NBA roundup: Mavericks get by Pacers to halt 10-game skid
Mon Feb 23 1:08am ET
Field Level Media
Khris Middleton's 25 points led six Dallas scorers in double figures, and the Mavericks snapped a 10-game skid with their 134-130 defeat of the Indiana Pacers on Sunday in Indianapolis.
Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 30 points for the Pacers, who lost their third straight game.
Dallas, winless since Jan. 22, led the Pacers nearly wire-to-wire - but never by more than 11 points. The Mavericks built their largest lead early in the fourth quarter before Indiana whittled the deficit down to 117-114 with 5:37 remaining.
Middleton led the Dallas response, scoring seven of the Mavericks' points over a 9-5 spurt that gave them some breathing room down the stretch.
Klay Thompson added three triples on seven attempts off the bench, scoring all nine of his points from beyond the arc. Thompson just missed joining the balanced contingent of double-figure point-scoring Mavericks, which included P.J. Washington with 23 points.
Thunder 121, Cavaliers 113
Isaiah Joe had 22 points and a career-high five steals and Cason Wallace had 20 points and a career-high 10 assists to lift Oklahoma City to a win over visiting Cleveland.
Joe and Wallace were in the starting lineup with the Thunder down their two star guards in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Oklahoma City hit 21 3-pointers in the game, including 8 of 12 in the first quarter, and shot 51.2% from outside the arc.
The loss snapped the Cavaliers' seven-game winning streak, while Oklahoma City has won four of its last five. James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Sam Merrill each scored 20 for the Cavaliers.
Knicks 105, Bulls 99
Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 11 rebounds and Jalen Brunson added 19 points and nine assists to lift visiting New York to a win against slumping Chicago.
Chicago has lost nine games in a row, its longest losing streak since a 10-game skid in the 2018-19 season. Sunday marked the narrowest defeat during the slide. Matas Buzelis paced the Bulls with 15 points while Guerschon Yabusele posted a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Landry Shamet (16 points), Josh Hart (11), and Bridges (11) also scored in double figures in the game for the Knicks.
Hawks 115, Nets 104
Jalen Johnson scored 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to help Atlanta overcome an 11-point deficit and defeat visiting Brooklyn.
The Hawks trailed 102-91 with eight minutes remaining and outscored the Nets 24-2 from there. Atlanta took the lead 105-104 with 2:28 remaining on a 3-pointer by C.J. McCollum and Johnson extended the lead with a three-point play and another basket. Johnson finished 11-for-22 from the field with 12 rebounds for his 38th double-double. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jock Landale each scored 17 and McCollum had 16 points and eight rebounds.
Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Nic Claxton scored 15 with eight rebounds and five assists. The Nets did not score in the final 5:19.
Raptors 122, Bucks 94
Immanuel Quickly scored 32 points and dished nine assists to lead Toronto to a victory over host Milwaukee.
Brandon Ingram added 22 with six assists for Toronto, which won its fourth contest in its last five. Sandro Mamukelashvili also scored 15 and Jamal Shead contributed 12 points, six rebounds and six assists off the bench. The Raptors shot 46.8% from the field and limited themselves to just eight turnovers.
Milwaukee's three-game win streak came to an end. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) still not on the floor, Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins each had 21 points to lead the way while Cam Thomas added 15 and Myles Turned scored 14. Porter added 10 assists.
Warriors 128, Nuggets 117
Brandin Podziemski sparked a late 15-0 flurry, Moses Moody led a balanced attack with 23 points and short-handed Golden State used 21 3-pointers to overcome a triple-double by Nikola Jokic and shock Denver in San Francisco.
Podziemski scored 15 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 18 for the game. He also found time for team highs of 15 rebounds and nine assists. Al Horford scored a season-high 22 points, De'Anthony Melton 20, Gui Santos 17, Payton 15 and Will Richard 11 for the Warriors, who outscored the Nuggets 63-24 from beyond the arc.
Jokic had game highs of 35 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists for Denver, which lost for the second time in three games since the All-Star break. The triple-double was Jokic's 21st of the season. Jamal Murray chipped in with 21 points, Christian Braun 18 and Bruce Brown 12 for the Nuggets, who lost despite a 25-11 advantage in made free throws.
Hornets 129, Wizards 112
LaMelo Ball made a career-high 10 3-pointers in a 37-point performance as visiting Charlotte snapped a two-game skid with a win over Washington.
Ball shot 12 of 20 from the field and 10 of 15 from behind the arc for Charlotte, which led by as many as 29 and made a season-high 25 3-pointers, one shy of its franchise record. Kon Knueppel made five 3-pointers and finished with 28 points, and Brandon Miller scored 22 while shooting 5 of 7 from beyond the arc.
Bilal Coulibaly led Washington with 17 points. Jaden Hardy scored 16 points, Kyshawn George and Jamir Watkins added 13 apiece, and Tre Johnson and Will Riley each finished with 11. The Hornets completed a four-game season sweep of the Wizards while shooting 49.4% from the field and 54.3% (25 of 46) from 3-point range.
Celtics 111, Lakers 89
Jaylen Brown scored 32 points with eight rebounds and seven assists, Payton Pritchard added 30 points with eight assists and Boston continued its February surge by beating host Los Angeles.
Derrick White scored 12 points with eight assists as the Celtics' defense held the Lakers to 39.1% from the floor, while improving to 8-1 since Jan. 30. Boston shot 48.2% while opening 2-0 on a four-game road trip against Western Conference teams. Neemias Queta had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics.
Luka Doncic scored 25 points and LeBron James added 20 for Los Angeles. Austin Reaves had 15 points as the Los Angeles star trio fell to 8-4 when all three were on the court this season. James, the NBA's all-time points leader, moved past the 43,000-point mark in his record 23rd season.
76ers 135, Timberwolves 108
Tyrese Maxey scored 39 points and Philadelphia snapped a four-game skid with a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
VJ Edgecombe added 24 points, Quentin Grimes had 19 and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 18. The Sixers shot 21 of 37 from 3-point range, led by that quartet of Edgecombe (6 of 7), Grimes (5 of 8), Maxey (4 of 7) and Oubre (3 of 7).
Anthony Edwards posted 28 points for the Timberwolves, whose three-game winning streak came to an end. Jaden McDaniels chipped in with 19 points, and Julius Randle scored 18 for the hosts, who were outscored in every quarter.
Trail Blazers 92, Suns 77
Donovan Clingan scored 23 points and added 13 rebounds, Jerami Grant scored 23 points, and visiting Portland overcame the early departure of leading scorer Deni Avdija to beat short-handed Phoenix.
Toumani Camara had 12 points and Clingan added four blocked shots for the Trail Blazers. Avdija appeared to suffer a recurrence of a low back injury that kept the All-Star forward out for five of the previous eight games. He grabbed his back on a play under the Portland basket and was removed 59 seconds into the game.
Collin Gillespie scored 18 points with four 3-pointers and Jalen Green had 13 for the Suns, who had played without injured Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen, their top three scorers. They have lost three of five. Both teams had a season low in points.
Magic 111, Clippers 109
Desmond Bane scored 36 points on 13-of-19 shooting to lead Orlando past Los Angeles at Inglewood, Calif.
Paolo Banchero had 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and Wendell Carter Jr. added 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Magic. Tristan da Silva had 13 points and Anthony Black added 11 for Orlando.
Bennedict Mathurin missed a potential game-winning 3-point attempt at the buzzer for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard had 37 points on 14-of-25 shooting and collected eight rebounds for Los Angeles while topping 20 points in his 36th consecutive appearance. Mathurin had 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists off the bench for the Clippers.
- 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
- Pelicans sign G/F Bryce McGowens to 3-year deal
- NBA roundup: Pistons dominate Knicks to cap season sweep
- Suns star Devin Booker (hip) exits game vs. Spurs
- NBA plans to add anti-tanking rules next season
- JJ Redick expects Lakers to have Luka Doncic, others back vs. Clippers
- Trae Young closer to Wizards' debut, Anthony Davis progressing
- MRI clean on Warriors star Stephen Curry's ailing knee
- All-Star events draw biggest audience in 24 years
- Lakers name Lon Rosen president of business ops
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Sacramento Kings are signing former No. 7 overall pick guard Killian Hayes to a 10-day contract. Hayes has spent the season with the Cleveland Charge, where he posted 23.1 points, 8.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 threes, and 1.7 steals in 31.8 minutes per game. With Zach LaVine (finger) and De'Andre Hunter (eye) done for the year, Hayes could absorb reserve backcourt minutes behind Russell Westbrook and Devin Carter. He could surface as a deeper-league option for assists and steals if he carves out steady minutes.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Cason Wallace produced 20 points, 10 assists, four rebounds, and three steals in 34 minutes during Sunday's 121-113 win over Cleveland, adding four triples while setting a new career high in assists. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen) and Jalen Williams (hamstring) both sidelined, Wallace has operated as the primary initiator and is averaging 12.8 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 1.4 threes across nine February starts. He is a strong short-term hold and category streamer, while Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Joe should continue seeing steady usage bumps.
Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama (knee) is out for Monday's matchup against the Kings, marking his seventh straight absence due to right knee injury management. His next chance to return is Wednesday versus Golden State. With Aldama sidelined, G.G. Jackson erupted for 28 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in 26 minutes off the bench last game and remains the top fantasy beneficiary. Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Taylor Hendricks continue to see steady minutes, but Jackson profiles as the strongest short-term add across standard formats.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (back) will not return to Sunday's game against the Suns after aggravating a preexisting low back issue less than one minute into the contest. His availability for Tuesday against Minnesota is uncertain. Avdija's 29.8 usage rate leaves a sizable void. Scoot Henderson logged 30 minutes Sunday and produced 11 points, six assists, and four rebounds, positioning him as a viable short-term add. Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday should see added scoring responsibility, while Sidy Cissoko and Vit Krejci profile as deeper-league streamers if Avdija misses time.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (ankle) will not return to Sunday's loss against the Celtics after suffering a right ankle injury in the first quarter. His availability for Tuesday against Orlando is uncertain. Hayes typically logs around 18 minutes off the bench, so his absence is unlikely to move the needle much in standard fantasy formats. Jarred Vanderbilt logged 11 minutes and posted three points and five rebounds, while Maxi Kleber saw only three minutes. Vanderbilt is the more viable deep-league streamer if Hayes misses time, though Deandre Ayton should continue handling the bulk of center minutes.
Chicago Bulls forward/center Jalen Smith (calf) did not return in Sunday's loss to the Knicks after aggravating right calf tightness, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 18 minutes. The injury shifts the frontcourt rotation. Guerschon Yabusele logged 30 minutes as a starter and posted 11 points, 13 rebounds, and three triples, while Nick Richards supplied nine points, 14 rebounds, and one block in 23 minutes. Patrick Williams added 10 points and eight assists in 28 minutes but remains volatile. Yabusele and Richards are priority streamers if Smith misses time.
Denver Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 35 points, 12 assists and 20 rebounds in a 117-128 loss to Golden State on Sunday, Feb. 22.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson (knee) is doubtful for Monday's matchup against the Kings and appears likely to miss a second straight contest due to right knee soreness. His absence should keep Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Taylor Hendricks in the rotation mix. Prosper started last game and delivered nine points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals in 26 minutes, while Hendricks added four points, two rebounds, one steal, and one block in 24 minutes. Both remain risky deep-league streamers, with limited upside unless Memphis thins further.
Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward Cedric Coward (knee) will remain out for Monday's matchup against the Kings, extending his absence to four straight games due to a posterior capsule sprain in his right knee. With Coward sidelined, Walter Clayton Jr., Cam Spencer, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper should continue seeing elevated minutes. Clayton logged nine points, four rebounds, and six assists in 26 minutes last game, while Prosper added nine points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals. All three remain fringe streamers, with limited upside unless Coward's absence stretches further.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (ankle) has been upgraded to available for Sunday's game against the Magic after initially being listed as questionable due to left ankle soreness. Leonard has been dominant since early February, averaging 28.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.7 steals while handling a 34.5 usage rate. He posted 31 points with four 3-pointers, four rebounds, and five assists in 31 minutes in the recent loss to the Lakers. Leonard remains a must-start, while Kris Dunn and Bennedict Mathurin benefit from the defensive attention he draws.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (back) is out for Sunday's game against the Clippers, marking his second straight absence due to back spasms. With Suggs sidelined, Desmond Bane should continue to anchor the offense after erupting for 34 points with five three-pointers, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in 40 minutes last game. Anthony Black logged 45 minutes, while Jevon Carter and Tristan da Silva each topped 30 minutes. Bane remains a must-start, Black profiles as a strong hold, and Carter is a viable short-term streamer.
Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Deni Avdija (back) is available for Sunday's game in Phoenix and is expected to handle his usual workload. The 25-year-old has been Portland's primary engine this season, averaging 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 2.2 3-pointers while carrying a 29.6 usage rate. He logged 15 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds in 30 minutes during the last loss to Denver. Fantasy managers should keep him locked in, though a mild re-aggravation risk exists. Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant would see added playmaking and scoring opportunities if Avdija's minutes dip.
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (hand) is available for Sunday's game against the Knicks after being listed with a left-hand injury. Williams has averaged 7.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 23.2 minutes over his last five outings, but his usage remains modest in a crowded rotation. He logged six points, one rebound, one assist, and two steals in 16 minutes during the recent loss to Detroit. With Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis handling larger roles, Williams remains off the standard-league radar and profiles as a deep-league filler at best.
Chicago Bulls guards Josh Giddey and Tre Jones will be on minute restrictions for Sunday's game against the Knicks. Giddey recently returned from an eight-game absence and posted 27 points, six rebounds, and three assists with five 3-pointers in 27 minutes in the last loss to Detroit. Jones added seven points and six assists in 26 minutes. With both capped, Collin Sexton and Rob Dillingham could see modest bumps off the bench. Giddey remains a must-start, but slight workload limits introduce mild risk in weekly formats.
Chicago Bulls center Nick Richards (foot) will play Sunday against the Knicks. Richards remains the primary backup to Jalen Smith, who continues to operate under a minutes restriction, keeping the door open for a steady second-unit run. Through five appearances with Chicago, Richards has averaged 8.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 19.0 minutes. He logged five points and five rebounds in 19 minutes during the last loss to Detroit. Richards is a fringe, risk-leaning option in standard leagues, but deeper formats can target his block upside while Smith's workload is monitored.
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (hamstring) is available, while guard/forward Grayson Allen (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against Portland. Green logged 37 minutes in his last appearance, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two 3-pointers, and he should again anchor the offense with Devin Booker (hip), Dillon Brooks (hand), and Jordan Goodwin (calf) sidelined. Green's 29.5 usage rate keeps him locked into must-start territory. Allen's absence solidifies minutes for Royce O'Neale and Collin Gillespie, though Green remains the primary fantasy beneficiary.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Naz Reid (shoulder) is out for Sunday's game against Philadelphia, marking his first absence of the season. With Rudy Gobert also sidelined due to suspension, Joan Beringer is set to start at center, creating short-term streaming appeal in deeper formats. Beringer logged four minutes with two points and two blocks in his last appearance, but an expanded run could translate to boards and defensive stats. Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards should absorb more frontcourt usage, while Ayo Dosunmu may see added offensive responsibility with the rotation thinned.
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (ankle) is questionable for Monday's game in Houston after missing seven of the last eight contests. The second-year guard averages 30.0 minutes with a team-high 29.2 usage rate, so his potential return would reshape the backcourt rotation. Isaiah Collier capitalized in the last outing with 24 points, five rebounds, four steals, and two blocks in 25 minutes, making him a strong add if George remains sidelined. If George plays, Collier likely shifts back to the second unit, while Ace Bailey and Lauri Markkanen maintain steady offensive roles.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (illness) is probable for Monday's game against Houston after sitting out the previous two contests. In his last five appearances, the seven-footer has averaged 21.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 24.6 minutes, maintaining a steady scoring role when active. His return would likely trim minutes for Cody Williams, who logged 38 minutes with five points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in the last game. Brice Sensabaugh also stands to lose touches after posting nine points and four rebounds in 19 minutes. Markkanen remains a must-start in all formats.
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (nose) will miss Monday's game against Houston, extending his absence to three straight contests. The veteran big has averaged 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 26.0 minutes this season, but his continued absence keeps the frontcourt condensed for fantasy managers. Kyle Filipowski started in the last outing and logged 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks in 28 minutes, making him a strong add. With Utah potentially shifting into development mode, Filipowski is trending toward long-term hold value.
