NBA Player News

Holiday has not missed a game since early December, sitting out two contests due to a case of left knee tendinopathy. He played 33 minutes in Monday’s loss to the Magic, and an absence for the veteran guard would result in more playing time for Payton Pritchard. While Jaden Springer could potentially enter the rotation, there isn’t much to gain from streaming him in this spot.

Miller rejoined the team for on-court activities at the beginning of the week, a step in the right direction after missing three games. His return would push Cody Martin to the bench. Martin played 32 minutes in Monday’s loss to the Rockets.

Okongwu has missed Atlanta’s last three games, and that number will be pushed to four on Thursday. Larry Nance Jr. will continue to serve as Clint Capela’s backup, and he is worth streaming until Okongwu can return.

Bogdanovic did not play in Monday’s win over the Timberwolves, freeing up minutes for Garrison Mathews. Mathews went off on Minnesota, hitting seven 3-pointers and scoring 25 points off the bench. If Bogdanovic cannot play on Thursday, Mathews will be worth a look in deep leagues.

Young was also questionable for Monday’s game against the Timberwolves, but he logged 31 minutes in the victory. If cleared, he should be in for a similar workload against the Bulls, who are second in the NBA in pace and 23rd in defensive rating. Young could be in for a big night if his heel doesn’t trouble him. If he cannot play, Vit Krejci is the likely replacement in the starting lineup, but don’t expect too much from him fantasy-wise.

Thompson continued his climb of the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers list on Christmas Day, passing Reggie Miller to move into fifth place. With three other shooters in the top 5 (Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Damian Lillard) also active, Ray Allen’s total of 2,973 made 3-pointers may be Thompson’s most realistic target before his career ends. Klay and the Mavericks hit the road for their final two games of Week 9, visiting the Suns on Friday and Portland on Saturday.

Under normal circumstances, Grimes would not be on the fantasy radar. However, he started the third quarter of Wednesday’s game after Luka Doncic suffered a strained calf. Grimes’ rebound tally was encouraging, but Spencer Dinwiddie remains the superior streamer with Doncic sidelined, despite playing poorly against the Timberwolves. Dinwiddie missed all seven of his field goal attempts, finishing with two points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal in 14 minutes. Dallas finishes Week 9 with a road back-to-back against the Suns (Friday) and Trail Blazers (Saturday).

Irving put on a show on Christmas Day, nearly dragging the Mavericks to a win after Luka Doncic exited with a strained calf. The 39 points were the most in a game for Kyrie since November 10, when he scored a season-high 43 in a loss to the Nuggets. With Doncic looking at an extended absence, fantasy managers should expect a more aggressive Irving in the short term.

After recording eight double-doubles through the end of November, Gobert has recorded five in ten games this month. His fantasy value hasn’t been what many expected in the aftermath of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, with the “Stifle Tower” providing 7th-round value in 8- and 9-cat formats. That said, while the ceiling hasn’t risen, Gobert’s fantasy floor remains secure.

A little “home cooking” is good for one’s basketball game, based on Randle’s performance against the Mavericks. The Dallas native finished Wednesday’s win two assists shy of a triple-double while also shooting 60% from beyond the arc. While Minnesota’s start to the season hasn’t been what many expected, Randle has been a solid fantasy option in 8-cat formats, providing top-75 per-game value.

Playing on Christmas Day for the first time as a pro, Edwards shined as the Timberwolves raced out to a big lead and then held on for the win. And this was a much-needed performance for “Anta Claus,” as he averaged 17.3 points on 35.7% shooting in Minnesota’s previous three games. The Timberwolves play two more games in Week 9, beginning with the Rockets on Friday.