reid had 29 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Edwards missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Knicks 119, Hawks 110
Jalen Brunson scored 34 points and helped host New York continue its dominance on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a victory over Atlanta.
Brunson made 12 of 18 shots from the field while recording six assists and one steal as the Knicks improved to 24-15 in MLK Day games, the most wins on the holiday in NBA history.
The win was New York's first in three games against Atlanta this season and ended the team's three-game losing streak against the Hawks. Atlanta was led by Trae Young, who had 27 points and six assists.
Cavaliers 118, Suns 92
Donovan Mitchell erupted for 33 points as Cleveland cooled off visiting Phoenix.
Mitchell also had five rebounds and five assists for Cleveland, which seemed unaffected by the absences of Evan Mobley (calf), Caris LeVert (wrist) and Isaac Okoro (shoulder). The Cavaliers led by as many as 32 and put on a clinic from 3-point range, hitting 19 of 46 attempts from distance (41.3 percent).
Kevin Durant netted a team-high 23 points as Phoenix fell for just the second time in seven games. Devin Booker added 15 points, Tyus Jones had 13 and Grayson Allen totaled 10.
Bulls 112, Clippers 99
Zach LaVine scored 35 points and Josh Giddey added 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as Chicago ended a season-worst five-game losing streak with a victory over Los Angeles in Inglewood, Calif.
Talen Horton-Tucker delivered 18 points and Nikola Vucevic had 14 as the Bulls pulled out the victory on the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Norman Powell scored 27 points and James Harden added 17 for the short-handed Clippers, who were without Kawhi Leonard (right knee injury management) and Ivica Zubac (eye).
- NBA roundup: Pelicans come back from down 25, top Jazz in OT
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- NBA roundup: Clippers lay historic beating on Nets
- Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin gets 1-game ban for bumping ref
- Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon out vs. Rockets
- Knicks C Karl-Anthony Towns (thumb) out vs. 76ers
- Hornets trade Nick Richards to Suns for Josh Okogie
- NBA makes wildfire-related schedule updates
New York Knicks centerKarl-Anthony Towns(thumb) is listed as probable for Tuesday's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets. Towns played against the Hawks on Monday after missing two games due to a thumb injury. The 29-year-old posted 13 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and a block across 37 minutes. KAT playing in back-to-back games gives the Knicks a nice boost for their Tuesday matchup, and he can be used as typical in all fantasy formats.
Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon (foot) will miss a ninth consecutive game on Tuesday against the Lakers. The veteran guard has made only three appearances since the turn of the year, and it's unclear when we will see him back on the court. With Brogdon out, rookies Carlton Carrington and Kyshawn George feature prominently in the rotation. However, both players offer inconsistent production due to their lack of experience. Corey Kispert also has a chance to log more minutes, and he will look to register his fourth straight game with 10-plus points.
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Guerschon Yabusele (knee) is questionable for Tuesday's contest against Denver. He may be out for a third consecutive game due to a knee issue. Joel Embiid (knee) will not be on the court, and Andre Drummond (toe) is also questionable, meaning Philadelphia might be forced to roll with an extremely shorthanded frontcourt against Nikola Jokic. Adem Bona and Pete Nance shared the minutes at center against Milwaukee on Sunday. They will play significant roles again versus the Nuggets if Yabusele and Drummond can't make it.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray (chest) has picked up a questionable tag ahead of Tuesday's meeting with Miami. He is listed on the injury report with a chest contusion. Murray averages close to 15 minutes per game this season, but his three-point shots have not been dropping, and he has been limited to 4.4 points and 2.3 rebounds. Dalano Banton and Rayan Rupert might see more action off the Trail Blazers bench if Murray is out on Tuesday, but they are not viable fantasy options.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Caleb Martin (hip) will be out for a sixth consecutive game on Tuesday versus Denver. Martin is struggling to shake off a right hip sprain. The former Heat man has seen regular action as a starter this season in Philadelphia, averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. Martin's absence allows Justin Edwards and Ricky Council IV to feature more in the rotation. The former has logged at least 22 minutes in five consecutive games, although Edwards' performances have been inconsistent, making him a tough sell for fantasy managers.
Brooklyn Nets guard/center Ben Simmons (illness) has been listed as probable for Tuesday's game against the Knicks. He appears to be on track to return to the lineup after missing Sunday's action against Oklahoma City due to an illness. However, Tuesday's game marks the start of a back-to-back for Brooklyn, so it's likely Simmons will drop out of the lineup again this week. It's also possible he will end up missing Tuesday's game and play on Wednesday against Phoenix. Keon Johnson and Tyrese Martin receive more playing opportunities with Simmons out of the lineup.
Philadelphia 76ers point guard Kyle Lowry (hip) will not be available for Tuesday's matchup against Denver. His absence will stretch to a ninth consecutive game as Lowry continues to deal with a hip sprain. Starting point guard Tyrese Maxey has logged 40-plus minutes regularly with Lowry out, while Jeff Dowtin Jr.'s role has grown in the rotation. He has logged 21.3 minutes per game across the past four games, averaging 9.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Lowry's next opportunity to return will come on Friday against Cleveland.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot) is considered probable for Tuesday's matchup against Washington. He has missed only three games all season and is expected to play in a 10th consecutive contest. We might see a more aggressive version of James on Tuesday if he plays because Anthony Davis (calf) is iffy for the game. Washington allows by far the most points per game in the NBA this season, so the Lakers' most savvy scorers, like James, should rack up points with ease Tuesday night.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (calf) is questionable for Tuesday's game against Washington. Davis has played through a foot problem the entire season but is currently dealing with calf soreness. The Lakers might be without Davis for the second time in five games. Jaxson Hayes started against Brooklyn instead of Davis last Friday. He finished with six points and nine rebounds in 33 minutes of action. Hayes should have more joy against the Wizards if he gets a new opportunity to start, as Washington allows the most fantasy points in the league to opposing centers.
Pelicans' G CJ McCollum scored 45 points on 18-of-31 shooting in a 123-119 win over the Jazz on Monday, Jan. 20.
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) will play on Monday versus the Clippers. Not only that, but he'll start for the second time of the 2024-25 campaign. The 27-year-old played well in his only start of the season, amassing 15 points while shooting 62.5% from behind the arc. With Coby White (ankle) and Ayo Dosunmu (calf) ruled out, Ball could see an uptick in scoring opportunities, giving him added value for fantasy managers.
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (knee) will play on Monday night versus the Clippers. The 29-year-old has averaged 23.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting a career-high 45.1% from behind the arc. He's also missed only five games after appearing in just 25 during the 2023-24 campaign. With Coby White (ankle) and Ayo Dosunmu (calf) both out, LaVine should have the ball in his hands more often than usual on Monday night, which is a good thing for fantasy managers.
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (calf) won't play on Monday versus the Clippers. The 2021 No. 38 overall pick missed time recently because of a calf injury. But with Dosunmu logging 32 minutes in Sunday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, he'll take the night off for the second game of a back-to-back. With Coby White (ankle) also out, Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic, and Zach LaVine (knee) should pick up most of the slack on the scoring end. Fantasy managers may also see more production from Lonzo Ball (knee) and Dalen Terry.
Los Angeles Clippers forward/center Nicolas Batum (finger) will play on Monday versus Chicago. The veteran was in danger of missing this contest because of right finger soreness. However, he's good to go. With Ivica Zubac (eye) sidelined, Batum may find himself in the starting lineup. Batum logged six points, three steals, and one rebound in his only start of the 2024-25 campaign. But he could see an uptick in production versus the Bulls, a team that has allowed 120.5 points per game this season, the second-worst mark in the National Basketball Association. Kawhi Leonard (knee, injury management) will also take the night off, which should give others more scoring opportunities.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (knee) will play against the Bulls on Monday night. The veteran appeared on the injury report because of left knee soreness. But it won't be enough to force him to miss his first game of the 2024-25 campaign. Dunn hasn't been the most consistent fantasy option this season, averaging 6.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 steals. But with Ivica Zubac (eye) and Kawhi Leonard (knee, injury management) sidelined for this contest, Dunn has a chance to be more impactful for fantasy managers versus Chicago, a club that has allowed 120.5 points per game this season, the second-worst average in the NBA.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (back) will play on Monday night versus the Bulls. The veteran appeared on Monday's edition of the injury report because of back soreness. Fortunately, it won't keep him off the floor. Powell has had a fantastic 2024-25 campaign, averaging a career-high 23.6 points with 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists. With Kawhi Leonard (knee, injury management) and Ivica Zubac (eye) both sidelined, Powell should be more productive than usual, even more so against a Chicago team that has struggled on the defensive side of the ball this season.
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (groin) will play on Monday night versus the Bulls. The multi-time All-Star was under the weather for Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers. But that didn't stop him from finishing with 21 points, 12 assists, and one steal. Harden has had his best season in years, and he could be even more productive against the Bulls with Kawhi Leonard (illness) and Ivica Zubac (eye) sidelined.
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (hip) remains out on Tuesday versus Orlando. The former Knick has been banged up all year, missing time because of a pelvic contusion and an elbow injury. However, his most recent ailment, a left hip strain, has kept him out of the lineup for Toronto's last three games. Quickley has appeared in only eight of the Raptors' 42 games during the 2024-25 campaign, although he is expected to miss even more games moving forward. He's also having a down year from a production standpoint, averaging 16.2 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.2 rebounds. With that in mind, Davion Mitchell, averaging 8.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 17 starts this season, should continue to fill the hole in the rotation while Quickley is on the shelf.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Paul George (groin) is questionable heading into Tuesday's game in Denver. The multi-time All-Star hasn't been the healthiest throughout the 2024-25 campaign, missing time for various reasons. However, his latest ailment, a groin strain, has recently kept him off the floor for Philadelphia's previous two contests. With Joel Embiid (knee) still on the shelf, Tyrese Maxey, who scored 37 points and shot 14-for-28 from the field on Sunday versus the Bucks, could continue to see an increase in fantasy production if George is also out of the equation. That would also apply to Ricky Council IV, who has averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in three starts this season.
Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (toe) is questionable for Tuesday's matchup with the Nuggets. The toe injury has been bothering the 31-year-old, limiting him to just one appearance in the last eight games. With Joel Embiid (knee) still sidelined, Drummond may draw the start if he's healthy enough to get on the floor, giving him a higher ceiling for fantasy managers. But with Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele (knee) both in danger of missing Tuesday's contest, Adem Bona, amassing 10 points, six boards, one block, and one steal as a starter in Sunday's loss to the Bucks, may be in line for another productive performance.
