NBA roundup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (41) leads Thunder to 8th straight win
Tue Dec 24 2:21am ET
Field Level Media
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander overcame a slow start to score 41 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder powered to a 123-105 home win over the Washington Wizards on Monday.
The Thunder extended their regular-season winning streak to eight, their longest winning streak since January 2018. Oklahoma City hasn't had a longer streak since the 2013-14 season.
Though the Monday game featured the Thunder, with the top record in the Western Conference, against the team with the worst record in the NBA, it was far from a cake walk.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished 14 of 25 from the field and made all 10 of his free throws. Jalen Williams added 17 points for Oklahoma City, scoring 11 in the first quarter. Isaiah Hartenstein (16 points, 11 rebounds) and rookie Ajay Mitchell (16 points, 12 rebounds, both career highs) each had a double-double. It was Mitchell's first career double-double and the 10th in 13 games this season for Hartenstein.
Jordan Poole led Washington with 31 points and seven assists. Carlton Carrington scored 14 points, Jonas Valanciunas logged 12 points and 16 rebounds, Malcolm Brogdon also had 12 and Kyshawn George scored 11.
Rockets 114, Hornets 101
Fred VanVleet scored 20 points, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added double-doubles and Houston cruised past host Charlotte.
VanVleet tallied 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting in the first half, and his shot-clock buzzer-beater lifted Houston to a 31-point halftime lead. The Rockets led by as many as 34 points en route to winning both sides of a back-to-back and the opening two games of a three-game road trip.
Miles Bridges posted 24 points and eight rebounds and LaMelo Ball added 23 points and eight assists for Charlotte. Ball finished 5 for 11 from behind the arc.
Magic 108, Celtics 104
Tristan da Silva scored a team-high 18 points and Orlando overcame a 15-point halftime deficit to beat visiting Boston.
The Celtics were within one point until da Silva capped the scoring by making a 3-pointer with 9.9 seconds to play. The Magic received 17 points from Trevelin Queen and 16 from Jalen Suggs in the victory.
Jaylen Brown had 35 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, who were 8-for-33 from 3-point range. Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White each finished with 17 points.
76ers 111, Spurs 106
Tyrese Maxey racked up 32 points that included eight in a rousing run over the final two and a half minutes as short-handed Philadelphia held off visiting San Antonio in a gritty clash.
The 76ers won for the third time in four games despite losing former league MVP Joel Embiid to an ejection late in the first half. Philadelphia led by three points at halftime and by nine heading into the final quarter. Maxey also took 10 rebounds in the win. Paul George hit for 19 points, Guerschon Yabusele had 17, Caleb Martin had 12 and Kelly Oubre Jr. tallied 10 for the 76ers.
Victor Wembanyama led six Spurs in double-figure scoring with 26 points and added nine rebounds and eight blocked shots. Stephon Castle had 17 points, Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell hit for 15 apiece and Paul scored 12 for San Antonio.
Clippers 114, Grizzlies 110
Norman Powell scored 29 points, including four in the final minute, and Ivica Zubac had 20 points and 19 rebounds to lead Los Angeles to a victory at Memphis, snapping the Grizzlies' eight-game home winning streak.
Powell's 15-footer with 25.4 seconds left broke a 110-all tie. He added two game-clinching free throws with 5.7 seconds to go. James Harden added 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for Los Angeles, which won for the third time in four games.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 24 points. Ja Morant added 23 and Desmond Bane finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Rookie big man Zach Edey grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds as Memphis fell for just the second time in eight games overall.
Nuggets 117, Suns 90
Nikola Jokic scored 32 points, Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points on 10-for-12 shooting, and host Denver beat Phoenix.
Aaron Gordon contributed 12 points and Russell Westbrook scored 11 for the Nuggets, who have won five of their past six games. Denver's Jalen Pickett posted career highs in points (11) and assists (eight).
Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal scored 23 points each for Phoenix, which has dropped three in a row.
Mavericks 132, Trail Blazers 108
Luka Doncic paired a game-high 27 points with seven assists and seven rebounds, leading Dallas to a rout of visiting Portland.
Daniel Gafford added 23 points off the bench on 7-for-7 shooting while Kyrie Irving scored 20 points for Dallas, which won its second straight game.
Reserve Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 19 points while Deandre Ayton chipped in 16 points and nine boards. Portland fell for the eighth time in its past nine games.
Knicks 139, Raptors 125
OG Anunoby scored 31 points on 13-of-15 shooting from the floor against his former team as New York cruised past visiting Toronto for its fourth consecutive win.
The Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor. He grabbed 10 rebounds and dished seven assists before fouling out.
Scottie Barnes scored a team-high 24 points and dished eight assists for the Raptors, who lost their eighth game in a row. Former Knick RJ Barrett added 23 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Pacers 111, Warriors 105
Pascal Siakam gave Indiana the lead for good with a three-point play with 4:43 remaining, Andrew Nembhard harassed Stephen Curry into a poor shooting night and the Pacers earned a victory over Golden State in San Francisco.
Myles Turner produced 23 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for Indiana, which won its fifth game in a row. Siakam chipped in 20 points, while Tyrese Haliburton had 16 points and 12 assists.
Curry finished with 10 points but went just 2-for-13 from the field. Jonathan Kuminga put up 26 points for the Warriors, who lost for the 10th time in 13 games.
Heat 110, Nets 95
Bam Adebayo had 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as Miami snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over visiting Brooklyn.
Nikola Jovic scored a season-high 18 points and Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro added 17 apiece for Miami, which bounced back after blowing a 22-point, fourth-quarter lead in a loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
Brooklyn trailed by five before Miami drew clear with a 20-9 run to begin the fourth quarter. The Nets were held to six field goals in the final period and lost for the eighth time in their past 10 games. Noah Clowney scored a season-high 19 points and Cameron Johnson also finished with 19 for Brooklyn.
Cavaliers 124, Jazz 113
Darius Garland scored 23 and was one of four Cleveland players with at least 20 points in a victory over visiting Utah. Donovan Mitchell added 22 points, Evan Mobley scored 22 with 10 rebounds and three blocks, and Utah native Sam Merrill contributed season highs in scoring (20 points) and 3-pointers (six) in a rare start.
Cleveland used a 15-5 run in the final minutes to close out its fifth consecutive victory after Utah pulled within one point in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers improved their league-best home record to 17-1.
Jordan Clarkson amassed 27 points, six rebounds and five assists, Lauri Markkanen added 26 points and seven rebounds, and Collin Sexton netted 24 points and five assists for Utah.
Pistons 117, Lakers 114
Malik Beasley scored 21 points and Cade Cunningham added 20 points with 10 assists as Detroit turned defensive pressure into a victory at Los Angeles.
Jaden Ivey logged 18 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 15 as the Pistons won consecutive games for the first time in more than a month.
LeBron James delivered 28 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as the Lakers saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Anthony Davis finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Hawks 117, Timberwolves 104
Reserve Garrison Mathews scored a season-high 25 points and tied a career high with seven 3-pointers to help Atlanta defeat visiting Minnesota. Mathews went 7-for-8 from the field -- all 3-point attempts -- and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line as Atlanta ended a three-game losing streak.
Trae Young was back in action for Atlanta after missing one game due to a bruised heel. He scored a team-high 29 points, knocking down four 3-pointers, and also dished out seven assists. De'Andre Hunter added 19 points, and Jalen Johnson supplied 17 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Minnesota's top scorer was Naz Reid (23 points). Julius Randle finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. The Timberwolves have lost three games in a row.
Bucks 112, Bulls 91
Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez scored 21 points apiece and Bobby Portis had a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds to boost visiting Milwaukee past Chicago. Milwaukee won for the sixth time in seven games despite missing its top two scorers. Giannis Antetokounmpo (back spasms) and Damian Lillard (non-COVID illness) were out for the Bucks.
Gary Trent Jr. added 14 points and AJ Green chipped in 10 for the Bucks, who shot 46 percent while limiting Chicago to a 10-for-48 effort from long range.
The Bulls set a season low for points and 3-point percentage (20.8). Nikola Vucevic notched a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Bulls. Zach LaVine and Jalen Smith scored 14 points apiece while Patrick Williams (13) and Coby White (10) followed.
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- Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard out vs. Bulls
- NBA roundup: Nikola Jokic (triple-double) lifts Nuggets in OT
- G Alex Caruso lands contract extension from Thunder
- Magic’s Mo Wagner (torn ACL) out for season
- NBA roundup: Magic stun Heat after franchise-record rally
- Suns G Devin Booker to miss two games with groin soreness
- NBA fines Nets C Nic Claxton $25K for throwing ball into stands
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- NBA roundup: Cup champion Bucks no match for Cavs
- Suns standout G Devin Booker (groin) out vs. Pistons
- Bucks standout G Damian Lillard (calf) out vs. Cavaliers
- NBA roundup: Grizzlies hand Warriors 51-point loss
- Suns' Devin Booker exits in third quarter vs. Pacers
- Carmelo Anthony, Sue Bird among first-time Hall of Fame nominees
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- Giannis Antetokounmpo headlines All-NBA Cup team
- Warriors lead way as NBA team values hit $4.6B average
Washington Wizards forward/center Marvin Bagley III (knee) had his night cut short by injury against Oklahoma City on Monday. He appeared to have hurt his right knee in the fourth quarter in a collision with Thunder big man Isaiah Hartenstein. With Alex Sarr (back) absent on Monday, Bagley III was back in the rotation and performed well before making a premature exit. The 25-year-old finished with seven points, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal across 16 minutes of action. Further tests will reveal the severity of Bagley III's injury, but it looked a pretty bad one and might leave him on the shelf for quite some time.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso (undisclosed) did not complete Monday's matchup against Washington. He went to the locker room with a little over a minute played in the fourth quarter and never returned to action. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said after the game that an update on Caruso should come on Tuesday after he has been evaluated. Rookie Ajay Mitchell picked up extra shifts following Caruso's exit on Monday, producing a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double. He might land himself a larger role for the upcoming games as well if Caruso has to sit out some time.
Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (undisclosed) was hurt in Monday's loss to Oklahoma City. He exited the game in the middle for the final frame, heading to the locker room holding his right side. Carrington finished the contest with 14 points, two rebounds, three assists, and four turnovers. The 19-year-old rookie must recover by Thursday to avoid missing his first game of the season. Carrington's absence would put Jared Butler in a position to rejoin the regular rotation, but he's a non-factor in fantasy basketball.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell (thumb) was limited to 16 minutes in Monday's 117-114 loss to Detroit. He exited the game two minutes into the fourth quarter, with Lakers head coach JJ Redick mentioning postgame that Russell was checked for a potential thumb injury. Russell finished the night with five points and five assists on 1-for-5 shooting. He's played a big role off the bench for the Lakers, meaning the team would be without a significant piece for its Christmas Day clash against Golden State if Russell can't play. The rest of the bench, featuring Cam Reddish, Dalton Knecht, and Gabe Vincent, would then need to step up. However, they do not offer consistent fantasy production.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (illness) was a late scratch for Monday's contest against Orlando. After he was named a starter for the matchup, the team downgraded him to questionable, and Tatum was ruled out entirely at halftime. He sat out his third game of the season, all of which have occurred this month. Tatum's absence on Monday obviously leaves a question marking hanging over him ahead of Boston's Christmas Day outing against Philadelphia. Al Horford replaced Tatum in the starting unit on Monday, while Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard might be more involved off the bench if Tatum isn't available against the 76ers.
Lakers' F LeBron James recorded a triple-double, finishing with 28 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds in a 114-117 loss to the Pistons on Monday, Dec. 23.
Oklahoma City's G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 41 points on 14-of-25 shooting in a 123-105 win over the Wizards on Monday, Dec. 23.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (elbow) has shaken off a questionable tag and will play against Detroit on Monday. Davis has been battling a foot problem throughout the campaign and is now also dealing with an elbow contusion. However, he will be ready to push through the issues once again. Davis struggled to score in the last game against Sacramento, but he has been on an impressive six-game double-double streak lately. The run includes three games with at least 30 points and three games with 15-plus rebounds. The Pistons give up the third-fewest rebounds in the league to opposing centers, so Davis's double-double streak gets a good test on Monday.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot) will play in Monday's matchup against Detroit. A foot injury keeps James a regular on the injury report, but the Lakers have upgraded him from questionable to available ahead of tip-off. James is fresh off a 32-point performance against Sacramento. He also stepped up his defensive efforts at the weekend, snagging four steals in a 103-99 win over the Kings on Saturday. Detroit has a below-average defense, meaning this is a good matchup for James to build up further momentum ahead of this week's Christmas Day matchup against the Warriors.
Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (ankle) will return from a one-game absence on Monday versus Indiana. After Green missed Saturday's action against Minnesota, the Warriors initially listed him as questionable for Monday's game. He'll be back in the lineup as a starter. The veteran has been inconsistent with his performances throughout the month, averaging 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.0 steals in 27.0 minutes. With that said, a matchup against a team that is ranked sixth in pace offers Green a good opportunity to fill the box score.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Dario Saric (ankle) is active against Phoenix on Monday. The Croatian veteran has battled an ankle sprain lately but will be ready to contribute if called upon versus the Suns. However, it's unlikely to happen, as Saric has had a very small role in the rotation this season, logging 12 or fewer minutes in seven of his 10 appearances. He is firmly stuck behind Nikola Jokic, DeAndre Jordan, and Zeke Nnaji on the depth chart.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Ben Sheppard (oblique) is good to go for Monday's meeting with Golden State. The team has upgraded him from questionable to available. The 22-year-old has averaged over 20 minutes a night across the season, but Sheppard's contributions haven't been good enough for fantasy managers. He has been limited to 6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. Sheppard likely isn't quite at his best either at the moment after only recently returning from a 14-game absence.
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Moses Moody (knee) will be active against Indiana on Monday. He's available again for selection after missing the previous four contests with a knee problem. However, Moody availability isn't big news from a fantasy perspective, as he simply hasn't produced good enough numbers to be a viable option for managers. The 22-year-old has notched 7.4 points in 15.6 minutes this season. Dennis Schroder's addition also further complicates Moody's life in San Francisco.
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (calf) will not play against Indiana on Monday, missing his first game of the season. Payton II has shown impressive durability with 27 consecutive appearances, but a calf contusion has knocked him out of the lineup for Monday's game. He'll get his first chance to return on Christmas Day when the Warriors face the Lakers. Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski will be in a position to play more without Payton II in the lineup on Monday. However, it's a bad matchup for Golden State's bench mob, as the Pacers give up the fourth-fewest bench points in the league.
Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Phoenix. He was initially tagged as questionable for the game with a right ankle sprain, and head coach Michael Malone has now officially ruled him out. Malone hopes to have Murray back for Wednesday's Christmas matchup against the Suns. Murray's absence will give Russell Westbrook his seventh start of the season. In previous starts, Westbrook has averaged 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 2.7 steals.
Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Dalano Banton (hip) will be back in the lineup on Monday versus Dallas. He's available again after sitting out two contests with a hip injury. Banton adds a bit more quality to the Trail Blazers bench, with him averaging 9.8 points per game with 2.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 16.7 minutes across the season. However, he does not have much fantasy value with a healthy squad. In fact, this is a horrible matchup for the entire Portland bench, as the Mavericks give up the third-fewest points in the league to opposing second units.
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (ankle) will skip Monday's meeting with Dallas. After missing nine contests because of a concussion, Williams III returned to the lineup for only three games before picking up another injury. For the season overall, we have seen Williams III suit up just 10 times for the Trail Blazers. Deandre Ayton and Donovan Clingan will work as Portland's lone centers in Monday's favorable matchup. Dallas gives up the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing fives.
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (calf) will remain in the lineup on Monday versus Memphis. He was initially considered iffy for the contest due to a calf strain. However, Zubac will maintain his proud record of featuring in every game this season, starting alongside James Harden, Kris Dunn, Norman Powell, and Derrick Jones Jr. Memphis' frontcourt features Jaren Jackson Jr., the 2023 Defensive Player of The Year award winner, and the Grizzlies have the second-best rebounding rate in the league, so this is a tough matchup for Zubac.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (back) will return to action on Monday versus the Clippers. A back problem kept Morant sidelined for Saturday's contest against Atlanta, but the team has removed him from the injury report ahead of Monday's contest. The Grizzlies superstar gets a difficult matchup on Monday, as only six teams have given up more fantasy points to opposing point guards than the Clippers, who are ranked sixth in defensive efficiency.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart (finger) will be absent from Monday's game against the Clippers. After recovering from a shoulder injury, Smart hurt his right index finger at the weekend and must come out of the lineup again. Luckily for the Grizzlies, Ja Morant (back) is back in the mix, and Desmond Bane (illness) remains in the lineup. Scotty Pippen Jr. might see additional action due to Smart's absence, but Morant's presence severely limits his fantasy appeal.
