NBA Player News

It has been a rough shooting stretch for White recently, but he was able to get back on track in this one. This was his third game this year with seven 3-pointers, and he was able to contribute value across the board. White is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds and 3-pointers, which has allowed him to be a top-20 player in 9-cat leagues to this point. Expect that to continue moving forward, especially in games like this, where they were playing without one of their top scoring options in Jayson Tatum.

White’s shooting slump continued Monday. He made 3-of-7 attempts from behind the 3-point line, but only 5-of-15 field goals overall. White saved his night by getting to the free throw line and making 6-of-7 attempts there. He had five assists, but also turned the ball over four times. White might have more opportunity in the future if injuries to Zach LaVine and Josh Giddey linger.

Vucevic was back in the lineup after missing Friday’s game against the Hornets. He led the Bulls in points and shot attempts against the Raptors. Zach LaVine was out and Josh Giddey exited in the third quarter, which only increased Vucevic’s usage and importance for the Bulls. Vooch continues to have a great season for his fantasy managers.

Butler’s 35 points were a game-high as he played 44 minutes in the overtime loss. If Butler is auditioning for other teams as he’s said to be open to a trade before this year’s deadline, this was about as good as it gets for the 35-year-old small forward. He showed he can still be a top player and will only have more motivation if he’s dealt to a real contender.

Cleveland blowing out Brooklyn increased opportunities for some of the team’s reserves, notably LeVert and Georges Niang. LeVert’s 19 points were three shy of his season-high, and he recorded his first complete stat line (including 3-pointers) since November 13. The six triples were a season-high for LeVert, who entered Monday averaging 1.7 per game. As for Niang, he added 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two 3-pointers in 25 minutes. While the stat lines may prompt some to consider adding Niang or LeVert, the nature of Monday’s game had much to do with their production.

Most of Cleveland’s fantasy mainstays recorded modest stat lines in Brooklyn, as the Cavs won the first quarter by a 37-17 margin and never looked back. Mitchell provided solid value in points, assists, steals, and 3-pointers, somewhat compensating for the limited workload. The good news for fantasy managers is that Cleveland plays two more games during Week 8, beginning with the Bucks on Friday.