NBA roundup: Grizzlies rally, nip Spurs on late block
Tue Jan 6 11:43pm ET
Field Level Media
Cam Spencer scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Santi Aldama blocked a potential game-winning shot by De'Aaron Fox with 5.2 seconds remaining to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 106-105 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.
Spencer gave the Grizzlies the lead with 37.3 seconds to go on a baseline jumper. A minute earlier, he had connected on a 3-pointer to trim San Antonio's lead to 105-104. Jaren Jackson Jr. matched Spencer with 21 points and had nine rebounds. Jock Landale contributed 19 points and nine boards and Vince Williams Jr., returning from a lengthy injury absence, finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Victor Wembanyama came off the bench to lead the Spurs with 30 points. Julian Champagnie added 23 points and eight rebounds and Stephon Castle had 15 points and eight boards before fouling out with 3:13 to go.
The Grizzlies played without starters Ja Morant, Cedric Coward and Zach Edey. Morant missed his second straight game with a right calf contusion and his 18th game overall of the team's 36 contests because of a variety of injuries. Coward sprained his left ankle in Sunday's loss at the Lakers.
Lakers 111, Pelicans 103
Luka Doncic and LeBron James both scored 30 points as Los Angeles won in New Orleans to win its third straight. Doncic also had 10 assists while James had eight boards and eight assists.
Doncic had 11 first-quarter points and 16 at the half despite missing all six of his 3-point shots. Deandre Ayton paired 18 points with 11 rebounds as the Lakers opened the fourth on a 9-0 run to take control of the game.
Trey Murphy III had a career-high 42 points for New Orleans, which frittered away a position of strength to suffer its eighth successive defeat. Zion Williamson added 15 points and Derik Queen posted 10 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
Cavaliers 120, Pacers 116
Darius Garland posted 29 points and six assists as Cleveland won in Indianapolis, sending Indiana to its franchise-record 13th consecutive loss.
Evan Mobley had 20 points and Jarrett Allen finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have won four of their last five. Sam Merrill also scored 19. Cleveland won despite resting Donovan Mitchell, the NBA's fourth-leading scorer at 29.8 points per game, and losing Dean Wade after eight minutes when he re-injured his left knee.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 22 points, Jay Huff scored 20 and Johnny Furphy had nine points and 11 rebounds. The Pacers' most recent win was Dec. 8 over the Sacramento Kings. Indiana, which had lost 12 consecutive games four prior times since joining the NBA in 1976, owns the worst home record in the league at 5-15.
Timberwolves 122, Heat 94
Anthony Edwards scored 26 points in 29 minutes, and Minnesota cruised to a win over Miami in Minneapolis.
Jaden Daniels added 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting for Minnesota, which won its third game in a row. Julius Randle (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (13 points, 17 rebounds) each registered double-doubles, and Naz Reid scored 14 points off the bench.
Norman Powell. Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware grabbed 11 rebounds apiece. One bright spot for the Heat was the return of Tyler Herro, who played for the first time since Dec. 9. He showed no signs of a right big toe injury as he finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench.
Wizards 120, Magic 112
CJ McCollum scored 27 points and Alex Sarr added 23 to go along with eight rebounds, fueling host Washington past Orlando. Justin Champagnie had 17 points off the bench for Washington, which made 31 of 33 shots from the free-throw line.
Bilal Coulibaly recorded 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals for the Wizards, who have won five of their last seven.
Orlando rookie Jase Richardson scored a career-high 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor. Desmond Bane scored 15 points, Paolo Banchero had 14 and Tristan da Silva added 13 for the Magic, who committed 19 turnovers that led to 29 points by Washington. The Magic whittled a 26-point deficit down to two late in the game, but a 10-2 Wizards run sealed their victory.
- NBA roundup: Grizzlies rally, nip Spurs on late block
- Kings F Keegan Murray (ankle) out 3-4 weeks
- Heat's Tyler Herro cleared for return: 'I just had to get healthy'
- Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell (rest) out vs. Pacers
- NBA roundup: Visiting Hornets shock Thunder with blowout win
- Hawks, Trae Young mutually exploring trade options
- Rockets, Mavs to play preseason games in Macao
- NBA roundup: Devin Booker's last-second 3 lifts Suns over Thunder
- Clippers' Derrick Jones Jr. out with another MCL sprain
- NBA roundup: Jaylen Brown pours in 50 as Celtics rout Clippers
- Magic lose G Jalen Suggs (knee) for undetermined period of time
- C Ivica Zubac (ankle) available for surging Clippers
- Hawks’ Kristaps Porzingis, Trae Young out vs. Toronto
- Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell out vs. Trail Blazers
- NBA roundup: Giannis Antetokounmpo sets 30-10-5 mark in Bucks' win
- Stephen Curry among three key Warriors out vs. Thunder
- NBA roundup: Heat top East-leading Pistons in 4th straight win
- Nuggets C Jonas Valanciunas (calf) to miss at least month
- Jrue Holiday nearing a return for Trail Blazers
- NBA roundup: Julian Champagnie (11 treys) leads Spurs past Knicks
Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) has been ruled out for Wednesday's matchup against the Toronto Raptors, while center Moussa Diabate is listed as probable on the injury report. Kalkbrenner will sit out his ninth consecutive game due to a sprained left elbow. Diabate skipped a couple of games last week due to a wrist sprain, but it looks like he will be good to go against Toronto. With Kalkbrenner sidelined, Diabate has stepped into a regular starting role, averaging 8.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game with the first unit. Facing a Raptors team missing Jakob Poeltl (back) on Wednesday, Diabate is well-positioned for another productive outing.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso (back) won't take the court on Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz. The defensive specialist is dealing with a lower back issue and is missing a second consecutive game. Caruso's absence opens up additional playing time for Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Joe. Of the trio, Wiggins appears to be the safest bet to deliver fantasy value, as he had a starting role in Monday's victory over the Charlotte Hornets, filling in for Isaiah Hartenstein (calf).
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Brandon Miller (knee) is considered probable for Wednesday's matchup against the Toronto Raptors. He is on the injury report with a left knee contusion, but the issue isn't expected to keep Miller off the floor. Miller struggled against Toronto earlier in the season, posting only 19 points across two games. However, he has looked like a different player in recent weeks. Through his first outings in 2026, Miller has posted 23.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game.
Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (personal) will return from a two-game absence on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic. He missed a pair of games last week for personal reasons. While Claxton wasn't at Tuesday's practice, the team has not listed him on the injury report, indicating that he is ready to rejoin the lineup. Claxton's return will bump Day'Ron Sharpe to the bench, significantly lowering his fantasy value. Orlando has done a decent job defensively against centers this season and limited Claxton to 13 points and five rebounds earlier in the campaign.
Orlando Magic forward/center Moritz Wagner (knee) will remain on the shelf on Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets. The German big man is expected to make his season debut this week, but he won't be available for the second leg of a back-to-back. Wagner's next chance to return will come on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Orlando also has a meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans scheduled for Sunday. Given Wagner's extended absence due to a knee injury, he's likely to be eased back into action with a strict minutes restriction upon his return, limiting his fantasy appeal.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (knee) has been ruled out for Wednesday's matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. On Tuesday, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said Suggs has not been cleared for on-court activities, so this probably won't be his last absence. With Suggs sidelined, Tristan da Silva made a second consecutive start in Tuesday's loss to the Washington Wizards, scoring 13 points and snagging two steals. Tyus Jones and Jase Richardson also had increased roles, with the latter scoring a team-high 20 points. The Magic struggled in the first half, leading to bench players like Jones and Richardson seeing a lot of action.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (ankle) will remain sidelined on Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets. He has missed 13 games with a high ankle sprain, but the German star appears to be nearing his comeback. Last Friday, it was reported that Orlando expects Wagner to be available "within the next week." With Jalen Suggs (knee) also out on Wednesday, players like Tristan da Silva, Anthony Black, Tyus Jones, and Jase Richardson will have additional fantasy value. That said, this isn't a good matchup from a fantasy standpoint, as Orlando will face a slow-paced team that has the fourth-best defensive record in the Eastern Conference.
Pelicans' F Trey Murphy III scored 42 points on 14-of-26 shooting in a 103-111 loss to the Lakers on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (ankle) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Green could already miss his second game this month after spraining his left ankle during Monday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis are candidates for increased playing time if Green misses Wednesday's action. That said, it's a difficult fantasy matchup for the duo, as Milwaukee allows the third-fewest fantasy points to centers.
Chicago Bulls forward/center Jalen Smith (concussion) will be sidelined for a second consecutive game on Wednesday night against the Detroit Pistons. Smith entered concussion protocol over the weekend after sustaining a head injury during a game against the Charlotte Hornets. Chicago's frontcourt is also currently without Zach Collins (toe), opening up a spot in the rotation for Lachlan Olbrich. The 22-year-old rookie failed to impress on Monday night against the Boston Celtics, finishing scoreless in 12 minutes and recording two rebounds and two assists.
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (illness) has been tagged as questionable on the injury report for Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons. He is dealing with an illness, and if Buzelis can't shake it off before tip-off, he would miss his first game of the season. The 21-year-old sophomore has taken an impressive leap in 2025-26, averaging 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. Patrick Williams and Julian Phillips will likely be called upon to take on larger roles Wednesday night if Buzelis is unavailable.
Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham (wrist) is considered probable for Wednesday's contest against the Chicago Bulls. Detroit's leading man is dealing with a right wrist injury, but the probable designation indicates that Cunningham isn't expected to miss time. The 24-year-old is averaging a double-double for a second consecutive month. He has notched 29.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 2.0 steals per game through his first few outings of 2026. If Cunningham experiences a setback, Jaden Ivey and Daniss Jenkins will take on a greater workload against Chicago.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (calf) is considered questionable for Wednesday's tilt against the Detroit Pistons. On Monday, White made a sooner-than-expected return to the lineup from a right calf injury, but he may sit out some action again. Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter will likely see more time on the court if White is unavailable, although Wednesday presents a challenging matchup for the Bulls against the league's second-ranked defense.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) will miss a sixth consecutive game on Wednesday against the Utah Jazz. Hartenstein is recovering from a right soleus strain and doesn't have a return timeline. Chet Holmgren has operated as the starting center during Hartenstein's absence, with Branden Carlson seeing additional action off the bench. Wednesday's matchup is a juicy spot for the Thunder bigs against a team that struggles against centers. Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace have filled in for Hartenstein in the starting lineup.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) has been upgraded to questionable on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's contest against the Washington Wizards. The veteran has been sidelined since Nov. 14 due to a knee sprain, but he could be ready to return to the court against his former team. Before injuring his left knee, Oubre Jr. was performing well. He has averaged 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 34.8 minutes this season. Initially, Oubre Jr.'s workload is likely to be limited upon his return.
Denver Nuggets guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics. The veteran sniper is dealing with an illness and wasn't available for Monday's matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. Denver was short-handed on Monday and could be in a similar situation on Wednesday, with Jamal Murray (ankle), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), and Christian Braun (ankle) all also questionable. Players like Jalen Pickett, Spencer Jones, and Zeke Nnaji stepped up on Monday night and may be asked to do it again against Boston.
Denver Nuggets guard/forward Christian Braun (ankle) carries a questionable tag on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's meeting with the Boston Celtics. On Sunday, the 24-year-old returned to the lineup from a seven-week absence, but Braun didn't play in Monday's contest against the Philadelphia 76ers. He may now miss a second straight game. Braun's absence would give additional fantasy value to Bruce Brown and Spencer Jones. However, Wednesday's matchup is unattractive from a fantasy perspective, as Boston plays at the slowest pace in the league.
Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (ankle) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's clash against the Boston Celtics. He is dealing with a left ankle sprain, which may sideline Murray for a second consecutive contest. Overall, Murray has shown impressive durability this season, skipping only two games. With Murray out, Jalen Pickett had an outstanding game in Monday's overtime win against the Philadelphia 76ers. Pickett could make some noise again on Wednesday if he maintains a starting role.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (hamstring) has been tagged as questionable on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's meeting with the Boston Celtics. After he returned from a hamstring injury on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets, Gordon sat out the second leg of a back-to-back on Monday night versus the Philadelphia 76ers. The team will not want to risk an injury setback and may keep Gordon out of action again on Wednesday. Peyton Watson and Zeke Nnaji are in a position to contribute more if Gordon doesn't play.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus (foot) will be out for at least another month, the team announced Tuesday. Strus underwent foot surgery on Aug. 26 and was initially expected to resume basketball activities in three to four months. However, the 29-year-old has yet to play this season. It's now clear that Strus will remain out at least until February. Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill have capitalized on Strus' absence this season, both showing major improvement in their offensive production.
