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.
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (illness) is not listed on the injury report for Saturday's matchup against the Houston Rockets. Ahead of Wednesday's Game 2 of the series, Podziemski was a late addition to the report due to a stomach bug. He was upgraded from questionable to available shortly before the game started, but Podziemski logged only 14 minutes of playing time, going 0-for-5 from the field. Having Podziemski back at 100 percent would be a big boost for the Warriors. The 22-year-old sophomore began the playoffs with an impressive performance, recording 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals during a 95-85 victory in Game 1.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (pelvis) has officially been listed as questionable for Game 3 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. On Friday, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that "there's a chance he plays" after the veteran forward suffered a hard fall in Wednesday's Game 2. "I'm relatively optimistic," Kerr said. "I mean, Jimmy is Jimmy. We know he's willing to play through anything, so we'll see. I mean, this is a day-to-day thing for sure, and we'll see how he feels tomorrow, but I think there's a chance he plays." Jonathan Kuminga is expected to fill most of Butler III's minutes if he can't play on Saturday.
Houston Rockets center Jock Landale (knee) will remain absent on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors. He was seen going through drills and moving well during Friday's practice, but the team has ruled him out for a third consecutive contest. Landale's next opportunity to return will be on Monday night. However, even if he is back in the lineup, Landale is not expected to have a significant role in the rotation with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams healthy.
Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors. The versatile veteran will be sidelined for a fifth consecutive game due to an ankle injury. Tate averaged only 11.3 minutes per game over 52 regular-season contests and is not expected to have a regular role in the rotation during the playoffs. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has mainly relied on Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Steven Adams to generate production off the bench.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (knee) has been ruled available for Friday night's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Brown hasn't missed any games this series and put up a strong performance in Game 2 with 36 points and 10 rebounds. He likely won't have that same level of production tonight given Jayson Tatum's return to the lineup, but fantasy managers and DFS players should expect him to have a productive night as long as confidence from Game 2 carries over.
Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love (personal) will miss Saturday's Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The veteran big man, who won the championship with the Cavaliers in 2016, remains away from the team for personal reasons. Miami's frontcourt has relied heavily on Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware recently, while Nikola Jovic also re-entered the rotation in Game 2, scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds off the bench. Jovic played six more minutes than Ware and may have a significant role to fill again on Saturday.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (hamstring) has been ruled out for Friday night's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Holiday appears to have strained his hamstring during Game 2 as he hasn't been listed on the injury report prior to today. The 34-year-old hasn't been putting up many points this series but has been facilitating well with five assists in Game 1 and six assists in Game 2. In Holiday's absence, veteran big man Al Horford will get the start. Horford also got the start in Game 2 filling in for the injured Jayson Tatum and put up nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds. With Tatum back in the lineup Horford may not grab 10 rebounds again, but he should be able to provide some small value to fantasy managers and DFS players looking to take a shot.
Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier (ankle) will remain sidelined for Saturday's clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He sprained his left ankle at the start of the week and was unable to participate in Friday's practice. Even if he returns to the lineup for Game 4, it is not guaranteed that Rozier will see any minutes, as he has been a major disappointment for Miami this season. Duncan Robinson and Pelle Larsson filled the backup guard minutes in Wednesday's Game 2 after Davion Mitchell moved into the starting lineup.
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland (toe) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 3 matchup against the Miami Heat. The two-time All-Star missed some time toward the end of the regular season due to a left great toe sprain and is back on the injury report with the same issue. Garland has been off to a hot start in the postseason, averaging 24.0 points and 7.0 assists while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. His absence will definitely be felt if Cleveland rules him out for the contest. Ty Jerome, who was fantastic in Game 1 with 28 points, would likely take on a larger role in the rotation without Garland.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (Achilles) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kennard is dealing with soreness in his right Achilles. The 28-year-old has not been very productive against the Thunder, scoring just 14 total points in 63 minutes. With Memphis fighting for their playoff lives on Saturday, and Ja Morant already ruled out, there could be a chance that Kennard sees more volume as the Grizzlies fight with desperation. However, the ceiling doesn't appear to be all that high. Fantasy managers and DFS players should be able to find better options elsewhere.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (wrist) has upgraded to available for Friday night's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Tatum missed Game 2 with the injury but is set to return and help the Celtics take a 3-0 lead over Orlando. The 27-year-old was underwhelming in Game 1 compared to his norms, putting up just 17 points and making just one three-pointer, though he did grab 14 rebounds. With a few days of rest under his belt, Tatum should be in much better position to make a bigger impact on Friday. Fantasy managers and DFS players should feel free to fire away and get him in their lineups.
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (shoulder) has been tagged as questionable for Saturday's Game 3 against the Houston Rockets. He hurt his right shoulder during Wednesday's Game 2 loss. The defensive pest has averaged 3.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 14.0 minutes against the Rockets in the series. Payton II's absence from the lineup would open extra minutes for Buddy Hield. The Warriors may even consider using Pat Spencer more after his impressive 11-point effort on 5-for-7 shooting in Wednesday's game.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (face) is available for Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The listing isn't surprising as Hachimura has been able to suit up for games one and two. The 27-year-old has been consistent through the first two games of the series, averaging 10 PPG and five RPG. He logged 34 minutes in game two and should see a similar amount of minutes tonight as long as the Lakers are able to keep it close. Fantasy managers and DFS managers may be able to find better options for tonight's slate of games given the expected low-scoring game in Minnesota.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (hip) is not expected to be in the lineup for Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. Sources have told ESPN that Morant will miss Game 4 due to the left hip injury he suffered in Thursday's Game 3 loss. Following his exit from Thursday's game, Morant was spotted on crutches in the tunnel, and he was unable to practice on Friday. Memphis received excellent minutes from Scotty Pippen Jr. in Thursday's loss, and his role is poised to grow even larger in Saturday's game. Meanwhile, Luke Kennard is anticipated to take Morant's spot in the starting lineup. The three-point specialist averaged 12.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals while starting during the regular season.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (glute) was diagnosed with a deep glute contusion after his MRI didn't show any fractures or structural damage. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the six-time All-Star is in "serious jeopardy" of missing Game 3 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Butler was going up for a rebound and was undercut by Amen Thompson before falling straight on his glute/lower back, so the fact that the MRI didn't reveal any serious damage is a breath of relief for the Warriors. If he's unable to play, Jonathan Kuminga could see some big minutes again, while Quinten Post will likely see an increase in usage as well.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (knee) was a late addition to the injury report for Game 3 against the Orlando Magic, and his status was set at questionable. He's dealing with a knee issue, which could put the Celtics shorthanded. Jayson Tatum (wrist) is considered doubtful, and Jrue Holiday (hamstring) is also listed as questionable. Brown contributed 36 points and 10 rebounds in their Game 2 victory while Tatum was sidelined, so that production is going to fall on the rest of the team if he can't suit up. Payton Pritchard would likely join the starting lineup in that case, while Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet likely see a bump in minutes as well.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham collected his third consecutive double-double in the 118-116 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 3. In the first postseason run of his career, Cunningham has provided some big-time stats, but has shown the youth in his game with 17 total turnovers. On Thursday, he posted 24 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, four steals, two blocks, and six turnovers. His shooting was a bit shaky after going 10-for-25 from the floor and 2-for-5 from deep, but Cunningham is the engine of the entire Pistons' offense in more ways than just scoring. He'll look to help the Pistons even up the series on Sunday in Game 4.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson registered another 30-point game en route to a 118-116 win in Game 3 over the Detroit Pistons. The Villanova product finished the game with 30 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, one block, and one turnover. He shot 9-for-20 from the floor, 1-for-7 from beyond the arc, and 11-for-13 from the charity stripe. His three-point shooting has left a lot to be desired through three games (29.2%), but his ability to get to the rim and to the free-throw line has allowed him to average a red-hot 33.7 points per game. He'll look to keep up his scoring ways in Game 4 on Sunday.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns posted his best offensive performance of the first-round series on Thursday. The former Timberwolf registered 31 points, eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks while shooting 10-for-18 from the floor and 4-for-8 from three. After dropping Game 2 at home, the Knicks needed this two-point victory to gain their home-court advantage again. This game bumped Towns' averages up to 21.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. Game 4 tips off on Sunday in Detroit before returning to New York for at least one game.
Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 13 assists and 13 rebounds in a 83-117 loss to the Clippers on Thursday, Apr. 24.
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