NBA roundup: Magic edge Lakers as LeBron James misses at buzzer
Wed Feb 25 2:22am ET
Field Level Media
Paolo Banchero scored 36 points with 10 rebounds and Desmond Bane added 22 points as the Orlando Magic finished off a successful road trip against Western Conference foes with a 110-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
Wendell Carter Jr. scored 20 points and Tristan da Silva added 13 as the Magic went 3-1 on their trip with a victory at Sacramento and two more against a pair of Los Angeles teams in the Clippers and Lakers. They lost at Phoenix in the second game of the trip.
Luka Doncic scored 22 points with 15 assists and nine rebounds while LeBron James and Deandre Ayton each added 21 points for the Lakers, who went 4-4 on an extended homestand that wrapped around both sides of the All-Star break. James had a chance to win it at the buzzer but his fallaway 3-pointer was off target.
Orlando shot 45.7% in the game but finished off the victory by shooting 59.1% in the fourth quarter while scoring 31 points. It was the Magic's fourth consecutive victory against the Lakers going back to November of 2023.
Cavaliers 109, Knicks 94
Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and James Harden added 20 as Cleveland ran away from visiting New York to win for the eighth time in its last nine games.
Jarrett Allen collected 19 points on 7-of-8 field-goal attempts and grabbed 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which tied New York for third place in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers are 6-1 with Harden in the lineup and a league-best 13-2 since Jan. 21.
Jalen Brunson scored 20 points and Mikal Bridges had 18, but the starting guards shot a combined 12 of 36 from the field for the Knicks. New York, which only led for 19 seconds and trailed by 20 in the fourth quarter, is 12-4 since Jan. 19.
76ers 135, Pacers 114
Tyrese Maxey collected 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and Joel Embiid added 27 points to fuel Philadelphia to a victory over Indiana in Indianapolis.
Maxey made 10 of 22 shots from the floor and all 10 attempts from the free-throw line for the 76ers, who erupted for 45 points in the second quarter and shot a sizzling 57.6% for the game. Embiid sank 11 of 17 shots from the floor in his return from a five-game absence due to knee and shin issues. Rookie VJ Edgecombe recorded 23 points and seven rebounds and Quentin Grimes added 15 points off the bench.
Micah Potter scored a season-high 23 points and Andrew Nembhard matched that total to lead the Pacers.
Hawks 119, Wizards 98
Jonathan Kuminga scored a season-high 27 points in his Atlanta debut and the Hawks led wire-to-wire, beating visiting Washington for their second straight win.
Kuminga, acquired from Golden State at the trade deadline, was 9 of 12 from the floor and scored 18 points in the third quarter. The good vibrations were tempered by the loss of All-Star Jalen Johnson, who left the game at 6:22 in the first quarter with a left hip flexor injury. The Hawks also got 16 points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 12 points from Corey Kispert and 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists from Onyeka Okongwu.
The Wizards were led by reserves Will Riley, who scored 18, and Justin Campagnie and Jamir Watkins, who both scored 14. Trae Young, who played the first seven-plus seasons of his career with Atlanta, was on the bench but did not play, still nursing the right knee MCL strain that has kept him out since Dec. 27. The Hawks honored Young by showing a highlight video.
Mavericks 123, Nets 114
Marvin Bagley III scored 22 points off the bench as Dallas went ahead for good in the first quarter and earned held off host Brooklyn to get head coach Jason Kidd his 200th victory as the Mavericks' head coach.
Bagley made 10 of 13 shots and finished one shy of his season high as the Mavericks won their second straight following a 10-game skid. Bagley's big night was part of a 61-point showing from Dallas reserves. The Mavericks shot 58.5% and scored 66 points in the paint.
The blizzard in the New York area caused the Mavericks to arrive from Indianapolis earlier Tuesday and the Nets to fly in from Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon. Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 26 points.
Thunder 116, Raptors 107
Isaiah Joe scored 19 of his 22 points in the third quarter and visiting Oklahoma City held on to defeat Toronto.
Cason Wallace added a game-high 27 points with eight rebounds and seven assists for the Thunder, who have won three games in a row and five of six. Alex Caruso added 16 points, Luguentz Dort contributed 15 points and Isaiah Hartenstein scored 11 with nine rebounds.
RJ Barrett scored 21 points for the Raptors, who had won their two previous games. Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram each scored 15 points. Ja'Kobe Walter and Immanuel Quickley scored 17 points apiece and Jamal Shead added 13 points.
Hornets 131, Bulls 99
Brandon Miller scored 23 points and Kon Knueppel added 21 to pace seven players in double figures as visiting Charlotte routed skidding Chicago.
Matas Buzelis had a career-best 32 points for Chicago, which has lost 10 straight games for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Charlotte, which has won 12 of 15, set a franchise record with its eighth consecutive road victory. The team swished 25 3-pointers, falling one short of matching another franchise mark.
Charlotte shot 60.7% in the third while limiting the Bulls to 27.8%. Chicago, which committed nine of its 21 turnovers in the third, trailed by as many as 38 in the second half. Patrick Williams and Guerschon Yabusele scored 11 points each for Chicago, while Collin Sexton chipped in 10.
Bucks 128, Heat 117
Kevin Porter Jr. scored 32 points and added seven rebounds and seven assists to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Miami.
Ryan Rollins added 21 for Milwaukee, which won its seventh game in its last nine tries without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf). Bobby Portis matched Rollins' 21 off the bench, while Kyle Kuzma added 19.
Norman Powell scored a team-high 26 points for Miami, which saw its three-game winning streak end. Bam Adebayo added 18 points and nine rebounds.
Pelicans 113, Warriors 109
Zion Williamson scored 26 points and host New Orleans led by as many as 14 in the first quarter then held off short-handed Golden State.
Saddiq Bey scored 18 points for the Pelicans, who have won back-to-back games and four of their last six. Former Warrior Jordan Poole scored 12 points to lead a New Orleans bench that outscored its Golden State counterpart 45-26.
De'Anthony Melton posted a game-high 28 points for the Warriors, who were without Stephen Curry (knee), Jimmy Butler (knee), Al Horford (toe) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness), and have lost three of their last four.
Celtics 97, Suns 81
Derrick White scored 22 points, Neemias Queta had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and visiting Boston rolled over short-handed Phoenix to extend its winning streak to four.
Sam Hauser scored 16 points and Bailey Scheierman had 11 points and 11 rebounds in his third career double-double for the Celtics, who have won nine of 10 and are a season-high 19 games over .500.
The Celtics trailed 41-30 at 6:41 of the second quarter before going on an extended 50-11 run to take control with an 80-52 lead on Nikola Vukevic's basket with 1:39 left in the third. Collin Gillespie scored 15 points, Grayson Allen scored 14 and Jalen Green added 13 for the Suns, who played without leading scorers Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks for the second straight game.
Timberwolves 124, Trail Blazers 121
Anthony Edwards scored 34 points and Jaden McDaniels added 29 points, matched his career best of five blocked shots and had three steals to lead Minnesota past host Portland.
Donte DiVincenzo added 19 points as the Timberwolves won for the fourth time in the past five games and improved to 3-0 against the Blazers this season. Edwards, McDaniels and DiVincenzo each knocked down five 3-pointers as Minnesota made 17 of 35 (48.6%) from long range.
With Portland All-Star Deni Avdija (back) out for the 11th time in the past 19 games, Jrue Holiday scored 22 points, Jerami Grant added 21 points and reserve Scoot Henderson had 19 for the Blazers, who lost for the third time in five games.
- NBA roundup: Magic edge Lakers as LeBron James misses at buzzer
- New injury discovered for Trail Blazers G Shaedon Sharpe (fibula)
- Coby White set to make Hornets debut against Bulls, his former team
- Jazz guard Vince Williams Jr. has torn ACL, out for season
- Grand jury declines to indict Patrick Beverley in assault case
- NBA roundup: Kings top Grizzles, end franchise-worst 16-game skid
- Kevin Durant not ruling out playing for Team USA in '28 Games
- Grizzlies' Scotty Pippen Jr., Heat's Myron Gardner fined $35K for fight
- Suns' Dillon Brooks (hand) sidelined 4-6 weeks
- NBA roundup: Mavericks get by Pacers to halt 10-game skid
- Pacers coach: G Tyrese Haliburton has shingles
- Warriors C Kristaps Porzingis (illness) out vs. Nuggets
- NBA roundup: Jalen Green's buzzer-beater lifts Suns past Magic in 2OT
- Suns G Dillon Brooks breaks left hand vs. Magic
- Suns All-Star G Devin Booker (hip) out at least one week
- Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert suspended for one game
- Bulls' Zach Collins out for season, Jaden Ivey sidelined 2 weeks
- Clippers star Kawhi Leonard (ankle soreness) exits vs. Lakers
- NBA roundup: Cavaliers dump Hornets for 7th straight win
- Kings F De'Andre Hunter out for season over after eye surgery
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome (illness) is poised to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors. The team has not included him on the injury report. Jerome was unavailable for Monday's matchup with Sacramento due to illness. Since making his season debut in late January, Jerome has averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in just 20.6 minutes per game. His efforts include a 19-point, seven-assist effort against the Warriors, who have the seventh-worst defensive record in the league against point guards.
Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (hamstring) is listed as probable for Wednesday's tilt against the Boston Celtics. Murray is experiencing tightness in his right hamstring, but the issue likely isn't serious enough to keep him off the floor. The Canadian star has missed only five games all season and is riding a four-game 20-point streak. Murray had a big 22-point, 17-assist double-double when Denver and Boston locked horns for the first time this season. Typically, point guards don't have a lot of joy against the Celtics, who allow the sixth-fewest fantasy points in the league to the position.
Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Wednesday's clash against the Sacramento Kings. He will miss a fantastic fantasy matchup with a sore left quadriceps. The Rockets are likely to use Reed Sheppard as Thompson's replacement in the starting lineup. Sheppard has already built some momentum coming off the bench and would be an even more appealing fantasy option as a member of the first unit. The 21-year-old has averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.3 steals in eight starts this season.
Dallas Mavericks forward Khris Middleton (shoulder) didn't play in the second half of Tuesday's victory over the Brooklyn Nets. After colliding with Nets center Nicolas Claxton in the second quarter, Middleton was ruled out for the second half with a right shoulder stinger. The veteran forward finished with six points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 12 minutes. It was an unfortunate blow for Middleton, who has been playing well lately. He entered Tuesday's game averaging 16.0 points and 4.8 rebounds across his last four appearances. Caleb Martin started the second half in Middleton's place but made little impact, tallying three points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Dallas Mavericks forward/center P.J. Washington (ankle) was injured late in Tuesday's win over the Brooklyn Nets. He appeared to have sprained his left ankle, limping off the court with a little over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Washington scored an efficient 13 points and tallied four rebounds, two assists, and one block. Dallas also lost Khris Middleton (shoulder) during Tuesday's contest. As a result, the rotation could have a very different look on Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings. Caleb Martin may get a chance to start, with Klay Thompson potentially more involved as well.
Toronto Raptors guard/forward Scottie Barnes (quadriceps) was injured late during Tuesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, TSN's Josh Lewenberg reports. The two-time All-Star sustained a right quadriceps contusion, leaving him questionable for Wednesday's clash against the San Antonio Spurs. On Tuesday, Barnes was back in action after missing one game for personal reasons. He struggled on the offensive end but made a huge impact defensively. In 32 minutes, Barnes amassed 15 points, three rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and four blocks. Ja'Kobe Walter, who tallied 17 points in Tuesday's loss, was Barnes' replacement in the first unit on Sunday against Milwaukee and could run with the starters again on Wednesday night if Barnes can't play.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson suffered a left hip flexor injury in Tuesday's matchup with the Washington Wizards. He played only six minutes, finishing with five points, three rebounds, and two steals. Johnson's early exit gave Jonathan Kuminga a chance to shine. He had 27 points in 24 minutes during his Hawks debut. Zaccharie Risacher also benefits from Johnson's absence. The French sophomore went close to a double-double on Tuesday night. It's unclear whether Johnson can suit up on Thursday when the Hawks have a rematch against Washington.
Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (back) is available to play ahead of Tuesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. According to head coach Steve Kerr, Green won't have any workload limitations during this game. This is good news after Green was unable to play during Sunday's game due to a back issue. Fellow big man Al Horford (toe) has been ruled out, so Green could see an uptick in playing time and overall fantasy value. Fantasy managers can safely get Green back in their fantasy lineups ahead of tip-off on Tuesday.
Chicago Bulls guard Anfernee Simons (wrist) has been diagnosed with a fracture after re-aggravating an injury he initially suffered during training camp. Surgery is not planned, and he will return once the pain subsides, but no timetable has been set. His absence opens backcourt minutes for Tre Jones, Collin Sexton, and Rob Dillingham. Jones posted eight points and three assists in 23 minutes last game and offers the highest upside if his workload increases. Dillingham and Sexton remain volatile fringe options, while Josh Giddey should handle more on-ball duties.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren (back) will play on Tuesday versus Toronto. The 2022 No. 2 overall pick had a 17-point, 15-rebound double-double with three blocks in Saturday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He popped up on the injury report due to back spasms. Fortunately, Holmgren will suit up for a Thunder team that is still without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen) and Jalen Williams (hamstring). As such, fantasy managers can expect increased involvement from Holmgren on both ends of the floor.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) has been upgraded to available for Tuesday's matchup against Indiana after sitting out five straight games due to right knee injury management and shin soreness. When active, Embiid has been dominant, averaging 33.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.0 triples, and 1.2 blocks across his last five outings. His return pushes Andre Drummond and Adem Bona back into limited reserve roles. Embiid remains an automatic start in all formats, while Drummond and Bona lose streaming appeal with minutes set to shrink.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (Achilles) is officially active ahead of Tuesday's game against the Golden State Warriors. As expected, Murray will make his season debut on Tuesday after missing over a year due to an Achilles injury. The expectation is that Murray is going to have an extremely limited workload right now. His role will likely be too minimal to make him a consistent fantasy option at the moment, but he's a great stash. Once he's back to full speed, Murray could potentially be a league winner, so stash him where he's available.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) is available to suit up against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. Gafford will play in his 12th straight game despite dealing with a right ankle injury. The 27-year-old has been on a solid run recently, averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 24.1 minutes across 10 consecutive starts, making him a viable streaming option for tonight's clash in Brooklyn.
Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (illness) will return to the lineup Tuesday against Milwaukee after missing one game due to an illness. Mitchell has averaged 9.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 triples over his last five appearances while logging steady minutes in the backcourt rotation. His return likely pushes rookie Kasparas Jakucionis back to a reserve role after Jakucionis produced 12 points, five assists, and two triples in 23 minutes during his recent start. Mitchell profiles as a deep-league assists streamer, while Jakucionis loses short-term appeal.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (calf) will remain under a minutes limit during Tuesday's game against the New York Knicks. The Cavs have been cautious with Mobley since he missed seven games due to a left calf strain. On Sunday, Mobley finished with 15 points, two rebounds, and one assist in 25 minutes of action. The expectation is that Mobley will see a bump in playing time, but he will still be monitored. Fantasy managers in season-long formats should be comfortable getting Mobley active in their lineups. The 24-year-old won't be a great DFS option given his limitations at the moment.
Indiana Pacers guard Kam Jones (back) is available for Tuesday's matchup against Philadelphia after being listed as probable earlier in the day. The rookie guard remains in the starting mix even with Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell active. Jones logged 10 points, three assists, and two triples in 31 minutes last game and previously posted four points, five rebounds, and 11 assists in 39 minutes. He profiles as a deeper-league assists streamer, though backcourt health caps his ceiling. Nembhard remains the safer standard-league play.
Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam (wrist) will not play Tuesday against Philadelphia, while forward/center Micah Potter (ankle) is available and expected to see a larger role. Siakam recently returned from a hamstring issue but aggravated his wrist after a collision on Sunday, forcing him back to the sideline. Potter has averaged 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 triples over his last five games in 26.2 minutes, making him a viable streamer. Kobe Brown added 15 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes last game and profiles as a deeper-league option.
According to Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620, Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Shaedon Sharpe (calf) will be re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left fibula. A strained left calf had already sidelined Sharpe since early February, and this latest setback could push his return timetable into April. In his absence, Scoot Henderson and Vit Krejci could see expanded roles, potentially boosting their fantasy value.
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (back) has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. This is not surprising as Jovic will miss his second straight game due to a back injury. When healthy, Jovic is averaging 7.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 17.6 minutes per game this season. His absence from the rotation won't impact too much, given he's only playing minutes in the teens right now. Pelle Larsson and Simone Fontecchio should see increased playing time with Jovic out once again. Larsson is the more appealing fantasy option between the two players.
Indiana Pacers guards Andrew Nembhard (back) and T.J. McConnell (hamstring) will play Tuesday against Philadelphia after both carried injury tags. Nembhard continues to handle a steady workload, averaging 16.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 2.4 triples over his last five games in 30.0 minutes, keeping him locked into standard-league lineups. McConnell returns after sitting out Sunday and remains a deeper-league option, last posting nine points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 15 minutes. Nembhard helps run the offense smoothly, while McConnell's return limits the upside of Ben Sheppard and Quenton Jackson.
