NBA roundup: Thunder take down Mavs to remain perfect
Tue Oct 28 2:50am ET
Field Level Media
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 13 of his 23 points in the third quarter, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder stay undefeated with a 101-94 road win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.
The Thunder led by 22 in the fourth quarter but the Mavericks got within one in the final minute before Oklahoma City steadied late offensively. Oklahoma City went more than 5:30 without scoring as Dallas reeled off a 15-0 run during that stretch to cut the deficit to four before the Mavericks eventually got to within one.
But the Thunder got a driving layup from Isaiah Hartenstein to stretch the lead to three, then after a fruitless possession for Dallas, Gilgeous-Alexander went to the free-throw line for the first time in the game with 21 seconds left and drained both to stretch the lead to five and nearly put the game away.
With the Mavericks on the second night of their first back-to-back of the season, rookie Cooper Flagg finished just 1 of 9 from the floor for a season-low two points. The night before in a win over Toronto, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick scored a season-high 22 points.
Jazz 138, Suns 134 (OT)
Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 51 points with 14 rebounds to carry Utah to an overtime victory over visiting Phoenix in Salt Lake City.
Markkanen made 17 of 17 free throws, including a game-clinching pair with 1.9 seconds left, en route to his fourth career 40-point game. It was the first 50-point game in the regular season for a Jazz player since Karl Malone in 1998. Keyonte George totaled 26 points with 10 assists, while Walker Kessler added 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocks.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 34 points, including five 3-pointers, but Phoenix wrapped up a three-game road trip with its third straight loss despite overturning a 20-point deficit.
Spurs 121, Raptors 103
Victor Wembanyama poured in 24 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and hit two late baskets that helped host San Antonio to a victory over Toronto.
It's the first time since the 2017-18 season that the Spurs have started a campaign with four consecutive wins. Stephon Castle added 22 points while Barnes had 18, Devin Vassell scored 15 and rookie Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Toronto's RJ Barrett led all scorers with 25 points, with rookie Collin Murray-Boyles hitting for 19, Immanuel Quickley tallying 15 and Brandon Ingram adding 14.
76ers 136, Magic 124
Tyrese Maxey scored 43 points as Philadelphia picked up its third straight win to open the season by beating visiting Orlando.
Kelly Oubre Jr. added 25 points and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia, which played without Joel Embiid (knee injury management) for the first time this season. Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe continued the impressive start to his career, contributing 26 points and seven assists.
Paolo Banchero scored 32 points and Desmond Bane added 24 points before fouling out. Franz Wagner chipped in 22 points for Orlando, which has lost three of its first four games.
Warriors 131, Grizzlies 118
Jonathan Kuminga had a game-high 25 points, Moses Moody scored 12 of his 20 points in a decisive third-quarter spurt and Golden State ran away from visiting Memphis.
Brandin Podziemski poured in 23 points. Jimmy Butler III scored 20 and Stephen Curry added 16 for the Warriors, who led just 70-68 in the third minute of the third period before pulling away.
Ja Morant had a team-high 23 points and nine assists for the Grizzlies, who have alternated wins and losses in their first four games.
Trail Blazers 122, Lakers 108
Deni Avdija scored 17 of his 25 points in the first half and Jrue Holiday notched 17 of his 24 in the second half as Portland recorded a victory over host Los Angeles.
Jerami Grant came off the bench to score 22 points as Portland defeated the Lakers for the second straight time after losing the previous six matchups. Austin Reaves had another big outing with 41 points for the short-handed Lakers and has scored 92 points in the last two nights. Donovan Clingan had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Portland, which is 2-1 under interim coach Tiago Splitter.
Former Trail Blazer DeAndre Ayton had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura and backup Dalton Knecht also had 16 points apiece and Jarred Vanderbilt had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Nuggets 127, Timberwolves 114
Jamal Murray scored 43 points on 16-for-29 shooting and Denver finished strong for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Denver's Nikola Jokic notched his third triple-double in as many games to start the season with 25 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. poured in 20 points off the bench.
Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting to lead Minnesota. Julius Randle scored 24 points and Naz Reid finished with 18 points off the bench.
Celtics 122, Pelicans 90
Anfernee Simons scored 25 points to lead six Boston double-figure scorers and the visiting Celtics got their first victory of the season while keeping New Orleans winless.
Payton Pritchard added 18 points for the Celtics, who completed a back-to-back that began with a loss at Detroit by beating the Pelicans for the ninth straight meeting.
Jordan Poole scored 22 points and rookie Derik Queen had 12 for the Pelicans, who were without Zion Williamson because of a left foot bone contusion suffered in a loss Friday night. The injury is not believed to be long term.
Bulls 128, Hawks 123
Ayo Dosunmu scored a team-high 21 points and Josh Giddey and Nikola Vucevic registered double-doubles to lift host Chicago over Atlanta.
A season-high eight players scored in double figures for the Bulls, who secured a 3-0 start. Giddey contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds while Vucevic had 17 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists.
Kristaps Porzingis led all scorers with 27 points for the Hawks. Jalen Johnson followed with 25 points and Trae Young had 21 points and 17 assists.
Cavaliers 116, Pistons 95
Donovan Mitchell pumped in 35 points and visiting Cleveland won its third straight, pounding Detroit.
Mitchell made 13 of 18 from the field and was 7 of 8 at the free-throw line. Jarrett Allen added 20 points and seven rebounds, while Evan Mobley contributed 15 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
De'Andre Hunter added 13 points, five rebounds and six assists for Cleveland, which led by 22 at halftime. The Cavaliers have defeated the Pistons in 13 of their last 14 meetings. Detroit star guard Cade Cunningham was held to 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting.
Rockets 137, Nets 109
Tari Eason scored 22 points off the bench while Alperen Sengun added 21 to pace a balanced attack for Houston, which thumped visiting Brooklyn.
Eason scored 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting in the first half to carry the Rockets until Sengun and others joined the fray following the intermission. Kevin Durant paired 19 points with six rebounds while Reed Sheppard added 15 points and eight assists off the bench for Houston, which shot 57.6% overall and converted 16 of 32 3-pointers.
Terance Mann led the Nets with 21 points while Michael Porter Jr. chipped in 18. Cam Thomas followed his 40-point effort against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday by missing 6 of 9 shots en route to nine points.
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- Knicks All-Star C Karl-Anthony Towns (quad) doubtful vs. Cavs
- Magic G Jalen Suggs (knee) to play in opener vs. Heat
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (hamstring) is expected to be sidelined for at least one month. He suffered a right hamstring strain during Sunday's 114-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Early in the season, Toppin has averaged over 27 minutes per game and was in good form before his injury, posting 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals. Jarace Walker will now likely receive a boost in playing time and deserves fantasy consideration. Other frontcourt players, such as Tony Bradley and Isaiah Jackson, may also see more minutes on the floor.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) will remain out for Wednesday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. He continues to deal with a shoulder injury that Nembhard suffered in last week's season opener. Wednesday will mark his third consecutive absence. The Pacers have a depleted backcourt, so players like Ben Sheppard and RayJ Dennis carry additional fantasy value. In the previous game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sheppard rolled with the starting unit, but Dennis made a bigger impact. He registered 12 points, five assists, two steals, and three blocks in 27 minutes off the bench.
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (hip) has been listed as questionable for a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. Nurkic may have to miss a meeting with his former team due to a right hip contusion. Despite being limited to a bench role in Utah, Nurkic has had a solid start to the season, averaging 6.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in 17.7 minutes. If he's unable to play Wednesday night, Kevin Love may log his first minutes in a Jazz uniform, and Taylor Hendricks could also see extra playing time in the frontcourt.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (toe) will be sidelined week-to-week, head coach Rick Carlisle announced on Tuesday. Mathurin injured his right toe in just the second game of the season, and it may take a while before he's ready to return. The Pacers backcourt has also lost Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) early in the year, not to mention the absence of Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles). As a result, Ben Sheppard has moved into the first unit, while RayJ Dennis was also heavily involved in Sunday's 114-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (ankle) is listed as probable on the injury report for Wednesday's contest against the Brooklyn Nets. Risacher missed two games with an ankle issue before returning to action on Monday against the Chicago Bulls. It looks like he will remain in the lineup on Wednesday, although the ankle injury may still be bothering Risacher, as he posted only two points on Monday night, shooting 1-for-5 from the field. Risacher's return sent Nickeil Alexander-Walker back to the bench, but he still had a big role to play in the rotation and should remain on fantasy radars. Alexander-Walker has adjusted well to his new surroundings, averaging 15.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (ankle) remains on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's clash against the Brooklyn Nets, but he is expected to play, as the team has listed him as probable. Due to an ankle sprain, Johnson was forced to miss one game during the opening week. However, he returned to the lineup on Monday versus the Chicago Bulls and should remain available on Wednesday night. In his first three appearances of the season, Johnson has averaged 19.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.7 steals. With the Nets appearing to have one of the weakest squads in the league, Johnson will have a good opportunity to boost his numbers if he plays on Wednesday.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (groin) will miss Wednesday's meeting with his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies. Following a very productive start to the season, Brooks injured his groin and will be sidelined for a second consecutive game. In his absence, Royce O'Neale made his first start of the season on Monday night against the Utah Jazz, delivering an impressive performance. He led the Suns with 13 rebounds, adding 17 points, seven assists, and five steals during a 138-134 overtime loss. O'Neale will continue to have extra fantasy value on Wednesday night, although the possible return of Jalen Green (hamstring) could lead to changes in the rotation.
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (Achilles) is listed as probable on the injury report for Wednesday's encounter with the Indiana Pacers. Davis is dealing with bilateral Achilles tendinopathy, but there is a high likelihood that he will be cleared to play. At the start of his first full season in Dallas, Davis has averaged 25.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks. He could have a field day against an Indiana team that's now without Myles Turner. With both Daniel Gafford (ankle) and Dereck Lively II (knee) doubtful for Wednesday's game, Davis may also be asked to shoulder a heavier workload.
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (hamstring) has been upgraded to questionable ahead of Wednesday's matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. This may be a sign that he's ready to make his Suns debut. Green has missed the first few games of the season due to a right hamstring strain. Grayson Allen has been starting in Green's place, and he may still hold significant fantasy value if Green has a minutes restriction during his first few games back. Once Green is back at 100 percent, he is expected to play a massive role in the Suns offense.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (foot) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's tilt against the Denver Nuggets. The Pelicans star was only a limited participant during practice on Tuesday and may have to sit out a second consecutive game due to a bone contusion in his left foot. It's unfortunate that Williamson has again run into health issues after he opened the season with back-to-back 27-point outings. If Williamson can't return on Wednesday, Derik Queen and Saddiq Bey will continue to have additional fantasy value.
Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown (hamstring) is considered probable for Wednesday's meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Brown continues to nurse a hamstring problem that he picked up late in preseason. So far, the issue hasn't really affected Brown, as the Celtics leader has averaged 29.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 35.7 minutes. If Brown suffers a setback and can't play on Wednesday, players like Anfernee Simons and Sam Hauser may be more involved in the rotation. Meanwhile, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard would receive additional offensive usage.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Cole Anthony (illness) will play against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. Initially, the team gave him a questionable tag on the injury report, but Anthony has now been upgraded to available and is ready to rejoin the lineup after missing one game due to illness. Anthony will help to compensate for the absence of Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle) in the backcourt. Through his first two outings of the season, Anthony has provided 16.0 points and 6.0 assists per game. However, his early-season shooting percentage of 68.4 isn't sustainable.
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Gary Trent Jr. (illness) has been cleared to face the New York Knicks in Tuesday's big Eastern Conference showdown. He was added to the injury report late due to illness. However, the veteran appears to have shaken off the bug ahead of tip-off. Trent Jr. has been Milwaukee's third-highest scorer so far, averaging 14.3 points in 27.3 minutes. Additionally, he has made an impact defensively by snagging 1.3 steals per game.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso (concussion) will rejoin the lineup on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings. He has missed three games while dealing with a concussion. With Jalen Williams (wrist) and Isaiah Joe (knee) still out, Caruso should be heavily involved in the action on Tuesday. Chet Holmgren (back) also won't play against the Kings, which opens up even more minutes in the rotation for players like Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, and Ajay Mitchell.
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (personal) will miss a second consecutive game on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. He was initially listed as questionable for the contest before the team ruled him out. McBride's next opportunity to make a comeback will be on Friday against the Chicago Bulls. In his absence, Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Kolek, and Landry Shamet have a larger workload in the Knicks backcourt. Clarkson has the most fantasy upside of the three, but he's had a tough time in New York so far, posting only 6.0 points per game.
New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns (quadriceps) has been upgraded to available for Tuesday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. Towns is battling a right quadriceps strain but is prepared to play through the injury. Despite the issue, Towns has averaged 33.3 minutes per game this season, and there's no indication his workload will be limited against the Bucks. While Towns has notched three straight double-doubles, averaging 20.0 points and 14.0 rebounds, he's had some shooting difficulties, sinking only 40.5 percent of his attempts from the field.
New York Knicks forward/center Guerschon Yabusele (knee) will miss Tuesday's contest against the Milwaukee Bucks. Ahead of tip-off, he has been downgraded from questionable to out. Yabusele is dealing with a knee sprain, which may keep him sidelined for more than one game. With him out, Josh Hart, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shametget more work off the Knicks bench. Yabusele's first chance to return will be on Friday night against the undefeated Chicago Bulls.
Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio (calf) will play on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets. The Italian sniper has received several upgrades throughout the day and has now officially been listed as available for the game. Fontecchio has started his Heat career well, averaging 13.7 points in 20.3 minutes off the bench. He has nailed exactly half of his 16 three-point attempts so far. On Tuesday, Fontecchio may have a larger offensive role due to Norman Powell's (groin) absence.
Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (jaw) will be in the lineup on Tuesday against the Miami Heat. The team has upgraded Mann's status from questionable to available. Mann fills a bench role in Charlotte and doesn't offer a lot from a fantasy perspective. So far this season, he has averaged 5.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 18.3 minutes. The Hornets backcourt is dominated by LaMelo Ball, with Collin Sextonalso a new face in the mix this season.
Miami Heat guard/forward Norman Powell (groin) won't suit up for Tuesday's clash against the Charlotte Hornets. After picking up a questionable tag earlier in the day, Powell has been ruled out for the contest due to right groin soreness. Powell has been Miami's leading scorer early in the season, averaging 24.0 points. With him on the shelf, Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wigginsmust do more on the offensive end. Pelle Larsson, who has averaged only 5.3 minutes per game so far, will take over Powell's spot in the starting unit.
