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NBA roundup: LeBron James makes season debut in Lakers' win

Wed Nov 19 2:26am ET
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Luka Doncic scored 37 points with 10 assists and LeBron James added 11 points in 30 minutes of his season debut as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied for a 140-126 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz on Tuesday.

After missing the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica on his right side, James took the court to become the first player in NBA history to play in 23 consecutive seasons.

Austin Reaves scored 26 points, Deandre Ayton added 20 points with 14 rebounds and Jake LaRavia had 16 points as Los Angeles won its third consecutive game.

Keyonte George scored 34 points and Lauri Markkanen added 31 for the Jazz, who lost for the fifth time in their past seven games. Svi Mykhailiuk and Ace Bailey each scored 13 points and Jusuf Nurkic added 10 points with 10 rebounds in Utah's only road contest in a stretch of seven games.


Magic 121, Warriors 113

Desmond Bane had a team-high 23 points, Anthony Black led a strong bench performance with a season-best 21 and Orlando took advantage of a road-weary Golden State team to claim a home win.

Franz Wagner chipped in with 18 points and Wendell Carter Jr. logged a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in their last five games.

Stephen Curry poured in a game-high 34 points and Jimmy Butler III scored 33 for the Warriors, who were playing their fifth road game in eight days, with a trip-ending sixth contest looming Wednesday night at Miami.

Pistons 120, Hawks 112

Cade Cunningham returned from a three-game absence and posted a double-double to help visiting Detroit to a victory over Atlanta, extending its NBA-best winning streak to 11 games.

Cunningham, who missed time with a left hip contusion, had 25 points, 10 assists and six rebounds as the Pistons ended Atlanta's five-game winning streak. It was Cunningham's fifth straight game with a double-double and eighth of the season.

Detroit got 24 points and eight rebounds from Jalen Duren, 14 points apiece from Duncan Robinson and Daniss Jenkins and 13 points and nine rebounds from Isaiah Stewart. The winning streak is the Pistons' longest since an 11-game run in 2007-08.

Spurs 111, Grizzlies 101

De'Aaron Fox scored 26 points and Harrison Barnes added 23 that included seven straight points in the final, decisive stretch as short-handed San Antonio ran past visiting Memphis.

Both teams were without superstar players as San Antonio was missing Victor Wembanyama (strained calf) and Stephon Castle (strained hip flexor), and the Grizzlies were missing Ja Morant (sprained ankle). Keldon Johnson contributed 18 points for San Antonio while Devin Vassell and Kelly Olynyk scored 10 points each.

Cedric Coward's 19-point, 11-rebound double-double led the Grizzlies, who have dropped five straight games. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 18 points, Cam Spencer hit for 15 and Vince Williams Jr. produced 14 for Memphis, which also got 11 rebounds from Zach Edey.

Celtics 113, Nets 99

Jaylen Brown scored 23 of his 29 points in the second half as Boston did enough in the fourth quarter and moved above .500 for the first time this season with a victory over Brooklyn in New York.

The Celtics won their third straight and for the eighth time in 12 games since opening the season with a three-game skid. Payton Pritchard added 22 points and Derrick White contributed 15 for the Celtics, who beat Brooklyn for the 15th time in the past 16 regular-season meetings.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 points, but the Nets dropped to 0-7 at home and were unable to win consecutive games for the first time this season. Day'Ron Sharpe added 16, Noah Clowney contributed 13 while rookie Egor Demin and Ziaire Williams finished with 12 apiece.

Suns 127, Trail Blazers 110

Devin Booker recorded 19 points, five assists and three steals in three quarters of action as Phoenix cruised to a road victory over Portland.

Reserve Collin Gillespie made four 3-pointers and also scored 19 points as the Suns won for the sixth time in seven games. Mark Williams had 15 points, backup Oso Ighodaro scored 14 on 6-of-7 shooting and Dillon Brooks added 12 points for Phoenix.

Shaedon Sharpe scored 29 points to lead the Trail Blazers, who lost their third straight game and fell for the fifth time in six outings. Deni Avdija tallied 19 points and Caleb Love had 17 off the bench for Portland.

Player Notes
Zion Williamson Tue Nov 18 9:00pm

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (hamstring) remains on the injury report as questionable ahead of Wednesday's contest against the Denver Nuggets. Williamson is close to returning from a hamstring strain, but it is uncertain if he will end his eight-game absence on Wednesday. His latest health issue has given Saddiq Bey (ankle) a chance to impress in the starting unit. However, he is also considered questionable for Wednesday and may miss a second consecutive game. If neither player can make it back on Wednesday, Derik Queen might be in for a very busy night. There will also be additional playing time available for Herbert Jones, Jordan Hawkins, and Micah Peavy.

Bam Adebayo Tue Nov 18 8:50pm

Miami Heat forward/center Bam Adebayo (toe) has been listed as questionable for Wednesday's matchup against the Golden State Warriors. This marks a positive development, as Adebayo has missed six consecutive games without even getting a doubtful designation on the injury report. Kel'el Ware has looked great as Adebayo's replacement in the starting lineup, averaging 12.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks over the last six games. Even with Adebayo back, Ware will continue to have decent fantasy value. But he must settle for a smaller role in the rotation.

Jalen Brunson Tue Nov 18 8:40pm

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (ankle) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. A right ankle sprain may keep the Knicks star on the shelf for a third consecutive game. If Brunson can't return on Wednesday, Miles McBride will probably continue to start. He has done well in the first unit this season, averaging 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, although McBride's shooting numbers have been poor. Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet are also players who benefit from Brunson's absence. The latter has joined McBride in the starting lineup, filling in for OG Anunoby (hamstring).

Taylor Hendricks Tue Nov 18 8:30pm

Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks (hamstring) will play on Tuesday against the Lakers after missing the last four games because of a hamstring injury. The 21-year-old is having the worst season of his career, averaging 4.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 23.5% shooting from behind the arc. Of course, that kind of production won't earn him much trust from fantasy managers. With Kyle Filipowski (wrist) out, Hendricks may see more scoring opportunities. However, it likely won't be much of an improvement from his current statistical contributions.

Jrue Holiday Tue Nov 18 8:30pm

Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (calf) will miss a second consecutive game on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns. The chances of Holiday suiting up on Tuesday night were slim when the team listed him as doubtful on the injury report, and he has now been officially ruled out. Jerami Grant (illness) was Holiday's replacement in the first unit on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks. However, he has picked up a late questionable tag ahead of Tuesday's game, meaning Portland might have to switch up the starting unit again. With Holiday unavailable, Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe lead the Portland offense and have additional fantasy value.

Kyle Anderson Tue Nov 18 8:30pm

Utah Jazz forward Kyle Anderson (back) is available for Tuesday's meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 32-year-old has appeared in only three games this season, averaging 7.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. With Kyle Filipowski (wrist) ruled out, Anderson may see a few extra minutes of action. However, it likely won't be enough for him to do anything meaningful for fantasy managers. While there is a chance Anderson may enter the starting lineup at some point this season, he's currently not worth rostering in nearly all formats.

Jerami Grant Tue Nov 18 8:30pm

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (illness) has landed on the injury report a couple of hours before a scheduled tip-off against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. Due to an illness, Grant might have to miss his first game of the season. His absence would leave Portland without a starter, as Grant replaced Jrue Holiday (calf) in the first unit on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks. If Grant can't play on Tuesday, Portland must get more production from Kris Murray and Sidy Cissoko.

Kyle Filipowski Tue Nov 18 8:10pm

Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (wrist) won't play on Tuesday versus the Lakers. The former Duke Blue Devil averaged 9.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 35.0% shooting from deep as a rookie. However, he hasn't been as productive throughout his sophomore campaign. Filipowski will miss his first contest of the year on Tuesday night, although it appears he has a chance to suit up on Friday against OKC. Brice Sensabaugh and Taylor Hendricks (hamstring), who is available, could be in line for more work.

LeBron James Tue Nov 18 8:00pm

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (back) will play on Tuesday against the Utah Jazz. The multi-time All-Star averaged 24.4 points last season, his fewest since his rookie campaign, adding 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.0 steals. While James isn't as productive as he used to be, which is expected, he should always be featured in all fantasy lineups. That will remain true even if the 40-year-old doesn't receive a full allotment of minutes on Tuesday night, as he works his way back from Sciatica. With that said, it will be interesting to see how James' presence impacts Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who are both having the best seasons of their careers.

Keegan Murray Tue Nov 18 6:20pm

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (thumb) is expected to make his season debut Thursday, per Jason Anderson. The third-year forward averaged 12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists last season while shooting 44.4 percent from the field. His return brings needed stability to the frontcourt but also forces fantasy managers to monitor Sacramento's rotations closely, as coach Doug Christie has been shuffling lineups early in the year. Reduced minutes and touches are likely for Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, Precious Achiuwa, and rookie Nique Clifford once Murray is fully reintegrated. Murray belongs in all lineups, with his scoring, rebounding, and defensive contributions projected to ramp up quickly. Fringe Kings options may lose streaming value as the rotation tightens.

Jabari Smith Jr. Tue Nov 18 6:10pm

Houston Rockets forward/center Jabari Smith Jr. (knee) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to right knee tendinopathy. The fourth-year forward is averaging 14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 45.7 percent shooting, and he logged 43 minutes in his last outing. With Tari Eason (oblique) already out, his absence would push Houston further into its depth. Josh Okogie is positioned to pick up extra wing minutes, while Steven Adams and Clint Capela offer short-term streaming appeal for rebounds and defensive stats if Houston shifts bigger. Jeff Green may also see a small bump as a deeper-league option.

Cade Cunningham Tue Nov 18 5:50pm

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (hip) will suit up on Tuesday versus the Hawks. The 24-year-old has played exceptionally well during the 2025 campaign, averaging a career-high 27.5 points with 5.4 rebounds, 9.9 assists, and 1.4 steals. That trend should continue against Atlanta, especially if he doesn't have a minutes cap. With Cunningham back on the floor, Daniss Jenkins will presumably head back to the bench after an impressive stretch as a starter.

Ausar Thompson Tue Nov 18 5:50pm

Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (ankle) will play on Tuesday against Atlanta. The 22-year-old has averaged 13.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.8 steals this season, so it was unfortunate when an ankle injury kept him off the floor for Detroit's last four games. Even with the chance of fewer minutes than usual, Thompson should find a spot in most fantasy lineups. His return should mean less work for Ron Holland II.

Domantas Sabonis Tue Nov 18 5:40pm

Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (knee) will sit out the first leg of a back-to-back on Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After playing through a ribcage contusion lately, Sabonis has been listed on the injury report with left knee soreness. Drew Eubanks looks set to fill in for Sabonis in the first unit and will have some fantasy appeal. Meanwhile, Precious Achiuwa also figures to be more involved in the rotation without Sabonis. However, it's going to be a tricky contest for Sacramento's backup bigs, as the Thunder give up the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing centers.

Joel Embiid Tue Nov 18 5:30pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) has been listed as doubtful for Wednesday's game against the Toronto Raptors. This is a sign that the former MVP is expected to miss a fifth consecutive game. Philadelphia has also lost Adem Bona (ankle) from the center rotation, leaving Andre Drummond to shoulder a heavy load. The former All-Star has had a good four-game stretch, averaging 14.3 points and 13.5 rebounds in 35.4 minutes. The Raptors are a mediocre rebounding team, giving Drummond a chance to feast on Wednesday night.

Onyeka Okongwu Tue Nov 18 5:30pm

According to Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network, Atlanta Hawks forward/center Onyeka Okongwu (knee) is set to suit up for Tuesday's contest against the Detroit Pistons. With big manKristaps Porzingis(knee) sidelined, Okongwu provides the Hawks' frontcourt an excellent option, as he's posted averages of 15.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.9 steals in 29.4 minutes per contest through 14 games so far this season. Fantasy managers should expect plenty of production from Okongwu with extra minutes on the floor this evening.

Paul George Tue Nov 18 5:30pm

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (knee) has been ruled out for Wednesday's encounter with the Toronto Raptors. The injury-prone star made his season debut on Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers, but he will be held out of action on Wednesday night as the team begins a back-to-back. George finished his season debut against the Clippers with nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 21 minutes. With Joel Embiid (knee) likely also unavailable on Wednesday, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes will do most of the work on the offensive end.

Zaccharie Risacher Tue Nov 18 5:20pm

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (hip) will miss Tuesday's matchup against the Detroit Pistons after taking a hard fall during a dunk attempt against Phoenix. The second-year wing has been productive in his role, averaging 12.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. He's hitting 47.7 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from deep. His absence opens rotation room for Vit Krejci, Luke Kennard, and Mouhamed Gueye. Krejci carries the most stable floor through ball movement and defense, Kennard fits as a deep-league three-point streamer, and Gueye becomes a deeper-league watch for rebounds and energy stats if his minutes climb.

Jalen Suggs Tue Nov 18 5:20pm

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (groin) will play in Tuesday's contest against the Golden State Warriors. A sore groin kept Suggs sidelined on Sunday against the Houston Rockets, but his absence will be limited to one game. Anthony Black started against Houston and will head back to the second unit for Tuesday's game. As a reserve, Black does not have much fantasy appeal. Suggs is averaging 12.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals this season. On Tuesday, he faces a team that allows the seventh-most fantasy points in the league to point guards.

Buddy Hield Tue Nov 18 5:10pm

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Buddy Hield (illness) is available for Tuesday's matchup with the Orlando Magic. Hield entered the day listed as probable due to an illness, but the 32-year-old will suit up despite feeling under the weather. He's appeared in every game this season, averaging 6.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.9 steals across 16.8 minutes per contest in 15 outings. Given that he's playing sick, Hield will likely see limited minutes, making him a low-impact fantasy option for tonight's slate.


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