NBA roundup: Cavs win franchise-record 16th straight
Sat Mar 15 3:11am ET
Field Level Media
Evan Mobley had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Darius Garland added 20 points and nine assists to lead the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers to their franchise-record 16th consecutive victory, a 133-124 win Friday over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Cavaliers, the NBA's best team with a 56-10 record, also won their 11th straight road game.
De'Andre Hunter contributed 18 points and five rebounds and Jarrett Allen had 16 points and six boards for Cleveland. Leading scorer Donovan Mitchell missed his second game in a row due to a groin injury.
Ja Morant finished with a season-high 44 points for the Grizzlies, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Jaren Jackson Jr. returned after missing five games with a sprained left ankle and had 13 points.
Timberwolves 118, Magic 111
Anthony Edwards scored 28 points on 9-for-19 shooting as Minnesota held on for a win over Orlando in Minneapolis.
Julius Randle added 22 points and seven rebounds for Minnesota, which won its seventh game in a row. Donte DiVincenzo contributed 14 points off the bench. The Timberwolves outscored the Magic 40-24 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
Paolo Banchero scored 43 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Orlando. Caleb Houstan scored 18 points and made 6 of 8 shots from 3-point range while Franz Wagner scored 16.
Nuggets 131, Lakers 126
Jamal Murray hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 6.2 seconds left, and host Denver beat a depleted Los Angeles.
Murray finished with 26 points, Nikola Jokic had 28 points, Christian Braun scored 22, Aaron Gordon and Russell Westbrook each had 17 points and Michael Porter Jr. scored 13 points for Denver, which struggled against a Los Angeles team playing without six players.
The Lakers were missing LeBron James (hamstring), Jaxon Hayes (knee) and Rui Hachimura (knee) along with Luka Doncic, who was on injury management for his left calf. Austin Reaves (37 points, 13 assists) and Dalton Knecht (32 points) led the way for Los Angeles, which has lost four in a row.
Celtics 103, Heat 91
Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 28 points, leading visiting Boston to a win over slumping Miami.
Boston also got 25 points from Jrue Holiday, who made 10 of 15 shots, including shooting 5-of-8 on 3-pointers. Derrick White was key for the Celtics as he scored 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, making 3-of-5 shots from deep.
The Heat, who are 9-25 versus teams with a record of .500 or more, have lost a season-high six straight games. Andrew Wiggins led Miami with 23 points, and the Heat got 19 points and a game-high six assists from Tyler Herro.
Pacers 112, 76ers 100
Pascal Siakam led the way with 27 points as Indiana notched a road victory over short-handed Philadelphia.
Tyrese Haliburton chipped in 14 points and 10 assists for Indiana, which has won two games in a row following a three-game slide.
Jeff Dowtin Jr. scored a career-high 24 points for Philadelphia, which had only eight available players due to a lengthy list of injuries. Jared Butler pitched in with 17 points, while Adem Bona added 16. The 76ers lost for the sixth time in seven games and for the 15th time in 17 games.
Rockets 133, Mavericks 96
Tari Eason scored a career-high 30 points, Jalen Green added 23 as Houston cruised past Dallas.
Alperen Sengun paired 16 points with 15 rebounds as the Rockets extended their winning streak to five games and improved to 4-0 on their six-game homestand. Houston dominated the glass, recording a 67-34 rebounding margin.
Brandon Williams tallied 25 points for the Mavericks, who have dropped seven of eight. Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie added 21 and 20 points, respectively.
Hornets 145, Spurs 134
LaMelo Ball racked up 27 points and 15 assists and Nick Smith Jr. scored 22 of his 26 points in the first half as visiting Charlotte rolled to an easy victory over San Antonio.
The Hornets, who hit 26 3-pointers, led by 26 points at halftime and cruised to their third win in their past four games. Miles Bridges added 21 points, with Josh Green hitting for 20, Mark Williams producing 14 points and 10 rebounds and Jusuf Nurkic scoring 14.
San Antonio lost for the fourth time in its past five games while playing its first game in a month without star guard De'Aaron Fox, who was ruled out for the rest of the season on Thursday with a torn ligament in his left pinkie finger. Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 26 points while Devin Vassell scored 22.
Clippers 121, Hawks 98
James Harden and Kawhi Leonard both scored 25 points to lead Los Angeles past host Atlanta for its fifth victory in six games.
Harden shot 8-for-14 from the floor, including 4-for-8 from 3-point range, while adding eight rebounds and seven assists. Leonard, who sat out the Clippers' Wednesday game due to load management, hit 11 of 21 from the field and contributed six rebounds and five steals.
The Hawks had their four-game winning streak end while completing a 4-2 homestand. They were led by Onyeka Okongwu, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season. Trae Young had 17 points and seven assists, but committed seven turnovers.
Suns 122, Kings 106
Devin Booker recorded 22 points and 13 assists and Kevin Durant had 22 points and six helpers as Phoenix produced a solid victory over visiting Sacramento.
Phoenix's Tyus Jones added 20 points off the bench and was 6-for-6 from 3-point range on a night in which the Suns sank a season-high 24 treys (on 43 attempts). Phoenix moved within 1 1/2 games of the Dallas Mavericks in the battle for the final Western Conference play-in berth.
DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points and Zach LaVine added 21 for the Kings, who lost their fourth consecutive contest and are just 2 1/2 games ahead of Phoenix. Domantas Sabonis returned from a six-game absence caused by a hamstring injury to record his ninth triple-double of the season.
Raptors 126, Jazz 118
Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley each scored 20 points and Toronto picked up its third consecutive win by beating Utah in Salt Lake City.
A.J. Lawson chipped in 18 points and Orlando Robinson totaled 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as the Raptors beat the Jazz for the second time in a week. Barnes also grabbed 10 boards.
Jordan Clarkson topped Utah with 19 points and Kyle Filipowski contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, but the Jazz's losing streak reached eight games. Lauri Markkanen scored 16 points in the first half but didn't play in the second half.
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Sacramento Kings' F Domantas Sabonis recorded a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a 106-122 loss to Phoenix on Friday, Mar. 14.
Lakers' G Dalton Knecht scored 32 points on 13-of-27 shooting in a 126-131 loss to Denver on Friday, Mar. 14. Knecht is owned in only 10.5% leagues.
Memphis' G Ja Morant scored 44 points on 17-of-22 shooting in a 124-133 loss to the Cavaliers on Friday, Mar. 14.
Orlando's F Paolo Banchero recorded a double-double, scoring 43 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a 111-118 loss to Minnesota on Friday, Mar. 14.
Rockets' F Tari Eason scored 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting in a 133-96 win over the Mavericks on Friday, Mar. 14. Eason is owned in only 71.3% leagues.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (groin) once again holds a probable tag on the injury report entering Saturday's matchup against the Indiana Pacers. He has been a regular on the report due to groin soreness, but Lillard has made 10 consecutive appearances. During this stretch, Lillard has averaged 23.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. However, the nine-time All-Star has picked up his playmaking recently, recording back-to-back double-doubles with assists. Lillard finished with 15 points and 11 assists on 4-for-14 shooting when the Bucks kicked off this week with a dramatic 115-114 loss to the Pacers.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle) is on the injury report for Saturday's contest against the Indiana Pacers, but he is expected to play, as the team has given him a probable designation. The 24-year-old is battling a left ankle sprain. Porter Jr. was outstanding at both ends in Thursday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers, recording 22 points with two blocks and two steals. However, with Damian Lillard (groin) in the lineup, fantasy managers can't rely on Porter Jr. to provide consistent production.
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (wrist) will miss his seventh straight game Saturday against the Houston Rockets as he continues to deal with a right wrist sprain. The 27-year-old has struggled with injuries, making it tough to rely on his availability. His next chance to return comes Monday against the Jazz, but his status remains uncertain. If Josh Giddey (ankle) is also ruled out, Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter should see increased minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is considered probable for Saturday's matchup against the Indiana Pacers. The two-time MVP is likely to remain in the lineup despite dealing with a left calf strain. Antetokounmpo started this week with a 19-point, 17-rebound double-double against the Pacers, and it has been a matchup that has suited him incredibly well. Last season, Antetokounmpo averaged a massive 42.2 points against the Pacers across five games.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (rest) is out on Saturday against the Pistons. After spending nearly two months on the shelf, the 22-year-old has sat out at least one game in back-to-back contests, so he'll likely be good to go on Sunday versus Milwaukee. Jalen Williams (hip) is still out while Aaron Wiggins (illness) is questionable. As such, Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenrich Williams may take care of business at the four and five spots while getting more scoring opportunities behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort.
Brooklyn Nets forward/center Trendon Watford (hamstring) will not play on Saturday against the Boston Celtics. The matchup marks the beginning of a back-to-back set, and Watford will exit the lineup on Saturday to manage a left hamstring injury. Brooklyn's frontcourt will be extremely thin on Saturday, meaning fantasy managers can expect to see plenty of Day'Ron Sharpe and Jalen Wilson. There is a good chance Watford will return to the mix on Sunday when the Nets finish the weekend's back-to-back against the Atlanta Hawks.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against the Houston Rockets due to an ankle injury. Giddey looks likely to miss his second straight game but has been in excellent form lately, consistently flirting with triple-doubles, including three straight double-digit rebounding games and a triple-double against the Miami Heat. If he's out, Tre Jones will likely see more time on the court. Giddey's next chance to return will be Monday against the Utah Jazz, though his status remains worth monitoring.
Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (rest) will skip Saturday's contest against the Boston Celtics. The team plans to rest him for the first leg of a back-to-back. It's safe to assume Claxton will be reinserted in the lineup for Sunday's matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. Noah Clowney (ankle) and Trendon Watford (hamstring) also won't feature on Saturday, leaving Day'Ron Sharpe as Brooklyn's only real option at center. Sharpe is likely to log his second start of the campaign. He went into beast mode in his first start, racking up 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals in a 129-121 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 26.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (right toe) is listed as probable for Saturday's game against the Houston Rockets. White has been playing through a toe injury recently, but has continued to produce great numbers, averaging 33.0 minutes per game and 19.3 points per game on the season. He's coming off back-to-back excellent performances, scoring 29 points and 31 points, respectively. White also dropped 44 points against the Orlando Magic last week, making him a great option for fantasy lineups as long as he keeps suiting up.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hip) won't play on Saturday in Detroit. He strained his right hip in a recent loss to Denver and wasn't available for the 118-112 win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. Aaron Wiggins (illness) got the start, although he went scoreless in 20 minutes of action. But with Wiggins questionable and Chet Holmgren (out), Kenrich Williams, averaging 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in two starts this season, could find himself in the starting lineup. However, with OKC down two of the team's top producers, Williams should be more productive, even if Wiggins is available.
Sacramento Kings forward/center Trey Lyles (back) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns. He was added late to the injury report due to lower back soreness. Lyles will have the entire weekend to recover, as the Kings' next game is not until Monday when they host the Memphis Grizzlies. Jake LaRavia may see a bit of extra action off the bench Friday night with Lyles unavailable.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Cody Martin (abdomen) will be active on Friday against the Sacramento Kings. He is set to end a lengthy absence, having last taken the court on Jan. 24 when he was still a member of the Charlotte Hornets. The 29-year-old has been dealing with a sports hernia. Considering the team's struggles, Phoenix must be delighted to get some extra help in the form of Martin, through he is not expected to have a significant impact in fantasy basketball.
Los Angeles Lakers center Trey Jemison III (illness) will sit out Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets. The big man has failed to shake off an illness, with the team downgrading Jemison III from questionable to out. Additionally, Jaxson Hayes (knee) and Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) will not be available on Friday to cover minutes at center, leaving the Lakers very weak inside the paint against Nikola Jokic. Alex Len will start the game at the five position, with Christian Koloko expected to work as his backup. Len has not been effective with the Lakers and posted only two points and three rebounds in 19 minutes during Thursday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (foot) will miss Friday's game against the Sacramento Kings due to a left foot strain. With the sharpshooter sidelined, Ryan Dunn and Tyus Jones are expected to see increased minutes. On the season, Allen has averaged 10.7 points per game and is shooting 43.4% from three, making him a valuable floor spacer for the Suns. His next opportunity to return will be Sunday against the Lakers, and the Suns are hopeful to have him back soon.
Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards (ankle) will miss Friday's game against the Sacramento Kings, marking his second straight absence after sitting out Wednesday's game versus the Houston Rockets. With Richards sidelined, the Suns will once again turn to Mason Plumlee to handle most of the minutes at center. Richards has been a reliable double-double threat when on the floor, and fantasy managers are hoping for a quick return. In his last game against Memphis, he made the most of his 20 minutes, posting 10 points and 12 rebounds. His next chance to suit up will come Sunday against the Lakers.
