NBA Player News

Butler is starting to get into playoff mode, and he has now scored at least 20 points in four straight games after scoring less than 20 in their previous five. Miami is battling for playoff positioning and currently sit just two games out of fourth place despite being eighth in the East right now. They play Dallas on Wednesday, which is the second night of a back-to-back, before playing the tanking Raptors twice at home to end the season. Managers should expect a big night out of Jimmy Butler against the Mavs, since a win would go a long way in helping them ascend the standings.

Lively moved into the starting lineup on Thursday, replacing Daniel Gafford in a move that wasn’t surprising. Those two are interchangeable due to their skill sets, so there wouldn’t be much change. Unfortunately for Lively, he got into early foul trouble and could not get anything going before the fourth quarter. Fantasy managers will be happy with the defensive stats, but the offense and rebounding were not there. As for Gafford, he finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and two blocks in 19 minutes. He and Lively are late-round players, especially if the Mavericks insist on giving Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell credible rotation minutes.

Marshall was moved to the bench for Thursday’s game, with Maxi Kleber replacing him in the starting lineup. While Kleber (three points in 17 minutes) did not provide much value, that could not be said for Marshall. He finished one point shy of his season-high, scoring an efficient 19 points while delivering solid assist and steals production. Marshall had a chance to win Thursday’s game, but his corner three missed the mark as time expired. He’s worth streaming until PJ Washington (returns), whether starting or coming off the bench.

Grimes was tabbed to replace Kyrie Irving in the starting lineup, and he provided solid numbers in the two-point defeat. During the preseason, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said he wanted to pair up Grimes and Klay Thompson as often as possible, and Thursday night was an opportunity to do so for most of the game. Thompson struggled with his shot, going 6-of-17 from the field and finishing with 17 points, three rebounds, two assists, one block, and five 3-pointers in 28 minutes. Grimes’ fantasy value this season will depend on Irving and Luka Doncic’s availability.

Despite dealing with groin and knee issues, Doncic still played 38 minutes, with the Mavericks not having Kyrie Irving in the lineup. He put up a quality stat line, but it wasn’t enough to get Dallas the win. While Doncic has yet to miss a game, the nagging injuries can add up over time, which is a concern considering that last season was the first in which he’s played 70 games or more since his rookie campaign. Dallas ends Week 4 with a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back.

Clarkson, who’s scored 16 points or more in four straight, gave the Jazz much-needed production off the bench in Thursday’s win. His biggest play was an assist, with Clarkson finding John Collins for a wide-open dunk with 6.4 seconds remaining to win the game. He may still be ranked well outside the top 150 in per-game value, but Utah’s lack of consistent scoring options makes Clarkson a player worth holding onto in deep leagues.

Collins has shined over his last two games, starting for the injured Walker Kessler. After putting up 29 points and a complete stat line in Tuesday’s loss to Phoenix, he scored another 28 while finishing one blocked shot shy of another full line. A top-20 player over the last two weeks, Collins is providing 4th-round value for the season despite coming off the bench most nights. He’s already rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues, and those who have Collins rostered should consider selling high.

The Jazz never officially announced that Markkanen would not return after exiting Thursday’s game during the fourth quarter, but he never returned to the bench after a trip to the locker room. Markkanen was inadvertently hit in the face by Naji Marshall after corralling a rebound and appeared to be struggling with his vision. The Jazz still have games to play on Saturday and Sunday, and navigating those contests will be more difficult if Markkanen misses time.

Having scored a season-high 18 points in Tuesday’s loss to the Suns, Filipowski moved into the starting lineup on Thursday. Replacing fellow rookie Cody Williams (three points, three rebounds, and two assists in 15 minutes) in the starting lineup, Filipowski performed well on both ends of the floor. The lone issue for him on Thursday was the foul line, with the rookie making one of his four attempts. Rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues, Filipowski is ranked just outside the top 150 in per-game value over the last week.

With Kyrie Irving sidelined Grimes will make his first start as a Maverick. This gives him a shot at achieving fantasy relevance, at least for one night. Another change is Kleber, who replaces Naji Marshall. While a capable contributor, Kleber is returning from a hamstring injury that cost him nine games. Lively replaces Daniel Gafford, but this should not significantly impact either’s fantasy value, as the minutes should be split evenly.

The Jazz have only made one change to their starting lineup, with Filipowski replacing fellow rookie Cody Williams. Filipowski is coming off his most productive game of the season, scoring 18 points in Tuesday’s loss to the Suns. Williams will remain in the rotation, but the demotion lowers his fantasy upside.