NBA Player News

This comes out of nowhere, although it doesn’t sound like anything too serious, and he should be back in the lineup on Friday when the Nets face the Wizards. Sundiata Gaines will start in his place against the Blazers.

McCollum will make his return following a 13-game absence, and he should see big minutes immediately due to the Pelicans’ injury-laden roster. Missi was sidelined for Friday’s loss to Golden State, but he’s on track to return following a one-game absence.

Porzingis underwent left leg surgery back in June and was expected to return in five to six months. A September update gave him a targeted return date of December, so he’s ahead of schedule based on that timeline. Given his long layoff and extensive injury history, there’s no question Porzingis will face a minutes restriction in his first game back. The Celtics will surely bring him along slowly, meaning Al Horford should continue to play meaningful center minutes at least for the immediate future.

Dick didn’t have his best night offensively, and things got worse when left calf soreness hastened his exit with 3:16 remaining in the fourth quarter. Davion Mitchell replaced him in the lineup and would likely return to the starting five if Gradey misses time. Toronto begins a four-game Week 6 in Detroit on Monday, so fantasy managers should plan for the possibility that Dick does not play.

Having scored 22 points on 9-of-26 shooting in the three games prior, Murray surpassed the 20-point mark for the first time since November 6 on Sunday. Compared to last season’s numbers, his scoring average has decreased by two-plus points, with the 3-point, steals, and blocks averages also taking a hit. While fantasy managers likely expected the scoring to dip with DeMar DeRozan in the fold, the hope was that Murray would do enough in the other categories to maintain his value. That hasn’t happened thus far, with the Kings forward heading into Week 6 ranked just outside the top 100 in 9-cat formats.

While he has been healthy enough to play, DeRozan has not looked great in his first two games after missing three due to lower back tightness. In losses to the Clippers and Nets, he’s shot 13-of-37 from the field and 8-of-14 from the foul line. For a player who doesn’t offer much value in the defensive stats, a sharp downtick in percentages will significantly impact his fantasy value. DeRozan remains ranked just outside the top 50 in season-long value, but this isn’t a good time to navigate a back-to-back (Sacramento hosts Oklahoma City on Monday).

Sabonis’ double-double streak rolls on, as he hasn’t failed to record one since Sacramento’s season opener. The Kings center is providing first-round per-game value in 8- and 9-cat formats, doing enough to minimize the impact of his 3.6 turnovers per game in the latter. Sacramento plays four games in Week 6, beginning with Oklahoma City on Monday.

Fox was rolling in the first half, scoring 24 points to keep the Kings within striking distance. Give the Nets credit for adjusting their defense after halftime to get the ball out of his hands, with Fox scoring just seven points the rest of the way. Closing in on first-round per-game value for the season, he’s produced at that level over the last two weeks. Fox and the Kings play four games in Week 6, beginning with the Thunder on Monday.

Dennis Schroder’s absence did not help Simmons’ production despite him getting more time on the ball. Unfortunately, injuries and availability concerns have sapped most of his fantasy value. And Simmons will not play in Monday’s game against the Warriors, the first of four the Nets play in Week 6. Schroder is expected to be available and take on the primary playmaker responsibilities.

After coming off the bench in his first game after missing three with a lower back strain, Claxton started on Sunday and played 23 minutes. Domantas Sabonis is never an easy matchup, so, unsurprisingly, Nic finished with an unimpressive stat line. No decision was made regarding his availability for Monday’s game against the Warriors, so fantasy managers should consider Claxton questionable. If he does not play, Trendon Watford (3/3/0/2/1 in 15 minutes) will figure more prominently in the rotation, as Noah Clowney sprained his ankle during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game.

Williams started Sunday’s game for Dorian Finney-Smith, who sat due to a sprained ankle. While he didn’t provide much value in his 20 minutes on the floor, Williams may have another opportunity to start on Monday. Finney-Smith and Ben Simmons (back) will not play when the Nets open a four-game Week 6 in San Francisco against the Warriors.