NBA Player News

To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Grant will be listed as doubtful for this game. He will be ruled out shortly before tipoff. Jabari Walker and Kris Murray will continue to start at the forward spots. Like clockwork, this will be what happens for the rest of the season. Managers shouldn’t expect to see Grant again this season.

Highsmith didn’t record any defensive stats on Friday, but the points and 3-pointers were solid. More noteworthy than the stats were him playing 35 minutes and starting the third quarter, as did rookie Pelle Larsson (five points, two rebounds, two assists, and one 3-pointer in 14 minutes). Highsmith and Larsson stepped in for Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jovic, with the former suffering a sprained ankle during the first quarter. If Butler can’t play against the Timberwolves on Sunday, Highsmith will have added fantasy value, potentially as a starter.

Drummond is a great example of how a player can be more valuable in fantasy than in real-life. While Drummond had a double-double for his fantasy managers, he was -19 in 22 minutes in a 10-point loss. He’ll continue to carry value as long as he’s starting while Joel Embiid is out. Drummond has another chance to start Sunday against the Hornets before Embiid is set to return next week.

George struggled against the Lakers. He had only nine points on 13 shots and was 0-of-6 from behind the 3-point line. George only attempted two free throws, though he excelled in a playmaking role with eight assists and no turnovers. He was -4 in 25 minutes in the 10-point loss. The Sixers get a chance to bounce back against the Hornets on Sunday.

Reaves had his 3-point stroke going on Friday and made 6-of-10 attempts from behind the arc. He only made one other shot from the floor and didn’t have any free throw attempts, though he did contribute seven assists. Reaves had two turnovers and was +14 in 30 minutes in the 10-point victory. The Lakers will host the Raptors in their next game on Sunday.

Davis returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday’s game against the Grizzlies. He didn’t miss a beat. Davis led the game with 31 points and was a +20 in 36 minutes in the 10-point victory. The only thing that can stop Davis this year is his health. The Lakers will host the Raptors on Sunday.

James followed up his 39-point performance without Anthony Davis in the lineup with another brilliant effort Friday. With Davis back in, James didn’t take as many shots, but still managed to record a triple-double. LeBron had only two turnovers and was +12 in the 10-point victory. The Lakers host the Raptors on Sunday.

Monk’s playing time is why he’s a more palatable fantasy option than starter Kevin Huerter (four points, two rebounds, and one assist), who played 20 minutes on Friday. Monk logged 31 and was part of the lineup that attempted to mount a rally during the fourth quarter. The Kings got no closer than three points as Norman Powell hit big shots to close out the win. Monk remains a late-round option, but more games in which he’s as productive defensive as he was on Friday can change that.

Friday’s double-double makes it eight straight for Sabonis, who ripped off 61 in a row last season. He’s off to a stellar start, providing top 10 per-game value in 9-cat formats and top 15 in 8-cat. The chemistry between Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, and DeMar DeRozan has been good, and there’s still room for the trio to grow. While not many expected Sabonis to be this productive, he’s unlikely to fall too far as the season progresses.

Fox matched his season-high with 31 points, but the production in other categories was limited. Add seven turnovers, and the overall performance could have been much better. As one of the top 50 players in 9-cat formats, Fox provides top 25 value in turnover punt models. The Kings now hit the road for a back-to-back, beginning with the Suns on Sunday.

Zubac is up to five double-doubles on the season, and Friday was the third time he’s grabbed at least 15 rebounds. With Paul George moving on to Philadelphia and Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined, the Clippers haven’t limited Zubac’s minutes, much to the delight of fantasy managers. As expected in drafts, Big Zu is providing top-100 per-game value, and it shouldn’t be too difficult for him to maintain that production level, even after Leonard returns.