NBA roundup: Surging Hawks rally, top Celtics in OT
Sun Jan 19 2:24am ET
Field Level Media
Trae Young had 28 points and 11 assists to help the visiting Atlanta Hawks extend their winning streak to three games by defeating the Boston Celtics 119-115 in overtime on Saturday.
Dyson Daniels added 23 points for the Hawks, who won despite shooting 9-for-37 from 3-point range and committing 18 turnovers. Atlanta received 19 points and 13 rebounds from Onyeka Okongwu and 14 points and 13 boards from Jalen Johnson.
Young, Johnson and De'Andre Hunter (16 points) all returned after missing time because of injuries.
Boston trailed by three in overtime when Jayson Tatum missed a 3-point attempt with 6.6 seconds to play. Tatum had 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the loss.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 24 points but went 9-for-27 from the floor. Derrick White added 21 points and eight rebounds.
Suns 125, Pistons 121
Kevin Durant scored 30 of his 36 points in the second half, Devin Booker supplied 35 points and Phoenix defeated host Detroit.
Booker notched his fifth consecutive 30-point outing as the Suns won for the fifth time in six games. The Suns came back to tie the game at 89 in the third quarter behind Durant, who had 21 points in the period.
Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 21 points while Cade Cunningham had 20 points and 11 assists.
Pacers 115, 76ers 102
Pascal Siakam recorded 21 points and eight rebounds and Myles Turner chipped in 18 points and 11 boards as Indiana notched a victory over Philadelphia in Indianapolis.
Four reserves scored in double figures for Indiana, which won for the eighth time in nine games. Aaron Nesmith, Thomas Bryant and Ben Sheppard scored 12 points apiece off the Pacers' bench, while T.J. McConnell pitched in 10 points. Indiana overcame a poor game from Tyrese Haliburton, who went 1-for-7 from 3-point range and 4-for-11 overall in finishing with nine points, nine assists and five turnovers.
Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points for Philadelphia, which played without Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (groin), among others. Ricky Council IV and Kelly Oubre Jr. each contributed 18 points while rookie Adem Bona scored a career-high 12 points for the Sixers, who have lost five games in a row.
Rockets 125, Trail Blazers 103
Jalen Green scored 26 points and Alperen Sengun recorded 23 points, 15 rebounds and six assists to lead Houston to a victory over host Portland.
Dillon Brooks added 22 points and Tari Eason contributed 18 points, eight rebounds and three steals off the bench as the Rockets won for the sixth time in seven games. Cam Whitmore had 12 points and 10 boards and fellow reserve Aaron Holiday added 10 points as Houston improved to 7-1 over its past eight road games.
Scoot Henderson registered 21 points, 11 assists and three blocked shots for the Trail Blazers, who lost their fifth consecutive game. The past four defeats have come at home by an average of 22.5 points.
Cavaliers 124, Timberwolves 117
Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished seven assists, and Cleveland held on to beat Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Darius Garland finished with 29 points, five rebounds and six assists for Cleveland. Georges Niang and Ty Jerome scored 15 points apiece off the bench, and Jarrett Allen chipped in 14 points while making six of nine shots from the field.
Anthony Edwards scored 28 points on 9-for-22 shooting for Minnesota. Julius Randle scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert also notched a double-double with 17 points and 12 boards.
Warriors 122, Wizards 114
Andrew Wiggins, Stephen Curry and Dennis Schroder combined for 77 points to overpower the brilliant solo act of Jordan Poole and lift Golden State to a victory over visiting Washington in San Francisco.
Wiggins had a season-high 31 points, Curry 26 and Schroder 20 for the Warriors, who led just 104-103 after a Poole 3-pointer with 5:18 to go. Wiggins shot 12-for-22 and completed a double-double with 11 rebounds, while Schroder made seven of his 14 shots in his highest scoring game among 16 he's played since joining the Warriors in an in-season trade.
Poole was the game's leading scorer with 38 points. Kyle Kuzma had 22 points, Carlton Carrington 17, Alex Sarr 11 to go with a team-high nine rebounds and Corey Kispert 10 for the Wizards, who were opening a six-game Western swing.
- NBA roundup: Surging Hawks rally, top Celtics in OT
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- NBA roundup: Nuggets spoil Jimmy Butler's return to Heat
- Disgruntled Heat star Jimmy Butler back in action vs. Nuggets
- Sixers C Joel Embiid (knee) out another 7-10 days
- NBA roundup: Thunder clobber Cavs in battle of NBA’s best
- Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo stay atop All-Star voting
- LeBron James not involved in 'F1 for basketball' startup
- LeBron James' family remains evacuated due to wildfires
- NBA roundup: Clippers lay historic beating on Nets
- Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin gets 1-game ban for bumping ref
- Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon out vs. Rockets
- Knicks C Karl-Anthony Towns (thumb) out vs. 76ers
- Hornets trade Nick Richards to Suns for Josh Okogie
- NBA makes wildfire-related schedule updates
- NBA roundup: Bucks stop Kings’ 7-game winning streak
- Jimmy Butler reiterates to Heat that he wants to be traded
- Spurs stars bring smile to JJ Redick's kids after fire
- NBA roundup: Lakers lose, Clippers win in return to action
- Wolves G Terrence Shannon Jr. (foot) out 2-4 weeks
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) has been upgraded to available ahead of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. As expected, Middleton will play after being listed as probable coming into this contest. However, Middleton has lost his gig in the starting five which could mean slightly less playing time. Middleton has scored double digit points in four straight games, so hopefully he's trending in the right direction. Fantasy managers who have Middleton rostered can get him in their lineups ahead of tip-off.
Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (quad) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. He was tagged as questionable coming into this game, but Green has now been downgraded to out. The absence of Green should mean increased playing time for both Andre Jackson Jr. and Ryan Rollins in the rotation. Both players have been playing minutes in the teens this season, so neither has great fantasy value right now. Jackson has been starting recently, so he's the slightly better fantasy option between the two for Sunday's slate.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is available ahead of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. As expected, Antetokounmpo will play despite his lingering knee issue that he has dealt with throughout the season. He has continued to play well over 30 minutes per game, so fantasy managers should expect Antetokounmpo to have his normal workload on Sunday. In January, Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.1 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. Fantasy managers can lock in Antetokounmpo for Sunday's slate.
Milwaukee Bucks forward MarJon Beauchamp (illness) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. This marks the second game in a row that Beauchamp has been forced to miss due to an illness. His absence isn't extremely noteworthy given the fact he's only averaging 4.2 minutes per game this season. The loss of Beauchamp probably won't give anyone much of a boost in the rotation and he remains off the fantasy radar.
Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Johnson has missed each of the last two games and is in danger of missing a third due to an ankle sprain. Luckily, fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried as this appears to be a day-to-day type of issue. If he sits, Ziaire Williams figures to remain in the starting five on Sunday. He put together a decent performance on Friday with 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists against the Los Angeles Lakers. Williams is worth a look as a low-end streaming choice if Johnson is unable to go on Sunday.
Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Utah Jazz. Harris has only played one game this month and continues to miss time due to a lingering hamstring injury. This absence isn't going to have a huge impact on the rotation considering he was only playing minutes in the teens. Tristan Da Silva, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Cole Anthony should all see a slight boost in value with Harris remaining on the sideline.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (calf) will undergo an MRI on Sunday, according to head coach Steve Kerr. The 34-year-old missed three games because of an illness heading into Saturday's win over the Washington Wizards. Unfortunately, he injured his calf after getting cleared to suit up and logged only three minutes to finish the night. Based on Green's history, there's a realistic chance he'll miss time. If that's the case, Kevon Looney, who had 10 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks versus the Wizards, may find himself spending more time on the floor.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (ankle) exited Saturday's victory over the Washington Wizards and didn't return. The 36-year-old played nearly the entire contest before tweaking his left ankle, ending the night with 26 points while shooting a rough 4-for-14 from behind the arc. Luckily, Curry reported after the game that he "feels great" and plans to suit up when the Warriors play the Celtics on Monday. Fantasy managers should still expect to see him on the injury report heading into that one. However, it appears he'll be good to go. But if Curry isn't out there versus the champs, Dennis Schroder, Buddy Hield, and Andrew Wiggins should pick up most of the slack on the scoring end.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) is expected to play on Sunday against Orlando. He spent lengthy stints on the shelf twice this season because of a calf injury. As a result, head coach Mike Malone is taking things slow, with the 29-year-old logging 22 minutes or less in three appearances since returning to the lineup. Although Gordon hit the double-digit scoring mark in two of those games, he's hard to trust from a fantasy standpoint until he returns to the starting lineup and receives his pre-injury workload.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (elbow) is probable for Saturday's contest versus the Magic. The multi-time MVP recently missed a few games because of an illness. He was also sidelined for the January 15 meeting with the Houston Rockets because of a sprained elbow. Fortunately, Jokic was back on the floor for Friday's clash with the Miami Heat, finishing with a 24-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. If for some reason he suffers a setback and can't suit up, DeAndre Jordan, averaging 6.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals in two starts during the 2024-25 campaign, will be an attractive streaming option.
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (concussion protocol) won't play on Sunday versus the Denver Nuggets. The 25-year-old exited a recent meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers because of a hip contusion. However, he also began developing concussion-like symptoms, costing him Orlando's previous two contests. Without Bitadze in the equation, Wendell Carter Jr., averaging a decent 8.5 points and 7.7 rebounds in 21 starts this season, should continue to fill the void in the lineup against a Nuggets squad that has struggled on the defensive end this season.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (wrist) is questionable for Sunday's game versus the visiting Nets. The 26-year-old was a late addition to the injury report heading into Friday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks. However, he was ultimately downgraded, missing his first game of the 2024-25 campaign. Aaron Wiggins entered the starting lineup and finished with 12 points, six boards, and one steal. But as expected, Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams led the way, with the duo combining for 37 points. That will likely remain the same on Sunday if Gilgeous-Alexander can't get on the floor.
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (back) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Zubac will join the long list of Clippers players that are uncertain to play on Sunday. Zubac hasn't missed a game all season, so it seems unlikely that he'd sit out due to lower back soreness. If he does, Mo Bamba and Nicolas Batum would be asked to play bigger roles in the rotation. Neither player has brought much to the table this season, but Bamba is the better streaming option due to his rebounding ability.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. It appears Leonard is ready to return from his one-game absence due to knee injury management. His return to the court is a welcoming sight with the Clippers having a handful of players on the injury report. Both James Harden (illness) and Norman Powell (back) are in danger of sitting out this game. If that happens, Leonard will be asked to do the heavy lifting on offense, but he might still be somewhat limited given he has only played in four games this season. Regardless, fantasy managers in season-long formats can go ahead and get Leonard active on Sunday.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (calf) has been ruled out for the rest of Saturday's game against the Washington Wizards. Green made his return to the lineup on Saturday after missing three games due to an illness. Sadly, Green wasn't able to last long in the game before exiting due to left calf tightness. The Warriors have ruled him out for the rest of the contest, but hopefully it won't be a lengthy absence for Green. Gui Santos started in Green's place on Wednesday and should see more minutes with him unavailable the rest of the night.
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (illness) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Harden only missed two games this season, so it seems unlikely that he'll sit out due to an illness. Although, the severity of the illness is unknown at the moment, so fantasy managers will have to check back for another update. Terance Mann could be asked to move into the starting five if Harden is unable to go. Also, Bones Hyland and Kevin Porter Jr. would likely be asked to play more on Sunday. None of them have really brought much to the table this season in terms of fantasy value.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (back) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. This is not good news considering the Clippers already have a handful of players on the injury report. Powell has really stepped up this season with Kawhi Leonard (knee) being unavailable for most of the season. It's worth noting that Leonard has been removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's game. That being said, Powell is likely to take a backseat in terms of scoring with Leonard on the court. Fantasy managers should still be able to get positive results from Powell, but his value might take a dip with Leonard back in the mix.
Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Thompson was questionable coming into this game, but has been downgraded to out due to a calf issue. The loss of Thompson leaves a significant hole in the rotation given the fact Thompson has been playing almost 40 minutes regularly in the month of January. The assumption is that Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, and Dillon Brooks will all see more playing time with Thompson unavailable. Eason probably isn't the best fantasy option right now given he'll likely be limited on Saturday. That being said, Brooks and Whitmore are probably the safer streaming options for Saturday's slate.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Houston Rockets. This now marks the third game in a row that Avdija will be forced to miss due to an ankle injury. When healthy, Avdija has been a solid contributor, especially in this month, but he'll miss at least one more game due to an ankle sprain. Scoot Henderson has been playing increased minutes lately with the Blazers banged up. Fellow forward Jerami Grant (face) is a game-time decision for this game. If active, Grant is likely to absorb more playing time which would give Henderson less streaming appeal. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update before tip-off.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (shoulder) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Cavs are likely going to be shorthanded here with Evan Mobley (calf) unavailable as well. That means, Georges Niang, Dean Wade, and Max Strus should all see increased roles in the rotation. None of these players are great fantasy options, but Strus is probably the best streaming choice of the three. He probably offers the most upside as the shooter between the bunch.
