NBA roundup: Cavs beat Nuggets despite Nikola Jokic's big night
Fri Dec 6 1:38am ET
Field Level Media
Nikola Jokic moved to No. 3 in career triple-doubles with 27 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists at Cleveland, but his Denver Nuggets couldn't withstand the host Cavaliers' 3-point barrage and lost 126-114 on Thursday night.
Jokic's 139th career triple-double broke a tie with Magic Johnson on the all-time list. It was also his second triple-double with 20-plus points and 20-plus rebounds this season.
The Cleveland quartet of Donovan Mitchell (28 points), Darius Garland (24), Caris LeVert (21) and Evan Mobley (20), however, responded by combining to make 17 treys and rack up 93 points.
The Cavaliers earned their third win in a row. The Nuggets have alternated losses and wins for nine games.
Mavericks 137, Wizards 101
Luka Doncic recorded his first triple double of the season as Dallas won its sixth straight game, a rout of host Washington.
Doncic finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his 78th regular-season triple-double. Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 25 points for the Mavericks, who have won 10 of 11 games, and former Wizards center Daniel Gafford scored 16 points off the bench.
Malcolm Brogdon and Marvin Bagley III netted 16 points apiece and Carlton Carrington added 15 for the Wizards, who tied the franchise record with their 16th straight defeat within one season.
Warriors 99, Rockets 93
Jonathan Kuminga registered a career-high 33 points, Andrew Wiggins went for 23 and Golden State beat Houston for the 15th consecutive time, winning in San Francisco.
With Stephen Curry resting sore knees and Draymond Green dealing with a painful calf, Golden State used a 21-4 run bridging the second and third quarters to take a lead it never relinquished en route to snapping a five-game losing streak.
Attempting to beat the Warriors for the first time since February 2020, the Rockets got 16 points from Alperen Sengun and 15 from Dillon Brooks in a balanced attack while dropping their second straight.
Knicks 125, Hornets 121
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his 12th consecutive double-double to lead New York's easy victory over visiting Charlotte.
Towns racked up 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting overall to go along with 16 rebounds for New York, which had all five of its starters score in double figures. OG Anunoby netted 25 points, followed by Jalen Brunson (24 points), Mikal Bridges (19) and Josh Hart (18). Hart added 10 rebounds and six assists.
The Hornets got 26 points and six rebounds from Brandon Miller but were outshot 53.9 percent to 44.9 percent from the field in what ended up being their seventh loss in a row. Vasilije Micic went for 14 points and 12 assists, and Seth Curry totaled 18 points off the bench.
Thunder 129, Raptors 92
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points as visiting Oklahoma City routed Toronto.
Jalen Williams added 20 points for the Thunder, who have won two games in a row and six of their past seven. Isaiah Joe contributed 16 points and Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 rebounds and six assists.
RJ Barrett registered 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who had a four-game home winning streak snapped. Scottie Barnes added 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
Pelicans 126, Suns 124
Brandon Ingram scored 29 points, CJ McCollum had 25 and host New Orleans ended a nine-game losing streak by defeating Phoenix.
McCollum scored on a drive to break a tie in the last minute, then fed Trey Murphy III for a dunk and a 125-121 lead with 14 seconds left. Murphy logged 19 points and Dejounte Murray had 17 for the Pelicans.
Devin Booker netted 28 points and Bradley Beal scored 24 for the Suns, who had won three of their past four games.
Grizzlies 115, Kings 110
Memphis got 60 points from its reserves and survived losing star Ja Morant to a late-game ejection in defeating visiting Sacramento.
Marcus Smart had 18 points off the bench and starter Desmond Bane also scored 18 to lead the Grizzlies, who won their sixth consecutive home game. Santi Aldama contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds. Morant was ejected after his second technical during a span of 82 seconds in the fourth quarter.
Sacramento was led by DeMar DeRozan, who had a game-high 26 points, and Malik Monk, who scored 23. De'Aaron Fox had 18 points, six rebounds and six steals, and Domantas Sabonis added 17 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
Bulls 139, Spurs 124
Nikola Vucevic poured in a season-high 39 points and Ayo Dosunmu added a season-best 27 points to go with 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his first career triple-double as Chicago defeated host San Antonio.
The Bulls led by 11 points heading into the fourth quarter after fending off a tepid San Antonio run late in the third period. The Spurs pared the margin to 130-122 on two Keldon Johnson free throws with 3:18 remaining, but Chicago reeled off nine straight points, capped by Vucevic's banked layup with 1:31 left, to cement the win.
Keldon Johnson logged 28 points off the bench for the Spurs. Devin Vassell had 17 points and Jeremy Sochan amassed 16 points and 14 rebounds. San Antonio played without star center Victor Wembanyama (sore back).
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- Lakers C Jaxson Hayes (ankle) out 2-3 weeks
Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (ankle) is available to play on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets. Wiggins is dealing with an ankle impingement but hasn't had to miss any time because of it. Without Stephen Curry in the Warriors lineup, Golden State will need big production out of the 29-year-old to keep pace with Houston. That may be a tough ask against Houston's stellar defense. Wiggins has had success against the Rockets in the past, though, so he may be worth a flyer in DFS leagues. Fantasy managers should ensure Wiggins is in their starting lineups.
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (knee) is active and starting on Thursday night against the Golden State Warriors. VanVleet is dealing with a right knee contusion but hasn't missed any time because of it. The 30-year-old has averaged 16.1 PPG and 5.9 APG this season, putting up 11 points and five assists in their previous matchup against the Warriors. With Golden State reeling as of late, this could be a solid spot for VanVleet to have a good game. He's a must start in all fantasy formats.
Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon exited Thursday's game against the Dallas Mavericks early with what the team is describing as left hamstring tightness. Brogdon has been ruled out and won't return. The 31-year-old put up 16 points in 25 minutes. He has averaged 13.5 PPG and 4.3 RPG in eight games this season coming into Thursday. Brogdon missed much of October and November while recovering from thumb surgery so this is an unfortunate turn for his season. If he is forced to miss any time, expect Carlton Carrington to get more minutes.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (knee) is listed as questionable for Friday night's game against the Chicago Bulls. Nembhard missed a considerable amount of time due to a knee injury this season and his questionable status is revolved around managing that injury. He sat out Wednesday night's game on the second leg of a back-to-back as part of scheduled rest. The 24-year-old has averaged 7.9 PPG and 4.6 APG this season. His assists match his career marks while he's seeing a drop in his points. His fantasy impact will likely only help those needing help with assists, making him a tough start in most fantasy formats.
Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (knee) has been ruled out for Friday night's game against the Orlando Magic. Bona is dealing with a left knee contusion. The rookie has been getting more minutes as of late with both Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond dealing with their own injury issues. Bona hadn't been making much of a fantasy impact, averaging just 3.3 PPG and 3.0 RPG off the bench in the last three games, two without Drummond active. Bona's absence won't have much impact on the Sixers against Orlando. Drummond, who's listed as questionable, will be a solid fantasy option from a rebounding standpoint if he's able to play.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro exited Thursday night's game against the Denver Nuggets early with what the team is calling a left knee contusion. Okoro went 1-2 from three and finished with three points before exiting after playing just 12 minutes. Dean Wade started the second half ahead of Okoro and should be expected to get more playing time if Okoro is sidelined for any length of time.
Boston Celtics center Al Horford (toe) is listed as questionable for Friday night's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. Horford is dealing with a left toe sprain that forced him to miss Monday's game against Miami, though he was able to suit up after in Wednesday's victory over the Detroit Pistons. Given that Horford was able to suit up it points towards a good possibility he suits up on Friday. The 38-year-old has averaged 9.7 PPG and 5.1 RPG, providing iffy fantasy value. He's not a must start on Friday but those in deeper leagues that need rebounding help may want to consider him more than other fantasy managers.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young is listed as probable for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers due to right Achilles tendinitis. Despite dealing with the injury, Young is expected to suit up and continue his role as the league's leader in assists, averaging 12 per game. While his scoring has dipped recently, with three straight games under 20 points, he remains a key playmaker for the Hawks. Fantasy managers can feel confident that Young will be available, but should keep an eye on his status leading up to tip-off.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (quad) is listed as probable for Friday night's matchup against the Boston Celtics. Prince hasn't missed a game all season and logged his normal minutes on Wednesday, when he showed up on the injury report as well, so it doesn't appear that this injury is hampering him much. A bigger concern for fantasy managers, in regards to Prince's performance, is the return of Khris Middleton on Friday. Prince has brought fantasy value through making threes, hitting them at a league-leading 55.6% clip. However, it's been on generally low volume. If Middleton takes away any chances from three then it could impact Prince's numbers.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Atlanta Hawks due to left foot soreness. James is at risk of missing his first game of the season if he is eventually ruled out. If that happens, Cam Reddish could see increased playing time. James has been putting up impressive numbers this season, averaging 22.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. However, with a recent shooting slump, some may argue that a rest could be beneficial for his long-term performance. Fantasy managers will want to check back Friday for his status before tip-off.
Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis (foot) is listed as probable for Friday night's matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. Davis has been dealing with plantar fasciitis but hasn't missed a game since November 6th. In what's likely to be a fast-paced, high scoring environment in Atlanta fantasy managers should expect Davis to have a big night. He's a must start in all fantasy formats and should be targeted in DFS lineups as well.
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (injury management) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a left posterior tibialis tendon injury management.. The Celtics are being cautious with their talented big man, and Porzingis could miss the game as they manage his health. With Al Horford (toe) also questionable, Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta could see increased minutes in the frontcourt. The Celtics' long-term goal is to keep Porzingis healthy as they aim to repeat as champions. Porzingis has played in four games this season, averaging 27.3 minutes, 21.0 points, and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (illness) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Thursday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Kennard is a late addition to the injury report due to an illness. His absence probably won't have a huge impact on the rotation given Kennard is only averaging 19 minutes per game. If he sits, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, and John Konchar will probably all see additional run. None of them are likely going to gain significant playing time from Kennard's possible absence. Out of everyone, Smart probably has the most fantasy upside out of them all, assuming Kennard is out.
Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports that Los Angeles Lakers guardAustin Reaves(pelvis) will be out against Atlanta. Friday marks the fourth consecutive contest the 26-year-old will miss due to a bruised left pelvis. The Lakers have missed Reaves, losing two of three games without him. Fantasy managers stay updated on when Reaves returns as he is averaging 16.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals across 33.7 minutes per contest. In the meantime,D'Angelo Russell will likely remain in the starting five.
Washington Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III will move into the starting five ahead of Thursday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. It looks like the Wizards have decided to shake up their starting five and give Bagley a bigger look. It's worth noting that Bagley has played nine minutes or less in every game this season. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much from Bagley in this one considering he has barely played. Jonas Valanciunas will come off the bench, but is the much better streaming option between the two ahead of this game.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (illness) is available ahead of Thursday's game against the Denver Nuggets. Jerome was listed as questionable heading into this game, but he has now been upgraded to available ahead of this game. He figures to return to his role as the primary backup guard to Darius Garland. Jerome hasn't been a great fantasy option lately, but he did have a solid stretch of play during mid-November. He could be worth a look in deep leagues but his playing time has been inconsistent this season.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (ankle) has been upgraded to available ahead of Thursday's game against the San Antonio Spurs. This is good news for the Bulls after Giddey was tagged as questionable coming into this game. The Bulls are without Coby White (ankle), so Giddey is expected to have a bigger role in the rotation. The 22-year-old finished with a triple-double during this last game. Fantasy managers should make sure to get Giddey in their lineups ahead of tip-off.
Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick (calf) is available ahead of Thursday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dick is set to return to the court after missing each of the last five games due to a left calf contusion. He's back for Thursday and fantasy managers should expect him to have a full workload considering there was no mention of Dick being limited. Ja'Kobe Walker should head back to the bench and Davion Mitchell should lose minutes with Dick ready to play again.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) will suit up ahead of Thursday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. As expected, Gordon will suit up after being listed as probable ahead of this game. Gordon played 33 minutes during their last game. He appears to be basically back up to speed after missing nearly the entire month of November. Fantasy managers can feel safe getting Gordon back in their lineups on Thursday. Peyton Watson should see a reduced role going forward with Gordon healthy again.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (calf) will not be able to play in Thursday's matchup with the Houston Rockets due to left calf tightness. He joins Stephen Curry (ankle), who will also be sidelined for rest purposes with the Warriors in the first half of back-to-back games. Until Green is able to suit up again,Jonathan Kumingawill likely continue to receive increased playing time. Against the Nuggets on Tuesday, Kuminga posted19 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in 29 minutes.
