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NBA roundup: Ja Morant's late baskets propel Grizzlies past Wolves

Sun Jan 12 1:57am ET
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Ja Morant made back-to-back baskets in the final minute to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 127-125 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night in Minneapolis.

Morant finished with 12 points on just 5-for-19 shooting but came up when it mattered most for Memphis, which won the opener of a four-game road trip. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 33 points and eight rebounds, and Desmond Bane scored 21 points.

Donte DiVincenzo scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves, whose three-game winning streak ended. Jaden McDaniels finished with 21 points, Naz Reid added 19 points off the bench and Julius Randle had 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

The Grizzlies trailed 125-121 after Rudy Gobert made a layup for the Timberwolves with 1:41 to play. That proved to be Minnesota's final points.


Heat 119, Trail Blazers 98

Tyler Herro made seven 3-pointers and recorded 32 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead Miami to a victory over host Portland.

Nikola Jovic added season highs of 21 points and eight rebounds as the Heat won their third consecutive game, all on the road. Haywood Highsmith added 14 points and matched his career high of five steals, Bam Adebayo had 13 points, 11 boards and six assists and Terry Rozier and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each had 11 points for Miami.

Anfernee Simons had 28 points thanks in large part to seven 3-pointers and Shaedon Sharpe added 22 points for Portland, which lost for the fifth time in seven games. Deni Avdija added 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Suns 114, Jazz 106

Devin Booker matched his season high with six 3-pointers and scored 34 points, Kevin Durant added 25 points and Phoenix never trailed in a victory over visiting Utah.

Utah rallied from a 16-point, second-quarter deficit and trailed 91-88 with 8:36 left in the contest before Phoenix took control with an 11-0 run.

Lauri Markkanen paced the Jazz with 24 points. Collin Sexton scored 20 points, and Walker Kessler chipped in 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Pistons 123, Raptors 114

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 27 points and host Detroit held off Toronto.

Hardaway made all but one of his eight 3-point attempts. Cade Cunningham notched a triple-double with 22 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds as the Pistons won for the sixth time in seven games. Malik Beasley had 18 points off the bench while Tobias Harris supplied 17 points and seven rebounds in the win.

Immanuel Quickley led seven Raptors in double figures with 25 points. Scottie Barnes had 16 points and 12 rebounds while reserves Bruce Brown and Chris Boucher added 14 points apiece. Toronto has lost five straight.

Player Notes
Cade Cunningham Sun Jan 12 1:30am

Detroit Pistons' G Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 18 assists and 10 rebounds in a 123-114 win over the Raptors on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Jerami Grant Sat Jan 11 10:00pm

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (face) was ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against Miami, marking his seventh consecutive absence. Head coach Chauncey Billups indicated Grant is still dealing with "a lot of jaw and neck soreness." However, the team plans to "ramp him up in the next couple of days." The 30-year-old has averaged 15.0 points this season, a significant decline from the 2023-24 campaign. Still, fantasy managers will be glad to see him back in the lineup, although that may not be for another week or two. But while Grant is on the shelf, Deni Avdija, averaging 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 19 starts, could continue to surpass his usual fantasy expectations.

Cameron Johnson Sat Jan 11 9:40pm

Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) won't play on Sunday versus Utah. He's had the best season of his career in 2024-25, averaging 19.5 points, 4.3 boards, and 43.6% shooting from behind the arc. Unfortunately, after the 2019 No. 11 overall pick appeared in 32 of Brooklyn's first 34 contests, he'll now miss a fifth consecutive game on Sunday because of a sprained ankle. With Cam Thomas (hamstring) and D'Angelo Russell (shin) also still sidelined, the team will need others to step up, meaning Keon Johnson, Noah Clowney, Tyrese Martin, and Nicolas Claxton could be more productive on the scoring end.

Andre Drummond Sat Jan 11 9:30pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (toe) won't play on Sunday versus Orlando. The toe sprain continues to plague the 31-year-old, who will now miss a fourth consecutive contest. With Joel Embiid (foot, face) questionable, Drummond likely would have gotten the start. However, if Embiid doesn't suit up against the Magic, Guerschon Yabusele will likely handle things in the middle. The 2016 No. 16 overall pick has played well enough in his 15 starts this season, averaging 10.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, giving him some upside for fantasy managers.

Malcolm Brogdon Sat Jan 11 8:30pm

Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon (foot) will remain on the sidelines for a fourth consecutive game on Sunday versus Oklahoma City. The former Sixth Man of the Year is dealing with a plantar fascia contusion in his right foot. Jared Butler has re-entered the rotation with Brogdon out, logging 20-plus minutes in four consecutive contests. He has put in some strong performances, averaging 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists over that span. However, Butler's success might not continue on Sunday, as the Wizards face a team that has by far the league's best defensive rating (103.3).

D'Angelo Russell Sat Jan 11 8:30pm

Brooklyn Nets point guard D'Angelo Russell (shin) will not take the court on Sunday against Utah. He injured his right shin a week ago and will miss a fourth consecutive game. The Nets also continue to carry other injuries, giving players like Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, and Ziaire Williams additional fantasy value. Utah has the second-worst defensive rating in the league but ranks near the top 10 in pace, so Sunday's matchup will be a good one for Brooklyn from a fantasy perspective.

Ty Jerome Sat Jan 11 8:10pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (illness) will likely skip Sunday's contest against Indiana, as he has been listed as doubtful on the injury report. Jerome is feeling under the weather and looks set to miss his second game of the season. The 27-year-old has been an important member of the bench unit this term, contributing 10.1 points in 17.6 minutes, with 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals. Sam Merrill and Caris LeVert might play a bit more with Jerome out of the lineup, with the latter being the better fantasy piece.

Alex Caruso Sat Jan 11 8:10pm

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso (hip) will sit out a 10th consecutive game when the Western Conference leaders face Washington on Sunday. Caruso hasn't seen action since Dec. 23 due to a hip strain. Ajay Mitchell (toe) initially had a good run in the rotation when Caruso dropped out of the lineup, but he is also now injured. Cason Wallace has started to log 30 minutes regularly, with Isaiah Joe's playing time also getting a boost recently. He exploded for 31 points in 30 minutes, with eight triples on Friday against the Knicks. Joe could undoubtedly do damage again on Sunday against the worst defense in the National Basketball Association.

Robert Williams Sat Jan 11 8:00pm

Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (illness) will not suit up for Saturday's matchup against Miami. He has been downgraded from questionable to out as Williams III battles an illness. Williams III's absence might give us a Duop Reath sighting on Friday, as Portland also won't have the services of Deandre Ayton (calf). Rookie Donovan Clingan will get the nod as the starter at center.

Josh Richardson Sat Jan 11 8:00pm

Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (heel) will remain absent from the lineup against Portland on Saturday. He last saw action on Nov. 18 and is nursing a heel injury. The team has downgraded Richardson from questionable to out ahead of tip-off for Saturday's game. The Heat have plenty of options at the guard positions, so even when Richardson eventually returns to the rotation, it's unlikely he will get enough minutes to help fantasy managers.

Deandre Ayton Sat Jan 11 7:50pm

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (calf) has been ruled out for Saturday's contest against Miami. He's out for the first time in 12 games, missing the action due to left calf soreness. Robert Williams (illness) isn't available either for Saturday's game, giving Donovan Clingan an opportunity to show what he can do with a bigger workload. He's been confirmed as a starter for the game. The rookie giant has previously averaged 8.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks as a member of the first unit.

Dejounte Murray Sat Jan 11 7:40pm

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (elbow, shin) has once again picked up a questionable tag on the injury report as the team prepares to face the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, on Sunday. Murray is currently nursing elbow and shin injuries, but the ailments haven't kept him out of the lineup on previous occasions. We will likely see Murray out there on Sunday. However, if he needs to take some time off to heal, Jose Alvarado's fantasy stock would receive a boost. He's more known as a defensive specialist, but Alvarado can also make an impact on the offensive end, evident from his 13-point, nine-assist outing on Friday against Philadelphia.

Trey Murphy III Sat Jan 11 7:40pm

New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (ankle) will return to action in Sunday's matchup against Boston. He's available to play again after sitting out three contests with an ankle sprain. Murphy III has been huge for the Pelicans lately, averaging 23.7 points across his last 12 appearances. However, this spell has come with Zion Williamson out of the lineup, and Murphy III will have a lesser role offensively going forward. With that said, the 24-year-old has good all-around talent and still has plenty to offer fantasy managers. With Murphy III back, we will likely see less of Brandon Boston Jr. in Sunday's game.

Patrick Williams Sat Jan 11 7:30pm

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (elbow) is considered probable for Sunday's matchup against Sacramento. He has been listed on the injury report with a right elbow contusion. Williams has struggled recently, and the injury is another blow for him. The 23-year-old has been limited to 5.6 points on a horrible 29 percent shooting this month, so even if Williams suits up for Sunday's game, fantasy managers should look elsewhere. If Williams is out, Rookie Matas Buzelis and Julian Phillips might see more playing time, but they are non-factors in fantasy basketball.

Kyle Lowry Sat Jan 11 7:20pm

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Kyle Lowry (hip) will miss a fourth consecutive contest on Sunday against Orlando. The veteran guard is battling a hip sprain, and it's unclear when Lowry will be able to make a comeback. On Friday, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said there is no timeline for Lowry's return. There appears to be no beneficiary of his absence either, as Reggie Jackson has continued to see very few minutes, with the team leaning heavily on starting point guard Tyrese Maxey, who has surpassed the 40-minute mark twice in four games.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Sat Jan 11 7:10pm

Orlando Magic guard/forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (knee) will likely be available for Sunday's contest against Philadelphia, as the team has listed him as probable on the injury report. Left knee soreness forced Caldwell-Pope to make an early exit against Milwaukee on Friday, but it seems that it is not a serious issue for the veteran. Due to limited action, Caldwell-Pope posted only three points on Friday, but he has had plenty of offensive success since the calendar flipped. The two-time NBA champion is shooting 48.3 percent from three-point range in January, averaging 11.5 points.

Jalen Suggs Sat Jan 11 7:00pm

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (back) will sit out a fifth straight game on Sunday against Philadelphia. He has landed on the shelf after sustaining a lower back strain against Toronto on Jan. 3. Suggs' next chance to return comes on Jan. 15 against Milwaukee. However, the team has ruled Suggs out indefinitely, so it might be a while until he's back in action. Suggs's absence has boosted Cole Anthony's fantasy stock, and he's put together a strong stretch of games ahead of Sunday's action. The 24-year-old has averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals since taking over Suggs' starting role.

Paolo Banchero Sat Jan 11 6:50pm

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero is not listed on the injury report for Sunday's clash with Philadelphia. Orlando's star man returned from a torn oblique on Friday against Milwaukee, putting up 34 points with seven rebounds, three assists, one block, and a pair of steals. He logged only 27 minutes due to a playing time restriction following his long layoff. Banchero might need a bit of time until he's ready for a full workload, but the fact that he isn't on the injury report indicates that he's fully recovered, and it shouldn't take long before he's back to getting his regular minutes again.

Miles McBride Sat Jan 11 6:40pm

New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (hamstring) is considered probable for Sunday's matchup against Milwaukee. After missing five games with a hamstring strain, McBride returned to action on Friday versus Oklahoma City and is expected to remain in the lineup for Sunday's fascinating clash. Coming off the Knicks bench, McBride has averaged 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 2024-25. He hasn't been an attractive fantasy piece and could struggle on Sunday, as only four teams allow fewer bench points than the Bucks.

Joel Embiid Sat Jan 11 6:40pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (foot, face) is questionable for Sunday's game against Orlando. The former MVP has been out for three games, but 76ers head coach Nick Nurse has labeled him day-to-day, giving hope that Embiid is close to returning. The 76ers could undoubtedly use an extra big body, with Andre Drummond (toe) also out of commission. Guerschon Yabusele and Adem Bona have shared the center minutes in recent games. Yabusele is looking at another start if Embiid doesn't return on Sunday. The Frenchman has been solid in the role, averaging 10.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.


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