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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Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (ankle) has been cleared for the Play-In Tournament and will suit up on Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. His regular-season campaign ended prematurely because Goodwin missed the last two games with an ankle injury. Goodwin has been a key reserve for the Suns, averaging career-high numbers in scoring (8.7), rebounding (4.9), and steals (1.5). He's been a starter in each of his last three appearances and could have added importance again on Tuesday night, as Grayson Allen (hamstring) is questionable to play.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (hamstring) is questionable for Tuesday's play-in clash against the Portland Trail Blazers. He injured his left hamstring on Friday against the Lakers and sat out Sunday's regular-season finale versus Oklahoma City. Allen's absence would leave the Suns without their fourth-highest scorer on Tuesday. The 30-year-old has averaged a career-high 16.5 points per game this season. Royce O'Neale (knee) and Jordan Goodwin (ankle) will have more prominent roles if Allen isn't cleared to play. Both are available for Tuesday's game after missing time during the final week of the regular season.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (calf) is questionable for Tuesday's play-in matchup against the Phoenix Suns. He missed the last seven regular-season games due to a right calf strain, and Portland could also be without Grant for the Play-In Tournament. Grant has suited up for just two of the Trail Blazers' last 11 games. His health issues have allowed Scoot Henderson to move into the first unit, and the third-year guard could be an X-factor against the Suns. Henderson has averaged 16.0 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals across the last seven games, sinking 40.0 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (knee) will play on Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. He missed the last two regular-season games with a sore right knee. Fortunately for the Suns, Green is able to participate in the Play-In Tournament. The former second-overall pick made his postseason debut last year and clearly struggled with the occasion as Houston was dumped out in the first round by a lower-seeded Golden State. Phoenix needs Green to stay sharp on Tuesday night. He had a decent finish to the regular season, scoring 20-plus points in seven of his last 10 outings.
Toronto Raptors point guard Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) is day-to-day, the team announced. Quickley suffered a mild hamstring strain in Toronto's regular-season finale against Brooklyn on Sunday. While Quickley faces a race against time to get healthy for the playoffs, he has plenty of recovery time, as Toronto won't kick off the postseason until April 18. Quickley's scoring numbers have dropped slightly this season, but he has improved his defensive play. The 26-year-old averaged a career-high 1.3 steals during the regular season. He also set a new career high with 5.9 assists and had 16.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. If the Raptors are forced to start the playoffs without Quickley, Jamal Shead and Ja'Kobe Walter must be ready for heavier workloads.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (ankle) will play in Tuesday's play-in matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers. He is managing an ankle injury and missed the final two regular-season games. However, the Suns haven't included Booker on the injury report before Tuesday's action. Booker had a huge finish to the regular season and is expected to lead the Suns through the Play-In Tournament and into the playoffs. He has scored at least 30 points in five of his last six appearances, nailing 41.0 percent of his three-point attempts.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (abdomen) is expected to sit out the Play-In Tournament, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The former MVP underwent a successful appendectomy on Thursday, missing the final few games of the regular season. "He's not expected to play during the Play-In Tournament," Charania said on Monday during an appearance on NBA Today. "My understanding is he's in the very early stages of his recovery process from appendicitis. He has to recover first, then there will be a separate physical part of the rehab as well." Unfortunately, Philadelphia is forced to start another postseason without Embiid, and it's unclear when he can rejoin the lineup. The team will lean on Andre Drummond and Adem Bona while he's out.
Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (foot) is unavailable for Tuesday's Play-In Tournament matchup with the Charlotte Hornets. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since April 4 due to right foot soreness. If the Heat defeat the Hornets, Smith could potentially return for Friday's game to determine the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. His unavailability won't have much fantasy relevance, as he has played a reduced role down the stretch of the 2025-26 campaign.
Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (leg) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's Play-In Tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets. The 25-year-old is at risk of missing the contest due to a left lower-leg contusion that sidelined him for Sunday's regular-season finale. Fantasy managers should expect an update on his status closer to tipoff. If Larsson is unavailable, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Simone Fontecchio would be in line for increased workloads.
Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio (ankle) is expected to suit up for Tuesday's Play-In Tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets. Fontecchio is set to return after missing Sunday's regular-season finale due to left ankle soreness. The 30-year-old could see increased frontcourt minutes if Pelle Larsson (leg), who is questionable, is unable to play.
Miami Heat forward/center Nikola Jovic (ankle) is unavailable for Tuesday's Play-In Game against the Charlotte Hornets. Jovic will miss his fifth consecutive contest due to a left ankle sprain. If the Heat defeat the Hornets, the 22-year-old could potentially return for Friday's matchup to determine the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. His absence on Tuesday is unlikely to have a significant fantasy impact, as he averaged just 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.2 minutes across 47 appearances during the regular season.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported on the Pat McAfee Show that Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Tuesday. The 27-year-old traveled to Spain over the past week to receive a series of injection treatments for his Grade 2 hamstring strain. Charania added that Doncic is expected to miss the start of the Lakers' first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, which begins Saturday in Los Angeles. A clearer timetable should emerge following his re-evaluation. In the meantime, LeBron James (foot) will be relied upon to shoulder the bulk of the offensive workload.
Dallas Mavericks guard Ryan Nembhard (rookie) delivered 15 points, nine rebounds, and 23 assists in 38 minutes during Sunday's win over Chicago, closing the season with a standout performance. The rookie set a franchise rookie record for assists, surpassing the previous mark of 17 set by head coach Jason Kidd on March 13, 1995. He handled primary playmaking duties with multiple starters sidelined and Cooper Flagg (ankle) exiting early. With Dallas missing the playoffs, Nembhard's late-season surge puts him on the radar for next season, though Kyrie Irving's return could limit his role.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham produced seven points, eight rebounds, and 14 assists in 22 minutes during Sunday's win over Indiana. Detroit limited his workload late in the season after his return, but he still orchestrated the offense efficiently and led the team in assists. With the Pistons entering the playoffs as the top seed in the East, Cunningham appears on track to handle a larger role moving forward. His playmaking boosts teammates like Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, making him a strong fantasy option in the postseason.
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) will not return to Sunday's regular-season finale against Brooklyn after exiting in the second quarter, finishing with four points, five assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 17 minutes. With Toronto heading into the playoffs, his status becomes a key concern after recently returning from a foot injury. Jamal Shead stepped into a larger role and could potentially see backup minutes if Quickley faces limitations. Quickley's availability will be critical, while Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett may take on more playmaking duties if needed.
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Cooper Flagg (ankle) will not return to Sunday's regular-season finale after suffering a left ankle sprain in the second quarter, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal in nine minutes. The injury, though not believed to be serious, brings his rookie season to a close, as Dallas is out of the playoff picture. Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 33.5 minutes across 70 games, establishing himself as a strong early-round fantasy target for next season.
Orlando Magic's F Paolo Banchero recorded a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a 108-113 loss to Boston on Sunday, Apr. 12.
Toronto's F Scottie Barnes recorded a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds in a 136-101 win over the Nets on Sunday, Apr. 12.
Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton (finger) is available for Sunday's regular-season finale against Dallas after being listed as probable. The 27-year-old has started four straight games for a depleted roster, averaging 18.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.3 steals in 30.5 minutes during that span. With multiple key players sidelined, Sexton should continue handling a significant offensive role, making him a strong DFS target. Tre Jones and Rob Dillingham are also positioned for steady minutes and increased usage in the backcourt rotation.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Jalen Green (knee) is out for Sunday's game against Oklahoma City, marking his second straight absence as the team heads into the Play-In Tournament. With multiple starters sidelined, Jamaree Bouyea is positioned for an expanded role after logging four points, two rebounds, and three assists in 27 minutes in his last start. Oso Ighodaro and Rasheer Fleming should also see increased involvement, making them viable deep DFS options. Bouyea offers modest playmaking upside, while the depleted rotation creates opportunity across the board.
