NBA roundup: Cavs top Hornets, improve to 15-0
Mon Nov 18 1:09am ET
Field Level Media
Darius Garland's 25 points and Ty Jerome's 24 helped carry the Cleveland Cavaliers as they maintained their unbeaten record by beating the visiting Charlotte Hornets 128-114 on Sunday night.
Four Cleveland players had more than 20 points as the Cavaliers extended their franchise-best winning streak to 15 games. They are the fourth team in NBA history to begin a season 15-0. Only the Golden State Warriors (24-0 in 2015-16) have enjoyed a better start.
Evan Mobley put up 23 points and 11 rebounds and Jarrett Allen added 21 points and 15 rebounds to boost an offense that clicked on 57.1 percent shooting from the field. The Cavaliers excelled without guard Donovan Mitchell (24.6 points per game), who took a rest day and was replaced by Jerome in the starting lineup.
LaMelo Ball had 31 points to go with 12 assists, while Miles Bridges added 19 points for the Hornets, who've lost their past five road games after winning the season opener in Houston. Charlotte's Josh Green, Brandon Miller and Grant Williams all scored 15 points.
Timberwolves 120, Suns 117
Julius Randle drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift Minnesota to a dramatic win over Phoenix in Minneapolis.
The loss spoiled a 44-point performance from Devin Booker, who shot 15 of 29 from the field and 6 of 13 from beyond the arc for the Suns. Grayson Allen added 18 points off the bench, and Tyus Jones had 13 points and 11 assists.
Randle, who also hit a buzzer-beater at the end of the first half, finished with 35 points on 11-for-20 shooting and 5 of 11 from behind the arc. Anthony Edwards scored 24 points on 9-for-14 shooting.
Clippers 116, Jazz 105
James Harden scored 20 points, dished out 11 assists and moved into second place on the all-time made 3-pointers list as Los Angeles ended a three-game losing streak with a victory over Utah in Inglewood, Calif.
Ivica Zubac scored 22 points to go with 11 rebounds and Norman Powell added 19 points as the Clippers extended their home winning streak to four games. Los Angeles led by as many as 23 points in the second quarter and cruised to the victory.
Jordan Clarkson scored 21 points and Lauri Markkanen added 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Jazz committed 19 turnovers to Los Angeles' nine. Kyle Filipowski and John Collins each scored 13 points for Utah, which lost for the fifth time in seven road games this season.
Pistons 124, Wizards 104
Jaden Ivey scored a season-high 28 points and Malik Beasley matched his season-best with 26 points, lifting visiting Detroit over reeling Washington.
Cade Cunningham collected 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his fourth triple-double of the season for Detroit. He also had five steals. Tobias Harris recorded 12 points and nine rebounds for the Pistons, who seized control of the contest by outscoring Washington 37-26 in the third quarter.
Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma each scored 22 points and Bilal Coulibaly added 15 for the Wizards, who have not won since a home-and-home sweep over the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 28-30.
Pacers 119, Heat 110
Myles Turner made five 3-pointers and scored a season-high 34 points as Indiana weathered a fourth-quarter rally by visiting Miami.
Pascal Siakam scored 23 points and Bennedict Mathurin added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers, who led by as many as 16 in the third quarter. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 16 points and 13 assists for Indiana.
Tyler Herro made seven 3-pointers and led the Heat with 28 points while Bam Adebayo scored 24 points. Miami played without All-Star Jimmy Butler, who missed his fourth straight game with a right ankle sprain.
Knicks 114, Nets 104
Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 15 rebounds for host New York, which pulled away in the second half for a win over Brooklyn.
Towns scored 14 points during a decisive third-quarter run to help the Knicks sweep a two-game home set against the Nets. New York earned a 124-122 win in NBA Cup action on Friday.
Jalen Brunson, who hit the game-winning shot on Friday, posted a double-double on Sunday (12 points, 10 assists) for the Knicks. Cameron Johnson had 22 points for the Nets, who have lost three straight games and five of their past six.
Mavericks 121, Thunder 119
P.J. Washington had a season-high 27 points and a career-high 17 rebounds to lead visiting Dallas to a win over Oklahoma City.
Kyrie Irving added 23 points as the Mavericks led for much of the game despite playing without Luka Doncic, who was out with a bruised right knee. It was the first game Doncic had missed this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nearly helped the Thunder pull off a late comeback -- hitting a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to pull Oklahoma City within three, forcing a jump ball with Irving and then winning the jump ball. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 36 points on 13-of-19 shooting.
Grizzlies 105, Nuggets 90
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 20 points and Jaylen Wells added 15 to lead Memphis to a victory over visiting Denver, which played without three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
Jokic missed his second straight game due to personal reasons. The Nuggets have lost two straight without Jokic after winning five in a row. Julian Strawther came off the bench to score 19 points for the Nuggets, while Jamal Murray and Christian Braun had 13 each. Russell Westbrook scored 12.
Memphis -- which has won four of its past six -- was without Ja Morant, absent since suffering a hip injury Nov. 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Another starter, Marcus Smart, missed the game because of an illness. Desmond Bane posted his fifth career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds while adding seven assists.
Blazers 114, Hawks 110
Shaedon Sharpe came up with big plays at both ends of the floor in the final minute to lift host Portland past Atlanta.
Coming off a career-high 33 points in a win over Minnesota on Wednesday, Sharpe finished with a game-high 32, including the Trail Blazers' last nine points. Portland has won three in a row.
The Hawks trailed by 13 entering the fourth quarter but rallied to make it close. Trae Young finished with 29 points and Jalen Johnson added 25.
Rockets 143, Bulls 107
Fred VanVleet scored a game-high 28 points and Alperen Sengun finished with 20 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds for his second straight triple-double as visiting Houston routed Chicago.
Seven Rockets scored in double figures, including every starter. Jalen Green had 18 points, while Amen Thompson (16 points), Dillon Brooks (15), Reed Sheppard (12) and Jabari Smith Jr. (10) followed. Thompson added 11 rebounds for a double-double.
The Bulls emptied much of their bench late in the third quarter. Zach LaVine (15 points) and Talen Horton-Tucker (12) paced Chicago, which shot 33.6 percent. Houston shot 52.4 percent while reaching a season high in points.
- NBA roundup: Cavs top Hornets, improve to 15-0
- Clippers G James Harden now 2nd on all-time 3-point list
- Grizzlies rookie C Zach Edey (ankle) exits game vs. Nuggets
- Hornets star LaMelo Ball fined $100K for anti-gay phrase
- Mavericks' Luka Doncic (knee) ruled out vs. Thunder
- Cavs G Donovan Mitchell (rest) to skip game vs. Hornets
- NBA fines Wolves' Anthony Edwards $35K for gesture
- 'Inside the NBA' to move to ESPN, ABC next season
- NBA roundup: Jayson Tatum's 3 at buzzer lifts Celtics in OT
- NBA roundup: Kings' De'Aaron Fox scores 60 in OT loss
- NBA considering four-team format for All-Star Game
- Nuggets' Nikola Jokic out vs. Pelicans for personal reasons
- Warriors’ De’Anthony Melton sprains ACL, to undergo tests
- Bronny James only playing G League home games
- NBA roundup: Giannis Antetokounmpo nets 59 in Bucks' OT win
- 76ers hold Joel Embiid, Paul George out vs. Cleveland
- Spurs: Gregg Popovich suffered mild stroke; full recovery expected
- NBA roundup: Warriors clip Mavs in Klay Thompson’s return
- Raptors G Immanuel Quickley out with partial UCL tear
- G Jose Alvarado (hamstring) joins Pelicans' injury list
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (back) remains out for Monday's meeting with the Hawks. The 35-year-old is dealing with a back injury, so he'll miss his third-straight contest on Monday night. Under normal circumstances, the Kings would rely mostly on Domantas Sabonis (back) and De'Aaron Fox to pick up the slack. However, with Sabonis doubtful, Fox, who had 49 points in Saturday's win over the Jazz, should do most of the heavy lifting on the offensive end. On the other hand, guys like Kevin Hunter, Trey Lyles, and Keegan Murray may also be in line for added production.
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) is doubtful for Monday's contest against the Phoenix Suns. The doubtful tag may suggest he's moving in the right direction. However, it appears the 25-year-old will miss his eighth-straight game on Monday night. If that's the case, Goga Bitadze will presumably remain with the first five, with the 2019 No. 18 overall pick averaging 9.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in seven starts during the 2024-25 campaign.
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (ankle) exited Sunday's win over the Denver Nuggets. With Nikola Jokic (personal) out, it was a perfect opportunity for Memphis to take advance. Unfortunately, the rookie lasted only 14 minutes in this one, exiting because of a sprained left ankle and would finish the contest with seven points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Edey has played well enough in his inaugural year, averaging 11.5 points and 6.9 rebounds. He's also shot 66.7% from behind the arc. However, Edey's health was a big concern for fantasy managers heading into the 2024-25 campaign, so the team may need to play if safe when the Nuggets and Grizzlies do it again on Tuesday night. If the 22-year-old isn't out there, Jay Huff will likely see more minutes behind Brandon Clarke and be worth starting in any fantasy format.
Sacramento Kings forward/center Domantas Sabonis (back) is expected to miss Monday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. The 28-year-old played all 82 regular-season games in 2023-24. However, he's in line to miss his second-consecutive contest because of back tightness. With DeMar DeRozan (back) already ruled out, the Kings may need to rely on De'Aaron Fox, who had 49 points in Saturday's win over Utah, for most of the team's production. But as far as Sabonis' spot in the rotation is concerned, Trey Lyles would presumably remain in the starting lineup, with the 2015 No. 12 overall pick dropping 17 points on the Jazz.
Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney (illness) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The big man hasn't been a huge part of the rotation as he's only averaging 15 minutes per game. However, Looney is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game, so his rebounding would be hard to replace if he sits out. Trayce Jackson-Davis figures to see more playing time if Looney is unable to go. Jackson-Davis hasn't been a great fantasy option, but would certainly have more streaming appeal if he gets additional playing time.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (knee) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The superstar guard is reportedly dealing with left knee inflammation, which shouldn't sideline him for long. He missed three games towards the end of October due to an ankle issue. The Warriors are already low on depth at the guard spot, so losing Curry would certainly hurt. Buddy Hield should see additional playing time and is already worth rostering in most formats. Brandin Podziemski would probably see more minutes as well, but he isn't as appealing as Hield. Podziemski did finish with 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists during his last game, but he's more of a boom-or-bust option.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (concussion) is listed as probable ahead of Monday's game against the Houston Rockets. It looks like Lillard is on the verge of returning after missing each of the last three games while in concussion protocol. Delon Wright has been starting with Lillard out, but he hasn't done much with the increased playing time. He's a solid defensive player, but doesn't bring much to the table on offense. That being said, Wright won't be worth streaming once Lillard returns to the court. Fantasy managers should check back before tip-off, but Lillard should be good to go for Monday.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is listed as probable ahead of Monday's game against the Houston Rockets. The superstar forward continues to appear on the injury report, but he has only missed one game this season. Fantasy managers should expect to have Antetokounmpo unless he suffers a setback during warmups. If he sits, Bobby Portis would see an increased role and would have strong streaming appeal without the two-time MVP on the court.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (illness) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Miami Heat. The superstar center is back on the injury report after only playing two games this season. Luckily, this sounds like a minor issue, so it should only cost Embiid one game at most. If he sits, Andre Drummond would move into the starting lineup while Guerschon Yabusele would see additional playing time off the bench. Drummond would be an interesting streaming option without Embiid on the court. He's a strong rebounder and has been a decent contributor with the Sixers shorthanded lately.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (hip) will remain on the shelf for Sunday's clash with the Clippers. He continues to nurse a hip problem. With him out, the stage is set for John Collins to go off for another big game. He's notched 24.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.7 steals since replacing Kessler in the starting unit. Rookie Kyle Filipowski has also stepped up recently and deserves attention from fantasy managers. He has averaged 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in the games Kessler has missed.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) will play against Brooklyn on Sunday. A knee contusion kept him off the floor against the Nets on Friday, but Towns makes a quick return. The Knicks' new star center had 46 points against Chicago in his last outing and has hit the 30-point mark four times in his most recent five appearances. He's in a great position to do a lot of damage again on Sunday, as Brooklyn is missing Nicholas Claxton (back) and hasn't done very well defensively against opposing centers. Jericho Sims lands back on the bench with Towns' return.
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (knee) will miss a second consecutive game on Sunday versus Brooklyn. McBride has been the first guy off the bench behind the Knicks' stacked starting five this season, averaging 10.7 points and 2.5 assists in 26.4 minutes. With him out of the rotation, Cameron Payne and Pacome Dadiet have a chance to see extra action, but neither player is a good fantasy option. The Knicks starters will likely be in for another busy night as well -- three of them logged 39-plus minutes against the Nets on Friday.
Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson (quadriceps) has received the all-clear to play on Sunday versus Chicago. He injured his quadriceps against the Clippers on Friday and was initially regarded as questionable for Sunday's action. Thompson's availability is great news for the Rockets, as the 21-year-old has played great this month, averaging 12.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. Thompson continues to come off the bench for Houston but has plenty to offer for fantasy managers. He also finds himself in a nice fantasy matchup on Sunday, as the Bulls lead the league in pace.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic (knee) will miss Sunday's matchup against Oklahoma City. The Mavericks superstar has been dealing with a knee injury all week and will give it some rest on Sunday. Quentin Grimes will come into the starting unit as his replacement. Grimes is a good three-point shooter and amassed 15 points, four rebounds, five assists, and one steal in his first start of the campaign. Jaden Hardy and Spencer Dinwiddie might receive more action as well on Sunday, while Kyrie Irving gets a usage boost with Doncic's absence.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (ankle) won't play in Sunday's matchup with the Indiana Pacers. The 35-year-old was listed as questionable. However, he'll miss his fourth-straight contest on Sunday, so his next chance to return will be on Monday night versus the Philadelphia 76ers. With that in mind, Tyler Herro, averaging 28.7 points in the three games without Butler this season, is a lock for season-long fantasy setups. That also applies to DFS contests. At the same time, Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr. could also see an uptick in fantasy production.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (personal) won't play in Sunday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He was listed as questionable heading into this one after missing Friday's game versus the New Orleans Pelicans due to personal reasons. As a result, Dario Saric entered the starting lineup in that one and finished with nine points, eight rebounds, five assists, and one steal. With Jokic out again, Saric should continue to benefit from a fantasy standpoint, even if it's only for one more game.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (finger) is questionable for Sunday's matchup versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 26-year-old had 26 points, nine boards, and six assists in Saturday's one-point win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Unfortunately, he was added to the injury report because of a left index finger sprain. With Miles Bridges (knee) and Tre Mann (back) also questionable, the Hornets may need to rely more on Brandon Miller, Cody Martin, and Grant Williams for offensive production.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (back) is questionable for Sunday's game versus the Phoenix Suns. The 27-year-old averaged 15.5 points with the Knicks last season. However, he has logged just 8.9 points and shot 30.3% from deep per contest during the 2024-25 campaign. While DiVincenzo's lack of production doesn't make him a routine fantasy starter, his absence could give Nickeil Alexander-Walker some streaming value for deeper fantasy setups on Sunday.
Sacramento's G De'Aaron Fox scored 49 points on 16-of-30 shooting in a 121-117 win over the Jazz on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Toronto's F RJ Barrett recorded a triple-double, finishing with 25 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in a 123-126 loss to Boston on Saturday, Nov. 16.
