NBA Player News

Considering his competition is Kyle O’Quinn and UDFA Marshall Plumlee, we can’t exactly say that we’re surprised. Given Noah is almost a lock to miss time during the regular season, it’s worth keeping tabs on Hernangomez to see how he progresses.

After initially being announced as a starter for Monday’s game, Filipowski did not receive the nod, with fellow rookie Cody Williams doing the honors instead. However, this didn’t prevent the second-round pick out of Duke from having his best rebounding effort as a pro, grabbing 17 rebounds on the night. With Williams injuring his ankle during the second half of Monday’s game, more minutes may be available for Filipowski moving forward. With the Jazz being more than willing to sit Lauri Markkanen and John Collins, Filipowski will have added value during the “silly season.”

Kessler was back in the Jazz starting lineup after sitting out Friday’s loss to New Orleans, pushing Drew Eubanks to the bench. The third-year center recorded his fifth double-double in seven appearances and 17th of the season, ten more than his 2023-24 tally. Even with Utah being one of the NBA’s worst teams, Kessler’s bounce-back season has been one of the bright spots for a franchise looking to the draft lottery. Utah plays two more games without a back-to-back during Week 13. Hopefully, Kessler managers won’t have to worry about him getting another “rest” day.

George has scored 23 points or more in three straight games, and he may be one of the few Jazz regulars safe from being shut down later in the season. Utah is still looking to see if their 2023 first-round pick can be the point guard of the future, and rookie Isaiah Collier has also received opportunities to show what he can do. George’s fantasy value has been low, but the opportunity makes him worth rostering despite the efficiency issues.

Collier has started seven of Utah’s last eight games, reaching double digits in assists in three straight. Utah appeared to be on its way to a big win, leading by as much as 25, but the Pelicans managed to rally and win in overtime. With an eye toward the draft lottery and evaluating their current young talent, the Jazz will play Collier and company plenty between now and the end of the season. Collier is worth adding, especially in deep leagues.

Murphy has scored 22 points or more in five of his last six appearances, with Friday’s win over Utah (19) being the exception. But the complete stat line is the more significant takeaway, as the Pelicans forward has been elite recently. Over the past two weeks, Murphy has provided top-5 value in 9-cat formats. Brandon Ingram’s continued absence has opened the door for him, and Murphy has taken advantage.

With the Pelicans on the verge of getting run out of their arena, Hawkins gave New Orleans much-needed production off the bench. The second-year guard shot 3-of-6 from the field in the second quarter, and while New Orleans trailed by 20 at the half, things could have been much worse. As for Hawkins’ fantasy value, he doesn’t offer much of a ceiling as long as the Pelicans continue to harbor ambitions of moving up the Western Conference standings. However, if something were to change, Hawkins would be worth having.

Murray has been dealing with right elbow bursitis, likely a factor in his shooting 42.4% from the field over the past two weeks. However, he has still managed to provide value, racking up 11 assists and two steals during Monday’s overtime victory. Over the past two weeks, Murray has been a third-round player in 9-cat formats. New Orleans plays three more games during Week 13, starting with Milwaukee on Wednesday.

McCollum and the Pelicans managed to dig their way out of a 25-point hole on Monday, needing overtime to beat a Jazz team they handed with relative ease on Friday. The 45 points are the most CJ has scored in a game since January 3, when he dropped a season-high 50 on the Wizards. While limited defensive production means McCollum has a relatively low fantasy ceiling, he recorded three blocked shots on Monday. The Pelicans play three more games during Week 13.

The Clippers are without Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac for Monday’s game, leaving Tyronn Lue with two holes to fill in his starting lineup. Dunn and Bamba will do the honors, giving both a slightly higher fantasy ceiling. However, they’re only worth streaming in deep leagues.

Ball is the lone change to the Bulls’ starting lineup as he steps in for the injured Coby White. While he may be limited to 25 minutes, the move into the starting five raises Ball’s fantasy ceiling. With Ayo Dosunmu also out, Williams may play a few more minutes than usual.