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.
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- NBA roundup: Kawhi Leonard nets 45 as hot Clippers win, move over .500
- Warriors' Stephen Curry (knee) out at least 10 more days
- NBA roundup: Bam Adebayo's 83-point effort ranks 2nd all time
- 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey (finger tendon) out at least 3 weeks
- Lakers' Luka Doncic fined $50K for gesture toward refs
- NBA roundup: James Harden scores 29,000th point in Cavs' win over 76ers
- NBA cancels Hawks' controversial strip club promotion
- NBA roundup: Suns halt Hornets' 10-game road winning streak
- 76ers All-Star G Tyrese Maxey (finger) to miss at least 2 games
- Bucks star PF Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) sitting out vs. Magic
- Lakers star LeBron James (elbow, foot) ruled out vs. Knicks
- NBA roundup: Down 23, Nets stun Pistons to halt 10-game skid
- Mavericks F Khris Middleton fined $25K for mouthpiece incident
- Celtics C Nikola Vucevic (finger) sidelined 3-4 weeks
Jazz's F Cody Williams scored 34 points on 12-of-20 shooting in a 111-116 loss to Sacramento on Sunday, Mar. 15. Williams is owned in only 15.8% leagues.
Kings' F DeMar DeRozan recorded a double-double, scoring 41 points with 11 assists in a 116-111 win over the Jazz on Sunday, Mar. 15.
Pacers' F Aaron Nesmith scored 32 points on 10-of-14 shooting in a 123-134 loss to Milwaukee on Sunday, Mar. 15. Nesmith is owned in only 14.3% leagues.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (illness) is questionable for Monday's game against the Mavericks and could miss time depending on how he responds at shootaround. If he sits, rookie guard Jeremiah Fears could see more minutes after posting nine points with three three-pointers and one rebound in 13 minutes off the bench last game. Fears is a speculative deep-league streamer for managers needing points and threes. Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson would likely take on more playmaking responsibilities.
Houston Rockets forward/center Alperen Sengun (back) is questionable for Monday's matchup against the Lakers and could miss a second straight game due to low back pain. His absence would open frontcourt minutes, with Dorian Finney-Smith logging 27 minutes as a spot starter last game, finishing with four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block, while Clint Capela produced nine points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and four blocks in 22 minutes. Capela looks like a solid defensive streamer for managers needing blocks, while Finney-Smith is more of a deep-league option due to his limited offensive role. Kevin Durant could also see a slight usage bump if Sengun sits, with more scoring responsibility likely falling on his shoulders.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Trail Blazers, marking his third straight absence as he continues to recover from a right ankle sprain. Danny Wolf should continue seeing a larger role after producing 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and one three-pointer in 27 minutes as a starter in the last game. Wolf looks like a solid streaming option. Ziaire Williams and Josh Minott could also see more opportunities after combining for 23 points and five three-pointers, though both remain riskier fantasy plays due to fluctuating roles.
New York Knicks forward/center Jeremy Sochan (illness) is available for Sunday's matchup against the Warriors after sitting out Friday. The 22-year-old has played only limited reserve minutes recently, including a three-minute outing March 11 against Utah when he posted four points, one rebound, and one steal. With Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson healthy, Sochan remains buried in the frontcourt rotation. His limited role caps his fantasy value, making him a low-impact option outside of very deep leagues.
Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post (ankle) is available for Sunday's game against the Knicks and could see a larger role with Draymond Green (back), Al Horford (calf), and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) all sidelined. Post logged seven points, three rebounds, and one three-pointer in 12 minutes last game and may see additional frontcourt opportunities alongside Omer Yurtseven. The opportunity is there, but Post remains a low-end fantasy option best suited for deeper leagues needing rebounds or blocks. Gui Santos should also continue seeing heavy minutes with the shorthanded Warriors.
Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (calf) will remain sidelined Sunday against the Jazz, leaving the Kings thin at point guard with Russell Westbrook (foot) and Malik Monk (ankle) also unavailable. That should keep Killian Hayes in line for extended minutes as Sacramento's only healthy traditional point guard. Hayes posted 11 points, four assists, and one three-pointer in 31 minutes two games ago and could see a similar opportunity again. He remains a low-end fantasy streamer, but the available minutes make him worth consideration in deeper formats. DeMar DeRozan could also see more on-ball creation.
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (ankle) will miss Sunday's game against the Jazz, marking his third straight absence as he continues to deal with ankle soreness. With Monk, Russell Westbrook (foot), and Devin Carter (calf) all unavailable, Killian Hayes and Nique Clifford should continue seeing backcourt minutes. Hayes remains a low-end fantasy streamer due to inconsistent production, while Clifford has been contributing across multiple categories despite inefficient shooting, including 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 35 minutes last game.
Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (foot) will not play Sunday against the Jazz as he sits out the second game of a back-to-back, though he is expected to return Tuesday. His absence should open more minutes for Killian Hayes, who could handle primary point guard duties with Malik Monk (ankle) and Devin Carter (calf) also sidelined. Hayes had 11 points, four assists, and one three-pointer in 31 minutes two games ago and profiles as a low-end fantasy streamer with opportunity on his side. DeMar DeRozan may also take on more ball-handling responsibility.
New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (knee) is available for Sunday's game against the Warriors after missing the team's previous two contests. His return should push Landry Shamet back into a reserve role while restoring Hart's usual workload on the wing. Hart has remained a steady fantasy contributor when active, averaging 12.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steals across his last five games. His rebounding from the wing and across-the-board production make him a solid hold in category leagues, while Shamet likely loses most of his short-term streaming appeal.
New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) will rejoin the lineup on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. He didn't play in Friday's matchup with Indiana due to knee soreness, but the Knicks haven't listed him on the injury report for Sunday's game. Mitchell Robinson made a massive impact as a starter on Friday night, finishing with 12 points, 22 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. He will return to a reserve role on Sunday, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to repeat his effort from Friday's game. In the teams' earlier meeting this season, Towns racked up 17 points and 20 boards, and with the Warriors set to play without Draymond Green (back), Al Horford (calf), and Kristaps Porzingis (illness), he might be in for another dominant outing.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (ankle) has been cleared to return to the lineup on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors. He has missed five games due to a right ankle injury. Detroit has used Marcus Sasser as Thompson's replacement in the starting unit, and he is poised to drop back to the bench. As a reserve, Sasser doesn't have any fantasy value, averaging 4.8 points and 1.8 assists off the bench this season. Thompson is having a career year with the Pistons, posting 10.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (knee) will play on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's dealing with a sore right knee but has shaken off a questionable tag. After his poor performance in Tuesday's loss to the Lakers, Edwards has bounced back in style, scoring 78 points across two games. The Timberwolves star has put up 27.7 points per game against the Thunder this season, adding 8.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) will return to action on Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has been out for three games due to a left calf contusion. Hartenstein will rejoin the starting lineup, bumping Cason Wallace to the second unit. Wallace will remain an important contributor in the rotation, but his fantasy value takes a hit with Hartenstein's return. In his previous three meetings with the Timberwolves this season, Hartenstein has averaged 9.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in 24.7 minutes.
Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton (knee) will sit out Sunday's game against the Knicks as part of injury management on the first night of a back-to-back. With Golden State missing multiple rotation pieces, Pat Spencer, Will Richard, and Gary Payton II could all see enough minutes to draw fantasy interest. Payton finished with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 19 minutes last game, while Spencer added seven points and three assists in 19 minutes. Opportunities should be there, but all three profile as risky fantasy streamers due to uncertain roles.
Golden State Warriors forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (illness) will not play Sunday against the Knicks as the team continues to manage his recent health issues, with a possible return targeted for Monday. His absence, along with injuries to Draymond Green (back) and Al Horford (calf), leaves Golden State thin in the frontcourt. Gui Santos could continue seeing heavy minutes after producing 17 points, three rebounds, eight assists, and one steal in 35 minutes last game, and with how he's trending lately, he looks like a solid fantasy option for the stretch run. Quinten Post (ankle) may also see more run if available, though he remains a risky deep league option given the uncertain rotation.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Pacers after suiting up Saturday against the Hawks, where he posted 18 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block in 30 minutes. The Bucks appear to be managing his workload, with his next chance to play coming Tuesday against the Cavaliers. Ryan Rollins should continue handling a larger role after delivering 22 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and four three-pointers in 31 minutes last game. Rollins has been playing well enough to remain a strong fantasy option entering the final stretch of the season.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (knee) will miss his fifth straight game Sunday against the Mavericks as he continues to deal with right knee soreness. His absence keeps Thomas Bryant in the backup center role, though he remains more of a fringe fantasy streamer despite posting 11 points, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in 22 minutes last game. Evan Mobley should continue handling heavier frontcourt minutes and rebounding duties, boosting his fantasy ceiling, while Donovan Mitchell and James Harden (thumb) may also see slightly more usage with Cleveland leaning more on perimeter scoring.
