NBA roundup: Lakers top Nuggets on Luka Doncic's last-second OT winner
Sun Mar 15 2:18am ET
Field Level Media
Luka Doncic hit a baseline jumper with 0.5 seconds left as the host Los Angeles Lakers rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets 127-125 in overtime on Saturday night.
Doncic finished with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for his eighth triple-double of the season. With its fifth straight win, Los Angeles clinched the season series against Denver.
Austin Reaves had 32 points, including a bucket in the final seconds of the fourth to send it to overtime. Marcus Smart added 21 points and LeBron James scored 17 for the Lakers. Smart's fifth 3-pointer of the night gave Los Angeles a 125-123 lead with 31 seconds left in overtime. Nikola Jokic tied it with 15.1 seconds left, but Doncic's 17-foot fadeaway won it for the hosts.
Jokic had 24 points, 16 rebounds and 14 assists for his 27th triple-double of the season and fifth in his last six games Braun had 12 apiece for the Nuggets.
Spurs 115, Hornets 102
Victor Wembanyama racked up 32 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and four blocked shots in his return from a one-game absence due to a sore calf to lead host San Antonio to a victory over Charlotte as two of the hottest teams in the NBA clashed.
De'Aaron Fox added 17 points for the Spurs, with Stephon Castle adding 15 points with 10 assists. Keldon Johnson scored 13 points and Luke Kornet contributed 10 for San Antonio, which is 17-2 since the start of February,
Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 22 points while Kon Knueppel scored 20, Coby White had 18 off the bench and LaMelo Ball added 17 for the Hornets, who had a two-game winning streak snapped but are 8-3 since Feb. 22.
Magic 121, Heat 117
Paolo Banchero posted 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as visiting Orlando defeated Miami for the fifth straight time.
Orlando led by as many as 22 but needed two Wendell Carter Jr. free throws with 11 seconds left to help put Miami away. Banchero added two free throws with 7.8 seconds left. Desmond Bane added 21 points for the Magic, who have won seven straight. Carter scored 15, Jalen Suggs added 14 and Jamal Cain chipped in 12 as the Magic swept the season series 5-0.
Miami, which had its seven-game win streak snapped, was led by Bam Adebayo, who had 20 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 22 points, seven assists and three steals. Fellow reserve Norman Powell had 20 points and Pelle Larsson scored 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Celtics 111, Wizards 100
Neemias Queta scored a game-high 24 points and had 10 rebounds to help Boston end a two-game losing streak and defeat visiting Washington.
The Celtics received 20 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists from Jayson Tatum, and a 16-point performance from Jaylen Brown. Derrick White scored 15 and Luka Garza added 15 off the bench. Boston outrebounded Washington 55-38. The Celtics grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.
The loss stretched Washington's losing streak to 11. The Wizards have lost nine in a row on the road. Tristan Vukcevic made 6 of 7 3-point attempts and led the Wizards with 22 points. Fellow reserve Jamir Watkins added 15 points and Trae Young scored 11 and had six assists.
Hawks 122, Bucks 99
CJ McCollum scored 30 points and made seven 3-pointers to help red-hot Atlanta extend its winning streak to nine games with a victory over visiting Milwaukee.
Jalen Johnson added 23 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for his 12th triple-double of the season as Atlanta won nine in a row for the first time since a 19-game stretch in the 2014-15 season.
Ryan Rollins had 22 points and eight assists for the Bucks, who dropped their eighth game in nine tries. Kevin Porter Jr. contributed 18 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.
76ers 104, Nets 97
Quentin Grimes scored 28 points, as Philadelphia notched a home victory over Brooklyn.
Adem Bona chipped in with nine points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for Philadelphia, which continued to play without Tyrese Maxey (finger), Joel Embiid (oblique), and Paul George (suspension), among others. VJ Edgecombe contributed 16 points and seven assists for the Sixers, who had dropped five of their previous seven games. Justin Edwards added 19 points.
Brooklyn lost for the 13th time in 15 games despite erasing a 28-point, second-half deficit. Danny Wolf scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to pace the Nets, who took the court without several key players, including top scorer Michael Porter Jr. (ankle).
Kings 118, Clippers 109
DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points and Precious Achiuwa added 25 with 13 rebounds as Sacramento turned a brief stop on the road into a victory over host Los Angeles in Inglewood, Calif.
Maxime Raynaud scored 23 points and Russell Westbrook added 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against his former team as the Kings won for the third time in their past four games to continue emerging from their 2-20 downturn. The Kings were playing on the road for the only time in a stretch of 10 games and are now 3-3 during the run.
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points for the Clippers to tie the franchise record with his 45th consecutive game of at least 20 points. Leonard went to the locker room in the first half with a cut over his left eye and departed for good with 9:27 remaining in the game when he rolled his left ankle.
- NBA roundup: Lakers top Nuggets on Luka Doncic's last-second OT winner
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- NBA roundup: Kawhi Leonard nets 45 as hot Clippers win, move over .500
- Warriors' Stephen Curry (knee) out at least 10 more days
- NBA roundup: Bam Adebayo's 83-point effort ranks 2nd all time
- 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey (finger tendon) out at least 3 weeks
- Lakers' Luka Doncic fined $50K for gesture toward refs
- NBA roundup: James Harden scores 29,000th point in Cavs' win over 76ers
- NBA cancels Hawks' controversial strip club promotion
- NBA roundup: Suns halt Hornets' 10-game road winning streak
- 76ers All-Star G Tyrese Maxey (finger) to miss at least 2 games
- Bucks star PF Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) sitting out vs. Magic
- Lakers star LeBron James (elbow, foot) ruled out vs. Knicks
- NBA roundup: Down 23, Nets stun Pistons to halt 10-game skid
- Mavericks F Khris Middleton fined $25K for mouthpiece incident
- Celtics C Nikola Vucevic (finger) sidelined 3-4 weeks
- NBA roundup: Jayson Tatum thrives in return as Celtics beat Mavs
Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post (ankle) is available for Sunday's game against the Knicks and could see a larger role with Draymond Green (back), Al Horford (calf), and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) all sidelined. Post logged seven points, three rebounds, and one three-pointer in 12 minutes last game and may see additional frontcourt opportunities alongside Omer Yurtseven. The opportunity is there, but Post remains a low-end fantasy option best suited for deeper leagues needing rebounds or blocks. Gui Santos should also continue seeing heavy minutes with the shorthanded Warriors.
Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (calf) will remain sidelined Sunday against the Jazz, leaving the Kings thin at point guard with Russell Westbrook (foot) and Malik Monk (ankle) also unavailable. That should keep Killian Hayes in line for extended minutes as Sacramento's only healthy traditional point guard. Hayes posted 11 points, four assists, and one three-pointer in 31 minutes two games ago and could see a similar opportunity again. He remains a low-end fantasy streamer, but the available minutes make him worth consideration in deeper formats. DeMar DeRozan could also see more on-ball creation.
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (ankle) will miss Sunday's game against the Jazz, marking his third straight absence as he continues to deal with ankle soreness. With Monk, Russell Westbrook (foot), and Devin Carter (calf) all unavailable, Killian Hayes and Nique Clifford should continue seeing backcourt minutes. Hayes remains a low-end fantasy streamer due to inconsistent production, while Clifford has been contributing across multiple categories despite inefficient shooting, including 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 35 minutes last game.
Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (foot) will not play Sunday against the Jazz as he sits out the second game of a back-to-back, though he is expected to return Tuesday. His absence should open more minutes for Killian Hayes, who could handle primary point guard duties with Malik Monk (ankle) and Devin Carter (calf) also sidelined. Hayes had 11 points, four assists, and one three-pointer in 31 minutes two games ago and profiles as a low-end fantasy streamer with opportunity on his side. DeMar DeRozan may also take on more ball-handling responsibility.
New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (knee) is available for Sunday's game against the Warriors after missing the team's previous two contests. His return should push Landry Shamet back into a reserve role while restoring Hart's usual workload on the wing. Hart has remained a steady fantasy contributor when active, averaging 12.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steals across his last five games. His rebounding from the wing and across-the-board production make him a solid hold in category leagues, while Shamet likely loses most of his short-term streaming appeal.
New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) will rejoin the lineup on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. He didn't play in Friday's matchup with Indiana due to knee soreness, but the Knicks haven't listed him on the injury report for Sunday's game. Mitchell Robinson made a massive impact as a starter on Friday night, finishing with 12 points, 22 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. He will return to a reserve role on Sunday, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to repeat his effort from Friday's game. In the teams' earlier meeting this season, Towns racked up 17 points and 20 boards, and with the Warriors set to play without Draymond Green (back), Al Horford (calf), and Kristaps Porzingis (illness), he might be in for another dominant outing.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (ankle) has been cleared to return to the lineup on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors. He has missed five games due to a right ankle injury. Detroit has used Marcus Sasser as Thompson's replacement in the starting unit, and he is poised to drop back to the bench. As a reserve, Sasser doesn't have any fantasy value, averaging 4.8 points and 1.8 assists off the bench this season. Thompson is having a career year with the Pistons, posting 10.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (knee) will play on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's dealing with a sore right knee but has shaken off a questionable tag. After his poor performance in Tuesday's loss to the Lakers, Edwards has bounced back in style, scoring 78 points across two games. The Timberwolves star has put up 27.7 points per game against the Thunder this season, adding 8.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) will return to action on Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has been out for three games due to a left calf contusion. Hartenstein will rejoin the starting lineup, bumping Cason Wallace to the second unit. Wallace will remain an important contributor in the rotation, but his fantasy value takes a hit with Hartenstein's return. In his previous three meetings with the Timberwolves this season, Hartenstein has averaged 9.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in 24.7 minutes.
Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton (knee) will sit out Sunday's game against the Knicks as part of injury management on the first night of a back-to-back. With Golden State missing multiple rotation pieces, Pat Spencer, Will Richard, and Gary Payton II could all see enough minutes to draw fantasy interest. Payton finished with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 19 minutes last game, while Spencer added seven points and three assists in 19 minutes. Opportunities should be there, but all three profile as risky fantasy streamers due to uncertain roles.
Golden State Warriors forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (illness) will not play Sunday against the Knicks as the team continues to manage his recent health issues, with a possible return targeted for Monday. His absence, along with injuries to Draymond Green (back) and Al Horford (calf), leaves Golden State thin in the frontcourt. Gui Santos could continue seeing heavy minutes after producing 17 points, three rebounds, eight assists, and one steal in 35 minutes last game, and with how he's trending lately, he looks like a solid fantasy option for the stretch run. Quinten Post (ankle) may also see more run if available, though he remains a risky deep league option given the uncertain rotation.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Pacers after suiting up Saturday against the Hawks, where he posted 18 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block in 30 minutes. The Bucks appear to be managing his workload, with his next chance to play coming Tuesday against the Cavaliers. Ryan Rollins should continue handling a larger role after delivering 22 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and four three-pointers in 31 minutes last game. Rollins has been playing well enough to remain a strong fantasy option entering the final stretch of the season.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (knee) will miss his fifth straight game Sunday against the Mavericks as he continues to deal with right knee soreness. His absence keeps Thomas Bryant in the backup center role, though he remains more of a fringe fantasy streamer despite posting 11 points, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in 22 minutes last game. Evan Mobley should continue handling heavier frontcourt minutes and rebounding duties, boosting his fantasy ceiling, while Donovan Mitchell and James Harden (thumb) may also see slightly more usage with Cleveland leaning more on perimeter scoring.
Utah Jazz center Kyle Filipowski (rest) will not play Sunday against the Kings in what appears to be a scheduled maintenance day. The second-year big had been a regular part of the rotation and rarely inactive this season. His absence could open minutes for Oscar Tshiebwe, who produced eight points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 20 minutes last game, while veteran Kevin Love may also factor into the frontcourt mix. Both remain risky deep-league streamers due to uncertain roles. Cody Williams and Brice Sensabaugh could also see slight usage increases.
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Kawhi Leonard (ankle) did not return to Saturday's game against the Kings after suffering a left ankle injury in the fourth quarter. He finished with 31 points, six rebounds, and two steals in 26 minutes before exiting. Leonard has been on a strong run lately, averaging 32.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 steals over his last five games, making any absence significant for fantasy managers. If he misses time, Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin could take on larger scoring roles, while Kris Dunn may see more backcourt minutes.
Utah Jazz guard/forward Ace Bailey (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Kings after entering the league's concussion protocol following a head injury Friday. With Utah not playing again until Wednesday, the rookie will have added recovery time. Elijah Harkless could see more opportunity after recording 10 points, two three-pointers, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 30 minutes last game, while Andersson Garcia added six points, three rebounds, and two steals in 29 minutes. Harkless and Garcia remain fringe streaming options due to uncertain roles, while Brice Sensabaugh and Isaiah Collier are better bets to absorb additional usage in Bailey's absence.
Kings' G Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 10 assists and 12 rebounds in a 118-109 win over the Clippers on Saturday, Mar. 14.
Lakers' G Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 127-125 win over the Nuggets on Saturday, Mar. 14.
Denver Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 14 assists and 16 rebounds in a 125-127 loss to the Lakers on Saturday, Mar. 14.
Atlanta Hawks' F Jalen Johnson recorded a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 122-99 win over the Bucks on Saturday, Mar. 14.
