

Mon Jan 19 12:53am ET
Field Level Media
Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant scored 18 points on Sunday night to pass Dirk Nowitzki and move into sixth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
Durant made two free throws with 15.2 seconds left in Houston's 119-110 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans. That increased his career point total to 31,562. Nowitzki, the former Dallas Mavericks star, had 31,560 during his stellar career.
Next on the list for Durant to chase down is legendary Michael Jordan (32,292).
Durant found it be surreal to be in the company of Nowitzki and Jordan.
"To be up there with Dirk, somebody I looked up to, I idolized, I competed against," Durant said. "We had some great battles. He always was supportive of my career and my game. So, you know to be up there with a legend like that, it's just insane. And be right under Michael Jordan, it's crazy man.
"I want to continue to keep stacking, keep climbing up the charts, just see how I finish. It's been amazing so far."
After the game ended, a video message from Nowitzki was played inside the Toyota Center.
"Not super happy about him passing me, but no, seriously, to me, he is one of the purest, smoothest scorers the game has ever seen," Nowitzki said. "... It's been incredible to watch his career. Like I said, he's one of the purest scorers this game has ever seen. And so congrats KD, keep it going. Move up a couple more spots and keep it up."
Durant, 37, is averaging 26.1 points in 38 games this season, his 18th in the NBA. The Rockets are his fifth team.
Dallas Mavericks forward/center P.J. Washington (personal) has been ruled out for Monday's matchup against New York and will miss a second straight game while addressing a personal matter, with Thursday against Golden State next on the schedule. His continued absence leaves Naji Marshall with increased playing time, and the versatile wing logged 16 points, five rebounds, and six assists in 29 minutes Saturday. Marshall's consistent minutes and multi-category contributions give him short-term fantasy relevance while Washington remains sidelined.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Sam Merrill (hand) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Oklahoma City, marking his second straight absence with a right-hand sprain, though he remains day-to-day. With Darius Garland (toe) also sidelined, Cleveland's backcourt rotation stays thin, and usage is redistributed. Jaylon Tyson continues to benefit most, coming off a 39-point outing in 38 minutes Friday while handling a larger offensive role. Lonzo Ball and Craig Porter Jr. should see added minutes off the bench but remain situational fantasy plays due to volatile production.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Cleveland after exiting Saturday early, with additional testing confirming a right hamstring strain and no clear return timeline. His absence opens perimeter minutes and usage, pushing Ajay Mitchell into a larger role after he posted 15 points in 28 minutes Friday. Aaron Wiggins offers scoring upside, while Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso provide defensive stats with volatile offensive returns. Mitchell profiles as the strongest short-term add.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) will not play Monday against Cleveland as he continues to rehab a right soleus strain, with Wednesday in Milwaukee representing his next possible checkpoint. With Jalen Williams (hamstring) also sidelined, the Thunder will continue to lean heavily on Chet Holmgren, who logged 14 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks in 30 minutes Friday. Jaylin Williams has seen a steadier run off the bench and profiles as a deep-league streamer, while Kenrich Williams remains volatile and matchup dependent.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (thumb) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Philadelphia, extending his absence to nine straight contests since suffering a right thumb sprain on Jan. 2. Indiana continues to reshuffle wing minutes, keeping Aaron Nesmith (rest) in a featured scoring role upon his return. Johnny Furphy has started recently and delivered double-digit scoring twice over his last five games, making him a deep-league streamer. Ben Sheppard remains a volatile option due to fluctuating minutes and usage.
Atlanta Hawks forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Milwaukee, extending his absence to six straight contests as he continues to manage left Achilles tendinitis, with his next opportunity to return coming Wednesday. The continued absence keeps Onyeka Okongwu entrenched as the primary center, and he has delivered strong fantasy value with 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in 33 minutes Friday. Mouhamed Gueye remains the backup, but his role is limited, making Okongwu a clear hold while Porzingis remains sidelined.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (illness) has been ruled out for Monday's game against San Antonio, marking his fourth straight absence, though a return Tuesday remains possible. Utah continues to redistribute usage, making Brice Sensabaugh the clear fantasy beneficiary after averaging 31.7 points on 61.4 percent shooting over his last three games. Ace Bailey has also stepped into a larger role, logging 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in expanded starts. Sensabaugh's scoring volume and secure minutes profile him as a strong short-term add in standard leagues.
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (ankle) was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle after exiting early in Sunday's win over New Orleans, with significant swelling reported and further testing pending. Adams was unable to put weight on the ankle, putting his short-term availability in doubt. Fantasy managers should expect Alperen Sengun to shoulder heavier frontcourt minutes, while Clint Capela could see a situational bump off the bench. Capela remains a risky streamer given Houston's occasional small-ball lean, but he can return value when minutes spike.
Toronto Raptors forward/center Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's matchup against the Lakers after aggravating his left thumb in the third quarter. The rookie logged 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in 25 minutes before exiting. If he misses time, Toronto would continue to operate shorthanded in the frontcourt with Jakob Poeltl (back) sidelined. Sandro Mamukelashvili is the preferred fantasy stream after producing 13 and 15 points in two of his last five games. At the same time, Jonathan Mogbo remains a risky deep-league option due to inconsistent usage.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. The Nuggets have decided to take the cautious approach and hold Gordon out for the second leg of the back-to-back set. The absence of Gordon should mean increased playing time for Zeke Nnaji and DaRon Holmes. Last time Gordon sat out on Jan. 5, Holmes drew the start, but Nnaji was the more productive player. Both players should be viewed as low-end streaming options with Gordon unavailable on Sunday.
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. Green appears to be nearing a return after getting in some 5-on-5 work this weekend. He hasn't played since November 8 due to a right hamstring strain. If he plays, Green would likely operate under a minutes limit, which would limit his fantasy value. His return would also mean that Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Grayson Allen would see decreased roles. Gillespie has been playing extremely well in the rotation while Green is out. His fantasy value would likely take the biggest hit once Green is available to return. Fantasy managers should check back on Monday for another update on Green.
Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate (hamstring) is available to play ahead of Sunday's game against the Denver Nuggets. Diabate is back in the mix after sitting out the front end of the back-to-back set due to a right hamstring strain. He's back on Sunday and should return to his role as the starting center. This month, Diabate is averaging 9.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 30.5 minutes across six games in January. Ryan Kalkbrenner will take the biggest hit to his fantasy value with Diabate back in the mix. Diabate offers enough upside to at least be rostered in deep leagues.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (rib) is not traveling with the team and has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Herro will miss his second straight game due to a rib contusion, which could keep him out much longer. Herro will undergo an MRI, so fantasy managers should get a better timetable soon. The Heat play the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday; it seems unlikely that Herro will be ready for that one. Pelle Larsson figures to draw another start, but his playing time could be limited with Davion Mitchell (shoulder) probable for that game. Larsson finished with 16 points and three rebounds during Saturday's game. He'll offer some low-end streaming appeal while Herro is out.
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (ankle) won't play on Sunday against Brooklyn. Williams logged 12 minutes when these clubs met on Friday night before he tweaked his right ankle and was eventually ruled out. It's unknown how long the injury will keep him out of commission. However, the 24-year-old has averaged a career-low 6.5 points this season, so his absence won't impact many fantasy managers outside of opening up more minutes for Jalen Smith, who is coming off a 14-point, 13-rebound, four-block effort.
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (knee) is active ahead of Sunday's game against the Toronto Raptors. Ayton is back in the mix after sitting out the front end of the back-to-back set due to left knee soreness. He's back in the mix and expected to have a full workload for Sunday's slate. In January, Ayton is averaging nearly a double-double with 11.5 points and 9.1 rebounds in eight games. The big man is going to miss some games for rest purposes, but is a viable fantasy option when he's healthy. Fantasy managers should feel safe plugging Ayton into their lineups on Sunday.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (hamstring) is available ahead of Sunday's game against the Toronto Raptors. Hayes is back in the rotation after missing the last three games due to a left hamstring issue. He figures to play his regular role in the rotation with fellow big man Deandre Ayton (knee) active as well. The return of both big men will probably mean decreased roles for Maxi Kleber and Drew Timme. This season, Hayes is averaging 6.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 17.6 minutes per game. He's normally only playing minutes in the teens, which isn't going to offer high streaming appeal.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (hamstring) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's meeting with the Nets. The 2021 No. 6 overall pick carried a doubtful tag heading into this one. While nobody expected him to play, the doubtful designation suggests he's progressing. In the meantime, Tre Jones should continue to roll with the starters, with the former Duke Blue Devil most recently amassing 11 points, five assists, five boards, and one steal when the Nets and Bulls met on Friday night.
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (ankle) is ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Eason was listed as questionable coming into the game, but will now sit out his fifth straight game. When healthy, Eason has been solid, averaging 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 23.8 minutes per game. His absence should mean that Josh Okogie draws another start on Sunday. He'll likely see decent playing time, but is too inconsistent to trust as a streaming option.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (toe) will be re-evaluated in 7-to-10 days after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 great toe sprain. The injury isn't to the same toe that forced him to miss the start of the 2025 campaign. However, it's unknown how long it will keep him off the floor. The 25-year-old is averaging 18.0 points, 6.9 assists, and 36.0% shooting from behind the arc this season. While Garland is out of commission, Donovan Mitchell should take over most of the ball handling duties, with Craig Porter Jr. and Jaylon Tyson in line for enhanced roles.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) will miss the remainder of the team's road trip. The multi-time All-Star suffered a left knee contusion during a meeting with the Detroit Pistons just over a week ago. While he managed to suit up for games against the Hornets and Wizards, he'll now head back to Los Angeles for treatment to address irritation in the knee. Leonard will be re-evaluated once the Clippers return home, so there's always a chance he'll miss more than two contests, especially since he's battled numerous knee injuries throughout his career. With that said, Jordan Miller is in line for an enhanced role, with the 2023 No. 48 overall pick most recently amassing 19 points, six assists, and four steals in Friday's 121-117 win over the Toronto Raptors.
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