NBA Player News

While Lundy’s continued absence won’t impact the team’s rotation, but it is worth noting that Hunter is still out due to personal reasons, not a right knee injury. It’s unclear how much longer he’ll be out, since he hasn’t played since their second game of the season. Zaccharie Risacher should continue to start in his place.

Barnes’ loss is a massive blow, as he leads the team in assists and is second in scoring and rebounding. Toronto will likely use a committee approach to fill in for Barnes, with Jonathan Mogbo and Davion Mitchell as the primary beneficiaries. RJ Barrett should also see an uptick in playmaking responsibilities for as long as Barnes is sidelined.

Having missed four games due to an illness that has recently affected multiple Mavericks, Marshall was said to be restricted to 20-25 minutes. He blew past that, with his play in the first half likely being a factor. Marshall scored 14 points in 15 minutes, and while he wasn’t as effective in the second half, this was an encouraging performance in Naji’s first game back. With PJ Washington (illness) sidelined, Quentin Grimes (4/3/2/1 in 17 minutes) received the starting nod but struggled. Marshall will be worth rostering if Washington is unavailable for Dallas’ next game, December 15 or 16, against the Warriors/Rockets loser.

Irving played a game without attempting a free throw for the third time this season and the first since November 27. Category league managers received decent value in field goal percentage and assists, but it’s safe to say they were hoping for a most robust stat line. Irving and the Mavericks will face the Rockets/Warriors loser on December 15 or 16 to complete their Week 7 slate.

Thompson has made at least three 3-pointers in three straight games, shooting 11-of-24. He made five more on Tuesday, and this run may be a sign that Thompson is getting a little more comfortable playing alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. However, he still isn’t providing much value outside of points and 3-pointers, limiting Thompson’s fantasy ceiling.

Oklahoma City did an excellent job of defending Doncic and Kyrie Irving without fouling. The duo combined to attempt five free throws (all by Doncic) and finished with eight turnovers. Doncic was responsible for six turnovers, and the overall production wasn’t there to compensate for that issue. He’ll look to rebound when the Mavericks face the Rockets/Warriors loser on December 15 or 16.

Wallace was a factor defensively, one of the reasons why Dallas committed 19 turnovers (OKC scored 36 points off of turnovers). His playing time was notable, with Isaiah Joe (9/3/3 with three 3-pointers) playing 17 minutes and Aaron Wiggins (three points, one steal, and one 3-pointer) nine. Wallace will be worth a longer look in deep leagues if that split continues.

Due to his hand injury before the season began, Hartenstein has only played nine games for the Thunder. However, he’s fit in seamlessly, filling the void left by the injured Chet Holmgren. Hartenstein is up to seven double-doubles in nine games, three shy of his total for the 2023-24 campaign. He’s providing 6th-round value in 8- and 9-cat formats, exceeding his Yahoo ADP (82).

All five Thunder starters finished Tuesday’s win in double figures, including JDub. While his streak of 20-point games ended at four, Williams has scored 18 or more in six straight. And he’s joined Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as an elite fantasy option on the Thunder roster, providing 1st-round value in 8- and 9-cat formats. Next up for Oklahoma City is a semifinal matchup with the Warriors or Rockets on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Gilgeous-Alexander was sensational in Tuesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal, scoring efficiently and producing a stat line that would make most fantasy managers drool. The five 3-pointers matched his season-high (November 19 vs. San Antonio), and this performance came on the heels of a 2-of-13 run against the Raptors and Pelicans. Even without a consistent 3-point shot, Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball since arriving in Oklahoma City.

If anyone was hoping to see Carter become a more influential part of the Magic offense after his return from a foot injury, that hasn’t happened. He’s attempted nine shots in Orlando’s past two games, including five on Tuesday, played without Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. While there appears to be room for Carter to increase his impact, he hasn’t shown himself capable of doing so yet.