NBA roundup: Clippers stun Warriors after trailing by 22
Sun Dec 3 2:03am ET
Field Level Media
Paul George drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with 9.9 seconds remaining as the host Los Angeles Clippers overcame a 22-point deficit to edge the Golden State Warriors 113-112 on Saturday.
Moses Moody gave Golden State a 111-106 lead with 1:22 to go by sinking two free throws following a clear-path foul by George. James Harden answered with a layup before Moody split a pair of free throws, making it a four-point game with 38.1 seconds left.
Kawhi Leonard's layup made it a one-possession game, and George then delivered, giving Los Angeles its first -- and only -- lead of the contest. Draymond Green came up short on a potential game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.
George finished with a game-high 25 points for the Clippers, who bounced back from a 120-114 loss to the Warriors on Thursday. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 22 points and 11 assists.
Moody opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer to put Golden State up by 22, and the Warriors still held a comfortable lead at 85-68 with 5:28 remaining in the period. Los Angeles still had gas in the tank, though, scoring 17 of the next 19 points to make it a two-point game.
Thunder 126, Mavericks 120
Jalen Williams had 23 points to lead eight scorers in double figures as visiting Oklahoma City withstood a furious 30-0 fourth-quarter rally by short-handed Dallas.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 17 points while Davis Bertans and Cason Wallace scored 15 apiece for Oklahoma City, which won for the eighth time in its past 10 games. Dallas star Luka Doncic returned after missing one game for the birth of his daughter and recorded his third triple-double of the season with 36 points, 15 rebounds and 18 assists.
The Mavericks trailed by 23 at the start of the fourth before going on a remarkable 30-0 run to take the lead at 117-111 with 4:18 remaining. After A.J. Lawson hit a 3-pointer to put Dallas ahead by four, Oklahoma City scored six straight points to move ahead 122-120 with 40.1 seconds left. Doncic committed a turnover on the next possession and Gilgeous-Alexander scored on a layup before Williams made two foul shots for the final margin.
Nets 129, Magic 101
Mikal Bridges scored 26 of his 42 points in the first quarter and Brooklyn ended Orlando's nine-game winning streak in a contest in New York.
The Magic missed a chance at their first 10-game winning streak in franchise history partly because they had trouble stopping Bridges, especially in the opening 12 minutes.
Franz Wagner and Cole Anthony scored 20 points apiece to lead Orlando, which had not lost since Nov. 14 when it fell to Brooklyn. Paolo Banchero added 19 points as the Magic shot 40.2 percent from the floor.
Cavaliers 110, Pistons 101
Darius Garland and Max Strus had 22 points apiece as visiting Cleveland beat Detroit, handing the Pistons their franchise-record 17th consecutive loss.
Donovan Mitchell supplied 20 points and four assists for the Cavaliers, who bounced back from a home loss to Portland. Jarrett Allen contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds and Georges Niang led the reserves with 12 points.
Bojan Bogdanovic, making his season debut, finished with 22 points off the bench for the Pistons. Cade Cunningham finished with a team-high 23 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for Detroit.
Timberwolves 123, Hornets 117
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 28 points and Rudy Gobert posted 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots, and the duo spearheaded a relentless fourth quarter to help Minnesota top host Charlotte.
Naz Reid had 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting off the bench, Mike Conley delivered 14 points and 10 assists and reserve Kyle Anderson added 11 points as the Timberwolves won their fourth consecutive game.
Terry Rozier's 23 points and Miles Bridges' 22 paced the Hornets. P.J. Washington hit four 3-pointers off the bench on the way to 18 points.
Bulls 124, Pelicans 118
Coby White scored a season-high 31 points and led a 3-point barrage by host Chicago in a victory over New Orleans.
White matched his career high of eight 3-pointers (in 13 attempts), and the Bulls made 17 of 40 compared to 8 of 25 for the Pelicans. DeMar DeRozan returned from a one-game absence due to a sprained left ankle to add 24 points and 10 assists.
Zion Williamson scored 27 points, Brandon Ingram had 23 and Herbert Jones had 17 to lead the Pelicans.
Pacers 144, Heat 129
Bruce Brown scored a season-high 30 points to help lead Indiana past host Miami.
Obi Toppin scored 22 points for the Pacers, who split their two games in Miami after losing to the Heat on Thursday. Aaron Nesmith and T.J. McConnell tallied 20 points apiece, Myles Turner added 17 and Bennedict Mathurin had 16.
Jimmy Butler led Miami with 33 points on 12-for-23 shooting from the field. Caleb Martin poured in 18 points, Duncan Robinson scored 17 and Josh Richardson and Orlando Robinson each scored 16.
Bucks 132, Hawks 121
Giannis Antetokounmpo put up his first triple-double of the season with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Milwaukee to a win over visiting Atlanta.
Damian Lillard added 25 points to go along with nine assists for Milwaukee. Five other Bucks scored in double figures, including Cameron Payne, who had a season-high 18 points off the bench.
Trae Young led the way for Atlanta with 32 points, with his backcourt mate Dejounte Murray tallying 30. Young also dished out 12 assists and nabbed two steals. Clint Capela played a big role down low, scoring 10 points and grabbing a game-high 17 boards.
Suns 116, Grizzlies 109
Devin Booker recorded 34 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead Phoenix over visiting Memphis.
Kevin Durant added 27 points for the Suns, but his streak of consecutive 30-point games ended at seven. Jusuf Nurkic added 14 points and nine rebounds before fouling out with 5:34 left as Phoenix snapped a two-game skid.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored a season-high 37 points on 13-of-21 shooting and collected nine rebounds for the Grizzlies. Desmond Bane scored 20 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter for Memphis, which had a season-best two-game winning streak halted.
Jazz 118, Trail Blazers 113 (OT)
Collin Sexton scored 25 points and Keyonte George had one of the best games of his rookie season with a career-high 21 to help Utah defeat Portland in overtime in Salt Lake City.
John Collins added 17 points and nine rebounds and Omer Yurtseven hauled in 15 rebounds to go along with nine points and a key block in the waning moments of the extra session. The Jazz, who won after blowing a 13-point fourth-quarter lead, were without four regulars: Lauri Markkanen (hamstring), Jordan Clarkson (thigh), Kelly Olynyk (shoulder) and Kris Dunn (personal reasons).
Shaedon Sharpe and Malcolm Brogdon each scored 25 points, but the Blazers ended up falling to the Jazz for the second time in three outings this season. Scoot Henderson scored 17 points, while Deandre Ayton totaled 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Kings 123, Nuggets 117
Malik Monk capped a 26-point performance off the bench with a critical 3-pointer with 1:12 to play, and host Sacramento overcame Nikola Jokic's eighth triple-double of the season for a victory over Denver.
De'Aaron Fox (26 points, game-high 16 assists) and Domantas Sabonis (17 points, game-high 15 rebounds) chipped in with double-doubles for the Kings, who won for the third time in their past four games in their final tune-up before the NBA in-season tournament quarterfinals on Monday night.
Jokic had a game-high 36 points and team highs in rebounds (13) and assists (14) for the Nuggets, who welcomed back Aaron Gordon from a heel injury but were without Jamal Murray for the second straight game due to a sprained right ankle.
Lakers 107, Rockets 97
Anthony Davis recorded his 17th double-double of the season while Austin Reaves scored 18 points off the bench as Los Angeles cruised past visiting Houston.
Davis had 27 points, 14 rebounds and added five blocks. Reaves overcame an 0-for-4 start and finished 6-for-11 from the floor with four rebounds and three steals. That duo combined for 21 points during a 25-2 second-quarter run that enabled the Lakers to seize control.
Alperen Sengun produced 21 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks while Fred VanVleet had 22 points and seven assists for Houston, which remained winless on the road in eight attempts.
- Russell Westbrook joins Nuggets on 2-year deal
- Warner Bros. sues NBA over media rights deal
- 76ers, Flyers need new sponsor for arena
- NBA denies TNT's attempt to be part of new TV rights deal
- Thunder 1st-round pick Nikola Topic has surgery for torn ACL
- Knicks, coach Tom Thibodeau agree to 3-year extension
- Hawks rookie Nikola Durisic undergoes foot surgery
- Andrew Nembhard, Pacers agree to 3-year, $59M deal
- 76ers introduce Paul George, celebrate ‘patient’ Tyrese Maxey
- Reggie Jackson to join 76ers after clearing waivers
- WBD, parent of TNT Sports, matches Amazon’s bid for NBA rights
- Mavs signing G Spencer Dinwiddie
- Bulls sign G DJ Steward to two-way contract
- Celtics' Sam Hauser agrees to 4-year, $45M extension
- Cavs F/C Evan Mobley lands 5-year, $224M extension
- Nets acquire F Ziaire Williams, draft pick from Grizzlies
- Kevin Durant practices with Team USA, targets exhibition game
- Clippers trade G Russell Westbrook to Jazz
- Raptors to host Wizards in preseason game in Montreal
- Magic co-founder Pat Williams dies at 84
The San Antonio Spurs have signed guard David Duke Jr. to a two-way contract. The young guard signed a two-way deal with the organization last December. However, Duke only ended up playing in four games with the Spurs. Before that, Duke spent two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets. This is looking more like a depth move than anything else. The assumption is that Duke will spend a majority of his time in the G-League.
The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Kessler Edwards to a two-way contract for the upcoming season. Edwards didn't make much of an impact on the court last season. He averaged 5.1 minutes per game across 54 appearances with the Sacramento Kings. Edwards started his career with the Brooklyn Nets but has played each of the last two seasons in Sacramento. He's a decent depth option but will likely spend most of his time in the G-League with the Mavs.
The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Russell Westbrook to a two-year deal. The veteran guard will receive $6.8 million over the next two seasons. Westbrook officially joins the Nuggets after being waived by the Utah Jazz following a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. This was expected to happen after Utah waived the star guard. The assumption is that Westbrook is going to see significant minutes off the bench in Denver. He should immediately upgrade this bench that struggled to produce last season.
According to Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst, the team doesn't plan on trading center Brook Lopez. "Brook is so core to who we are," said Horst during an interview. "Of course, he has value around the league. That's a credit to him. But we've not engaged in any real conversations about trading Brook. I hope Brook retires as a Milwaukee Buck." The 36-year-old has been with the Bucks since the 2018-19 campaign. Since then, he's appeared in at least 68 games in all but one season. While Lopez's production has decreased over the years, he remains a double-double threat and one of the most durable big men in the National Basketball Association, giving him value for fantasy managers heading into the 2024-25 season. His abilities from deep and as a shot-blocker also give him a higher ceiling for category participants.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been instrumental to the team's success over the years. It's known his career is nearing an end. Yet, he added some clarity recently, stating during an interview he's "probably got two more" seasons left before he hangs it up. The 34-year-old has spent his entire career with the Warriors since entering the National Basketball Association, averaging 8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks. He's also a four-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion, and the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year. Without question, Green has a Hall of Fame resume. While he should have more than a few quality showings for fantasy managers on the horizon, his days of consistent production are likely over, even with Klay Thompson now in Dallas.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry wants to finish his career with the team. While it's hard to envision the multi-time NBA champion playing for another club, he seemingly hasn't ruled it out. "I've always said I want to be a Warrior for life," Curry said during an interview with Marc J. Spears. "I'm taking it one step at a time, to be honest. I want to win. Let's put it this way, it's a long-winded way of saying that if it is a situation where you're a bottom feeder and it's just because you want to stay there, I'd have a hard time with that." The 36-year-old is entering the final phase of his Hall of Fame career. However, he's still playing at an All-Star level, most recently averaging 26.4 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 40.8% from deep during the 2023-24 campaign. It's a new era in Golden State, with Klay Thompson now a member of the Dallas Mavericks. But Curry has a chance to remain productive for fantasy managers, so he has a good chance of remaining a top-20 option in nearly every format imaginable.
Free-agent guard Josh Christopher agreed to a two-way deal with the Miami Heat. The 22-year-old spent the last two years with the Rockets. In 138 games in Houston, he averaged 6.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. With that said, he likely won't see much work with the big club during the 2024-25 campaign. However, even if Christopher gets his chance with the main unit, he probably won't play often enough to be a relevant fantasy option.
Free-agent forward Anthony Gill re-signed with the Washington Wizards. The terms of the deal haven't been disclosed. The 31-year-old has spent his entire career with the Wizards. However, he hasn't done much, averaging 3.6 points in 179 regular season contests. Gill was decent in his three starts in 2023-24, averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks. Yet, he'll presumably spend most of his time at the end of the bench this season, making him nearly irrelevant for fantasy purposes.
Free-agent guard Killian Hayes agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Brooklyn Nets. It's an Exhibit 10 deal, so he'll have a chance to compete for a roster spot during training camp. The 2020 No. 7 overall pick has spent his entire four-year career with the Pistons. In 210 games, he averaged 8.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. With the Nets recently commencing a rebuild, there's a chance Hayes could get minutes and even start, giving him streaming value for fantasy managers. However, he'll need to make the team first.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is drawing trade interest from teams around the NBA. This isn't anything new. However, Allen's name resurfaced in trade rumblings after Evan Mobley signed a five-year extension with the Cavs. The 2017 No. 22 overall pick has two years left on his current deal. But he's coming off the best year of his career, finishing 2023-24 by averaging a career-high 16.5 points with 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. Allen has a relationship with new head coach Kenny Atkinson dating back to their days in Brooklyn, so that could be enough to keep him on the roster. With that in mind, he's expected to remain a top fantasy producer no matter where he plays moving ahead.
The Grizzlies waived center Trey Jemison on Wednesday. The 24-year-old appeared in 23 games for Memphis last season. He showed promise, averaging 10.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 14 starts. There are still teams around the National Basketball Association who have two-way spots available, so there's a chance Jemison will link up with a new team. However, he's far from being a relevant fantasy option, and that's not expected to change in the near future. Memphis signed center Jay Huff to a two-way contract in a corresponding move.
Free-agent center Jay Huff agreed to a two-way contract with Memphis. The 26-year-old has spent time with the Lakers, Wizards, and Nuggets during his career. However, his most significant contributions came in the G League, most recently averaging 18.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks with the Greensboro Swarm last season. The Nuggets have Nikola Jokic in the middle, with Dario Saric, Peyton Watson, and DeAndre Jordan behind him on the depth chart. As a result, Huff isn't expected to be a relevant fantasy option anytime soon.
Free-agent center Orlando Robinson agreed to a one-year deal to join the Sacramento Kings. He spent the last two seasons with the Miami Heat. However, Robinson averaged only 3.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 67 appearances for the team. His statistical contributions likely won't improve in Sacramento, especially with Domantas Sabonis being one of the most durable players in the National Basketball Association.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant has resumed practicing with Team USA ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics. However, Durant's playing status remains a mystery, with Team USA head coach Steve Kerr stating there will be a "big collaboration" regarding when he will play. Fortunately, it appears the multi-time All-Star is moving in the right direction. While Durant likely won't suit up versus Serbia on Sunday, it appears he has a chance to get on the floor soon.
Free-agent center DeAndre Jordan re-signed with the Denver Nuggets. The 36-year-old averaged a career-low 3.9 points and 4.4 rebounds last season. While his presence adds depth to a team looking to capture another NBA championship, he will likely spend most of his time on the bench, especially with Dario Saric, Peyton Watson, and Zeke Nnaji on the roster. With that in mind, Jordan did average 16.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks in two starts during the 2023-24 campaign, so there is streaming potential for fantasy managers if Nikola Jokic misses time.
Free-agent forward James Johnson agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract to return to Indiana. The 37-year-old has played for 10 teams throughout his decade-plus tenure in the National Basketball Association. He spent the last two seasons with the Pacers, most recently averaging 0.9 points during the 2023-24 campaign. Johnson's leadership is his biggest asset for Indiana. However, it won't do much for his fantasy value.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic (knee) underwent successful surgery to repair a partially torn ACL. He's still expected to miss the entire 2024-25 campaign. While teams around the National Basketball Association were aware of the injury, that didn't stop OKC from selecting him with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. With that said, Topic won't have any value in redraft leagues this season. However, patient dynasty managers can draft the 18-year-old accordingly, although it may take him a few seasons to find his rhythm.
Toronto Raptors guard/forward Bruce Brown continues to draw interest from several teams around the National Basketball Association. The 27-year-old is entering the final season of his current deal, making him an attractive commodity, especially for teams looking to make a deep postseason run. After signing with the Pacers before the 2023-24 campaign, he was traded to Toronto ahead of the deadline. However, Brown averaged just 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. His fantasy outlook isn't promising as long as he remains with the Raptors. Yet, it could increase significantly if Brown gets consistent minutes with a new team.
Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma is expected to be traded "in the coming months." The 29-year-old is coming off his best season since entering the NBA in 2017, averaging a career-high 22.2 points with 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Without question, he would add value to any club, especially with a championship ring on his resume. However, a move to a new team could mean a reduction in statistical contributions for Kuzma, who has been a stable offensive presence for the Wizards over the last few seasons.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard agreed to a three-year, $59 million contract extension with Indiana. The 2022 No. 31 overall pick has appeared in 143 regular season games for the Pacers, averaging 9.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 35.7% from deep. Unlike the last two seasons, he will likely remain in the starting lineup in 2024-25, making him an attractive fantasy asset for managers. With Tyrese Haliburton known for his constant ailments, Nembhard may be in store for his most productive year to date.