NBA roundup: Pascal Siakam's 3 pushes Pacers past Celtics in OT
Thu Oct 31 2:36am ET
Field Level Media
Pascal Siakam made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 7.3 seconds remaining in overtime to help the Indiana Pacers defeat the Boston Celtics 135-132 on Wednesday night in Indianapolis.
Jaylen Brown missed a 3-point attempt that would have tied the game on Boston's final possession. The defending NBA champion Celtics took their first defeat this season after four wins.
Siakam had 29 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Teammate Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench to score a team-high 30 points and grab 11 rebounds as Indiana ended a three-game losing streak.
Boston was down by 24 with 3:35 left in the third quarter and trailed by 21 with 8:55 remaining but tied the game on Jayson Tatum's 3-pointer with 14.4 seconds to play. Tatum scored a game-high 37 points and Brown added 25, but they shot a combined 6-for-29 from 3-point range.
Cavaliers 134, Lakers 110
Los Angeles rookie Bronny James scored his first NBA basket, but Evan Mobley tallied 25 points and Donovan Mitchell added 24 points and seven assists as host Cleveland improved to 5-0 this season.
It is Cleveland's best start since the 2016-17 season, when LeBron James was wearing No. 23 for the Cavs. Cleveland led by as many as 28 points and overcame a major foul disparity, committing 26 fouls to Los Angeles' seven.
James' father, LeBron James, 39, finished with 26 points, six rebounds and six turnovers. Teammate Anthony Davis, who entered the game leading the NBA in scoring at 32.8 points a game, finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Knicks 116, Heat 107
Karl-Anthony Towns enjoyed his best game with New York, scoring 44 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in defeating host Miami.
Towns, acquired in an offseason trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, made 17 of 25 shots from the floor, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, in 39 minutes. Jalen Brunson added 22 points and nine assists with just one turnover for the Knicks.
Tyler Herro led Miami with 34 points and seven assists. He made 12 of 20 shots, including 8 of 13 from beyond the arc. Terry Rozier scored 16 points. Miami was again without power forward Kevin Love (personal reasons).
Thunder 105, Spurs 93
Luguentz Dort scored 20 points as Oklahoma City remained undefeated by beating visiting San Antonio.
The showdown between the Thunder's Chet Holmgren and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama never really materialized. Wembanyama limped to the locker room after appearing to injure his foot on a post-up during the second quarter and was a non-factor when he returned. The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year finished with a career-low six points, going just 1-of-5 from the field, and grabbed eight rebounds.
Holmgren, who finished as runner-up for rookie honors, had 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting with five boards and two blocks. He made all three of his 3-point tries as the Thunder made a season-high 17 from beyond the arc, including 13 before halftime.
Pistons 105, 76ers 95
Jaden Ivey scored 23 points and Cade Cunningham chipped in 22 as Detroit earned its first win of the season in five games, defeating host Philadelphia.
Detroit's Tobias Harris, who spent the previous 5 1/2 seasons with Philadelphia, contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 32 points, but he shot just 2 of 10 from 3-point range as part of a teamwide 8-of-28 effort (28.6 percent) from long distance. The 76ers remain without stars Joel Embiid and Paul George due to knee injuries.
Trail Blazers 106, Clippers 105
Anfernee Simons scored 25 points and Deandre Ayton added 15 points and 12 rebounds as visiting Portland held on for a victory over Los Angeles at Inglewood, Calif.
Scoot Henderson had 14 points while Deni Avdija had 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Blazers won for the second time in their past three games and earned their first road victory in two tries.
Los Angeles' Norman Powell scored 30 points and James Harden added 19 points with 10 assists. Ivica Zubac had 12 rebounds but was held to six points after he averaged 22.7 points over the first three games of the season. Kevin Porter Jr. scored 10 points for Los Angeles, which fell to 0-2 in the new $2 billion Intuit Dome.
Warriors 104, Pelicans 89
Buddy Hield had 21 points to lead six scorers in double figures, Brandin Podziemski nearly recorded a triple-double as Stephen Curry's replacement, and Golden State pulled away from visiting New Orleans for a victory in San Francisco.
Podziemski, who hadn't started any of Golden State's first three games until Curry sprained his left ankle on Sunday, totaled 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. He had 19 points and five assists in his first start on Tuesday. Trayce Jackson-Davis added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jonathan Kuminga had 16 points, Draymond Green 14 and Kyle Anderson 10 for Golden State, which took the opener of the two-day, two-game series 124-106.
Jordan Hawkins put up a game-high 23 points for New Orleans, which completed a six-day, four-game western swing with a 1-3 record.
Wizards 133, Hawks 120
Bilal Coulibaly scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds, helping Washington defeat visiting Atlanta for the second time in three days.
Jordan Poole added 24 points and a team-high nine assists for Washington, beat Atlanta by two points in Atlanta on Monday. Jonas Valanciunas and Corey Kispert put up 22 and 16 points, respectively, off the Wizards' bench.
Trae Young led Atlanta with 35 points and 15 assists, while Jalen Johnson added 21 points and 17 rebounds. The Hawks have dropped three straight games.
Hornets 138, Raptors 133
Tre Mann and Cody Martin combined for 52 points off the bench for Charlotte as the Hornets outlasted visiting Toronto.
Mann scored a team-high 27 points and Martin was right behind with 25 as Charlotte snapped a two-game losing streak. Nick Richards added 24 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots, LaMelo Ball poured in 19 points with six assists and reserve Grant Williams had 17 points with five assists.
RJ Barrett racked up 31 points and eight assists, Gradey Dick had 30 points and Jakob Poeltl posted 20 points and 16 rebounds to pace the Raptors, who have lost three games in a row. Scottie Barnes, Toronto's leading scorer (19.2 points per game) didn't play due to a fractured orbital bone injury he sustained Monday night against Denver.
Bulls 102, Magic 99
A balanced scoring effort and overwhelming defense in the second half helped host Chicago overcome 31 points from Orlando's Paolo.
The Bulls held the Magic to 12 points in the fourth quarter and 37 in the second half, helping Chicago rally from a 10-point halftime deficit. Coby White scored 21 points, Josh Giddey had 20 points and Nikola Vucevic finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds for the Bulls.
Jalen Suggs put up 17 points and Wendell Carter Jr. added 14 for the Magic, who shot 38.5 percent from the floor in the second half.
Nets 119, Grizzlies 106
Dennis Schroder scored a season-high 33 points and dished out eight assists to lead visiting Brooklyn past injury-plagued Memphis.
Cam Thomas put up 19 points, Cameron Johnson had 14 and Jalen Wilson finished with 12 for the Nets, who got their first road win in three tries this season. Brooklyn's Ziaire Williams, who began his career with the Grizzlies, had 17 points, four steals and three assists in his return.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had 30 points for Memphis, which lost two starters during its second straight defeat. Marcus Smart departed in the closing seconds of the first quarter when he sprained his right ankle before Desmond Bane left after injuring his oblique early in the third.
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Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (knee) is available ahead of Friday's game against the San Antonio Spurs. The rookie big man has missed the last seven games due to a right knee injury. As a result, Clingan will have a minutes limit during Friday's game. He wasn't doing great before going down, but Clingan did have a 19-rebound game in his most recent contest. Clingan won't be a strong streaming option while under a minutes limit. However, he's someone worth monitoring if the Blazers do decide to give him more run later in the season.
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (knee) has been downgraded to out ahead of Friday's game against the Utah Jazz. Beal is dealing with swelling in his right knee and as a result the team will have him sit out at least Friday's game. His next chance to play will be on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers. The late addition to the injury report is a surprise to fantasy managers, so they should quickly edit their lineups. Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale should see increased value with Beal sidelined. O'Neale has been solid lately and is worth a look as a streaming option with increased playing time.
Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (quad) is available ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Braun hasn't missed a game this season and that streak will continue to live on. He has been playing big minutes for the Nuggets this season as he's averaging over 35 minutes per game. He's not an elite contributor in any category, but does a little of everything. Fantasy managers who have Braun rostered can get him in their lineups ahead of tip-off.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (hamstring) has been upgraded to available ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Murray was a game-time decision coming into this contest, but he apparently felt good during his pre-game routine. He'll make his return after missing each of the last two games due to a hamstring issue. This means that Russell Westbrook will head back to the bench and will lose fantasy value. There is no word of Murray being limited, so fantasy managers should expect him to be a full-go on Friday.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) is available ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. As expected, Gordon is good to go after being listed as probable on the injury report. Gordon missed a game last week, but has been mostly healthy since his absence in mid-November. Gordon has been hit-or-miss this season, but should be plugged back into lineups in season-long formats. He's averaging 14.3 points, 6.0 rebounds,and 3.5 assists across 29 minutes per game this season. Gordon is a solid contributor, but keeping him off the injury report has been the biggest challenge.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (eye) won't return to Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. The big man exited to the locker room after getting hit in the face while going for a rebound in the second quarter. The organization has decided to hold out Embiid for the rest of the night while he undergoes further testing. There is a concern that he injured his already repaired orbital fracture. Fantasy managers should get more information in the next day or two. Andre Drummond figures to start in the second half and will see an increased workload until Embiid is able to get back on the court. Drummond was a strong fantasy option when Embiid was out earlier in the season, so he could be worth snagging again.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Bradley Beal (knee) is now questionable heading into Friday's meeting with the Jazz. The veteran wasn't listed on the injury report throughout the day. However, he began experiencing right knee swelling, so there's a chance he won't be out there. Beal has already missed eight games this season, although fantasy managers are now left wondering if this injury will open the door for another extended stint on the shelf. Fortunately, the Suns are expected to get Kevin Durant (ankle) back, which will help. Royce O'Neale, who was expected to head back to the bench, may find himself remaining in the starting lineup.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot) won't play on Friday against the Timberwolves, with the multi-time MVP expected to miss more time moving forward. Head coach JJ Redick was asked if he knows when James will return. However, the first-year coach answered with a simple "no." Of course, the Lakers will be without arguably their top performer, meaning guys like Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D'Angelo Russell will need to pick up the slack on the scoring end.
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Austin Reaves (pelvis) has been upgraded and will play in Friday's game versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. Reaves has missed the last five games because of a pelvic contusion. But after going from questionable to probable, he'll be back on the floor for this one. With LeBron James (foot) out indefinitely, Reaves should pick up some of the slack on the scoring end, making him a must-start in any fantasy setup. That won't change until James returns to the lineup.
Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis (foot) will play on Friday against the Timberwolves. AD has been a constant mention on the league's injury report because of an ailing foot injury. However, as is usually the case, he's good to go. With LeBron James (foot) out indefinitely, Davis should be the No. 1 scoring option for the Lakers, so a rise in statistical contributions could be on the horizon.
Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (illness) will miss his first game of the 2024-25 campaign on Friday against the Hornets. The 34-year-old has played at an All-Star-caliber level this season, averaging 21.0 points, 9.8 boards, and shooting 47.4% from behind the arc. Without him, Jalen Smith will presumably enter the starting lineup, immediately giving him credibility as a streaming option and DFS value play. Josh Giddey, Zach LaVine, and Coby White could also see a bump on the scoring end with Vucevic sidelined.
Chicago Bulls forward Zach LaVine (back) will play in Friday's game against the Hornets. The veteran has played well throughout the 2024-25 campaign, averaging 22.1 points and shooting 43.2% from behind the arc. But he was dealing with back spasms. Fortunately, it won't keep him off the floor for the favorable matchup versus Charlotte.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (back) is cleared to suit up in Friday's matchup versus the Charlotte Hornets. Like his teammate, Zach LaVine (back), he was battling back spasms. However, it won't cost Giddey his first game of the 2024-25 campaign. The 22-year-old has played well in his first season in Chicago, averaging 11.7 points, 6.9 assists, and 6.2 rebounds, although he may be even more productive in the favorable matchup against the Hornets.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (ankle) won't play on Friday against the Wizards. The 23-year-old has played well this season, averaging 18.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals. But he'll miss his second game of the 2024-25 campaign, so his next chance to play will be on Monday in Brooklyn. Without Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and Donovan Mitchell should get a few extra scoring opportunities. Georges Niang could also work his way into the starting lineup, giving him DFS value potential.
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (foot) said he will play in Friday's game against the Hornets. The 23-year-old has been out of commission since November because of issues with his left foot, the same one he had surgery on back in March. With that in mind, he has averaged only 9.9 points and 5.0 rebounds this season, so he isn't the most dependable fantasy option. But Williams' return could at least mean less work for Ayo Dosunmu and Matas Buzelis.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Heat have agreed to trade center Thomas Bryant to the Pacers. In exchange, Indiana will swap a future second-round pick with Miami. The 27-year-old has averaged only 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds this season. But with James Wiseman (Achilles) and Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) both sidelined, the team needed another big. While Bryant won't start unless Myles Turner isn't available, he should see more playing time in Indiana. Still, unless he finds himself with the first five, his contributions could be sporadic.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (pelvis) is probable for Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has missed the Lakers' previous five contests because of a pelvic contusion and was initially labeled as questionable heading into this one. Luckily, Los Angeles will likely have him back on the court on Friday night. It can't come at a better time, considering LeBron James (foot) isn't available. As such, Reaves could be more involved on the scoring end, which is why he'll surely see more attention from DFS managers.
Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun (ankle) has been listed as questionable on Friday while he deals with an ankle sprain. The Hornets are set to take on the Chicago Bulls who have lost their last two games and could be dealing with some injuries of their own. Salaun started to see some added playing time with the Hornets' injury report growing until he sprained his left ankle against the Knicks. If he has to miss another game, Cody Martin and Josh Green should remain in the starting lineup while Martin serves as the better streaming option. In their last game, Martin finished with 14 points, six rebounds, one assist, and two steals across 33 minutes.
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (ankle) is headed for his 12th consecutive missed game as he's considered doubtful to play on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. The rookie big man has been battling an ankle sprain since November 17 and there isn't a firm timetable for his return. The fact that he hasn't been ruled out right away is at least a trend in the right direction. Jay Huff should continue to see extra minutes off of the bench. Over the last three games, Huff has averaged 12.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 2.3 threes per game.
Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (ribs) has been ruled out again for the sixth consecutive game since injuring his ribs against the Los Angeles Clippers on November 27. The veteran power forward has yet to find his footing this year in the midst of the injuries he's experienced. Right now, his numbers have decreased across the board from last season, especially in scoring and efficiency. In his place, Justin Champagnie will likely continue to get some more playing time. Champagnie has averaged 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game over the last three games.
