NBA Player News

Allen took an elbow to the head during Saturday’s loss to the Pistons and will miss a few games as he works his way through the league’s concussion protocol. With Devin Booker also out, Royce O’Neale will have added streaming value, and Ryan Dunn should play more minutes off the bench.

Mitchell was one of the reserves who stepped up on Monday, reaching double figures in scoring for the 10th time in 11 games while also leading the Heat with nine assists. Over the past two weeks, he’s provided top-75 value in eight-cat formats but remains rostered in just 18 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Managers in active leagues should consider adding Mitchell, as the Heat have three more games to play this week.

The Heat played Monday’s game without Bam Adebayo, who was held out with a back issue. That placed more responsibility upon Ware’s shoulders, and the rookie rose to the challenge. The 17 rebounds were a season-high, and he shot 50 percent from the field. Since the All-Star break, Ware has been a top-100 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. He should be a fixture in the starting lineup for years to come, which is excellent for dynasty league managers who drafted Ware last fall.

On a night when they were forced to play without the injured Bam Adebayo, Miami’s bench stepped up to handle business. Robinson shot 5-of-6 from beyond the arc, and the 21 points are the most he’s scored in a game since March 17, when he dropped 22 in a loss to the Knicks. Robinson’s inconsistent production makes him a challenging player to trust in most fantasy leagues, and Miami’s ever-changing rotation did not help this season, either.

Back in the Heat lineup after sitting out Saturday’s loss to the Bucks, Herro shot over 50 percent from the field. However, fantasy managers in active leagues took a serious hit in the turnover category, as he was responsible for a game-high seven. The good news is that nights of this caliber have not been the norm for Herro, who has been responsible for seven turnovers or more in just four games this season. The Heat play three more games to end the regular season, starting with the Bulls on Wednesday.

The 76ers were without Guerschon Yabusele (personal) for Monday’s game, placing even more responsibility on Bona’s shoulders. The rookie responded well, recording his third double-double while blocking three shots. Bona has tallied at least three blocks in six of his last seven outings, providing excellent value in that category. Whether or not there’s any carryover into next season depends primarily on Joel Embiid and how much time he’ll need to recover from his most recent knee surgery.

Grimes continues to put up quality numbers, which should positively impact his prospects this summer as a restricted free agent. The 76ers’ guard has scored at least 24 points in four straight games, shouldering most of the offensive workload for a team that pulled the plug on this season weeks ago. Philadelphia has not won a game since March 16, but Grimes has been one of the few bright spots. The 76ers play three more games during the final week of the regular season, starting with the Wizards on Wednesday.

Justin Edwards’s absence from the 76ers’ lineup opened up a spot for Walker, who made the most of his opportunity. The former first-round pick recorded season highs in points and three-pointers, providing solid value in those categories. The problem for managers whose leagues remain active is that Walker did not do much else in Miami. That said, you take what you can get this time of the year from players who were not on the fantasy radar until the “silly season.”

After missing Saturday’s loss to the Grizzlies, Duren was back on the court, providing solid value in the rebound and assist categories. He’s recorded at least five assists in 14 games, double his tally from a season ago. The negative for Duren on Monday was that he was in foul trouble throughout the night, only playing 20 minutes. Backup Isaiah Stewart logged 27 minutes, finishing with eight points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one three-pointer.

Nights like Monday are a reminder of Thompson’s value as a fantasy asset. The second-year wing recorded a complete stat line, and he’s reached double figures in scoring in seven straight. Over the past two weeks, Thompson has been a top-50 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. While most fantasy leagues have wrapped up, those that remain active would be wise to add Thompson before the Pistons return to play on Thursday. And he should be worth a top-100 pick in drafts next fall, at a minimum.

Hardaway got back on track Monday night after laying an egg in Saturday’s loss to the Grizzlies. He’s scored at least 19 points in five of his last six games, and the recent surge is why he’s ranked just outside the top-50 in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. For managers in active leagues, the Pistons don’t play again until Thursday, so there’s no need to consider adding Hardaway yet. But the Pistons are one of 10 teams that will play three games over the final four days of the regular season, so there may be some deep-league streaming appeal then.