NBA roundup: Celtics top Bucks despite Giannis' 43 points
Mon Nov 11 3:25am ET
Field Level Media
Jayson Tatum scored 31 points with 12 rebounds and six assists to help the visiting Boston Celtics overcome a 17-point deficit and defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-107 on Sunday.
Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 18 points for the Celtics, who trailed 49-32 with 9:16 remaining in the second quarter. Pritchard made 5 of his 8 3-point attempts.
Milwaukee scored 40 points in the first quarter, but was held to 38 points in the second half. The Bucks trailed by three late in the game, but Jrue Holiday made two free throws with 1:35 to play to extend Boston's lead to 109-104. Milwaukee was never closer than five the rest of the way.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 43 points and 13 rebounds for the Bucks, who fell to 1-3 at home. Bobby Portis added 15 points and seven rebounds for Milwaukee and Damian Lillard had 14 points and six assists.
Warriors 127, Thunder 116
Stephen Curry scored a season-high 36 points as visiting Golden State held off Oklahoma City.
Curry hit seven 3-pointers and finished 13-of-23 from the field for Golden State, which led by 30 late in the third quarter before Oklahoma City pulled within six with 4:46 remaining in the game. Jonathan Kuminga scored 12 of his 20 points for the Warriors in the second quarter and shot 8-of-11 from the field. De'Anthony Melton hit five of Golden State's season-high-tying 21 3-pointers and finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 24 points but was just 6-of-17 from the field, including 1-for-5 in the fourth quarter.
Nuggets 122, Mavericks 120
Nikola Jokic had 37 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists, Michael Porter Jr. hit a go-ahead floater with 6.5 seconds left and host Denver overcame a big night from Kyrie Irving to beat Dallas.
Jamal Murray scored 18 points, Porter added 17 and Peyton Watson finished with 16 for the Nuggets, who swept a five-game homestand. Christian Braun scored 14 points, and Julian Strawther contributed 12.
Irving finished with a season-high 43 points on 17-for-22 shooting from the field. He made six of his eight 3-point attempts. Luka Doncic had 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, Daniel Gafford scored 16 points and Klay Thompson finished with 10 for the Mavericks, who have dropped back-to-back games in the final 10 seconds of regulation.
Pacers 132, Knicks 121
Bennedict Mathurin scored a career-high 38 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 12 of his season-high 35 points in the fourth quarter and Indiana rode a late 3-point shooting barrage to beat New York in Indianapolis.
Mathurin, who had 11 points in the fourth quarter, hit 7 of 9 3-pointers and broke his previous career-high of 34 points, set most recently against the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 26. Haliburton added a game-high 14 assists for his fifth double-double of the season for the Pacers.
Jalen Brunson (33 points, 10 assists) and Josh Hart (16 points, 10 rebounds) both posted double-doubles for the Knicks, who have dropped three of their last four. Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points and nine rebounds while OG Anunoby scored 25 points.
Rockets 101, Pistons 99
Alperen Sengun had 27 points and 10 rebounds, leading visiting Houston past Detroit.
Tari Eason had 18 points and nine rebounds off the bench, while Jalen Green tossed in 15 points for the Rockets. Dillon Brooks added 14 points and Fred VanVleet chipped in seven points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
Cade Cunningham had 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Pistons as his three-game triple-double streak ended. Isaiah Stewart contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. Malik Beasley had 15 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 10.
Magic 121, Wizards 94
Franz Wagner scored 23 points and his brother Moritz Wagner had 16 as host Orlando scored a season high in coasting past Washington.
It was the Magic's second straight win without injured star Paolo Banchero, who last played Oct. 30 because of a torn oblique. Eleven different players scored for the Magic, six in double figures, with Cole Anthony scoring a season-high 16 off the bench. Starting center Goga Bitadze had a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Washington has lost four in a row, and its scoring output was its lowest of the season. The Wizards' starting lineup included three rookies (Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Carlton Carrington) and second-year pro Bilal Coulibaly, who scored 20.
76ers 107, Hornets 105 (OT)
Rookie Jared McCain scored a career-high 27 points to help Philadelphia top visiting Charlotte.
Guerschon Yabusele added 20 points for the 76ers, who continued to play without stars Joel Embiid (knee) and Tyrese Maxey (hamstring). Paul George scored 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting and dished out nine assists for the Sixers, but he didn't play in OT after logging 33 minutes in his continued return from a knee injury.
LaMelo Ball scored 38 points to pace Charlotte, which rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit and forced overtime on Ball's corner 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining. Brandon Miller chipped in 22 points for the Hornets, while Grant Williams had 17 off the bench.
Heat 95, Timberwolves 94
Nikola Jovic converted a go-ahead three-point play with 7.8 seconds remaining and Miami held on for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
On the decisive play, Jovic sprinted toward the basket and caught an inbounds pass in stride from Duncan Robinson. Jovic finished at the rim and drew a foul against Timberwolves defender Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Tyler Herro scored a game-high 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting from the floor for Miami, which ended a three-game losing streak. Anthony Edwards scored 22 points but made only 8 of 24 shots for Minnesota, which saw its three-game winning streak end.
Kings 127, Suns 118 (OT)
De'Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan each had eight points in overtime to account for all of Sacramento's scoring in the extra period, leading the visiting Kings past short-handed Phoenix.
With Kevin Durant out at least two weeks after suffering a strained calf in Phoenix's win at Dallas on Friday, the Suns squandered an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter and watched their seven-game winning streak end.
DeRozan finished with a season-best 34 points, while Fox had 21 to go along with 11 rebounds. Bradley Beal posted a team-high 28 points and Devin Booker finished with 23 points and 12 assists for Phoenix.
Lakers 123, Raptors 103
Anthony Davis scored 22 points and LeBron James added 19 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds as Los Angeles rallied for a victory over visiting Toronto.
Davis' point total came in 26 minutes before he departed with an eye injury in the third quarter after he was swiped across the face when he blocked a shot attempt by the Raptors' Jakob Poeltl.
Chris Boucher and RJ Barrett each scored 18 points and Ochai Agbaji added 16 for the short-handed Raptors, who were without Scottie Barnes (orbital fracture), Garrett Temple (back) and Kelly Olynyk (back).
Grizzlies 134, Blazers 89
Jaren Jackson Jr. recorded 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals in just 24 minutes of action to help Memphis roll past host Portland.
Jake LaRavia scored 18 points and Scotty Pippen Jr. added 17 for the Grizzlies. Santi Aldama registered 16 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Jaylen Wells also had 16 points for Memphis.
Jerami Grant scored 20 points for the Trail Blazers, who have dropped five of their past six games. Dalano Banton and Donovan Clingan added 13 points apiece for Portland.
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Dallas Mavericks forwardNaji Marshall(illness) will miss his third consecutive game due to an illness on Thursdays versus the Washington Wizards. Before being sidelined, Marshall had made the most of his opportunity as a starter while Klay Thompson was on the shelf, averaging 13.1 points and 4.0 rebounds. Once he's able to get back on the floor, his fantasy value will drop, as Thompson has since returned from his injury.
Cleveland Cavaliers guardTy Jerome(illness) is in danger of missing his second straight game due to an illness for Thursday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets. Darius Garland may see additional playing time if Jerome cannot suit up. Craig Porter Jr. and Caris LeVert will likely also see an uptick in minutes. LeVert, who is already averaging 24.1 minutes per game, could see a significant increase in his fantasy value on Thursday.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (ankle) is questionable ahead of Thursday's matchup with the San Antonio Spurs due to a sprained right ankle. If the 23-year-old cannot play, the Bulls backcourt will be significantly depleted, with Coby White(ankle) andLonzo Ball(knee) already announced as sidelined. Players like Talen Horton-Tucker and rookie Matas Buzelis will likely see more minutes than usual. Fantasy managers will want to monitor Giddey's status closer to tip-off.
Washington Wizards guard/forward Corey Kispert (ankle) will miss his first game of the season on Thursday against Dallas. He has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain, joining Kyle Kuzma (ribs) and Kyshawn George (ankle) on the shelf. These three have all averaged at least 26 minutes of action per game this season. This leaves a lot of minutes to be filled for the rest of the gang. Carlton Carrington and Jared Butler should getter a bigger workload on Thursday, with Johnny Davis also in the mix for an expanded role.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against San Antonio. A left ankle sprain will keep him out for a second consecutive game. Lonzo Ball (knee) is also out on Thursday, and Josh Giddey (ankle) is regarded as questionable, meaning there might be a lot of minutes available for Chicago's reserves. Talen Horton-Tucker has done well lately and could be in line for a larger role in the rotation. He has reached double figures in scoring in five consecutive outings. Jevon Carter should get a decent amount of action as well, as the Bulls will be short of playmakers if Giddey doesn't make it.
Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (thigh) will miss a third straight game on Thursday against New Orleans. The Bosnian big man is nursing a thigh contusion and is expected to be re-evaluated on Monday, meaning he will also sit out the weekend's back-to-back against Miami and Orlando. Oso Ighodaro and Mason Plumlee have shared starts during Nurkic's absence. Both players have had quiet outings, although Plumlee averaged double-double numbers as a starter earlier in the campaign. Centers have typically feasted against the Pelicans this season, with only six teams allowing more fantasy points to opposing fives.
Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball (knee) will not be in the lineup for Thursday's clash against San Antonio. Following his lengthy battle with a knee injury, Ball hasn't been cleared for back-to-backs, and the team has decided to keep him out from Thursday's game. We should see him back in action in Friday's matchup against Indiana. Considering he had a 33-month break from basketball, Ball has played well this season, averaging 4.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 16.2 minutes. With Coby White (ankle) also out and Josh Giddey (ankle) questionable, Jevon Carter might get a decent workload in the rotation.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (calf) is considered questionable for Thursday's meeting with Phoenix. However, it appears likely that he will return from a five-game absence, as Ingram went through full practice on Wednesday. The team also hopes to get Herb Jones (shoulder) back against the Suns. The return of the two would be a nice boost for an injury-depleted team. Ingram is having a fine campaign and tends to do especially well in home outings, averaging 26.8 points at the Smoothie King Center compared to 17.9 points on the road.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) is listed as probable on the injury report ahead of Thursday's game against Cleveland. Following a 10-game absence, Gordon has played in both of Denver's games, and it looks like it's safe to assume he will be out there again on Thursday. The veteran forward stood out with 15 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in the previous game against Golden State. He logged 33 on the night, so Gordon should also be free of any minute restrictions on Thursday.
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (ankle) will return to action in Wednesday's matchup against Philadelphia. He's back after missing Tuesday's game against the Knicks with an ankle sprain. The Georgian big man opened the month with a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double against Brooklyn and has performed well since November. Last month, he averaged 9.4 points and 7.8 rebounds with 1.9 blocks. Philadelphia is tied for the second-lowest rebounding rate in the league, putting Bitadze in a solid position to produce another double-double on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (foot) will play against Miami on Wednesday. The team has upgradEd Davis from probable to available. The star big man will look to produce a bounce-back performance after being limited to 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting against Minnesota on Monday. It's not a good matchup for Davis, as he will go head to head against All-Defense First Team member Bam Adebayo. Last season, Davis averaged only 19.0 points and 11.5 rebounds against Adebayo and the Heat.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (back) won't play in Thursday's game against the visiting Bulls. The 20-year-old has a case of lower back soreness. But the Spurs also play on Friday against Sacramento, so the team may just be playing it safe. As expected, Wembanyama has had a quality year, averaging 23.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals. As a result, there will be plenty of shots up for grabs, with Chris Paul, Stephon Castle, and Jeremy Sochan potentially on tap to get more scoring opportunities. Zach Collins should also slide into Wemby's spot in the rotation and is worth streaming in all fantasy formats.
According to Brooklyn Nets beat reporter Erik Slater, guard Ben Simmons (back) is available to play against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Simmons sat out Monday's game against the Bulls for back-injury management. In his most recent appearance against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, the veteran guard logged 12 minutes, collecting five assists, two rebounds, and one steal. However, he was held scoreless in the contest.
Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) is available for Wednesday's meeting with the Indiana Pacers. The former Phoenix Sun has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. However, his absence in Monday's loss to Chicago was only his first of the 2024-25 campaign. Johnson has also averaged a career-high 18.1 points while shooting 42.2% from deep. With Cam Thomas (hamstring) sidelined, Johnson should continue to get more scoring opportunities than usual against an Indiana team that has allowed 119.1 points per game this season, the third-worst mark in the National Basketball Association.
Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love (back) will suit up for Wednesday's contest against the Lakers. Battling back spasms, Love sat out the second leg of a back-to-back on Monday versus Boston. Love's contributions have been limited to 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds this season. He only plays around 12 minutes per game, so Love remains a good per-minute performer, but the veteran doesn't have a big enough role on the team to be relevant in fantasy basketball on most nights.
Brooklyn Nets forwardDorian Finney-Smith(ankle) is unavailable for Tuesday's matchup with the Indiana Pacers due to a sprained left ankle. The 31-year-old will miss his fourth consecutive game. This season, he has been a key rotational piece for the Nets, averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists across 29 minutes per contest. With Finney-Smith sidelined, Jalen Wilsonis expected to remain in the starting lineup.
According to Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, the team isn't planning on keeping center Joel Embiid (knee) out beyond what is necessary. The 30-year-old has appeared in only four games this season. However, there hasn't been much update regarding his health, so fantasy managers remain in the dark regarding when they can expect to see him back on the court. With Andre Drummond (ankle) sidelined, Philadelphia will likely continue to rely on Guerschon Yabusele, who has averaged 10.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in six starts during the 2024-25 campaign. Adem Bona should also continue to see more minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is good to go for Wednesday's clash against Atlanta. Per Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Bucks head coach Doc River has confirmed Antetokounmpo will be available for the contest after the team listed him as probable on the injury report. The former MVP is coming off a 28-point performance against Detroit on Tuesday night, which included seven rebounds, eight assists, and one block in 28 minutes. Antetokounmpo didn't play his full minutes against the Pistons and, thus, should be fresh for Wednesday's contest. Last season, the Hawks had no idea what to do against Antetokounmpo, who averaged 31.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 2.0 steals in the matchup.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) will play against the Lakers on Wednesday. Miami gets its veteran star back after Butler sat out Monday's clash against Boston. He started to feel soreness in his right knee during Sunday's meeting with Toronto and was rested for the second night of a back-to-back. Butler's recent performances have been inconsistent, but there are two 30-point efforts among his most recent five appearances. The Lakers are ranked 24th in defensive efficiency, giving Butler another opportunity to fill it up on Wednesday.
Miami Heat forward/center Nikola Jovic (ankle) will rejoin the lineup for Wednesday's clash against the Lakers. He's missed five games with an ankle sprain and was also ruled out for Wednesday's contest on the initial injury report, but Jovic has apparently made big progress in his recovery over the last 24 hours. The 21-year-old has an inconsistent role with the Heat, averaging 18.2 minutes with eight starts in 14 appearances this season. He has notched 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds.
