NBA Player News

Johnson will miss a game for the first time this season, and his absence frees up minutes for some of San Antonio’s reserves to claim. Malaki Branham and Sandro Mamukelashvili may play additional minutes, but neither is worth streaming in most leagues.

Regarding steals, Butler has been one of the hottest players in the NBA over the past week. He’s recorded three or more in four straight appearances, including Friday’s season-high tally. Averaging 2.6 steals per game, Butler has provided top-20 value in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. To say he’s fitting in well with his new teammates is an understatement; with Butler in the fold, the Warriors have looked like a threat to come out of the West this postseason.

Podziemski has scored at least 26 points in three of his last four appearances. Over his past two games, the Warriors guard has shot 12-of-18 from beyond the arc. Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green receive most of the attention, and rightfully so. However, Podziemski’s recent run should not be overlooked as the Warriors look to make a run at a championship. Fantasy-wise, he has been a top-20 player over the past week. He’ll look to continue this recent success on Sunday when the Warriors host the Rockets.

Curry has been on a roll recently, scoring at least 36 points in each of his last three outings. The Warriors star hit at least three field goals in all four quarters, shooting well over 50 percent from the field on the night. According to Basketball Monster, Curry is ranked second in eight- and nine-cat formats over the past week. The Warriors have another big matchup to end Week 22, as they host the Rockets on Sunday.

Braun has been consistently productive throughout the season, exceeding his Yahoo! ADP (133) in eight- and nine-cat formats. Over the past two weeks, the third-year wing has been a top-50 player in fantasy basketball and has shown no signs of slowing down. After representing excellent value in drafts ahead of the 2024-25 season, it can be argued that Braun should be a top-75 pick next fall. The Nuggets finish Week 22 on Sunday against the Pacers.

Gordon recorded eight assists for the second time in five games on Friday, finishing the Nuggets’ defeat with a solid stat line. Over the past two weeks, he has been a 10th-round player in eight-cat formats. On nights when the Nuggets are without Jamal Murray, there’s a little more room for Gordon to provide value as a playmaker, with Friday being a prime example. The Nuggets end Week 22 on Sunday against the Pacers.