NBA roundup: Thunder demolish Grizzlies in playoff opener
Mon Apr 21 1:00am ET
Field Level Media
Aaron Wiggins scored 21 points off the bench and Jalen Williams added 20 as the Oklahoma City Thunder earned a 131-80 home rout of the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series on Sunday.
The Thunder had plenty of blowout victories in the regular season, setting an NBA record for scoring margin in running away with the top seed in the West. They had also rolled past the Grizzlies in all four regular-season meetings by 13 or more points. Oklahoma City's 51-point victory was the fifth largest in NBA playoff history, according to ESPN, and the largest in the first game of a playoff series.
After scoring 20 or more points in each of his final 72 games of the regular season, Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with just 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Chet Holmgren had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Isaiah Hartenstein added 14 points as the Thunder outscored Memphis 27-5 on fast-break points and delivered 24 points off 24 Grizzlies' turnovers.
Ja Morant and Marvin Bagley III led Memphis with 17 points each. Bagley finished 8 of 8 from the field, including hitting a buzzer-beating shot from beyond halfcourt to end the third quarter.
Celtics 103, Magic 86
Derrick White made seven 3-point attempts and scored a team-high 30 points to lead Boston past visiting Orlando in Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Jayson Tatum added 17 points and 14 rebounds for second-seeded Boston, which received 19 points off the bench from Payton Pritchard. Jaylen Brown, who missed the final three regular-season games with posterior impingement in his right knee, finished with 16 points in 30 minutes.
Orlando's Paulo Banchero led all scorers with 36 points. He also had 11 rebounds. Franz Wagner contributed 23 points and five assists, but no other Magic player scored more than Jonathan Isaac's seven points. Orlando's Wendell Carter Jr. grabbed 13 rebounds.
Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and Ty Jerome scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter as top-seeded Cleveland pulled away to defeat visiting Miami in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Jerome, a backup point guard, was making his playoff debut in his sixth season. He also dished three assists in the final period after being named a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year award earlier in the day. He made 10 of 15 field goal attempts, including 5 of 8 on 3-pointers. Mitchell, a six-time All-Star, posted his seventh straight 30-point performance in a series opener, tying Michael Jordan for the NBA record.
Bam Adebayo had 24 points and nine rebounds, and Tyler Herro scored 21 points for the Heat, who were playing their third game in five days. Miami needed play-in tournament wins at Chicago on Wednesday and Atlanta on Friday to become the first 10th seed to qualify.
Warriors 95, Rockets 85
Stephen Curry scored a game-high 31 points and Jimmy Butler III added 25 as Golden State held off host Houston in Game 1 of this Western Conference first-round series.
Curry, who shot 1-for-10 and scored three points in a home loss to the Rockets on April 6, was brilliant throughout. He finished 12-for-19 overall, drilled five 3-pointers and grabbed six rebounds. Butler added seven rebounds and six assists to his ledger as the visiting Warriors grabbed a 1-0 series lead with Game 2 set for Wednesday in Houston.
The Rockets shot just 39.1 percent and committed 17 turnovers that the Warriors converted into 25 points. Alperen Sengun posted 26 points and nine rebounds. Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet shot a combined 7-for-34 and totaled 17 points for Houston.
- NBA roundup: Thunder demolish Grizzlies in playoff opener
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- Grizzlies star PG Ja Morant (ankle) playing vs. Mavericks
- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich resting after medical emergency
- Lakers extend GM Rob Pelinka, add president to title
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- Suns owner Mat Ishbia calls season a 'failure'
- Grizzlies G Ja Morant (ankle) game-time decision vs. Mavericks
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- Kings, GM Monte McNair part ways after play-in loss
- NBA notes officiating errors late in Warriors-Grizzlies game
- Pelicans tab Joe Dumars as EVP of basketball operations
- Mavericks GM: 'No regrets' on trading away Luka Doncic
- Bucks' Damian Lillard to miss start of playoffs
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- Nuggets' Josh Kroenke shares what went wrong in Denver
- Suns fire coach Mike Budenholzer after one season
Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart (knee) has been listed as questionable for Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the New York Knicks on Monday night. Stewart has been dealing with inflammation in his right knee since the end of the regular season and made an early exit in Game 1, leaving with over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The 23-year-old big man had two points in the contest with five rebounds and two blocks. Paul Reed is likely to enter the rotation on Monday if Stewart can't play, although he probably won't see much time on the court behind starting center Jalen Duren, who will aim to bounce back in Game 2 after being held to seven points and six rebounds in Saturday's loss.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) has been listed as probable for Monday's Game 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Gordon is back on the injury report with a right calf strain, but he is likely to play. The veteran was one of the stars of the show in the series opener on Saturday, posting 25 points, eight rebounds, and two steals in 46 minutes. The Clippers must improve their defensive effort against him on Monday night, though they aren't the only team that has struggled to contain him, as Gordon is averaging over 20 points per game this month.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (knee) doesn't believe he'll face a minutes restriction in Sunday's playoff battle with the Orlando Magic. He suffered from posterior impingement in his right knee, forcing him to miss nine of the Celtics final 20 games of the regular season. Fortunately, head coach Joe Mazzulla reported Brown has looked good. Despite struggling from the three-point line, the 28-year-old has played well against Orlando during the 2024-25 campaign (two games), averaging 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 steals. While the injury is still somewhat concerning for fantasy managers, Brown is worth including in any DFS lineup on Sunday.
Dallas Mavericks' F Anthony Davis scored 40 points on 16-of-29 shooting in a 106-120 loss to Memphis on Friday, Apr. 18.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (ankle) will play in Friday's elimination game against the Dallas Mavericks. Morant is dealing with a "severe" ankle sprain and received an injection in his ankle on Thursday. He was originally listed as questionable for Friday's game before the team upgraded his status to available. Morant's presence in the lineup is a major boost for Memphis, but it remains to be seen how effectively he can play through his ankle injury.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Brandon Williams (oblique) has been upgraded to available for Friday's play-in showdown against the Memphis Grizzlies. Williams was initially listed as probable for the game. The 25-year-old has added a spark to the Mavericks late in the season and was one of the standout performers in Wednesday's win over the Sacramento Kings, finishing with 17 points and five assists in 18 minutes off the bench. A similar effort from Williams on Friday night would boost Dallas' chances of victory in a tough road game.
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (adductor) has been cleared to play in Friday's play-in matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Mavericks have upgradEd Davis' status from probable to available after head coach Jason Kidd labeled the star big man a game-time decision. Following his adductor injury, Davis has steadily improved his form and opened the Play-In Tournament with a 27-point, nine-rebound effort against the Sacramento Kings.
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Gary Trent Jr. (knee) will be active on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. He has not been listed on the injury report after a knee injury sidelined him for Milwaukee's regular-season finale. The veteran has improved his performances throughout the campaign and is averaging 12.6 points in 26.5 minutes since the All-Star break. Against the Pacers, Trent Jr. has done a lot of damage from downtown this season, nailing 59.3 percent of his triples to average 13.5 points in the matchup.
Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (knee) is set to return after a two-game absence on Saturday against the New York Knicks. The big man has recently experienced inflammation in his right knee and did not play in the team's last two regular-season games. Stewart and starting center Jalen Duren will face a tough challenge in the first-round series against Karl-Anthony Towns. In four regular-season matchups with the Knicks, Stewart managed only 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in 22.5 minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (knee) will be welcomed back into the lineup for Saturday's playoff opener against the Indiana Pacers. The veteran was unavailable for the regular-season finale due to a knee issue. Prince has quietly played an important role for the Bucks this season, starting 73 of 80 games and contributing in multiple areas. He averaged 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals during the regular season.
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (knee) is off the injury report and good to go for Saturday's matchup against the New York Knicks. The versatile youngster exited the lineup for the team's regular-season finale due to left knee patellar tendinopathy, but he will be ready to make his postseason debut in Saturday's game. Thompson has improved each month in 2024-25, finishing the regular season by averaging 12.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.7 steals in April.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (ankle) will rejoin the lineup on Saturday for Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers held Reaves out of their regular-season finale due to a right ankle sprain. However, he has been removed from the injury report before the start of the playoffs. Reaves has had a fantastic year with the Lakers and will enter the postseason with very positive momentum. He has averaged 23.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game this month, shooting a phenomenal 52.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (knee) is expected to be in the lineup for Saturday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the team has not listed him on the injury report. Hachimura has spent a large chunk of the campaign on the injury report, but he appears to be fully healthy for the most important part of the season. He has missed three of the last six games, including the regular-season finale last Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Although health issues have significantly disrupted Hachimura's season, he has performed well when in the lineup, averaging 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 31.7 minutes.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (quadriceps) does not appear on the injury report ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He did not play in the team's regular-season finale due to left quadriceps soreness. Last year, Doncic was outstanding in a series against the Timberwolves and is expected to deliver big performances again. The Slovenian superstar closed out the regular season in great form, averaging 31.8 points for April with 45.3 percent shooting from downtown.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (hip) is considered probable for Saturday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After dealing with foot and groin injuries, James is now on the injury report with a left hip flexor strain. However, the probable tag suggests that he is expected to be on the floor. James was limited to 19.7 points per game on 41.5 percent shooting by the Timberwolves during the regular season. He will need to do better in the playoff series to avoid a second consecutive first-round loss with his team.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Rockets are "less likely" to pursue a trade for Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant. ESPN's Shams Charania reported KD to Houston could be a possibility. However, the Stein Line has reported that a move between the clubs isn't expected since Durant "is not on the same timeline as Houston's promising young core." The multi-time All-Star is due to make north of $50 million in 2025-26, so a swap between the Rockets and Suns presumably would need to involve a few top-tier players. At any rate, Durant likely won't be in Phoenix next season. But no matter where he ends up, he should remain a top-15 fantasy option heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Ben Sheppard (toe) is listed as probable for Saturday's Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Sheppard sat out Indiana's final five regular-season games with a sprained big toe, but it seems like he will be available to return on Saturday. The 23-year-old will add some depth to the Pacers' rotation, but he does not hold significant fantasy value. Throughout the regular season, Sheppard settled for 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 19.5 minutes.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen would like to remain with the club. "Definitely," said Markkanen when asked if he wants to stay in Utah. "I love being in Utah." He also won't be phased by anticipated trade rumors this offseason. "We'll see what happens in summer, there's things you can't control, but I love being here and working out with the guys that we have and building this thing." The 27-year-old had a down season from a production standpoint in 2024-25, averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 34.6% shooting from behind the arc. He was also limited to 47 games. However, with the Jazz finishing the 2024-25 campaign with one of the worst records in the National Basketball Association, it's safe to say he could have played more had the team stayed competitive. No matter where Markkanen ends up next season, he has All-Star potential. Still, he's the best player in Utah, so he'll likely be the most productive by staying with the Jazz. Markkanen agreed to a four-year, $220 million extension last offseason, potentially keeping him on the roster through 2028-29.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (calf) looks poised to return from a one-game absence on Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks, as the team has not included him on the injury report. Mathurin was unavailable last Sunday for Indiana's regular-season finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers, sitting out the action due to a left calf injury. Indiana will need all the firepower it can get to take down Giannis Antetokounmpo's crew, and Mathurin is expected to provide bench scoring in the matchup. The 22-year-old averaged 16.1 points during the regular season, but his output fell to 14.7 points after he was moved to the second unit following the All-Star break.
Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) has been officially cleared for Saturday's postseason opener against the Milwaukee Bucks. The star guard has been nursing a back issue lately, sitting out the last two regular-season games, but the team has not listed him on the injury report for Saturday. In his last appearance against the Bucks, Haliburton cooked up a nice 24-point, 15-assist double-double. For the season, he has registered 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists, and 2.0 steals in the meetings between the Central Division rivals.
