NBA roundup: Jayson Tatum thrives in return as Celtics beat Mavs
Sat Mar 7 3:07am ET
Field Level Media
Jayson Tatum had 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in his season debut to help the Boston Celtics defeat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 120-100 on Friday night.
Tatum, who was in Boston's starting lineup and played 27 minutes, appeared in an NBA game for the first time since he tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of last year's Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks.
Boston received 24 points from Jaylen Brown and 20 from Derrick White. Neemias Queta added 16 points and 15 rebounds. The news wasn't all good for Boston, as Nikola Vucevic left the court in the first quarter with a fractured right ring finger.
Klay Thompson made 5 of 11 3-point attempts and scored 19 points as the Mavericks took their sixth loss in a row.
Lakers 128, Pacers 117
Luka Doncic recorded 44 points, nine rebounds and three steals in three quarters of action, leading Los Angeles past visiting Indiana.
Doncic notched his 10th 40-point effort of the season to break a tie with Minnesota's Anthony Edwards for the most this season. He also became the fourth different Laker to record 10 or more 40-point games in a season, joining a trio of Hall of Famers -- Kobe Bryant (four times), Elgin Baylor (three) and Jerry West (three).
Doncic's scoring was needed on a night in which the Lakers were without LeBron James (elbow, foot) and Deandre Ayton (knee). Pascal Siakam scored 26 points for the Pacers, who lost their eighth straight game.
Knicks 142, Nuggets 103
OG Anunoby scored a season-high 34 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 17 points and 13 rebounds, and New York handed host Denver its worst loss of the season.
The Nuggets played the second half without Jamal Murray. The star guard who scored 12 points but rolled his left ankle when he stepped on Nikola Jokic's foot while backpedaling on defense with 1:05 left in the second quarter. Murray was helped off the court and did not return.
Jalen Brunson had just nine points but finished with 15 assists for the Knicks, who used 40-point second quarter to take control. Jokic paced the Nuggets with 38 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Spurs 116, Clippers 112
Victor Wembanyama racked up 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots while Julian Champagnie added 20 points, 17 of them in the pivotal third quarter, as host San Antonio came back from 25 points down to beat Los Angeles.
It was the Spurs' largest comeback of the season, their third win in a row and their 14th victory in the past 15 games. De'Aaron Fox contributed 19 points and nine assists.
Kawhi Leonard led all scorers with 30 points while Brook Lopez added 26 for the Clippers, who had a three-game winning streak end.
Rockets 106, Trail Blazers 99
Amen Thompson scored 26 points and fueled a critical fourth-quarter rally that propelled Houston to a victory over visiting Portland.
After Alperen Sengun, who scored a game-high 28 points, picked up his fifth foul with 8:29 left to play and the Rockets trailing 89-85, Thompson scored three consecutive baskets to ignite a 15-0 run. Thompson shot 11 of 12 from the floor and added seven rebounds and seven assists.
Kevin Durant had 20 points and eight rebounds for Houston, which has won five of the past seven. Jerami Grant paced the Trail Blazers, who have lost three out of four, with 21 points, and Jrue Holiday added 20 points and 10 assists.
Heat 128, Hornets 120
Tyler Herro hit eight 3-pointers and scored 33 points as visiting Miami edged Charlotte.
Bam Adebayo had 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Heat won their fourth game in a row and improved to 7-2 in the past nine. Jaime Jaquez Jr. racked up 21 points off the bench.
The Hornets' six-game winning streak ended despite 27 points from Kon Knueppel, 22 points and 13 rebounds from Brandon Miller and 21 points from LaMelo Ball.
Suns 118, Pelicans 116
Devin Booker scored 32 points, Jalen Green added 25 and host Phoenix nearly squandered a 14-point fourth-quarter lead before holding off New Orleans.
Oso Ighodaro had 13 points for the Suns, who made 20 3-pointers in a season-high 58 attempts. Phoenix had lost seven of its previous 11 games overall, swept the four-game season series.
Trey Murphy III scored 22 points and had four treys while Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey scored 19 points each for the Pelicans, who had won five of seven.
- 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
- Mavs F Cooper Flagg (foot) set to return Thursday on minutes restriction
- Wizards' Anthony Davis (hand) cleared for individual activities
- Celtics' Jayson Tatum questionable to make season debut vs. Mavs
- NBA roundup: Thunder survive Knicks' late surge
- 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe (back) out vs. Jazz
- NBA roundup: Cavaliers extend home win streak, top East-best Pistons
- Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier due in court in gambling cases
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- Ahead of Wizards debut Thurs., Trae Young ejected for leaving bench
- Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to return vs. Celtics
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- NBA roundup: Knicks halt Spurs' 11-game winning streak
- Warriors star Steph Curry out at least 5 more games with knee injury
- NBA roundup: Luka Doncic's birthday gift is a Lakers victory
Lakers' G Luka Doncic scored 44 points on 14-of-25 shooting in a 128-117 win over the Pacers on Friday, Mar. 6.
Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams (quad) is available to play ahead of Friday's contest versus the Boston Celtics. Williams is back in action after sitting out Thursday's loss due to a quad issue. Luckily, it seems like a minor issue, so Williams will return to the court for the second leg of this back-to-back set. Since the All-Star break, Williams is averaging 15.9 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game across seven contests. Williams has been a sneaky solid fantasy option lately, but his value figures to drop with Cooper Flagg back in the mix. Fantasy managers who have Williams rostered can get him active in their lineups ahead of tip-off.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (back) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Houston Rockets. As expected, Avdija will miss this game after being listed as doubtful on the injury report. He'll miss his seventh game in a row due to a lingering back issue. His next chance to play will come on Sunday against the Indiana Pacers. Fantasy managers will need to check back this weekend for another update on his status. Scoot Henderson should continue to see increased playing time with Avdija banged up. Henderson is worth a look in deep leagues, but he doesn't have a ton of upside outside of that.
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (groin) is available to play ahead of Friday's game against the Boston Celtics. As expected, Thompson will suit up after being listed as probable on the injury report. Since the All-Star break, Thompson is averaging 12.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.5 three-pointers in 21.2 minutes per game in six contests. The veteran guard has been inconsistent in terms of fantasy value this season. Thompson has been playing better lately and could be worth a look as a streaming option for Friday's slate. He knocked down seven three-pointers on Thursday, so hopefully he can keep it going here.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Boston Celtics. As expected, Gafford will head to the sideline after being listed as doubtful for this game due to an ankle injury. This is likely the Mavs being cautious with Gafford after he played 25 minutes during Thursday's contest. The expectation is that Gafford will be back for Sunday's game, but fantasy managers should check back for an update this weekend. The Mavs are thin at the center spot, which means Dwight Powell and Moussa Cisse could play heavy minutes. Powell could be worth a look as a deep league streaming option on Friday.
Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (ankle) is available to play ahead of Friday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Thompson has been upgraded to available after coming into this game with a questionable tag. He tweaked his ankle during Thursday's game, but it won't be enough to keep him off the court. He played 44 minutes during Thursday's overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Rockets monitor Thompson on Friday. Regardless, fantasy managers should feel comfortable plugging him into their lineups ahead of tip-off.
Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. Wiggins has been playing through knee tendinitis, so it's not shocking to see him sitting out the second leg of this back-to-back set. His next chance to play will come on Sunday versus the Detroit Pistons. The Heat are expected to use a committee approach to fill the void left by Wiggins on Friday. Kel'el Ware, Pelle Larsson, and Myron Gardner all figure to see increased roles here. Among the three, Ware is the best fantasy option, but he's also rostered in most leagues. Otherwise, Larsson could be another option to look at in deep leagues with Wiggins unavailable.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (elbow) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. James was forced to sit out during the fourth quarter of Thursday's game due to a left elbow injury. It appears to be significant enough to keep him out of the second leg of this back-to-back set. The severity of the injury is unknown right now, but his next chance to play will come on Sunday. The Lakers are expected to use a committee approach to fill the void left by James. That means Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, and Jarred Vanderbilt should all see increased playing time. Among the three, LaRavia is probably the most consistent option for fantasy managers seeking a streaming option on Friday.
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (knee) is ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. Ayton won't play after exiting during the first half of Thursday's contest due to a left knee injury. The severity is unknown, but the Lakers are likely just being cautious in the second leg of this back-to-back set. His absence will mean increased roles for Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes on Friday. Hayes finished with 19 points and five rebounds across 27 minutes of action on Thursday. He figures to be a safe streaming choice with Ayton and LeBron James (elbow) both out on Friday.
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The usually reliable Barnes is set to miss his third straight game due to a lingering ankle issue. His next chance to play will come on Sunday, so fantasy managers should check back later this weekend. In the meantime, Carter Bryant and Julian Champagnie (knee) should see increased roles in the rotation. Champagnie is currently considered questionable with a knee injury, so Bryant could be looking at a bigger role, assuming he sits out as well.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (rest) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns. Murray is set to return after sitting out the front end of the back-to-back set for rest purposes. The Pelicans will continue to be cautious with Murray, who recently returned from an Achilles injury. When healthy, Murray has been solid, so fantasy managers should get him active in their lineups on Friday. He finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists across 28 minutes of action during Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He figures to have a similar workload during Friday's contest.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (oblique) isn't quite ready to return yet. According to Noah Levick, Embiid will be shut down and re-evaluated in one week. The Sixers were hopeful that Embiid could potentially return on Saturday, but that won't be the case. He has missed three straight games and eight of the last 10 games. During that span, the Sixers have only won two games, so they desperately need their superstar center back on the court. In the meantime, Andre Drummond and Adem Bona should continue to split up the playing time at center. Between the two big men, Bona has been the more consistent fantasy option while Embiid has been out.
Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (back) was unable to practice on Friday, according to Noah Levick. Instead, Edgecombe went through an individual workout session following Friday's practice. The rookie guard is in danger of missing a second straight game after suffering a lumbar contusion during Tuesday's contest. The Sixers are likely going to wait and see how Edgecombe feels on Saturday before deciding if he'll suit up against the Atlanta Hawks. If he's unavailable, Quentin Grimes and Cameron Payne are expected to help fill the void. Between the two, Grimes is the better streaming choice after dropping 16 points with five rebounds during Wednesday's game.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (Achilles) is officially making his season debut against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Tatum is off the injury report and will return to the court after missing 10 months of action. Tatum had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in May of last year. He has made incredible progress to get back on the court this quickly. Given the circumstances, the Celtics are likely going to be extremely cautious with Tatum. He probably won't handle a full workload until closer to the postseason. Despite the limitations, Tatum should still be worth rostering in basically all fantasy formats. The superstar forward should still be able to make a solid contribution even with a monitored workload.
Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in a 120-113 win over the Lakers on Thursday, Mar. 5.
Bulls' G Collin Sexton scored 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting in a 105-103 win over Phoenix on Thursday, Mar. 5. Sexton is owned in only 35.3% leagues.
Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Before Wednesday's loss to the Clippers, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters that Zubac would definitely play this season. However, his Pacers debut won't happen on Friday night. The Croatian big man has been on the shelf since Feb. 2 due to a left ankle sprain. Jay Huff and Micah Potter will continue to do the heavy lifting at the No. 5 spot until Zubac is ready to play.
Charlotte Hornets forward/center Grant Williams (knee) will rejoin the lineup on Friday against the Miami Heat. He hasn't been listed on the injury report after sitting out the second leg of a back-to-back on Wednesday against Boston. Williams has contributed 7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 19.9 minutes per game since recovering from a bad knee injury and making his season debut on Jan. 10. On Friday, Williams might be slightly more productive on the offensive end, as Miami allows the sixth-most bench points in the Association.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Aaron Nesmith (ankle, back) is listed as probable for Friday's meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 26-year-old is a bit banged up, dealing with ankle and lower back injuries, but he is expected to make a second straight appearance. Nesmith ended a five-game absence on Wednesday against the Clippers but clearly wasn't himself, notching two points, three rebounds, and two assists with 1-for-8 shooting. Indiana limited Nesmith to 20 minutes on Wednesday night and may continue to monitor his minutes against the Lakers.
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (neck) will make a third consecutive appearance on Thursday against the Sacramento Kings. He was listed as questionable on the initial injury report due to neck spasms. The team upgraded Murphy III to probable earlier in the day, and he has now been officially cleared to play. Even with the Pelicans struggling, Murphy III has had a fantastic campaign. He is averaging career-high numbers in several categories, posting 22.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. The Kings are horrible defensively, giving Murphy III a chance to do something special on Thursday night.
