The Knicks beat the Raptors 122-120 and the Rockets routed the Thunder 116-89 in the only two games on Thursday's board, setting up a 12-game Friday card topped by Celtics-76ers on NBA TV and Nuggets-Lakers on ESPN. The Rockets cleared Kevin Durant, Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun off the injury report, while the Knicks cleared five players including Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. Roster cutdown moves swept the league, highlighted by Shams Charania's report that Drew Eubanks suffered a torn pectoral muscle and will be waived by the Knicks.
Last night
The Knicks held off the Raptors 122-120, a tight two-point finish at home. The Rockets blew out the Thunder 116-89, a 27-point rout on their own floor. Those were the only two games on the board, a light slate ahead of a much fuller Friday card of twelve games across the league. Houston's margin was the larger of the two results by a wide gap, while New York needed the full game to close out Toronto.
Tonight
Twelve games fill Friday's card. Bucks at Pacers, Heat at Magic and Raptors at Pistons tip at 7:00 PM ET, with Celtics at 76ers also at 7:00 on NBA TV. An 8:00 PM ET window carries Kings at Spurs, Hawks at Mavericks, Timberwolves at Bulls, Hornets at Grizzlies and Wizards at Pelicans. The night closes with Trail Blazers at Warriors and Jazz at Suns at 10:00 PM ET, then Nuggets at Lakers at 10:30 PM ET on ESPN.
The injury wire
The Rockets cleared Kevin Durant, Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun, all previously day-to-day; Tari Eason remains day-to-day with an undisclosed issue. The Knicks cleared five previously day-to-day players: Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart. The Thunder cleared Ajay Mitchell, while Cason Wallace is now day-to-day with an undisclosed issue. The Pacers' Aaron Nesmith is day-to-day with a hamstring issue. The Timberwolves' Ayo Dosunmu is day-to-day for rest. The Suns' Luke Kennard is day-to-day with a left knee issue. The Raptors' Chucky Hepburn is day-to-day with a left hamstring issue.
Moves and reports
Roster cutdown moves hit across the league: Drew Eubanks and Ochai Agbaji left the Knicks (each a $2.4M cap hit), Saint Thomas left the 76ers ($1.4M) and Caleb Houstan signed with the Trail Blazers ($2.6M). Shams Charania reports Eubanks suffered a torn pectoral muscle and will be waived. On the rumor side, Jake Fischer reports the Bucks, Lakers and Grizzlies are exploring trades, at 74% confidence. Hoopsrumors adds, at 45% confidence, that Hornets and others also surfaced in Fischer's latest, that Jaime Jaquez Jr. is an extension candidate, and that GMs are high on the 76ers' offseason moves.
TOR
NYK
OKC
HOU
BOS
PHI
MIA
ORL
DET
MIL
IND
ATL
DAL
MIN
CHI
CHA
MEM
WAS
NOP
SAC
SAS
POR
GSW
UTA
PHX
DEN
LAL