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.
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (illness) is not listed on the injury report for Saturday's matchup against the Houston Rockets. Ahead of Wednesday's Game 2 of the series, Podziemski was a late addition to the report due to a stomach bug. He was upgraded from questionable to available shortly before the game started, but Podziemski logged only 14 minutes of playing time, going 0-for-5 from the field. Having Podziemski back at 100 percent would be a big boost for the Warriors. The 22-year-old sophomore began the playoffs with an impressive performance, recording 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals during a 95-85 victory in Game 1.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (pelvis) has officially been listed as questionable for Game 3 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. On Friday, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that "there's a chance he plays" after the veteran forward suffered a hard fall in Wednesday's Game 2. "I'm relatively optimistic," Kerr said. "I mean, Jimmy is Jimmy. We know he's willing to play through anything, so we'll see. I mean, this is a day-to-day thing for sure, and we'll see how he feels tomorrow, but I think there's a chance he plays." Jonathan Kuminga is expected to fill most of Butler III's minutes if he can't play on Saturday.
Houston Rockets center Jock Landale (knee) will remain absent on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors. He was seen going through drills and moving well during Friday's practice, but the team has ruled him out for a third consecutive contest. Landale's next opportunity to return will be on Monday night. However, even if he is back in the lineup, Landale is not expected to have a significant role in the rotation with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams healthy.
Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors. The versatile veteran will be sidelined for a fifth consecutive game due to an ankle injury. Tate averaged only 11.3 minutes per game over 52 regular-season contests and is not expected to have a regular role in the rotation during the playoffs. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has mainly relied on Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Steven Adams to generate production off the bench.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (knee) has been ruled available for Friday night's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Brown hasn't missed any games this series and put up a strong performance in Game 2 with 36 points and 10 rebounds. He likely won't have that same level of production tonight given Jayson Tatum's return to the lineup, but fantasy managers and DFS players should expect him to have a productive night as long as confidence from Game 2 carries over.
Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love (personal) will miss Saturday's Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The veteran big man, who won the championship with the Cavaliers in 2016, remains away from the team for personal reasons. Miami's frontcourt has relied heavily on Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware recently, while Nikola Jovic also re-entered the rotation in Game 2, scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds off the bench. Jovic played six more minutes than Ware and may have a significant role to fill again on Saturday.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (hamstring) has been ruled out for Friday night's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Holiday appears to have strained his hamstring during Game 2 as he hasn't been listed on the injury report prior to today. The 34-year-old hasn't been putting up many points this series but has been facilitating well with five assists in Game 1 and six assists in Game 2. In Holiday's absence, veteran big man Al Horford will get the start. Horford also got the start in Game 2 filling in for the injured Jayson Tatum and put up nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds. With Tatum back in the lineup Horford may not grab 10 rebounds again, but he should be able to provide some small value to fantasy managers and DFS players looking to take a shot.
Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier (ankle) will remain sidelined for Saturday's clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He sprained his left ankle at the start of the week and was unable to participate in Friday's practice. Even if he returns to the lineup for Game 4, it is not guaranteed that Rozier will see any minutes, as he has been a major disappointment for Miami this season. Duncan Robinson and Pelle Larsson filled the backup guard minutes in Wednesday's Game 2 after Davion Mitchell moved into the starting lineup.
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland (toe) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 3 matchup against the Miami Heat. The two-time All-Star missed some time toward the end of the regular season due to a left great toe sprain and is back on the injury report with the same issue. Garland has been off to a hot start in the postseason, averaging 24.0 points and 7.0 assists while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. His absence will definitely be felt if Cleveland rules him out for the contest. Ty Jerome, who was fantastic in Game 1 with 28 points, would likely take on a larger role in the rotation without Garland.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (Achilles) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kennard is dealing with soreness in his right Achilles. The 28-year-old has not been very productive against the Thunder, scoring just 14 total points in 63 minutes. With Memphis fighting for their playoff lives on Saturday, and Ja Morant already ruled out, there could be a chance that Kennard sees more volume as the Grizzlies fight with desperation. However, the ceiling doesn't appear to be all that high. Fantasy managers and DFS players should be able to find better options elsewhere.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (wrist) has upgraded to available for Friday night's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Tatum missed Game 2 with the injury but is set to return and help the Celtics take a 3-0 lead over Orlando. The 27-year-old was underwhelming in Game 1 compared to his norms, putting up just 17 points and making just one three-pointer, though he did grab 14 rebounds. With a few days of rest under his belt, Tatum should be in much better position to make a bigger impact on Friday. Fantasy managers and DFS players should feel free to fire away and get him in their lineups.
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (shoulder) has been tagged as questionable for Saturday's Game 3 against the Houston Rockets. He hurt his right shoulder during Wednesday's Game 2 loss. The defensive pest has averaged 3.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 14.0 minutes against the Rockets in the series. Payton II's absence from the lineup would open extra minutes for Buddy Hield. The Warriors may even consider using Pat Spencer more after his impressive 11-point effort on 5-for-7 shooting in Wednesday's game.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (face) is available for Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The listing isn't surprising as Hachimura has been able to suit up for games one and two. The 27-year-old has been consistent through the first two games of the series, averaging 10 PPG and five RPG. He logged 34 minutes in game two and should see a similar amount of minutes tonight as long as the Lakers are able to keep it close. Fantasy managers and DFS managers may be able to find better options for tonight's slate of games given the expected low-scoring game in Minnesota.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (hip) is not expected to be in the lineup for Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. Sources have told ESPN that Morant will miss Game 4 due to the left hip injury he suffered in Thursday's Game 3 loss. Following his exit from Thursday's game, Morant was spotted on crutches in the tunnel, and he was unable to practice on Friday. Memphis received excellent minutes from Scotty Pippen Jr. in Thursday's loss, and his role is poised to grow even larger in Saturday's game. Meanwhile, Luke Kennard is anticipated to take Morant's spot in the starting lineup. The three-point specialist averaged 12.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals while starting during the regular season.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (glute) was diagnosed with a deep glute contusion after his MRI didn't show any fractures or structural damage. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the six-time All-Star is in "serious jeopardy" of missing Game 3 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Butler was going up for a rebound and was undercut by Amen Thompson before falling straight on his glute/lower back, so the fact that the MRI didn't reveal any serious damage is a breath of relief for the Warriors. If he's unable to play, Jonathan Kuminga could see some big minutes again, while Quinten Post will likely see an increase in usage as well.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (knee) was a late addition to the injury report for Game 3 against the Orlando Magic, and his status was set at questionable. He's dealing with a knee issue, which could put the Celtics shorthanded. Jayson Tatum (wrist) is considered doubtful, and Jrue Holiday (hamstring) is also listed as questionable. Brown contributed 36 points and 10 rebounds in their Game 2 victory while Tatum was sidelined, so that production is going to fall on the rest of the team if he can't suit up. Payton Pritchard would likely join the starting lineup in that case, while Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet likely see a bump in minutes as well.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham collected his third consecutive double-double in the 118-116 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 3. In the first postseason run of his career, Cunningham has provided some big-time stats, but has shown the youth in his game with 17 total turnovers. On Thursday, he posted 24 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, four steals, two blocks, and six turnovers. His shooting was a bit shaky after going 10-for-25 from the floor and 2-for-5 from deep, but Cunningham is the engine of the entire Pistons' offense in more ways than just scoring. He'll look to help the Pistons even up the series on Sunday in Game 4.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson registered another 30-point game en route to a 118-116 win in Game 3 over the Detroit Pistons. The Villanova product finished the game with 30 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, one block, and one turnover. He shot 9-for-20 from the floor, 1-for-7 from beyond the arc, and 11-for-13 from the charity stripe. His three-point shooting has left a lot to be desired through three games (29.2%), but his ability to get to the rim and to the free-throw line has allowed him to average a red-hot 33.7 points per game. He'll look to keep up his scoring ways in Game 4 on Sunday.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns posted his best offensive performance of the first-round series on Thursday. The former Timberwolf registered 31 points, eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks while shooting 10-for-18 from the floor and 4-for-8 from three. After dropping Game 2 at home, the Knicks needed this two-point victory to gain their home-court advantage again. This game bumped Towns' averages up to 21.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. Game 4 tips off on Sunday in Detroit before returning to New York for at least one game.
Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 13 assists and 13 rebounds in a 83-117 loss to the Clippers on Thursday, Apr. 24.
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