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.
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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.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Hawks after recently returning from a four-game absence due to the same issue. If he sits, Ryan Rollins could continue seeing an elevated role after posting 16 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds in 33 minutes off the bench last game, making him a strong fantasy option and a viable hold as the fantasy season winds down. AJ Green and Cam Thomas could also see more time, though both remain risky options due to inconsistent roles.
Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (calf) will miss Saturday's game against the Clippers, marking his second straight absence due to the injury. With Russell Westbrook back in the lineup, Killian Hayes is expected to handle backup point guard duties, though his fantasy appeal remains limited to low-end assists and occasional steals in a reserve role. Carter being out could help Malik Monk (ankle) hold steady minutes if he's able to suit up. With most fantasy playoffs underway and the season winding down, Carter is becoming a tougher hold outside of deeper formats.
Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (quadriceps) is off the injury report and expected to return Saturday against the Clippers after missing one game. The veteran is likely to reclaim starting point guard duties, which should send Killian Hayes back to a reserve role after he filled in during Westbrook's absence. Westbrook remains a strong fantasy option when active, averaging 17.6 points, 8.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals over five March appearances in nearly 30 minutes per game. His return should slightly reduce DeMar DeRozan's secondary ballhandling while lowering Hayes' short-term streaming appeal.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against the 76ers and appears likely to miss a second straight contest. His absence should continue to open minutes for Danny Wolf, who started last game and posted eight points, eight rebounds, and two assists in 28 minutes, making him a safer deep-league streamer with Brooklyn thin up front. Josh Minott broke out for 24 points with four triples, three steals, and three blocks in 24 minutes, but his inconsistent role still makes him a risky fantasy play. Noah Clowney could also see a slight usage bump.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (knee) is probable for Saturday's game against the Wizards after missing one game with a right knee contusion. The veteran is expected to resume his starting role, likely sending Payton Pritchard back to the bench after filling in the last game. White has been a reliable fantasy contributor when available, averaging 21.4 points, 2.4 three-pointers, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists over his last five outings in 34 minutes per game. His return should help settle Boston's guard rotation, with Payton Pritchard going back to his usual bench scoring role while Jaylen Brown takes on a bit less playmaking.
Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (rest) will sit out Saturday's matchup against the 76ers for routine maintenance, with the expectation he returns Monday against Portland. Danny Wolf is positioned to handle most of the center minutes after starting the previous game, where he posted eight points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one three-pointer in 28 minutes. With Day'Ron Sharpe (thumb) already ruled out for the season, Wolf could remain a deep-league streaming option for rebounds and modest all-around production. Noah Clowney and Josh Minott may also see slight workload increases in Brooklyn's thin frontcourt rotation.
Utah Jazz guard/forward Ace Bailey (concussion) did not return in Friday's loss to the Trail Blazers after experiencing symptoms following an early exit. The rookie logged just seven minutes, finishing with eight points on perfect shooting, plus one rebound, one assist, one steal, and one block. If Bailey misses time, Utah may lean more on EJ Harkless and Andersson Garcia, though both remain risky deep-league streamers after modest production in expanded runs. Cody Williams and Kyle Filipowski could also see slight usage bumps as the Jazz continue prioritizing youth development amid multiple rotation injuries.
Bulls' G Josh Giddey recorded a triple-double, finishing with 20 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in a 108-119 loss to the Clippers on Friday, Mar. 13.
Timberwolves' G Anthony Edwards scored 42 points on 13-of-22 shooting in a 127-117 win over Golden State on Friday, Mar. 13.
Utah's F Brice Sensabaugh scored 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting in a 114-124 loss to Portland on Friday, Mar. 13. Sensabaugh is owned in only 24.1% leagues.
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Hawks as the team manages his workload during the first leg of a back-to-back. If the former MVP sits, Bobby Portis could take on a larger scoring role and profiles as a strong streaming option after posting 19 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 26 minutes last game. Jericho Sims could also see extra minutes, though he is more of a fringe option unless you are in deeper formats.
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (ankle) will be re-evaluated in two weeks as he continues recovering from an ankle injury that has already cost him multiple games. With Sacramento out of the playoff race, Murray does not appear close to a return. He is becoming a difficult hold with the fantasy season nearing its final stretch. Precious Achiuwa has stepped into a larger role, posting 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in 30 minutes in his last start, while Daeqwon Plowden added 13 points with three 3-pointers off the bench. Achiuwa is the priority target on waivers, while Plowden may also see enough run to warrant deep league attention.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is listed as probable for Saturday's game against the Lakers after sitting out one contest for injury management. The veteran forward is still working his way back after a long layoff, so some inconsistency is expected. Gordon showed upside on March 9 with 23 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 29 minutes but followed with a quieter 23-minute outing two days later. He remains a hold in most formats, though expectations may need to be tempered in the short term. His return should push Spencer Jones back to a smaller bench role.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (ankle) is listed as probable for Saturday's game against the Lakers after dealing with a minor left ankle issue earlier this month, though it has not forced him to miss time. The veteran guard remains a must-start fantasy option while healthy, averaging 26.0 points, 2.2 three-pointers, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists over his last five games. Murray logged 40 minutes with seven assists and a steal in his last outing. His presence keeps the rotation intact, with Nikola Jokic leading the offense and Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) filling secondary roles.
Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton (leg) will remain on the sideline ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. This marks the third game in a row that Sexton has missed with a leg injury. Fantasy managers should consider Sexton questionable ahead of Monday's matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies. The absence of Sexton should mean that Rob Dillingham continues to see increased run in the rotation. He finished with 12 points, seven assists, and five rebounds across 29 minutes of action on Thursday. Outside of that performance, Dillingham has mostly been a dud lately. He'll be a possible deep league option while Sexton is out.
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Utah Jazz. This appears to be a maintenance day for Williams, but he should be back for Sunday's contest against the Philadelphia 76ers. In his absence, Yang Hansen and Sidy Cissoko should see an increased look in the rotation. Neither player figures to do enough damage as the backup center to be worthy of streaming for Friday's slate.
