NBA roundup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Thunder top Pistons in OT
Tue Mar 31 3:02am ET
Field Level Media
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points to lift the host Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-110 overtime win over the short-handed Detroit Pistons on Monday in a matchup of conference leaders.
Gilgeous-Alexander opened overtime with a step-back jumper, found Alex Caruso for a corner 3-pointer with just more than a minute remaining and then hit six free throws in the final minute. Oklahoma City won for the 15th time in 16 games.
Detroit was short-handed, playing without its top five scorers, but the Pistons stayed in the game in large part due to a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points.
The Pistons, who got 21 points and 10 rebounds from Paul Reed, had their two-game winning streak snapped.
Spurs 129, Bulls 114
Victor Wembanyama continued his brilliant play by racking up 41 points and 16 rebounds while helping host San Antonio to a victory over Chicago in a late-season interconference clash.
The Spurs won for a league-leading ninth straight outing and kept pace with Oklahoma City in the hunt for the best record in both the Western Conference and the NBA as a whole. It was Wembanyama's third game with 40 or more points this season. Stephon Castle added 21 points for San Antonio while Keldon Johnson scored 15.
Tre Jones led Chicago with 23 points. Leonard Miller added 21 off the bench, Collin Sexton had 20, Guerschon Yabusele hit for 15 points and Matas Buzelis finished with 12 for the Bulls, who have already been eliminated from the postseason.
Heat 119, 76ers 109
Tyler Herro hit two key 3-pointers, Bam Adebayo recorded a 23-point, 16-rebound double-double in a head-to-head with Joel Embiid, and Miami came on strong down the stretch to turn back visiting Philadelphia.
Herro finished with a game-high 30 points and Pelle Larsson added 20 for the Heat, who moved into a virtual eighth-place tie in the Eastern Conference with Orlando.
Embiid had a team-high 26 points and Tyrese Maxey 23 for the 76ers, who remained in seventh place in the East but saw their lead over the Heat and Magic cut to 1 1/2 games.
Hawks 112, Celtics 102
Jalen Johnson collected 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists as Atlanta extended its home winning streak to 13 games with a victory over Boston.
Atlanta received 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists from Onyeka Okongwu, plus 18 points from Dyson Daniels. The Hawks have won 16 of their past 18 games.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, but he shot 9 of 29 from the field and committed six turnovers. Luka Garza added 20 points and nine boards for the Celtics, and Payton Pritchard finished with 16 points.
Suns 131, Grizzlies 105
Devin Booker scored 36 points while playing just three quarters and Jalen Green added 21 points and six boards as visiting Phoenix trounced Memphis.
The Suns won their second straight by closing strong, outscoring the Grizzlies 40-16 in the final quarter. The Suns were dominant in the paint, where they scored 68 points.
Memphis got 17 points off the bench from Tyler Burton but lost for the 14th time in 16 games. Cam Spencer scored 16 on 6-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-5 success from long range.
Lakers 120, Wizards 101
LeBron James posted the 125th triple-double of his career while leading Los Angeles to a comprehensive win over visiting Washington.
James compiled 21 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists to become, at 41 years, 90 days, the oldest player to notch a triple-double, surpassing his own record of 41 years, 79 days. It was his third triple-double of the season. Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard contributed 19 points apiece for the Lakers, who have won 15 of their past 17 games.
Will Riley scored 20 points, Justin Champagnie added 18 and Tristan Vukcevic had 14 for Washington, which has lost 19 of its past 20 outings.
Cavaliers 122, Jazz 113
Evan Mobley scored a season-high 34 points, collected a season-high 17 rebounds and blocked three shots to lead Cleveland past Utah in Salt Lake City.
Donovan Mitchell added 34 points to help the Cavaliers win their fifth consecutive road game. James Harden dished out a game-high 14 assists to go along with 13 points, and The Cavaliers outscored the Jazz 82-40 in the paint.
Kyle Filipowski tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals to lead Utah. Cody Williams added a team-high 26 points for the Jazz, who have lost six straight games and 10 of their past 11 contests.
Timberwolves 124, Mavericks 94
Ayo Dosunmu recorded his second career triple-double, finishing with 18 points, a career-high 15 rebounds and 12 assists to lead Minnesota to a road rout of Dallas.
With All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards coming off the bench and limited to 22:37 of playing time in his return from a knee injury, Dosunmu stepped up to shoulder some of the offensive load. Rudy Gobert posted 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Julius Randle netted a game-high 24 points.
Daniel Gafford led Dallas with 21 points on 9-of-11 field-goal shooting, while Rookie of the Year hopeful Cooper Flagg was held more than eight points below his season-long scoring average with 12 points on 5-of-19 shooting from the floor.
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Trail Blazers' F Deni Avdija recorded a double-double, scoring 41 points with 12 assists in a 114-110 win over Phoenix on Tuesday, Apr. 14.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (calf) will make his return to action on Tuesday against Phoenix as a member of the second unit. Grant has started regularly for Portland since February. But he has missed seven games due to a calf injury, and by having him come off the bench, the team can better manage his workload. Even as a reserve, Grant has been productive in 2025-26, averaging 16.3 points in 25.7 minutes per game. Scoot Henderson will maintain a starting role on Tuesday night, with Deni Avdija, Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan rounding out the first unit,
Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post (foot) will remain out on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The seven-footer missed the last couple of weeks of the regular season due to foot injury management and isn't ready to rejoin the action for Wednesday's Play-In Tournament game. Post's absence has given Charles Bassey a spot in the frontcourt rotation, but the team will likely lean on its veterans in Wednesday's game. Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Draymond Green are all available for the matchup.
Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (back) will be active on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. He has been removed from the injury report after sitting out Sunday's regular-season finale against the Clippers due to lower back injury management. Green always does a little bit of everything for the Warriors and is set to play an important role in Wednesday's high-stakes contest. The veteran has recorded averages of 5.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in the matchup with the Clippers this season.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (ankle) is not on the injury report for Wednesday's Play-In Tournament game against the Golden State Warriors. As expected, he will return from a one-game absence. Leonard was excellent during the regular season and will be expected to pick up where he left off in the postseason. In 65 outings, Leonard posted a career-high 27.9 points per game, adding 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals. However, Leonard didn't produce his usual numbers against the Warriors, averaging 21.7 points with a horrible 22.2 percent three-point efficiency.
Miami Heat forward/center Bam Adebayo (back) won't return on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports. The big man injured his lower back during a fall in the second quarter and will be limited to just 11 minutes in this crucial play-in game. With Adebayo out, Kel'el Ware will hold down the fort at center and could finish with a monster line, having already recorded a double-double in three quarters while adding five blocks.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (hamstring) will miss Tuesday's play-in game against the Portland Trail Blazers. After managing a knee injury throughout the campaign, Allen sustained a hamstring injury during the final week of regular-season action. He won't be in the Suns' lineup for the third time in four games. Royce O'Neale, Jordan Goodwin, and Collin Gillespie could all get extra work with Allen out of commission.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (calf) will suit up on Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns. He has shaken off a questionable tag, returning to action after missing seven games due to a right calf strain. Given his lengthy absence, Grant might carry a minutes restriction on Tuesday. Still, he's a welcome addition to the Trail Blazers lineup. The veteran averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 29.7 minutes per game during the regular season. Grant's return is likely to bump Scoot Henderson to the second unit, but the explosive guard should still feature heavily in the rotation.
Miami Heat forward/center Bam Adebayo (back) is questionable to return to Tuesday's Play-In Tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports. The three-time All-Star exited the action in the second quarter after taking a hard fall. Adebayo had six points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 11 minutes before his early departure, sinking all three field-goal attempts. Jaime Jaquez Jr. started the second half in Adebayo's place.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (foot) intends to play in Game 1 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, Corey Hansford of Lakers Nation reports. The big man missed the final four regular-season games due to a foot injury, but he was back at practice on Tuesday. "Feeling a lot better," Hayes told reporters. "It was nice getting a few days off, especially with my job, I jump a lot and run a lot. So it's hard for me to rest something like that. So getting those days off was much-needed, very helpful." He added that he wasn't worried about missing the start of the postseason. Hayes has occasionally outperformed starting center Deandre Ayton late in the season, and his role may grow during the playoffs. Across 66 regular-season outings, he averaged 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per game.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is likely to remain part of the team's core in 2026-27. On Tuesday, Pelicans executive Joe Dumars announced that the team is not interested in trading the 2019 first-overall pick. "I'll get those calls," Dumars said. "And even when you say 'no' to people, like, 'No, we're not moving Zion,' within two hours it's out that you've had conversations about trading Zion. Listen, we have no intentions of doing that. We're going into the offseason looking forward to Zion coming back next year and playing great again next year." Williamson endured another injury-plagued season in 2025-26, making 62 appearances. He averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.0 steals. The two-time All-Star has two seasons remaining on a five-year,$193 million contract.
Philadelphia 76ers center Johni Broome (knee) will remain sidelined for Wednesday's play-in tilt against the Orlando Magic. The 23-year-old rookie is recovering from a midseason knee surgery. He has been listed as out for Wednesday's game, but Broome could become an option for Philadelphia during the postseason after practicing fully on Tuesday. During the regular season, Broome made only 11 appearances before suffering a right knee lateral meniscus tear in late February while playing in the G League.
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Trendon Watford (illness) is considered probable for Wednesday's action against the Orlando Magic. Philadelphia is likely to have Watford available for the Play-In Tournament game. However, it's unclear whether Watford will be part of the rotation. He has been used sparingly in April, averaging 4.7 minutes across three appearances. Joel Embiid's (abdomen) absence may give Watford some role in the frontcourt, but he probably still won't play enough to make a big impact.
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (knee) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's play-in contest against the Philadelphia 76ers. Isaac practiced on Tuesday but didn't do any contact work, which doesn't bode well for his chances of returning to the lineup. Orlando was without Isaac for 21 of the last 22 regular-season games. Even when in the lineup, Isaac has been limited to 10.0 minutes per game this season. His defensive ability would be an asset to the team, but in general, the 28-year-old isn't a major loss.
Orlando Magic small forward Jett Howard (ankle) is considered questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 22-year-old sprained his left ankle late in the regular season, missing the last five games. According to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel, Howard was limited to movement work and didn't take any contact during Tuesday's practice. Considering this, it wouldn't be surprising to see Howard miss another game. However, Orlando should cope with his absence, as Howard contributed only 5.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game during the regular season.
Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale (knee) and center Mark Williams (foot) are available to suit up for Tuesday's Play-In Tournament game against the Portland Trail Blazers. O'Neale sat out Sunday's regular-season finale due to a knee issue, while Williams was given the night off for rest. Both players have been cleared and are expected to see increased usage in tonight's matchup.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (hand) is available for Tuesday's Play-In Game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Brooks sat out of the Suns' final regular-season contest on Sunday versus Oklahoma City due to injury management. However, he is good to go for tonight's matchup in Phoenix. Since returning from a fractured left hand that required surgery, the 30-year-old Canadian saw action in six regular-season games, averaging 14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists across 28.5 minutes.
Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (leg) is available for Tuesday's Play-In Tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets. The 25-year-old has been cleared to suit up after he was previously listed as probable due to a right lower-leg contusion. Larsson averaged 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists across 70 regular-season outings and should be productive off the bench for the Heat during tonight's clash.
According to Khobi Price of The California Post, Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique) is expected to be sidelined at least one more week due to a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury. Luka Doncic (hamstring) will also remain on the shelf indefinitely due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and both players are at risk of missing the first round of the playoffs versus Houston. In the meantime, LeBron James will continue to carry an increased offensive workload while Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart are in line to see an uptick in scoring opportunities.
According to Khobi Price of The California Post, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) will miss at least one more week. Doncic remains sidelined indefinitely and is at risk of missing the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. It looks like, for the foreseeable future, LeBron James will be relied upon to shoulder the bulk of the Lakers' offensive workload. Luke Kennard will also continue to see an expanded role in the backcourt.
