NBA roundup: Luka Doncic, LeBron James lead Lakers past 76ers in return
Sun Dec 7 11:34pm ET
Field Level Media
Luka Doncic and LeBron James combined for 60 points in their return to the lineup as the Los Angeles Lakers topped the host Philadelphia 76ers 112-108 on Sunday night.
Both missed the first two games of this road trip, Doncic due to the birth of his second daughter and James with back and foot injuries. James scored five straight points after Philadelphia tied the game at 105 with 1:29 left to create separation.
Doncic posted a triple-double, finishing with 31 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. He only shot 9-of-24 from the field, but James was an efficient 12-of-17 for 29 points, while adding seven rebounds and six assists.
Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Joel Embiid added 16 points for the Sixers but shot just 4-of-21 from the floor.
Thunder 131, Jazz 101
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren scored 25 points each as Oklahoma City tied a franchise record with its 15th straight win over Utah in Salt Lake City.
Despite being without reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the first time this season along with two other starters, the Thunder dominated from the start. Oklahoma City shot 58% from the field and was 21 of 42 from beyond the arc.
Kyle Filipowski led the Jazz with 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting with 10 rebounds. Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks scored 20 points each off the bench.
Knicks 106, Magic 100
Jalen Brunson scored eight points during a decisive run to open the second half for New York, which earned a 106-100 win over Orlando after the visitors lost forward Franz Wagner to a lower leg injury.
Brunson finished with 30 points and nine assists and Josh Hart (17 points, 12 rebounds) posted a double-double for the Knicks, who overcame the absence of Karl-Anthony Towns (left calf) to close out a perfect three-game homestand and improve to 13-1 at home.
Anthony Black (14 points, 11 rebounds) recorded a double-double off the bench for the Magic, who lost for only the fourth time in 14 games. Jalen Suggs scored 17 points while Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane had 16 apiece.
Celtics 121, Raptors 113
Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, Derrick White added 27 and visiting Boston held off Toronto for its fifth straight win.
Payton Pritchard scored 15 points for the Celtics, who have won 10 of 12. Neemias Queta had 11 points and 11 rebounds while Anfernee Simons scored 12.
Brandon Ingram scored 30 for the Raptors, who have dropped three straight. Scottie Barnes added 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, helping erase a 23-point deficit early in the second half before Boston used a late surge to come out on top.
Nuggets 115, Hornets 106
Jamal Murray had a huge opening stretch en route to 34 points and Nikola Jokic joined the production with 28 points and 11 assists as Denver defeated host Charlotte.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14 points and Peyton Watson added 10 as the Nuggets improved to 11-2 in road games. They've won 10 straight away from home, aided by shooting 51.8% from the field against Charlotte.
Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 24 points, Brandon Miller posted 17, KJ Simpson poured in 16 and Kon Knueppel chipped in with 14. Liam McNeeley contributed 13 off the bench for the Hornets, who have lost three of their last four games.
Grizzlies 119, Trail Blazers 96
Santi Aldama came off the bench to score 22 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jaylen Wells added 16 apiece to lead Memphis to a victory over visiting Portland.
The Grizzlies won for the fifth time in six games and recorded back-to-back home wins for the first time this season. Aldama and Caldwell-Pope were part of the Memphis bench that produced 69 points, along with Jock Landale (15 points, eight rebounds) and Cam Spencer (12 points, six assists). Starter Zach Edey had 12 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Portland was held to fewer than 100 points for only the second time this season. The Trail Blazers, who lost for the fifth time in six games, were led by Jerami Grant with 21 points and seven rebounds. Deni Avdija added 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
Warriors 123, Bulls 91
Visiting Golden State sank 22 threes -- its second most of the season -- and never trailed in a 123-91 slamming of Chicago.
The Warriors played without Steph Curry (quad), Draymond Green (foot) and Al Horford (sciatica), but looked smooth from the start. Seven Warriors made threes as the visitors finished 22-of-47 (46.8%) from behind the arc. Brandin Podziemski came off the bench, sank five threes and finished with a game-high 21 points. Quinten Post had five threes and 19 points. Jimmy Butler had two 3-pointers and also had 19.
Josh Giddey led the Bulls with 18 points and five assists, and Matas Buzelis tallied 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
- NBA roundup: Luka Doncic, LeBron James lead Lakers past 76ers in return
- Magic F Franz Wagner (leg) injured vs. Knicks
- Thunder G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (elbow) out vs. Jazz
- NBA roundup: Timberwolves surge past James Harden, Clippers
- NBA roundup: Kevin Durant hits 31K career points in Rockets' win
- Lakers without LeBron James, Luka Doncic vs. Celtics
- Ex-NBA champ Elden Campbell died by drowning
- NBA roundup: Lakers win, but LeBron James' double-figure streak ends
- Clippers waive F Jahmyl Telfort as roster adjustments continue
- Lakers' Luka Doncic (personal) out vs. Raptors
- Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) out 2-4 weeks
- NBA roundup: Jamal Murray nets 52 as Nuggets extend road win streak
- Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo out for game with right calf strain
- Suns' Devin Booker (groin) will miss at least 1 week
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks discussing future
- Warriors G De’Anthony Melton (knee) set to return vs. 76ers
- NBA fines 76ers for violating rules leading up to Joel Embiid's return
- Ex-NBA champ, Clemson star Elden Campbell dies
- Clippers release G Chris Paul in late-night move
- NBA roundup: Jaylen Brown (42), Celtics hold off Knicks
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (Achilles) popped up on the team's injury report with a sore Achilles ahead of the team's Monday night contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The veteran wing has been enjoying one of his best seasons to date with averages of 22.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.3 threes per game. He's been seeing added minutes with Devin Booker (groin) and Jalen Green (hamstring) sidelined. If Brooks can't suit up, however, Ryan Dunn could join the starting five while Royce O'Neale and Jordan Goodwin see some added opportunities. Dunn has started in 11 of his 18 games played while posting 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder (hip) has missed the last five games with a hip flexor strain. He remains on the injury report, but he drew another questionable tag heading into Monday night's contest against the Indiana Pacers. If he does suit up, it'll likely mean fewer minutes for Malik Monk and Nique Clifford. On the other hand, if he's out for one more game, those two will continue to anchor the backcourt for the bench squad. Monk is averaging 13.3 points, 2.4 assists, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.9 threes per game while Clifford registers 4.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per contest.
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (back/shoulder) is listed on the injury report ahead of Monday's game against the Indiana Pacers. The former fourth overall pick is dealing with right trapezius soreness and is considered questionable for this matchup. Since returning from his thumb injury, Murray hasn't missed a game yet and is averaging 16.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 1.2 threes per game. If he's downgraded to out, Malik Monk and Precious Achiuwa will likely see some added minutes. Monk would be the more consistent streaming option, especially for fantasy managers looking for threes.
Lakers' G Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 31 points, 11 assists and 15 rebounds in a 112-108 win over Philadelphia on Sunday, Dec. 7.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (knee) is available for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite missing plenty of time throughout the 2025 campaign, the veteran will now suit up for his second-straight appearance. He's coming off his best showing of the year, amassing 20 points in Friday's win over the Milwaukee Bucks. With George in the mix, Quentin Grimes will remain on the bench, although he's still worth starting in most fantasy formats.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) will play on Sunday versus the Lakers. He was questionable on Saturday's edition of the Injury Report after missing Friday's win over the Milwaukee Bucks. However, the 2023 MVP was upgraded to probable on Sunday afternoon, so fantasy managers had a feeling he'd be good to go. Embiid has struggled this season, averaging a career-low 18.5 points with 3.1 assists and 5.4 rebounds. Still, he remains a must-start based on his upside alone. With Embiid on the floor, Andre Drummond will head back to the bench .
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (illness) won't play on Sunday versus Oklahoma City. The 28-year-old has had an excellent 2025 campaign, averaging 27.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. However, like some of the other big names around the National Basketball Association, he's not feeling well. With Markkanen out for the first time this season, his next chance to return will be on Friday in Memphis. In the meantime, Kyle Filipowski, averaging 7.8 points, 5.0 boards, and 3.2 assists in six starts, is the favorite to take Markkanen's place in the rotation. While Filipowski's statistical contributions with the first-five aren't the best, there's no reason why he can't be more production with Markkanen off the floor, even against the top defensive club in the league.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (knee) will return from a two-game absence for Sunday's game in Chicago. The Dubs are still without Stephen Curry (quadriceps) and Draymond Green (foot). While their absences mean that others will be more involved offensively, Butler could lead the way on the scoring end. With that said, he has an excellent chance of surpassing his usual fantasy expectations versus one of the worst defensive teams in the National Basketball Association.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot) will play on Sunday against Philadelphia. He didn't suit up for Friday's loss to the Boston Celtics, which isn't surprising, considering the Lakers were playing back-to-back contests. With that said, James is definitely showing signs of slowing down, with the 40-year-old averaging 14.0 points, 4.3 boards, and 7.8 assists. While he's still a starting option in all fantasy formats, he's nowhere near as reliable as he once was. Only time will tell if James can return to form after missing the start of the 2025 campaign due to Sciatica. His presence on Sunday night likely means Jake LaRavia will head back to the bench.
New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) won't play on Sunday against Orlando. Despite making sporadic appearances on the injury report, KAT hasn't missed a game. However, he experienced left calf tightness during the meeting with the Utah Jazz on Friday night, so the team will keep him out. Towns next chance to suit up will be on Tuesday, when the Knicks face the Toronto Raptors in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. As far as Sunday's contest is concerned, Mitchell Robinson, averaging 4.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in nine starts, is the favorite to replace Towns in the rotation.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (foot) won't play on Sunday versus Chicago. He re-aggravated a right foot injury in Thursday's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and didn't suit up for Saturday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The NBA Cup will allow him to get some extra rest, so fantasy managers will need to wait and see if he'll be back on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fortunately, Jimmy Butler III (knee) is probable, which will certainly help lessen the blow caused by Green's absence. Buddy Hield, who had 13 points, seven boards, and one block on Saturday, will presumably remain in the starting lineup.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (knee) is probable for Sunday's contest in Chicago. The veteran has missed the last two games. While it seemed he would return for Saturday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was ultimately ruled out. With Draymond Green (foot) and Stephen Curry (quadriceps) sidelined, Butler could be in line for an above-average night against a Bulls team that has allowed 122.5 points per game this season, the fourth-worst mark in the National Basketball Association. If Butler is officially active, Jonathan Kuminga, who got the start on Saturday, will presumably head back to the bench, especially after going 1-for-10 from the field.
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (illness) is now probable for Sunday's meeting with the Boston Celtics. He was listed as questionable because of an illness. Fortunately, it doesn't appear as if the 26-year-old will miss his first contest of the 2025 campaign. Quickley has played as well as expected this season, averaging 17.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 39.1% shooting from behind the arc. More importantly, he's stayed healthy after being limited to 33 appearances in 2024. All things considered, Quickley is a must-start in any fantasy setup against a Celtics team that has regressed defensively from a season ago.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (elbow) won't play on Sunday against Utah. It's unknown exactly when or how SGA injured his left elbow. However, it's at least serious enough to force him to miss his first game of the 2025 campaign. Gilgeous-Alexander is having another MVP-caliber year, averaging a career-high 32.8 points and 44.3% shooting from behind the arc, adding 4.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals. Of course, that type of production can't be replaced, although Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will try their best. Ajay Mitchell, averaging 16.8 points, 4.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 50.0% shooting from deep in six starts this season, could also be in line for a quality game, especially if he works his way back into the starting lineup.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) has been upgraded to probable ahead of Sunday's meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 2023 MVP missed Friday's win over the Milwaukee Bucks. While it appeared he was trending toward another absence, he was upgraded from questionable on Sunday afternoon. Of course, there's still a chance Embiid won't be on the floor. If that's the case, Andre Drummond, averaging 10.1 points and 11.8 rebounds in 11 starts this season, will presumably replace him in the rotation once again. If Embiid is availabe, he's a must-start in any fantasy format despite his decline in production.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (calf) is doubtful for Sunday's meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers. He's missed the last nine games because of a right calf strain. Although the 26-year-old probably won't return on Sunday from the lengthy stint on the shelf, it appears he has a chance to get back on the floor soon, possibly for Friday's clash with the Utah Jazz. In the meantime, Vince Williams Jr. remains the favorite to replace Morant in the rotation. Williams hasn't been the most productive scorer in his 10 starts this season, averaging 8.4 points. However, he's at least amassed 7.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals when in the starting lineup.
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (illness) is questionable for Sunday's meeting with the Memphis Grizzlies. He just popped up on the injury report because of an illness. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be an issue. However, with Donovan Clingan (leg) not a lock to suit up after missing Friday's loss to the Detroit Pistons, Williams could be needed to start. If Williams and Clingan aren't available, Duop Reath would be the favorite to replace them in the rotation. The 29-year-old hasn't started since the 2023 campaign, when he averaged 13.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 37.4% shooting from behind the arc in 20 appearances with the first-five.
Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (leg) is questionable for Sunday's meeting with the Memphis Grizzlies. The 2024 No. 7 overall pick suffered a left lower leg contusion during the matchup versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, keeping him off the floor for Friday's loss to the Detroit Pistons. Robert Williams III got the start in that one, finishing the night with eight points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks. If Clingan is out again, Williams is certainly worth streaming against the Grizzlies. Although Williams isn't the most efficient scorer, he is usually a lock to make up for it in other statistical areas.
Kings' G Zach LaVine scored 42 points on 12-of-24 shooting in a 127-111 win over Miami on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Atlanta's F Jalen Johnson recorded a triple-double, finishing with 30 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds in a 131-116 win over Washington on Saturday, Dec. 6.
