Khris Middleton exited the Milwaukee Bucks' shock 97-92 loss to the Houston Rockets with a left ankle sprain on Sunday.
The 31-year-old All-Star left the game after playing only six minutes where he did not register anything on his statistics line and missed two three-point attempts.
Middleton appeared to roll his ankle during a defensive possession in the first quarter, which left him hobbling before checking out shortly after. He attempted to return in the second quarter but only lasted 90 seconds, before being ruled out.
Jalen Green starred with 30 points for the Rockets, who claimed only their eighth win of the season. Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was kept to 16 points, although he brought up his 15,000th career point.
The Milwaukee small forward was playing only his fifth game of the season for the 2021 NBA champions, having been beset by injuries to begin the 2022-23 campaign.
Middleton suffered a playoff-ending Grade 2 MCL sprain against the Chicago Bulls last season, before undergoing offseason wrist surgery, forcing him to miss the Bucks' opening 20 games.
The 2021 NBA champion was averaging 13.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists in his four games prior to Sunday's injury.
Paul Silas, a three-time NBA champion as a player and a long-time coach – including LeBron James' first coach as a professional – has died at the age of 79.
The family announced the death on Sunday via the Houston Rockets, who are coach by Silas' son Stephen.
"Our heartfelt thoughts are with Stephen and his family during this difficult time," the Rockets said in a statement.
Silas began his 16-year NBA career as a player with the St. Louis Hawks in 1964-65 and retired after the 1979-80 season with the Seattle SuperSonics.
He won titles with the Boston Celtics in 1973-74 and 1975-76, and with the SuperSonics in 1978-79.
A two-time All-Star known for his defense, Silas was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team twice and was a second-team All-Defensive selection three times.
He finished his career with averages of 9.4 points and 9.9 rebounds and averaged a double-double in eight seasons.
After retiring as a player, he immediately moved into coaching, taking over the San Diego Clippers in 1980. He also served as the head coach for the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Bobcats.
His first season with the Cavaliers in 2003-04 coincided with James' rookie season. His last season as a head coach came for the Bobcats in 2011-12, and he compiled a 387-488 record over his 12 seasons as a coach, reaching the playoffs four times.
His son Stephen is in his third season as the Rockets coach, and will not coach in Houston's scheduled game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
''We mourn the passing of former NBA All-Star and head coach Paul Silas,'' NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
''Paul's lasting contributions to the game are seen through the many players and coaches he inspired, including his son, Rockets head coach Stephen Silas. We send our deepest condolences to Paul's family.''
Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan was magnanimous in victory after his side inflicted a 144-115 rout upon a Dallas Mavericks team missing star man Luka Doncic.
The hosts ran rampant across a record-breaking first half, posting their highest points haul in franchise history with 82 at United Center.
DeMar DeRozan led the individual efforts with a 28-point haul, but it was a concentrated team performance as the Bulls backed up their prior win over the Washington Wizards.
The Mavericks were stung without Doncic, who was ruled out ahead of the match with a quad strain, and Donovan acknowledged his side's opponents had enjoyed less-than-ideal preparations for their matchup.
"Clearly, they had a tough game against Milwaukee and then a tough turnaround, and [with] some integral players out," he stated.
"But for us, I thought we generated good shots, found the open man, spaced the floor well. I think there's always things you can take from these games."
In addition to Doncic, the Mavericks were missing Maxi Kleber and Josh Green, with the pair also ruled out following Friday's one-point loss to the Bucks.
Meanwhile, the Bulls produced impressive displays across the board, with DeRozan one of seven players to post double-figure hauls.
"We scored 144 points, and it was spread around," Donovan added. "Zach [LaVine] and DeMar are unselfish players, and it gets other guys involved.
"It's not that we've got to lead the league in three-point shots, [it is] just that there are opportunities for us to take more threes that are good shots. I thought we did a good job taking the ones we should take tonight."
Steve Kerr acknowledged the Golden State Warriors "needed a game like that" after they ran out 123-107 victors over the Boston Celtics.
A Klay Thompson-inspired attack snapped a two-game losing run on their home patch, in a rematch of last season's Finals series.
It saw the Warriors move to 14-13 for the season and takes them eighth in the Western Conference after handing the Celtics just their sixth loss of the season.
With his side in need of a morale boost on the court, head coach Kerr acknowledged the performance will have done wonders for their confidence following a tough few matches.
"I thought we needed a game like that," he stated. "We've been a little bit stuck in the mud. The crowd was excited, we were excited.
"The feeling of going against the team you just played in the Finals, especially with the way they've played this year [and being able to win]. They've just been so good, so dominant."
While Thompson and Stephen Curry fronted up with hauls of 34 and 32 points respectively, it was the defensive performance of Jonathan Kuminga that drew plaudits from his coach and team-mates.
"I thought JK was great," Kerr added. "His athleticism and size and strength [is terrific]. To be able to bring him off the bench and put him on for either [Jaylen] Brown or [Jayson] Tatum [is great].
"JK has really helped solidify our defense and given us another weapon [where] we can put on the best players on the opponent."
Splash brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 66 points as the Golden State Warriors claimed arguably their best win of the season, beating the Boston Celtics 123-107 on Saturday.
The Celtics had won eight of their past nine games, including a statement win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, but the reigning champions shut down the NBA's number one offensive team while the splash brothers were on song.
Curry finished with 32 points including six-of-11 from beyond the arc, with four off the dribble, while Thompson scored a game-high 34 points with four triples. The Warriors are 14-0 all-time when Curry and Thompson both score 30-plus points.
It was a rare night of frustration for the NBA-leading Celtics, who fall to 21-6 overall, with Jayson Tatum kept to 18 points with seven rebounds, two assists and three steals. Jaylen Brown scored a team-high 31 points.
Curry and Thompson led the way, but center Kevon Looney pulled down 15 rebounds while Jordan Poole added 20 points.
The win means the Warriors are 12-2 at Chase Center this season and have won 11 of their past 17 games, improving to 14-13 overall.
Thomas stars as short-handed Nets claim shock win
The short-handed Brooklyn Nets recorded an admirable 136-133 victory over the Indiana Pacers, with Cam Thomas coming off the bench to score a career-high 33 points.
The Nets were without eight players, including All-Stars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons, but Thomas stepped up along with Australian guard Patty Mills with 24 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 35 points for the Pacers, but Thomas and Mills were crucial in the fourth quarter, as the Nets made it three straight wins and six from their past seven games.
Jokic records triple-double in Nuggets victory
Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a 115-110 win over the Utah Jazz with his fourth triple-double of the season and 80th of his NBA career.
Jokic finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists in a dominant display that helped the Nugs improve their record to 15-10.
Jamal Murray supported the reigning MVP well, with 30 points, four rebounds and five assists.
Luka Doncic will not play for the Dallas Mavericks against the Chicago Bulls after he was ruled out with a right quad strain following Friday's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The three-time All-Star, who currently leads the NBA for points per game with a 32.9 average this season and sits second on the scoring charts outright, complained of pain during his side's 106-105 defeat.
With a three-game home run set to start on Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the call has been made to keep Doncic sidelined for this weekend's trip to United Center.
It is not yet known if there is further reason to be concerned for the point guard, who has been in scintillating form across the campaign so far.
In addition to Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Josh Green will miss Saturday's match with the Bulls, after they also picked up injuries against the Bucks at American Airlines Center.
The forward is out with right foot soreness, while the guard has suffered a right elbow sprain.
The Mavericks arrive in Chicago having suffered their first loss in four, with defeat to the Bucks snapping a three-game victorious run over the New York Knicks, the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets.
Doncic has topped the points chart for his team in all but one of those games, scoring 33 on Friday in addition to 11 assists and six rebounds.
His efforts have guided the Mavericks to seventh in the Western Conference this season, with a 13-12 winning record to date.
Darvin Ham credited the Los Angeles Lakers' resolve after they fell to a 133-122 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers, praising his team for refusing to fold.
The Lakers fought back multiple times over the course of the game to ultimately force overtime at 120 apiece, before their hosts eked out victory at the Wells Fargo Center.
A 31-point haul for Anthony Davis, aided by 25 for Austin Reaves and 23 for LeBron James, was not enough for the Lakers to stave off a third consecutive defeat.
However, Ham was in a bullish mood when quizzed on his team's performance, saying there were plenty of positives to take away despite their stinging reverse.
"We can get better from this," he stated. "I told the team, as disappointed as I am that we didn't get the win, I still can have a good meal and sleep like a baby tonight because of the way we competed.
"We did not quit, we did not give up. There was a point in the game where we could've just folded our tent.
"But we kept scratching away, kept digging deep, kept making plays one stop after another one and put ourselves in a position to win the game."
Meanwhile, 76ers coach Doc Rivers said his side rallied well to seize victory after letting their initial lead slip on several occasions.
"We will take the win," he added. "Usually when you give up a lead like that, to gather yourself and play well in overtime is rare."
The Lakers will round off their road stretch against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, before heading home to face the Boston Celtics.
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