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NBA roundup: Knicks pummel Nets for historic 54-point win

Thu Jan 22 1:50am ET
Field Level Media

Jalen Brunson scored 20 points Wednesday night for the New York Knicks, who snapped out of their slump with a historic 120-66 thumping of the visiting Brooklyn Nets.

The 54-point win was the most lopsided in franchise history for the Knicks, easily surpassing a trio of 48-point wins, the most recent of which was a 130-82 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers on April 21, 1994. A 3-pointer by the Nets' Danny Wolf with 8.5 seconds left prevented New York from earning the largest-margin victory in the NBA this season. The Charlotte Hornets blew out the Utah Jazz 150-95 on Jan. 10.

The 66 points for the Nets were the fewest by an NBA team since March 16, 2015, when the Charlotte Hornets lost to the Utah Jazz 94-66. It was the fewest points allowed by the Knicks since they beat the Washington Wizards 103-65 on April 13, 2012.

Landry Shamet scored 18 points off the bench while fellow reserve Miles McBride had 14 points for the Knicks. New York ended a four-game losing streak and won for just the third time in the last 12 games a day after Brunson reportedly called a players-only meeting to make it clear the team needed to find answers for its recent struggles.


Thunder 122, Bucks 102

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points, dished out 11 assists and grabbed seven rebounds, leading Oklahoma City to a dominant road victory over Milwaukee.

Ajay Mitchell and Kenrich Williams each added 18 points for the Thunder, who won their second straight in dominating fashion and have prevailed in 7 of 8.

Giannis Antetokounmpo compiled 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, but the Bucks lost back-to-back games at home by 20-plus points for the first time since 2016. Milwaukee fell for the fourth time in its past five overall.

Cavaliers 94, Hornets 87

Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points as Cleveland's solid defense paved the way to beat the host Hornets.

Evan Mobley provided 14 points and 14 rebounds, Jaylon Tyson posted 14 points and Jarrett Allen had 13 points, as the Cavaliers won for the third time in their last four outings. Cleveland finished with a 60-47 rebounding advantage.

Brandon Miller's 24 points led the Hornets and teammate Kon Knueppel notched 21 points but he was 2-for-10 from 3-point range. The Hornets produced their lowest home point total of the season, and finished the matchup eight for 47 beyond the arc.

Pistons 112, Pelicans 104

Jalen Duren collected 20 points and 15 rebounds and Daniss Jenkins added 17 points while starting in place of All-Star Cade Cunningham, lifting visiting Detroit past New Orleans.

Duren sank 7 of 11 shots from the floor to power the Pistons to their fourth win in a row and their seventh victory in eight contests. Duncan Robinson drained four 3-pointers to highlight his 15-point performance for Detroit, which played without both Cunningham (left hip contusion, illness) and Caris LeVert (illness).

New Orleans' Saddiq Bey made all 11 of his free-throw attempts to finish with a team-high 20 points. Trey Murphy III and rookie Micah Peavy each scored 17 points for the Pelicans, who shot a dismal 21.9% from 3-point range (7 of 32). New Orleans star Zion Williamson scored four points in 15 minutes before exiting the contest due to an illness.

Raptors 122, Kings 109

A trio of Toronto players scored more than 20 points, and Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead combined for 24 in a third-quarter uprising as the visiting Raptors used a balanced attack to complete a two-day Northern California sweep with a triumph over Sacramento.

Barnes and Brandon Ingram scored 23 points, Sandro Mamukelashvili added 22, Immanuel Quickley chipped in with 18 and Shead had 15 for the Raptors, who had used a torrid first half to run off from the Golden State Warriors en route to a 145-127 victory in San Francisco on Tuesday night.

Giving Domantas Sabonis the night off on the back-to-back, the Kings got a team-high 23 points from Russell Westbrook, 19 from Zach LaVine, 17 from Malik Monk, 16 from Dennis Schroder and 11 from Precious Achiuwa.

Celtics 119, Pacers 104

Jaylen Brown had 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Indiana.

Brown was 11 of 22 from the field, but also committed a game-high five turnovers. Sam Hauser connected on 5 of his 7 3-point attempts and added 17 points for the Celtics, who received 17 points and nine rebounds from Neemias Queta.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 32 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Siakam has scored at least 20 points in five straight games and in 12 of his last 13 contests. Indiana has lost three in a row and four of five, falling to 2-19 in road games.

Hawks 124, Grizzlies 122

Jalen Johnson had 32 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists to lead visiting Atlanta past Memphis to snap a four-game losing streak as the Grizzlies picked the worst time to go cold from the line.

Ja Morant led Memphis with 23 points, 12 assists and a career-high three blocks, but missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Grizzlies made 24 of 27 free throws, but all their misses came in the game's final 30.7 seconds -- particularly painful considering the Hawks did not score a point in that span.

Onyeka Okongwu added 18 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for the Hawks and former Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard also contributed 18 points, including making four of his five 3-point attempts.

Player Notes
Moussa Cisse Thu Jan 22 7:20pm

Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse (illness) will play on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors. The 23-year-old big man has been battling an illness this week. But Dallas has upgraded Cisse on the injury report a couple of times during the day, and he is now officially listed as available. The Mavericks are currently short of bodies in the paint, giving Cisse a larger role. He has averaged 11.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in 21.6 minutes across the last three games. Cisse's momentum could continue on Thursday night against a Warriors team that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to centers this season.

Gary Payton II Thu Jan 22 7:20pm

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (foot) will be in action on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. It was initially unclear whether Payton II would play, as the team listed him as questionable on the injury report. Payton II mainly contributes on the defensive end for the Warriors and doesn't have significant fantasy value. Across 10 January appearances, Payton II has averaged 7.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 15.4 minutes.

Deandre Ayton Thu Jan 22 7:10pm

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (eye) will play on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. The former first-overall pick left Tuesday's win over the Denver Nuggets early after being poked in the eye, but the Lakers didn't include him on the injury report for Thursday's game. Before Tuesday night, Ayton had produced three double-doubles in four games. He has a mediocre fantasy matchup on Thursday.

PJ Washington Thu Jan 22 7:10pm

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (personal) will be held under 30 minutes during Thursday's game against the Golden State Warriors, according to Noah Weber. Washington is making his return on Thursday after missing each of the last three games due to personal reasons. The Mavs are going to take the cautious approach and limit Washington during his first game back in the rotation. They want to give him a game or two to build up his conditioning again. That could mean a few extra minutes for Caleb Martin or Dwight Powell during Thursday's game. Fantasy managers should still be safe to plug Washington into their lineups ahead of Thursday's tip-off.

Josh Giddey Thu Jan 22 7:00pm

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (hamstring) has been upgraded to available ahead of Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Giddey is officially back after missing each of the last 11 games due to a hamstring injury. Given the lengthy absence, Giddey will be under a minutes restriction during Thursday's game. According to K.C. Johnson, Giddey is expected to play around 24 minutes during his first game back. Fantasy managers in season-long formats can feel safe getting Giddey back in their lineups. Tre Jones and Ayo Dosunmu should take a step back in the rotation with Giddey back in the mix.

Patrick Williams Thu Jan 22 7:00pm

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (ankle) is available ahead of Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williams is back in the rotation after missing each of the last two games due to a right ankle sprain. Given it was only a two-game absence, Williams shouldn't be under a minutes limit. His return to the rotation should mean less playing time for Kevin Huerter, Isaac Okoro, and Jalen Smith. When healthy, Williams has been an inconsistent fantasy option and isn't someone who is viewed as a must-start right now.

Brandon Miller Thu Jan 22 7:00pm

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Brandon Miller (ankle) will suit up on Thursday against the Orlando Magic. He has received the green light to play after the team initially listed him as probable on the injury report due to left ankle soreness. Miller has scored 20-plus points in four consecutive games, though he struggled against the Magic earlier this season. In a 120-105 win on Dec. 26, Miller notched only 15 points on 3-for-16 shooting.

Joel Embiid Thu Jan 22 6:50pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (ankle) will play on Thursday against the Houston Rockets. He will return to the lineup after a one-game absence, having been initially listed as probable for Thursday's matchup. The former MVP has scored 30 points in each of his last two appearances and is averaging 26.7 points and 7.3 rebounds for the month. Houston is ranked sixth in defensive efficiency and allows the fewest rebounds in the league to opposing centers, so Embiid must bring his A-game on Thursday to be effective.

Cooper Flagg Thu Jan 22 6:50pm

Dallas Mavericks guard Cooper Flagg will remain on a minutes limit ahead of Thursday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Flagg made his return to the court during Monday's game versus the New York Knicks. He finished with 18 points, three assists, and seven rebounds across 28 minutes during that contest. The Mavs plan to be more cautious with Flagg during Thursday's game and keep him in the 20-to-25-minute range. His fantasy value is going to be limited, given he won't have a full workload yet. Ryan Nembhard and Brandon Williams could see a few extra minutes during Thursday's game.

Dominick Barlow Thu Jan 22 6:50pm

Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George (knee) has been cleared to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Houston Rockets. He has missed two games due to knee injury management. While Kelly Oubre Jr. was initially George's replacement in the first unit, Dominick Barlow will make way for him on Thursday. Joel Embiid (ankle) will also return for Philadelphia on Thursday, giving the team a lot of scoring potential. George has contributed 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in January.

Daniel Gafford Thu Jan 22 6:40pm

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) is ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Golden State Warriors. This marks the fourth game in a row that Gafford has missed due to a right ankle sprain. His absence should continue to mean extended playing time for Dwight Powell and Moussa Cisse in the rotation. Fantasy managers will need to check back on Saturday to see if Gafford gets cleared for that one. Cisse has been the better fantasy option between the two big men lately. The rookie center has averaged nearly a double-double during each of his last three games. Fantasy managers in need of help ahead of Thursday's slate should consider streaming Cisse until Gafford returns.

Tim Hardaway Jr. Thu Jan 22 6:40pm

Denver Nuggets guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (knee) will be in the lineup on Thursday against the Washington Wizards. The team has upgraded Hardaway Jr.'s status on the injury report from probable to available. The veteran sniper has struggled in recent games, scoring a combined 16 points on 1-for-13 three-point shooting in back-to-back losses to the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers. Prior to the slump, Hardaway Jr. posted a season-high 30 points in a 121-115 win over Washington on Saturday. The Wizards are giving up the most points in the Eastern Conference, giving Hardaway Jr. a good opportunity to get back on track.

LaMelo Ball Thu Jan 22 6:40pm

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (thumb) has been upgraded to available for the second game of his team's back-to-back on Thursday night against the Orlando Magic. Charlotte played their star guard off the bench on Wednesday against the Cavaliers, and he collected just two points across 22 minutes while also sustaining a thumb contusion on his shooting hand. Despite thumb pain, the 24-year-old will likely rejoin the Hornets first unit during tonight's action. If he has a setback, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel will have to produce more on the offensive end, while Collin Sexton could see extended minutes.

Davion Mitchell Thu Jan 22 6:30pm

Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (shoulder) has been downgraded to doubtful ahead of Thursday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Mitchell was tagged as questionable earlier in the day due to a left shoulder bruise. He has now been downgraded to doubtful, so fantasy managers should prepare to be without Mitchell. The Heat are already without Tyler Herro (rib), so losing Mitchell is going to put them in a bad spot. It would likely mean significant minutes for Pelle Larsson, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Dru Smith in the rotation. Among the trio, Larsson is the best streaming choice ahead of Thursday's slate.

Aaron Gordon Thu Jan 22 6:30pm

Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (hamstring) was upgraded from probable to available on the injury report and will play on Thursday against the Washington Wizards. Gordon is a mainstay on Denver's injury report, but he has missed only one of the last eight games. He has logged 30-plus minutes in each of his last five appearances, which is another pleasing fact for fantasy managers. On Saturday, Gordon nearly had his third career triple-double in a home game against the Wizards, finishing with eight points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Jonas Valanciunas Thu Jan 22 6:30pm

Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valaniunas (calf) has been officially listed as available for Thursday's matchup against the Washington Wizards. He will make his first appearance of 2026 after missing three weeks with a calf strain. With Nikola Jokic (knee) out, Valanciunas' return is a major boost for Denver. However, Nuggets head coach David Adelman said Valanciunas' minutes will be "pretty limited" on Thursday night. The return of Valanciunas is set to impact the playing time of DaRon Holmes and Zeke Nnaji.

Norman Powell Thu Jan 22 6:20pm

Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (back) has been downgraded from probable to questionable ahead of Thursday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Powell was a late addition to the injury report due to lower back tightness. It seems like the team is going to wait and see how he feels during warmups before making a final decision. If he sits, Pelle Larsson and Nikola Jovic would likely see larger roles in the rotation. Between the two, Larsson is the better streaming option ahead of Thursday's game. The second-year guard finished with 16 points, nine assists, and six rebounds during Tuesday's game. He's bringing enough to the table to warrant streaming while the Heat are banged up right now.

Jamal Murray Thu Jan 22 6:20pm

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (hip) will be active on Thursday against the Washington Wizards. He will make his sixth consecutive appearance after the team listed him as probable on the initial injury report. Murray has been on fire lately, averaging 29.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 9.1 assists in January. The two teams met last weekend, and Murray stole the show with a 42-point performance, shooting 5-for-8 from downtown. He also had six assists, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.

Julius Randle Thu Jan 22 6:20pm

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (foot) has been upgraded to active for Thursday's clash with the Chicago Bulls. Randle is dealing with foot soreness and was added to the team's injury report late, but he has since been cleared to play. Fantasy managers should expect the 31-year-old to still be a big part of the team's offensive attack despite the foot pain. He's played in all 44 Wolves games this campaign, averaging 22.4 points, 5.4 assists, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 33.7 minutes per outing.

Jonas Valanciunas Thu Jan 22 6:10pm

According to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas (calf) is expected to play against the Washington Wizards on Thursday. The veteran center sustained a right calf strain against Toronto on New Year's Eve and was initially due to miss at least four weeks. With Nikola Jokic (knee) still out, the Nuggets could use Valanciunas to bolster their frontcourt during tonight's tilt. If he does indeed return, the 33-year-old would provide much-needed support to Aaron Gordon (hamstring), who has recently filled in at center.


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