NBA roundup: Amen Thompson, Rockets sink Celtics late
Tue Jan 28 2:34am ET
Field Level Media
Amen Thompson made a game-winning floater with 1.3 seconds remaining to polish off a career night, lifting the visiting Houston Rockets to a 114-112 victory over the short-handed Boston Celtics on Monday night.
The bucket in the lane gave Thompson a career-high 33 points. He also finished with nine rebounds and four assists to help Houston get a win in coach Ime Udoka's return to Boston, where he was at the helm during the 2021-22 season.
Payton Pritchard had one last chance to win the game for the Celtics, but his full-court heave at the buzzer only found the top of the backboard.
Dillon Brooks drilled a career-high 10 3-pointers en route to a game-high 36 points for the Rockets, who won despite once trailing by 12 points in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown put up 28 points for the Celtics, who were without Derrick White (shin), Sam Hauser (hip) and Al Horford (toe).
Lakers 112, Hornets 107
Anthony Davis set season highs with 42 points and 23 rebounds to help Los Angeles win against host Charlotte.
LeBron James racked up 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers, who have won four straight games and six of their past seven.
Miles Bridges tallied 26 points and eight rebounds to lead the Hornets, who have lost three of their past four games. Charlotte played most of the game without LaMelo Ball, who exited in the second quarter due to a left ankle sprain. He scored seven points in nine minutes.
Heat 125, Magic 119 (2OT)
Tyler Herro scored 30 points and had a season-high 12 assists, leading host Miami to a double-overtime win over Orlando.
Miami's Bam Adebayo added 26 points -- including six in the second OT -- plus 10 rebounds and nine assists. Prior to the game, the Heat suspended Jimmy Butler for the third time this season -- all for conduct detrimental to the team. Butler's latest ban has him out indefinitely.
Franz Wagner led the Magic with 29 points. With 33.5 seconds to go in regulation, Nikola Jovic lobbed a pass for Kel'el Ware to dunk, putting Miami on top 108-106. Five seconds later, Wagner beat a double team by banking in a shot, tying the score and forcing overtime.
Cavaliers 110, Pistons 91
Darius Garland scored 22 points and Donovan Mitchell added 21 as Cleveland snapped a season-worst three-game losing streak with a win over visiting Detroit.
Jarrett Allen recorded his 25th double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers, who never trailed and improved to 22-3 at home.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 22 points on 9-of-26 shooting. Malik Beasley scored 19 points off the bench, Jalen Duren had 12 points and 16 rebounds and Marcus Sasser chipped in 11 points.
Kings 110, Nets 96
De'Aaron Fox scored 16 of his 30 points in the third quarter as Sacramento erased a nine-point deficit and pulled away down the stretch for a victory over Brooklyn in New York.
The Nets took their seventh consecutive defeat overall and saw their home losing streak reach 11 games. Domantas Sabonis logged 21 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists for the Kings, his seventh triple-double of the season.
D'Angelo Russell scored 19 points for the Nets, who fell to 1-12 in their past 13 games. Tosan Evbuomwan and Jalen Wilson added 15 points apiece.
Knicks 143, Grizzlies 106
Karl-Anthony Towns posted another double-double and had 16 points during a strong third quarter that helped New York pull away for its most decisive win of the season, a rout of visiting Memphis.
Towns finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds for his 37th double-double of the season. Mikal Bridges scored a game-high 28 points to lead seven scorers in double figures for the Knicks.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 21 points for the Grizzlies, who had their second six-game winning streak of the season come to an end. Memphis' Desmond Bane had 16 points while Ja Morant, Santi Aldama and Brandon Clarke finished with 10 apiece.
Raptors 113, Pelicans 104
Jakob Poeltl had 21 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks as Toronto defeated visiting New Orleans to stretch its winning streak to four games.
Scottie Barnes added 21 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals for the Raptors, who have won six of their past seven games.
Zion Williamson scored 31 points and CJ McCollum put up 22 points for the Pelicans. New Orleans coach Willie Green was ejected in the fourth quarter for arguing with the officials.
Bulls 129, Nuggets 121
Zach LaVine scored 21 points and Nikola Vucevic produced 20 points and 10 rebounds to lift Chicago to a victory against visiting Denver.
Seven players scored in double figures for Chicago, which shot 45.3 percent (24-for-53) from long range and overcame a triple-double from Denver's Nikola Jokic. Lonzo Ball contributed 18 points for the Bulls.
Jokic had 33 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds. Christian Braun scored 28 points, but Denver took its second consecutive loss after an 8-1 stretch.
Timberwolves 100, Hawks 92
Anthony Edwards scored 23 points, Julius Randle added 20 points and Minnesota held on for a win over Atlanta in Minneapolis.
De'Andre Hunter scored a career-high 35 points to lead Atlanta. Fellow reserve Clint Capela chipped in 10 points and 15 rebounds.
The Hawks played without their top two scorers, guard Trae Young (hamstring) and forward Jalen Johnson (shoulder). Young is averaging 22.8 points per game, and Johnson is averaging 18.9 points per contest.
Mavericks 130, Wizards 108
Klay Thompson drained seven 3-pointers in the first quarter on the way to a game-high 23 points and Dallas handed visiting Washington a 14th straight loss.
It was a rout from the start, as the Mavericks needed just 6:13 to open up a 24-5 lead before going into the second quarter ahead 42-16. Reserve Olivier-Maxence Prosper tied his career high with 20 points as Dallas won for the second time in three games.
Bilal Coulibaly led the Wizards with 16 points, while Jordan Poole and Corey Kispert each added 15 points.
Bucks 125, Jazz 110
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard each hit the 30-point mark in the same game for the sixth time this season as Milwaukee routed Utah in Salt Lake City.
Antetokounmpo totaled 35 points on 16-of-23 shooting to go along with 18 rebounds, seven assists and two steals as the Bucks returned to their winning ways for their sixth victory in seven games. Lillard also contributed 35 points -- on 14-of-22 shooting -- while chipping in eight assists and five boards.
Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton each scored 19 points for the Jazz, who lost their sixth consecutive game. Brice Sensabaugh had 17 points and was one of four other Jazz scorers in double figures despite the team's rough shooting night (41 percent from the field).
Suns 111, Clippers 109
Devin Booker put up 26 points and host Phoenix held off a late charge by Los Angeles to win its third game in a row.
Booker went 5-for-10 from beyond the 3-point arc while also collecting eight assists and seven rebounds. Teammate Kevin Durant made four treys and finished with 24 points.
Down 11 with 2:43 left, the Clippers went on a 10-0 run and got within 107-106 with 40.4 seconds remaining. However, the Suns made enough foul shots to hang on. Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 25 points and 16 boards.
- NBA roundup: Amen Thompson, Rockets sink Celtics late
- Hornets G LaMelo Ball (ankle) exits game vs. Lakers
- Heat suspend Jimmy Butler again, this time indefinitely
- Former All-Star G Isaiah Thomas joining G League
- Sports world marks fifth anniversary of deaths of Kobe, Gianna Bryant
- Suns benched C Jusuf Nurkic, coach 'don't have a relationship'
- NBA roundup: James Harden scores 40 in Clippers' win
- Mavs F/C Maxi Kleber to miss time with broken foot
- Hawks F Jalen Johnson (shoulder) out indefinitely
- LeBron James downgraded to questionable vs. Warriors
- NBA roundup: Sixers edge Cavs to halt 7-game skid
- Wolves' Donte DiVincenzo (toe) to be re-evaluated in 3 weeks
- NBA roundup: Nikola Jokic's 5th straight triple-double lifts Nuggets
- Two Knicks among those designated NBA All-Star 'starters'
- Magic star Franz Wagner returns after 20-game absence
- Brandon Miller opts for season-ending wrist surgery
- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Jimmy Butler drama: 'Get used to it'
- NBA roundup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 54 in OKC's win
- Heat suspending Jimmy Butler two more games
- Lakers F Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) set for season debut
Denver's C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 33 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds in a 121-129 loss to Chicago on Monday, Jan. 27.
Kings' F Domantas Sabonis recorded a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, 10 assists and 22 rebounds in a 110-96 win over Brooklyn on Monday, Jan. 27.
Houston Rockets' G Dillon Brooks scored 36 points on 13-of-23 shooting in a 114-112 win over Boston on Monday, Jan. 27. Brooks is owned in only 18.2% leagues.
Lakers' F Anthony Davis recorded a double-double, scoring 42 points and grabbing 23 rebounds in a 112-107 win over Charlotte on Monday, Jan. 27.
Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) won't play on Monday and will miss the next two games before being re-evaluated sometime next week. That means, Johnson's next chance to get back on the court will be against the Houston Rockets next Tuesday. It's uncertain if Johnson will be under a minutes limit once he's cleared to play. Jalen Wilson and Tyrese Martin should continue seeing increased roles in the rotation over the next week. Wilson has been hit-or-miss, but is worth a look as a possible streaming option while Johnson is out.
Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (knee) is questionable for Tuesday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. The former No. 1 pick has been sidelined for three games with a knee sprain. Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III have shared the center duties with Ayton unavailable. Clingan has been the preferred option in the starting lineup, but Williams III outplayed him in Sunday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former Celtic has recorded double-digit rebounds in back-to-back outings. Clingan entered Sunday with a four-game run of double-digit rebounds but grabbed just six boards against the Thunder and finished scoreless.
Brooklyn Nets forward Trendon Watford (hamstring) is reportedly trending in the right direction and could return to the court this week. The 24-year-old has been sidelined since mid-December due to a left hamstring strain. The Nets are considering Watford as day-to-day, which means he could return to the court on Wednesday or Saturday. He has missed over 20 games in a row, so fantasy managers should expect Watford to have a significant minutes limit when he does return. Once back to full speed, Watford could offer some low-end streaming value, but for now he's just worth monitoring.
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) is scheduled for a re-evaluation in two weeks. Kuminga has been out since Jan. 4 with an ankle sprain, but the team announced that he is making "good progress." Golden State expects Kuminga to begin light on-court individual workouts in the next week. Based on the update, Kuminga will miss at least eight more games. Moses Moody has taken on a larger role during Kuminga's absence. He has averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 23.6 minutes since Kuminga exited the lineup. Moody has scored in double digits in each of his last six appearances.
Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (quad) has been ruled out ahead of Monday's game against the Utah Jazz. Green is now set to miss his fourth game in a row due to a lingering quad injury. The Bucks are playing the front end of a back-to-back set, so his next chance to play will be versus the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. The absence of Green should mean that Gary Trent Jr., Ryan Rollins, and possibly Andre Jackson Jr. would see bigger roles in the rotation. Out of the trio, Trent has been the most consistent fantasy option over the last few games.
Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (calf) will not play on Tuesday against the Utah Jazz but is nearing a return to action. The team has labeled Green as day-to-day as he continues to work his way back from a calf strain. The veteran will miss a fifth consecutive game on Tuesday. Considering Green has yet to practice with the team, it's safe to assume he also won't be available for Wednesday's meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder. After the back-to-back set, Golden State will return to action on Friday against the Phoenix Suns.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is available ahead of Monday's game against the Utah Jazz. As expected, Antetokounmpo will play after being listed as probable on the injury report. The 30-year-old has basically been on the injury report all season long, but he continues to play through the knee issue. Antetokounmpo has been excellent lately with 34 points or more in three of his last four games coming into this one. This will be a favorable matchup for Antetokounmpo, so fantasy managers better make sure to get him active in their lineups.
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Guerschon Yabusele (knee) is probable for Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Frenchman is currently dealing with swelling in his right knee, but the probable tag suggests that Yabusele will be able to take the court on Tuesday. The 29-year-old has had a good comeback campaign in the NBA this season, averaging 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds. He is currently operating as the team's starting center with Joel Embiid (knee) and Andre Drummond (toe) on the shelf. If Yabusele suffers a setback and joins Embiid and Drummond on the sidelines, Adem Bona and Pete Nance will split the center minutes.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will see an increase in playing time ahead of Monday's game against the Phoenix Suns, according to head coach Ty Lue. Leonard has played 24 minutes in each of his last four games. That being said, the Clippers feel that Leonard is ready for a slightly heavier workload now. It seems unlikely that Leonard would jump into the 30-minutes mark, so around 26-28 range seems likely. Fantasy managers should get a slight boost in fantasy value from Leonard in this one.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) has been cleared to play ahead of Monday's game against the Utah Jazz. As expected, Middleton will play after head coach Doc Rivers said that he'd most likely suit up for this game. Middleton has lost his job in the starting five, but he still has been a fairly solid contributor off the bench. He posted a dud last time out, but before that Middleton had a stretch of five games where he scored 11 points or more. During that span, Middleton also dished out four assists or more in each of those contests. Fantasy managers should expect a bounce back outing from Middleton in this one.
Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (toe) will not play against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. The rebounding machine has made only four appearances in January and will sit out a third consecutive game. Since Drummond did not practice on Monday, it seems unlikely that he will return for the second leg of a back-to-back on Wednesday versus the Sacramento Kings. Adem Bona will continue to act as the backup center behind Guerschon Yabusele (knee), who is considered probable for the game. Bona has looked quite raw on the court and doesn't currently have fantasy value.
Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball rolled his left ankle during Monday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was injured in the second quarter after colliding with Lakers forward Jared Vanderbilt following a three-point shot. Ball exited to the locker room, having played only nine minutes in the first half. If Ball cannot return, Vasilije Micic and Seth Curry are expected to take on heavier workloads.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Caleb Martin (hip) will miss his ninth consecutive game on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. He has been ruled out despite participating in a full practice on Monday. This indicates that Martin is close to returning, and his comeback could happen on Wednesday when Philadelphia finishes a back-to-back against the Sacramento Kings. Eric Gordon should get another start on Tuesday, with Justin Edwards and Ricky Council IV seeing additional action off the bench. After slumping for most of the campaign, Gordon has found his rhythm lately, averaging 11.1 points with red-hot 51.2 percent shooting from three-point land across the last eight games.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) will sit out the upcoming back-to-back set. He has already been officially ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kyle Neubeck of AllPHLY.com reports that Embiid will also miss Wednesday's matchup against the Sacramento Kings. The former MVP last played on Jan. 4 and has missed 11 games since. With Andre Drummond (toe) also struggling to remain in the lineup, the 76ers have relied heavily on Guerschon Yabusele (knee) at center. Yabusele is dealing with swelling in his right knee but is expected to play in Tuesday's game.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (finger) has been ruled out for Tuesday's matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. The nine-time All-Star hurt his left pinky finger during Saturday's game against the Chicago Bulls and was unable to practice on Monday. Tuesday marks the beginning of a back-to-back for Philadelphia, so the chances seem high that George will sit out multiple games. Justin Edwards and Ricky Council IV are looking at extra work with George out. However, these players have not provided consistent fantasy value.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jake LaRavia (back) will be active against the New York Knicks on Monday. The 23-year-old has overcome a back problem that forced LaRavia to miss three games. LaRavia has had a few good performances in 2024-25 but tends to be inconsistent. He averaged 7.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists for the campaign. With Marcus Smart (finger) currently the only regular rotation player absent for the Grizzlies, LaRavia is unlikely to have a significant role in Monday's contest.
