NBA roundup: Suns prevail on Devin Booker's late jumper
Tue Mar 25 2:34am ET
Field Level Media
Devin Booker knocked down a 20-foot jumper with 1.7 seconds remaining to give the Phoenix Suns a 108-106 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.
Kevin Durant recorded 38 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Suns (35-37) won their fourth consecutive game. Booker added 19 points and 12 assists, Ryan Dunn had 12 points and nine rebounds and Nick Richards contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix.
The contest marked the first time Phoenix's Mike Budenholzer coached against Milwaukee since the Bucks fired him after the 2022-23 season. Budenholzer guided the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2020-21 NBA title.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Bucks (40-31), who dropped to 2-2 on a five-game road trip. Brook Lopez added 23 points and 10 rebounds but his 18-foot baseline jumper bounced off the rim as time retired.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 19 points off the bench and Kyle Kuzma scored 15 points for Milwaukee, which was without Damian Lillard (right calf strain) for the third straight game.
Bulls 129, Nuggets 119
Coby White scored 37 points, Josh Giddey had 26 points and nine assists, and visiting Chicago beat short-handed Denver.
Dalen Terry and Jalen Smith scored 14 points each, Nikola Vucevic had 13 points and Matas Buzelis contributed 10 for the Bulls, who finished 4-2 on their longest road trip of the season.
Jamal Murray scored 28 points and Peyton Watson added a career-high 24 for the Nuggets, who were without Nikola Jokic (ankle) and Aaron Gordon (calf).
Mavericks 120, Nets 101
Anthony Davis finished with 12 points in a 27-minute stint during his return from a left adductor strain as Dallas never trailed and took control early in a victory over Brooklyn.
In his first action since getting hurt against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 8, Davis played in short bursts, shot 6-of-9 and helped the Mavericks (35-37) win consecutive games for the first time in over a month. Naji Marshall led the way with 22 points off the bench as Dallas saw its reserves finish with 55.
Nic Claxton scored 19 points to lead the Nets (23-49), who lost their fourth straight and for the 15th time in 18 games. Cameron Johnson added 17 while Trendon Watford contributed 12 as the Nets shot 51.3 percent.
Magic 118, Lakers 106
Powered by 32 points from Franz Wagner and 30 from Paolo Banchero, Orlando blew past visiting Los Angeles.
The victory snapped a six-game home losing streak for the Magic.
Luka Doncic matched Wagner with 32 points for the Lakers, while LeBron James added 24 but the Lakers faltered on defense in the second half, allowing the Magic to take over. Orlando outscored the Lakers 34-18 in the third quarter.
Raptors 112, Wizards 104
Jakob Poeltl scored an efficient 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Toronto to a win over host Washington.
Poeltl made nine of his first 10 attempts on the way to a 10-of-13 performance from the field, helping Toronto end its four-game losing streak. Immanuel Quickley added a less efficient 21 points, making five of his 16 attempts from the floor.
Jordan Poole finished with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting to lead the Wizards, who took their fifth loss in a row. Alex Sarr added 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting, while fellow rookie AJ Johnson scored a career-high 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting off the bench.
Pelicans 112, 76ers 99
Rookie Karlo Matkovic matched his career-high 19 points to lead a balanced scoring effort as host New Orleans pulled away from Philadelphia.
Kelly Olynyk finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Antonio Reeves scored 17, and Yves Missi added 16 for the Pelicans, who won for just the third time in 12 games.
Justin Edwards and Jared Butler scored 19 points each, and Jeff Dowtin Jr., Guerschon Yabusele, and Chuma Okeke added 12 each to lead the Sixers, who lost their fifth straight game and 20th in the past 23.
Pacers 119, Timberwolves 103
Tyrese Haliburton recorded a 24-point, 11-assist double-double, and Indiana scored its fifth consecutive win with a defeat of Minnesota in Indianapolis.
Haliburton's 11th consecutive double-double dating back to Feb. 23 paced Indiana offensively. Obi Toppin came off the bench to score 20 points, shooting 6-of-9 from outside. Aaron Nesmith shot 3-of-3 from 3-point range en route to 17 points. Bennedict Mathurin's 11 points extended his run of double-digit scoring performances to five games.
Anthony Edwards went 1-of-11 from deep, the same rate at which he shot in Indiana's 132-130 win at Minnesota on March 17. Edwards finished with 17 points. Julius Randle finished with nine points, less than half of his season average. Naz Reid's 20 points off the bench led the Timberwolves. Rudy Gobert posted a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds in the loss.
Celtics 113, Kings 95
Jayson Tatum poured in a game-high 25 points before spraining his left ankle, Payton Pritchard came off the bench to contribute 22 points and Boston ran away from host Sacramento for its sixth straight win.
Tatum also had seven rebounds and eight assists in 26 minutes before he came down on Domantas Sabonis' foot after a 3-point attempt with 3:35 left in the third period. Tatum shot 8-for-15 overall and Pritchard 8-for-18 as Boston avenged a 114-97 shellacking at home by the Kings in January.
DeMar DeRozan and Sabonis put up double-doubles for the Kings, DeRozan with a team-high 20 points and game-high 10 assists, Sabonis with 16 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.
- Kings name Scott Perry as general manager
- Bucks' Damian Lillard says he's playing in Game 2 vs. Pacers
- Bucks upgrade G Damian Lillard to questionable for Game 2 vs. Pacers
- Hawks fire GM Landry Fields, promote Onsi Saleh
- NBA roundup: Thunder demolish Grizzlies in playoff opener
- Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander among MVP finalists
- NBA roundup: Jalen Brunson leads Knicks' 4th-quarter rally past Pistons
- Bucks' Damian Lillard targeting Game 2 or 3 return
- Grizzlies star PG Ja Morant (ankle) playing vs. Mavericks
- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich resting after medical emergency
- Lakers extend GM Rob Pelinka, add president to title
- Israeli PG Ben Saraf declares for NBA draft
- Suns owner Mat Ishbia calls season a 'failure'
- Grizzlies G Ja Morant (ankle) game-time decision vs. Mavericks
- Bucks' Damian Lillard off medication, but no timeline set for return
- Kings, GM Monte McNair part ways after play-in loss
- NBA notes officiating errors late in Warriors-Grizzlies game
- Pelicans tab Joe Dumars as EVP of basketball operations
- Mavericks GM: 'No regrets' on trading away Luka Doncic
- Bucks' Damian Lillard to miss start of playoffs
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic recorded his 19th career postseason triple-double in Monday's 105-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, finishing with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. He added three steals to his tally while shooting 8-for-16 from the field with a 4-for-8 effort from deep. Jokic had an extremely busy night and played the entire second half. Fatigue may have contributed to Jokic recording five of his seven turnovers after halftime, including three in the fourth quarter. Still, it was another hugely impressive performance from Jokic, who trails only Magic Johnson (30) and LeBron James (28) on the all-time postseason triple-doubles list.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard was sensational in Monday's matchup against the Denver Nuggets, helping the team tie the first-round series with a 105-102 road win. Leonard already had 21 points by halftime and finished as the leading scorer in the contest with 39 points on 15-for-19 shooting. He went 4-for-7 from deep, including a buzzer-beating triple to end the first half. The two-time Finals MVP also produced a high-level defensive effort, notching two steals and one block. Additionally, he had three rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes. Leonard has always been a strong playoff performer and looks set to have another impressive series. With two games played, he is shooting 70.6 percent against the Nuggets, averaging 30.5 points with 2.5 steals.
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson put up a game-high 37 points on 12-for-27 shooting in Monday's 100-94 Game 2 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Brunson made it back-to-back 30-point efforts to start the 2025 postseason, but he failed to lead his team to victory this time around. The two-time All-Star finished 4-for-12 from downtown and shot 9-for-11 from the free-throw line, wrapping things up with three rebounds, seven assists, and two steals across 44 minutes of action. For the second game in a row, Brunson briefly exited the contest in the fourth quarter, which is slightly concerning. However, even if he is dealing with some ailment, it certainly isn't affecting his performance. Through the first two games of the series, Brunson has averaged an impressive 35.5 points along with 7.5 assists.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham scored a team-high 33 points on 11-for-21 shooting in Monday's 100-94 Game 2 victory over the New York Knicks. Playing in just his second career postseason game, Cunningham erupted for 20 first-half points, helping the Pistons snap a historic 15-game postseason losing streak. The team had not won a playoff contest for 17 years. Cunningham posted a second consecutive double-double in the series, capping off his line with 13 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Detroit has played well to open the postseason, and the next couple of games will be extremely special as NBA playoff basketball returns to Motown for the first time since 2019. Cunningham should relish the occasion.
Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris had a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double as the team tied its first-round series against the New York Knicks with a 100-94 road victory on Monday night. Harris led the Pistons with 43 minutes, shooting 6-for-11 from the field and 2-for-2 at the charity stripe. His line included one assist and one steal. It has been an impressive start to the postseason for Harris, who has averaged 20.0 points and 9.5 rebounds with 58.3 percent shooting through the first couple of games. His improved performances are a big bonus for the Pistons, who saw Harris produce mediocre efforts throughout the regular season.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Maxi Kleber (foot) will not be in the lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The German veteran continues to recover from foot surgery. Kleber has not seen any action since Jan. 25, but his return appears to be approaching, as he has been practicing. However, it remains unclear whether Kleber will have a significant role with the Lakers since he has yet to play for his new team. When he was still in Dallas, Kleber averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18.7 minutes this season.
Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II (personal) is not listed on the injury report for Tuesday's Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He missed Game 1 of the series for personal reasons. Jackson II averaged 7.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15.8 minutes during the regular season, making 28 appearances after missing the first half of the campaign with a foot injury. However, the 20-year-old logged only two minutes of action during the Play-In Tournament and is unlikely to receive significant playing time under normal circumstances during the playoffs.
Denver Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 26 points, 10 assists and 12 rebounds in a 102-105 loss to the Clippers on Monday, Apr. 21.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) will be active on Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers. He was listed as probable on the initial injury report, as Gordon continues to manage a calf injury. The team upgraded his status to available before tip-off. The 29-year-old played a key role in Saturday's 112-110 overtime victory against the Clippers, scoring 25 points and picking up eight rebounds with two steals. This means Gordon has scored 25-plus points in three of his last seven outings.
Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love (personal) remains away from the team and will not be an option for Wednesday's Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2016 NBA champion has appeared in only seven games in 2025, and it's unknown when he will be back in the fold for Miami. Bam Adebayo, who led the Heat with 24 points in Sunday's Game 1 loss, and Kel'el Ware will continue to be the team's primary frontcourt options on Wednesday, with Haywood Highsmith providing cover off the bench.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng (calf) has been ruled out for Tuesday's Game 2 against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 21-year-old missed the final month of the regular season due to a left calf strain, and it's unclear when he will be available again. Dieng averaged 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.9 minutes during the regular season. With his absence, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams are positioned to earn more playing time off the Thunder bench.
Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier (ankle) was hurt during an optional workout on Monday. Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald reports that Rozier sprained his left ankle and will be listed as questionable on the injury report for Wednesday's Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This marks a fresh setback for Rozier, who has looked like a shadow of his former self in 2024-25 and fell out of the rotation at the end of the regular season. He also didn't take the floor against Cleveland in Sunday's Game 1.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (calf) has been listed as questionable on the injury report for Tuesday's Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers. On Saturday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Lillard was on track to rejoin the lineup for either Game 2 or Game 3 in the series, and it seems like his comeback might occur in Tuesday's game. On Monday, Lillard practiced fully, with Bucks head coach Doc Rivers saying, "He looks great to me." The Bucks were hammered 117-98 in Game 1 in Indianapolis and need Lillard back as soon as possible. Ryan Rollins will lose his starting spot once Lillard returns, while Kevin Porter Jr.'s playing time is also under threat.
Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's Game 2 against the New York Knicks. This isn't a surprise, as Stewart missed time at the end of the regular season due to inflammation in his right knee and sat out the end of Game 1. He was listed as questionable on the initial injury report. With Stewart absent, Paul Reed will move up the depth chart, but Detroit may also opt to deploy smaller lineups more in Monday's game.
Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart (knee) has been listed as questionable for Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the New York Knicks on Monday night. Stewart has been dealing with inflammation in his right knee since the end of the regular season and made an early exit in Game 1, leaving with over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The 23-year-old big man had two points in the contest with five rebounds and two blocks. Paul Reed is likely to enter the rotation on Monday if Stewart can't play, although he probably won't see much time on the court behind starting center Jalen Duren, who will aim to bounce back in Game 2 after being held to seven points and six rebounds in Saturday's loss.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) has been listed as probable for Monday's Game 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Gordon is back on the injury report with a right calf strain, but he is likely to play. The veteran was one of the stars of the show in the series opener on Saturday, posting 25 points, eight rebounds, and two steals in 46 minutes. The Clippers must improve their defensive effort against him on Monday night, though they aren't the only team that has struggled to contain him, as Gordon is averaging over 20 points per game this month.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (knee) doesn't believe he'll face a minutes restriction in Sunday's playoff battle with the Orlando Magic. He suffered from posterior impingement in his right knee, forcing him to miss nine of the Celtics final 20 games of the regular season. Fortunately, head coach Joe Mazzulla reported Brown has looked good. Despite struggling from the three-point line, the 28-year-old has played well against Orlando during the 2024-25 campaign (two games), averaging 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 steals. While the injury is still somewhat concerning for fantasy managers, Brown is worth including in any DFS lineup on Sunday.
Dallas Mavericks' F Anthony Davis scored 40 points on 16-of-29 shooting in a 106-120 loss to Memphis on Friday, Apr. 18.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (ankle) will play in Friday's elimination game against the Dallas Mavericks. Morant is dealing with a "severe" ankle sprain and received an injection in his ankle on Thursday. He was originally listed as questionable for Friday's game before the team upgraded his status to available. Morant's presence in the lineup is a major boost for Memphis, but it remains to be seen how effectively he can play through his ankle injury.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Brandon Williams (oblique) has been upgraded to available for Friday's play-in showdown against the Memphis Grizzlies. Williams was initially listed as probable for the game. The 25-year-old has added a spark to the Mavericks late in the season and was one of the standout performers in Wednesday's win over the Sacramento Kings, finishing with 17 points and five assists in 18 minutes off the bench. A similar effort from Williams on Friday night would boost Dallas' chances of victory in a tough road game.
