NBA roundup: Lakers nip Warriors in final second
Wed Dec 25 11:19pm ET
Field Level Media
Austin Reaves drove for a go-ahead layup with one second left to cap a triple-double, LeBron James added to his Christmas Day lore with 31 points and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame an injury to Anthony Davis to outlast the Golden State Warriors 115-113 on Wednesday night in San Francisco.
Despite losing Davis for good to a twisted left ankle in the eighth minute of the game, the Lakers held the upper hand for almost the entire final three quarters, leading to a fourth win in five games.
The Lakers led 109-100 with 1:30 to go before Stephen Curry nearly stole the show. The Warriors star scored eight points in a 13-4 run, burying a pair of improbable 3-pointers in the final 12.2 seconds, including a game-tying 31-footer with 7.6 seconds left.
Reaves wound up with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and James had 10 assists, too. Curry logged a game-high 38 points, a majority of which came on eight 3-pointers, tying the NBA record for a Christmas game.
Timberwolves 105, Mavericks 99
Anthony Edwards scored 26 points and visiting Minnesota beat Dallas, which played the second half without star Luka Doncic after he sustained a left calf strain late in the second quarter.
Doncic suffered the non-contact injury with 2:31 left in the second quarter and went straight to the locker room. The guard had 14 points in 16 minutes for the Mavericks, who were trailing 51-38 at the time of his injury.
Dallas fell behind by as many as 28 in the third quarter before mounting a comeback in the final period. The Mavericks cut the deficit to 101-99 on Klay Thompson's 3-pointer with 1:05 remaining. Kyrie Irving scored 15 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter but missed a 3-pointer that would have given Dallas the lead with 37 seconds left, and Edwards scored on the next possession to give the Wolves a four-point lead.
76ers 118, Celtics 114
Tyrese Maxey collected 33 points and 12 assists to lead Philadelphia to a victory at Boston. The 76ers received 27 points and nine rebounds from Joel Embiid and 23 points from Caleb Martin, who made 7 of 9 3-point attempts.
The Celtics, who trailed by 15 in the fourth quarter, trimmed their deficit to 116-114 with 4.9 seconds to play, but Embiid made two free throws to put the 76ers up by four with 2.8 seconds left. Philadelphia has won six of its past eight games.
Jayson Tatum led Boston in points (32) and rebounds (15). Jaylen Brown added 23 points and seven rebounds, but the Celtics lost a second game in a row for the first time this season.
Knicks 117, Spurs 114
Mikal Bridges outdueled Victor Wembanyama by scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter to lead host New York to a comeback win over San Antonio.
Bridges and Wembanyama combined to score 26 points in a fast-paced fourth quarter in which the teams combined for 60 points while shooting a collective 54.8 percent (23-for-42). Bridges finished with a season-high 41 points -- the second-most by a Knicks player on Christmas Day behind Bernard King's 60-point effort in 1984. Wembanyama had 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in his Christmas Day debut.
Miles McBride hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2:43 left to give the Knicks the lead for good as the hosts won their season-high fifth in a row and improved to 15-4 since Nov. 15. Jeremy Sochan had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs.
- NBA roundup: Lakers nip Warriors in final second
- Celtics C Kristaps Porzingis injures ankle vs. 76ers
- Lakers big man Anthony Davis (ankle) leaves game vs. Warriors
- Mavs star Luka Doncic (calf) to miss extended time
- Mavs G Luka Doncic (calf) won't return against Wolves
- Stephen Curry says 'end is near' for career
- Jimmy Butler 'ready for exit' from Miami
- Pelicans' Zion Williamson (hamstring) to practice next week
- Heat G Dru Smith (Achilles tendon) out for season
- NBA roundup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (41) leads Thunder to 8th straight win
- Nuggets G Jamal Murray has sprained ankle, out vs. Suns
- Wolves G Anthony Edwards fined again for postgame comments
- 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
- NBA fines Celtics' Joe Mazzulla $35K for actions toward official
Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (illness) is iffy for Thursday's game against Detroit. He's battling an illness, and the team has listed Sabonis as questionable on the injury report. The Kings star has previously sat out two contests this season. On these occasions, Trey Lyles and Alex Len filled in for him in the starting lineup. Lyles had a pair of big games when Sabonis was out in November and will definitely be an appealing fantasy option if he gets another start on Thursday.
Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu (knee) will remain out of the lineup on Thursday against Chicago. The talented big man has battled inflammation in his left knee lately and will miss a fourth consecutive game. Larry Nance Jr. has entered the rotation in Okongwu's absence, posting impressive numbers. Working as Clint Capela's backup, Nance Jr. has averaged 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.3 blocks across the past three games. The Hawks big men should get plenty of work done on Thursday against a team that gives up the seventh-most fantasy points in the league to opposing centers.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (ankle) has been officially ruled out for the rest of Wednesday's matchup against Golden State. Davis exited the contest early and has been diagnosed with a left ankle sprain. He finishes the Christmas Day game with zero points, two rebounds, and one steal on 0-for-3 shooting in seven minutes. Jaxson Hayes (ankle) and Christian Wood (knee) are already on the shelf, so the Lakers could be very thin on the frontcourt going forward if Davis has to miss additional time following Wednesday's game.
Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (ankle) will play against Phoenix on Christmas Day. He's returning from a one-game absence, with the team upgrading Murray from questionable to available. Murray's return will send Russell Westbrook back to the second unit. Coming off the bench, Westbrook's contributions have been limited to 11.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists this season. Murray has registered 20-plus points in each of his last four appearances, which marks his best scoring run of the season.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (heel) is questionable to face Chicago on Thursday. After sitting on the injury report for multiple weeks with an Achilles injury, Young is currently troubled by a heel contusion. He missed a game with the issue last week but was back in the lineup for Monday's matchup against Minnesota. Should Young head back to the shelf on Thursday, Vit Krejci will likely log his second start of the season. He was fairly anonymous in his first opportunity last Saturday versus Memphis, finishing with seven points, three assists, and one steal. Young's absence would likely bring Keaton Wallace back to the rotation as well. His production was limited to five points and four assists versus the Grizzlies.
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovic (lower leg) is carrying a questionable tag ahead of Thursday's game against Chicago. He might be out for a second consecutive game after sustaining a lower leg contusion. With Bogdanovic out of the lineup against Minnesota on Monday, Garrison Mathews went berserk off the Hawks bench with 25 points on 7-for-8 shooting from deep. We might see a similar effort from him on Thursday if Bogdanovic remains sidelined. The Bulls give up the fifth-most three-point attempts in the league and have one of the worst defensive records.
Milwaukee Bucks small forward Khris Middleton (ankle) has been labeled as probable for Thursday's matchup against Brooklyn. The veteran has just logged his first couple of starts of the campaign and is expected to make an eighth consecutive regular-season appearance. He missed the recent NBA Cup final with an illness. Middleton looked back to his best in Monday's 112-91 win against Chicago, notching 21 points with five rebounds and five assists in 23 minutes. However, he has offensively benefited from the absences of Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) and Damian Lillard (illness). Both Bucks superstars have been listed as questionable and may return to action on Thursday.
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) is considered questionable for Thursday's clash against Brooklyn. After leading Milwaukee to the 2024 NBA Cup win, Antetokounmpo has struggled with a back problem, missing two consecutive contests. If he remains out on Thursday, Bobby Portis will be in line for a third consecutive start. He's had a pair of big games in the first unit and should continue to put up good numbers in Thursday's favorable matchup. Portis averages 24.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists as a starter this season.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (illness) has landed on the injury report as questionable ahead of Thursday's game against Brooklyn. He's trying to overcome an illness to avoid missing a fourth consecutive game. Lillard's health issues have given Ryan Rollins a chance to experience what life as an NBA starter feels like. He's made three starts across the season, averaging 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.7 steals in the role. Delon Wright and AJ Green also get extra playing opportunities with Lillard out.
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Brandon Miller (ankle) is questionable for Thursday's action against Washington. He's hoping to return from a three-game absence. At the start of the week, it was reported that Miller was "making good progress," so he should be ready to rejoin the action soon. If Miller doesn't return on Thursday, Cody Martin and DaQuan Jeffries should continue to get extra work. Martin has made back-to-back starts, but his offensive game is inconsistent, making him a fairly risky fantasy option. Jeffries has been a new addition to the rotation lately, averaging 8.0 points and 3.0 rebounds across the past two games.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (calf) is likely "to miss an extended period of time." The 25-year-old was listed on the injury report because of a heel injury heading into the Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves but was able to suit up. Unfortunately, he lasted only 16 minutes before his premature exit because of a calf strain. Doncic was observed leaving the arena on crutches, with an MRI now scheduled for Thursday. Kyrie Irving, who had 39 points off 14-for-27 shooting from the field versus Minnesota, is the favorite to lead things on the scoring end while Doncic is on the shelf. Quentin Grimes, averaging 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 43.1% shooting from deep in nine starts this season, should also be in line for an uptick in fantasy production.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso (hip) will not suit up for Thursday's matchup against Indiana. He has been ruled out for the contest after Caruso hurt his left hip on Monday against Washington. Ajay Mitchell got extra burn on Monday and enjoyed the best game of his young career with 16 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace figure to soak in some of Caruso's minutes as well. Wallace gave up his starting spot to Joe on Monday but still went close to 30 minutes of action and should remain a better fantasy option.
Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (groin) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against Memphis. A groin issue will keep him off the floor for a fourth consecutive contest. Poeltl's absence opens up more playing opportunities for Kelly Olynyk and Chris Boucher. The latter is coming off a big performance, having finished Monday's 139-125 loss to the Knicks with 16 points, three rebounds, three steals, and one block in 19 minutes. However, Boucher tends to be a volatile fantasy asset. Olynyk only recently made his season debut and has so far averaged 6.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in limited action.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart (finger) will remain out on Thursday against Toronto. This will be his second consecutive absence with a right index finger injury. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Luke Kennard will likely figure more prominently in the rotation with Smart out. The former produced 13 points with 3-for-4 shooting behind the arc in Monday's 114-110 loss to the Clippers. As a good three-point shooter, Kennard can also rack up points in a hurry, but he didn't register a single field-goal attempt in 16 minutes on Monday.
Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) sat out the entire second half of Wednesday's 118-114 loss to Philadelphia. He hurt his left ankle less than two minutes into the game. Following a brief trip to the locker room, Porzingis was able to finish the first half, but he missed the second half with left ankle soreness. Luke Kornet started the second half in his place. Before exiting the contest, Porzingis amassed nine points, two rebounds, and three assists in 13 minutes with 3-for-6 shooting from deep. The Latvian star made only his 11th appearance of the season on Christmas Day, and unfortunately, it looks like he could miss some time again. We should get an update on Porzingis before Boston's encounter with Indiana on Friday night.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (shoulder) is available for Wednesday's Christmas clash against Golden State. He has shaken off a questionable tag ahead of the juicy matchup. Davis' scoring efforts have been inconsistent this month, but he still fills the stat sheet on a nightly basis, and we should see another big performance from him against the Warriors. The Lakers star notched 21.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in three meetings with Golden State last term.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell (thumb) has been ruled out for Wednesday's Christmas matchup against Golden State. A left thumb injury gave Russell a questionable tag entering Wednesday, and the team has now officially ruled him out for the contest. Russell has hurt his shooting hand, so it's possible he might have to skip multiple games. His first chance to return comes on Saturday versus Sacramento. Gabe Vincent should take over most of Russell's playmaking duties off the bench, with Dalton Knecht and Max Christie also in line to benefit from his absence.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot) will play on Christmas Day against Golden State. He has been upgraded from questionable to available. James has played well in Christmas games throughout his career, and his recent form has also been outstanding. The veteran superstar boasts two triple-doubles and two 30-point efforts in his last five appearances. A season ago, James averaged a massive 36-point triple-double in the matchup against the Warriors.
Golden State Warriors forward Kyle Anderson (illness) will be in the lineup on Christmas Day against the Lakers. He was a late addition to the injury report with an illness, but the team has now upgraded him from questionable to available. Anderson's fantasy stock has gone downhill all year, and with the Warriors now fully healthy, it's not guaranteed that Anderson will get minutes. The 31-year-old has posted 4.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists across 13.3 minutes in seven December appearances.
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (calf) is good to go for Wednesday's clash against the Lakers. After missing his first game of the season on Monday versus Indiana, Payton II carried a questionable tag entering Wednesday. However, he has been upgraded to available ahead of tip-off. Payton II's defense will be a valuable asset against the Lakers, but he doesn't provide enough production across the board to be worthy of a spot on most fantasy squads.
