NBA roundup: Luka Doncic, Lakers handle Nuggets
Thu Mar 20 3:12am ET
Field Level Media
Luka Doncic scored 21 of his 31 points in the first quarter, Austin Reaves added 22 total and the Los Angeles Lakers turned a fast start into a 120-108 home victory over the short-handed Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
The victory allowed the Lakers to tie the Nuggets for third place in the Western Conference standings. The teams split the season series with two victories each.
Dorian Finney-Smith scored 14 points as the Lakers earned their third straight win and ninth consecutive home victory despite playing without LeBron James (groin) and Rui Hachimura (knee).
Aaron Gordon tallied 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who were playing without Nikola Jokic (ankle/elbow) and Jamal Murray (ankle). Denver has alternated wins and losses for the past eight games.
Spurs 120, Knicks 105
Sandro Mamukelashvili scored a career-high 34 points, 21 in the fourth quarter, as host San Antonio ambushed New York.
Mamukelashvili shot 13-for-14 from the floor, including 7-for-7 from 3-point range. He had never previously made more than four 3-pointers in a game. Stephon Castle added 22 points for San Antonio. Chris Paul produced 12 points and nine assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns amassed 32 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, who fell to 3-3 since Jalen Brunson was lost indefinitely with a sprained right ankle. Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby added 14 points apiece, and Mitchell Robinson tallied 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Kings 123, Cavaliers 119
Keegan Murray broke a late tie with a driving hoop, DeMar DeRozan dropped in a pair of clutch baskets in the final 1:35 and host Sacramento extended Cleveland's losing streak to three games.
DeRozan finished with a team-high 27 points, Malik Monk added 22 and rookie Devin Carter chipped in with a season-best 16 off the bench as the Kings moved three games ahead of the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks in their duel for ninth place in the Western Conference.
Evan Mobley registered 31 points and 10 rebounds and Donovan Mitchell finished with 26 points for the Cavaliers. Ty Jerome added 14 points and six assists. Dean Wade and Max Strus chipped in with 12 points apiece, and Jarrett Allen had 10.
Trail Blazers 115, Grizzlies 99
Deni Avdija recorded 31 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists to lead Portland to a victory over visiting Memphis.
Avdija matched season highs for boards and 3-pointers (five) as Portland won its third straight game. Anfernee Simons scored 22 points, Shaedon Sharpe produced 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Toumani Camara had 15 points for the Trail Blazers. Duop Reath had 13 points and nine rebounds off the bench for Portland, which is two games behind the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks in the battle for the final Western Conference play-in berth.
Desmond Bane scored 20 points and Scotty Pippen Jr. added 18 off the bench for the Grizzlies, who lost their second straight game. Santi Aldama had 16 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. tallied 14 but was just 5 of 18 from the field.
Suns 127, Bulls 121
Devin Booker scored 41 points, including 33 after halftime, as Phoenix beat visiting Chicago.
Kevin Durant added 26 points and Ryan Dunn contributed 16 as Phoenix moved past the Dallas Mavericks into 10th position in the race for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.
Nikola Vucevic and Coby White both posted 24 points for Chicago, and Josh Giddey had 22 off the bench in his return from a three-game absence with an ankle injury.
Pistons 116, Heat 113
Cade Cunningham banked in a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left as visiting Detroit sent Miami to a ninth straight loss.
Cunningham finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and a game-high 11 assists. Detroit also got 15 points and 11 rebounds from Jalen Duren. Malik Beasley scored 16 points, Ausar Thompson had 14 points and Tobias Harris added 13 points and a game-high five blocks.
Bam Adebayo scored 30 points and added nine rebounds and eight assists for Miami, which is in the midst of its longest losing streak since the 2007-08 season. Tyler Herro gave the Heat 29 points, and rookie Kel'el Ware added 14 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.
Pacers 135, Mavericks 131
Bennedict Mathurin scored 16 points in the final 5:54 and Andrew Nembhard hit a 3-pointer with 14.7 seconds left as Indiana opened a five-game homestand by beating Dallas in Indianapolis.
Indiana's Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 29 points. Mathurin finished with 23 points. Nembhard added 22 points and doled out eight assists. Aaron Nesmith added 18 points and Obi Toppin 13.
P.J. Washington led Dallas with 26 points. Jaden Hardy added 24 points, Naji Marshall tallied 20 points and nine rebounds. Kai Jones had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Spencer Dinwiddie added 17 points and 12 assists, and Max Christie scored 17 points.
Pelicans 119, Timberwolves 115
Zion Williamson scored 29 points on 12-for-16 shooting and New Orleans outlasted Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Williamson added eight assists, five rebounds and three steals for New Orleans (19-51), which had lost seven of its previous eight games. CJ McCollum added 18 points.
Anthony Edwards scored 29 points but shot only 5-for-19 from the field for the Timberwolves, who have lost two in a row since winning eight straight. Julius Randle finished with 17 points.
Rockets 116, Magic 108
Jalen Green scored 26 points, Alperen Sengun had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and visiting Houston extended its season-best winning streak to eight games by beating Orlando.
Fred VanVleet added 19 points for the Rockets, who outscored the Magic 32-20 in the third quarter and never trailed in the second half.
Paolo Banchero scored 31 points to lead the Magic, who have lost eight of their past 11 games. Franz Wagner scored 20 points, and Goga Bitadze added 19 off the bench.
Jazz 128, Wizards 112
Kyle Filipowski scored 21 points and Keyonte George had 20 as Utah snapped a 10-game losing streak with a win over Washington in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz used a 14-0 run in the second half to build a 21-point lead en route to their first victory in March in a battle of the teams with the worst records in the NBA.
Colby Jones made 9 of 11 shots to lead all scorers with 24 points while Alex Sarr netted 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Wizards, who held an early 11-point lead.
Thunder 133, 76ers 100
Aaron Wiggins scored 26 points and Jaylin Williams had his second career triple-double as host Oklahoma City knocked off Philadelphia.
The Thunder, headed toward the top seed in the Western Conference, clinched the Northwest Division. Williams finished with career highs in points (19) and rebounds (17) and added 11 assists on 7-of-11 shooting. Isaiah Joe added 21 points while Chet Holmgren scored 19 and Branden Carlson finished with a career-high 16.
Quentin Grimes led the 76ers with 28 points while Justin Edwards added 19. Chuma Okeke had 15 rebounds off the bench to go with 14 points.
- Jazz F Jaren Jackson Jr. has surgery to remove growth in left knee
- Former Nuggets coach Doug Moe dies at 87
- New NBA All-Star Game format draws highest ratings in 15 years
- Jaylen Brown: Beverly Hills PD's account of event shutdown not true
- Stephen Curry commits to 2027 All-Star 3-point contest
- Giannis Antetokounmpo says he is 'committed to the Milwaukee Bucks'
- NBA commissioner Adam Silver sends message to tanking teams
- Suns agree to deal with F Haywood Highsmith
- David Kelly named executive director of NBPA
- Kings' Zach LaVine set for season-ending hand surgery
- Spurs' Carter Bryant tabbed as replacement for Rising Stars game
- Raptors waive veteran G Chris Paul
- NBA roundup: LeBron James becomes oldest player to log triple-double
- Jazz fined $500K, Pacers $100K for tanking maneuvers
- Bucks coach Doc Rivers (funeral) to miss game at Thunder
- F Jeremy Sochan signing with Knicks after clearing waivers
- NBA suspends Suns F Dillon Brooks 1 game after 16th technical foul
- Spurs' De'Aaron Fox replaces Giannis Antetokounmpo in ASG
- Jazz F Jaren Jackson Jr. to undergo surgery on left knee
- Wizards' Alex Sarr (hamstring) out for Rising Stars game
The Orlando Magic released center Orlando Robinson from his two-way contract to create space for wing Alex Morales. Robinson, 25, played in four games this season and averaged 1.8 points and 1.0 rebounds in 6.2 minutes. With Moritz Wagner healthy and Wendell Carter Jr. entrenched as the starter, Robinson faced a limited path to rotation minutes. He is not expected to hold value in standard leagues and will likely return to the G League to continue his development.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, free-agent center Mason Plumlee is signing a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs, his agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN. The 35-year-old underwent right groin surgery in late December and was waived earlier this month after a trade from Charlotte to Oklahoma City. Plumlee appeared in 14 games with Charlotte this season, averaging 1.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 8.9 minutes. With Victor Wembanyama anchoring the frontcourt and Luke Kornet and Bismack Biyombo in reserve roles, Plumlee profiles as emergency depth. He can remain on waiver wires in standard formats.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley finalized a deal with the team Tuesday, according to Michael Scotto of USA Today. The 38-year-old has averaged 4.4 points, 1.0 three, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 18.5 minutes over 44 games this season. He is expected to slot into a reserve role behind Donte DiVincenzo, while Ayo Dosunmu continues to handle second-unit playmaking duties. That role caps Conley's fantasy ceiling to deeper formats, with Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle driving the offense.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Washington Wizards are signing guard Alondes Williams to a 10-day contract from their Capital City G-League affiliate. The 26-year-old earns a call-up from Capital City after averaging 20.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in the G League, highlighted by four 30-point efforts. With Trae Young (knee) sidelined and the Wizards leaning into youth, Williams will compete with Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, and Will Riley for backcourt minutes. He is a watchlist name in deeper formats, but immediate standard-league value is unlikely without a clear rotation role.
According to Derek Bodner, guard/forward Tyrese Martin is expected to sign a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers once the team converts Jabari Walker to a standard NBA deal. The 26-year-old averaged 7.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 18.8 minutes across 37 games with the Nets earlier this season before being waived. Martin will fill an open two-way slot but joins a crowded backcourt featuring Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes. He projects as G League depth and is not a standard-league option barring multiple injuries.
According to Jake Fischer, the Golden State Warriors are signing guard Nate Williams to a two-way contract. The 27-year-old has averaged 17.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in the G League this season and will likely spend most of his time with the affiliate. With Jimmy Butler (knee) out for the season and Stephen Curry (knee) working back from injury, Golden State adds wing insurance. Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski remain the primary beneficiaries for minutes. For now, Williams looks like extra depth for the roster and isn't someone you need to consider in standard fantasy leagues.
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Jabari Walker intends to sign a new two-year deal with the team, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, after maxing out his games on a two-way contract. The 23-year-old averaged 3.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.1 minutes across 45 games this season. With Paul George suspended, Walker adds depth but will compete with Dominick Barlow and Trendon Watford for reserve minutes. Barlow is still the better deep-league gamble if the minutes settle in his favor, while Walker feels more like extra depth up front than someone you need to add in standard formats.
According to Marc Stein, free-agent guard Cameron Payne plans to sign a rest-of-season deal with the Philadelphia 76ers after securing a buyout overseas. The 31-year-old averaged 6.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 15.1 minutes across 72 games with New York in 2024-25 and posted 9.3 points and 3.1 assists in 19.4 minutes over 31 games with Philadelphia in 2023-24. Payne joins a crowded backcourt led by Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, with Quentin Grimes also in the mix. He projects as a deep-league assists streamer and insurance option, but consistent top-150 value remains unlikely barring injuries.
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama delivered 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting with two rebounds in 10 minutes during Team World's 48-45 loss to Team Stripes, finishing the event with 33 total points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and four triples. Managers heading into the fantasy playoffs get a reminder of the ceiling. Wembanyama is averaging 26.6 points and 2.2 blocks over his last five outings, giving him top-tier impact in points, boards, and defensive categories. San Antonio's offense continues to flow through him, limiting high-end scoring upside for De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard poured in 31 points on 11-of-13 shooting, including six triples, with three rebounds and two steals in 12 minutes during Team Stripes' 48-45 win over Team World on Sunday. He totaled 37 points across the event. The exhibition carries no direct fantasy impact, but Leonard enters the stretch run locked in, averaging 29.6 points, 2.2 threes, 8.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.4 steals over his last five games. With James Harden traded and Darius Garland (toe) lacking a clear timetable to return, Leonard's 34.5 percent usage should remain elite, while John Collins and Brook Lopez profile as complementary options.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards earned top honors Sunday after leading Team Stars to a 47-21 championship win, scoring eight points with four rebounds and two assists in eight minutes in the final. He piled up 32 points across the event and secured 10 of 14 MVP votes. The All-Star spotlight does not change anything for fantasy managers. Edwards heads into the break in rhythm, averaging 26.4 points, 3.0 threes, 5.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks over his last five games. The offense continues to run through him with a 32.1 percent usage rate, cementing his first-round value. Julius Randle remains the secondary scorer, but this is clearly Edwards' team from a fantasy perspective.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Malik Beasley signed Friday with the Santurce Crabbers of Puerto Rico's Baloncesto Superior Nacional league, per ESPN's Shams Charania. The 29-year-old averaged 16.3 points last season and shot 41.6 percent from three, drilling 319 triples, a franchise record. With his NBA future tied to an ongoing gambling investigation, this move positions him as out of the 2025-26 fantasy pool for now. In Detroit, Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson should continue absorbing perimeter volume, while Ausar Thompson maintains wing minutes without Beasley competing for shots. Beasley was not on the standard-league radar this season and remains off draft boards.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and center Karl-Anthony Towns, joined by former Knick Allan Houston, won the 2026 NBA All-Star Shooting Stars event Saturday, outscoring Team Cameron in the final round. The Knicks trio closed with 47 points after posting 31 in the opener to advance. While the exhibition carries no fantasy weight, both stars enter the second half in strong form. Brunson is averaging 26.6 points, 3.0 threes, 4.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.0 steals in 36.6 minutes over his last five games, while Towns has posted 19.4 points and 12.4 rebounds in 28.8 minutes. Their usage keeps Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart in complementary roles.
Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the 2026 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday, defeating Carter Bryant in the final round. The second-year forward advanced with 92.8 points in the opening round and sealed the title with 97.4 in the finale, edging Bryant despite a 50-point dunk from his opponent. The trophy boosts Johnson's profile, but his fantasy outlook remains unchanged. He is averaging 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.6 minutes across 21 games and is not a viable option outside deep formats, with Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins handling steady frontcourt roles.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) captured his third career 3-Point Contest crown Saturday, edging Devin Booker in the final round of the 2026 event. The 35-year-old posted 27 points in the opening round and 29 in the championship heat, drilling seven of his final 10 attempts, including a deep logo make. Lillard remains sidelined while rehabbing a torn left Achilles and is targeting a return for the 2026-27 season. His absence continues to stabilize usage for Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, keeping both firmly rostered in standard leagues.
Phoenix Suns forward Haywood Highsmith agreed to a multiyear contract Saturday, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The 29-year-old wing is healthy after undergoing knee surgery in August and most recently averaged 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 24.6 minutes in 74 games with Miami last season. Highsmith profiles as a defensive-minded depth option behind Royce O'Neale and Dillon Brooks. His arrival could trim a few bench minutes from Amir Coffey or Ryan Dunn, but he remains off the fantasy radar outside deep formats.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) will start Sunday's All-Star Game but is expected to play limited minutes in the opening matchup only. The 26-year-old missed the Lakers' final four games before the break with a mild left hamstring strain, though his participation signals progress ahead of Friday's meeting with the Clippers. Doncic averaged 26.0 points, 3.6 threes, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in 28.4 minutes over his last five contests. Fantasy managers should anticipate a full workload next week, trimming short-term upside for Austin Reaves and LeBron James.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) stated he feels ready to play. "I feel good. I feel 100 percent," reported the two-time MVP while speaking to the media during All-Star festivities on Saturday. "I'm ready to go. I feel like I can play a game today." Antetokounmpo acknowledged that he still has some "boxes" to check as it relates to working his way back from multiple right calf injuries. However, once players return from vacation, he'll be able to ramp up his activity level. The 31-year-old continues to put up MVP-caliber numbers, averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 boards, 5.6 assists, and a career-high 39.5% shooting from downtown in 30 appearances this season. At this rate, it's realistic to assume he'll be back on the floor before the end of February, barring a setback. In the meantime, Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins are expected to do most of the heavy lifting offensively. Ousmane Dieng, producing a double-double with six assists and four blocks in Thursday's win over OKC, also figures to remain in line for more action.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Riley Minix to a two-way contract on Friday, according to Michael Scotto. Minix began the season on a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs. He made three appearances with the team before being waived in December. The Cavs have decided to give the 25-year-old a chance after he posted impressive numbers in the G-League. Minix averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 32.3 minutes in the G-League. He probably won't see much time in Cleveland, but is depth in case injuries start to pile up. For now, Minix isn't someone to bother rostering in fantasy formats.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) is on track to play during Sunday's All-Star Game, according to Marc Stein. He's expected to play a short stint in the game after missing the final four games ahead of the break due to a lingering hamstring injury. Doncic reportedly looked good during a recent workout and should be available for his exhibition, barring any setbacks. His role is unlikely to be significant, but basketball fans will be happy to see Doncic involved in any capacity. The fact that he's almost certainly going to play on Sunday should mean that Doncic will play during the first game after the break.
