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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Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale (ankle) will not return to Wednesday's game against Orlando after suffering a right ankle sprain, finishing with eight points, one rebound, and one assist in 15 minutes. If Landale is forced to miss additional time, Onyeka Okongwu should continue handling heavy frontcourt minutes after posting 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks in 31 minutes. Jonathan Kuminga could also see increased offensive chances off the bench, while Mouhamed Gueye may pick up situational minutes. Okongwu stands out as the clearest fantasy beneficiary if Landale remains sidelined.
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George erupted for a season-high 39 points in Wednesday's win over Washington, adding six assists, five rebounds, three steals, and six three-pointers in 30 minutes. The veteran wing has been rolling lately, averaging 28.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 triples, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 steals across his last four games while handling a 28.1 usage rate. George looks locked in as a must-start option in all formats, especially with Joel Embiid (illness) sidelined. Tyrese Maxey should continue seeing steady usage, while VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr. could see slightly fewer scoring chances with George taking on a larger offensive role.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (calf) will miss Thursday's game against New Orleans, extending his recent absence due to a lingering calf strain. His continued absence should keep Scoot Henderson in an elevated role after the young guard produced 15 points with three three-pointers in 29 minutes in the last win over the Clippers and 21 points with seven assists in a prior start. Henderson shapes up as a strong short-term points and assists streamer, while Deni Avdija and Jrue Holiday could also see slightly higher offensive workloads until Grant returns.
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (ankle) is questionable for Thursday's game against Portland and could miss a fourth straight contest due to a right ankle sprain. With the Pelicans out of the playoff race, the team may remain cautious, which keeps Jeremiah Fears and Jordan Hawkins on the deep-league radar for streaming value. Fears posted 12 points, five assists, two steals, and one block in 22 minutes in the last game, while Yves Missi added four blocks as a starter but remains a defensive specialist option. Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray should continue seeing steady usage if Murphy sits.
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Gary Trent Jr. (hip) will not return to Wednesday's game against Houston after exiting early with a hip contusion, finishing with one steal and three missed shots in seven minutes. His absence is notable with Milwaukee already missing multiple rotation players, which could push Andre Jackson Jr. and Cormac Ryan into larger roles the rest of the night. Trent had been trending toward deeper league relevance recently due to the injury depleted roster, so this setback adds risk for managers relying on his minutes. AJ Green and Ousmane Dieng may also see small usage bumps.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (ankle) will miss Thursday's game against Oklahoma City, extending his absence to six straight games because of a right ankle contusion. His continued absence keeps Jake LaRavia in the starting lineup after he logged 14 points, seven rebounds, and two three-pointers in 38 minutes during the last outing, making him a viable deep-league streamer for rebounds and low-end scoring. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves should continue handling most of the backcourt usage, while LaRavia's secure minutes give him short-term value until Smart is cleared to return.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (foot) is questionable for Thursday's game against Charlotte as he nears a return from a monthlong absence caused by a left foot stress reaction. The fourth-year big man has averaged 11.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 23.6 minutes across 56 games, giving him solid value in big man categories if he sees enough minutes. His return would likely push Oso Ighodaro into a smaller role, lowering his already modest fantasy value. Williams could also take some interior opportunities from Royce O'Neale while adding defensive stats for category managers.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) is available for Wednesday's game against Utah but is expected to operate under a minutes restriction after missing the previous contest. The veteran has averaged 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 26.6 minutes over his recent March stretch, though fantasy managers should expect modest production if his workload stays capped. He posted 17 points, seven rebounds, and one block in 31 minutes in a prior meeting with Utah, showing his category versatility. Peyton Watson could still hold value in deeper leagues if Gordon's playing time remains carefully managed alongside Nikola Jokic.
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (knee) is out for Wednesday's game against San Antonio as the team manages his workload on the first night of a back-to-back, though he could return Thursday. His absence should open extra rotation minutes for Pat Spencer, who delivered seven points, five rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in 24 minutes in his last appearance, making him a possible deep-league assists streamer. Will Richard and Seth Curry could also see expanded roles, while Brandin Podziemski may take on slightly more ballhandling duties with Payton unavailable.
Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (pelvis) is out for Wednesday's game against San Antonio after being downgraded from questionable, opening minutes in a thin frontcourt rotation. His next chance to return comes Thursday, but in the short term, Will Richard could see a larger role after producing eight points with two three-pointers, two rebounds, and two assists in a 25-minute start recently. Malevy Leons and Nate Williams may also see deeper rotation minutes. Richard is a viable streamer in deeper formats, while Draymond Green and Brandin Podziemski should handle more of the playmaking duties with Santos out.
Milwaukee Bucks forwards Bobby Portis (wrist) and Kyle Kuzma (Achilles) are out for Wednesday's game against Houston, further thinning an already depleted rotation. Kuzma scored 20 points with six rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes Tuesday, but this appears to be precautionary maintenance on the second night of a back-to-back. Ousmane Dieng should continue seeing elevated usage after posting 11 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in 29 minutes, making him a strong streamer. Pete Nance also gains deep-league appeal after a 39-minute start recently, while AJ Green may see added shot volume.
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (foot) is available for Wednesday's game against Chicago after entering with a probable tag, giving Indiana another usable frontcourt body amid multiple injuries. He has averaged 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 three-pointers in 18.7 minutes over his last five games with a 26.9 usage rate, making him a viable deep-league streamer while the roster is thin. His minutes floor looks safer with Andrew Nembhard (back) and Aaron Nesmith (neck) sidelined, while Pascal Siakam and Jay Huff should continue seeing stable workloads alongside him in expanded rotations.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (hip) won't suit up for Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets. Rollins made his return to the court on Tuesday, but will sit out the second leg of this back-to-back set. He finished with 24 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds across 36 minutes of action. The Bucks will likely need to lean on AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., and Andre Jackson Jr. on Wednesday. Out of this trio, Green is the most consistent fantasy option. He should be considered a trustworthy DFS option for Wednesday's slate.
Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets. This appears to be a rest day for Turner during the second leg of the back-to-back set. Turner returned to the lineup on Tuesday and finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in 27 minutes of action. The Bucks aren't playing for anything at this point in the season, so it's not shocking to see them resting players. Jericho Sims should get the start at center, while Pete Nance and Ousmane Dieng see increased roles as well. Sims could have some deep league streaming value or a cheap DFS option for Wednesday's slate.
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (knee) is available to play ahead of Wednesday's game against the Chicago Bulls. As expected, Siakam will play after being listed as probable on the injury report due to a lingering right knee issue. The Pacers have a ton of injuries right now, so Siakam is the go-to guy on offense. This season, Siakam is averaging 23.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists across 33.4 minutes per game. He is one of the most elite fantasy options at the power forward spot right now. Siakam needs to be rostered and started in all fantasy formats.
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (heel) has been ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game against the Sacramento Kings. In an unsurprising decision, the Raptors have decided to rest Ingram during the second leg of this back-to-back set. Ingram will take a seat due to right heel inflammation management. The expectation is that Ingram will be back in the mix for Friday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. His absence should mean larger roles for Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Gradey Dick. Among the three, Shead is probably the best streaming choice after dishing out 22 assists over the last two games.
Toronto Raptors guard/forward Scottie Barnes (shoulder) is available to play ahead of Wednesday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Barnes will shake off the questionable tag and suit up for this game after being tagged on the injury report due to a left shoulder contusion. Barnes will likely be asked to carry the load on offense with Brandon Ingram (heel) and Immanuel Quickley (foot) both sidelined on Wednesday. The 24-year-old has been on a roll lately with 10 or more assists in five straight games. Fantasy managers need to make sure Barnes is in their lineups ahead of tip-off.
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (foot) has been ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Quickley will miss his sixth game in a row due to right foot plantar fasciitis. It sounds like Quickley is progressing in his recovery, but he should still be considered doubtful for Friday's contest against the Memphis Grizzlies. Ja'Kobe Walter is in line to draw another start with Quickley out again on Wednesday. Walter has finished with 11 points or more in six of his last eight games. He should be a viable fantasy option while Quickley is sidelined. Jamal Shead is also worth a look after dishing out 22 assists over the last two games.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Fantasy managers and Knicks fans don't need to worry as this appears to be a maintenance day. It's the second leg of a back-to-back set, so the Knicks have elected to rest Brunson against a struggling Grizzlies squad. The Knicks' backcourt is going to be extremely thin with Miles McBride (pelvis) also sitting out. That means Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shamet should all see increased playing time. Out of the trio, Alvarado is the most consistent option to use as a streaming option for Wednesday's slate.
According to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (hamstring) won't play against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Giddey was added late to the injury report and will miss his first game since March 5 due to left hamstring tightness. The 23-year-old's next chance to play is against the Knicks on Friday. Rob Dillingham could take on extra minutes with Giddey out of action this evening. The 21-year-old has averaged 8.3 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per outing across 23 appearances since joining the Bulls.
