NBA roundup: Kawhi Leonard nets 45 as hot Clippers win, move over .500
Thu Mar 12 2:47am ET
Field Level Media
Kawhi Leonard scored 45 points and Bennedict Mathurin added 22 as the Los Angeles Clippers remained red-hot in March with a 153-128 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Inglewood, Calif.
Darius Garland scored 21 points and Jordan Miller had 14 as the play-in-tournament eligible Clippers improved to 6-1 this month. Los Angeles (33-32) became the first team in NBA history to move over .500 after they were 15 games under in the same season. Leonard delivered his fifth game with at least 40 points this season and his second against the Timberwolves.
The Clippers set a season high in points scored and are 15-5 at home since Dec. 20, while avenging a 94-88 loss to the Timberwolves at home on Feb. 26.
Anthony Edwards scored 36 points and Naz Reid added 18 as Minnesota lost its third consecutive game. Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Jaylen Clark each had 11 points for the Timberwolves, who have dropped from third to fifth place in the Western Conference during the current skid.
Pelicans 122, Raptors 111
Trey Murphy III produced a game-high 28 points to lead New Orleans past visiting Toronto, giving the Pelicans their seventh win in the past 10 games.
Dejounte Murray had a season-high 27 points and Zion Williamson added 19 for New Orleans, which shot 51.5% from the floor.
The victory spoiled the return of former Pelicans star Brandon Ingram, in his first season with Toronto after spending the previous six in New Orleans. Ingram scored 22 points, while Immanuel Quickley put up 25 as Toronto lost for the fourth time in five games.
Magic 128, Cavaliers 122
Desmond Bane scored 35 points, including five in the final 18 seconds, as Orlando beat visiting Cleveland for the Magic's fifth straight win.
Paulo Banchero had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Tristan da Silva added 23 points for the surging Magic, who moved into a tie for fifth place in the Eastern Conference with the Toronto Raptors. Cleveland is fourth, three games ahead of both.
James Harden finished with 30 points, his most since joining the Cavaliers in a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers, along with five rebounds and eight assists Donovan Mitchell had 25 points and Keon Ellis scored 20 off the bench for Cleveland.
Knicks 134, Jazz 117
Jordan Clarkson scored 17 of his season-high 27 points during a decisive surge over the final 16 minutes for New York, which overcame an 18-point first-half deficit to beat Utah in Salt Lake City.
Jalen Brunson scored 28 points for the Knicks and converted a three-point play that put New York ahead for good at 96-94 with 1.6 seconds left in the third. OG Anunoby had 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 21 points while Mohamed Diawara added 10 points off the bench.
Brice Sensabaugh scored 29 points to lead five players in double figures for the Jazz, who made 14 of their first 18 3-point attempts -- including eight in a row in the first quarter -- before cooling off and losing for the 17th time in 22 games.
Nuggets 129, Rockets 93
Nikola Jokic had 16 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds, Jamal Murray scored a game-high 30 points, and host Denver beat Houston to close the gap in the Western Conference standings.
Houston entered the night in third place in the West, 1 1/2 games ahead of sixth-place Denver. Four teams are within a game of the third seed in the West. Christian Braun scored 19 points, Cameron Johnson added 17 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 14 for the Nuggets, which won the season series 3-1.
Amen Thompson scored 16 points, Josh Okogie had 12, Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. had 11 each and Alperen Sengun finished with 10 for the Rockets, who beat the Raptors at home on Tuesday night.
Hornets 117, Kings 109
Miles Bridges had nine of his 26 points in a key third-quarter run, LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel combined for 11 3-pointers and 54 points, and Charlotte rallied from a halftime deficit to win in Sacramento.
In a contest matching teams that had won 24 hours earlier, Ball finished with a team-high 30 points, Knueppel chipped in with 24 and Brandon Miller added 20 for Charlotte, which won for the eighth time in its last 10 games.
DeMar DeRozan poured in a season-high 39 points for the Kings, who saw a rare two-game winning streak come to an end. Down by five at the half then tied at 73-all in the sixth minute of the third period, the Hornets took the lead for good with an 11-2 burst.
- 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
- Lakers star LeBron James (elbow) sitting out vs. Pacers
- Suns F Dillon Brooks arrested on suspicion of DUI
- NBA roundup: LeBron James sets record, gets hurt in Lakers' loss to Nuggets
- Lakers' LeBron James hurts elbow in loss to Nuggets
- Lakers' Deandre Ayton (knee) leaves game against Nuggets
Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (calf) and forward Haywood Highsmith (knee) have been cleared to play on Thursday against the Indiana Pacers. Both players are managing injuries and were initially given questionable tags on the injury report. With Dillon Brooks (hand), Grayson Allen (knee), and Mark Williams (foot) unavailable, the Suns are currently without three big rotational pieces, which creates more playing opportunities for guys like Goodwin and Highsmith.
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (foot) will miss Thursday's encounter with the Phoenix Suns. Toppin wasn't on the initial injury report before the team decided to rule him out for the contest with an hour and a half before tip-off. He has made six appearances since recovering from a fractured foot and started in Pascal Siakam's (knee) place on Tuesday against Sacramento. With both Siakam and Toppin out, Kobe Brown could move into the first unit, which would give him more fantasy value.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup with the Indiana Pacers. He was initially considered questionable for the first leg of a back-to-back. Allen is managing a knee injury, so it was always unlikely that he would feature in both games of the back-to-back. The veteran sniper will probably return to the lineup on Friday night against the Toronto Raptors. In the meantime, Jordan Goodwin (calf) and Haywood Highsmith (knee) could have larger roles off the bench.
According to Ky Carlin of USA Today, Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (back) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons. Drummond is dealing with a back issue that will keep him out of action. The Sixers have a very shorthanded frontcourt with Joel Embiid (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr.(elbow) and Adem Bona (back) also out, so Dominick Barlow and Trendon Watford are in line to see extended minutes in the Motor City this evening.
According to Daniel Starkand of LakersNation.com, Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (hip) is unavailable for Thursday's game against the Chicago Bulls. Smart will be held out of action due to a bruised right hip. The 32-year-old veteran's next opportunity to suit up is on Saturday against the Denver Nuggets. While Smart is out, Luke Kennard will likely take on extra minutes and could be considered a solid streaming option going into tonight's matchup.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Aaron Nesmith (ankle) will sit out Thursday's game against the Phoenix Suns. After his impressive 29-point outing in Tuesday's loss to Sacramento, Nesmith will be held out of the first leg of a back-to-back for ankle injury management. With Nesmith sidelined, Ben Sheppard, Jalen Slawson, and Ethan Thompson are candidates for increased playing time. We will likely see Nesmith return to action on Friday against the New York Knicks.
Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac (ankle) has been cleared to make his team debut on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. He has been out of action since early February due to an ankle injury. Zubac will likely only see limited action against the Suns, but it will be great to see him back. The Croatian big man is set to replace Jay Huff as Indiana's starting center. Zubac's return will also affect the playing time of Micah Potter.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (back, neck) will suit up on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. He will return from a one-game absence. With T.J. McConnell (hamstring) and Quenton Jackson (calf) out, Nembhard is set to have a busy time as Indiana's playmaker on Thursday. He has averaged 15.1 points and 6.7 assists per game since the All-Star break. This is the first game of a back-to-back, so fantasy managers should prepare for a likely Nembhard absence on Friday night against the New York Knicks.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Caris LeVert (wrist) will miss a third straight game on Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers. This was expected after the team listed the veteran as doubtful on the initial injury report. Ausar Thompson (ankle) also remains out of the rotation, creating more opportunities for Javonte Green, Kevin Huerter, and Marcus Sasser. LeVert will have his next chance to return on Friday, when Detroit finishes a back-to-back against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (toe) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. He will sit out the action after being initially considered questionable for the game. Daniels' exit from the lineup opens up a spot in the starting unit. Corey Kispert, Zaccharie Risacher, and Jonathan Kuminga (knee) will mainly benefit from his absence. The latter has been cleared to play after sitting out three games due to a knee issue.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (knee) will rejoin the lineup on Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets. The team has upgraded his status from questionable to available. Kuminga has been out for three games due to a bone bruise in his left knee. Apart from his health issues, moving to Atlanta has worked out well for Kuminga, who has averaged 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals in three appearances with the Hawks. He looks set for another productive evening against a weak Nets squad.
Daniel Starkand of LakersNation.com reports that Los Angeles Lakers centers Jaxson Hayes (back) and Maxi Kleber (back) are unavailable for tonight's matchup with the Chicago Bulls. Both Hayes and Kleber are dealing with back issues that also kept them sidelined during Tuesday's win against Minnesota. While the two big men are out of action, Jarred Vaderbilt, who is averaging 17.9 minutes per contest, will likely see extended minutes during this evening's clash.
Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (neck) is available for Thursday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Pritchard is dealing with a lingering neck issue and missed Tuesday's contest against San Antonio, but he's ready to return tonight after a one-game absence. With Pritchard back in action, fewer minutes will be available for Ron Harper, who logged 22 points, two assists and three rebounds across 33 minutes in his last outing on Tuesday.
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (knee) will miss his second consecutive game on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. Siakam was previously listed as doubtful on the injury report, but he's since been ruled out. The 31-year-old star forward is dealing with a right knee sprain. With Siakam sidelined, Obi Toppin jumped into the starting five on Monday against Sacramento, but he carried a minutes restriction and was limited to 14:42 of action. However, Toppin logged 17 points, five rebounds, and one assist, proving that even with limited playing time, he can make an impact fantasy-wise.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (Achilles) is unavailable for Thursday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After recovering from a torn Achilles, Tatum made his campaign debut last week and has seen action in three consecutive contests. However, he will have tonight's game off for injury maintenance. In each of his first three appearances, Tatum has logged 27 minutes, averaging 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez will likely see expanded roles while Tatum is sidelined, especially if Derrick White (knee), who's considered questionable, also misses Thursday's clash in OKC.
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (knee) is likely to miss a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns, as the team has listed him as doubtful on the injury report. The star forward is nursing a right knee sprain. With Siakam out, Obi Toppin jumped into the starting lineup on Monday against the Sacramento Kings, but he's carrying a minutes restriction and was limited to 14:42 of action. Still, Toppin collected 17 points, five rebounds, and one assist. Even with a limited workload, Toppin can make an impact, but there's no guarantee it will happen again on Thursday night.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (toe) is carrying a questionable tag on the injury report ahead of Thursday's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets. He has sprained his left big toe and could be absent for only his fourth game of the season. If Daniels can't play on Thursday night, CJ McCollum will pick up a few extra minutes. Meanwhile, Gabe Vincent and Corey Kispert could contribute more off the bench. Brooklyn will roll out a weakened lineup and is a 14.5-point underdog for this game, making this a very attractive fantasy matchup for Atlanta's second unit, which is likely to see more playing time in a blowout situation.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's clash against the Atlanta Hawks. Brooklyn's leading scorer has sustained a right ankle sprain. Porter Jr.'s earlier absences this season have given Danny Wolf an opportunity to join the starting lineup. The 21-year-old rookie has averaged 11.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 blocks as a starter. Jalen Wilson and Chaney Johnson are also players who could have increased roles due to Porter Jr.'s absence. Additionally, players like Noah Clowney, Nicholas Claxton, and Drake Powell may receive more offensive touches.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) has been tagged as questionable on the injury report for Thursday's contest against the Miami Heat. Porter Jr. has missed four games due to right knee synovitis, and the team has immediately ruled him out each time. The fact that he's listed as questionable on the initial injury report for Thursday is a sign that Porter Jr. has made progress and might be ready to return to the court. With Porter Jr.'s return, Ryan Rollins is in danger of landing back on the bench. However, Rollins will continue to have a significant role in the rotation. When it comes to playing time, Porter Jr.'s addition to the lineup could affect Ousmane Dieng the most.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (quadriceps) is questionable for Thursday's matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks. After shaking off a rib injury, Herro is dealing with a sore left quadriceps and exited the lineup for Monday's game against the Washington Wizards. In his absence, Kasparas Jakucionis received the starting nod, contributing five points, five rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block in 30 minutes. With Andrew Wiggins (toe) and Norman Powell (groin) also out, Miami's offense centered around Bam Adebayo, who had a historic 83-point outing. Due to the injury situation, players like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson are also positioned to play larger roles on the offensive end.
