NBA Player News

Diabate has a chance to return after suffering an eye injury his last time out. Wong’s status is up in the air after a career night off the bench. Jusuf Nurkic has a chance to start in his Hornets debut while Wong’s role is unclear.

V-Dub has missed three straight games due to an illness, but his appearance at practice bodes well for his availability on Tuesday against the Hornets. If he’s able to go, expect him to handle his normal allotment of minutes.

Morant was a late scratch on Saturday, and though he didn’t practice on Monday, Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo expects him to return following a one-game absence. Morant’s return will likely send Scotty Pippen Jr. back to the bench.

Murray sat out Sunday, and he’s in danger of missing a second straight contest due to a back injury. If he’s unavailable, Trey Lyles could remain with the first unit. Ellis’ appearance on the injury report could be precautionary for the second leg of Sacramento’s back-to-back set, and if he’s unavailable, Malik Monk could slot back into the starting five. Devin Carter would also be a candidate for additional minutes.

Bam’s addition to the injury report on Monday afternoon puts his status to take the court against Philly in doubt. If he’s unable to go, Kyle Anderson could replace him in the starting five at power forward, while Kel’el Ware could pick up some additional minutes in the frontcourt.

Curry made the wrong kind of personal history on Sunday. The three points are the fewest he’s scored in a game in which he’s attempted at least 10 shots in his NBA career. The Rockets used multiple defenders on Curry throughout Sunday’s game, and they were able to shut him down. Houston’s success may be bad news for the Suns, who will host the Warriors on Tuesday. That’s the first of four games Golden State will play during the final week of the regular season.

After scoring 54 points across his prior two appearances, Podziemski was not as prolific against the Rockets. That’s unsurprising, as Houston boasts one of the best defenses in the NBA. Podziemski still shot 50 percent from the field and made four three-pointers. Over the past two weeks, Podziemski has provided fourth-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats and has meshed well within the Warriors’ starting lineup since the addition of Jimmy Butler.

After playing just two minutes in Friday’s win over the Nuggets, Payton was far more involved in the Warriors’ rotation on Sunday. He provided surprising offensive production, with 16 points being the most he’s scored in a game since March 17. Add in the rebounds, steals, and three-pointers and this was an excellent night to stream Payton. The Warriors play four games during Week 23, starting with the Suns on Tuesday.

With Stephen Curry having a historically poor night, Hield was one of the Warriors who attempted to shoulder some of the workload. The 20 points were the most he’s scored in a game since March 10, when he hit that number in a win over the Trail Blazers. Hield remained a player rostered in deep leagues, but his value has taken a significant hit from the All-Star break onward. Sunday’s performance was a welcomed one for those who kept the faith.

Sengun’s double-double was his second in three games and his 45th of the season. The Rockets’ center was a top-100 player in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks, with his value taking a slight hit compared to what he’s done this season. Sengun and the Rockets are now one win or a Lakers’ loss away from wrapping up the two-seed in the West. This has been a highly impressive turnaround for the franchise, and Sengun has been in the middle of it all.

Green has scored 21 points or more in seven of his last eight appearances, with Houston’s March 31 loss to the Lakers being the exception. And he’s been more efficient, shooting 47 percent from the field over the past two weeks. The improved efficiency is why Green was a top-60 player in eight-cat formats during that stretch. Excellent timing for category league managers who had him rostered. For those whose leagues run through Week 23, the Rockets play three games, starting with the Clippers on Wednesday.