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Fantasy Week 16 | NBA Week 16

NBA roundup: Thunder edge Clippers for 6th straight win

Mon Mar 24 2:45am ET
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points and Aaron Wiggins added 19, as the Oklahoma City Thunder extended their winning streak to six games by holding on for a 103-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points with 10 rebounds and James Harden added 17 points as the Clippers saw their five-game winning streak come to an end.

Trailing 101-100, the Clippers had multiple chances to take the lead in the final 22 seconds, but Norman Powell missed a 3-point attempt and Leonard was off target on a contested 21-footer.

Gilgeous-Alexander extended the lead to three points against his former team on two free throws with three seconds remaining. The Clippers got the ball back, but Leonard was intentionally fouled. After purposefully missing the second free throw, they could not score at the buzzer.


Cavaliers 120, Jazz 91

Jarrett Allen scored 18 points to help Cleveland snap a season-high four-game losing streak in a road win over Utah.

De'Andre Hunter added 15 points and Evan Mobley contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks in the win. Darius Garland and Ty Jerome each scored 12 for the Cavs, who hadn't won for nine days.

Kyle Filipowski led the short-handed Jazz with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Utah shot just 36 percent from the field while losing for the 12th time in 13 outings. That included a 16-for-50 performance from beyond the arc.

Hawks 132, 76ers 119

Trae Young scored 28 points, one of three Atlanta players with 20 or more points, to lead the team to its third straight win, a victory over visiting Philadelphia.

Young made four 3-pointers and added 12 assists for his 42nd double-double. He joined rookie Zaccharie Risacher (22 points) and Georges Niang (20 points) as the Hawks won for the seventh time in nine games and have a two-game lead for the No. 7 spot in the East.

Philadelphia has lost four in a row and 19 of 22. The Sixers are seven games behind Miami for the No. 10 playoff spot with 11 games remaining. Quentin Grimes scored 26 points for the 11th time in 20 games that he's scored at least 25 points.

Heat 122, Hornets 105

Andrew Wiggins scored 15 of his season-high 42 points in the decisive third quarter as host Miami snapped its 10-game losing streak, beating Charlotte.

Snapping their longest skid since 2007-08, the Heat got 29 points from Tyler Herro, who played with a left hip contusion. Bam Adebayo played despite a sprained left knee and scored 11 points.

The Hornets were led by LaMelo Ball, who posted 18 points and a game-high 11 assists.

Pistons 136, Pelicans 130

Rookie Ron Holland tied a career high with 26 points as Detroit defeated visiting New Orleans for the second time in less than a week.

Holland added six assists and five rebounds while Jalen Duren powered for 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Pistons, who romped to a 127-81 win on the Pelicans' home floor on Monday.

CJ McCollum carried New Orleans with 40 points. The Pistons played without All-Star Cade Cunningham due to a calf injury while Pelicans forward Zion Williamson missed the contest due to a lower back contusion.

Spurs 123, Raptors 89

Devin Vassell scored 12 of his 25 points in the third quarter and visiting San Antonio dominated Toronto.

Julian Champagnie added 20 points for the Spurs, who have won three straight. Stephon Castle scored 15 points, Sandro Mamukelashvili added 13 points and Harrison Barnes had 10.

Scottie Barnes scored 22 points for the Raptors, who have lost four in a row. RJ Barrett added 18 points, Jamal Shead scored 17 and Ja'Kobe Walter had 10.

Nuggets 116, Rockets 111

Jamal Murray scored 17 of his game-high 39 points in a turnaround third quarter as Denver claimed a critical victory over host Houston.

Denver shot 50.6 percent from the field (44 of 87) and closed within one game of Houston for second place in the Western Conference. Jordan (11 points, 15 rebounds) posted a double-double subbing for the injured Nikola Jokic (ankle).

Jalen Green scored 30 points to pace the Rockets, who had their nine-game winning streak snapped. Dillon Brooks added 21 points with five 3-pointers.

Player Notes
Nique Clifford Sun Feb 8 2:00am

Kings' G Nique Clifford scored 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting in a 126-132 loss to the Cavaliers on Saturday, Feb. 7. Clifford is owned in only 10.5% leagues.

Nikola Jokic Sun Feb 8 2:00am

Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 17 assists and 14 rebounds in a 136-120 win over Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 7.

Stephon Castle Sun Feb 8 2:00am

Spurs' G Stephon Castle recorded a triple-double, finishing with 40 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds in a 138-125 win over the Mavericks on Saturday, Feb. 7.

Alperen Sengun Sun Feb 8 2:00am

Rockets' C Alperen Sengun recorded a triple-double, finishing with 17 points, 11 assists and 12 rebounds in a 112-106 win over Oklahoma City on Saturday, Feb. 7.

Nikola Jokic Sat Feb 7 7:30pm

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (ankle) is available to play ahead of Saturday's game against the Chicago Bulls. Jokic is available to play after tweaking his ankle during Wednesday's contest. It doesn't appear to be serious enough to cause Jokic to miss any game action. He figures to operate in his normal role in the starting five during Saturday's game. The Nuggets could monitor him, but fantasy managers should feel comfortable getting Jokic in their lineups ahead of tip-off. The superstar big man has too much upside to bench even with a banged-up ankle.

Christian Braun Sat Feb 7 7:30pm

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (ankle) is upgraded to available ahead of Saturday's game against the Chicago Bulls. As expected, Braun has been cleared to play after being listed as probable on the injury report. He has played in two straight games since returning from a 12-game absence due to injury. He finished with six points, six assists, and seven rebounds across 43 minutes of action during Wednesday's game. It doesn't sound like Braun is going to have a minutes limit anymore, so fantasy managers should expect him to be a full-go for Saturday's game.

Buddy Hield Sat Feb 7 7:20pm

Atlanta Hawks guard Buddy Hield is set to make his team debut versus the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Hield and Jonathan Kuminga (knee) were part of a trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles) to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. Hield is ready to make his debut, but doesn't have a clear path to consistent playing time. He'll likely compete with CJ McCollum and Gabe Vincent for backup guard minutes. Before the trade, Hield was averaging 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 17.5 minutes per game this season. He might see an uptick in value with the Hawks, but not enough to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats.

Cameron Johnson Sat Feb 7 7:20pm

Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson (knee) is available to suit up ahead of Saturday's game against the Chicago Bulls. Johnson is back after being sidelined since December 23 due to a right knee bone bruise. Given he has missed over a month of action, Johnson figures to operate under a minutes limit on Saturday. His return to the rotation should mean fewer minutes for Julian Strawther and Bruce Brown. This season, Johnson is averaging 11.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 30.6 minutes per game. His fantasy value will be capped until he gets back up to full speed. Once he's fully healthy, Johnson should be worth rostering in deep leagues at the minimum.

Onyeka Okongwu Sat Feb 7 7:00pm

Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu (mouth) is available to play ahead of Saturday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. Okongwu is back after missing the last four games due to having a dental procedure. His return to the court should shift Jock Landale back to the second unit. This season, Okongwu is averaging 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across 32.0 minutes per game. He has been one of the best big men in the league and should be started in all fantasy formats. Fantasy managers should double-check their lineups and get Okongwu in there ahead of tip-off.

Keyonte George Sat Feb 7 7:00pm

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (ankle) is available to play ahead of Saturday's game against the Orlando Magic. George is returning to the court after missing the last three games due to an ankle injury. There is no word on George having a minutes limit, so fantasy managers should expect him to have his full workload. His return to the court should shift Isaiah Collier back to the second unit. Collier was playing excellently in the absence of George, but he will see a reduced role now. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups ahead of tip-off.

Jalen Smith Sat Feb 7 6:40pm

Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith (calf) is ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets. Smith will take a seat after suffering a strained right calf during Thursday's contest. His absence will leave the Bulls shorthanded, with Nikola Vucevic being moved at the trade deadline. Guerschon Yabusele and Nick Richards should be asked to pick up the slack with Smith on the sideline. Yabusele finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists during his team debut on Thursday. He's worth a look as a streaming option with Smith unavailable for this one.

Malik Monk Sat Feb 7 6:40pm

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (illness) is ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Monk is coming off an 18-point performance against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Now, he's under the weather and will miss the second leg of this back-to-back set. The Kings are expected to use a committee approach to fill the void left by Monk. Nique Clifford, Devin Carter, and Daeqwon Plowden should all see more minutes on Saturday. Among the three, Clifford is likely the best streaming choice with Monk sidelined for Saturday's slate.

Domantas Sabonis Sat Feb 7 5:10pm

Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (back) won't play on Saturday against Cleveland. He missed a few months because of a knee injury. However, the veteran will sit out his second-straight contest due to back soreness. With the Kings not looking at a postseason berth, it's unknown how much action Sabonis will see for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. As far as Saturday's game is concerned, Maxime Raynaud, averaging 11.3 points and 8.0 boards in 27 starts this season, remains in line to replace him in the rotation. Dylan Cardwell, coming off a 14-point, 14-rebound, two-block showing, should also continue to be more involved than usual.

Zach LaVine Sat Feb 7 5:00pm

Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (finger) won't play on Saturday versus Cleveland. He was ruled out because of a sore finger, although he may just be simply sitting out the second of a back-to-back to rest. With Domantas Sabonis (back) and De'Andre Hunter (eye) also unavailable, DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook are the favorites to lead the team in scoring, at least on paper. However, there's just as good of a chance that guys like Nique Clifford, Maxine Raynaud, Devin Carter, and Dylan Cardwell could be more productive.

De'Andre Hunter Sat Feb 7 4:50pm

Sacramento Kings forward De'Andre Hunter (eye) won't play on Saturday against the Cavs, his former squad. The 28-year-old has appeared in only two games since being traded by Cleveland, so it didn't take him long to miss his first contest with the club. For now, fantasy managers will need to wait and see if he'll be back on Monday in New Orleans. Without Hunter on the floor, Nique Clifford may enter the starting lineup, with the rookie averaging 6.6 points and 1.9 assists in seven starts this season.

Jakob Poeltl Sat Feb 7 3:20pm

Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (back) is questionable for Sunday's game against Indiana. The 30-year-old hasn't had a memorable 2025 campaign, averaging 9.7 points, 7.7 boards, and 0.5 blocks, all down from last season. He's also been battling a back injury, limiting him to just one appearance since mid-December. Poeltl's name was mentioned in trade rumors, although he'll remain in Toronto for at least the remainder of this season. With that in mind, Poeltl will likely be limited from a minutes standpoint if he plays. There's also a chance he won't return until after the All-Star break. Either way, the 2016 No. 9 overall pick isn't expected to be a reliable fantasy producer for the foreseeable future. While Collin Murray-Boyles should continue to see consistent action once Poeltl is up to speed, Sandro Mamukelashvili could be the odd man out at some point moving ahead.

Amen Thompson Sat Feb 7 3:20pm

Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (illness) will play on Saturday versus OKC. He's not feeling the best. While the 23-year-old will at least be available, he'll come off the bench. It's unknown how much action Thompson will see against the champs. Although he's still a must-start in season-long fantasy setups, DFS managers may want to pump the brakes. Reed Sheppard, averaging 13.4 points, 4.4 steals, 4.2 assists, and 1.0 blocks in five starts this season, will replace him in the rotation.

Kristaps Porzingis Sat Feb 7 9:10am

Golden State Warriors forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles) will sit out Saturday against the Lakers as the team continues to manage his left Achilles following a midweek trade. His next opportunity to return is Monday versus Memphis. With Porzingis unavailable, Golden State is expected to keep Draymond Green and Al Horford anchoring the frontcourt in stable roles. There is also a quiet opportunity on the wing, where Gui Santos has earned consecutive starts and averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists across his last two games.

Pelle Larsson Sat Feb 7 9:00am

Miami Heat guard/forward Pelle Larsson (elbow) did not return to Friday's loss to Boston after sustaining a right elbow contusion, finishing with zero points, five rebounds, and three assists in 12 minutes. His status for Sunday against Washington is uncertain. Should Larsson sit, Simone Fontecchio could pick up extra run, though his fantasy appeal remains tied almost entirely to scoring, while Myron Gardner is a deep-league flier only. Gardner has started two recent games, averaging 13.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in 22.5 minutes in those starts, but his role and production remain inconsistent.

Josh Hart Sat Feb 7 8:50am

New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (ankle) exited Friday's loss to Detroit in the third quarter and did not return after aggravating a right ankle injury. He posted five points, six rebounds, and two assists in 25 minutes. Hart had already been managing a left ankle issue, putting his status for Sunday against Boston in doubt. If he misses time, Landry Shamet profiles as a points and threes streamer after averaging 14.5 points and 3.8 triples over his last four games. Jordan Clarkson would see a modest usage bump, while recently acquired Jose Alvarado could carve out a role once cleared to play.


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