Madina Okot had 23 points and 13 rebounds and No. South Carolina outlasted No. Louisville 79-77 on Thursday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Johnson, Fulwiley help No. 5 LSU beat Duke 93-77 in ACC/SEC Challenge
Flau'jae Johnson had 18 points to lead six players in double figures as No. 5 LSU beat Duke 93-77 in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Thursday night. MiLaysia Fulwiley added 16 points for the Tigers (9-0), who failed to reach 100 points for the first time this season to end an NCAA-record streak at eight games. No matter, it was still a dominating offensive performance, with the Tigers shooting 59.7% and scoring 52 points in the paint while needing just five made 3-pointers to crack the 90-point mark.
Nets allow 42 points in fourth-quarter collapse, fall to Jazz, 123-110
NEW YORK (AP) — Lauri Markkanen scored 30 points, Keyonte George had 29 and the Utah Jazz used a huge fourth quarter to beat the Brooklyn Nets 123-110 on Thursday night.
The Jazz outscored the Nets 42-20 in the final quarter after trailing by 15 points in the first half. Markkanen and George nearly outscored the Nets by themselves, combining for 18 points.
Kyle Filipowski had 15 points and Walter Clayton Jr. added 13 off the bench for Utah, which shot 14 for 22 (63.6%) in the fourth.
Noah Clowney scored 29 points and Ziaire Williams had 23 off the bench for Nets, who had their two-game winning streak snapped.
With the game tied at 98 with 6:29 remaining, George hit consecutive 3-pointers. Williams answered with a three that made it 104-101.
On the ensuing possession, Tyrese Martin turned the ball over after stepping out of bounds and Bryce Sensabaugh was fouled on a three-point attempt and made two free throws to extend the lead 106-101.
Filipowski then connected on another three-pointer and Markkanen followed with one of his own after Clowney’s layup with 3:39 to play to make it 112-103.
The Nets rested leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. for injury management in the second game of a back-to-back. Porter, who is averaging 25.3 points, scored 33 and had 10 rebounds in Wednesday’s win at Chicago.
Up next
Jazz: Remain in New York to play the Knicks on Friday.
Nets: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
LeBron James' record scoring streak ends, but Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura deliver win
Of course.
Stuck between trying to extend his record streak of 1,297 consecutive games with 10 or more points or passing to an open Rui Hachimura to take the potential winning shot, LeBron James made the right play.
Because that’s what he’s done for 23 years in the NBA.
James’ assist on Hachimura’s buzzer-beating three-pointer punctuated the Lakers’ dramatic 123-120 win over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena.
After the Lakers (16-5) forced a miss by Brandon Ingram with 22.9 seconds left, Austin Reaves heard Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic calling for a double team. Scottie Barnes rushed to guard Reaves near the sideline and the Lakers guard sent a left-handed bounce pass to James near the top of the arc. James, with eight points on labored four-for-17 shooting, took one dribble and fired it to Hachimura in the corner.
“I just make the right play,” James said. “That's all that matters. Win, lose or draw, make the right play.”
James’ 11 assists and Reaves’ 44 points and 10 assists helped the Lakers overcome the absence of Luka Doncic, who missed the game because of personal reasons. The NBA’s leading scorer and his fiancee are expecting their second child. Coach JJ Redick said the team hopes to get Doncic “back soon, but don’t have a pinpointed day yet.”
Without the team’s primary offensive engine, center Deandre Ayton chipped in 17 points and Jake LaRavia scored 14 off the bench. Two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. delivered 12 points in 14 minutes off the bench as the Lakers dug deep into their roster ahead of another game in Boston on Friday.
James last scored in single digits on Jan. 5, 2007 when Milwaukee held him to eight points on three-for-13 shooting in 43 minutes. But Cleveland still won that game 95-86 as James dished nine assists.
Read more:'A lot of slices of pizza left': Where the Lakers stand after 20 games
At 40, James has continued to rely on his playmaking, averaging 7.8 assists in six games since missing the first 14 because of sciatica. James acknowledged he still is finding his rhythm offensively.
He faded into the background of the Lakers' blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday, when he barely extended the streak by scoring four of his 10 points in the fourth quarter. He came out aggressively against the Raptors with nine shots by halftime.
But he scored only four points. He missed his first six shots, some even missing the rim.
Behind 22 third-quarter points from Reaves, the Lakers were clinging to a two-point lead entering the fourth. James was “acutely aware” of how many points he had as the game progressed, Redick said. With only six points in the first three quarters, James opened the fourth with two quick three-point attempts. Neither was close to going in.
The first Lakers points in the fourth quarter came from Smith. Of course, he was assisted by James.
Throughout his celebrated career, James often has been criticized for his passing. In big moments, critics questioned whether he could be the true face of the NBA if he was passing on winning opportunities to create open looks for his teammates. If he passed, he was ridiculed for not stepping up. If he shot and missed, he was torn down for it.
James, the career scoring leader who ranks fourth in assists, still remembers “everything [that] has been negatively said” about his game. Any insinuation that he wouldn’t always choose the right play sticks with him the most.
“That aspect was always like the most, one of the most foolish things I've ever heard as far as making the right pass, making the right play,” James said. “We are in the business of winning basketball games. My whole life I've just played the game that way. I was taught the game that way and I've won at every single level I've played at by playing the game that way. So there was no reason for me to ever change once I got to this level.”
James’ unselfish play rubbed off on teammates who worked to earn his trust.
“When you got someone like that, everybody's gotta fall in line,” said Reaves, who is averaging 41 points in four games without Doncic this season. “If you don't fall in line with someone like that, then you look crazy.”
The Lakers made it look perfect. Hachimura, who scored 12 points, sprinted down the sideline after his first winning buzzer-beater. Reaves jumped on his back. James yelled toward the Lakers bench with outstretched arms. Redick relished the look of pure joy on James’ face.
The superstar took no time to mourn the streak that he never truly tried to build. When asked for his feelings about the end of a run that was set to turn 19 years old next month, James looked almost puzzled at the question.
“None,” James said. “We won.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Chris Paul reportedly does not want to retire, Clippers stars were surprised by move to send him home
Chris Paul may have suggested weeks ago that he planned to retire after this season, but being sent away from the team and parting ways with the Clippers is not how he wants his career to end.
Paul "absolutely" does not want to retire mid-season, reports Marc Spears of ESPN.
"Does he want to retire, is he done? I was told absolutely not." @MarcJSpears on Chris Paul after being sent home from the Clippers pic.twitter.com/XVzDyEcTrH
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 4, 2025
Paul, who signed a veteran minimum contract with the Clippers this summer, cannot be traded until after Dec. 15 and the Clippers reportedly will look to find a new home for the future Hall of Famer. However, any teams that have any interest in him would rather wait to pick him up on the buyout market after the trade deadline — or, after the Clippers just release him — than give up anything in a trade.
Paul is known for being a very vocal leader, unafraid to call out anyone — teammates, coaches, management — in meetings and in private, and over the course of his career, that has worn thin at places. With the Clippers stumbling out of the gate, the relationship between Paul and coach Tyronn Lue reportedly grew strained, to the point that they were no longer speaking. That's when the decision to send Paul home and keep him away from the team was made.
Whatever one thinks of the reasoning, the Clippers' handling of Paul's exit — with the news leaking at nearly 3 AM Eastern while the team was in Atlanta — was not smooth. It caught Clippers players off guard, as they told Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
"I'm just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world," (James) Harden said ... "Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it's a lot that we were dealing with. But that is out of my hands. I got to focus on what I got to focus on and what I can control. I guess the front office felt that was the best decision for the organization."
"It was shocking to me," (Kawhi) Leonard said. "I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision."
The Clippers did go out after all this drama and picked up a quality win in Atlanta, 115-92. LA is still 6-16 on the season and sitting 13th in the West.
NBA fines Cavaliers $250,000 for sitting Darius Garland in nationally televised game
On Nov. 23 and 24, the Cleveland Cavaliers faced a back-to-back, at home on Sunday against the struggling Clippers, then on the road Monday against the impressive Raptors, with their high-pressure defense. The Cavaliers chose to start Darius Garland in the game they most expected to win — against the Clippers — and rested him on Monday night in Toronto.
That decision will cost Toronto $250,000 for violating the NBA's player participation policy, a fine the league announced Thursday.
That Monday Toronto game was nationally televised as part of Peacock NBA Monday and "the violation occurred when the Cavaliers failed to make Garland available for the team's nationally-televised game on Nov. 24 and instead made him available on Nov. 23 which was not a nationally-televised game," the NBA said in its statement announcing the fine.
The league determined that Garland could have played both halves of the back-to-back. Garland has played in just eight of the Cavaliers' 23 games this season, battling a toe issue that slowed him in last season's playoffs.
The $250,000 sum was because this was the Cavaliers second violation of the player participation policy. Cleveland had previously been fined $100,000 for sitting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley against Miami earlier in November. After that fine, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said, "I gotta look at the Cavs' best interest." I think my No. 1 job is to protect the health of our players."
Observations after Sixers blow 24-point lead but Edgecombe makes game-winning put-back
Observations after Sixers blow 24-point lead but Edgecombe makes game-winning put-back originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Exactly one month after blowing a 24-point lead to the Bulls, the Sixers did the same Thursday night vs. the Warriors.
This time around, they still escaped with a win, earning a 99-98 victory at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
De’Anthony Melton blocked Tyrese Maxey’s jumper on the Sixers’ final possession, but VJ Edgecombe leaped for a game-winning put-back layup with 0.9 seconds to go.
The Warriors then chucked the ball ahead and Melton appeared like he’d have a clean chance, but Maxey hustled back and snuffed his lay-in attempt to seal the game.
Maxey led all scorers with 35 points.
The 12-9 Sixers were down Paul George (left knee injury recovery), Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain).
Oubre will be re-evaluated next week, according to a team official. The 29-year-old wing said pregame that he’s been making progress, doing whatever the Sixers’ medical staff instructs and taking a “day-by-day” approach.
Golden State was without Stephen Curry (left quadriceps contusion) and Jimmy Butler (left knee soreness). Draymond Green exited at halftime because of a right foot injury.
The Sixers will fly to Milwaukee and play the Bucks on Friday night. Here are observations on their win over the Warriors:
Lid on the Warriors’ rim
Joel Embiid faced up against Al Horford on the game’s first possession and knocked down a jumper. Horford followed with a three-pointer, which was the last long-range success the Warriors had for a long time.
For much of the first quarter, there was a lid on the Golden State rim.
The Warriors started 2 for 21 from the field and 1 for 13 from three-point range. They managed a mere 10 points in the first quarter. The Sixers played sound defense, but many of those misses came on open and wide-open shots.
Meanwhile, Maxey had a swell time on the other end against his friend Melton, who returned from a torn ACL to make his season debut. Maxey hit a baseline floater, and-one layup and mid-range jumper on his former backcourt mate. He also nailed a step-back three against another former Sixer, sinking a deep jumper over Buddy Hield to put the Sixers up 21-5.
Nothing free for Golden State in first half
The Warriors made a 10-0 run early in the second quarter with Maxey on the bench. Edgecombe snapped it with a tightly guarded, off-balance three late in the shot clock.
The Sixers’ lack of fouls helped them maintain a comfortable lead. Golden State took no free throws in the first half.
The team has made significant improvement in that area this season. Entering Thursday, the Sixers ranked 11th in the NBA in defensive free throw rate, per Cleaning the Glass. They were 20th last season. The Sixers haven’t forced turnovers as often, but the decrease in free points conceded has helped the team at least be a middle-of-the-pack defense so far.
Two Maxey mid-range buckets built the Sixers’ lead back to 20 points. Jared McCain’s corner three with 3.1 seconds to go in the second quarter got a generous bounce through the hole and gave the Sixers a 56-34 advantage.
Sixers collapse but still pull it out
After the Warriors scored the first six points of the third quarter, Maxey canned a trio of triples in quick succession.
That sure didn’t spell the end of the contest.
The Sixers had many sloppy possessions against the Warriors’ zone defense in the third quarter. Maxey committed three turnovers in the period and Edgecombe had two. Melton scored a driving layup on Golden State’s final play of the third to cut the Sixers’ lead to 80-66.
By the middle of the fourth quarter, the Sixers were in serious danger of losing their lead.
Edgecombe missed a three and Hield then leaked out for a fast-break layup on his Bahamian teammate. McCain turned the ball over twice in a row against Golden State’s ball pressure. In general, the Sixers’ offense looked rushed and uncertain. Jumpers by Quinten Post and Melton sliced the Warriors’ deficit to 84-81.
Adem Bona checked in for his first action of the night and converted a put-back layup on his first play. Embiid logged 25 minutes and didn’t appear in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors began to drain all the jump shots they’d bricked in the early going. Post drilled another three and Gui Santos cut free for a layup that lifted Golden State to a 93-92 edge.
Pat Spencer made it 98-94 with a long-range jumper. Quentin Grimes then scored an and-one layup and the Sixers finally managed an important stop. Melton drove into the lane, got stopped in his tracks by Bona, and traveled. On the ensuing possession, Bona drew a foul … and missed both his free throws.
Melton missed a layup in traffic, but the Warriors retained possession thanks to a successful challenge that showed the rebound last touched Edgecombe on its way out of bounds.
The final seconds were full of more chaos. Edgecombe wound up stealing a Spencer inbounds pass and calling timeout with 8.2 seconds on the clock. The rookie had one more clutch play in store.
Oakland basketball coach Greg Kampe sounds off on absent student section: ‘Where are they?’
Oakland University basketball head coach Greg Kampe called out the team's student section for not attending games.
Why Steve Kerr trusting his eyes is key to maximizing Warriors' lineup shuffling
Why Steve Kerr trusting his eyes is key to maximizing Warriors' lineup shuffling originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
When the Warriors were running the NBA, staging annual races to the NBA Finals, whatever Kerr would see on the court in real time greatly influenced his substitution decisions. He strayed from that guidance pattern Tuesday night, and it backfired.
Kerr went back to those instincts Thursday night in Philadelphia and almost was rewarded with an unlikely victory.
The Warriors wiped out a 24-point third-quarter deficit, with the surge giving them a 98-94 lead on Pat Spencer’s 3-pointer with 1:12 remaining before the 76ers closed it out for a 99-98 victory that dropped Golden State to 11-12.
Spencer was in the game because Kerr trusted the eyes he didn’t trust Tuesday, when Spencer ignited a late comeback that threatened Oklahoma City but was subbed out for Brandin Podziemski with 3:56 left. The next two possessions went nowhere, with Podziemski missing from deep and committing a turnover.
This time, there was no questionable late-game substitution. Podziemski stayed on the bench, as Spencer played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter and was no less effective than he was two nights earlier.
“Yeah, tonight was a no brainer,” Kerr told reporters at Xfinity Mobile Center. “The other night was a tricky decision but tonight was obvious pat was just incredible out there and controlled the game and he’s just about the right stuff.”
Spencer scored 12 points in the quarter and was plus-13 for his efforts. He led lineups that were without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III or Draymond Green, who left in the second quarter after aggravating a sprained right foot.
To put a finer point on it, Spencer – with generous assistance from De’Anthony Melton in his season debut – pushed the Warriors in position to prevail mostly behind the bench. Gui Santos played more than 11 minutes in the fourth quarter, Buddy Hield played 10 minutes, Quinten Post played eight and Melton played five.
“The effort was phenomenal,” Kerr said. “It felt like we really deserved to win, and I feel terrible for the guys that we couldn’t hang on because the effort, the energy, the commitment. Gui hasn’t played in a couple weeks and he’s playing the whole fourth quarter and is (plus-15), showing what he did last year. And the way Pat got us into our offense and got downhill and into pick-and-roll and distributed the ball . . . I like the way the guys fought.”
Kerr indicated that he hopes for a way that Spencer, operating on a two-way contract that limits him to 50 games, can be elevated to a standard contract. The coach also made it clear that he sees Spencer as “the perfect guy for a backup” at point guard behind Curry.
With Spencer playing exceedingly well in consecutive games, and Melton impressing in his return nearly a year after undergoing surgery to repair a slight ACL tear, the Warriors will be exceptionally deep at guard when Curry returns, which is expected next Friday.
“We’re deep,” Spencer said. “We got a lot of guys that could play and guys that have proven it time after time. So, I think that’s the tough part. I don’t envy Steve’s job at all.”
Make no mistake, a 10-point first quarter laid the foundation for this loss, which exposed – or re-exposed – some of the weaknesses that have rendered Golden State unable to escape mediocrity so far this season.
Ineffective defense at the point of attack. Poor shot selection, mostly in the first half, particularly in the first quarter when they jacked up 15 3s, making two. Too many live-ball turnovers, which Philly exploited for 25 points. Insufficient interior moxie and muscle, resulting in another rebounding deficit, with the 76ers scoring the game-winning bucket on an offensive rebound.
Spencer can help with a few of those ailments, and Melton surely will address some of them. When Curry returns, Spencer and Melton will be among seven Warriors vying for guard minutes in the rotation.
All of which gives Kerr the right to shorten his proverbial leash on a night-to-night basis.
The coach likely realized that on this night, when he went back to an old habit that served him well. He trusted his in-game eyes.
Bucks players, coach Doc Rivers downplay buzz around Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
Giannis Antetokounmpo was frustrated. Doc Rivers was frustrated. Bucks GM Jon Horst was frustrated. All the Bucks players were frustrated. Milwaukee went into training camp believing internally they could be a force in a down Eastern Conference this season, but there they were on Wednesday morning at 9-13, having not only lost four in a row while Antetokounmpo was out with a groin strain, but they had lost on Monday night with him to a struggling Wizards team.
That's when the report dropped that Antetokounmpo and his agent would meet with Bucks management to discuss his future with the franchise. That report sparked countless conversations — from front offices around the league to media broadcasts to barstools in New York City — about what an Antetokounmpo trade might look like.
Wednesday night, the Bucks players, as well as Rivers, pushed back on all that talk on a number of fronts:
• The most impressive was a win without Antetokounmpo — who left the game with a calf strain two minutes in and now reportedly will be out 2-4 weeks — beating the top team in the East, the Detroit Pistons. That's the Bucks' best win of the season and met with Antetokounmpo's approval, according to Bobby Portis.
"What's so crazy is Giannis is the first person texting in the team group message, 'Good job, fellas, way to get one,'" Portis said, via the Associated Press.
• Kevin Porter Jr. had maybe the best summation of where the Bucks locker room stands, seeing everything as outside noise until Antetokounmpo himself talks to the team, with the quote via Eric Nehm at The Athletic.
"I'll just say this: There's a lot of outside noise, that's just what comes with it," Porter said. "And Giannis does a great job of assuring (us) that he's wanting to be here with this group specifically.
"So, we ain't even worried about all the outside noise. That's my brother and I'm sure if it was something he would come to us, but he's with us and we're gonna hold it down until he's ready."
• Before the reports of Antetokounmpo meeting with management even dropped, the Bucks players held a team meeting to talk about why they had not been playing up to their own standards and what needed to be done. Here is how Portis described it, via The Athletic.
"Just trying to keep guys' minds right, keep guys together, that's a big thing in the league," Portis explained of the motive behind the meeting. "Obviously, everybody wants to get paid, everybody has different motives, whatever it is. Just making sure that we're together, right? And then, most importantly, understanding that we have to get a win. No matter how we get it. If it's ugly, if it's good, if we're knocking down shots, whatever it is, the most important thing was to win."
The Bucks got the kind of win they needed on Wednesday night.
• Doc Rivers is maybe the best salesman among the current crop of NBA coaches, and he was selling the company line on Wednesday — but there is a truth in what he is saying. Here's his full quote from pregame:
"I want to make it clear for the — I want to say one more time — for the 50th time, and clearly it's not getting to one network, for sure, Giannis has never asked to be traded. Ever. I can't make that more clear."
Rivers also went on to say that if the Bucks turn things around and start winning games again, playing to their potential, all these questions will go away.
Rivers is not lying here. The Bucks are not going to trade Antetokounmpo until he formally asks to be traded, and he has yet to do that forcefully and directly. He did pressure the Bucks to talk to the Knicks late in this summer (August), but after the Knicks re-signed Mikal Bridges to an extension, taking him off the trade table until Feb. 1, 2026. Those talks went nowhere.
This is the first big question being asked around the league, according to sources NBC Sports has spoken with: Is Antetokounmpo going to formally, officially ask for a trade? He's danced up to that line before, but never stepped over it and officially asked. He comes off as maybe wanting out but also not wanting to be the bad guy. When asked about his status, his response is always some version of what he said at this year's training camp: "I want to be in a situation that I can win, and now I'm here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I'm here to lead this team to wherever we can go."
Until Antetokounmpo stops just rattling his sabers and actually makes a trade request (or, until he doesn't sign an extension with the team next October when they can offer him a new max deal), the Bucks are going to try to find ways — including making moves at the February trade deadline — to improve the roster and win with him. The Bucks are all-in on Antetokounmpo until he tells them not to be.
• The other question being asked around the league is, if Antetokounmpo does request a trade, will the Bucks be willing to work with him and take less in return to get him where he wants to go (New York, presumably, but other teams like Miami or Golden State could be on a short list) or, are they going to take the best package regardless of where it sends the two-time MVP? Teams like Atlanta and San Antonio can put together offers far better than New York or the other reported preferred Antetokounmpo landing spots, should those teams decide to jump in and go after him. How would Antetokounmpo react if the Bucks worked out a trade with the Hawks or Spurs? Would this be like Antetokounmpo's former teammate, Damian Lillard, who didn't have Milwaukee on his trade list but was open to the idea once presented with the deal? Antetokounmpo has some leverage because he is under contract for one more season after this one and could tell a team he would not re-sign with them if they trade for him. Of course, that's what Kawhi Leonard told Toronto, they traded for him anyway, won a ring, and then he left. There are teams that would sign up for that outcome.
• The Bucks' current roster is going to ignore all that and focus instead on what matters most right now — winning games, so this becomes moot.
Draymond Green sounds off on the Clippers stunningly sending Chris Paul home
Draymond Green sounds off on the Clippers stunningly sending Chris Paul home originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Former teammate and current Warriors forward Draymond Green didn’t hold back when he weighed in on the scorched earth the Los Angeles Clippers unleashed in sending home franchise legend Chris Paul.
“There will always be finger pointing, that’s just the way s–t goes,” Green explained Thursday on “The Draymond Green Show.”
The news of the Clippers’ decision to part ways with Paul broke late on Tuesday night after a late-night three-hour conversation within the front office.
Sources alluded that Paul’s criticism regarding lack of accountability clashed with the team, specifically, coach Ty Lue.
“Holding management, coaches, and players accountable seems like something that needs to be done in order to win at a high level,” Green shared. “… I think those things must be done in an organization to be competitive and compete at the highest level.”
Personality clashes between teammates is something Draymond is familiar with as a leader and team captain. His behavior was something he was mandated by the NBA to receive counseling for two seasons ago during Paul’s lone season with Golden State.
“CP has always been that guy to hold everyone accountable,” he praised, “… The facts are the facts. CP is as great as we all know he is.”
Paul ultimately signed with the San Antonio Spurs on a one-year contract after being waived by the Warriors in 2024. He signed with the Clippers in July 2025 in what was expected to be his farewell tour before retiring from the NBA.
“It’s unfortunate. If that can be done to Chris Paul, imagine what can be done to the rest of us, so I think if you’re an NBA player, this should bother you.”
As of now, Paul’s contract is at a standstill, he is not waived by the Clippers and cannot be traded until as early as Dec. 15. Nonetheless, CP3’s legendary Clippers career will not end on his own terms.
What we learned in Warriors' heartbreaking last-second road loss to 76ers
What we learned in Warriors' heartbreaking last-second road loss to 76ers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
In every way possible, the Warriors had as bad of a start to a game as possible Thursday night in Philadelphia against the 76ers. That isn’t an exaggeration either.
But this is why all four quarters count. The Warriors’ reserves for the second straight game led a furious comeback, but fell short in heartbreaking fashion, 99-98 in the final second at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
VJ Edgecombe put back a Tyrese Maxey miss with 0.9 seconds left, and then Maxey blocked a layup attempt from De’Anthony Melton at the buzzer.
After Will Richard made it a 5-5 game, the 76ers then answered with a 22-0 run. The Warriors went more than seven minutes without scoring a single point, chucking threes and counting their misses. They finished the first quarter with 10 points, which is the lowest amount for any team in any quarter throughout the NBA this season, and the fewest for the Warriors ever under coach Steve Kerr.
The Warriors could have waved the white flag after the first quarter. At least at halftime. But no, for the second straight game, they scratched, clawed and fought until the very end. The Warriors, with two and a half minutes left, took their first lead since the score was 3-2.
Pat Spencer again was phenomenal off the bench for the Warriors. One game after scoring a career-high 17 points, Spencer played 24 minutes and was a plus-17 with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Making his season debut, Melton was as good as Warriors fans remembered. The veteran guard scored 14 points off the bench to go with three assists and two steals.
The Warriors (11-12) already were without their top two stars, Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, to begin a three-game road trip. Adding injury to insult, Draymond Green limped to the locker room in the second quarter and was ruled out with a right foot injury early in the third quarter.
Maxey dropped a game-high 35 points, but the Warriors’ bench outscored the 76ers’ reserves 67-24. Four different Warriors bench players finished in double figures.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ loss to the 12-9 76ers:
Melton Makes Season Debut
Exactly one year to the date, Melton underwent ACL surgery. On Thursday night, he made his season debut, playing in his first game since Nov. 12, 2024. Melton joined Jonathan Kuminga as the first two players off the bench against one of his former teams, replacing Al Horford and Will Richard.
He used his length and strength halfway through the second quarter to score his first two points of the season.
That layup was the lone shot Melton made in the first half. As the Warriors started adjusting the kind of shots they were taking in the third quarter, Melton was money on a midrange jumper for his first attempt of the third quarter. As the Warriors began chopping away the deficit, Melton led the Warriors with eight points in the third quarter.
Melton added another four points, one rebound and one assist in the fourth quarter. Kerr said that Melton would be capped at 20 minutes, but he brought him for the final two minutes of the game, bringing him to just under 22 in his first game played in more than a year.
Stats were impressive enough for Melton. The way he played with the intentionality of getting two feet in the paint, pushing pace and getting to the free-throw line are lessons the rest of the Warriors can learn from.
Horford Gets First Start In Return
Returning from missing the Warriors’ last four games due to sciatic nerve irritation and a personal matter, Horford was thrown into the starting lineup for the first time this season. And he was part of the action right away.
Joel Embiid scored on Horford from 11 feet out to start the game, and then Horford responded by draining a three on the other side for the Warriors.
Horford took five more shots the rest of the first half, including four threes, and missed each one. The same thing happened in the second half, too.
He played 18 minutes and scored three points on 1-of-8 shooting and was 1 of 7 beyond the arc. However, Horford did add six rebounds, four assists and one big blocked shot. Horford was a plus-5 overall.
Another Stunning Second Half
For the second straight game, the Warriors were a better and smarter team in the third quarter than the product that was on the court in the first two quarters. Just look at their shot chart from the third quarter compared to the first half, when they scored 32 points, which is two fewer than they went into halftime with.
The Warriors only took four threes in the third quarter after attempting 15 in the first quarter and 11 in the second, going 6 of 26 (23.1 percent). But as defense turned to offense, the game became easier for the Warriors in the third quarter. The Warriors made two of their four 3-point attempts in the third quarter and went 9 of 15 on 2-pointers (60 percent) while frequenting the paint.
They also had five steals in the quarter, forced seven turnovers and took 12 free throws – twice as many as the 76ers. That style then followed them into the fourth quarter. The Warriors went on a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter, taking them from down 84-66 to making it an 84-81 game.
The Warriors outscored the 76ers 32-19 in the fourth quarter and 64-43 in the second half.
NBA Minutes Report: How injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry impact playing time
Welcome to the Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report. Every week, I will review each team's updated minutes per game to see which players are seeing the court more or less than in previous weeks. With this information in hand, I'll try to discuss any relevant fantasy risers or fallers; players who we should be adding off waivers or removing from our teams.
The charts below are also great for exploring on your own. You can track the minutes over the last three, five, and ten games, and for the entire season, to see which trends stand out to you.
All of this data was made accessible by Kyle Bland, who is incredibly talented and also incredibly generous, so make sure to give him a follow to check out all of his baseball data as well.
Check out the fantasy basketball rankings update as the season enters December.
Raphielle JohnsonAtlanta Hawks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jalen Johnson | 41.4 | 37.9 | 38 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | 39 | 34 | 33.4 |
| Dyson Daniels | 38.8 | 37 | 35.6 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 36.8 | 35.5 | 35.7 |
| Zaccharie Risacher | 28.3 | 28.3 | 25.8 |
| Mouhamed Gueye | 22.8 | 21.9 | 18.9 |
| Vít Krejčí | 21.5 | 20 | 24.7 |
| Luke Kennard | 17.5 | 16.7 | 16.9 |
| Kristaps Porziņģis | — | 21.8 | 28 |
Kristaps Porzingis has been battling an illness and has missed four straight games, so we have to hope everything is alright. Trae Young (knee) remains out and will be re-evaluated later this week. In his absence, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been tremendous, averaging 23.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over his last eight games. That's a top-50 value in fantasy basketball leagues. Jalen Johnson is dealing with a bit of a calf injury of his own, but he's been one of the best players in the league so far this year.
Boston Celtics
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jaylen Brown | 39 | 37.7 | 35.1 |
| Derrick White | 37 | 35.4 | 34.1 |
| Payton Pritchard | 30.6 | 32 | 32.5 |
| Sam Hauser | 27.9 | 25.7 | 21.5 |
| Jordan Walsh | 25.6 | 25.9 | 24.5 |
| Neemias Queta | 24.9 | 18.6 | 23.7 |
| Anfernee Simons | 22.8 | 20.5 | 22.1 |
| Josh Minott | 18.6 | 18.9 | 16.3 |
The Celtics' rotation has been pretty consistent for much of the season. The end-of-rotation minutes between Neemias Queta and Josh Minott fluctuate a little bit, and only three players (Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard) have consistent fantasy value.
Brooklyn Nets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 34.8 | 32.4 | 33.8 |
| Nic Claxton | 31.2 | 31.5 | 31.8 |
| Noah Clowney | 28.5 | 31.9 | 31.4 |
| Egor Dëmin | 25.8 | 27.5 | 25.4 |
| Danny Wolf | 24.7 | 21.7 | 17.8 |
| Ziaire Williams | 21.3 | 23.4 | 25.7 |
| Tyrese Martin | 21.3 | 21.6 | 22 |
| Terance Mann | 21.1 | 25.3 | 26.7 |
| Ben Saraf | 20.8 | 20.8 | 20.8 |
Cam Thomas remains out until the middle of December, and Terance Mann has been dealing with a rib injury, which has caused him to miss the last two games. That has allowed Danny Wolf to enter the rotation, where he has fluctuated between good and bad games. Noah Clowney has been playing better of late, averaging 18.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over his last seven games. Aside from his recent stretch and the consistent production from Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton, there hasn't been much to be excited about for the Nets.
Charlotte Hornets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kon Knueppel | 35.2 | 33.4 | 34 |
| Miles Bridges | 33.4 | 33.9 | 33.9 |
| Sion James | 29.7 | 27 | 26.3 |
| LaMelo Ball | 29.4 | 28.8 | 28 |
| Brandon Miller | 25.3 | 28.2 | 27.6 |
| Moussa Diabaté | 24.2 | 21.3 | 22.4 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 24.1 | 26 | 24.4 |
| Tidjane Salaün | 20.3 | 20.3 | 20.3 |
| Collin Sexton | 20.2 | 20.7 | 24.5 |
Brandon Miller has missed the last two games while managing the same shoulder injury, which has led to an uptick in minutes for Sion James and allowed for Tidjane Salaün to enter the rotation in the last two games. Collin Sexton has also returned but remains set around 20 minutes per game, which caps his fantasy upside. Ryan Kalkbrenner did leave Wednesday's game with an ankle injury, so that's a situation to monitor because Moussa Diabaté had actually been more impactful of late and could be an interesting player if he gets near 30 minutes a game.
Chicago Bulls
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | 36.1 | 32.8 | 30 |
| Josh Giddey | 35.1 | 34.7 | 34.3 |
| Matas Buzelis | 34.1 | 30.7 | 28.2 |
| Nikola Vučević | 32.7 | 32.1 | 31.1 |
| Tre Jones | 29.4 | 28.3 | 26.2 |
| Julian Phillips | 24.4 | 16.4 | 13.7 |
| Patrick Williams | 19.5 | 19.7 | 17.9 |
| Kevin Huerter | 18.7 | 20.8 | 21.3 |
| Coby White | — | 32.2 | 30.7 |
| Jalen Smith | — | 21.9 | 19.1 |
| Isaac Okoro | — | — | 25.7 |
Kevin Huerter went from battling through a pelvic issue to being out with a hamstring injury. Isaac Okoro has also missed the last six games with a back injury, Jalen Smith has missed three games with a hamstring injury, Tre Jones missed a game with an ankle injury, and Coby White has missed the last three games with a calf injury. That has allowed Julian Phillips to enter the rotation and allowed Matas Buzelis to be counted on for a larger role. He's averaging 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks over his last four games. All of Smith, White, Jones, and Okoro could be back this weekend, so this is a situation in flux.
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Donovan Mitchell | 35.9 | 35.3 | 34.6 |
| Evan Mobley | 33.9 | 33.3 | 34.3 |
| Jaylon Tyson | 32.6 | 30.6 | 29 |
| Darius Garland | 30.3 | 31.2 | 29.9 |
| De'Andre Hunter | 28.2 | 29.2 | 29.2 |
| Lonzo Ball | 24 | 24.9 | 24.3 |
| Nae'Qwan Tomlin | 21.7 | 21.6 | 19.1 |
| Dean Wade | 20.5 | 20.1 | 22.4 |
| Jarrett Allen | — | 28 | 26.8 |
| Larry Nance Jr. | — | 14 | 12.9 |
| Sam Merrill | — | — | 27.5 |
This Cavs team has been disjointed for much of the year. We know Max Strus has yet to play at all this season, and Darius Garland has been in and out of the lineup. Now, Jarrett Allen has been sidelined with a finger injury, Larry Nance Jr. will be out until the end of the month with a right calf strain, and Sam Merrill has missed eight games with a hand injury. Jaylon Tyson continues to remain a key part of the rotation, but also Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley can be counted on for fantasy value.
Dallas Mavericks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Naji Marshall | 35 | 30.3 | 28.9 |
| Cooper Flagg | 34.2 | 34.4 | 33.5 |
| Anthony Davis | 30.3 | 29.6 | 29.6 |
| Ryan Nembhard | 29.9 | 25.9 | 25.9 |
| Max Christie | 27.2 | 27.8 | 27.7 |
| Klay Thompson | 25.2 | 23.1 | 22.9 |
| Dwight Powell | 18.3 | 13.3 | 12.3 |
| Brandon Williams | 17.6 | 19.6 | 23.3 |
| D'Angelo Russell | 16.7 | 14.4 | 18.7 |
| P.J. Washington | — | 34.8 | 33.7 |
| Dereck Lively II | — | — | 15.8 |
It seems that the Mavericks have found their point guard, with Ryan Nembhard averaging 17.0 points, 7.5 assists, and 2.8 rebounds over his last four games. That has also coincided with D'Angelo Russell continuing to see less playing time. Mebhard has been a top 60 player over that stretch and needs to be added in all fantasy leagues. We've also seen the Mavericks stop experimenting with Cooper Flagg as a point forward and start using him as a stretch forward next to Anthony Davis, which has been great for both of them in recent weeks. All of P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford could return from their various injuries this weekend, which would mean less playing time for Naji Marshall and Dwight Powell.
Denver Nuggets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cameron Johnson | 35 | 35.9 | 35.3 |
| Nikola Jokić | 34.6 | 34.7 | 36 |
| Jamal Murray | 33 | 34.5 | 36.2 |
| Peyton Watson | 32.8 | 33 | 33.6 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 28.4 | 28.2 | 26.7 |
| Spencer Jones | 27.8 | 24.3 | 20 |
| Bruce Brown | 24.3 | 24.1 | 24.8 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 12.4 | 12.7 | 12.3 |
| Aaron Gordon | — | — | 23.8 |
The Nuggets are dealing with injuries to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, which has shaken up the rotation a bit. Cameron Johnson and Peyton Watson are the big winners here, and I covered that in this video I recorded last week. Spencer Jones has left Wednesday's game with a knee injury, so that's a situation to monitor in the weeks ahead.
Detroit Pistons
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cade Cunningham | 37.2 | 37.6 | 36.3 |
| Duncan Robinson | 31.9 | 32.2 | 31.9 |
| Jalen Duren | 29.1 | 29.9 | 29.4 |
| Tobias Harris | 28.6 | 28.5 | 27.4 |
| Ausar Thompson | 28.6 | 26.9 | 27.1 |
| Caris LeVert | 23.9 | 23.8 | 21.4 |
| Isaiah Stewart | 23.8 | 21.2 | 21.9 |
| Daniss Jenkins | 21.8 | 16.3 | 20.1 |
| Ronald Holland II | 19.3 | 16.2 | 18.2 |
| Jaden Ivey | 15.9 | 14.5 | 14.2 |
The Pistons are at full strength now, which has led to an extended rotation that doesn't seem sustainable.I covered that in a video this week, but I'm concerned about what this has done to Ausar Thompson's fantasy value. He's barely been a top-160 player over the last two weeks.
Golden State Warriors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Stephen Curry | 32.8 | 31.8 | 32.5 |
| Draymond Green | 31.5 | 32.1 | 30.6 |
| Brandin Podziemski | 29.6 | 27.3 | 28.2 |
| Jimmy Butler III | 28.3 | 29.5 | 31.7 |
| Will Richard | 24.3 | 20.8 | 19.7 |
| Moses Moody | 23.9 | 25.9 | 28.4 |
| Buddy Hield | 20.1 | 19.7 | 19.4 |
| Quinten Post | 18.9 | 20.2 | 16.2 |
| Gary Payton II | 18.8 | 18.8 | 16.6 |
| Al Horford | — | 18.1 | 22.3 |
Steph Curry will be out at least another week with a quad injury, which I discussed in a video this week. Brandin Podziemski will see the biggest uptick in minutes and usage, which has led to him being a top 100 player in the small sample size since Curry has been out. Jonathan Kuminga also returned, but he has been limited to about 16 minutes in his first two games, and we should see his minutes tick up as the days go on. Gary Payton Jr. has been good in his two games with Curry out, posting 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, and could be worth an add in fantasy formats.
Houston Rockets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Amen Thompson | 34.9 | 36 | 37 |
| Kevin Durant | 34 | 34 | 35.7 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 33.1 | 33.6 | 33.5 |
| Alperen Sengun | 32.1 | 33.1 | 34.9 |
| Reed Sheppard | 27.4 | 29.3 | 28.5 |
| Aaron Holiday | 23.2 | 25.3 | 19.1 |
| Josh Okogie | 18.4 | 21.7 | 19.6 |
| Steven Adams | 17.4 | 17.1 | 20.5 |
| Tari Eason | — | — | 15.7 |
With Tari Eason out until the middle of December and Steven Adams playing fewer minutes, it's been Reed Sheppard who has moved into a bigger role. He's also been really good over the last two weeks, posting 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals over his last six games, which has been good for top-75 value. He should be added in more leagues.
Indiana Pacers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Pascal Siakam | 33.8 | 31.7 | 33.6 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 30.8 | 31.9 | 32.7 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 29.3 | 31.2 | 31.2 |
| Jarace Walker | 23.7 | 24.2 | 24.9 |
| Jay Huff | 22.9 | 23.8 | 21.4 |
| Ben Sheppard | 19.3 | 22.8 | 24.3 |
| Isaiah Jackson | 18.3 | 18.6 | 19.6 |
| T.J. McConnell | 15.8 | 18.2 | 17.6 |
T.J. McConnell is doing a lot in limited minutes so far. Over the last two weeks, he's averaging 11.7 points, 5.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game in seven games. That's been good for top-100 value. Jay Huff has also snuck into fringe fantasy consideration as the primary big man in Indiana and is averaging 3.1 blocks per game over his last seven games.
The Pacers, Lakers and Thunder are among the teams with lengthy injury reports at the halfway point of Week 2.
Los Angeles Clippers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Ivica Zubac | 33.8 | 35.5 | 33.9 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 31.5 | 30.2 | 29.5 |
| James Harden | 31.2 | 34.1 | 34.3 |
| John Collins | 31.2 | 32 | 29.8 |
| Kris Dunn | 26.4 | 27.9 | 26.7 |
| Nicolas Batum | 22.8 | 22.7 | 20.8 |
| Kobe Sanders | 20.7 | 18.5 | 23 |
| Cam Christie | 15.9 | 11.2 | 11.7 |
| Bogdan Bogdanović | — | — | 27.5 |
| Brook Lopez | — | — | 12 |
The Clippers have been a disaster, and things got even weirder when they sent Chris Paul home in the middle of the night on Wednesday. Right now, only James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac are fantasy-relevant, and this whole team needs a reset in a bad way.
Los Angeles Lakers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Austin Reaves | 38.1 | 37.9 | 35.8 |
| Luka Dončić | 35.6 | 37.1 | 36.9 |
| LeBron James | 32.6 | 33 | 32.3 |
| Rui Hachimura | 31 | 30.6 | 31.4 |
| Deandre Ayton | 30.4 | 26.2 | 28.6 |
| Gabe Vincent | 22.8 | 21.3 | 20.4 |
| Jake LaRavia | 18.3 | 17.1 | 21.6 |
| Marcus Smart | — | 18.8 | 25.6 |
Luka Dončić missed one game due to the birth of his child (congrats), and Marcus Smart has missed three games with a back injury, but things have remained remarkably consistent otherwise for the Lakers.
Memphis Grizzlies
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 30.5 | 31.2 | 30.6 |
| Zach Edey | 30.4 | 26.3 | 25.8 |
| Cedric Coward | 29.4 | 29.8 | 27.5 |
| Jaylen Wells | 28.7 | 30.4 | 27.7 |
| Vince Williams Jr. | 25.6 | 27.1 | 26.5 |
| Santi Aldama | 22.9 | 25.2 | 26.3 |
| Cam Spencer | 22.5 | 23.1 | 23.6 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 18 | 18.6 | 19.7 |
| Ja Morant | — | — | 6 |
Zach Edey has returned and been tremendous over his last seven games, posting 15.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. He's a borderline top-50 player and is underappreciated, but not as underappreciated as his teammate, Vince Williams Jr., who has been filling in at point guard with Ja Morant out and has been a top-50 player over the last two weeks as well. The increased usage of those two and led to a smaller role for Cedric Coward, who remains talented but is no longer as involved in the offense.
Miami Heat
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 34.1 | 33.4 | 33.8 |
| Norman Powell | 32.5 | 31.3 | 30.1 |
| Tyler Herro | 31.6 | 31.3 | 31.3 |
| Davion Mitchell | 31.2 | 30.9 | 29.9 |
| Bam Adebayo | 31.1 | 30.2 | 30.2 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 21.3 | 23 | 27.8 |
| Kel'el Ware | 21.1 | 24.6 | 26.2 |
| Simone Fontecchio | 20.8 | 17.4 | 18.6 |
| Pelle Larsson | 18.4 | 20.9 | 24.1 |
Norman Powell missed the last game with an ankle injury, but everything else has been status quo since Tyler Herro returned. As we expected, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware have seen their roles reduced. Even with Herro back, Andrew Wiggins has been arguably Miami's best player, averaging 18.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game, which has made him a top-50 player in fantasy basketball.
Milwaukee Bucks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Ryan Rollins | 33.1 | 36.3 | 34.2 |
| AJ Green | 31.3 | 33.9 | 32.4 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | 30.2 | 30.2 | 30.2 |
| Gary Trent Jr. | 25.9 | 27.5 | 28.2 |
| Jericho Sims | 23.9 | 22.1 | 17.6 |
| Bobby Portis | 22.9 | 21.4 | 23.1 |
| Myles Turner | 22.6 | 25.9 | 28.8 |
| Kyle Kuzma | 21.2 | 24.2 | 24.6 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 17.9 | 20.4 | 21 |
We just found out on Thursday that Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss two to four weeks with a calf injury. It's a brutal blow for the Bucks, but we've seen what will happen when he's out. We know Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. are going to see an uptick in usage, while Bobby Portis will be a key member of the rotation, and Jericho Sims will likely play more minutes as a backup big man.
Minnesota Timberwolves
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Anthony Edwards | 40.2 | 40.2 | 38.1 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 33.8 | 34 | 32.8 |
| Julius Randle | 33.6 | 34.5 | 33.7 |
| Rudy Gobert | 30.7 | 33 | 32.3 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 30.6 | 31.9 | 31.9 |
| Naz Reid | 29.9 | 27.5 | 27 |
| Mike Conley | 16 | 17.1 | 18.6 |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | 12.4 | 12.3 | 12.3 |
I say this every week, but Minnesota has probably had the most consistent lineup and rotation of any team in basketball this season. Not much is changing here, except that Terrence Shannon Jr. is entering the fringe of the rotation.
New Orleans Pelicans
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Trey Murphy III | 40.9 | 38.5 | 35.3 |
| Saddiq Bey | 35.2 | 35.8 | 30.3 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 32.3 | 29.5 | 28.6 |
| Zion Williamson | 30.7 | 30.9 | 30.3 |
| Bryce McGowens | 28.5 | 23.3 | 20.2 |
| Jose Alvarado | 28.1 | 28.6 | 24.6 |
| Derik Queen | 27.6 | 24.5 | 26.9 |
| Micah Peavy | 27.1 | 24.5 | 20.9 |
| Jordan Hawkins | 22.2 | 18.7 | 18.1 |
| Herbert Jones | — | — | 29 |
Stop me if you've heard this before, but Zion Williamson is hurt and will be out at least three weeks with an adductor injury. I covered the repercussions of that in a video this week, but the injury is a big boost for Derik Queen and Saddiq Bey.
New York Knicks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jalen Brunson | 36.5 | 36.5 | 35.9 |
| Josh Hart | 35.9 | 36.3 | 34.6 |
| Miles McBride | 35.1 | 35.5 | 33.1 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 34.5 | 34.3 | 34.7 |
| Mikal Bridges | 34.3 | 34.7 | 36.2 |
| Jordan Clarkson | 21.6 | 20.1 | 23.4 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 16.4 | 17.2 | 17.5 |
| Tyler Kolek | 14.1 | 13.6 | 14.5 |
The Knicks have moved Josh Hart back into the starting lineup, where he has thrived. With OG Anunoby nearing a return to action, the Knicks will have an interesting decision to make regarding their starting five. However, their rotation has remained consistent, and we know that everything runs through Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikail Bridges, and both Hart and Anunoby when they're healthy.
Oklahoma City Thunder
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 35.7 | 34.8 | 32.7 |
| Jalen Williams | 32.1 | 32.1 | 32.1 |
| Chet Holmgren | 30.6 | 29.3 | 28.9 |
| Luguentz Dort | 29.1 | 27.6 | 26.8 |
| Cason Wallace | 27.2 | 28 | 27.6 |
| Alex Caruso | 24.1 | 20.1 | 16.8 |
| Ajay Mitchell | 21.8 | 22.5 | 24.9 |
| Aaron Wiggins | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Jaylin Williams | 18.8 | 16.6 | 17.2 |
| Isaiah Joe | 18.8 | 18.5 | 22 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | — | 25.1 | 25.4 |
The Thunder got Jalen Williams back this week, but lost Isaiah Hartenstein to an injury.I covered the Thunder rotation in a video this week, but I think we might not see how this rotation truly shakes out until next week when Hartenstein returns.
Orlando Magic
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Desmond Bane | 37.1 | 33.7 | 35.5 |
| Franz Wagner | 34.7 | 31.7 | 33.8 |
| Anthony Black | 31 | 29.7 | 29.2 |
| Jalen Suggs | 30.4 | 26.8 | 28.2 |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 30.4 | 28.2 | 30.1 |
| Tristan da Silva | 22.4 | 21.6 | 26.8 |
| Goga Bitadze | 17.1 | 17.7 | 16.9 |
Paolo Banchero could return this weekend, which would lead to fewer minutes for Anthony Black and less usage for Franz Wagner. However, the Magic have been playing really well of late, so we need to see how things shake out when Banchero is back in the fold.
Philadelphia 76ers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Quentin Grimes | 44.7 | 37.8 | 35.3 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 41 | 38.2 | 39 |
| Dominick Barlow | 30.1 | 28.2 | 26.4 |
| Joel Embiid | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Jared McCain | 27.5 | 26.6 | 19.1 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 22.6 | 22.6 | 32.8 |
| Paul George | 22.4 | 21.8 | 22.2 |
| Adem Bona | 22.2 | 22.2 | 18.1 |
| Trendon Watford | — | 18.4 | 18.2 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | — | — | 22.9 |
The 76ers seem to be oscillating between missed games for Joel Embiid and Paul George as they look to keep the knees of both aging veterans healthy. VJ Edgecombe also missed three games with a calf injury and has had limited minutes in his return. Perhaps those minutes will tick up in the coming weeks, and it will be curious if those minutes come at the expense of Jared McCain.
Phoenix Suns
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Dillon Brooks | 33.2 | 32.9 | 32.6 |
| Collin Gillespie | 31.9 | 31.8 | 30.7 |
| Royce O'Neale | 30.4 | 31.2 | 30 |
| Devin Booker | 27.9 | 32.1 | 32.9 |
| Grayson Allen | 25.8 | 25.8 | 19 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 24.8 | 22.1 | 18.8 |
| Mark Williams | 23.6 | 25.3 | 25.7 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 21.8 | 23.2 | 24.4 |
| Ryan Dunn | 20.6 | 20.6 | 22.8 |
Devin Booker injured his groin this week and will be out up to a week.I recorded a video this week covering what the fallout of that would be, but it's good news for Collin Gillespie, who has already been a top-60 player over his last seven games and should continue to produce solid, across-the-board usage with Booker out.
Portland Trail Blazers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Deni Avdija | 36.8 | 36.3 | 35.1 |
| Toumani Camara | 36.3 | 34.1 | 34.1 |
| Jerami Grant | 33.5 | 32.7 | 32.8 |
| Kris Murray | 30.6 | 29.3 | 28.1 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | 28.1 | 26.4 | 29 |
| Donovan Clingan | 23.3 | 25 | 25.7 |
| Sidy Cissoko | 22.7 | 22.9 | 22.7 |
| Caleb Love | 19.7 | 19.5 | 22.6 |
| Robert Williams III | 17.9 | 17.9 | 16.7 |
Jrue Holiday remains out, and Scoot Henderson will be out til the end of December, so that has led to more minutes for guys like Caleb Love. Shaedon Sharpe also returned after missing four games and has averaged 15.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in his four games back, good for top-115 value in fantasy leagues. Donovan Clingan has also spiked some usable games but has been splitting time with Robert Williams III, who is now battling a knee injury.
Sacramento Kings
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Keegan Murray | 39.5 | 40.2 | 38.6 |
| DeMar DeRozan | 31 | 32.3 | 31.6 |
| Zach LaVine | 31 | 31.3 | 30.9 |
| Malik Monk | 28 | 26.6 | 24.4 |
| Russell Westbrook | 27 | 28.1 | 28.6 |
| Maxime Raynaud | 25.5 | 19.9 | 18.4 |
| Precious Achiuwa | 20.5 | 24.1 | 21.8 |
| Nique Clifford | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.6 |
| Keon Ellis | 15.9 | 18.5 | 17.5 |
Domantas Sabonis will be out for around a month with a knee injury, and I covered all the repercussions of that in a video here. Maxime Raynaud has seen the biggest minutes increase and just scored 25 points on 10-of-15 from the field on Wednesday, so he could be a name to watch. Keegan Murray has also been a top-60 fantasy player since he returned from injury and could be the most reliable option on this team while Sabonis is out.
San Antonio Spurs
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Harrison Barnes | 32.3 | 32.8 | 32.3 |
| De'Aaron Fox | 30.8 | 31.9 | 32.5 |
| Devin Vassell | 30.4 | 31.5 | 32.4 |
| Julian Champagnie | 29.4 | 31.4 | 29.2 |
| Luke Kornet | 26.7 | 27.2 | 25.6 |
| Keldon Johnson | 26.3 | 24.8 | 25.3 |
| Dylan Harper | 20.8 | 18.8 | 18.8 |
| Jeremy Sochan | 16.8 | 14.7 | 17.4 |
| Victor Wembanyama | — | — | 38.2 |
| Stephon Castle | — | — | 26 |
Dylan Harper returned to a bench role, and Stephon Castle could return this weekend, so it will be interesting to see how the Spurs divide their minutes with all three guards healthy. Victor Wembanyama is still likely out for another two weeks, which means continued playing time for Luke Kornet. We've also seen Keldon Johnson provide solid value over the last two weeks, but you have to wonder if that would take a hit when Castle returns.
Toronto Raptors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Scottie Barnes | 36.5 | 36.8 | 34.9 |
| Brandon Ingram | 35.6 | 36.4 | 34.6 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 35.5 | 34.8 | 33.4 |
| Jakob Poeltl | 29.5 | 29.3 | 28.3 |
| Ja'Kobe Walter | 22.1 | 24.6 | 19.8 |
| Sandro Mamukelashvili | 21.7 | 20.5 | 20.2 |
| Jamal Shead | 20.9 | 20.7 | 20.1 |
| Gradey Dick | 17.6 | 14.1 | 16.2 |
| RJ Barrett | — | — | 28.8 |
RJ Barrett is still dealing with a knee injury, and Jakob Poeltl has been missing games here and there to help manage his back injury, but the rest of the rotation remains pretty consistent in terms of minutes and usage.
Utah Jazz
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Lauri Markkanen | 35.5 | 35 | 35.9 |
| Keyonte George | 30.6 | 33.7 | 34.2 |
| Kyle Filipowski | 26.8 | 23.2 | 22.4 |
| Ace Bailey | 25.5 | 27.5 | 25 |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | 24.7 | 24.5 | 25 |
| Kyle Anderson | 24.6 | 24.1 | 22.7 |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 23.7 | 25.1 | 27.4 |
| Brice Sensabaugh | 20.7 | 19.1 | 18.6 |
| Isaiah Collier | 17.5 | 19.3 | 22 |
Jusuf Nurkić is dealing with a rib injury, which has led to a few more minutes for Kyle Filipowski. We also saw Kyle Anderson return, but he seems to be playing every other game at this point, which makes his role inconsistent at best.
Washington Wizards
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Alex Sarr | 32.7 | 32.8 | 31.8 |
| Kyshawn George | 30.3 | 31.7 | 32.2 |
| CJ McCollum | 29.7 | 30.6 | 31.4 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 29.4 | 29.5 | 28.8 |
| Khris Middleton | 28.6 | 29.5 | 27.1 |
| Marvin Bagley III | 27.8 | 27.8 | 21.8 |
| Bub Carrington | 24.4 | 23.8 | 22.6 |
| Justin Champagnie | 18.1 | 19 | 14 |
| Corey Kispert | — | 30.7 | 21.1 |
| Tre Johnson | — | — | 20.9 |
Tre Johnson and Corey Kispert are still battling injuries they suffered last week, and now Bilal Coulibaly is going to miss "multiple weeks" with yet another injury. Ca, Whitmore, Bub Carrington, and Justin Champagnie should see more minutes with all three of Coulibaly, Johnson, and Kispert sidelined, but none of them have produced consistent value at this point in the season.
Draymond Green ruled out of Warriors vs. 76ers after sustained right foot injury
Draymond Green ruled out of Warriors vs. 76ers after sustained right foot injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors’ big three all now are dealing with leg injuries.
Draymond Green injured his right foot late in the first half of the Warriors’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Green sustained the injury with just under five minutes remaining in the first half when 76ers forward Dominick Barlow rolled onto the Warriors forward’s leg.
Green limped to the Warriors’ locker room and when the second half began, center Trayce Jackson-Davis replaced him in the lineup.
The 35-year-old finished with three points, three rebounds and was a minus-10 in nine first-half minutes.
The Warriors already are without Steph Curry (quad contusion) and Jimmy Butler (knee soreness), and now they might not have Green for a game or two.
Curry already has been ruled out for the entire three-game road trip, while Butler’s injury isn’t expected to be too serious.
But now Green might not be available when the Warriors take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined by calf strain: How much time he'll miss and the fantasy impact
Mere hours after it was reported that he and his agent were meeting with the Bucks to discuss his future with the franchise, which head coach Doc Rivers denied, Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a non-contact lower-body injury during the first quarter of Wednesday's win over the Pistons. He would exit immediately, and given injuries to the likes of Boston's Jayson Tatum and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, one would not be blamed for fearing the worst.
The Bucks' official announcement on Wednesday was that Giannis suffered a strained right calf, and Rivers said after the game that an Achilles tendon injury had been ruled out after a preliminary MRI. On Thursday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the calf strain was expected to sideline the star forward for approximately two to four weeks. While the trade rumor mill will continue to churn, fantasy managers need to figure out how they're going to compensate for Antetokounmpo's absence.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be sidelined for approximately 2 to 4 weeks with a right calf strain, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/k5TyjEo6Eh
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 4, 2025
Who will replace Antetokounmpo in the starting lineup?
This is an interesting question. Based on production, one would assume that Kyle Kuzma (21 percent) is first in line to fill the void, with Bobby Portis (27 percent) being another possibility. However, it was Jericho Sims (one percent) who started the second half of Wednesday's game, and he had his best game of the season.
In 30 minutes, Sims did not miss a shot, scoring 15 points (7-of-7 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs) to go along with 14 rebounds and one assist. The double-double was his first since the 2022-23 season as a member of the New York Knicks, so the question will be whether he can sustain that production if allowed to start. Kuzma and Portis are safer streaming options with Giannis unavailable, but deep-league managers should not overlook Sims.
Williamson may not be back until Christmas, which is optimistic, while Curry is out at least three more games.
Who else is impacted by Antetokounmpo’s absence?
He's the unquestioned focal point of the Bucks' offense, and Giannis' athleticism is impactful defensively as well. His absence will impact everyone in the rotation. Kevin Porter Jr. (47 percent) and Ryan Rollins (57 percent) will have added fantasy value out of necessity due to their ability to create offense for themselves and their teammates. While these two are off the board in deeper leagues, managers in 12-team formats will want to make sure Porter and Rollins aren't sitting on their league's waiver wire.
Another player to watch is Myles Turner (97 percent), especially if Rivers decides to move Sims into the starting lineup rather than a forward. While he hasn't been an elite rebounder, Turner would likely lose out on boards if Sims starts; he grabbed three in 20 minutes against the Pistons on Wednesday (foul trouble was also a factor). According to the NBA's data, the Turner/Sims partnership has produced a net rating of minus-17.0 in 42 minutes played over nine games.
While the defensive rebounding was good, with the Bucks grabbing 82.2 percent of opponents' missed shots, the offensive rating (97.8) was poor. While we may see them paired up for longer stretches with Giannis out, it may not be the default lineup used.
Further down the list, AJ Green (16 percent) and Gary Trent Jr. (five percent) will have opportunities to contribute more, with the former already in the starting lineup. How will Antetokounmpo's absence impact the quality of Green's shots? And can he do enough to create a few more looks on his own? He has provided solid late-round value this season, but a boost to Green's offensive production is obviously not guaranteed.