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NBA News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Thursday, March 12

Jaylen Brown Criticizes Foul Baiting While Elevating Playmaking

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Jaylen Brown expressed frustration with the league's trend of rewarding "foul baiting," stating it undermines the game. On the court, Brown is averaging a career-high 28.3 points and has elevated his playmaking to 7.3 assists per game since Jayson Tatum's return. Focused on a championship run, Brown also revealed that Tracy McGrady once prevented him from requesting a trade in 2019, a pivotal moment in his development into an All-Star.

Chet Holmgren Seals Thunder Victory With Late Free Throws

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Chet Holmgren played a pivotal role in the Thunder's 104-102 win over the Celtics, securing the victory by drawing a foul on a rebound with 0.9 seconds remaining and sinking both free throws to break a 102-all tie. His clutch performance helped Oklahoma City extend its winning streak to seven games, maintaining the league's best record as the team continues its dominant run through the Western Conference.

Payton Pritchard Returns to Starting Lineup in Loss to Thunder

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Payton Pritchard returned to the Celtics' starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Thunder after missing Tuesday's contest due to a neck spasm. Filling in for the unavailable Derrick White, Pritchard played significant minutes but was unable to prevent a 104-102 loss, missing a long three-pointer as time expired. He has been a vital contributor recently, averaging 13.8 points and 5.3 assists over his last six appearances.

Keyonte George Out Two Weeks With Grade 2 Hamstring Strain

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Keyonte George has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain sustained in Wednesday's loss to the Knicks. He is officially ruled out for Friday's game in Portland and will be reassessed in two weeks. The Jazz will rely on Isaiah Collier to handle starting point guard duties during George's absence. Having averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists this season, George's recovery timeline puts his return this season in doubt.

Stephon Castle Records Third Career Triple-Double in Loss to Nuggets

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Stephon Castle delivered a standout performance in Thursday's 136-131 loss to the Nuggets, recording his third career triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 35 minutes. He shot 7-of-15 from the field and 12-of-13 from the free-throw line. Castle has been highly productive, averaging 17.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 8.2 assists over his last five games, proving his ability to produce across the board for the Spurs.

Harrison Barnes Returns to Spurs Lineup With 20-Point Performance

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Harrison Barnes made his return to the court in Thursday's 136-131 loss to the Nuggets, contributing a solid 20 points in his first game back after an extended absence. His veteran experience is expected to be a significant asset for the Spurs as they look toward a potential playoff run. Barnes remains a key rotation piece for San Antonio as they navigate the final 16 games of the regular season.

Jamal Murray Powers Nuggets Past Spurs With 39-Point Effort

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Jamal Murray was cleared to play against the Spurs after testing a nagging ankle sprain in warmups. He delivered a dominant performance, scoring 39 points to help Denver secure a 136-131 victory. Murray has been in stellar form, averaging 27.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists over his last five games. His availability and scoring output remain critical for the Nuggets as they compete for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.

Bam Adebayo Faces Criticism Following Historic 83-Point Performance

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Following his record-breaking 83-point game against the Wizards, Bam Adebayo recorded 21 points and 8 rebounds in a 112-105 win over the Bucks. His historic performance drew criticism from Gordon Hayward and JJ Redick, who questioned the legitimacy of the scoring total due to intentional fouling and 43 free-throw attempts. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra defended the strategy, stating he has no regrets as the team remains focused on their playoff push and securing wins.

Baylor Scheierman Earns Spot-Start for Celtics Against Thunder

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Baylor Scheierman started for the Celtics in Thursday's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, filling in for Jayson Tatum, who sat out for Achilles maintenance. Scheierman, who has made 16 starts this season, contributed to the game where he was on the defensive end of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's record-breaking jumper. He enters the game averaging 9.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per contest this year.

Khris Middleton Explodes for Career-High 35 Points in Mavericks Win

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Khris Middleton led the Mavericks to a 120-112 win over the Grizzlies, snapping an eight-game losing streak with a season-high 35 points off the bench. Middleton shot 10-of-17 from the field, including a career-best 8-of-10 from three-point range. He scored 22 points in the fourth quarter alone, the highest-scoring quarter of his career. Despite his veteran status and lack of long-term fit with the rebuilding roster, Middleton provided elite scoring to secure the victory.

Max Christie Adds 13 Points in Mavericks' Win Over Grizzlies

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Max Christie contributed 13 points to the Dallas Mavericks' 120-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night. Christie's scoring helped provide depth for the Mavericks as they snapped an eight-game losing streak, supported by a strong fourth-quarter performance from Khris Middleton and a season-best outing from Daniel Gafford.

Daniel Gafford Posts Season-High 22 Points in Mavericks Victory

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Daniel Gafford recorded a season-best 22 points and 14 rebounds in the Dallas Mavericks' 120-112 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Gafford's interior presence was instrumental as Dallas dominated the paint 64-42 and controlled the boards 60-38, marking the team's highest rebounding total of the season. His performance helped the Mavericks snap an eight-game losing streak.

Cooper Flagg Contributes in Mavericks' 120-112 Win Over Grizzlies

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Rookie Cooper Flagg scored 13 points in the Mavericks' 120-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, helping snap an eight-game losing streak. Despite scoring under 20 points in four straight games since returning from a foot injury, Flagg remains a key contributor, consistently recording at least eight rebounds and six assists in recent outings. He continues to be a top contender in the latest NBA rookie rankings, trailing only Kon Knueppel.

Josh Minott Explodes for Career-High 24 Points in Loss to Hawks

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Josh Minott delivered a standout performance in the Nets' 108-97 loss to Atlanta, recording a career-high 24 points, three rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. Capitalizing on increased minutes due to Michael Porter Jr.'s ankle injury, Minott shot 4-of-7 from three-point range and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. His aggressive play and defensive activity provided a bright spot for Brooklyn, as he continues to audition for a larger role with the team.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker Scores 18 Points in Hawks' Win Over Nets

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Nickeil Alexander-Walker posted 18 points, two rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 36 minutes during Thursday's 108-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. While his shooting was inconsistent, he was effective at the free-throw line and provided phenomenal defensive intensity. This performance marked his second consecutive game with at least two steals and his fourth straight outing with multiple three-pointers.

Pelle Larsson Scores Career-High 28 Points in Heat Win Over Bucks

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Pelle Larsson registered a career-high 28 points, six rebounds, and six assists in 38 minutes during the Miami Heat's 112-105 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Larsson provided an unexpected scoring boost, hitting 9-of-14 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range. His performance was crucial in helping the Heat secure their seventh consecutive win while the team manages injuries to key players like Tyler Herro and Norman Powell.

Jalen Johnson Leads Hawks to Eighth Consecutive Victory

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Jalen Johnson recorded 21 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in the Atlanta Hawks' 108-97 win over the Brooklyn Nets, extending the team's winning streak to eight games. Johnson, the Hawks' leading scorer averaging 23 points per game, has been in dominant form, including a 35-point outing against Philadelphia. His performance against Brooklyn was pivotal in moving the Hawks to eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Scores 31 Points in Bucks' Loss to Heat

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Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 31 points, six rebounds, and three assists in 29 minutes during the Milwaukee Bucks' 112-105 loss to the Miami Heat. Despite scoring the team's first 10 points and being the only starter to reach double figures, the Bucks fell to 1-4 since his return from a calf injury. Antetokounmpo is averaging 12.6 points and 7.4 rebounds over his last five games.

Bilal Coulibaly Scores Career-High 29 Points in Wizards' OT Loss

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Bilal Coulibaly scored a career-high 29 points in the Wizards' 136-131 overtime loss to the Magic. Coulibaly forced overtime with a banked-in three-pointer with 5.8 seconds left in regulation and hit another three to tie the game at 131 in the extra period. Despite his 29-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist effort, Washington suffered its 10th consecutive loss, unable to overcome a 19-point third-quarter deficit.

Tre Jones Enters Starting Lineup for Bulls Against Lakers

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Tre Jones was inserted into the starting lineup for the Chicago Bulls' Thursday matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Joining Jones in the starting unit were Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Leonard Miller, and Jalen Smith. As a starter this season, Jones has averaged 13.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest.