NBA Player News

Antetokounmpo will undergo surgery, which means that he will be sidelined for a while. A specific timeline isn’t clear at this point, but he will likely miss time at the beginning of next season. However, that won’t impact fantasy basketball whatsoever.

Jones has come off the bench in each of the Suns’ last three games, but he’ll replace the injured Bradley Beal in the starting five. Jones has averaged 10.9 points and 5.9 dimes across 54 starts this season.

With Kelly Olynyk sidelined for the first night of this back-to-back, Matkovic will return to the starting lineup. Matkovic has been productive in his two starts this season and should be a solid source of rebounds and blocks in an increased role.

PJ Washington is out, leaving the frontcourt rather thin. Marshall will replace him, and the Mavs will go with a different look at center, replacing Kessler Edwards with Brown. Dante Exum is available, but he’ll come off the bench. Brown could provide some value as a blocks and rebounds streamer.

Powell has missed the Clippers’ four games since the All-Star break, but there is a chance that he returns against the other Los Angeles team. If he remains out, Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. will likely remain in the starting unit, with Bogdan Bogdanovic and Amir Coffey playing large roles off the bench.

Both players will be available to suit up off the bench for Charlotte. With Wendell Moore Jr. sidelined, there should extra minutes available for both Curry and Jeffries, though neither should be considered a quality streaming option, even with LaMelo Ball out.

Moore Jr. played 28 minutes on Tuesday, but he has been placed in the league’s concussion protocol and won’t be available against Dallas. Seth Curry and DaQuan Jeffries should take on extra minutes in place of Moore Jr.

Ball wasn’t initially listed on the injury report, but he was added on Thursday as questionable and has now been ruled out. KJ Simpson started in place of Ball on Tuesday and should be in line for another start, though he has been inactive for some games without any warning from the team.

Beal will sit out this game, which is the first of back-to-back set against New Orleans. Tyus Jones or Grayson Allen will likely replace him in the starting unit, though Allen will be better option in fantasy basketball.

As expected, Gordon and Murray will take the court in Thursday’s primetime showdown with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Co. Both Murray and Gordon should handle their typical workloads.

Powell returned Tuesday and logged 16 minutes, finishing with two points, five boards and a block. Despite multiple injuries across Dallas’ frontcourt rotation, Powell isn’t an attractive streaming option.