NBA Player News

Richards is back after missing three games but will come off the bench. This protects Grant Williams’ fantasy value, as he has flourished as a starter. As for Black, he may play a few minutes off the bench but is not in a position to impact fantasy basketball.

Morant notched a career milestone on Sunday afternoon, recording his 2,000th assist as a professional. This was a massive performance for the Grizzlies, who rebounded from a slow start to score 136 points. And the team’s 36 assists matched a franchise record for most in a game. Morant has looked healthy, and it’s likely time for deep-league managers to part ways with Scotty Pippen Jr., who only played 11 minutes on Sunday.

After scoring 20 points or more in 11 of the 14 games he played in November, Jackson got his December off to a good start on Sunday. He led all scorers with 25 while tallying two steals and three blocks. This is the third time he’s had at least five defensive contributions in a game this season. Jackson has been a 2nd-round player in 8- and 9-cat formats thus far, threatening 1st-round value in the latter. Memphis plays four games during the first segment of Week 7, beginning with the Mavericks on Tuesday.

Simmons logged 12 minutes in this game and dished out five dimes before his early exit. There is only about six minutes left in the fourth quarter, so he may not have seen the floor anyway. Keon Johnson, Shake Milton and Trendon Watford have been the primary reserve options in this game.

With both Derrick White and Jaylen Brown sidelined, Hauser and Horford will enter the starting lineup. Payton Pritchard will remain in his sixth man role, but he should still see a bump in minutes. Horford and Porzingis will start together in the frontcourt to match up with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.