NBA roundup: Nuggets rout Nets behind two triple-doubles
Sat Jan 11 2:08am ET
Field Level Media
Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds, Russell Westbrook added 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Brooklyn Nets 124-105 on Friday.
Jokic recorded his league-leading 15th triple-double of the season and the 145th of his career after missing the previous two games due to an illness. It was the second time this season Jokic and Westbrook registered triple-doubles in the same game.
Westbrook holds the NBA record with 202. Three of them have come this season for Denver, which has won six its past eight games. Nuggets guard Jamal Murray didn't play in the second half due to left knee soreness.
Keon Johnson scored 22 points and Tyrese Martin had 19 for the Nets, who have lost four in a row and seven of eight.
Thunder 126, Knicks 101
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points and Isaiah Joe had a season-high 31 points off the bench as visiting Oklahoma City routed New York.
The Thunder, whose franchise-record 15-game winning streak was snapped in a 129-122 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, led by as many as 30 points in the second half as they beat the Knicks for the second time in a week.
Karl-Anthony Towns (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Josh Hart (16 points, 13 rebounds) each had a double-double for the Knicks, who have lost four of five since a nine-game winning streak. Jalen Brunson scored 27 points.
Pacers 108, Warriors 96
Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam combined for 50 points while missing just six shots and Indiana held off short-handed Golden State for a victory in Indianapolis.
Haliburton and Siakam shared game-high scoring honors with 25 points apiece for the Pacers, who won a fifth straight game and completed a two-game season-series sweep of the Warriors. Bennedict Mathurin paired 21 points with a team-high 10 rebounds for Indiana.
Pat Spencer had a career-high 17 points for the Warriors, who were playing the second night of a back-to-back without six regulars, including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga.
Bucks 109, Magic 106
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 41 points and 14 rebounds, helping lead visiting Milwaukee to a win over Orlando.
Damian Lillard added 29 points, while Bobby Portis and Khris Middleton contributed 11 apiece off the bench as the Bucks won their third straight.
In his first appearance since Oct. 30 due to an oblique injury, Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 34 points. Cole Anthony scored 18 as the Magic lost their fourth game in six tries.
Kings 114, Celtics 97
Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and a career-high 28 rebounds to help visiting Sacramento extend its winning streak to six games by beating Boston.
Sabonis became the first player to grab more than 24 rebounds in a game at TD Garden. Sacramento had a 56-43 rebounding edge in the win. DeMar DeRozan tossed in 24 points for the Kings, who received 22 from Malik Monk and 19 from Keegan Murray.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 28 points, and Kristaps Porzingis finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jayson Tatum had 15 points and 12 rebounds but committed eight turnovers.
Pelicans 123, 76ers 115
CJ McCollum scored 38 points as short-handed New Orleans opened a three-game road trip with a 123-115 victory over Philadelphia.
Five other Pelicans scored in double figures, including Jordan Hawkins (21 points) and Dejounte Murray (17 points, 10 rebounds). New Orleans played without Zion Williamson after he was suspended by the team for one game. The Pelicans also played without Brandon Ingram (ankle), Trey Murphy III (ankle) and Herb Jones (shoulder).
The Sixers took the court without Joel Embiid (foot), although they did welcome back Paul George (groin), who scored 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey had 30 points and 12 assists for Philadelphia.
Bulls 138, Wizards 105
Zach LaVine scored 33 points and Nikola Vucevic added 23 points with 13 rebounds as Chicago extended its home winning streak to four games with a victory over Washington.
Coby White and Jalen Smith each scored 15 points and Josh Giddey added 12 points with 13 rebounds and seven assists for Chicago. The Bulls won for the fifth time in the past seven games overall and avenged a 125-107 loss at Washington on New Year's Day.
Jordan Poole scored 22 points for the Wizards and went 6-of-9 from 3-point range after missing the past three games and five of the past seven contests with a left hip contusion. Jared Butler scored 18 points as the Wizards lost their fifth consecutive game.
- NBA roundup: Nuggets rout Nets behind two triple-doubles
- NBA postpones two L.A.-area games due to wildfires
- Pelicans F Zion Williamson draws one-game team suspension
- NBA roundup: Darius Garland nets 40 in Cavs' 12th straight win
- 76ers rookie G Jared McCain (knee) done for season
- Hornets-Lakers game postponed due to Los Angeles wildfires
- Winter weather alters start time for Blazers-Mavericks game
- NBA roundup: Cavs prevail in showdown with Thunder
- Pelicans to rest Zion Williamson (hamstring) vs. Trail Blazers
- Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard stepping away from team
- Magic's Paolo Banchero returning from torn oblique
- NBA roundup: Trae Young, Hawks stun Jazz on half-court shot
- Nikola Jokic, Derrick White out for Celtics-Nuggets matchup
- Raptors waive journeyman C Bruno Fernando
- NBA roundup: Giannis Antetokounmpo cuts hand, nets triple-double
- G Kyrie Irving could miss 2 weeks with back injury
- Suns to use Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic off bench
- Bucks F Khris Middleton (ankle) out vs. Raptors
- NBA roundup: Thunder take down Celtics, win 15th straight
- Warriors F Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) out indefinitely
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (shoulder) won't play on Saturday against the Rockets. Initially, his right shoulder inflammation wasn't too concerning for fantasy managers. However, Johnson will miss a fourth consecutive game on Saturday, so most are hoping he won't be on the shelf much longer. It's unfortunate, especially since the 23-year-old is averaging career-highs in points (19.8), rebounds (10.1), assists (5.3), blocks (1.1), and steals (1.5). But until he's back on the floor, Trae Young (Achilles), Dyson Daniels, and De'Andre Hunter should benefit the most on the offensive end.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (Achilles) is expected to suit up on Saturday against Houston. The right Achilles Tendinitis is nothing new, so he should be out there barring a setback. The 26-year-old hasn't had his most efficient season, averaging 22.5 points and shooting 33.9% from behind the arc. Fortunately, he's at least made up for it by amassing a career-high 12.1 assists per game. With Jalen Johnson (shoulder) still out, Young should continue to get a few more looks at the basket. While he's always a must-start in redraft formats, the challenging matchup versus Houston doesn't make him a practical option for DFS lineups.
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (leg) is doubtful for Saturday's game against the Hawks. The 23-year-old has missed the last 11 games. Head coach Ime Udoka recently indicated Eason was close to returning to the court. However, Udoka added that the team wanted to remain cautious, especially at this point in the year. With Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) on the shelf, there should continue to be minutes and scoring opportunities up for grabs. While Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson should continue to lead the way on the offensive end, Cam Whitmore, averaging 12.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in January, is worth streaming in most fantasy formats.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (illness) will play on Friday night versus Brooklyn. The multi-time MVP missed the previous two games because of an illness. However, after riding a questionable designation, fantasy managers figured he'd be back for this one after he went through pre-game warmups. As expected, Jokic should be added back to fantasy lineups for the favorable matchup versus the Nets, although his presence will mean fewer minutes for DeAndre Jordan and Dario Saric.
Golden State Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis (eye) will suit up on Friday against Indiana. He was initially listed as questionable for the game due to a left eye contusion, but the team has upgraded Jackson-Davis to available. The sophomore has played well recently and is coming off a double-double performance. Jackson-Davis had 14 points and 10 rebounds with three assists as the Warriors defeated Detroit 107-104 on Thursday. He finished with 13 points and eight rebounds in this season's first clash against the Pacers.
Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports that Milwaukee Bucks forwardKhris Middleton (ankle) is available for Friday's matchup with the Orlando Magic. Middleton will play in his second straight contest this evening despite dealing with bilateral ankle issues. In his last outing on Wednesday against San Antonio, he came off the bench and struggled, posting eight points, five rebounds, and three assists in21 minutes during the 121-105 Bucks win.
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George (groin) will play against New Orleans on Friday. He has been upgraded from probable to available ahead of tip-off. The former Clippers star, who returns from a one-game absence, will start the contest with Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin, and Guerschon Yabusele. George, Maxey, and Oubre Jr. should do most of the offensive work against the Pelicans. Eric Gordon will be bumped back to the bench due to George's return. Gordon has had a tough time making an impact as a member of the second unit in 2024-25 and should be ignored by fantasy managers.
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Moses Moody (knee) will be back in action on Friday against Indiana. He sat out the first leg of a back-to-back on Thursday versus Detroit due to a knee issue. Golden State has quite a few bodies missing on Friday, including Stephen Curry (knee) and Andrew Wiggins (personal), so we might see a lot of Moody in the contest. Moody tends to be inconsistent with his play, but he has boosted his fantasy appeal recently by scoring double-digit points in four of his last six appearances.
According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Milwaukee Bucks forwardGiannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is active for Friday's matchup with the Orlando Magic. The 30-year-old will play in his sixth consecutive contest despite dealing with right patella tendinopathy. Antetokounmpo will have a full workload during Friday's contest and fantasy managers know by now that the superstar forward is a must-start whenever he is available to step on the floor.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (elbow, shin) will play on Friday against Philadelphia. Murray was initially regarded as questionable for the game due to shin and elbow ailments. With Zion Williamson (suspension) and Trey Murphy III (ankle) out of action, Murray is expected to carry the Pelicans offense with CJ McCollum. The versatile guard has a chance to post 20-plus points for a third consecutive outing for the first time as a Pelican. His recent work also includes a triple-double.
Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports thatMilwaukee Bucks guardDamian Lillard (calf) will play against the Orlando Magic on Friday despite dealing with a left knee contusion. The 34-year-old veteran won't have any restrictions placed on him, as he collected 26 points, five rebounds, and eight assists across 35 minutes in the Bucks' 121-105 win over the Spurs on Wednesday. Fantasy managers in season-long formats should feel comfortable getting Lillard back in their lineups.
Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) will be in the lineup on Friday against Golden State. He has been upgraded from questionable to available. Haliburton will look to bag a second consecutive double-double on Friday against a depleted Warriors team. Indiana is considered an 11-point favorite for the contest, meaning there is a high chance of a blowout, which may limit Haliburton's minutes. With this in mind, fantasy managers might not get full value out of Haliburton on Friday.
According to Alex Golden of the Setting the Pace podcast, Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner(illness) has been upgraded to available to play against the Golden State Warriors. Turner was listed on the injury report earlier in the day due to dealing with an illness. The 28-year-old will go up against a banged-up Golden State Warriors team who will be downDraymond Green(back),Jonathan Kuminga(ankle), and maybeTrayce Jackson-Davis(eye - questionable).
Philadelphia 76ers guardKyle Lowry(hip) will miss his third straight game on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans due to soreness in his right hip. Lowry's next opportunity to return to the floor is versus the Magic on Sunday. While the 38-year-old is sidelined, the Sixers must lean heavily onTyrese Maxey. Reggie Jackson,Eric Gordon, and Jeff Dowtin are some guard options that the Sixers could also use.
According to Shams Charania, New Orleans Pelicans forwardZion Williamson(suspension) won't suit up against the 76ers due to being suspended one game for violating team policies. Williamson's next opportunity to return to the floor is on Sunday against Boston. Herbert Jones(shoulder) will also be missing in action. With Williamson and Jones sidelined, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl,Javonte Green, andBrandon Boston will take on more minutes and will potentially have more scoring chances than usual.
The Orlando Magic announced that Orlando Magic forwardPaolo Banchero(oblique) is expected to make his return on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Banchero has missed the last 34 contests due to a right oblique strain. Fantasy managers need to be aware that while the 22-year-old should jump back into the Magic's starting five, his minutes will likely be restricted in the contest. Caleb Houston and Tristan Da Silva could see some extra minutes for the time being against Milwaukee.
Denver Nuggets forwardAaron Gordon (calf) is listed as doubtful for Friday's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets. Gordon has been out eight consecutive contests due to a calf issue. If he is unavailable for this evening his next opportunity to suit up comes on Sunday against the Mavs. The 29-year-old has played well this season, but he's only been on the floor for 16 games. Russell Westbrookwill likely continue to get the nod to start in place of Gordon until his return.
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (illness) has been listed on the injury report as questionable while he deals with an illness. If he's able to give it a go, he'll go up against a banged-up Golden State Warriors team who will be down Draymond Green (back), Jonathan Kuminga (ankle), and maybe Trayce Jackson-Davis (eye - questionable). On the other hand, Thomas Bryant would probably stay in the starting five if Turner doesn't suit up. Bryant posted 22 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and two steals in their last game against the Bulls.
Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (glute) has been ruled out for a third consecutive game and will miss Friday's matchup against the Boston Celtics. The star point guard is still plagued by a right glute contusion and there hasn't been any official word on his return. Keon Ellis has taken over the spot in the starting five and has averaged 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 steals while Fox has been out. He serves as the best streaming option in most leagues while Kevin Huerter could be deployed into lineups in deeper leagues.
Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (back) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers due to a back injury. The veteran is likely receiving some rest in the second half of their back-to-back after posting seven points, five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three blocks on Thursday. With Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) also ruled out, Kevon Looney will likely move into the starting five unless Trayce Jackson-Davis (eye - questionable) can suit up. Looney provides solid rebounding and blocks while Jackson-Davis would be the better streaming option if he plays.
