NBA roundup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Thunder top Pistons in OT
Tue Mar 31 3:02am ET
Field Level Media
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points to lift the host Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-110 overtime win over the short-handed Detroit Pistons on Monday in a matchup of conference leaders.
Gilgeous-Alexander opened overtime with a step-back jumper, found Alex Caruso for a corner 3-pointer with just more than a minute remaining and then hit six free throws in the final minute. Oklahoma City won for the 15th time in 16 games.
Detroit was short-handed, playing without its top five scorers, but the Pistons stayed in the game in large part due to a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points.
The Pistons, who got 21 points and 10 rebounds from Paul Reed, had their two-game winning streak snapped.
Spurs 129, Bulls 114
Victor Wembanyama continued his brilliant play by racking up 41 points and 16 rebounds while helping host San Antonio to a victory over Chicago in a late-season interconference clash.
The Spurs won for a league-leading ninth straight outing and kept pace with Oklahoma City in the hunt for the best record in both the Western Conference and the NBA as a whole. It was Wembanyama's third game with 40 or more points this season. Stephon Castle added 21 points for San Antonio while Keldon Johnson scored 15.
Tre Jones led Chicago with 23 points. Leonard Miller added 21 off the bench, Collin Sexton had 20, Guerschon Yabusele hit for 15 points and Matas Buzelis finished with 12 for the Bulls, who have already been eliminated from the postseason.
Heat 119, 76ers 109
Tyler Herro hit two key 3-pointers, Bam Adebayo recorded a 23-point, 16-rebound double-double in a head-to-head with Joel Embiid, and Miami came on strong down the stretch to turn back visiting Philadelphia.
Herro finished with a game-high 30 points and Pelle Larsson added 20 for the Heat, who moved into a virtual eighth-place tie in the Eastern Conference with Orlando.
Embiid had a team-high 26 points and Tyrese Maxey 23 for the 76ers, who remained in seventh place in the East but saw their lead over the Heat and Magic cut to 1 1/2 games.
Hawks 112, Celtics 102
Jalen Johnson collected 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists as Atlanta extended its home winning streak to 13 games with a victory over Boston.
Atlanta received 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists from Onyeka Okongwu, plus 18 points from Dyson Daniels. The Hawks have won 16 of their past 18 games.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, but he shot 9 of 29 from the field and committed six turnovers. Luka Garza added 20 points and nine boards for the Celtics, and Payton Pritchard finished with 16 points.
Suns 131, Grizzlies 105
Devin Booker scored 36 points while playing just three quarters and Jalen Green added 21 points and six boards as visiting Phoenix trounced Memphis.
The Suns won their second straight by closing strong, outscoring the Grizzlies 40-16 in the final quarter. The Suns were dominant in the paint, where they scored 68 points.
Memphis got 17 points off the bench from Tyler Burton but lost for the 14th time in 16 games. Cam Spencer scored 16 on 6-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-5 success from long range.
Lakers 120, Wizards 101
LeBron James posted the 125th triple-double of his career while leading Los Angeles to a comprehensive win over visiting Washington.
James compiled 21 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists to become, at 41 years, 90 days, the oldest player to notch a triple-double, surpassing his own record of 41 years, 79 days. It was his third triple-double of the season. Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard contributed 19 points apiece for the Lakers, who have won 15 of their past 17 games.
Will Riley scored 20 points, Justin Champagnie added 18 and Tristan Vukcevic had 14 for Washington, which has lost 19 of its past 20 outings.
Cavaliers 122, Jazz 113
Evan Mobley scored a season-high 34 points, collected a season-high 17 rebounds and blocked three shots to lead Cleveland past Utah in Salt Lake City.
Donovan Mitchell added 34 points to help the Cavaliers win their fifth consecutive road game. James Harden dished out a game-high 14 assists to go along with 13 points, and The Cavaliers outscored the Jazz 82-40 in the paint.
Kyle Filipowski tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals to lead Utah. Cody Williams added a team-high 26 points for the Jazz, who have lost six straight games and 10 of their past 11 contests.
Timberwolves 124, Mavericks 94
Ayo Dosunmu recorded his second career triple-double, finishing with 18 points, a career-high 15 rebounds and 12 assists to lead Minnesota to a road rout of Dallas.
With All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards coming off the bench and limited to 22:37 of playing time in his return from a knee injury, Dosunmu stepped up to shoulder some of the offensive load. Rudy Gobert posted 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Julius Randle netted a game-high 24 points.
Daniel Gafford led Dallas with 21 points on 9-of-11 field-goal shooting, while Rookie of the Year hopeful Cooper Flagg was held more than eight points below his season-long scoring average with 12 points on 5-of-19 shooting from the floor.
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Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris recorded five points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He missed all six of his field-goal attempts but went 5-for-6 at the line, finishing the night without a made shot from the floor. Harris averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists during the regular season, so the empty shooting line was a costly finish to his postseason run. With Detroit's offense sputtering badly in the closeout game, Harris offered only modest fantasy value through the peripheral stats.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren produced seven points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 22-year-old went 3-for-7 from the field and 1-for-2 at the line as Detroit's season ended in the second round. Duren had posted 15 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and one steal in Game 6, so the muted closeout line was a frustrating fantasy finish after a strong campaign. He averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists during the regular season, keeping his long-term value pointed up despite the postseason exit.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham amassed 13 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 24-year-old shot 5-for-16 from the field and 3-for-3 at the free-throw line while missing all seven of his attempts from beyond the arc. It was a rough finish to a strong campaign after Cunningham averaged 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 9.9 assists during the regular season. His playmaking floor remains excellent, but the cold perimeter shooting left Detroit without enough offense in the closeout loss.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Sam Merrill recorded 23 points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons. He shot 7-for-10 from the field, 5-for-8 from deep, and 4-for-4 at the line in 25 minutes while scoring 15 points before halftime. Merrill had totaled 29 points across the previous four games of the series, so this was a timely eruption. His fantasy appeal remains tied to three-point production, but nights like this show how quickly he can swing a matchup when the shooting volume spikes.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell finished Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons with 26 points, six rebounds, eight assists, one steal, one block, and two three-pointers. The 29-year-old shot 10-for-22 from the field and 4-for-6 at the line while collecting a game-high eight assists, helping Cleveland secure its first Eastern Conference finals berth since 2018. Mitchell averaged 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists during the regular season, and this balanced closeout line showed how much fantasy value he can carry even when the scoring stays below his usual ceiling. Cleveland opens the next round Tuesday in New York.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley accounted for 21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals, two blocks, and one three-pointer in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons. The 24-year-old shot 7-for-10 from the field and 6-for-11 at the line while delivering his first double-double of the series. Mobley averaged 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists during the regular season, and his ability to pair interior scoring with defensive production keeps him firmly in the top tier of fantasy big men when Cleveland gives him this much two-way responsibility.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen tallied 23 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in Sunday's 125-94 Game 7 blowout win over the Detroit Pistons, punching Cleveland's ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. Going 8-for-14 from the field, Allen was efficient and physical in a performance that kept foul trouble off the ledger for most of the night. He joined Donovan Mitchell (26), Evan Mobley (21), and Sam Merrill (23) in a four-man 20-point effort, the fourth time since the 1976-77 merger any team has achieved that in a Game 7. Allen draws New York's interior next, a favorable matchup worth monitoring ahead of the ECF.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Duncan Robinson (back) and guard/forward Caris LeVert (heel) have been cleared to play in Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. Both players were listed as questionable on the initial injury report. Robinson and LeVert combined for 22 points and five assists off the bench in Game 6. Having filled significant roles in the rotation, they'll need to stay productive on Sunday if the Pistons are to reach their first Conference Finals since 2008.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (adductor) will be in the lineup on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He's been cleared for Game 7 after initially being considered questionable for the contest due to an adductor strain. Duncan Robinson (back) and Caris LeVert (heel) have also received the green light to play, meaning Huerter isn't expected to have a significant role on Sunday. He was also active in Game 6 but didn't leave the bench.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus will start Sunday's Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons. Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has decided to tweak his starting unit for this crucial clash, replacing Dean Wade with Strus. Wade has been very quiet throughout the series and finished scoreless in Games 4 and 5. Strus also started a pair of games during the first-round series against Toronto. He's averaging 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds with 38.2% three-point efficiency in the playoffs. A starting role makes Strus a more attractive DFS option on Sunday.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Larry Nance Jr. (illness) won't be in action on Sunday night against the Detroit Pistons. He will sit out a second consecutive contest due to illness. Nance Jr. has averaged just 2.5 minutes across two postseason games, so he's simply been a warm body on the bench. His absence won't affect Cleveland's rotation. The starting frontcourt of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley should carry a heavy workload in Sunday's do-or-die matchup.
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (foot) is considered questionable for Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. The veteran big man has been added to the injury report due to left foot soreness. Kornet, who's reached the Conference Finals for the fourth time in five years, has done a good job as San Antonio's backup center. He's averaging 5.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 16.5 minutes per game this postseason. While losing Kornet from the rotation would be a blow to San Antonio, the team has ample depth at the center position behind Victor Wembanyama, with fellow veterans Mason Plumlee, Kelly Olynyk, and Bismack Biyombo.
San Antonio Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox (ankle) is listed as questionable for the Western Conference Finals opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. This isn't surprising, as Fox has recently dealt with soreness in his right ankle. It doesn't appear to be a big issue, but if Fox has to miss time, the Spurs will rely more on Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper in the backcourt. His absence could also increase the workload for Keldon Johnson, who has been limited to 18.5 minutes a night in the playoffs.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. Williams injured his left hamstring in the second game of the postseason and sat out the entire second-round matchup against the Lakers. However, he has now been officially cleared to return after Williams noted earlier this week that he's "healthy" for the start of the Conference Finals. Williams' return will hurt Ajay Mitchell's fantasy stock the most, as he will be bumped to the second unit. It will also affect Chet Holmgren, who's had more offensive responsibilities without Williams.
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the 2025-26 NBA MVP, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. He became the 14th player in history to win the MVP award in back-to-back years. Gilgeous-Alexander beat out Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama. The Canadian star was also named the Clutch Player of the Year this season. While leading the Thunder to a league-best 64-18 record, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He's developed into a fantasy stud during his time in Oklahoma City, and at 27, Gilgeous-Alexander's prime is far from over.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland wants to stick with the team. "I feel like this is where I belong. I definitely want to come back," Hyland said Saturday. In 2025-26, Hyland had his first full season with the Timberwolves, posting averages of 8.5 points and 2.6 assists in 16.6 minutes per game. His workload dipped to 8.5 minutes per game during the second-round series against San Antonio. Yet Hyland sees a future in Minneapolis, and the team might also be interested in bringing him back after losing Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) from the guard rotation. Although Hyland has flashed potential, his inability to secure a steady role on any team has kept his fantasy value low.
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley doesn't appear ready to hang up his shoes just yet. "I think I might've proved to myself I can play a little longer," Conley told reporters on Saturday. Conley had his 19th NBA campaign in 2025-26, making 54 regular-season and 12 playoff appearances. While he was happy with his contribution, this season was by far Conley's worst in the Association. The 38-year-old averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 assists in 18.4 minutes per game. It's been a few years since Conley made a fantasy impact, and that won't change in 2026-27, when we will probably see him offering primarily veteran leadership on a team.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Kevin Huerter (adductor) remains on the injury report ahead of Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. After missing seven games due to an adductor strain, Huerter has suited up for back-to-back games despite being listed as questionable each time. However, he logged only three minutes in Game 5 and was a DNP-CD in Game 6 on Friday night. Overall, Huerter has been limited to 9.2 minutes per game across five postseason appearances, so even if he's cleared to play on Sunday, he might not be part of the rotation.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Duncan Robinson (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Robinson hurt his lower back earlier in the series and didn't play in Game 5. He was listed as questionable ahead of Game 6 but managed to return to action, contributing 14 points in 20 minutes off the bench. It's hard to imagine Robinson sitting out Sunday's crucial game, but if he has to miss time again, Daniss Jenkins, Caris LeVert (heel), and Marcus Sasser will be in a position to see additional minutes on the floor.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Caris LeVert (heel) is considered questionable for Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. The former Cavalier is nursing a right heel contusion. Given that LeVert has played through the injury so far, it seems likely he will suit up on Sunday. He's done a decent job off the bench in the series, averaging 8.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 20.5 minutes per game. If LeVert isn't in the lineup, Marcus Sasser and Duncan Robinson (back) can expect a larger workload, though Robinson is also listed as questionable.
