NBA roundup: Thunder survive Knicks' late surge
Thu Mar 5 2:39am ET
Field Level Media
Chet Holmgren poured in 28 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder held off a late charge to beat the New York Knicks 103-100 on Wednesday.
The Thunder led by seven with just more than a minute remaining, but the Knicks had a chance to send the game to overtime in the closing seconds. OG Anunoby's 3-point shot at the buzzer, however, bounced off the rim to give Oklahoma City the win.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached the 20-point mark early in the fourth quarter, moving him within two of Wilt Chamberlain's NBA-record 126 consecutive games scoring 20 or more points. The Thunder have won four consecutive games and nine of their last 11.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 17 points and grabbed 17 rebounds while Jalen Brunson amassed 16 points and 15 assists for the Knicks, who had won five of their previous six games.
Hornets 118, Celtics 89
Kon Knueppel tossed in 20 points as Charlotte beat host Boston for the Hornets' sixth consecutive win.
LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each added 18 points for Charlotte, which received 17 points and six assists from reserve Coby White. Each victory in the Hornets' streak came by at least 16 points as Charlotte (32-31) moved over the .500 mark for the first time since it was 2-1 in October.
The Celtics' Derrick White led all scorers with 29 points. Jaylen Brown added 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, but he shot 7 of 19 from the field.
76ers 106, Jazz 102
Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points and Quentin Grimes made a pair of clutch free throws to lift Philadelphia past visiting Utah.
Jabari Walker contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia, which played without Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr., VJ Edgecombe and Paul George. Grimes tallied 16 points as the Sixers avoided a third straight defeat.
The Jazz, who have lost seven games in a row, were led by Keyonte George's 30 points. Isaiah Collier scored 18 points.
Trail Blazers 122, Grizzlies 114
Jrue Holiday scored a season-high 35 points and handed out 11 assists, Jerami Grant added 30 points and nine rebounds and Robert Williams III had 20 points and 11 boards to lead Portland to a victory over host Memphis.
Donovan Clingan had nine rebounds and four blocks in 12 minutes for the Trail Blazers before being ejected in the second quarter. Portland, which was without Deni Avdija (back), had lost three of its previous four games.
Jaylen Wells led the Grizzlies with 24 points, GG Jackson scored 20 and Olivier-Maxence Prosper contributed 17 points and nine boards. Memphis, limited to eight players because of injuries, lost for the fifth time in seven games.
Hawks 131, Bucks 113
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points, guiding visiting Atlanta past Milwaukee for a fifth straight win.
Five other Hawks scored in double figures, including Wisconsin native Jalen Johnson, who had 20 points and a team-high nine assists. Onyeka Okongwu added 21 points and eight rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 24 points in just 26 minutes as he is on a time restriction post-injury. Kyle Kuzma, who played zero minutes in Milwaukee's prior game due to a "coach's decision," scored 16 off the bench.
Clippers 130, Pacers 117
Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 23 against his former team and Los Angeles increased its winning streak to three games with a victory over Indiana in Inglewood, Calif.
Brook Lopez scored 17 points and Derrick Jones Jr. added 12 for the Clippers, who improved to 24-10 since Dec. 20. Darius Garland produced 12 points and eight assists in his first home game with the Clippers.
Pascal Siakam scored 29 points, Jay Huff had 18 and Jarace Walker added 17 as the Pacers lost their seventh consecutive game and fell to 2-11 since Feb. 2. Siakam (wrist) returned after missing the previous three games.
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- Magic G Desmond Bane fined $25K for hurling ball into stands
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Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White (calf) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics. White appears to be ready to play after sitting out of Tuesday's game due to left calf injury management. White has only made three appearances since being traded to Charlotte from Chicago. He finished with 20 points in 21 minutes of action during his latest game on February 28 versus the Trail Blazers. White has decent upside because of his scoring ability, but he won't be a great option because he'll likely continue to be limited.
Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (illness) is ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game against the Utah Jazz. Oubre will now miss both games of the back-to-back set due to a lingering illness. His next chance to play will come versus the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. The Sixers are going to need to lean on their backup forwards, with VJ Edgecombe (back) also sidelined. Quentin Grimes, Justin Edwards, and Jabari Walker are all candidates to see increased roles on Wednesday. Walker could be a sneaky streaming option after dropping 20 points with seven rebounds across 19 minutes of action on Tuesday.
Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (back) has been ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game against the Utah Jazz. This doesn't come as a surprise after Edgecombe was forced to exit early during Tuesday's game due to a back issue. He suffered a lumbar contusion and is listed as day-to-day. His next chance to play will come versus the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. In the meantime, Quentin Grimes and Cameron Payne figure to see increased roles in the rotation. Between the two, Grimes is the better fantasy option ahead of Wednesday's slate.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks. Hartenstein is returning after missing Tuesday's game due to calf injury management. He's back a day later and figures to have a full workload on Wednesday. Over the last 10 games, Hartenstein is averaging 8.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 23.5 minutes per game. Fantasy managers can feel safe getting Hartenstein back in their lineups ahead of tip-off. Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams figure to lose streaming appeal with Hartenstein returning.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks. The superstar guard is back in the mix after sitting out of Tuesday's contest due to an abdominal strain. It sounds like Tuesday's absence was more of a maintenance day to keep Gilgeous-Alexander healthy and rested. Isaiah Joe will head back to the bench with Gilgeous-Alexander returning on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should expect him to have a full workload on Wednesday. As for Joe, he won't be as appealing for streaming with him playing off the bench.
Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This marks the third game in a row that Murray-Boyles has missed due to a left thumb sprain. His next chance to play will come on Sunday, so fantasy managers will need to check back this weekend for another update. His absence should mean increased playing time for Jakob Poeltl and Sandro Mamukelashvili. Poeltl will likely see 30 minutes or more with Murray-Boyles out, so he should be a fairly attractive fantasy option.
Toronto Raptors guard/forward Brandon Ingram (thumb) is listed as questionable for Thursday's matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ingram appeared on the injury report with a left thumb sprain after finishing with 31 points, two rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in Tuesday's 111-95 loss to the Knicks. If Ingram is unable to suit up, Jamal Shead could take on a larger role in the backcourt. The rookie has been an effective backup point guard, and with expanded minutes, he could emerge as a viable streaming option for fantasy managers.
Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (elbow) won't play Thursday against the Utah Jazz. George will miss his second consecutive game due to a sprained left elbow. With George sidelined, 20-year-old rookie Will Riley should continue to see ample scoring opportunities, while Tre Johnson and Bilal Coulibaly are also expected to take on larger offensive roles during Thursday night's matchup in Washington.
Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams (quadriceps) is considered probable for Thursday's game against Orlando. Williams landed on the injury list with a left quadriceps contusion, but it appears to be a minor issue, and he plans to play despite the injury. The 26-year-old has been fairly productive in his last six outings, averaging 16.3 points during that span. However, his role and scoring output could decline once Cooper Flagg (foot) returns to the lineup.
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Cooper Flagg (foot) is listed as questionable for Thursday's matchup with the Orlando Magic. Flagg could return after missing eight consecutive games due to a left midfoot sprain. The 19-year-old rookie has averaged 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals across 49 outings this season. If Flagg remains sidelined, Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard should continue to handle more playmaking duties. At the same time, Max Christie, Khris Middleton, and P.J. Washington would likely take on increased scoring responsibilities.
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (knee/quadriceps) has been removed from the injury list and is set to make his debut with his new team on Thursday against the Utah Jazz. The 27-year-old star guard has been out of action since Dec. 27 due to a right MCL sprain and a right quadriceps contusion. He sustained the injuries while still playing for Atlanta. Across 10 games this season, he has averaged 19.3 points, 8.9 assists, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 28.0 minutes per contest. The four-time NBA All-Star is in line for a 17-20-minute restriction for tomorrow evening. Still, once Young gets fully acclimated and back to full strength, he should quickly reestablish himself as a high-end fantasy contributor.
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Klay Thompson (adductor) is listed as probable for Thursday's matchup with the Orlando Magic. Thompson is dealing with a right adductor contusion and was held out of Tuesday's 117-90 loss to the Hornets. However, the 36-year-old is trending toward a return in Orlando. If Thompson suffers a setback and is unable to suit up, veteran sharpshooter Khris Middleton could see an uptick in minutes and emerge as a viable streaming option for Thursday's contest.
Utah Jazz forward/center Kevin Love (rest) will suit up on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. The veteran big man rested on Monday against Denver, but the Jazz haven't included Love on the injury report for Wednesday's game. Love has been in and out of the lineup all season and hasn't played much recently when available. In February, Love averaged only 14.7 minutes per game across seven outings. Kyle Filipowski is the only big man on the Jazz who is worth considering for fantasy purposes. The Duke product has averaged 15.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.8 steals since the All-Star break.
Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey (knee) will not join the team for an upcoming five-game road trip, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports. Ivey missed his seventh consecutive game on Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder and apparently will be sidelined for at least 10 more days. The Bulls hit the road on Thursday to face the Phoenix Suns and will conclude their trip on March 13 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Anfernee Simons (wrist) is also missing from the backcourt, and Josh Giddey (ankle) may exit the lineup after getting hurt on Tuesday, improving the fantasy prospects of Tre Jones, Collin Sexton, and Rob Dillingham.
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (ankle) underwent season-ending surgery on Tuesday. The team announced on Sunday that Edey will have an ankle procedure but didn't specify a recovery timeline. Now we know that Edey's season is over. The good news is that the 23-year-old big man is expected to make a full recovery ahead of the 2026-27 regular season. Unfortunately, Edey appeared in only 11 games this term, averaging 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 25.8 minutes. With Santi Aldama (knee) also hurt, Memphis has to rely on Olivier-Maxence Prosper, GG Jackson II, and Taylor Hendricks in the frontcourt.
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis missed the fourth quarter of Tuesday's loss to the Oklahoma City due to an ankle sprain, K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Sports Network reports. Buzelis was attempting to produce his fourth consecutive 20-point game, but an ankle injury in the third quarter ruined a productive outing for him. The 21-year-old sophomore finished the contest with 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 20 minutes. Buzelis could now miss his first game of the season when Chicago returns to action on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. Leonard Miller, who tallied eight points and three rebounds in 21 minutes on Tuesday, may replace Buzelis in the first unit.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey rolled his right ankle in Tuesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic reports. Giddey left the game late in the third quarter but came back to play until the end. After the game, Giddey said his ankle "doesn't feel too bad." According to Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, the team will evaluate Giddey further on Wednesday. Chicago has two more games scheduled this week, starting with a road contest against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. Giddey's absence could open the door to the first unit for Collin Sexton, who led the team with 20 points on Tuesday night. Tre Jones and Rob Dillingham will likely also pick up some of the available minutes.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen injured his right knee on Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons, Joe Vardon of The Athletic reports. The big man exited the contest in the third quarter, finishing the night with eight points, three rebounds, and one steal in 21 minutes. Despite missing their starting center for most of the second half, the Cavaliers managed to take down the Eastern Conference leaders 113-109. Thomas Bryant saw additional action in Allen's absence, notching nine points, five rebounds, one steal, and one block. Cleveland might promote Bryant to the starting lineup if Allen misses more time, which would boost his fantasy value.
Timberwolves' G Anthony Edwards scored 41 points on 15-of-29 shooting in a 117-110 win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday, Mar. 3.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (ankle) will be in action against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. It was initially unclear whether Williamson would play after the team listed him as questionable on the injury report. The former No. 1 pick sprained his right ankle in Saturday's win over Utah and missed Sunday's matchup with the Clippers. Before he was hurt, Williamson enjoyed an outstanding five-game stretch in which he averaged 24.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.8 blocks.
