NBA roundup: Lakers lose, Clippers win in return to action
Tue Jan 14 2:11am ET
Field Level Media
Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama each scored 23 points as the visiting San Antonio Spurs ended a three-game losing streak with a 126-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday in the return to play for both teams.
The Lakers had two home games postponed in the past week, including a game against the Spurs scheduled for Saturday, as a safety precaution because of deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The Spurs defeated the Lakers for the first time in three games between the teams this season, outscoring Los Angeles 73-40 in the second half.
Anthony Davis amassed 30 points and 13 rebounds and LeBron James added 18 points and eight assists as Lakers lost their third consecutive game, all to Texas teams. Los Angeles fell at Houston and at Dallas on its recent road trip.
Austin Reaves scored 12 points and dished out eight assists for Los Angeles, which led by as many as 11 points in the third quarter before falling apart over the final 16 minutes of the game.
Clippers 109, Heat 98
Norman Powell scored 29 points while James Harden and Ivica Zubac chalked up double-doubles as Los Angeles overturned an early 13-point deficit to beat Miami in Inglewood, Calif., in LA's first game since last Wednesday because of the wildfires.
Harden had 26 points with 11 assists while hitting 6 of 10 3-point attempts, and Zubac threw down seven dunks en route to 21 points and 20 rebounds for the Clippers, whose home game against the Charlotte Hornets scheduled for last Saturday was postponed.
The Heat, whose three-game winning streak (all on the road) came to an end, received 32 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from Tyler Herro plus 19 points and 13 boards from Kel'el Ware.
Timberwolves 120, Wizards 106
Anthony Edwards took control in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 of his game-high 41 points, and Minnesota sent host Washington to its seventh consecutive loss.
Minnesota found itself in a back-and-forth contest for most of the way with Washington, which was playing its second game of a back-to-back set. The Wizards dropped their previous two games by 74 combined points, but they were competitive with the Timberwolves until a pivotal late stretch.
With Minnesota up 88-86, Edwards connected on a 3-pointer with 8:42 remaining. But Washington's Carlton Carrington answered with one of his own 18 seconds later. The Wizards did not score again for 2:26, however, as Minnesota went on a decisive 11-0 run.
Raptors 104, Warriors 101
Toronto overcame a nine-point, fourth-quarter deficit, scoring the game's final six points, to end a five-game losing streak with a win over visiting Golden State.
After Kyle Anderson's 3-pointer put the Warriors up 101-98 with 2:34 to go, the Raptors scored on Chris Boucher's putback layup and a pair of baskets by Ochai Agbaji.
Golden State's Andrew Wiggins and Buddy Hield both missed 3-point attempts in the final 30 seconds as the Warriors fell to 1-4 in their last five.
Pistons 124, Knicks 119
Malik Beasley drained two 3-pointers in the final minute to put the game away for visiting Detroit, which held off a fourth-quarter rally by New York.
Cade Cunningham scored 29 of his game-high 36 points for the Pistons, who won for the 10th time in 12 games. Beasley finished with 22 points off the bench while going 6-for-8 from 3-point range.
Jalen Brunson (31 points, 11 assists), Karl-Anthony Towns (26 points, 12 rebounds) and Josh Hart (12 points, 14 rebounds) all posted double-doubles for the Knicks, who lost for the fifth time in seven games. Mikal Bridges finished with 27 points.
Rockets 120, Grizzlies 118
Jalen Green matched his career high with 42 points and Houston came back from down 13 in the fourth quarter to defeat visiting Memphis.
Down 100-87 with 9:55 to play, the Rockets stormed back. Houston claimed a 107-105 lead on a Fred VanVleet 3-pointer with 4:33 left, keying a white-knuckle finish. There were seven lead changes and two ties in the fourth quarter. Green seized the lead for Houston on a driving layup with 33.8 seconds left.
Houston made 16 of 31 from behind the arc and shot 50.6 percent overall. Ja Morant paced the Grizzlies with 29 points but committed seven turnovers. Memphis shot 52.9 percent.
- NBA roundup: Lakers lose, Clippers win in return to action
- Wolves G Terrence Shannon Jr. (foot) out 2-4 weeks
- 76ers owners announce new arena in South Philly for 2031
- Wolves star Anthony Edwards fined for fifth time this season
- NBA roundup: Pacers halt Cavaliers' 12-game win streak
- 76ers won't build $1.3 billion arena downtown
- Lakers, Clippers set to resume home schedules Monday
- NBA roundup: Ja Morant's late baskets propel Grizzlies past Wolves
- Rockets-Hawks game postponed due to icy conditions in Atlanta
- NBA roundup: Nuggets rout Nets behind two triple-doubles
- NBA postpones two L.A.-area games due to wildfires
- Pelicans F Zion Williamson draws one-game team suspension
- NBA roundup: Darius Garland nets 40 in Cavs' 12th straight win
- 76ers rookie G Jared McCain (knee) done for season
- Hornets-Lakers game postponed due to Los Angeles wildfires
- Winter weather alters start time for Blazers-Mavericks game
- NBA roundup: Cavs prevail in showdown with Thunder
- Pelicans to rest Zion Williamson (hamstring) vs. Trail Blazers
- Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard stepping away from team
- Magic's Paolo Banchero returning from torn oblique
Houston's G Jalen Green scored 42 points on 13-of-18 shooting in a 120-118 win over the Grizzlies on Monday, Jan. 13.
Timberwolves' G Anthony Edwards scored 41 points on 14-of-25 shooting in a 120-106 win over Washington on Monday, Jan. 13.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (ankle) is questionable for Tuesday's contest against the Nets. The former Wizard got off to a slow start to begin his career in Portland. However, he's turned it around, averaging 17.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in six games this month. With Jerami Grant (face) already ruled out, Kris Murray and Scoot Henderson may spend more time on the court if Avdija misses his first contest of the 2024-25 campaign. While Murray can have some productive outings, Henderson is a much safer fantasy option.
Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis (foot) will play on Monday against the Spurs. As expected, AD has had a monster 2024-25 campaign. However, he's only missed two games this season, which is what fantasy managers have appreciated the most. Davis has averaged 29.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals in two meetings with San Antonio this season, so he'll be a welcome addition to any fantasy lineup, especially for those participating in DFS contests.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot) is active heading into Monday's meeting with the Spurs. The multi-time All-Star has been dealing with a foot injury all year. However, he was listed as probable for this one, so most assumed he would be out there on Monday night. With that in mind, James is always a must-start in all fantasy formats. But he's averaged only 15.5 points in two games versus the Spurs during the 2024-25 campaign, giving him an unfavorable DFS outlook.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (back) has been ruled out heading into Monday's game versus the Lakers. The 21-year-old will now miss a second-straight contest because of low back tightness. The Spurs don't play again until Wednesday versus Memphis, so there's a chance he could be back for that one. But in the meantime, Stephon Castle, averaging 13.8 points and 4.5 assists in 19 starts this season, could find himself back in the starting lineup.
Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) is questionable for Tuesday's meeting with the Blazers. The 28-year-old has had the best season of his career in 2024-25. He also stayed relatively healthy until missing the last five games because of a sprained right ankle. The Nets are hurting entering Tuesday night, with D'Angelo Russell (shin), Ben Simmons (back, knee), and Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) all questionable in addition to Cam Thomas (hamstring) still sidelined. As a result, Ziaire Williams, Keon Johnson, Noah Clowney, and Tosan Evbuomwan could continue to benefit on the scoring end.
Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (back, knee) is questionable for Tuesday's game in Portland. The Nets will play back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday, so Simmons will miss at least one of them. While the former 76er hasn't been a consistent fantasy contributor during the 2024-25 campaign, he's had his moments of production, recently amassing 14 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and two blocks in Sunday's one-point loss to Utah. With D'Angelo Russell (shin) also in danger of missing this one, the team may rely on Keon Johnson and Reece Beekman to handle the ball, which will improve both players' fantasy outlook.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (back) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Clippers. The big man was listed as available to begin the day. However, after he was downgraded to questionable, he'll now miss his first game of the 2024-25 campaign. Jimmy Butler (suspension) remains out, so the team could rely more on Tyler Herro to pick up the slack on the scoring end. But players like Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Nikola Jovic may also see an increase in scoring opportunities.
Brooklyn Nets point guard D'Angelo Russell (shin) is in danger of missing a fifth consecutive game, as the team lists him as questionable for Tuesday's clash against Portland. Russell is working his way back from a shin injury he suffered on Jan. 4 against Philadelphia. Keon Johnson has taken on a significant workload since Russell exited the lineup, though he has been hit-or-miss from a fantasy perspective. Russell's injury has also allowed Reece Beekman to enter the rotation, but his production has been limited.
Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) has landed on the injury report as questionable ahead of Tuesday's clash against Portland. The Nets big man might miss his first action since Nov. 27. Day'Ron Sharpe and Noah Clowney would get a boost from Claxton's absence, with the latter already part of the starting lineup. Sharpe's per-minute production has always been good, and he has averaged 10.3 points and 8.3 rebounds as a starter for his career. Ben Simmons (back, knee) is another option at center, but he is once again carrying a questionable tag and might not play.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry (hip) will miss his fifth straight game on Tuesday, and it also seems unlikely he'll be ready to turn around and play in the second game of the Sixers' back-to-back on Wednesday against the Knicks. On Friday, coach Nick Nurse said that Lowry had not yet reached the "day-to-day phase" in his recovery from a right hip sprain, leaving the veteran point guard out indefinitely. While Lowry is out, Reggie Jackson will continue to serve as the team's primary backup point guard, especially with the rest of the team stretched thin due to injuries to Joel Embiid (foot) and Andre Drummond (toe), who have been ruled out, and Caleb Martin (groin) who is questionable.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Caleb Martin (groin) was listed as questionable for Tuesday's matchup against the Thunder. Martin missed Sunday's game with groin soreness as well, snapping a string of nine straight games in the starting lineup. With both Joel Embiid (foot) and Andre Drummond (toe) still out, the Sixers will be very short-handed in the frontcourt, so Martin could be very busy if he's able to return. However, if Martin joins Embiid and Drummond on the sideline again, Eric Gordon could get another start while Justin Edwards would get plenty of work off the bench. Gordon had 14 points in 28 minutes in that spot start, and he'll be an interesting streaming play even in a tough matchup if Martin is unable to return to action on Tuesday.
Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther (knee) is expected to play through a right knee strain on Tuesday when the Nuggets visit the Mavericks to start a back-to-back. Strawther is averaging 21.8 minutes per game for the season, but he's been getting more run lately, playing over 25 minutes in five straight games and averaging 28.4 minutes per game and producing 11.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Strawther has helped pick up the slack with Nikola Jokic (illness, probable), Jamal Murray (knee, probable), and Aaron Gordon (calf, probable) all battling injuries recently. If all those stars play as expected, Strawther's role could be reduced a little bit, but he has performed well enough to maintain a meaningful role.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (knee) is probable for Tuesday's matchup against Atlanta. Due to a knee injury, Allen played only 13 minutes against Charlotte on Sunday. Luckily, he escaped serious injury and has a chance to feature in Tuesday's contest. Allen's fantasy value has gone downhill this season after he was relegated to the bench. He has posted 20-plus points only once, and that was against the Hawks last week when Allen contributed 23 points with 5-for-6 shooting from three-point range in a 123-115 win. The Hawks give up the second-most three-point attempts in the league, so this is a favorable matchup for a sniper like Allen.
Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (toe) will miss a fifth straight game on Tuesday when the Sixers host the Thunder. Drummond's absence has been poorly timed for the team since Joel Embiid (foot) has also been sidelined. With both big men out again on Tuesday, Guerschon Yabusele will have to continue to do most of the work in the middle. Yabusele has started five straight games, playing 33 minutes and producing 10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He had a big double-double against the Suns last Monday and 21 points against the Wizards on Wednesday, but he has struggled in his last two starts against the Pelicans and Magic. It's a tough matchup for Yabusele on Tuesday, but the Sixers don't have many other options, so he should be lined up for another heavy workload.
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (calf) seems to be on the verge of a return since he has been ramping up on-court activity and is listed as questionable for Tuesday's matchup against the Pelicans. Dosunmu hasn't played since December 23, but he was very productive in the month before his calf injury. He averaged 14.4 points, 5.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 33.5 minutes per game in 14 starts in the month before he went down and especially excelled when Zach LaVine or Coby White was out. If he's ready to return, he'll take playing time from Lonzo Ball and Talen Horton-Tucker, but he may have to ramp up with limited minutes after such a long layoff.
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) is questionable for Tuesday's contest against Phoenix. He's dealing with inflammation in his right knee. Bogdanovic has constantly battled health issues throughout the campaign, making only 17 appearances. He has averaged 11.2 points in 25.6 minutes. Bogdanovic's absence on Tuesday would give additional work to Garrison Mathews. The 28-year-old has produced a few outstanding performances this season, but he's a streaky shooter, and you never know what you will get with Mathews.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (neck) was listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against the Pelicans after he missed Sunday's five-point loss to the Kings. In White's absence, Lonzo Ball made his first start of the season and played 25 minutes, producing 15 points, three assists, a block, and a rebound. Ball's minutes are still very limited as he works his way back from injury, but he'll be a strong streaming option in a favorable matchup against the Pelicans if White misses a second straight game. If White returns, he'll step back into a large workload after averaging scoring double-digit points in 15 straight games before the injury, averaging 18.7 points, 4.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 33.1 minutes per game over that span.
Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (illness) has been ruled out for Tuesday's contest against Atlanta. He is currently away from the team after Nurkic tested positive for the flu. The Suns begin a five-game road trip with Tuesday's contest. Before catching the flu, Nurkic was out of the rotation. Thus, his absence does not impact the team. We might have seen the last of Nurkic in a Suns uniform, as the Bosnian big man has popped up in trade rumors. Mason Plumlee has taken over the starting job at center in Phoenix, with rookie Oso Ighodaro also seeing action at the five position.
