NBA Player News

Morant checked out during the third quarter of Friday’s game after running into a Daniel Theis screen and did not return. The Grizzlies did not have an update after the win, but this is a situation fantasy managers should be familiar with by now. If Morant misses time, Scotty Pippen Jr. needs to be the “add.” Pippen played 23 minutes on Friday, finishing with 13 points (4-of-10 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), five rebounds, four assists, and three 3-pointers.

Vucevic followed up his 40-point game Friday with another strong effort. The 34-year-old center recorded a double-double and was just three assists shy of a triple-double. Vooch also added three steals and a block on the defensive end. He just continues to produce at a high level, though we would caution that he’s more of a top-50 player than a top-20 player in terms of fantasy value.

LaVine has had at least 25 points in eight of 10 games so far in January. He bounced back with a 27-point effort here after scoring only 19 in his last game. The 29-year-old shooting guard is playing at a high level, though his availability needs to be monitored as he’s playing through right patella tendinitis. The Bulls have three games in the upcoming week, starting with the Clippers on Monday.

Sharpe was replaced in the starting lineup by Deni Avdija, with coach Chauncey Billups citing defensive issues. Still, with Anfernee Simons out, the 21-year-old shooting guard managed to play 33 minutes off the bench and lead the Trail Blazers in field goal attempts. He had just 23 points on 18 shots including a 2-of-7 performance from behind the 3-point line. Sharpe won’t provide much in the other categories, but he can score when given the opportunities.

Ellis has made at least one 3-pointer in 16 straight games and two or more in each of his last four. Sunday’s effort was the best of the bunch, as the Kings guard shot 6-of-8 from beyond the arc and scored 18 points. Ellis didn’t provide much defensive value, but improved scoring can raise his fantasy ceiling despite coming off the bench. He remains, at best, a deep-league option, but Ellis is someone to be mindful of if the Kings lose someone to an injury.

Fox didn’t shoot the ball well but made up for that by racking up the assists. The 13 helpers were a season-high, and fantasy managers also picked up some value in the steals category. Over the past two weeks, Fox has provided top-25 value in 8-cat formats, which aligns with his season-long value. Malik Monk picked up the slack for his backcourt partner scoring-wise, tallying 23 points with one rebound, four assists, one steal, one blocked shot, and three 3-pointers in 30 minutes.

While scoring 20 points or more in six straight games may not be a noteworthy career achievement for a player of DeRozan’s caliber, this is his longest streak since he met or exceeded that number in his first eight games as a King. DeRozan has provided 6th-round value in 9-cat formats, taking a hit compared to his production with the Bulls last season. However, he’s one of the players whose production has improved since the head coaching change, which is good news for the Kings and those who have DeRozan rostered.

Avdija returned from a one-game absence due to a right ankle sprain and replaced Shaedon Sharpe in the starting lineup. The 24-year-old small forward scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds on his way to a double-double. Avdija should remain in the starting lineup as long as Jerami Grant is also sidelined.