NBA roundup: Kawhi Leonard's game for the ages lifts Clippers past Pistons
Mon Dec 29 1:59am ET
Field Level Media
Kawhi Leonard delivered a career-high 55 points to match the franchise record and the Los Angeles Clippers used a seasoned starting lineup to earn a 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday at Inglewood, Calif., and extend their winning streak to a season-high four games.
James Harden scored 28 points and Nicolas Batum added 12 as the Clippers won their third consecutive home game following a run of eight consecutive losses in their own building.
With multiple absences, Los Angeles started three players age 36 or over in Harden, Brook Lopez and Batum. Adding Leonard, the Clippers became the first team since 2016 with four starters at least 34 years in age. Leonard looked as young as ever with 26 points in the third quarter alone while going 17 of 26 from the floor in the game. He added 11 rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots He also made five treys.
Harden set the franchise mark of 55 points just last month against the Charlotte Hornets. He set the mark in a 131-116 win on Nov. 22. Cade Cunningham scored 27 points, all in the second half, and Jalen Duren added 18 for the Pistons, who lost consecutive games for just the second time this season after falling at Utah on Friday.
Raptors 141, Warriors 127 (OT)
Scottie Barnes recorded his seventh career triple-double, and Toronto dominated overtime to defeat visiting Golden State.
Barnes had 23 points, a career-best 25 rebounds and 10 assists to help the Raptors rally from a 13-point third-quarter deficit. It was the first 20-20 triple-double ever recorded by Toronto player. The Raptors scored the first 10 points of overtime in winning the opener of a five-game homestand.
Toronto's Immanuel Quickley scored 27 points and Brandon Ingram added 26. RJ Barrett contributed 12 points on his return after missing 15 games with a sprained right knee. Stephen Curry scored 39 points for the Warriors, who had a three-game winning streak end in the opener of a three-game road trip. Draymond Green added 21 points.
Trail Blazers 114, Celtics 108
Shaedon Sharpe scored 26 points and Deni Avdija added 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to help Portland stun Boston and snap a three-game losing streak.
Toumani Camara scored 20 points and Donovan Clingan recorded 18 points and 18 rebounds. Caleb Love scored 18 off the bench as the Trail Blazers also snapped a six-game losing streak against the Celtics by scoring the final five points of the game.
Jaylen Brown had 37 points and seven rebounds for the Celtics, who saw a four-game winning streak end. Brown has scored at least 30 in all nine of his appearances this month. Hugo Gonzalez and former Trail Blazer Anfernee Simons added 13 points apiece for Boston.
Thunder 129, 76ers 104
Chet Holmgren scored 29 points as Oklahoma City snapped a two-game skid, its first losing streak of the season, with a home win over Philadelphia.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 27 points and five assists with just one turnover while Aaron Wiggins scored 15 off the bench and starter Jalen Williams added 14 for the Thunder.
The 76ers were without Joel Embiid, who missed the game with a right ankle sprain and right knee injury management. Embiid had played in the previous two games. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 28 points, but 15 came in the first quarter and just five came in the second half. No other 76ers player finished with more than 13 points. Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe combined to go just 3 of 16 from the field after halftime.
Wizards 116, Grizzlies 112
Alex Sarr had 20 points, nine rebounds and a career-high six blocks, while CJ McCollum added 16 points to lead Washington to its first consecutive victories of the season with a win over visiting Memphis.
Sarr and McCollum were supported by Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly and Marvin Bagley III, who scored 14 points apiece. Justin Champagnie added 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Bub Carrington contributed 12 points and seven assists.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with a season-high-tying 31 points to go along with eight rebounds and four blocks. Ja Morant finished with 21 points and seven assists, and Santi Aldama had 14 points, 10 boards and five steals. The already injury-ravaged Grizzlies also lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a hamstring injury.
Lakers 125, Kings 101
Luka Doncic scored 34 points and Los Angeles ended a three-game skid with a win over visiting Sacramento.
Doncic hit five 3-pointers, while also chalking up seven assists and three steals. LeBron James posted 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting, while Nick Smith Jr. added 21 off the bench, including five 3-pointers. James' night ended early when he hurt his right lower back in a collision with DeMar DeRozan, exiting the game with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, a concern for the Lakers who are without Austin Reaves for at least a month with a left calf injury.
DeRozan had 22 points for the Kings, while Maxime Raynaud paired 16 points with 10 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook contributed 13 points.
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- Lakers G Austin Reaves (calf) ruled out vs. Rockets
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- Nuggets F Cameron Johnson (knee) out 4-6 weeks
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- Luka Doncic (leg) to return for Lakers on Christmas
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Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (knee) will miss a sixth consecutive game Monday against Washington, extending his absence since Dec. 14 due to right knee injury management. His continued absence keeps the Suns' backcourt rotation thin and boosts short-term fantasy value elsewhere. Collin Gillespie has emerged as the most reliable beneficiary, averaging 16.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 3.2 three-pointers in 32.6 minutes over his last five. Royce O'Neale offers low-ceiling depth in deeper leagues, while Jordan Goodwin's role remains volatile.
Clippers' F Kawhi Leonard recorded a double-double, scoring 55 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 112-99 win over the Pistons on Sunday, Dec. 28.
Raptors' F Scottie Barnes recorded a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 10 assists and 25 rebounds in a 141-127 win over the Warriors on Sunday, Dec. 28.
San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (adductor, illness) is questionable for Monday's matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He didn't suit up for Saturday's loss to the Jazz because of adductor tightness. The 28-year-old is also battling an illness. Justin Champagnie entered the starting lineup versus Utah, although it was Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper benefiting the most by combining for 34 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists from off the bench. If Fox misses another game, Champagnie will presumably remain with the first-five, with Harper, Johnson, and Stephon Castle in line for expanded roles behind Victor Wembanyama.
Miami Heat forward/center Bam Adebayo (back) is probable heading into Monday's meeting with the visiting Nuggets after missing the last two games because of lower back soreness. Assuming Adebayo is cleared to return, he should immediately find a spot in all fantasy lineups. With that said, his presence will likely result in Pelle Larsson, who had 16 points, seven assists, and one block as a starter in Friday's win over the Pacers, heading back to the bench. Jaime Jaquez Jr., coming off a 28-point effort, may have issues staying as productive if Adebayo is back on the floor.
Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) remains out on Monday against Milwaukee. He's still day-to-day because of a sprained left elbow, although many fantasy managers aren't convinced that he'll be back for Wednesday's clash versus the Warriors or Friday's rematch with the Bucks. Mason Plumlee (groin) is also out again, meaning Moussa Diabate will presumably remain in the starting lineup. Diabate has played well as a starter this season, most recently amassing 10 points, 12 boards, and one block in Friday's win over the Orlando Magic.
Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (ankle) won't play on Sunday versus Milwaukee. The rookie has played exceptionally well throughout the 2025 campaign. He sprained his ankle in Friday's 120-105 victory over the Orlando Magic. Fortunately, X-rays were negative, so Knueppel should be considered day-to-day, although fantasy managers shouldn't expect to see him return on Wednesday against the Warriors as well as Friday's rematch with the Bucks, at the very least. As a result, Collin Sexton may find his way back into the starting lineup for at few contests. The 26-year-old has averaged 15.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 10 starts this season, giving him a higher fantasy ceiling than usual.
Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins (illness) won't play on Sunday against Detroit. He's not feeling well, so fantasy managers will need to wait and see if he'll return on Tuesday night versus the Sacramento Kings. The Clippers are also down Ivicia Zubac (ankle), meaning Ty Lue may continue to rely on Nicolas Batum, who had three points, two boards, and one steal in 30 minutes from off the bench in Friday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers, to spend more time underneath the basket.
Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (hip) won't suit up for Sunday's matchup with Memphis. He logged 28 minutes in Friday's win over the Toronto Raptors, finishing with 23 points, six boards, and three assists while shooting 3-for-5 from deep. Fantasy managers should consider George day-to-day, so there may be a chance he'll be back on Monday against the visiting Suns. In the meantime, Justin Champagnie, averaging 8.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in eight starts this season, is expected to replace him in the rotation.
Memphis Grizzlies center Jock Landale (calf) won't play on Sunday against Washington. With Zach Edey (ankle) sidelined, Landale has been seeing extra minutes, resulting in career-high averages of 11.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. His next chance to suit up will be on Tuesday versus the Philadelphia 76ers. While Landale is out, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama should see additional work. Christian Koloko, who had four points, three boards, three steals, and one block in Friday's win over Milwaukee, will likely continue to be involved from off the bench in a favorable matchup with the Wizards.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (toe) continues to progress in his recovery, though coach Erik Spoelstra said Saturday that there remains no timetable for his return. Herro's continued absence has kept Miami's backcourt rotation fluid, opening short-term opportunity for Pelle Larsson. The second-year guard has started the last two games and averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in 28.6 minutes, providing streaming value in deeper formats. Dru Smith and Kasparas Jakucionis remain low-usage reserves.
Boston Celtics forward/center Chris Boucher (personal) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Portland, marking his second consecutive absence. The veteran remains outside Boston's regular rotation, keeping his fantasy impact minimal. Coach Joe Mazzulla has leaned more on Neemias Queta, who has averaged 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in 22.1 minutes over his last three games, while Luka Garza has produced 11.0 points and 7.7 rebounds in 25.6 minutes in the same span. Boucher can be left on the waiver wire.
Chicago Bulls center Zach Collins (lower body) exited in the closing minutes of Saturday's loss to Milwaukee and did not return, putting his availability for Monday against Minnesota in question. Collins finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists in 24 minutes before leaving the floor. The timing is notable given his recent bench production, averaging 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 19.3 minutes while scoring in double figures in six straight games. If Collins misses time, Nikola Vucevic would absorb heavier center minutes, while Jalen Smith becomes a deeper-league rebound streamer after logging six points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes Saturday.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (back) will not play Sunday against Sacramento, extending his absence to five straight games after last appearing Dec. 14. Vincent's short-term fantasy impact remains minimal after averaging 6.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 21.3 minutes across his last five outings. With Austin Reaves (calf) sidelined for multiple weeks, Vincent could resurface in a secondary ballhandling role once healthy, but Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart continue to dominate guard usage. Vincent can safely be left on the wire in standard leagues.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Boston and remains without a timetable after missing 19 games since Nov. 14. The veteran's continued absence has consolidated playmaking duties for Deni Avdija, who has averaged 26.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 8.4 assists in 39.4 minutes over his last five games. Shaedon Sharpe maintains a primary scoring role, while Sidy Cissoko, Rayan Rupert, and Caleb Love stay in the rotation but lack fantasy reliability. Holiday remains a stash-only option.
Toronto Raptors forward/center Collin Murray-Boyles (illness) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Golden State after being downgraded from questionable. The rookie first-rounder has averaged 7.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 steals in 19.8 minutes across his last five games, offering modest defensive value but limited scoring. With Jakob Poeltl (back) sidelined, Sandro Mamukelashvili would be positioned to handle expanded frontcourt duties after posting 14.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 3.2 three-pointers in 29.3 minutes. Ochai Agbaji and Jonathan Mogbo project for situational minutes, keeping Murray-Boyles in a hold-only range for deeper formats.
Brooklyn's G Cameron Thomas scored 30 points on 9-of-15 shooting in a 123-107 win over Minnesota on Saturday, Dec. 27. Thomas is owned in only 53.4% leagues.
Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 34 points, 12 assists and 21 rebounds in a 126-127 loss to Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 27.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (concussion) will be back in the lineup on Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. He missed two games while going through concussion protocol. Mitchell has been one of the most productive reserves in the NBA this season, averaging 14.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He will eat into the minutes of Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe. On Sunday, Mitchell has a mediocre matchup against a team that allows 35.9 bench points per game.
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovi (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons. The veteran played only two minutes in Friday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers, exiting with a hip problem, but he will miss Sunday's action due to left hamstring injury management. Some of Bogdanovic's minutes could be filled on Sunday by the returning Derrick Jones Jr. Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller may also see additional minutes in the rotation, but they aren't relevant in fantasy.
