NBA Player News

Smith is struggling with his shot, making 41.9% of his attempts from the field. He still appears to be struggling to figure out where he fits in Houston’s offensive attack, and the third-year forward has the lowest usage of the five starters. Smith isn’t a player who should be dropped in fantasy leagues, but fantasy managers need three-block nights like Saturday to become the norm to counter the limited offensive value.

From an accuracy standpoint, Robinson didn’t have the best night, shooting 3-of-11 from three. However, the six assists were a positive for managers who have him rostered. That matched his season-high, but Robinson has a long way to go before he becomes anything more than a specialist in most fantasy leagues. Rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues, he only has value where there’s a clear need for points and 3-pointers.

Adebayo took an inadvertent elbow from teammate Jaime Jaquez Jr. during Friday’s game, with the resulting cut requiring seven stitches. The Heat center did return, finishing with his 206th career double-double to move into second on the franchise’s all-time list (Rony Seikaly holds the record with 221). Adebayo still hasn’t reached his Yahoo ADP (32) but is closing in on top-50 value in 9-cat formats.

Jaquez’s stat line was nondescript, with his starting the third quarter being more notable. The Heat lost Jimmy Butler (illness) during the first half, and he also sprained his left ankle. If Butler cannot play in Saturday’s game against the Magic, Jaquez may be Erik Spoelstra’s choice to fill the resulting void in the starting lineup.

Herro has scored 23 points or more in four straight and five of his last six outings, with the improved scoring factoring into his being a top-25 player over the past two weeks. For the season, Herro continues to exceed his Yahoo ADP (81), providing 3rd-round value in 8- and 9-cat formats. With Jimmy Butler leaving Friday’s game due to an illness, Herro may have added value for Saturday’s game in Orlando.

Hartenstein finished Friday’s win with his ninth double-double of the season, matching his high with 18 rebounds. The offseason addition continues to flourish, closing in on top-50 per-game value in 9-cat formats. With it being unknown when Chet Holmgren will return from his hip injury, managers who have Hartenstein rostered are well-positioned to benefit.

Dort did not shoot the ball well in Tuesday’s NBA Cup final (which didn’t count toward official stats), and that carried over into Thursday’s win over the Magic. He rebounded well on Friday, shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and finishing as one of four Thunder starters in double figures. Dort remains a top-100 player in 9-cat formats, and he’s worth adding ahead of Oklahoma City’s four-game Week 9 slate.

Miami did a good job defensively on Gilgeous-Alexander, especially compared to his performance in Thursday’s win over the Magic. However, he still produced an excellent stat line outside the field goal percentage, and SGA is shooting nearly 51% for the season. He remains one of the best players to have rostered in fantasy basketball, regardless of position or league format.

While Tuesday’s NBA Cup final against the Bucks did not count toward official statistics, Williams also struggled in Thursday’s win over the Magic. So, a night like Friday was much-needed for the Thunder star, who finished with a season-high 33 points. JDub’s fantasy value took a slight hit due to his recent shooting struggles, but he remains a top-20 player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Oklahoma City plays four games during Week 9, beginning with the Wizards on Monday.

After scoring 11 points in his first two appearances of the season, Middleton scored six on 2-of-9 shooting in the two games that followed. Accuracy remains an issue, but the Bucks forward was more active as a scorer on Friday. Middleton established season-highs in points and shot attempts as Milwaukee was without Damian Lillard (calf). With the Bucks hosting the Wizards on Saturday, fantasy managers with Middleton rostered should plan for him to sit that out.

With Damian Lillard (calf) out, Bucks coach Doc Rivers started Green instead of another point guard (Delon Wright). That approach backfired spectacularly, with Green struggling in 17 minutes on the court. Wright (two points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 17 minutes) started the third quarter, but the damage was done by then. Saturday’s matchup with the Wizards should be better for Milwaukee, whether Lillard plays or not.