NBA Player News

Missi was out Thursday against the Magic with a left ankle sprain, which allowed Karlo Matkovic to get the start. With Williamson ruled out as well Saturday, Matkovic and Kelly Olynyk could both start against the Spurs. Olynyk has fit in perfectly with the Pelicans since being acquired from Toronto before the trade deadline.

Jokic still has a chance to return from his five-game layoff. Denver has gone 2-3 without the star big man since he suffered an ankle injury and he could give them a big lift against the undermanned Bucks. MPJ has been healthy as of late and his absence could lend several reserve wings more minutes.

Robinson sat for precautionary reasons against the Mavericks on Tuesday but is ready to suit up again. The big man should back up KAT in his usual role off the bench.

McBride is set to miss his third straight game on Wednesday. Cameron Payne will likely continue to fill in as the starting point guard with Jalen Brunson out.

Antetokounmpo has consistently been on the court since the All-Star break despite several injury designations, but now he’s set to miss his first game of the month. Gary Trent Jr. could be poised to slot into the starting lineup as a small forward while Kyle Kuzma drops down to power forward against Denver.

Swider appeared in two games for roughly 13 minutes for the Pistons in November, but he has been in the G League since then, most recently with the South Bay Lakers. Toronto has been actively trying to improve their lottery odds, so Swider could end up playing a real role for them. However, it’s unclear at this point what that will look like, and he doesn’t have a history of fantasy success. Colin Castleton’s second 10-day contract just expired, and instead of signing him for the rest of the season, the Raptors will give Swider a shot.

DeRozan’s streak of seven consecutive games with 20 points or more came to a screeching halt on Tuesday. The 10 points were the fewest since December 22, when he scored a season-low two in a loss to the Pacers. The good news for fantasy managers is that DeRozan recorded decent numbers in the rebound and assist categories, minimizing some of the damage done by a 4-of-15 night from the field. Over the past two weeks, DeRozan has offered 11th-round value in eight-cat formats, four rounds worse than what he’s done for the season.

LaVine’s seven assists were the most he’s recorded in a game since February 13, when he racked up ten in an overtime loss to the Pelicans. However, the scoring output has taken a hit, with the veteran guard averaging 16.4 points per game over the past two weeks. With LaVine providing limited defensive value, a decrease in scoring impacts his fantasy value more than it would players who bring more to the table. Over the past two weeks, he has offered 14th-round value in eight-cat formats.

Having taken a back seat offensively for most of this season, Murray had a big night on Tuesday. He established new season-highs with 28 points and nine three-pointers. Add in the rebounds and defensive stats, and Tuesday was an excellent night for Murray managers. Over the past two weeks, he has provided fourth-round value in nine-cat formats. While Murray has to be rostered in most leagues, his fantasy ceiling has been lowered by the presence of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan in the Kings’ lineup.

The absences of Jalen Williams and Aaron Wiggins did not lead to Joe moving into the starting lineup, but his minutes did increase. He took advantage of the opportunity, hitting four three-pointers and recording solid assist and steals numbers. Alex Caruso also had a good night, finishing with 15 points, five rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two three-pointers in 23 minutes. While Caruso is the superior streaming option when the Thunder are shorthanded on the wing, Joe can provide deep-league value under similar circumstances.

Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 20 points or more in 65 consecutive games, the longest streak in franchise history. His consistent excellence is why SGA is the better favorite for MVP, and this Thunder squad has reached 60 wins faster than any team in franchise history. With Oklahoma City playing two more games during Week 21 without a back-to-back, fantasy managers will hope this ensures Gilgeous-Alexander’s availability for both.