NBA roundup: Anthony Edwards, Wolves edge Nuggets
Sat Nov 2 2:27am ET
Field Level Media
Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and shot 7-for-14 from 3-point range as the Minnesota Timberwolves escaped with a 119-116 win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night in Minneapolis.
Julius Randle added 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Minnesota, which earned its third win in the past four games. Rudy Gobert notched 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Aaron Gordon scored a game-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Denver. Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds, and Michael Porter Jr. also logged 26 points.
Denver played down the stretch without guard Jamal Murray, who left in the third quarter after colliding with Randle. Murray was placed in the concussion protocol, the Nuggets said. He finished with six points, three assists and two rebounds in 22 minutes as the Nuggets' two-game winning streak ended.
Celtics 124, Hornets 109
Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and Jaylen Brown pumped in 25 as Boston fended off host Charlotte.
Derrick White added 17 points as the Celtics responded from their overtime loss at Indiana on Wednesday -- their only setback this season. Tatum also pulled in 11 rebounds.
LaMelo Ball racked up 31 points and four assists to lead the Hornets, and Tre Mann had 23 points. The game pitted first-year Hornets coach Charles Lee against the team he helped guide to an NBA title as an assistant coach last season.
Thunder 137, Trail Blazers 114
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists as unbeaten Oklahoma City blitzed host Portland.
Jalen Williams added 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals as the Thunder won their fifth straight game to open the season. Oklahoma City has won 13 consecutive games against the Trail Blazers.
Jerami Grant had 17 points and Deandre Ayton and Rayan Rupert added 14 apiece for Portland, which has started the season with four losses in six games.
Cavaliers 120, Magic 109
Darius Garland scored 25 points and Donovan Mitchell added 22 as Cleveland knocked off visiting Orlando to remain unbeaten .
Cleveland has won its first six games to start the season, matching the franchise's best start since 2016-17. Evan Mobley had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Orlando, who trailed by as many as 22 points in the third quarter, lost its second straight game despite getting a career-high 28 points from Jalen Suggs. The Magic were without All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, who sustained a torn right oblique in a loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
Knicks 128, Pistons 98
Jalen Brunson poured in 36 points in the first three quarters and New York beat host Detroit for the 16th straight time.
Brunson made 14 of 22 field goal attempts and added five assists. Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 44 points against Miami on Wednesday, supplied 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. OG Anunoby also had 21 points with six assists.
The Pistons were coming off their first victory of the season, a road win at Philadelphia. Cade Cunningham led them on Friday with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Kings 123, Hawks 115
De'Aaron Fox scored a game-high 31 points to help Sacramento defeat host Atlanta, which lost its fourth game in a row.
DeMar DeRozan added 27 points, while Domantas Sabonis tallied 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for the Kings, who won their third straight. Keegan Murray chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Trae Young led Atlanta with 25 points and 12 assists, while Garrison Mathews scored 23 points off the bench.
Nets 120, Bulls 112
Cam Thomas scored 32 points to continue his strong start as Brooklyn made enough plays down the stretch to beat Chicago in New York.
Thomas scored at least 30 for the third time in Brooklyn's initial six games and delivered down the stretch as the Nets outscored the Bulls 16-8 in the final six-plus minutes.
Nikola Vucevic collected 28 and 11 rebounds for the Bulls, who dropped their third straight game. LaVine and Coby White added 21 apiece for Chicago, which shot 6-for-23 from the floor in the fourth, including 2-of-11 from 3-point range.
Lakers 131, Raptors 125
Anthony Davis had 38 points and 11 rebounds and LeBron James added 27 points, six rebounds and 10 assists as Los Angeles held off host Toronto.
Austin Reaves scored 20 points and D'Angelo Russell contributed 19 points for the Lakers, who had lost their two previous games to start a five-game road trip, their first of the season.
RJ Barrett had 33 points and 12 assists for the Raptors, who have lost four in a row. Gradey Dick added a career-best 31 points and Jakob Poeltl had 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
Pelicans 125, Pacers 118
Zion Williamson scored 34 points and handed out 10 assists, Brandon Ingram scored 26 points and short-handed New Orleans defeated visiting Indiana.
Jordan Hawkins scored 23 points for the Pelicans, who played without four of their top players -- Dejounte Murray (hand surgery), CJ McCollum (adductor), Herbert Jones (shoulder) and Trey Murphy III (hamstring).
Ben Sheppard scored 20 points, Bennedict Mathurin had 19 and Pascal Siakam added 16 as the Pacers lost for the fourth time in five games.
- Spurs rule out Victor Wembanyama vs. Bulls due to back soreness
- NBA fines Rockets' Ime Udoka, Tari Eason, Alperen Sengun
- Bucks F Khris Middleton to make season debut Friday
- NBA roundup: Surging Hawks cool off Bucks
- Warriors G De'Anthony Melton (knee) undergoes season-ending surgery
- Pelicans say Zion Williamson (hamstring) to miss at least two more weeks
- Knicks getting back to business, host Hornets
- Suns F Kevin Durant (ankle) out at least 1 week
- Wolves' ownership saga to face arbitrator in January
- NBA roundup: Bucks cap 4-0 run in NBA Cup group
- Bucks, Knicks charge into NBA Cup quarters with perfect marks
- Kevin Durant exits Suns' win with sprained ankle
- Four-time All-Star Paul Millsap officially retires
- Return on hold for Lakers F Jarred Vanderbilt
- NBA roundup: Wolves limit Lakers to 80 points
- Hornets star LaMelo Ball (calf) out at least two weeks
- Lakers C Jaxson Hayes (ankle) out 2-3 weeks
- Nuggets' Russell Westbrook fined $35K for obscene gesture
- NBA roundup: Rockets edge Thunder in battle of top 2 West teams
- NBA roundup: Giannis Antetokounmpo's triple-double lifts Bucks to 6th straight win
Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. The 20-year-old rookie sustained a left ankle sprain during Tuesday's loss to Cleveland, sidelining him for at least one game. His next chance to return will be Saturday against Denver. George has been a key piece in the Wizards' development plans, averaging 26.2 minutes and 7.5 points per game this season. In his absence, Jared Butler could step into a larger role for the young and rebuilding Washington squad.
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Khris Middleton (ankles) is expected to make his 2024-25 debut in Friday's game versus the Boston Celtics. The veteran had surgery on both ankles during the offseason and has been working his way back since. Of course, he'll likely see limited action in his first game since May, so fantasy managers should wait and see how things play out before getting him back in the starting lineup. It's also unknown if he'll come off the bench. Still, Middleton's presence will be enough to significantly cap Andre Jackson Jr. and Gary Trent Jr.'s fantasy potential.
According to Jim Eichenhofer of the New Orleans Pelicans official site, forwardHerbert Jones (shoulder) will play Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. The 26-year-old hasn't suited up since October 29, missing 18 consecutive contests with a right shoulder strain. Being out of action for a while, Jones's minutes will most definitely be restricted until he can get back into game shape. At this time, he will not be a fantasy factor.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) won't play in Friday's matchup versus the Orlando Magic. Head coach Nick Nurse indicated Embiid will be ready to return once he's healthy enough. However, that won't be on Friday night, which isn't surprising to most. With Andre Drummond (ankle) questionable and Adem Bona (knee) out, Guerschon Yabusele, who is coming off a 15-point, seven-rebound effort on Wednesday, is worth being included in any fantasy lineup. However, Yabusele's outlook will change if Drummond can get on the floor.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (calf) is available for Thursday's game against the Phoenix Suns. Ingram will return to action after missing the team's last five contests due to right calf soreness. The 27-year-old is a key offensive weapon for the Pelicans, averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 33.6 minutes per game this season. His return provides a much-needed boost to a New Orleans squad looking to gain some momentum, and fantasy managers will be glad to have him back in their lineups.
The Washington Wizards announced that guardMalcolm Brogdon(knee) will play against Dallas on Thursday. Brogdon was listed as questionable earlier, but he's since been upgraded to available despite suffering from soreness in his right knee. The 31-year-old has struggled with injuries these last few seasons. However, he has played reasonably well when healthy, posting averages of 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 24.4 minutes across his last five appearances.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (injury management) will not play Thursday against the Houston Rockets as he takes a rest day. In his absence, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody are likely to see expanded roles. The star guard is expected to return Friday for the team's matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his most recent game, Curry posted 24 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists in 34 minutes, reminding everyone why fantasy managers will be thrilled to have him back in action.
Dallas Mavericks forwardNaji Marshall(illness) will miss his third consecutive game due to an illness on Thursdays versus the Washington Wizards. Before being sidelined, Marshall had made the most of his opportunity as a starter while Klay Thompson was on the shelf, averaging 13.1 points and 4.0 rebounds. Once he's able to get back on the floor, his fantasy value will drop, as Thompson has since returned from his injury.
Cleveland Cavaliers guardTy Jerome(illness) is in danger of missing his second straight game due to an illness for Thursday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets. Darius Garland may see additional playing time if Jerome cannot suit up. Craig Porter Jr. and Caris LeVert will likely also see an uptick in minutes. LeVert, who is already averaging 24.1 minutes per game, could see a significant increase in his fantasy value on Thursday.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (ankle) is questionable ahead of Thursday's matchup with the San Antonio Spurs due to a sprained right ankle. If the 23-year-old cannot play, the Bulls backcourt will be significantly depleted, with Coby White(ankle) andLonzo Ball(knee) already announced as sidelined. Players like Talen Horton-Tucker and rookie Matas Buzelis will likely see more minutes than usual. Fantasy managers will want to monitor Giddey's status closer to tip-off.
Washington Wizards guard/forward Corey Kispert (ankle) will miss his first game of the season on Thursday against Dallas. He has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain, joining Kyle Kuzma (ribs) and Kyshawn George (ankle) on the shelf. These three have all averaged at least 26 minutes of action per game this season. This leaves a lot of minutes to be filled for the rest of the gang. Carlton Carrington and Jared Butler should getter a bigger workload on Thursday, with Johnny Davis also in the mix for an expanded role.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against San Antonio. A left ankle sprain will keep him out for a second consecutive game. Lonzo Ball (knee) is also out on Thursday, and Josh Giddey (ankle) is regarded as questionable, meaning there might be a lot of minutes available for Chicago's reserves. Talen Horton-Tucker has done well lately and could be in line for a larger role in the rotation. He has reached double figures in scoring in five consecutive outings. Jevon Carter should get a decent amount of action as well, as the Bulls will be short of playmakers if Giddey doesn't make it.
Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (thigh) will miss a third straight game on Thursday against New Orleans. The Bosnian big man is nursing a thigh contusion and is expected to be re-evaluated on Monday, meaning he will also sit out the weekend's back-to-back against Miami and Orlando. Oso Ighodaro and Mason Plumlee have shared starts during Nurkic's absence. Both players have had quiet outings, although Plumlee averaged double-double numbers as a starter earlier in the campaign. Centers have typically feasted against the Pelicans this season, with only six teams allowing more fantasy points to opposing fives.
Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball (knee) will not be in the lineup for Thursday's clash against San Antonio. Following his lengthy battle with a knee injury, Ball hasn't been cleared for back-to-backs, and the team has decided to keep him out from Thursday's game. We should see him back in action in Friday's matchup against Indiana. Considering he had a 33-month break from basketball, Ball has played well this season, averaging 4.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 16.2 minutes. With Coby White (ankle) also out and Josh Giddey (ankle) questionable, Jevon Carter might get a decent workload in the rotation.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (calf) is considered questionable for Thursday's meeting with Phoenix. However, it appears likely that he will return from a five-game absence, as Ingram went through full practice on Wednesday. The team also hopes to get Herb Jones (shoulder) back against the Suns. The return of the two would be a nice boost for an injury-depleted team. Ingram is having a fine campaign and tends to do especially well in home outings, averaging 26.8 points at the Smoothie King Center compared to 17.9 points on the road.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) is listed as probable on the injury report ahead of Thursday's game against Cleveland. Following a 10-game absence, Gordon has played in both of Denver's games, and it looks like it's safe to assume he will be out there again on Thursday. The veteran forward stood out with 15 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in the previous game against Golden State. He logged 33 on the night, so Gordon should also be free of any minute restrictions on Thursday.
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (ankle) will return to action in Wednesday's matchup against Philadelphia. He's back after missing Tuesday's game against the Knicks with an ankle sprain. The Georgian big man opened the month with a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double against Brooklyn and has performed well since November. Last month, he averaged 9.4 points and 7.8 rebounds with 1.9 blocks. Philadelphia is tied for the second-lowest rebounding rate in the league, putting Bitadze in a solid position to produce another double-double on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (foot) will play against Miami on Wednesday. The team has upgradEd Davis from probable to available. The star big man will look to produce a bounce-back performance after being limited to 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting against Minnesota on Monday. It's not a good matchup for Davis, as he will go head to head against All-Defense First Team member Bam Adebayo. Last season, Davis averaged only 19.0 points and 11.5 rebounds against Adebayo and the Heat.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (back) won't play in Thursday's game against the visiting Bulls. The 20-year-old has a case of lower back soreness. But the Spurs also play on Friday against Sacramento, so the team may just be playing it safe. As expected, Wembanyama has had a quality year, averaging 23.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals. As a result, there will be plenty of shots up for grabs, with Chris Paul, Stephon Castle, and Jeremy Sochan potentially on tap to get more scoring opportunities. Zach Collins should also slide into Wemby's spot in the rotation and is worth streaming in all fantasy formats.
According to Brooklyn Nets beat reporter Erik Slater, guard Ben Simmons (back) is available to play against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Simmons sat out Monday's game against the Bulls for back-injury management. In his most recent appearance against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, the veteran guard logged 12 minutes, collecting five assists, two rebounds, and one steal. However, he was held scoreless in the contest.
