NBA roundup: Fortified 76ers cool off Hornets
Sun Mar 29 4:39am ET
Field Level Media
Joel Embiid had 29 points and made a big block in the final seconds as the Philadelphia 76ers rallied from 15 points down to edge the host Charlotte Hornets 118-114 on Saturday.
Philadelphia stopped Charlotte's five-game winning streak and won the season series 2-1, giving them the tiebreaker in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.
Paul George, in his second game back from a 25-game suspension for violating the terms of the league's anti-drug program, finished with 26 points. Tyrese Maxey also had 26 in his return after missing 10 games with a finger injury.
Brandon Miller scored 29, while LaMelo Ball added 20 and Coby White contributed 16 for the Hornets, who clinched a spot in the play-in tournament after the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs earlier in the day. Charlotte had not reached the postseason since 2022.
Spurs 127, Bucks 95
Stephon Castle amassed his fourth triple-double of the season and was among seven teammates in double-figure scoring, as visiting San Antonio cruised to its eighth straight win with a victory over Milwaukee.
The Spurs were victorious for the 13th time in their past 14 games and remain hot on the heels of Oklahoma City for both the top seed in the West and the best record in the league. San Antonio is two games back of the defending champion Thunder with eight contests left to play.
Castle finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Gary Trent Jr. scored 18 points to lead the Bucks, who played without Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee) for the sixth straight game.
Pistons 109, Timberwolves 87
Tobias Harris scored 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, and Detroit pulled away from Minnesota for a decisive victory in Minneapolis.
Ronald Holland II and Daniss Jenkins chipped in 13 points apiece for the Pistons, who won for the sixth time in seven games. Paul Reed added 12 points off the bench, and Jalen Duren notched a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Donte DiVincenzo led the Timberwolves with 22 points and made five shots from beyond the arc. Rudy Gobert finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Julius Randle notched 11 points despite missing 11 of 13 shots from the field. Detroit outscored Minnesota 60-43 in the second half to seal the victory.
Hawks 123, Kings 113
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 27 points, Jalen Johnson added 26 points and 10 assists and host Atlanta held off Sacramento for coach Quin Snyder's 500th career victory, becoming the sixth active NBA head coach and 41st in league history to reach that plateau.
CJ McCollum scored 22 points, while Jock Landale finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks, who won their 15th game in 17 tries. Zaccharie Risacher tallied 13 points and Mohamed Gueye chipped in 10 for Atlanta, which holds a half-game lead over Philadelphia for the East's No. 6 seed -- the last guaranteed playoff spot in each conference.
DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 22 points, followed by Maxime Raynaud's 18 points and 10 boards. Precious Achiuwa had 16, DaQuan Jeffries scored 15 and Daeqwon Plowden had 14 for Sacramento, which dropped its third straight. Malik Monk and Killian Hayes both scored 10 points.
Suns 134, Jazz 109
Jalen Green scored 31 points and made five 3-pointers, Devin Booker added 26 points and host Phoenix tied their season scoring high in a blowout of tanking Utah.
Grayson Allen scored 19 points and Oso Ighodaro had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Suns, who had lost six of seven. Green was 13 of 22 from the field, 5 of 11 from 3-point range, and had six rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes. Booker had eight assists.
Kyle Filipowski had 26 points and nine rebounds, Brice Sensabaugh scored 26 points and Svi Mykhailiuk scored all of his 14 points in the second half for the Jazz, who have lost five in a row and 17 of 20.
Grizzlies 125, Bulls 124
Cedric Coward scored 24 points, including two free throws with 6.5 seconds remaining, to lead host Memphis past Chicago and snap a five-game losing streak.
Tyler Burton added 18 points for the Grizzlies and Jahmai Mashack scored 17. Rayan Rupert and DeJon Jarreau finished with 14 points each.
Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 29 points and 10 rebounds followed by 26 points from Collin Sexton. Josh Giddey posted his 13th triple-double (18 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists) this season and Tre Jones contributed 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Chicago lost its third straight game and has dropped five of its last six.
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Utah Jazz guards Keyonte George (hamstring) and Isaiah Collier (hamstring) will remain out on Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both players are nursing hamstring injuries and haven't been part of the lineup for a couple of weeks. George will miss his 10th consecutive game, and Collier won't be available for a seventh straight contest. Kennedy Chandler, Elijah Harkless, and Bez Mbeng will continue to see extra action on Monday. Out of the three players, Chandler has provided the most consistent fantasy production, averaging 14.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals over the past five games.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus (foot) won't play on Monday against the Utah Jazz. Strus torched the Miami Heat with eight triples and 29 points in Friday's win, but he continues to manage a foot injury and will take the night off on Monday. Cleveland will likely reinsert him into the lineup on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Strus has been coming off the bench, so we should see the rest of the reserves take on most of his minutes on Monday.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's matchup with the Utah Jazz. This isn't surprising, given that it's the first game of a back-to-back and Allen has just returned from a knee injury. He was limited to 18 minutes on Friday versus Miami but still collected a double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Keon Ellis could rejoin the starting unit on Monday, and Thomas Bryant may pick up a few extra minutes off the bench.
Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward Jaylen Wells (toe) is scheduled to undergo toe surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the season, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports. He has been diagnosed with a tendon avulsion fracture in his right great toe and will undergo a procedure to stabilize the toe. Wells has already missed three games due to the injury. The 22-year-old sophomore becomes the seventh Grizzlies player to be ruled out for the rest of the season. Wells' absence opens the door for Rayan Rupert, Jahmai Mashack, and DeJon Jarreau to take on expanded roles in the rotation.
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Will Richard (heel) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Denver Nuggets. His run of 10 consecutive appearances will come to an end due to a sore left heel. Richard started in Golden State's most recent game but made a limited impact in 25 minutes. De'Anthony Melton (knee) is expected to return to the first unit on Sunday and will look to finish the month strongly. He has notched 14.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in March.
Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington didn't finish Sunday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers due to muscle cramping. He left the action in the third quarter, wrapping up his night with 11 points, two rebounds, four assists, one steal, and four turnovers in 22 minutes. Since this was the first game of a back-to-back for Washington, Carrington might sit out Monday's contest against the Los Angeles Lakers. Tre Johnson (foot) and Sharife Cooper could have more playing opportunities without Carrington.
Golden State Warriors guard Seth Curry (adductor) will be active on Sunday against the Denver Nuggets. He has recovered from a left adductor strain and could make his first appearance since March 13. Since joining the Warriors in December, Curry has taken the floor just four times. He has finished two of the games scoreless, while netting 27 points in the other two contests. Curry has impressed with 4-for-7 shooting from deep. His outside shooting could be handy for the Warriors in a matchup against a team that allows the eighth-most three-point attempts in the league.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) won't be in action on Sunday night against the Golden State Warriors, Bennett Durando of The Denver Post reports. He was a late addition to the injury report due to left calf tightness and won't be able to help his team after failing to shake off a questionable tag. The trio of Cameron Johnson, Peyton Watson, and Spencer Jones should absorb Gordon's minutes.
Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post (foot) has been cleared to return to the lineup on Sunday against the Denver Nuggets. He has been managing a foot injury lately, missing three games. Post will add frontcourt depth to a Warriors team that currently can't count on Al Horford (calf). The 26-year-old has a tough matchup against Nikola Jokic on Sunday night. In his previous three clashes with the Nuggets this season, Post has posted averages of 4.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 15.0 minutes per game.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (ankle) has been tagged as questionable on the injury report ahead of Monday's meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Detroit will begin a back-to-back set and has some decisions to make. Thompson is managing a right ankle injury, so he's likely to sit out at least one of the upcoming games. Kevin Huerter, Ron Holland II, and Javonte Green could all see more time on the court in Thompson's absence. Even if Thompson is in the lineup, the trio might still have expanded roles, as the Pistons are poised to head out with a new-look starting lineup. Jalen Duren (knee), Duncan Robinson (hip), and Tobias Harris (hip) are all unlikely to play.
Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (hip) will likely sit out Monday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, as the team has listed him as doubtful. The veteran is managing a hip injury and appears to be scheduled for a maintenance day. Jalen Duren (knee) and Duncan Robinson (hip) are also considered doubtful, while Ausar Thompson (ankle) carries a questionable tag on the injury report. Consequently, Ron Holland II, Jevonte Green, Kevin Huerter, and Caris LeVert could all take on more prominent roles against the defending champions.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (knee) is considered doubtful for Monday's clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The first-year All-Star has played through a right knee injury recently and appears to be trending toward a rest day. Detroit's frontcourt is still without Isaiah Stewart (calf), so it could be a big night for Paul Reed. The former G League MVP is poised to make his ninth start of the season. In a starting role, Paul has provided 13.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game. There could also be a significant role for Tolu Smith.
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (ankle) won't return to action on Sunday against the Houston Rockets. He has been ruled out for a third consecutive game after carrying a questionable tag on the initial injury report. With Murphy III out, Yves Missi was brought back into the starting lineup on Friday against Toronto. Unfortunately, he didn't make a significant impact, and it's possible the Pelicans will switch things up again on Sunday. Zion Williamson, Saddiq Bey, and the returning Dejounte Murray should get plenty of offensive touches without Murray.
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (pelvic) will return to action on Sunday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reports. He hasn't played since late January and underwent sports hernia surgery in February. According to Knicks head coach Mike Brown, McBride will have a minutes limit in Sunday's game. McBride's return will complicate the situation for Jose Alvarado and Jordan Clarkson. Although the mid-season injury was a setback for him, McBride has had a career year in New York, averaging 12.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 28.0 minutes per game.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (hand) will play on Sunday night against the Houston Rockets. After hurting his left hand, Murray was initially listed as questionable on the injury report. Since recovering from a torn Achilles, Murray has posted strong numbers. He has averaged 17.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.7 steals across 12 appearances. Murray's return will probably send Jeremiah Fears back to the second unit, but he should still play a significant role.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (knee) will miss a second straight game on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks. The 25-year-old had sat out only two games this season before a left knee issue took him out of the lineup this week. As a result, Terrence Shannon Jr. started on Saturday against Detroit, but his contributions were limited to eight points, three rebounds, and three assists. Jaylen Clark, who tallied nine points and four rebounds against the Pistons, also has a chance to play more until McDaniels returns.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (knee) is listed as questionable for Monday's tilt against the Dallas Mavericks. He has missed six games with a knee injury but is on the cusp of returning. With Ayo Dosunmu (calf) also on the shelf, Mike Conley has started back-to-back games. On Monday, the veteran could fall out of the rotation if both Edwards and Dosunmu return. Boney Hyland's role will also change once the Timberwolves are back at full strength.
Toronto Raptors forward/center Collin Murray-Boyles (back) will miss Sunday's game against the Orlando Magic. The 20-year-old rookie injured his back during Friday's win over New Orleans. He was initially expected to play on Sunday, but it looks like Murray-Boyles didn't feel comfortable enough during the warmups. With him unavailable, Sandro Mamukelashvili should see plenty of minutes on Sunday as the backup to starting center Jakob Poeltl. Mamukelashvili has scored double-digit points in three consecutive games and had 18 points with nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block on Friday.
Toronto Raptors guard/forward RJ Barrett (shoulder) will play in Sunday's contest against the Orlando Magic. He injured his left shoulder during Friday's win over New Orleans and was initially listed as questionable on the injury report. He was then upgraded to probable, and Toronto has now listed Barrett as available. Barrett has been sharp over his last 10 outings, averaging 20.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, hitting nearly 52 percent of his field-goal attempts.
Toronto Raptors guard/forward Brandon Ingram (heel) will not suit up on Sunday against the Orlando Magic, Sportsnet's Michael Grange reports. He was initially expected to play but won't be available for action due to right heel inflammation. Jamal Shead will start in Ingram's place. As a member of the first unit, Shead has recorded 11.7 points, 7.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this season. With Immanuel Quickley (foot) also out, Shead should have an active role on offense against a team that has struggled to contain point guards.
