NBA roundup: Aaron Gordon leads short-handed Nuggets past Warriors
Tue Mar 18 4:21pm ET
Field Level Media
Aaron Gordon scored a season-high 38 points, Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double and the Denver Nuggets, playing without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, stunned the Golden State Warriors 114-105 in San Francisco on Monday.
With Jokic nursing a sore elbow and ankle and Murray dealing with a sprained right ankle, the Nuggets rode Gordon, Westbrook and a double-double from Michael Porter Jr. to their second straight win over the Warriors this season and ninth in a row dating back to 2022.
Westbrook, the NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles, secured his 203rd by amassing 12 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists. Porter chipped with 21 points and 10 rebounds as Denver improved to 3-3 in its past six games.
Jimmy Butler III had 23 points and Stephen Curry 20 for the Warriors, who saw a seven-game winning streak come to an end.
Rockets 144, 76ers 137 (OT)
Jalen Green had 30 points and 13 assists, helping Houston stage the largest comeback in franchise history to defeat visiting Philadelphia in overtime.
Jabari Smith Jr. also scored 30 points for Houston, which won its seventh straight game and did so despite trailing by 25 points early in the third quarter. Dillon Brooks scored 25 points and Tari Eason added 21, while Alperen Sengun chipped in 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
Philadelphia lost for the seventh time in nine games, despite Quentin Grimes' career-high 46 points, which he paired with 13 boards. Jared Butler scored 21 points and Justin Edwards had 18.
Bulls 111, Jazz 97
Coby White scored 26 points and Chicago held Utah scoreless for a 5 1/2-minute stretch of the fourth quarter to earn a victory in Salt Lake City.
Tre Jones added 18 points, 12 assists and three steals, Kevin Huerter and Matas Buzelis each totaled 17 points and nine rebounds, and Nikola Vucevic had 10 points and 10 boards to lift the Bulls to their fifth win in six games.
Former Bulls player Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George each scored 16 for Utah, but the Jazz saw their losing streak increase to 10. Utah, which fell at Minnesota on Sunday, had a particularly rough night shooting from 3-point range. The Jazz only made 9 of 42 beyond the arc (21.4 percent), with Markkanen hitting just 1 of 8.
Pacers 132, Timberwolves 130 (OT)
Obi Toppin scored 34 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining in overtime, while leading Indiana to a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Toppin made 7 of 10 3-point shots and tied his season-best point total for Indiana, which won for the third time in four games. He added 10 rebounds. Bennedict Mathurin finished with 22 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Edwards scored 38 points in a losing effort for Minnesota, which had an eight-game winning streak end. Reserves Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo tallied 21 and 19 points, respectively.
Lakers 125, Spurs 109
Luka Doncic had 21 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds, Austin Reaves added 30 points and Los Angeles extended its home winning streak to eight games with a victory over San Antonio.
Jordan Goodwin and Dorian Finney-Smith each scored 15 points and Dalton Knecht had 13 for the Lakers, who were without LeBron James (groin) for the fifth consecutive game and Rui Hachimura (knee) for the 10th straight contest. Jaxson Hayes finished with nine points and 11 rebounds.
Stephon Castle scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Devin Vassell had 17 points and eight boards for the Spurs, who lost for the fifth time in their past seven games. San Antonio is without Victor Wembanyama (shoulder) and De'Aaron Fox (finger) for the remainder of the season.
Suns 129, Raptors 89
Devin Booker scored 27 points to lead six Phoenix scorers in double figures as the Suns opened a five-game homestand with their most lopsided win of the season.
The 89 points surrendered marked the second fewest the Suns have given up this season, the result of holding Toronto to 35.6 percent shooting. The Suns hit 51.1 percent from the floor and a torrid 20 of 39 (51.3 percent) from 3-point range.
Scottie Barnes scored 16 points as Toronto lost its second game in a row.
Kings 132, Grizzlies 122
Malik Monk scored 28 points, Zach LaVine added 23, and Sacramento snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over visiting Memphis.
DeMar DeRozan had 22 points and eight assists for Sacramento, which led by as many as 21 in the fourth quarter and never trailed after moving ahead late in the first quarter. Keegan Murray added 16 points and nine rebounds to help the Kings win the season series against Memphis 2-1. Jake LaRavia added 12 points off the bench against his former team.
The Kings withstood a season-high 44-point performance from Desmond Bane, who shot 15-of-25 from the field and 7-of-7 from 3-point range. Brandon Clarke added 15 points, Jaylen Wells scored 14, and Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey had 12 points apiece.
Pistons 127, Pelicans 81
Cade Cunningham scored 24 points and visiting Detroit never trailed, routing New Orleans. The result tied the Pelicans' franchise record for largest margin of defeat.
Cunningham, who tied his season low with 11 points after being ejected late in the third quarter of a 113-107 loss to Oklahoma City on Saturday, had nine as the Pistons opened a 22-point lead after one quarter. Detroit's Simone Fontecchio scored a season-high 23 points.
Zion Williamson scored 30 points to lead the Pelicans, who lost Trey Murphy III to a shoulder injury early in the first quarter and finished with their lowest point total of the season.
Knicks 116, Heat 95
Josh Hart tied a franchise record with his eighth triple-double of the season for host New York, which overcame a slow start to rout reeling Miami.
Hart finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, matching the mark set by current Knicks broadcaster Walt "Clyde" Frazier in 1968-69. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 15 unanswered points early in the second quarter as the Knicks erased a 13-point deficit. Mikal Bridges ended with a game-high 28 points for the Knicks. Towns finished with 23 points.
Duncan Robinson had 22 points for the Heat, who raced to a 12-0 lead before suffering their eighth straight loss and falling to 4-14 since trading Jimmy Butler III. Tyler Herro scored 20 points.
Trail Blazers 112, Wizards 97
Anfernee Simons made five 3-pointers and scored 30 points to help Portland notch a victory over visiting Washington.
Shaedon Sharpe netted 16 points while Deni Avdija and Duop Reath scored 15 apiece as Portland (30-39) won its second straight game. The Trail Blazers are three games behind the 10th-place Dallas Mavericks, who hold the final Western Conference play-in position.
Alex Sarr scored 20 points for Washington, which failed in its bid to match a season-best three-game winning streak. Tristan Vukcevic added 17 points while Jaylen Martin and Kyshawn George each had 11 points for the Wizards, who are 3-3 on a seven-game road trip.
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Utah Jazz point guard Keyonte George (hamstring) will be re-evaluated in two weeks, ESPN's Tim Bontemps reports. The talented guard was injured in Wednesday's loss to the New York Knicks and has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. George looks set to miss at least seven games, but considering the Jazz's approach to the season, it wouldn't be surprising if he were shut down for the rest of the campaign. Isaiah Collier will move into the starting point guard spot and is expected to make a big impact. Across his previous 16 starts this season, Collier has produced 15.3 points, 8.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Chicago Bulls forward Isaac Okoro (knee) will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 25-year-old was initially listed as questionable on the injury report. With Okoro unable to return to the lineup, Leonard Miller will make another start. He had a good outing with 17 points and 11 rebounds on Tuesday night against Golden State. Okoro will get his next chance to return on Friday night against the Clippers.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Ayo Dosunmu (thumb) is considered questionable for Friday night's action against the Golden State Warriors. The former Bull is listed on the injury report with a right thumb sprain and could be absent for a second consecutive contest. Since moving to Minnesota, Dosunmu has averaged 11.0 points and 2.5 assists in 25.3 minutes per game. Kyle Anderson and Terrence Shannon Jr. saw their workload increase when Dosunmu sat out Wednesday's loss to the Clippers. Despite receiving more minutes, the duo failed to make a significant impact, making them poor fantasy options at present.
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (ankle) has been downgraded from doubtful to out for Thursday's contest against the Los Angeles Lakers. Williams was trending in the wrong direction throughout the day, having been listed as questionable on the initial injury report. The 24-year-old hasn't been able to build any momentum this season and will be sidelined for the sixth time in seven games. Chicago begins a back-to-back set, and it's unclear whether Williams will be in contention to play on Friday against the Clippers.
Chicago Bulls forward/center Guerschon Yabusele (foot) will miss Thursday's encounter with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has been ruled out for the contest after being downgraded to doubtful on the injury report earlier on Thursday. Meanwhile, Jalen Smith (calf) has been cleared to play and will anchor the frontcourt with Nick Richards. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has already announced that Smith is likely to be held out of Friday's matchup with the Clippers, which would allow Yabusele to take on a significant role again if he's ready to return.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot, hip) will return to action on Thursday night against the Chicago Bulls, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports. The veteran superstar has dealt with several health issues recently, missing three games. Rui Hachimura has been a starter during James' absence and will likely drop back to the bench for Thursday's tilt. James had a 24-point outing in his first meeting with the Bulls this season. He has averaged 19.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.1 steals since making his 22nd All-Star appearance.
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (ankle) will suit up on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Due to an ankle injury, Buzelis was initially listed as probable for the game. The 21-year-old sophomore is fresh off a career night against the Warriors and should be full of confidence ahead of Thursday's matchup. Since the All-Star break, Buzelis has produced averages of 19.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Moses Moody (wrist) will be out for a fifth straight game on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Warriors announced earlier this week that Moody has resumed on-court activities. According to head coach Steve Kerr, the 23-year-old could be an option during the team's upcoming six-game road trip, which begins on Sunday in New York. Gary Payton II and Will Richard will continue to enjoy extra playing time until Moody returns.
Chicago Bulls forward/center Jalen Smith (calf) has been upgraded from questionable to available for Thursday's matchup against the Lakers. Smith recently logged 12 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, one block, and two 3-pointers in 34 minutes as a starter and should continue seeing meaningful frontcourt minutes if his workload remains intact. His availability could cut into Nick Richards' playing time, lowering Richards' short-term streaming appeal. Smith's mix of boards, blocks, and some floor spacing keeps him on the radar as a deeper league hold, especially if he continues to see stable playing time.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (ankle) has received the green light to play on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was listed as probable on the initial injury report. Despite dealing with a right ankle sprain, Giddey logged 43 minutes in Tuesday's overtime against Golden State, so he doesn't appear to be limited in any way. Giddey produced a 21-13-17 line against the Warriors and will head out for his third consecutive triple-double on Thursday.
Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post (foot) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Dutch big man is managing a foot injury and could be out for the third time in four games. Post has delivered some fine performances during his sophomore campaign, but the Warriors won't miss him as long as Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis are healthy. Both veterans are expected to play on Friday night.
Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton (leg) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Lakers after initially being listed as questionable due to a left leg injury. His absence should continue to open minutes for Tre Jones, who delivered 22 points, five assists, four rebounds, one steal, and two 3-pointers across 34 minutes off the bench in the last game. Second-year guard Rob Dillingham also saw 20 minutes with five points and four assists, making him a deeper league streamer. Jones profiles as the safer short-term fantasy play, while Dillingham remains a riskier upside option.
Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton (adductor) is questionable to play on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Melton has been a regular on the injury report this season while managing a knee injury, but he has now hurt his left adductor muscle. This issue could sideline him for a second consecutive game. Will Richard started in Melton's absence on Tuesday against Chicago and may keep his spot for Friday's game. The 23-year-old rookie had eight points, four rebounds, one assist, and three steals in an overtime defeat. Pat Spencer, who contributed 17 points and six assists, and Gary Payton II, who had a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double, are also in a position to see more action without Melton.
New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) is listed as questionable for Friday's meeting with the Indiana Pacers. The six-time All-Star has landed on the injury report with bilateral knee soreness. If Towns sits out the action, the Knicks are expected to promote Mitchell Robinson to the starting lineup. While moving into the first unit would boost Robinson's fantasy appeal, he has averaged only 3.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 19.1 minutes as a starter this season. Ariel Hukporti's role would also increase if Towns doesn't play.
Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe (thumb) will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb that requires surgery. Sharpe had carved out a steady reserve role, averaging 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals across 62 appearances. Danny Wolf should see the biggest opportunity increase after posting 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in 28 minutes last game. Josh Minott and Chaney Johnson could also see deeper rotation minutes, though both profile as risky deep-league streamers.
New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (knee) is considered questionable for Friday's tilt against the Indiana Pacers. He is bothered by a sore left knee and missed Wednesday's win over Utah after being questionable. It remains to be seen whether the same happens on Friday night. While Landry Shamet moved into the first unit to replace Hart, Jordan Clarkson benefited the most from his absence against Utah. He reappeared as a regular in the rotation and popped off for a season-high 27 points against his former team. Shamet had a quiet night with seven points, three rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (ankle) will rejoin the lineup on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets. The veteran made 364 consecutive appearances before missing the last five games due to an ankle problem. Barnes might have extra responsibilities on Thursday with Victor Wembanyama (ankle) out of the lineup, though he will once again come off the bench. As a reserve, Barnes has averaged 7.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists this season.
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (hamstring) is out for Friday's game against the Trail Blazers after suffering a right hamstring strain during Wednesday's loss to the Knicks. With Utah likely to be cautious this late in the season, George could remain sidelined beyond one game. Isaiah Collier should see an expanded role after posting nine points, two rebounds, five assists, and one 3-pointer in 19 minutes last game. With fantasy playoffs already underway in many leagues, Collier is trending toward must-roster status. Brice Sensabaugh and Ace Bailey could also see modest usage bumps.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (knee) will join Jayson Tatum (Achilles) on the sidelines on Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. White has been downgraded from questionable to out ahead of tip-off. Boston also had Payton Pritchard (neck) on the initial injury report, but he has been cleared to play. With White unavailable, Pritchard will play a huge role in the backcourt and is expected to lead the offense with Jaylen Brown. Meanwhile, there are minutes available for Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland (toe) is out for Friday's game against the Bulls for injury management in the first leg of a back-to-back. Kobe Sanders is expected to move into the starting lineup, while Kris Dunn could also see added ballhandling duties. Dunn produced five points, two rebounds, six assists, and four steals in 24 minutes during his last start and offers short-term streaming appeal for assists and defensive stats. Sanders remains a deeper league flier after playing just six minutes last game, while Kawhi Leonard could take on more offensive responsibility.
