NBA roundup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Thunder top Pistons in OT
Tue Mar 31 3:02am ET
Field Level Media
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points to lift the host Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-110 overtime win over the short-handed Detroit Pistons on Monday in a matchup of conference leaders.
Gilgeous-Alexander opened overtime with a step-back jumper, found Alex Caruso for a corner 3-pointer with just more than a minute remaining and then hit six free throws in the final minute. Oklahoma City won for the 15th time in 16 games.
Detroit was short-handed, playing without its top five scorers, but the Pistons stayed in the game in large part due to a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points.
The Pistons, who got 21 points and 10 rebounds from Paul Reed, had their two-game winning streak snapped.
Spurs 129, Bulls 114
Victor Wembanyama continued his brilliant play by racking up 41 points and 16 rebounds while helping host San Antonio to a victory over Chicago in a late-season interconference clash.
The Spurs won for a league-leading ninth straight outing and kept pace with Oklahoma City in the hunt for the best record in both the Western Conference and the NBA as a whole. It was Wembanyama's third game with 40 or more points this season. Stephon Castle added 21 points for San Antonio while Keldon Johnson scored 15.
Tre Jones led Chicago with 23 points. Leonard Miller added 21 off the bench, Collin Sexton had 20, Guerschon Yabusele hit for 15 points and Matas Buzelis finished with 12 for the Bulls, who have already been eliminated from the postseason.
Heat 119, 76ers 109
Tyler Herro hit two key 3-pointers, Bam Adebayo recorded a 23-point, 16-rebound double-double in a head-to-head with Joel Embiid, and Miami came on strong down the stretch to turn back visiting Philadelphia.
Herro finished with a game-high 30 points and Pelle Larsson added 20 for the Heat, who moved into a virtual eighth-place tie in the Eastern Conference with Orlando.
Embiid had a team-high 26 points and Tyrese Maxey 23 for the 76ers, who remained in seventh place in the East but saw their lead over the Heat and Magic cut to 1 1/2 games.
Hawks 112, Celtics 102
Jalen Johnson collected 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists as Atlanta extended its home winning streak to 13 games with a victory over Boston.
Atlanta received 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists from Onyeka Okongwu, plus 18 points from Dyson Daniels. The Hawks have won 16 of their past 18 games.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, but he shot 9 of 29 from the field and committed six turnovers. Luka Garza added 20 points and nine boards for the Celtics, and Payton Pritchard finished with 16 points.
Suns 131, Grizzlies 105
Devin Booker scored 36 points while playing just three quarters and Jalen Green added 21 points and six boards as visiting Phoenix trounced Memphis.
The Suns won their second straight by closing strong, outscoring the Grizzlies 40-16 in the final quarter. The Suns were dominant in the paint, where they scored 68 points.
Memphis got 17 points off the bench from Tyler Burton but lost for the 14th time in 16 games. Cam Spencer scored 16 on 6-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-5 success from long range.
Lakers 120, Wizards 101
LeBron James posted the 125th triple-double of his career while leading Los Angeles to a comprehensive win over visiting Washington.
James compiled 21 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists to become, at 41 years, 90 days, the oldest player to notch a triple-double, surpassing his own record of 41 years, 79 days. It was his third triple-double of the season. Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard contributed 19 points apiece for the Lakers, who have won 15 of their past 17 games.
Will Riley scored 20 points, Justin Champagnie added 18 and Tristan Vukcevic had 14 for Washington, which has lost 19 of its past 20 outings.
Cavaliers 122, Jazz 113
Evan Mobley scored a season-high 34 points, collected a season-high 17 rebounds and blocked three shots to lead Cleveland past Utah in Salt Lake City.
Donovan Mitchell added 34 points to help the Cavaliers win their fifth consecutive road game. James Harden dished out a game-high 14 assists to go along with 13 points, and The Cavaliers outscored the Jazz 82-40 in the paint.
Kyle Filipowski tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals to lead Utah. Cody Williams added a team-high 26 points for the Jazz, who have lost six straight games and 10 of their past 11 contests.
Timberwolves 124, Mavericks 94
Ayo Dosunmu recorded his second career triple-double, finishing with 18 points, a career-high 15 rebounds and 12 assists to lead Minnesota to a road rout of Dallas.
With All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards coming off the bench and limited to 22:37 of playing time in his return from a knee injury, Dosunmu stepped up to shoulder some of the offensive load. Rudy Gobert posted 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Julius Randle netted a game-high 24 points.
Daniel Gafford led Dallas with 21 points on 9-of-11 field-goal shooting, while Rookie of the Year hopeful Cooper Flagg was held more than eight points below his season-long scoring average with 12 points on 5-of-19 shooting from the floor.
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Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (hamstring) will not play Sunday against Oklahoma City, marking his 10th consecutive absence. With Keyonte George (hamstring) and Elijah Harkless (hamstring) also out, Utah should continue leaning on Kennedy Chandler and Cody Williams for expanded roles. Williams is coming off a 27-point, 11-rebound, four-assist performance in 38 minutes and looks like the most appealing fantasy option from this group. Chandler and Bez Mbeng offer limited upside as deep-league assist streamers, though both carry risk due to inconsistent offensive production while the Jazz remain short-handed in the backcourt.
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (foot) will miss another game Sunday against the Boston Celtics as he continues to recover from plantar fasciitis. Ja'Kobe Walter should remain in the starting lineup after posting seven points, eight rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 28 minutes in his last game, though his fantasy value remains limited to deeper formats. Jamal Shead has also stepped into a larger role, finishing with 11 points, six assists, and two steals in 23 minutes and offering streaming appeal for assists and steals. Scottie Barnes should continue handling more on-ball duties while Quickley remains sidelined.
Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (hand) will not play Sunday against Washington due to soreness in his right hand. His absence should open additional frontcourt minutes for Josh Minott and Chaney Johnson. Minott has scored 10 points with two three-pointers, three rebounds, and one steal in 21 minutes in his last appearance and could be a deep-league option for scoring and threes. Johnson added 11 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in 23 minutes and may offer deeper streaming appeal. E.J. Liddell remains a risky dart throw if he cracks the rotation.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (calf) will not play Sunday against Indiana as the team manages his workload on a back-to-back. With Jarrett Allen (knee) and Dean Wade (ankle) also out, Cleveland could lean on Keon Ellis, Larry Nance Jr., and Nae'Qwan Tomlin for extra frontcourt minutes. Ellis logged four points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 22 minutes in his last game and could be a deep-league option if the Cavaliers downsize. Nance and Tomlin remain speculative rebound streamers, while Thomas Bryant should continue seeing stable minutes with Cleveland short-handed inside.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (knee) will not play Sunday against Indiana as part of injury management on the first night of a back-to-back. With Evan Mobley (calf) also sidelined, Thomas Bryant is positioned for a larger workload after posting 14 points, three three-pointers, six rebounds, and one block in 25 minutes in a recent appearance. Larry Nance Jr. and Nae'Qwan Tomlin could also see expanded minutes, though both remain risky deep-league options. Bryant profiles as the best short-term streaming target for rebounds and scoring with Cleveland thin in the frontcourt.
Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam (ankle) will not play Sunday against Cleveland after suffering an ankle injury in his last outing. His absence could move Obi Toppin into a larger role, with the athletic forward posting 11 points, three three-pointers, four rebounds, and one assist in 20 minutes off the bench in his last game. Kobe Brown also impressed with 12 points, nine rebounds, and four assists in 28 minutes and could remain fantasy relevant in deeper formats. If Jarace Walker (back) remains out, both Toppin and Brown become viable short-term streaming options.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (back) will not play Sunday against Cleveland as he continues to manage a lingering back issue. His absence should keep Quenton Jackson in a starting role after he produced 16 points, two three-pointers, three rebounds, five assists and one steal in 25 minutes during his last outing. Ethan Thompson logged 30 minutes off the bench and could remain in the rotation, while Taelon Peter offers deep-league streaming appeal for managers chasing three-pointers. With multiple Pacers guards sidelined, Jackson looks like the safest short-term assist streamer until Nembhard returns.
Denver's C Nikola Jokic recorded a double-double, scoring 40 points with 13 assists in a 136-134 win over the Spurs on Saturday, Apr. 4.
Wizards' F Will Riley scored 31 points on 12-of-17 shooting in a 136-152 loss to Miami on Saturday, Apr. 4. Riley is owned in only 37.6% leagues.
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and center Andre Drummond have been named as starters for Saturday's matchup with the Detroit Pistons. While Drummond's move to the first unit was expected after Philadelphia ruled Joel Embiid (oblique, illness) out for the game, Oubre Jr.'s re-emergence as a starter is a bit surprising. He has come off the bench in four straight games. On Saturday, Oubre Jr. will replace Dominick Barlow in the starting lineup. Both Oubre Jr. and Drummond have more fantasy appeal as starters.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (knee) is considered questionable for Sunday's meeting with the Charlotte Hornets. Edwards returned from a knee injury this week, appearing in two of three games, but he may now spend some more time on the sidelines. Since his return, Edwards has been dealing with some rust, averaging only 12.5 points on 40 percent efficiency from the field. Mike Conley has recently filled in for Edwards as a starter and may get another opportunity to do so on Sunday. But even in a starting role, the veteran hasn't produced much. Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland are the players to target in fantasy if Edwards misses Sunday's game.
Detroit Pistons point guard Marcus Sasser (hip) will be active against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. The young guard has been upgraded from probable to available. Sasser will serve as the backup to Daniss Jenkins at the point guard position and is therefore not expected to make a major impact against Philadelphia. On Thursday night against Minnesota, Sasser was on the floor for only eight minutes, finishing with two points and one assist.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (illness) has received the green light to play on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers. He was a late addition to the injury report due to illness, with the team tagging him as questionable. However, the star big man has shaken off the illness and could be set for a big night on Saturday, as Philadelphia won't have Joel Embiid (oblique, illness) in the lineup. Since the Pistons lost Cade Cunningham (lung), Duren has upped his production to 24.2 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.
Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (knee) will be in the lineup on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers. The veteran couldn't finish Thursday's win over Minnesota due to a left knee injury and was initially listed as questionable for Saturday's tilt. Harris' offensive usage has recently increased due to Cade Cunningham's (lung) absence. Before his early exit on Thursday, Harris had a six-game stretch during which he averaged 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. He will look to remain sharp on Saturday night against his former team.
Denver Nuggets guard/forward Bruce Brown (leg) didn't finish Saturday's overtime victory against the San Antonio Spurs, Katy Winge of Altitude Sports reports. Brown appeared to injure his left lower leg in the third quarter and went to the locker room. Because he wasn't able to participate in a jump ball situation, Brown was ineligible to re-enter the game despite returning to the Nuggets' bench. Luckily, the veteran appears to have avoided a significant injury. He plays a big role off the bench in Denver, averaging 24.5 minutes per game. If Brown suffers a setback and needs to take some time off next week, Julian Strawther is poised to have a bigger role, especially with Peyton Watson (hamstring) and Spencer Jones (hamstring) already out.
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George (knee) will play on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons. He is ready to suit up for a second straight night after the team initially listed the injury-prone star as probable on the injury report. George delivered a strong two-way performance against Minnesota on Friday and has been turning heads since rejoining the 76ers' lineup. He has averaged 27.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.2 steals over the last five games. With Joel Embiid (oblique, illness) resting on Saturday, George will lead the Philadelphia offense alongside Tyrese Maxey.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique) is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, meaning he is out for the remainder of the 2025-26 regular season. The Lakers announced on Saturday that Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury. His injury is a cruel blow for the Lakers, who just lost Luka Doncic (hamstring). With the team's two top scorers out of the lineup, Lakers head coach JJ Redick plans to build the offense around LeBron James, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton. Meanwhile, Bronny James Jr. and Kobe Bufkin could begin to receive steady minutes in the backcourt.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (illness) has been added to the injury report ahead of Saturday's matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. He has been listed as questionable due to illness. Duren could be out for the second time in four games. Filling in for Duren in the starting lineup on Monday against Oklahoma City, Paul Reed had a big game with 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, four blocks, and one steal. He should be eager to shine against his former team as well on Saturday. If Duren isn't available, Tolu Smith will also move up on the depth chart.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (personal) will sit out Saturday's contest against the Washington Wizards. Herro was initially expected to play after being cleared from a foot issue, but he will miss the contest for personal reasons. Simone Fontecchio will fill in for him in the starting lineup. The Italian forward has produced 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in seven starts this season.
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George (knee) is listed as probable for Saturday's tilt against the Detroit Pistons. The veteran star appears to be prepared to play for a second consecutive night. George finished Friday's 115-103 win over Minnesota with 23 points, six rebounds, six assists, one block, and four steals. He's been in impressive form since returning from his suspension late last month and will be in a favorable situation on Saturday night. Joel Embiid's (oblique, illness) absence will give George more offensive opportunities against a weakened, injury-ridden Detroit team.
