NBA roundup: Wizards shock Nuggets on late 3-pointer
Sun Mar 16 3:01am ET
Field Level Media
Jordan Poole swished a 35-foot, 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left to give the visiting Washington Wizards a stunning 126-123 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.
Poole had time to move closer but stopped well behind the 3-point line and hoisted the successful shot that gave the Eastern Conference-worst Wizards (15-51) a two-game season sweep of the Nuggets. Alex Sarr scored a career-high 34 points for Washington, which is 6-4 over its last 10 games.
It was a wild ending as Kyshawn George drilled a wide-open 3-pointer to give Washington a 123-121 lead with 10 seconds remaining. Denver's Jamal Murray (24 points, seven assists and four steals) hit a tying 15-footer with 5.7 seconds left before the final sequence.
Nikola Jokic had 40 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists for Denver (43-25). Russell Westbrook had 22 points and 11 assists for the Nuggets. Westbrook became the 21st player in NBA history to top 26,000 points. He finished the night with 26,013.
Celtics 115, Nets 113
Kristaps Porzingis returned from a viral infection and scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as visiting Boston continued its recent dominance over Brooklyn by holding on for a victory in New York.
After missing eight games, Porzingis helped the Celtics improve to 13-1 in their last 14 regular-season meetings with the Nets. Jayson Tatum added 20 as the Celtics won for the seventh time in eight games
The Nets lost for the 10th time in 11 games after their late comeback bid fell short. Cameron Johnson scored 23 points to lead Brooklyn and Keon Johnson added 21 as Brooklyn shot 46.7 percent and hit 20 3-pointers.
Rockets 117, Bulls 114
Jalen Green scored a game-high 28 points, helping lead Houston to a victory over visiting Chicago.
Alperen Sengun added 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet finished with 23 points and seven assists, as Houston won its sixth straight game. Dillon Brooks' 13 points and Jabari Smith Jr.'s 12 rounded out the balanced scoring night for the Rockets' starters.
Chicago had its four-game winning streak snapped, despite Coby White's 23 points and Tre Jones' 19. Nikola Vucevic chipped in 15 points in the loss.
Bucks 126, Pacers 119
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 10 rebounds as Milwaukee held off visiting Indiana.
The win could prove crucial in NBA playoff tiebreakers. The teams entered the game tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee won the season series over the Pacers, taking three of the four matchups.
Damian Lillard had 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks and was 6-for-12 from 3-point range. Aaron Nesmith had a career-high 30 points for the Pacers and Pascal Siakam had 26. Tyrese Haliburton posted 24 points and 15 assists.
Thunder 113, Pistons 107
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 48 points and visiting Oklahoma City outlasted Detroit to continue its winning ways.
Cason Wallace had 20 points and Isaiah Hartenstein added 12 with 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who have won nine of their last 10.
Detroit All-Star Cade Cunningham was ejected late in the third quarter for arguing with the officials. He matched his season low of 11 points to go with nine assists and seven rebounds. The Pistons were assessed a total of five technicals in the quarter.
Warriors 97, Knicks 94
Moses Moody broke a tie with 2:26 to go, Draymond Green added a back-breaking hoop with 25 seconds left and Golden State tightened the defensive screws on New York down the stretch in San Francisco.
Stephen Curry led the way with 28 points for the Warriors, who won their seventh straight. Moody finished with 18 points, while Jimmy Butler chipped in with 11 points, six rebounds and a game high-tying seven assists.
Shooting 12-for-21, Karl-Anthony Towns had a game-high 29 points for the Knicks, who closed out a 2-3 Western swing. OG Anunoby totaled 23 points, nine rebounds and three steals, while Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride contributed 19 points apiece.
Grizzlies 125, Heat 91
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 31 points and Desmond Bane added 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to lead Memphis past visiting Miami.
Brandon Clarke scored 12 points, Zach Edey contributed 12 points and eight rebounds and Scotty Pippen Jr. had 11 points and 11 assists off the bench for Memphis, which won for the fifth time in six games. The Grizzlies improved to 10-3 when playing the second game of a back-to back.
Kel'el Ware led the Heat with 19 points and 11 rebounds and Bam Adebayo had 18 points and six boards. Kyle Anderson finished with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists off the bench for Miami, which has lost seven in a row.
Spurs 119, Pelicans 115
Devin Vassell scored 22 points, including a key 3-pointer with 1:03 to play, as host San Antonio held off New Orleans.
The Spurs have won two of their past three outings and pulled within four games of 10th-place Dallas for a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament with 16 contests left in the regular season. Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson added 19 points apiece for San Antonio.
New Orleans' CJ McCollum led all scorers with 26 points and added a game-high nine assists, while Trey Murphy III had 20 points. The Pelicans lost for the sixth time in seven games and played without Zion Williamson, who missed the game for personal reasons.
- NBA roundup: Wizards shock Nuggets on late 3-pointer
- SuperSonics icon Donald "Slick" Watts dies at age 73
- Nets G Cam Thomas suffers season-ending hamstring injury
- NBA investigating Thunder's use of players
- NBA roundup: Cavs win franchise-record 16th straight
- Lakers PG Luka Doncic (ankle, calf) out vs. Nuggets
- 76ers sign Oshae Brissett for help at forward
- NBA roundup: Stephen Curry sinks 4,000th 3-pointer
- Spurs G De'Aaron Fox set for season-ending surgery
- 76ers F Paul George considering medical procedure
- Wizards G Bilal Coulibaly (hamstring) out 4-6 weeks
- NBA roundup: Surging Thunder prevail at Boston
- Former Arkansas, NBA C Oliver Miller dies at 54
- Jazz fined $100K for holding Lauri Markkanen out of games
- NBA roundup: Cavs tie team record with 15th straight win
- Former Bucks player, part-owner Junior Bridgeman dies at 71
- NBA roundup: Nets upend Lakers to halt 7-game slide
- Pelicans to play NBA’s first games in Australia in 2025 preseason
- Rockets F Amen Thompson (ankle) to miss 2 weeks
- NBA roundup: Thunder rout Nuggets for 7th straight win
Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (thumb) will be out for the remainder of the regular season. The team announced that Sims underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and is expected to miss approximately four weeks. The Bucks will wrap up their regular-season schedule on April 13, making it unlikely Sims will return to action before the postseason. In its press release, the team noted that Sims would "likely return for the playoffs." Since moving to Milwaukee in a trade deadline deal with the New York Knicks, Sims has done a decent job as a backup big for the Bucks, averaging 2.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game. However, fantasy managers likely won't miss him much.
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (hamstring) will be unavailable for at least one week. The former All-Star sat out Monday's contest against the Toronto Raptors due to a left hamstring injury, and Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer noted that Beal will be re-evaluated in one week. With Beal sidelined, Collin Gillespie received the starting nod for the first time in his NBA career. However, he was not very impactful in the game, finishing a blowout victory with three points, two rebounds, and two assists in 16 minutes. Tyus Jones probably has the most to gain from Beal's absence, considering he rolled with the starters for the first few months of the season before Beal bumped him to the bench.
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (shoulder) has been ruled out for the rest of the 2024-25 season. The 24-year-old injured his right shoulder in Monday's matchup against the Detroit Pistons and has been diagnosed with a torn labrum and partial tear of the rotator cuff in his shoulder. This marks a very sad ending to a big year for Murphy III, who averaged career highs in multiple categories, including points (21.2), rebounding (5.1), and assists (3.5). With Murphy III done for the year, Jordan Hawkins, Jose Alvarado, and Bruce Brown are likely to receive more playing opportunities for the rest of the way.
Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry may sit out Tuesday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. Following Monday's 114-105 loss to a short-handed Denver Nuggets, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr noted that Curry needs rest. "He's tired," Kerr said after Curry logged 35 minutes against the Nuggets. "Steph's been carrying us for a month. He's been amazing. He's tired, so we got to get him some rest. Just you can see it. He doesn't have his energy right now." Curry was limited to 20 points on horrible 6-for-21 shooting Monday night. Brandin Podziemski (back) is expected to return on Tuesday and could slot straight into Curry's spot in the starting lineup. Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green are expected to take on more playmaking duties if Curry sits out the game.
Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball (wrist) is probable to face the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. He is nursing a sore right wrist. If Ball is cleared for the action, he looks set to take on a massive load offensively, as Miles Bridges (rest) will not be in the lineup. Ball has put up sensational numbers in seven games without Bridges this season, averaging 37.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. If Ball encounters a setback and cannot play, Nick Smith Jr. and Seth Curry will be asked to contribute more.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (Achilles) is considered probable for Tuesday's matchup against LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets. The two exciting playmakers are set to go head-to-head despite Young dealing with an Achilles problem. However, this has been the case all year, so fantasy managers should not read too much into it. Young ended a shooting slump on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets, racking up 28 points and 12 assists with a 9-for-18 effort from the field. He has averaged 29.0 points and 9.0 assists with 41.5 percent shooting in the matchup against Charlotte this season.
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (rest) will not be in action on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks. He will sit out the game for rest purposes. It's a busy week for the Hornets, who begin a stretch of four games in six days Tuesday night. Nick Smith Jr. may return to the first unit against Atlanta, while Wendell Moore Jr. and Marcus Garrett (back) are also options to start in place of Bridges. Additionally, LaMelo Ball (wrist) and Mark Williams are expected to get more offensive touches.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (groin) is listed as probable for Tuesday's clash against the Golden State Warriors. The veteran star is battling a groin issue. However, Lillard has not missed any of the last 12 games, so he will likely be back out on the court Tuesday night. After collecting three consecutive double-doubles, Lillard had a tough outing in Sunday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, finishing with 19 points and two assists. He was fire in this season's first meeting with the Warriors, tallying 38 points in a 125-111 loss on Feb. 10.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (foot) may sit out a second consecutive game on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers, as he has been listed as questionable on the injury report. The talented big man is trying to overcome a right foot contusion. If Mobley can't return on Tuesday, De'Andre Hunter will likely remain in the first unit. He had a bad time against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, notching only nine points on 2-for-11 shooting, but it has been a good campaign for Hunter. The former Atlanta Hawk is averaging a career-high 17.6 points, despite being a starter in only eight of his 51 appearances.
Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown (knee) will not suit up for Tuesday's action against the Brooklyn Nets. Brown made an early exit against the Nets on Saturday due to back spasms but is again on the injury report with a right knee posterior impingement. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP has regularly played through the injury in recent weeks, but he will take the night off on Tuesday. Sam Hauser is likely to grab Brown's spot in the starting lineup, while Payton Pritchard will have an opportunity to contribute more off the bench. Over his previous 14 starts this season, Hauser has averaged 12.0 points and 4.0 rebounds.
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is probable for Tuesday's matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Milwaukee continues to list the Greek superstar on the injury report, but Antetokounmpo has not sat out any action since returning from a calf injury on Feb. 20. He is currently on the report with right patella tendinopathy. Antetokounmpo finished off last week with his 52nd career triple-double against the Oklahoma City Thunder and will aim for a fifth straight double-double in Tuesday's contest.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (knee) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. As the playoffs approach, Tatum has begun sitting out games this month to manage a knee injury and might also miss Tuesday's matchup. With Jaylen Brown (knee) already sidelined, players like Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard may be asked to carry the offense. Additionally, Al Horford is expected to enter the starting lineup if Tatum is unavailable.
Denver's G Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds in a 114-105 win over Golden State on Monday, Mar. 17.
Denver Nuggets' F Aaron Gordon scored 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting in a 114-105 win over Golden State on Monday, Mar. 17. Gordon is owned in only 56.6% leagues.
Memphis' G Desmond Bane scored 44 points on 15-of-25 shooting in a 122-132 loss to Sacramento on Monday, Mar. 17.
Rockets' F Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting in a 144-137 win over the 76ers on Monday, Mar. 17. Smith Jr. is owned in only 68.5% leagues.
Philadelphia 76ers' G Quentin Grimes recorded a double-double, scoring 46 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in a 137-144 loss to Houston on Monday, Mar. 17.
New York's F Josh Hart recorded a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 11 assists and 13 rebounds in a 116-95 win over the Heat on Monday, Mar. 17.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (knee) will miss a 10th consecutive game on Monday against the San Antonio Spurs but is progressing in his recovery from left knee tendinopathy. Before Monday's game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters that Hachimura has progressed to three-on-three work. The Japanese forward remains day-to-day. Hachimura's next chance to return will be a back-to-back set on Wednesday and Thursday against the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks. Considering he has been out for three weeks, the Lakers may ease Hachimura back into action, limiting his fantasy appeal.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (ankle) will stay in the lineup for Monday's game against the San Antonio Spurs. He is good to go on Monday night despite logging a hefty 40-minute shift on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns. With LeBron James (groin) sidelined, Doncic has teamed up with Austin Reaves to form a highly potent offensive duo. The two combined for 61 points and 14 assists in Sunday's 107-96 victory.
