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.
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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.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) has been listed as available for Monday's contest against the San Antonio Spurs. Initially, the team listed him as probable for the action. A small question mark hung over Finney-Smith after he logged 36 minutes in Sunday's matchup against the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers are currently battling injuries in the frontcourt, giving Finney-Smith a chance to show his worth. The veteran contributed across the board in Sunday's 107-96 win, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal.
Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Toumani Camara (calf) will exit the lineup on Monday against the Washington Wizards. He will miss only his third game of the season after hurting his right calf. Portland initially listed Camara as questionable for the game due to right calf soreness. Kris Murray will fill the vacant spot in the starting lineup on Monday. It has been a disappointing campaign for Murray, and even as a starter, he has not made a big impact, averaging 8.5 points with 2.5 rebounds.
Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama (calf) has been downgraded to out ahead of Monday's tip-off against the Sacramento Kings. He was initially deemed doubtful for the game, so it was always likely that Aldama would miss a sixth consecutive contest. His next chance to return will be on Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Brandon Clarke and Lamar Stevens carry a heavier workload with Aldama absent from the lineup.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf, ankle) is ready to rejoin the action on Monday against the Golden State Warriors. He has been cleared to return after sitting out the second leg of a back-to-back on Saturday against the Washington Wizards. With Nikola Jokic (elbow, ankle), Jamal Murray (ankle), and Christian Braun (foot) out, Gordon is expected to handle a much heavier offensive workload than usual. He has been extremely efficient since the All-Star break, averaging 17.9 points per game with 56.1 percent shooting.
Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post (ankle) will be active on Monday against the Denver Nuggets. He has shaken off a questionable tag that Post received on the initial injury report due to ankle soreness. Post will go up against a Denver frontcourt that will be without Nikola Jokic (elbow, ankle), which puts him in a favorable position to perform well. Over his last five appearances, Post has averaged 8.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 21.2 minutes per game.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (wrist) will be inactive against the Sacramento Kings on Monday. He is nursing a sore left wrist and has been ruled out for the contest after initially being considered questionable. Pippen Jr. has been among Memphis' most durable players and will be out for only the second time this season. Ja Morant (hamstring) is also sidelined, so the Grizzlies' backcourt will primarily depend on Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard. Additionally, Vince Williams Jr. may see an uptick in minutes off the bench.
Denver Nuggets guard/forward Christian Braun (foot) will be unavailable on Monday against the Golden State Warriors. He was expected to play, as the team had given him a probable designation on the initial injury report, but Denver has now ruled him out for the game. This will mark only his second absence of the season. The Nuggets will also be without Jamal Murray (ankle) and Nikola Jokic (elbow, ankle), leaving Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon (calf), who is expected to return to the lineup, as the only regular starters available. Both are poised to play a significant role on the offensive end alongside Russell Westbrook.
Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (ankle) will not play on Monday against the Golden State Warriors. He has been ruled out due to a right ankle sprain. The Nuggets will head out without Murray for the first time since Feb. 6. Nikola Jokic (elbow, ankle) will also have the night off, so Russell Westbrook, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordonwill take charge of the offense. At the same time, Jalen Pickett and Hunter Tyson could get more work off the bench.
Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (back) is set to play in Monday's matchup against the Denver Nuggets. The Warriors leader is dealing with a lower back strain but has been listed as active for the contest. It remains to be seen whether Curry will also be healthy enough to play on Tuesday when Golden State completes a back-to-back against the Milwaukee Bucks. In recent weeks, Curry has taken his play to a new level, averaging 26.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists this month.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (elbow, ankle) will not be in the lineup for Monday's game against the Golden State Warriors. The Serbian superstar will be absent for only the seventh time this season as he continues to deal with an elbow contusion and an ankle impingement. Zeke Nnaji's fantasy stock will receive a big boost with Jokic's absence, while the rest of the frontcourt is also expected to do significantly more to make up for Jokic's loss.
Washington Wizards guard Marcus Smart (illness) will not return to the lineup on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers. There was initially hope that he could be back after missing one game due to an illness, but the team has downgraded Smart's status from questionable to out. Fellow veterans Malcolm Brogdon (ankle) and Corey Kispert (thumb) are also sidelined for Monday's game, putting rookies Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, and AJ Johnson in a position to eat up as many minutes as they can.
Washington Wizards guard/forward Corey Kispert (thumb) will be sidelined for at least two games. After injuring his left thumb during Saturday's defeat against the Denver Nuggets, Kispert has returned to Washington for an examination by team doctors. The Wizards will finish a seven-game road trip this week, facing the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night before heading to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. Bub Carrington and AJ Johnson look set to receive more playing time off the bench with Kispert out.
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (foot, illness) will be in the lineup on Monday against the Chicago Bulls. The veteran sat out the first leg of a back-to-back against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. In Monday's game, Clarkson should continue to provide secondary scoring off the bench. His season has been heavily interrupted by health issues, but he has performed well when on the floor, averaging 16.5 points with 3.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (ankle) will sit out Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls. He is managing a left ankle injury and won't be available following a 34-minute shift against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Sexton's exit from the lineup will create more opportunities for Keyonte George (foot, illness) and Jordan Clarkson (foot, illness), both of whom are returning on Monday. Isaiah Collier will also continue to have a big role in the backcourt.
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (foot, illness) has received the green light to return to the lineup on Monday against the Chicago Bulls. He has missed four games due to a foot contusion while also battling an illness. George scored a season-high 33 points when the Bulls and Jazz clashed for the first time this season in early November. His recent form has also been good, as the 21-year-old has averaged 20.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in March.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (toe) will be available on Monday against the Utah Jazz. He has been cleared to play after the team initially considered White probable for the contest. With Josh Giddey (ankle) and Lonzo Ball (wrist) on the shelf, White's availability is crucial for the Bulls. He has been leading the backcourt lately, averaging 28.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in March. White also showed off fine form in this season's first clash with the Jazz, hitting 6-for-9 from deep en route to 28 points in a 135-126 loss on Nov. 4.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (ankle) will take the court on Monday against the Chicago Bulls. He was initially listed as questionable on the injury report after Markkanen played 26 minutes in Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Markkanen is ready to make his fourth consecutive appearance on Monday night, but the team has limited his workload lately. Since missing nine games due to a back issue, Markkanen has averaged only 24.3 minutes across three contests, scoring 15.3 points and grabbing 4.0 rebounds.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (foot) will remain on the shelf for Monday's encounter with the Toronto Raptors. He is nursing a left foot strain. Due to Allen's absence, Collin Gillespie has entered the rotation lately, while Ryan Dunn and Royce O'Neale are also in a position to log a few extra shifts. Following a lengthy slump, Dunn has averaged 14.5 points and 3.5 steals over the past two games. O'Neale provides more consistent production, though his fantasy potential is limited.
