NBA Player News

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.

McDaniels’ season has been a disappointing one, and some of his recent performances have been abysmal for fantasy managers. However, he played well in this game and was able to record his second double-double of the season. The bump in steals from 0.9 to 1.4 per game has been nice, but a drop in shooting percentages and points has been frustrating, since he would likely be a top-100 player if he was simply shooting the ball better. He didn’t get any 3-pointers to go, but he’ll look to change that in OKC to start a three-game week on Tuesday.

Green has never been the most efficient scorer, and he’s shot 50% or better from the field in just three of 12 games in December. He’s shooting 40.7% for the season, which is one reason why the Rockets guard is ranked well outside the top 100 in 9-cat formats. He’s considerably better in leagues that punt turnovers, providing 9th-round value, and Green is a top 100 player in FG%-punt builds. Green was ejected from Sunday’s game for his role in a fight between Amen Thompson and Tyler Herro, so fantasy managers will have to wait to see what the fallout is regarding league discipline. Houston hosts Dallas on Wednesday and plays three games in Week 10.

Thompson came off the bench on Sunday with Dillon Brooks (ankle) back in the lineup. The rebounds and assists were solid, but the second-year wing had minimal impact in the reserve role. More concerning for fantasy managers was the fight between Thompson and Tyler Herro, with Amen tossing the Heat guard to the court. His status for Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks may be in doubt, and the Rockets only play three games in Week 10.

Sengun lost out on some shot attempts with Dillon Brooks back in the lineup, but he made up for it with excellent production on the boards. The Rockets center matched his season-high with 18 rebounds, and fantasy managers will also get solid value from the six assists and two defensive contributions. Sengun remains a top-40 player in 9-cat formats, but he’s a top-20 player in 3-point punt builds.

Brooks was back in the Rockets lineup after missing three games with a right ankle effusion. He didn’t shoot the ball well, but the good news is that Brooks played 40 minutes without issues. At best, he remains a deep-league option, but Brooks may be worth a look in more leagues if the NBA suspends Amen Thompson after getting into a fight with Tyler Herro during the fourth quarter. The Rockets play three games in Week 10, beginning with Dallas on Wednesday.

Jovic was back on the court after sitting out Saturday’s loss to the Hawks with a sprained ankle, and he had one of his best games of the season. He scored 18 points, including a crucial 3-pointer that gave Miami a four-point lead with 47 seconds remaining. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra rewarded him with more minutes, but nights like Sunday make Jovic a frustrating player to roster. He can play this well, but the consistency has not been there. If Jimmy Butler is not ready for Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans, Jovic may pick up a few more minutes after earning 31 on Sunday.

Herro continues to shine for the Heat, averaging 24.6 points per game over the past month. His overall production has been good for 3rd-round value in 9-cat formats during this stretch, which aligns with Herro’s season-long value. The lone concern was his ejection from Sunday’s game after getting into a fight with Houston’s Amen Thompson. While the two principals threw no punches, Thompson did manage to slam Herro to the court. Miami hosts New Orleans on Wednesday; we’ll see if Herro is subject to league discipline.

Love replaced Jaime Jaquez Jr. in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game, and Nikola Jovic outshined both. Love only played 14 minutes, and Jaquez (two points, three rebounds) 16, as Jovic had the “hot hand” in Houston. Nights like Sunday are why it isn’t easy to zero in on any of Miami’s supplementary options for consistent fantasy value. There’s no need to consider adding Love ahead of the Heat’s three-game Week 10 slate.

Rozier’s night ended with a little under one minute remaining when he was involved in an altercation kicked off by Tyler Herro and Houston’s Amen Thompson. Scary Terry needs to find his shot regardless of what happens from a disciplinary standpoint. He missed all eight 3-point attempts on Sunday and is shooting 39.7% from the field this season. The Heat play three games in Week 10, beginning with the Pelicans on Wednesday.

VanVleet had a tough night shooting the basketball, and the ending was brutal for the Rockets point guard. He was ejected with 47.4 seconds remaining after bumping into official Marc Davis while arguing a five-second call. While the bump didn’t appear malicious, it was enough to earn VanVleet an early trip to the locker room. The shooting woes persist for the Rockets point guard, and now there’s concern that the ejection could result in a suspension. And with Amen Thompson being tossed seconds later for fighting, Aaron Holiday could find himself in the rotation for Wednesday’s game against Dallas.