NBA roundup: Austin Reaves pours in career-high 51 points as Lakers top Kings
Mon Oct 27 1:37am ET
Field Level Media
Austin Reaves exploded for a career-high 51 points, Deandre Ayton complemented 22 points with a game-high 15 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers, playing without injured stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James, downed host Sacramento 127-120 on Sunday night.
Taking the leading role after Doncic was a late scratch due to finger and lower-leg injuries, Reaves surpassed his previous NBA best of 45 points set last February against the Indiana Pacers. He also found time for 11 rebounds and nine assists, missing what could have been his fourth career triple-double by a single assist.
Rui Hachimura finished with 18 points, while LaRavia and Marcus Smart chipped in with 11 apiece for the Lakers, who played a third straight game without James, out with a back issue.
Zach LaVine paced Sacramento with 32 points, while Domantas Sabonis (10 points, 14 rebounds) and Dennis Schroder (18 points, 12 assists) posted double-doubles.
Spurs 118, Nets 107
Victor Wembanyama totaled 31 points and 14 rebounds and keyed a late run as host San Antonio beat Brooklyn to stay undefeated.
Rookie Dylan Harper added 20 points and eight assists for the Spurs (3-0) in the win, with Keldon Johnson scoring 19, Devin Vassell hitting for 16 and Julian Champagnie and Stephon Castle tallying 13 points apiece.
Cam Thomas poured in 40 points to carry the Nets (0-3) but had little help. Michael Porter Jr. added 16 for Brooklyn and Nic Claxton went for 10.
Mavericks 139, Raptors 129
Anthony Davis had 25 points and 10 rebounds to lead Dallas to a victory over visiting Toronto.
D'Angelo Russell had 24 points off the bench, while starter Cooper Flagg added 22 points for the Mavericks, who earned their first win of the season following consecutive home losses. P.J. Washington and Max Christie scored 17 points apiece, Naji Marshall added 12 and Klay Thompson poured in 10 for Dallas, which shot 58.8% from the field, compared to Toronto's 49% clip.
Scottie Barnes had 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to pace the Raptors, followed by Brandon Ingram's 22 points and RJ Barrett and Sandro Mamukelashvili's 16 apiece. Immanuel Quickley scored 14 points but made just 1 of 7 3-point attempts. Quickley is 2-for-18 (11.1%) from long distance through three games.
Clippers 114, Trail Blazers 107
Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points with 10 rebounds and Ivica Zubac added 21 points with eight boards as Los Angeles won for the second time in two home games with a victory over Portland.
James Harden added 20 points with 13 assists and John Collins scored 16 points as the Clippers continued to distance themselves from a season-opening road loss on Wednesday against the Utah Jazz. Los Angeles extended its winning streak to 12 games over Portland.
Deni Avdija scored 23 points and Jrue Holiday added 21 as the Trail Blazers fell in their second game under interim head coach Tiago Splitter. Head coach Chauncey Billups is out indefinitely after he was arrested on charges connected to an FBI gambling investigation. Shaedon Sharpe scored 19 points, Jerami Grant added 17 and Donovan Clingan had 10 rebounds for Portland.
Pistons 119, Celtics 113
Cade Cunningham had 25 points and eight assists as Detroit won its home opener, downing Boston.
Jalen Duren scored 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for the Pistons. Duren had been ejected from Detroit's previous game at Houston for throwing a flagrant elbow. Ausar Thompson contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Tobias Harris added 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 41 points. Payton Pritchard had 21 points and 10 rebounds, Derrick White added 15 points and Anfernee Simons chipped in 12.
Heat 115, Knicks 107
Norman Powell scored 29 points to lead Miami to a home-opening win over New York.
Bam Adebayo scored 19 points and grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds for the Heat. Their reserves outscored the Knicks' bench 44-21, led by Jaime Jaquez Jr. with 17 points. Miami also dominated on fast-break points, 31-10.
Jalen Brunson led New York with a game-high 37 points on 14-of-26 shooting. He made 5 of 11 from three, dished out seven assists and led an 18-5 fourth-quarter run that ultimately fell short. The Knicks also got 20 points from Mikal Bridges. Karl-Anthony Towns added 15 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.
Cavaliers 118, Bucks 113
Donovan Mitchell scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and Evan Mobley collected 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Cleveland won its home opener against Milwaukee.
Mobley went 12-for-12 at the foul line, including six in the final 16 seconds that allowed the Cavaliers to hold on after building an 81-63 lead in the third quarter. It was Cleveland's second straight win following a season-opening loss at the New York Knicks.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo amassed game highs of 40 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, falling one helper shy of his 57th career triple-double. AJ Green had 20 points and Ryan Rollins added 14 points with eight assists.
Hornets 139, Wizards 113
LaMelo Ball scored 38 points as part of a triple-double and Charlotte rode a huge second half to a road victory over Washington.
Ball, who shot 13-for-25 from the field with five 3-pointers, had 13 rebounds and 13 assists. The guard's point total was the highest in any of his 11 career triple-doubles. The Hornets overcame an 11-point halftime deficit by scoring 44 points in the third quarter and continued to dominate with another 44 in the fourth quarter, spoiling the Wizards' home opener.
CJ McCollum's 24 points led Washington, while Alex Sarr had 21 points and Tre Johnson came off the bench for 18 points. Khris Middleton (11 points) and Cam Whitmore (10) also reached double figures, but the Wizards shot 45.1% from the floor and committed 15 turnovers.
Timberwolves 114, Pacers 110
Julius Randle scored 31 points and Minnesota weathered the early exit of injured star Anthony Edwards to beat winless Indiana in Minneapolis.
Edwards, the Timberwolves' two-time All-NBA guard, sustained what was announced as right hamstring tightness just three minutes into the game. Randle picked up the slack with a season-high point total on 11-of-18 shooting from the floor. He led five Timberwolves scoring in double figures, joined by Donte DiVincenzo with 17, Naz Reid with 16, Rudy Gobert with 14 and Jaden McDaniels with 11. Gobert pulled down 18 rebounds and Reid 10.
The Pacers' Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 33 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished eight assists. He added three steals to his near-triple-double stat line, stepping up for an 0-3 squad missing leading scorer Bennedict Mathurin (foot).
- NBA roundup: Austin Reaves pours in career-high 51 points as Lakers top Kings
- Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards (hamstring) exits vs. Pacers
- Lakers G Luka Doncic to miss a week with finger, leg injuries
- NBA roundup: Nikola Jokic's triple-double leads Nuggets in home opener
- NBA roundup: Heat set scoring mark in dismantling of Grizzlies
- Adam Silver on gambling allegations: 'Very upsetting'
- Pelicans signing C DeAndre Jordan to one-year deal
- Brazilian-born Tiago Splitter named interim coach of Trail Blazers
- U.S. prosecutors outline 8 NBA games in wire fraud, conspiracy indictment
- NBA's Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier arrested in gambling probe
- NBA roundup: VJ Edgecombe's historic debut leads Sixers past Celtics
- Thunder G Alex Caruso sustains concussion in opener
- Nets exercise team option on F/C Noah Clowney
- Knicks All-Star C Karl-Anthony Towns (quad) doubtful vs. Cavs
- Magic G Jalen Suggs (knee) to play in opener vs. Heat
- Lakers G Luka Doncic downplays injury concerns after opener
- NBA plans to launch European league 'in the next two years'
- Thunder open NBA season as heavy repeat favorites
- Pacers F Aaron Nesmith signs multi-year extension
- Pacers give F Aaron Nesmith 2-year, $40.4M extension
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Dominick Barlow (elbow) won't be available for the team's upcoming back-to-back set against the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards. He sustained an elbow laceration in Saturday's contest against the Charlotte Hornets and underwent a procedure on Sunday to get it fixed. After impressing during training camp, Barlow has begun the season as Philadelphia's starting power forward. He has averaged 7.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 25.0 minutes. Barlow's absence for the next couple of games could lead to increased roles for Jabari Walker and Justin Edwards in the rotation.
Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Isaiah Joe (knee) will have his season debut further delayed, as the team has ruled him out for Monday's road contest against the Dallas Mavericks. Joe hasn't yet fully recovered from a left knee contusion. With Alex Caruso (concussion) and Jalen Williams (wrist) also on the shelf, Ajay Mitchell has enjoyed a special start to the campaign, with Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace playing significant roles in the rotation as well. All three will once again be solid fantasy options on Monday night.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso (concussion) has not been cleared for Monday's game against the Dallas Mavericks, missing a third consecutive contest. The veteran has been sidelined since suffered a head injury in Tuesday's season opener against the Houston Rockets. Caruso's absence from the lineup has opened up additional minutes for players such as Aaron Wiggins, Ajay Mitchell, and Cason Wallace. Mitchell has been the most productive of the trio, averaging 18.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Wiggins has also performed well, while it's been a bit of a struggle for Wallace so far.
Golden State Warriors center Al Horford (toe) has been ruled out for Monday's meeting with the Memphis Grizzlies. The matchup will be the first leg of a back-to-back for the Warriors, and head coach Steve Kerr has said that he doesn't plan to use Horford in both games during these situations this season. The veteran should be back in action on Tuesday against Ivica Zubac and the Los Angeles Clippers. Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis get extra runouts with Horford on the shelf, although neither player impressed when he sat out Friday's action against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green(hamstring) will remain out for Monday's clash against the Utah Jazz. Green continues to recover from a right hamstring strain, and his next opportunity to make his season debut will be on Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. Green's absence has given more offensive duties to Dillon Brooks (groin) and Grayson Allen. Brooks could also miss Monday's contest due to groin soreness, so Phoenix may need somebody else to step up and help Devin Booker on the attacking end.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (knee) is not on the injury report for Monday's contest against the Utah Jazz. Due to a knee issue, he sat out the second leg of a back-to-back on Saturday against the Denver Nuggets. In two appearances this season, Williams has been limited to 19.0 minutes per game. He's averaged 4.0 points and 8.5 rebounds. While he hasn't done anything spectacular, Williams has been more productive than Phoenix's starting center, Oso Ighodaro, who has notched 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in 21.0 minutes.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (hamstring) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's clash against the Indiana Pacers. Edwards logged only three minutes of action before he was removed from the game due to right hamstring tightness. With him out, Julius Randle has taken over Minnesota's offense, scoring 20 first-half points. Terrence Shannon Jr., Bones Hyland, and Jaylen Clark get an opportunity to impress without Edwards. Minnesota has its next game scheduled for Monday against the Denver Nuggets, and Edwards should be regarded as questionable for the contest.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (groin) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Utah Jazz. He may be forced to miss his first game of the season due to a groin problem. Brooks is known as a defensive pest, but he's had a larger offensive role on the Suns squad with Jalen Green (hamstring) out of action at the start of the season. Through three games, Brooks has averaged 19.3 points in 30.3 minutes. He already has two 20-point games for the campaign despite struggling with his shooting. If Brooks sits out Monday's action, Royce O'Neale, Ryan Dunn, and Nigel Hayes-Davis may see increased playing time in the rotation.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Portland Trail Blazers. The veteran is dealing with a back problem early in the season and was initially regarded as questionable for the game. So far, Beal has contributed only 5.5 points in 20.0 minutes as a Clipper, and while he's been a starter, the team has monitored his minutes. On Sunday, Bogdan Bogdanovic will move into the starting lineup for his first appearance of the season. Kris Dunn may also pick up a few extra minutes with Beal sidelined.
Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (ankle) continues to carry a questionable tag on the injury report ahead of Monday's encounter with the Chicago Bulls. The French talent sprained his right ankle in the season opener and has missed two games. Risacher's injury has allowed Vit Krejci to enter the rotation, but he has not made a significant impact. Jalen Johnson (ankle) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) are also currently dealing with health issues, which increases the workload for Luke Kennard, Mouhamed Gueye, and Asa Newell.
Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (illness) will be available for Sunday's tilt against the Los Angeles Lakers. The team has upgraded his status from questionable to available. The two-time All-Star has been battling an illness, and it remains to be seen whether it will impact his performance on Sunday. LaVine has kicked off the campaign with back-to-back 30-point efforts, shooting close to 55 percent from the field. On paper, he's in a great spot to extend the scoring streak, as the Kings face a Lakers team that's missing Luka Doncic (finger, leg) and LeBron James (sciatica).
Atlanta Hawks forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (illness) has been tagged as questionable for Monday's meeting with the Chicago Bulls. The Latvian big man has missed the last two games due to illness and may need additional time to recover before returning to the court. Onyeka Okongwu has started at center in back-to-back games without Porzingis. He's done solid work on both ends on the floor and looks poised for another productive evening on Monday if Porzingis can't shake off his illness. Even if Porzingis returns, Okongwu should still see plenty of work in the Hawks frontcourt.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (ankle) has been listed as questionable for Monday's matchup against the Chicago Bulls. He's in danger of missing a second straight game due to a right ankle sprain. Johnson's absence on Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder gave Mouhamed Gueyean opportunity to start. He had a solid showing with 11 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. If Johnson remains out on Monday, Gueye will maintain additional fantasy value. The likes of Asa Newell and Onyeka Okongwu may also contribute more in the frontcourt.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (knee) will remain out on Monday against the Orlando Magic. Following offseason knee surgery, the veteran star has returned to practice, but he isn't yet ready for game action. Philadelphia won't be able to count on Joel Embiid (knee, injury management) either on Monday, putting the keys to the offense in the hands of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Furthermore, Jabari Walker and Justin Edwards may see increased playing time, especially with Dominick Barlow (elbow) also sidelined for the game on Monday.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren (back) is considered questionable for Monday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. He may be sidelined for the first time this season due to lower back soreness. The reigning champions are already dealing with several injuries, so losing Holmgren would be another setback for the team, especially given his strong start to the season. Holmgren has averaged 24.7 points and 10.0 rebounds in 35.0 minutes per game. Jaylin Williams could get additional work in the frontcourt if Holmgren doesn't play on Monday, while there might also be extra minutes available in the rotation for players like Aaron Wiggins and Ousmane Dieng.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (wrist) will remain in street clothes on Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks. He still hasn't been cleared for action following a wrist procedure. With him out, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren (back) have carried a massive load offensively, combining for over 64 points per game. As Holmgren is also now battling a health issue, Gilgeous-Alexander may have to put in a superhuman effort in Monday's game. Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, and Luguentz Dortall see more time on the court with Williams sidelined.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (finger) has been listed as questionable for Monday's contest against the Atlanta Hawks. He's dealing with a finger sprain on his shooting hand, which may significantly impact Giddey's performance even if he is in the lineup. The talented playmaker has averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists through the first couple of games this season. Tre Jones, Ayo Dosunmu, and Kevin Huerter could all have a larger say in the Bulls offense if Giddey has to skip Monday's game.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) will remain sidelined for Sunday's tilt against the Toronto Raptors. The big man had yet to play this season due to a right ankle sprain. He was listed as doubtful on the initial injury report before the team downgraded him, so Gafford's prospects of being available for Monday's clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder don't appear to be good either. Dereck Lively II benefits from Gafford's absence, but he's been largely quiet early in the season.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee, injury management) won't play in Monday's game against the visiting Orlando Magic. The 31-year-old logged 20 minutes in both of the Sixers' two contests to begin the 2025 campaign. That is by design, as the team wants to take things slow in his recovery from offseason knee surgery. Of course, Embiid's reduced workload has resulted in subpar averages of 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals. Assuming he stays healthy, his statistical contributions should improve. However, until that happens, Embiid isn't the safest option in any fantasy format, although stashing him is highly recommended. Embiid will likely return to the lineup on Tuesday night versus the Washington Wizards for the second of back-to-back games for the 76ers.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (knee) will miss a second consecutive game on Sunday versus the Sacramento Kings. The big man was initially listed as questionable for the contest due to a sore knee. It doesn't appear to be a serious issue, so Hayes could be back in the lineup on Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. With Deandre Ayton healthy, Hayes has little to no fantasy value. His absence may allow Christian Koloko to get some extra work on Sunday, but he is not expected to make a significant impact against the Kings.
