NBA Player News

After missing two games, Finney-Smith returned to the Nets lineup on Wednesday and played 32 minutes. He’s back on the injury report with a questionable tag. Keon Johnson may pick up additional minutes if Finney-Smith can’t play, but Jalen Wilson is another potential option after he sat out Wednesday’s win with a calf injury.

Wong’s signing has been prompted by injuries to LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann. The former will be sidelined for at least two weeks. Wong gives the Hornets another option on the perimeter, but Vasilije Micic and KJ Simpson will be the top two options at point guard. To complete Wong’s signing, the Hornets must waive someone, with Jared Rhoden expected to be that player.

Micic logged 31 and 34 minutes in the two games the Hornets played without the injured LaMelo Ball (calf). With Tre Mann (back) also sidelined, Micic will play plenty of minutes for the foreseeable future. Another player worth watching is Cody Martin, who finished Saturday’s loss with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one 3-pointer in 26 minutes off the bench.

Saturday night was Richards’ first game action since November 1, and he played 25 minutes before fouling out. His return means fewer minutes for Moussa Diabate, who logged 23 and finished Saturday’s loss with three points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one blocked shot. While Diabate’s worth holding onto in deep leagues where Richards isn’t available, Nick is the player fantasy managers should target ahead of Week 7. Charlotte plays four of its six games during the first half of Week 7, which spans two weeks in Yahoo leagues due to the NBA Cup.

No one would blame Miller for icing his shoulder after Charlotte’s recent back-to-back, which they played without LaMelo Ball (calf). In losses to the Knicks and Hawks, Miller put up 55 shots, including 30 on Saturday. The efficiency has suffered, but Miller’s fantasy value should be fine while Ball sits.

A double-digit scorer in six of his last nine, Green’s shot attempts have increased with LaMelo Ball (calf) sidelined. He put up 12 shots in games against the Knicks and Hawks, and Green will have more opportunities to score moving forward. He isn’t a must-add, but Green’s worth a look in deep leagues for the next two weeks.

Okongwu’s double-double was his fourth of the season and first since November 17. Ranked well outside the top 150 in 9-cat formats over the last two weeks, the Hawks’ backup center needed a night like Saturday. Clint Capela (four points, 14 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks in 20 minutes) remains the starter, but Okongwu offers a higher upside in fantasy basketball.

While he didn’t offer value beyond the points and rebounds on Saturday, Hunter has scored 18 points or more in three straight games. The limited assist and defensive production are why he’s ranked outside the top 100 in 9-cat formats over the last two weeks despite averaging 17.7 points per game. Hunter and the Hawks play four games to begin Week 7, which spans two weeks due to the NBA Cup.

Risacher didn’t explode on Saturday, but the production was solid for the Hawks rookie. Rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues, he’s ranked just outside the top 150 in 9-cat formats over the last two weeks. De’Andre Hunter has been more productive, but the Hawks will be sticking with Risacher as their starter for the long haul.

Johnson continues to flourish for the Hawks, with Saturday’s performance occurring on a night when Atlanta received limited production from Trae Young. Johnson has been a top-10 player in 9-cat formats over the last two weeks, continuing to build on his breakout 2023-24 campaign. The Hawks play six games during the upcoming Week 7, which spans two weeks due to the NBA Cup.

The Suns are without Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic, forcing two changes to the starting lineup. While Ryan Dunn has replaced Beal in the starting lineup in the past, Allen is the choice for Saturday night and offers a much higher fantasy upside. Plumlee replaces Nurkic and is worth a look for field-goal percentage and rebounds.