NBA roundup: Giannis Antetokounmpo boosts Bucks at buzzer
Tue Nov 4 2:01am ET
Field Level Media
Giannis Antetokounmpo capped his game-high 33-point performance on Monday with a buzzer-beating, turnaround fadeaway to lift the Milwaukee Bucks past the Indiana Pacers, 117-115, in Indianapolis.
Antetokounmpo's big night included 13 rebounds for his fifth double-double in six games. His 33 points also marked his fifth performance of at least 30 points this season. Complementing him were Kyle Kuzma with 15 points off the bench, Cole Anthony with another 11 points in reserve duty, Gary Trent Jr. with 11 points and AJ Green with 13.
The loss dropped the reigning Eastern Conference champion Pacers to 1-6 on the season, and Indiana's fourth loss of six points or fewer. Pascal Siakam finished with 32 points to lead the Pacers, Quenton Jackson posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, Jarace Walker added 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Aaron Nesmith contributed 17 points and seven rebounds.
The Pacers trailed most of the night, but stayed within striking distance thanks both to forcing 18 Milwaukee turnovers and the Bucks' dreadful 13-of-22 shooting at the free-throw line. After Green made one of two free throws, Indiana knotted the score at 115-115 on the ensuing possession when Nesmith winded his way through the Bucks defense for a layup with 15 seconds remaining.
Timberwolves 125, Nets 109
Donte DiVincenzo scored 25 points as Minnesota pulled away in the fourth quarter for a victory over winless Brooklyn in New York.
DiVincenzo hit two 3-pointers in the fourth when the Timberwolves outscored the Nets 34-21. The guard shot 8 of 17 overall and made six 3s after hitting five in Saturday's win over Charlotte. Julius Randle totaled 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his 15th career triple-double. Jaden McDaniels added 22 on 9-of-11 shooting. Reid added 21 points off the bench as the Wolves shot 56.4% from the field and 40% on 3-pointers.
Cam Thomas scored 25 points for the Nets, who were 6-of-26 shooting in the fourth quarter and shot 40.4% overall. Nic Claxton added 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Noah Clowney contributed 15 points in place of Michael Porter Jr. (personal reasons).
Knicks 119, Wizards 102
Josh Hart scored 10 points during a decisive third-period run for host New York, which pulled away and beat Washington.
Hart (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Karl-Anthony Towns (33 points, 13 rebounds) each posted double-doubles for the Knicks, who won both ends of a back-to-back at home. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby had 16 points apiece. The duo combined for 12 points in the third quarter, when the Knicks outscored the Wizards 41-24 to take a 98-78 lead.
Alex Sarr scored 19 points for the Wizards, who have lost five straight. Starters Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George and reserve Corey Kispert had 15 each while Tre Johnson added 10 off the bench.
Nuggets 130, Kings 124
Nikola Jokic scored a season-high 34 points to go with 14 assists, Christian Braun added a season-best 21 points and host Denver held off Sacramento.
Aaron Gordon added 20 points, Jamal Murray scored 15 despite missing all five of his 3-point attempts, Bruce Brown contributed 13 off the bench and Cam Johnson finished with 10 points for Denver.
Sacramento's Russell Westbrook recorded season highs in points (26), rebounds (12) and turnovers (six) in his first game against his former team. Westbrook helped Denver reach the second round of the playoffs last spring in his only season with the team. He was given a warm welcome by the Denver crowd. Domantas Sabonis contributed 13 points and 17 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan added 19 points, while Dennis Schroder finished with 18 points.
Jazz 105, Celtics 103
Jusuf Nurkic scored with 0.6 seconds to play to give visiting Utah the victory over Boston.
Nurkic's game-winning putback off a Keyonte George missed shot was part of an 11-point, 11-rebound effort for the Bosnian big man. George led the Jazz with 31 points, while Lauri Markkanen added 20 and Kyle Filopowski chipped in with 13.
Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 36 points but missed all nine of his 3-point attempts. He was also called for an offensive foul during an inbounds play after Nurkic's bucket to seal the loss for the Celtics. Supporting Brown were Payton Pritchard, who notched 18 points, and Anfernee Simons, who dropped 15 off the bench.
Rockets 110, Mavericks 102
Alperen Sengun paired 26 points with 11 rebounds, Amen Thompson chipped in 27 points, and host Houston fended off short-handed Dallas.
Sengun helped the Rockets get late separation with a pair of free throws and a spinning eight-footer down the stretch. His pass to Josh Okogie yielded two free throws with 1:01 remaining that helped the Rockets extend to a 107-102 lead and seal a fourth straight win.
Sengun added a team-high six assists to his ledger. Kevin Durant scored 21 points and overcame an off-shooting night with back-to-back 3-pointers that resulted in a late 99-94 lead.
Lakers 123, Trail Blazers 115
Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. all achieved season-best point totals as short-handed Los Angeles notched a victory over host Portland.
Ayton had 29 points on 14-of-19 shooting and collected 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. Hachimura had 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Smith was the biggest surprise with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. He added a season-best six assists as the Lakers won their fourth consecutive contest. Los Angeles held out Luka Doncic (leg contusion) and Austin Reaves (groin soreness) on the second night of a back-to-back. Also, LeBron James (sciatica) has yet to play this season.
Deni Avdija scored a season-best 33 points for Portland, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Shaedon Sharpe added 23 points and seven rebounds, reserve Jerami Grant scored 18 points and Toumani Camara had 14 points and seven rebounds.
Pistons 114, Grizzlies 106
Cade Cunningham scored 19 of his season-high 33 points in the fourth quarter as visiting Detroit led wire to wire in a victory over Memphis.
Cunningham scored nine straight Pistons points late in the fourth to give Detroit a nine-point lead. Isaiah Stewart backed up Cunningham's electric performance with season highs of his own, recording 26 points and 14 rebounds. Stewart also added four blocks to help the Pistons win their third straight game.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with a season-high 21 points. Ja Morant recorded an 18-point, 10-assist double-double in his return from a one-game suspension, but he also missed all four of his 3-point attempts and committed five turnovers. Rookie Cedric Coward added 17 points off the bench.
Heat 120, Clippers 119
Bam Adebayo scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Norman Powell scored 21 against his former team as Miami earned a victory over Los Angeles in Inglewood, Calif.
Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points and Kel'el Ware added 16 as the Heat won for the first time in three games on a four-game road trip. Powell, who was traded by the Clippers to the Heat in the offseason, made his return from a three-game absence because of a groin injury.
James Harden scored 29 points and Kawhi Leonard scored 15 of his 27 points in the first quarter for the Clippers, who lost for the first time in four home games. Ivica Zubac scored nine points and recorded 18 rebounds, while Derrick Jones Jr., Bradley Beal and John Collins each scored 12 for Los Angeles.
- NBA roundup: Giannis Antetokounmpo boosts Bucks at buzzer
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Timberwolves' F Julius Randle recorded a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in a 125-109 win over Brooklyn on Monday, Nov. 3.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) won't play versus the Mavericks. He sprained his right ankle during Saturday's win over the Boston Celtics. Fortunately, head coach Ime Udoka stated Smith's absence won't extend beyond this contest, meaning he should be back when the Rockets face the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday night. Without the 22-year-old on the floor, Tari Eason will get the start. Eason has averaged 11.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and an impressive 57.1% shooting from behind the arc this season. However, he could be more productive as a member of the starting lineup on Monday night.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (knee) will remain on a minutes restriction ahead of Monday's game against the Houston Rockets, according to head coach Jason Kidd. Gafford will continue to have a limited role after making his season debut on Saturday. The Mavs don't want to push Gafford too hard, so he'll continue to be eased back into action. The expectation is that Gafford will play around 15-18 minutes during Monday's game. His fantasy value is limited right now, but he figures to be a viable option once he's back to full speed.
Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton (elbow) was ruled out for Monday's game against the New York Knicks. Middleton will miss his first game of the season due to a left elbow contusion. So far this season, Middleton is averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 25 minutes per game. That being said, there is a decent amount of playing time up for grabs with the veteran forward hitting the sideline. The assumption is that Bilal Coulibaly and Corey Kispert will see extended roles in the absence of Middleton. Between the two, Coulibaly is the much better streaming choice between the two for Monday's slate.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (shoulder) won't play on Monday versus Boston. The 24-year-old didn't travel with the Jazz for their four-game road trip, and he didn't play in Sunday's meeting with the Charlotte Hornets. Kessler will presumably miss a few more contests, although that may change depending on the results of testing. In the meantime, Jusuf Nurkic should remain in the starting lineup. Nurkic had three points, nine boards, and two steals on Sunday against the Hornets. However, he has the potential to be much more productive, giving him streaming value for fantasy managers.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (ankle) is available to suit up ahead of Monday's game against the Washington Wizards. Hart is ready to play after being listed as questionable earlier in the day due to an ankle issue. It doesn't sound like Hart is going to be limited at all, so fantasy managers should expect him to have his normal role. He put together his best game of the season last time out with 14 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in 26 minutes of playing time. Fantasy managers should make sure to get Hart in their lineups ahead of tip-off.
Indiana Pacers guard Johnny Furphy (foot) is available to play ahead of Monday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. As expected, Furphy will suit up after being listed as probable due to a foot issue. He finished with five points, three rebounds, and two steals in 23 minutes of action during Saturday's win over the Golden State Warriors. Furphy figures to play a similar role during Monday's contest. He won't be an appealing streaming option for Monday's slate.
Indiana Pacers guard RayJ Dennis (back) is available to play ahead of Monday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. As expected, Dennis is ready to go after being listed as questionable due to a lower back sprain. He figures to play a bigger role than normal with Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) on the bench. Through six games, Dennis is averaging 9.2 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 25.6 minutes per game. Dennis could offer some low-end streaming value for Monday's slate.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is available to play ahead of Monday's game against the Indiana Pacers. Antetokounmpo was held out of Thursday's contest due to a lingering knee issue. Despite that, he is feeling good enough to suit up for the first leg of the back-to-back set on Monday. He's coming off a 26-point, 11 rebounds, and eight assist performance during his last time out. Fantasy managers should make sure to get Antetokounmpo active in their lineups ahead of tip-off.
Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (shoulder) will miss at least the next two weeks. The 22-year-old appeared in only two games this season before suffering a left shoulder subluxation during the October 25 matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. As a result, he's missed the Hornets' last five contests. Miller will be re-evaluated in two weeks. However, until he can return, rookie Kon Knueppel, averaging 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 42.2% shooting from deep in six starts this season, should remain even more relevant for all fantasy setups. The Hornets play the Pelicans, Heat, Lakers, Bucks (twice), Thunder, and Raptors in the next two weeks, so fantasy managers will be without Miller for at least seven more games.
Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (groin) has been upgraded to questionable for a bout with his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers, on Monday, per the team's injury report. Powell has missed Miami's last three games with a groin issue. Should he suit up, a strong scoring effort from Powell seems likely. The 32-year-old is averaging a career-best 24 points per game, along with three assists, two steals, and 7.3 rebounds. The Heat are playing at one of the quickest paces in the NBA, averaging 124.5 points per game. That's good for third in the league. Fantasy managers should check back on Powell's status closer to the 10:30 Eastern time tip.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (right groin soreness) won't be in uniform tonight when the team faces the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers, on the second night of a back-to-back, will also be without guard Luka Doncic (lower leg injury management). Center Deandre Ayton (back spasms) is questionable, while LeBron James (sciatica) and Gabe Vincent (ankle) remain out. It's a lengthy injury list for the Lakers, who appear content with taking a loss to the Trail Blazers. Marcus Smart should handle most of the ball-handling responsibilities. Bronny James and Nick Smith Jr. could also be involved. The bulk of the scoring responsibility will land on the shoulders of Jake LaRavia and Rui Hachimura. Reaves is averaging a career-best 31.1 points and 9.3 assists per game on the young season.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (lower left leg contusion injury management) will be sidelined tonight when the team faces the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers will also be without guard Austin Reaves (right groin soreness). Forward LeBron James (sciatica) and guard Gabe Vincent (ankle) remain out, while center Deandre Ayton (back spasms) is questionable. Los Angeles appears to be punting the second half of a back-to-back. Marcus Smart should handle most of the ball-handling responsibilities, while Bronny James, and possibly Nick Smith Jr., could be involved. Jake LaRavia and Rui Hachimura will be tasked with picking up the scoring slack.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (ankle) is listed as questionable heading into Monday's matchup with the Washington Wizards. If Hart is unable to play, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson could see an increased workload. The Knicks will be without Mitchell Robinson (rest) at the end of the back-to-back. Hart chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds yesterday, an improvement over his five points and 6.6 rebound average this season. With the Wizards rested, look for a big night from Kyshawn George and CJ McCollum against a depleted Knicks roster.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (rest) will miss Monday's matchup, the second leg of a back-to-back, despite just 13 minutes on Sunday. Robinson has appeared in just two games this season as he works himself back into shape following a left ankle injury he struggled with through the preseason. When healthy, the big man's excellent rebounding and shot-blocking potential make him a starting option at a shallow center position. Robinson can be dropped at this stage of the season despite his potential. His inability to stay healthy, appearing in just 48 games over the past two seasons, leaves him expendable if you don't have an injured reserve spot to stash him.
Sacramento Kings point guard Dennis Schroder (hip) will be available for Monday night's matchup with the Denver Nuggets. Schroder was listed as questionable leading up to the matchup. The 32-year-old is coming off his best performance of the season in Saturday's 135-133 win over the Bucks. Schroder managed 24 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals in the contest. Malik Monk (personal) is currently away from the team, which points to an uptick in Schroder's usage. The guard should start in all formats heading into Monday's game.
Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (back) is expected to play in Monday night's matchup with the Denver Nuggets. LaVine has been hampered by lower back soreness, but has yet to miss time this season. The 30-year-old guard has been incredible to start the season, averaging 29.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists through the first six games. With Malik Monk sidelined, the veteran has shouldered the majority of the scoring load for the Kings, but faces a stiff test against a Nuggets defense that is allowing just 111.8 points per game, fourth in the league. The Nuggets will likely focus their defense on LaVine to slow him down, as a one-on-one matchup against Christian Braun could set up a big day.
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (ankle) was assigned to the G-League's Memphis Hustle on Monday. Edey's stay with the Grizzlies affiliate should be brief, as the second-year big man recovers from offseason ankle surgery. Edey placed fifth in Rookie of the Year voting last year, after averaging 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 66 games. An early-November return for Edey would mark a significant shift in the team's lineup as Jaren Jackson Jr. shifts to power forward, and Jock Landale likely returns to a reserve role. Edey should be stashee immediately ahead of his return to the lineup.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Keaton Wallace (illness) participated in Monday's practice after missing Sunday's matchup with the Cavaliers. Wallace is averaging just 11.2 minutes per game while operating as a depth piece behind Trae Young. Wallace is shooting 62.5% from three this season, and should be viewed as a depth piece that can shoot from distance while chipping in assists if his minutes tick up. Continue to monitor injury reports if you're in need of point guard depth ahead of Tuesday's matchup with the Orlando Magic.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) will miss a sixth consecutive game on Monday after officially being ruled out due to a left shoulder strain. The fourth-year combo guard hasn't been able to play since the season opener, while the Pacers suffer injury after injury. Their guard depth is down to the bottom of their barrel, so both fantasy managers in deep leagues and DFS managers can find some value here and there for streaming purposes. Quenton Jackson had a big double-double in their last game on Saturday, while Jarace Walker has also played very well in extended minutes. RayJ Dennis (questionable - back) has received some more time, while Johnny Furphy also got 23 minutes. Jackson and Walker are the top two for streaming priority, but Dennis and Furphy could provide some guard stats in a pinch, too.
