NBA roundup: Kevin Durant hits milestone in Suns win
Sun Oct 27 3:31am ET
Field Level Media
Kevin Durant recorded 31 points and nine rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 114-102 victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.
Durant also became the eighth player in NBA history to top 29,000 career points. He finished the game with 29,010.
Devin Booker scored 21 points, Jusuf Nurkic had 18 points and 14 rebounds and Ryan Dunn tallied 13 points for the Suns.
Luka Doncic had 40 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Mavericks. Kyrie Irving scored 22 points and Klay Thompson added 19.
Lakers 131, Kings 127
LeBron James had 32 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and Anthony Davis became the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2005-06 to open the season with three straight 30-plus-point games as Los Angeles rode a fourth-quarter surge to down visiting Sacramento.
De'Aaron Fox knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to close the third quarter and send the Kings into the final period with a seven-point lead. The Lakers then went on a 21-0 run to open the fourth quarter. James scored 16 of those points on a variety of shots, including three 3-pointers.
Sacramento battled back to get to within two points in the final minute but Davis hit one of two free throws and Gabe Vincent stole the ball from Fox on the final possession to seal the win.
Thunder 114, Bulls 95
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 10 points to a 22-3 run to close the first half and visiting Oklahoma City spoiled Lonzo Ball's first game before the home fans in almost three years with a triumph over Chicago.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 23 points, one behind team leader Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren added 21 for the Thunder. Ball, who last played a home game for the Bulls in January of 2022, scored just three points in 16 minutes off the bench.
The Bulls were within 37-36 midway through the second quarter before watching the visitors score 22 of the first half's final 25 points. Nikola Vucevic posted an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double for Chicago.
Clippers 109, Nuggets 104
Norman Powell scored 22 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, James Harden hit four high-pressure free throws in the final 30 seconds and visiting Los Angeles beat Denver.
Harden finished with 23 points and 16 assists, Ivica Zubac contributed 24 points and 15 rebounds and Kris Dunn scored 11 points off the bench for the Clippers.
Nikola Jokic made a career-high seven 3-pointers on his way to 41 points, Jamal Murray scored 22 points, Christian Braun finished with 11 points and Aaron Gordon added 10 for the Nuggets.
Celtics 124, Pistons 118
Jayson Tatum piled up 37 points and visiting Boston continued its dominance of Detroit with a victory.
The reigning champion Celtics have won their past 10 meetings with the Pistons. Detroit's last win in the series was a one-point victory on Feb. 16, 2022. Jaylen Brown had 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Payton Pritchard supplied 19 points, while Al Horford and Derrick White added 17 points apiece.
The Celtics finished the first week with a 3-0 mark. Detroit, which set a franchise record for most losses last season, is seeking its first win under new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Jaden Ivey led Detroit with 26 points. Cade Cunningham had 21 points and 10 assists, Malik Beasley added 17 points and Jalen Duren chipped in 15.
Timberwolves 112, Raptors 101
Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle scored 24 points apiece as Minnesota held on to beat Toronto in Minneapolis.
Donte DiVincenzo added 16 points off the bench for Minnesota, which won its home opener. Rudy Gobert finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Gradey Dick scored 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting to lead Toronto. Scottie Barnes had 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Ochai Agbaji scored 19. Toronto committed 20 turnovers, compared with 13 for Minnesota.
Cavaliers 135, Wizards 116
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, Jarrett Allen went 10-for-10 from the floor en route to 23 points and Cleveland cruised past host Washington to make it three straight wins to open the season.
The Cavaliers hit 18 of their 39 shots from beyond the arc (46.2 percent), with Mitchell knocking down six, Darius Garland hitting four and Sam Merrill sinking three.
Bilal Coulibaly paced Washington with 23 points and six boards. Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole each chipped in 14 points and No. 2 overall pick Alexandre Sarr added 12.
Heat 114, Hornets 106
Jimmy Butler heated up in the second half, scoring 17 of his 26 points, and Miami won for the first time this season, topping host Charlotte.
Tyler Herro racked up 22 points, Terry Rozier -- who received a video tribute after he was traded last winter from the Hornets -- poured in 19 points, Bam Adebayo posted 12 points and 11 rebounds and Nikola Jovic added 10 points. The Heat hadn't played since losing their season opener to Orlando on Wednesday night at home.
LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 27 points and seven assists. Miles Bridges notched 16 points, Seth Curry supplied 15 points, Tre Mann had 14 points and Nick Richards turned in 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Grizzlies 124, Magic 111
Santi Aldama scored 22 points and Jay Huff had a career-high 18 points to lead Memphis to a win in its home opener over Orlando.
Ja Morant finished with 16 points and 10 assists for the Grizzlies. It was the 60th point-assist double-double in Morant's career, tying him with Mike Conley for the franchise record. Reserve point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. also had a double-double (11 points, 12 assists).
The Magic were led by Franz Wagner with 23 points. Jalen Suggs scored 21.
Spurs 109, Rockets 106
Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points and rookie Stephon Castle hit a key free throw with 7.2 seconds to play as San Antonio outlasted visiting Houston in the first of a pair of games in three nights between the Lone Star State rivals in the Alamo City.
Jeremy Sochan added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who evened their season record through two games. Keldon Johnson scored 16 points off the bench, Julian Champagnie hit for 12 and Harrison Barnes tallied 11 for San Antonio.
Jalen Green scored 11 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to spark the Rockets' comeback and drew the back of the rim on a final 3-point attempt to tie the score in the final seconds. Fred VanVleet added 18, Brooks poured in 16, Jock Landale had 13 and Cam Whitmore scored 10 points for Houston, which was playing a night after beating Memphis at home.
- NBA roundup: Kevin Durant hits milestone in Suns win
- NBA roundup: Knicks crush Pacers in bounce-back win
- Hornets' Brandon Miller (glute) sidelined for at least one week
- Bronny James to split time between Lakers, G League
- Pacers C James Wiseman has Achilles surgery
- Pelicans G Dejounte Murray (hand) out 4-6 weeks after surgery
- NBA roundup: Klay Thompson's 22 points in debut spark Mavs
- Pacers C James Wiseman (Achilles) seriously hurt in opener
- Pelicans G Dejounte Murray out indefinitely with broken hand
- Pelicans' Dejounte Murray broke hand in opener
- NBA roundup: Damian Lillard, Bucks win opener over 76ers
- Pelicans star F Zion Williamson (illness) scratched from opener
- NBA to investigate 76ers over Joel Embiid's playing status
- Thunder exercise options for Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams
- History made: LeBron James shares floor with son Bronny
- Wolves give Rudy Gobert 3-year, $110M extension
- A-Rod, Marc Lore put $940M in escrow in move to buy Wolves
- Stephen Curry passes LeBron James as NBA's top earner
- Joel Embiid, Paul George out for Sixers' season opener
- Trends reveal why public is behind Celtics on banner night
Sacramento's F Domantas Sabonis recorded a triple-double, finishing with 29 points, 10 assists and 12 rebounds in a 127-131 loss to the Lakers on Saturday, Oct. 26. Sabonis is owned in very few, if any leagues.
Lakers' F Anthony Davis scored 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting in a 131-127 win over the Kings on Saturday, Oct. 26. Davis is owned in very few, if any leagues.
Lakers' F LeBron James recorded a triple-double, finishing with 32 points, 10 assists and 14 rebounds in a 131-127 win over the Kings on Saturday, Oct. 26. James is owned in very few, if any leagues.
Dallas' G Luka Doncic recorded a double-double, scoring 40 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a 102-114 loss to Phoenix on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Phoenix's F Kevin Durant scored 31 points on 10-of-21 shooting in a 114-102 win over the Mavericks on Saturday, Oct. 26. Durant is owned in very few, if any leagues.
Celtics' F Jayson Tatum scored 37 points on 12-of-26 shooting in a 124-118 win over Detroit on Saturday, Oct. 26. Tatum is owned in very few, if any leagues.
Cavaliers' G Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting in a 135-116 win over Washington on Saturday, Oct. 26. Mitchell is owned in very few, if any leagues.
Denver's C Nikola Jokic scored 41 points on 14-of-26 shooting in a 104-109 loss to the Clippers on Saturday, Oct. 26. Jokic is owned in very few, if any leagues.
Clippers' G Norman Powell scored 37 points on 14-of-21 shooting in a 109-104 win over Denver on Saturday, Oct. 26. Powell is owned in very few, if any leagues.
Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) won't play on Sunday against OKC. The veteran sharpshooter logged 28 minutes in the opener versus Brooklyn, finishing with eight points and two blocks. Unfortunately, he's battling a hamstring issue, so he'll miss his second contest of the 2024-25 campaign. Onyeka Okongwu has been handling most of the minutes from off the bench for the Hawks. However, Garrison Mathews and Vit Krejci could receive more work, although not enough to earn a spot in fantasy lineups.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is probable for Sunday's game in Brooklyn. The multi-time MVP appeared on the injury report for patella tendinitis ahead of both of Milwaukee's games this season. However, it didn't keep him off the floor. As usual, Antetokounmpo is having a quality season thus far, averaging 31.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. His three-throw percentage isn't great, and he also hasn't made a shot from behind the arc. Still, fantasy managers can accept it as long as the 29-year-old stays on the floor.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankles) remains out for Sunday's meeting with the Brooklyn Nets. He continues to work his way back from offseason ankle surgeries. However, the veteran still isn't ready to go, and the Bucks don't plan on rushing him back. Of course, Giannis Antetokounmpo will lead the offense. But until Middleton returns to the court, Taurean Prince, averaging 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 83.3% shooting from deep this season, is worth streaming.
Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (shoulder) won't suit up for Saturday's game against Minnesota. He hasn't played yet this season because of an AC joint sprain. However, he's moving in the right direction, so fantasy managers could see him on the floor in the next few games. With Immanuel Quickley (pelvis) also out, Scottie Barnes, Gradey Dick, and Jakob Poeltl should lead the way offensively.
Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (Achilles) won't suit up on Saturday against the Miami Heat. The 23-year-old made his 2024-25 debut on Friday versus the Hawks, finishing with five points, three boards, one steal, and one block in 18 minutes. However, he'll take the night off to rest. With Green sidelined, Tre Mann, who has scored 41 points in the Hornets' first two contests, will likely see more action from off the bench.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (tailbone) will play on Saturday versus Miami. The 23-year-old was questionable heading into this contest. However, he is good to go. Ball has played extremely well in Charlotte's first two games, averaging 34.0 points, 7.5 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 50.0% shooting from deep. Ball's presence decreases the ceiling of Tre Mann. Still, Mann could be involved enough to exceed expectations with Brandon Miller (glute) sidelined.
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (injury maintenance) is available for Saturday's meeting with OKC. Ball played in his first game in years on Wednesday versus the Pelicans, amassing five points, four assists, and two rebounds in 14 minutes. But he didn't suit up on Friday against Milwaukee, the first of back-to-back contests. This will likely be the norm for the 26-year-old for the foreseeable future. It will also take more time for Ball to get enough minutes to be relevant for fantasy managers.
Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (back) won't play in Saturday's game against the Pistons. Hauser had 10 points and five boards in the opening night win over the New York Knicks. However, he'll now miss his second game of the 2024-25 campaign because of low back pain. Without Hauser on the floor, Payton Pritchard, coming off a 15-point effort on Thursday versus the Wizards, could see the floor even more. But if the Celtics build a decisive lead, Jordan Walsh, JD Davidson, and Jaden Springer could pick up some minutes in garbage time.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (tailbone) is questionable for Saturday's matchup with the Miami Heat. The 23-year-old has been on fire this season, averaging 34.0 points, 7.5 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 50.0% shooting from behind the arc. Unfortunately, he's in danger of missing Saturday's contest. If that happens, it would be a tough blow for Charlotte, considering Brandon Miller (glute) is sidelined for at least a week. At any rate, Miles Bridges and Tre Mann would be the favorites to pick up the slack offensively if Ball can't get on the floor against the Heat.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (thigh) is questionable for Saturday's matchup with the Orlando Magic. The 2019 No. 2 overall pick has played well in his first two appearances in 2024-25, averaging 23.0 points and 6.0 assists. But now Morant is in danger of missing the third game on the Grizzlies' schedule because of thigh soreness. If Morant ends up sitting out, Scotty Pippen Jr., who averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.9 steals in 16 starts last season, would be worth streaming in all fantasy lineups. Pippen would also be a popular DFS option.
Portland's F Jerami Grant scored 34 points on 11-of-23 shooting in a 103-105 loss to the Pelicans on Friday, Oct. 25. Grant is owned in very few, if any leagues.