NBA Player News

Watford made his first start of the season on Friday, and while he was responsible for five turnovers, the double-double was encouraging. The 13 rebounds were one shy of his career-high, and the third-year forward recorded his first double-double of the season. With Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith ruled out for the remainder of the season, Watford could be in line for another start on Sunday, provided Cameron Johnson (toe) sits.

Looney made the most of his 20 minutes, recording a double-double while tallying three steals. And it likely wasn’t an accident that the veteran center played more minutes in a competitive game than in blowouts of Portland (14 minutes) and Utah (13). Starter Trayce Jackson-Davis (four points, one rebound, one assist, and one block) only played 16 minutes against the Clippers, but TJD managers should not panic, given his upside.

Hield had a rough night in his first home game as a Warrior, shooting 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. But this should not erase what he did in comfortable wins over the Trail Blazers and Jazz to begin the season. With Stephen Curry injuring his ankle during the second half of Sunday’s defeat, Hield’s shooting ability will be of heightened importance if No. 30 has to miss time.

Kuminga’s gotten off to a slow start, shooting 8-of-24 (33.3%) from the field in Golden State’s first three games. The good news on Sunday was that he recorded three steals, so there was some value for fantasy managers to derive from this performance. With Stephen Curry exiting due to a sprained ankle, Kuminga is one of the players in line for a boost if the Warriors star has to miss time.

After shooting 3-of-10 from the field in Friday’s game against the Jazz, Wiggins got back on track Sunday night. Depending on whether or not Stephen Curry (ankle) misses time after exiting Sunday’s loss, Wiggins is one of the Warriors who may have to do more scoring. Wiggins has scored 20 or more in two of Golden State’s first three games, a good start for a player who had a forgettable 2023-24 campaign. The Warriors play three games in Week 2, beginning with a Tuesday/Wednesday back-to-back against the Pelicans.

As has often been the case, Powell provided value as a scorer but not much else. This hasn’t been an issue so far, with the Clippers guard providing top-50 per-game value through the season’s first week. However, as more games are played, Powell’s lack of defensive production will weigh down his value. Even with Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely, managers with Powell rostered may want to begin entertaining thoughts of selling high.

After solid performances in his first two games as a Clipper, Jones kicked things up a notch on Sunday. He shot 7-of-10 from the field, including a 3-of-4 effort from beyond the arc. This level of shooting is not sustainable for Jones, a career 31.8% shooter from deep, but he has improved. The more time Kawhi Leonard (knee) misses, the more room Jones will have to provide unexpected fantasy value.

Harden didn’t have the best night shooting the basketball, going 6-of-19 from the field (2-of-12 from three). But he managed to record another points/assists double-double, which was his second in as many games. The Clippers play three games in Week 2, and they’re off until Wednesday night when they host the Trail Blazers.

While there were expectations that Zubac would be more impactful this season, few envisioned this start. He’s the second center in Clippers history to open the season with three straight games of 20 points or more, joining Bob McAdoo (who did it twice). Just as notable as the scoring are the assists. With a career average of 1.2 assists per game, Zubac has 13 through three games. While this run may not feel normal, fantasy managers should not “sell high” on Zubac. Hold onto him, especially since it is unknown when Kawhi Leonard will return.

Curry injured his ankle during the third quarter while trying to run off a screen set by a teammate. While he did return to action, the Warriors star wasn’t on the court long before re-injuring the ankle and then heading to the locker room. Curry finished with 18 points, four rebounds, six assists, two steals, one block, and four 3-pointers in 27 minutes. Next on Golden State’s schedule is a Tuesday/Wednesday back-to-back against the Pelicans. A potential absence for Curry would boost the values of multiple players, including Andrew Wiggins, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, and De’Anthony Melton.

Zaccharie Risacher was the biggest beneficiary once De’Andre Hunter (knee) was ruled out, with the rookie moving into the starting lineup. However, Roddy and Garrison Mathews (14 points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals, and four 3-pointers in 21 minutes) also benefitted, and they played well in Oklahoma City. While neither is a must-stream player heading into Week 2, Roddy and Mathews should be tracked in deep leagues. Atlanta opens its four-game week with two against Washington, making it possible for a reserve or two to set themselves apart.