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Offseason | NBA Week 26

NBA roundup: Jalen Green, Rockets pour it on vs. Jazz

Tue Mar 26 7:43am ET
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Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet combined for 75 points as the host Houston Rockets turned a sharpshooting exhibition into a runaway 147-119 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

Green poured in 41 points -- one shy of his career high matched Tuesday against Washington -- while VanVleet tallied a season-high 34 to pace the Rockets to their eighth consecutive victory and 10th win in 11 games. Green and VanVleet combined to finish 26 of 38 from the floor and 17 of 26 from behind the arc as Houston drilled a season-high 27 3-pointers.

VanVleet nailed 10 treys, matching a single-game franchise record.

John Collins led the Jazz with 25 points while Collin Sexton chipped in 20 points and eight assists. The Jazz, without Lauri Markkanen (right quad contusion) and Jordan Clarkson (right groin strain), have lost 11 of 13 games and 10 consecutive games on the road.


Celtics 124, Bulls 113

Sam Hauser made seven of his eight 3-point attempts and scored 23 points to help visiting Boston stretch its winning streak to nine games with a victory over Chicago.

Jayson Tatum added 26 points and six assists for the Celtics. Al Horford finished the game with 23 points and eight rebounds for Boston, which has won six in a row on the road.

Chicago trailed by six, 113-107, with 4:35 to play, but Boston extended its lead to 10 points on a Tatum basket with 3:04 left. The Bulls never got within striking distance after that. DeMar DeRozan had a game-high 28 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the loss.

Kings 109, Magic 107

De'Aaron Fox scored 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, Keegan Murray added 22 points and visiting Sacramento beat Orlando.

Domantas Sabonis recorded his 53rd consecutive double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Keon Ellis finished with a career-high 19 points. Ellis' 3-pointer put the Kings ahead 106-101 with 1:59 remaining.

Jonathan Isaac matched a career high with 25 points off the bench for Orlando, which had its five-game winning streak come to an end. Paolo Banchero scored 22 points, Franz Wagner added 18, Cole Anthony had 16 and Wendell Carter Jr. grabbed 11 rebounds.

Knicks 105, Nets 93

Donte DiVincenzo scored a game-high 31 points to help New York to a victory over visiting Brooklyn.

Miles McBride added 26 points for the Knicks, while Isaiah Hartenstein collected 17 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Jalen Brunson also scored 17 points and added eight assists for New York, which has won five of its past six games. Josh Hart grabbed 13 rebounds.

Cam Thomas led the Nets with 19 points, followed by Mikal Bridges with 18 and Cameron Johnson with 13. The Nets' losing streak reached six games.

Hawks 132, Hornets 91

Dejounte Murray had 28 points and 12 assists and Bruno Fernando came off the bench to score a career-high 25 points to lead Atlanta to a win over visiting Charlotte.

The win ended Atlanta's two-game losing streak and sent the Hornets to their fourth straight setback. Murray, who recorded his 15th double-double this season, was 7-for-9 on 3-pointers and added seven rebounds and five steals. Fernando added six rebounds and a block. Atlanta's Garrison Mathews scored a season-high 20 points.

Charlotte was led by Miles Bridges with 27 points and Nick Richards with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Suns 131, Spurs 106

Devin Booker poured in 32 points and Kevin Durant added 25 in just three quarters as visiting Phoenix dismantled San Antonio.

Phoenix shot 61.6 percent from the floor through the first three quarters, eclipsing the 100-point mark in the final seconds of the third period, sending Booker and Durant to the bench for the final 12 minutes.

Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 14 points while Victor Wembanyama had 13, Blake Wesley scored 12 and Zach Collins racked up 11.

Wizards 112, Raptors 109

Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija and Richaun Holmes all recorded double-doubles and Washington used a late 8-0 run to send visiting Toronto to a 10th consecutive loss.

Avdija led the way with 22 points to go along with his 13 rebounds, but he missed a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left that gave Toronto one last shot at overtime. Poole had 18 points and Holmes finished with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

Gary Trent Jr. scored a game-high 31 points to lead a heavily depleted Toronto lineup. The Raptors remained without the corps of Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl, four of the team's five primary starters.

Nuggets 114, Trail Blazers 111

Reggie Jackson scored 23 points and Aaron Gordon registered 22 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots to help short-handed Denver beat host Portland.

Christian Braun had 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals off the bench for the Nuggets, who played without stars Nikola Jokic (back, hip) and Jamal Murray (ankle) while completing a four-game season-series sweep of the Trail Blazers.

Duop Reath scored 24 points, Scoot Henderson added 22 points and Toumani Camara had 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Portland, which lost its sixth straight game.

Player Notes
Damian Lillard Sat Apr 27 3:20pm

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) is in a walking boot. The Bucks have been without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), with head coach Doc Rivers reporting the multi-time MVP isn't expected to return for Game 4 of the series with the Pacers. It also appears Lillard could miss that contest as well. The former Trail Blazer suffered an Achilles injury early in Friday's overtime loss. While he managed to finish the game, Milwaukee might be down their primary scoring options on Sunday and beyond. Khris Middleton, who almost missed Game 3 with an ankle issue, will have plenty of weight to carry if Lillard and Antetokounmpo are both sidelined. In addition, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, Patrick Beverley, and Pat Connaughton may also benefit on the scoring end.

Bradley Beal Sat Apr 27 9:40am

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal posted a team-high 28 points on 10-for-19 shooting in Friday's 126-109 loss to Minnesota. He got going offensively after totaling only 29 points across the first two games of the series, hitting 6-for-11 from downtown and 10-for-19 overall from the field. Beal also registered four rebounds and four assists. However, despite his best efforts, the Suns got embarrassed on home court and face elimination in Sunday's Game 4. Beal sits fifth among active players with a career average of 28.1 points in elimination games.

Anthony Edwards Sat Apr 27 9:30am

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards racked up a game-high 36 points on 12-for-23 shooting in Friday's 126-109 Game 3 victory over Phoenix. He tied Kevin Garnett for most 30-point playoff games in franchise history, reaching the mark for the seventh time in his 14th career postseason game. Edwards' night included nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals. The young star has been impressive in the series, averaging 28.0 points with 7.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.3 steals. He will be out for the kill on Sunday, with Minnesota heading into Game 4 holding a 3-0 lead.

Tyrese Haliburton Sat Apr 27 9:20am

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton recorded only the fourth playoff triple-double in franchise history as the team defeated Milwaukee 121-118 in Game 3 on Friday. Indiana's young star scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and handed out 16 assists. He had a poor shooting night with an 8-for-22 effort, which included 11 misses with 12 attempts from deep, but Haliburton was money when it counted the most. Haliburton scored on a drive with 1.2 seconds left in overtime and iced the game with a free throw. With three games played, Haliburton is averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 12.0 assists in the series.

Khris Middleton Sat Apr 27 9:10am

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton produced a fantastic performance in Friday's Game 3 against Indiana, leading all scorers with 42 points in a 121-118 loss. His day at the office included a pair of big triples near the end of the regulation and overtime. The 42 points mark his new playoff career high. Middleton got there with 16-for-29 shooting, nailing four shots from deep with nine attempts. He also collected a double-double with 10 rebounds and dished out five assists. The Bucks are without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), and Damian Lillard (Achilles) also hurt himself on Friday, so Middleton might have to do even more in Sunday's Game 4 to keep the Bucks competitive.

Anthony Davis Sat Apr 27 9:10am

Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (wrist) is regarded as questionable for Game 4 against Denver on Saturday. He's on the injury report with a left wrist sprain, which Davis suffered in Thursday's Game 3 loss. It would be surprising to see Davis miss Saturday's contest with the Lakers' season on the line. Darvin Ham's team has fallen to a 3-0 hole despite Davis averaging 32.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks across 42.0 minutes in the series. We should see another big effort from him on Saturday.

Reggie Jackson Sat Apr 27 9:00am

Denver Nuggets point guard Reggie Jackson (ankle) has been listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 4 against the Lakers. Jackson tweaked his left ankle in Thursday's Game 3. Jackson has averaged only 8.3 minutes in the series, meaning he wouldn't be a major miss for the Nuggets. However, the veteran has been something of a talisman for teams through the years against the Lakers, winning 17 consecutive games against them. Christian Braun could fill Jackson's minutes on Saturday, but he hasn't been a good fantasy producer.

Damian Lillard Sat Apr 27 8:50am

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard aggravated an Achilles injury in Friday's epic playoff battle against Indiana. Lillard had a good game with 28 points, eight assists, and three steals, but he tweaked his Achilles near the end of the fourth quarter and was hindered by the injury in overtime. The ailment leaves Lillard iffy for Sunday's Game 4. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) on the shelf, Khris Middleton already carried a huge load on Friday and could be asked to do even more in Game 4. Pat Connaughton or Malik Beasley should take Lillard's position in the starting lineup if he's out on Sunday.

Kawhi Leonard Fri Apr 26 11:10pm

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard amassed nine points and nine rebounds in Friday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The 32-year-old missed time because of knee inflammation but returned for Game 2. While he played well enough in that contest, he took a step back on Friday night. Even more concerning, Leonard only logged 25 minutes. He's likely still bothered by the knee issue, so there's reason to believe he will miss Game 4 on Sunday. If that's the case, Paul George and James Harden could pick up some of the slack. But Norman Powell, finishing with 21 points in Game 3, will be a coveted DFS option.

Delon Wright Fri Apr 26 7:40pm

Miami Heat guard Delon Wright (personal) is questionable for Saturday's meeting with the Celtics. With Terry Rozier (neck) out of commission, Wright has been getting some work during this series. He's played well, too, averaging 11.0 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 75.0% from behind the arc. If he can't suit up, Tyler Herro could see even more minutes at the one. In addition, Patty Mills may finally make an appearance, although he doesn't have much upside.

Daniel Gafford Fri Apr 26 7:30pm

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (back) will suit up for Friday's matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. He's taken a beating during this series, so he was listed as questionable heading into this contest. However, the former Wizard will be on the floor. Gafford didn't see much work in the first two games, and that likely won't change on Friday night. Yet, his availability will still lower the fantasy ceilings of Maxi Kleber and Dereck Lively II.

Kawhi Leonard Fri Apr 26 7:20pm

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) is available for Friday's postseason matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. Leonard returned for Game 2 after missing time because of knee inflammation. He played well despite the lengthy layoff, amassing 15 points with seven boards, four steals, and one block. While the 32-year-old had issues finding the bottom of the net, he'll likely play better this time around.

Terry Rozier Fri Apr 26 7:10pm

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (neck) won't play on Saturday against the Celtics. Miami stole Game 2 in Boston. However, it will be difficult for the Heat to win the series without their starting point guard. At this point, nobody can say for sure when he'll be back. But until that happens, Tyler Herro should continue to hold things down at the one. Herro is coming off a potent performance, accumulating a team-high 24 points with 14 assists, five rebounds, and one steal. Still, the C's will make some adjustments, meaning Herro may not be as productive in Game 3. Delon Wright, who has been coming in off the bench for relief, is questionable for this one. If Wright can't suit up, Patty Mills could make an appearance, although he likely won't do much for DFS managers.

Khris Middleton Fri Apr 26 5:20pm

Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Khris Middleton (ankle) was originally listed as questionable after not practicing on Thursday but has officially been upgraded to available on Friday for Game 3 in Indiana. The Bucks will have to lean on Middleton a lot as the second scorer alongside Damian Lillard since Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) has already been ruled out. So far, Middleton is averaging 19.0 points per game but hasn't been able to be a consistent threat from deep while he's shooting just 28.6% from beyond the arc. He'll likely play heavy minutes to try to get the offense kickstarted in their first road game of the series which is where this team has been the worst this year.

Grayson Allen Fri Apr 26 5:00pm

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (ankle) still hasn't been officially ruled out of Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. The 28-year-old has been an important piece to the Suns' offense this season as he registered career-highs in points, threes, three-point percentage, field goal percentage, rebounds, and even assists. He also led the entire league in three-point percentage with a mark of 46.1%. Unfortunately, he hurt his ankle in Game 1 and has only been able to put up 3.5 points per game so far. As of right now, he's still considered questionable, but if he can't play, we may see some minutes for Isaiah Thomas off of the bench while Eric Gordon and Royce O'Neale see more opportunities too.

Kyle Anderson Fri Apr 26 5:00pm

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson (hip) has been listed as questionable for the Game 3 matchup on Friday against the Phoenix Suns. Anderson has only played five minutes across two games in this series so far, and it's unclear how he'd fit back into the rotation if he was upgraded to active. His minutes have fluctuated all season long and it could come down to matchups. If he remains sidelined, however, Monte Morris, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will likely remain the main three players off of the bench.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Fri Apr 26 4:40pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) has been downgraded to out and will not play in Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers on Friday. This doesn't come as a surprise since Antetokounmpo was already listed as doubtful, but this series gets even harder for the Bucks now that they don't have the two-time MVP for the first game on the road. The Bucks only had a record of 18-22 on the road and the Pacers have the momentum after grabbing a win in Game 2. With Antetokounmpo remaining on the bench, Bobby Portis should stay in the starting lineup while Khris Middleton will have to step up as a scorer alongside Damian Lillard.

Donovan Mitchell Fri Apr 26 12:20pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell couldn't get much going and the team as a whole could only muster up 83 points in a blowout loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday. The star combo guard posted just 13 points on 6-for-16 shooting and only knocked down one out of six three-point attempts. Throughout Mitchell's playoff career, which consists of 47 games, he's only scored fewer than 13 points five times. Despite the rough shooting night, he didn't produce many turnovers as he only committed two of them and registered seven assists with five rebounds.

Paolo Banchero Fri Apr 26 12:00pm

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers en route to a blowout win in Game 3 on Thursday night. After producing two high-turnover totals in the first two playoff games of his career, Banchero settled in and didn't turn the ball over once on Thursday. The Duke product finished this contest with 31 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and one steal while shooting 13-for-26 overall and 4-for-9 from downtown. Banchero is the driving force of the Magic offense, so when he gets into a rhythm, the Magic look a lot better as a unit. He's also produced fewer turnovers and better shooting percentages when playing at home this season.

Anthony Davis Fri Apr 26 11:40am

Los Angeles Lakers center/forward Anthony Davis put together a big-time performance but couldn't get the help he needed from the rest of the team to get into the win column. He shot 14-for-23 from the floor and registered 33 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two turnovers. Davis has not only been the most consistent player for the Lakers so far this postseason, he's also been their best. Over the first three games of this series, Davis averages 32.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 61.5% from the floor.