NBA Player News

Denver will play Monday’s game without its two best players, as Jokic and Murray have been downgraded from doubtful to out. Russell Westbrook will remain in the starting lineup, while Jokic’s absence means more playing time for Zeke Nnaji and DeAndre Jordan. Of the three, Westbrook will be most valuable to fantasy managers. Nnaji offers a higher ceiling than Jordan, but the veteran center boasts a higher floor.

Butler’s final stat line on Sunday was outstanding but came with some pain. He took a Kawhi Leonard knee to the left thigh during overtime but stayed in the game. That injury, combined with Stephen Curry’s right thumb, is why the Warriors could have used the time off that would have come with a victory over the Clippers. Instead, Butler and the Warriors will host the Grizzlies on Tuesday. Following the game, Butler said he was fine and will be in the lineup, but don’t be surprised if Jimmy is on the initial injury report.

While the addition of Jimmy Butler has negatively impacted Jonathan Kuminga’s (DNP-CD on Sunday) playing time and fantasy value, that has not been the case for Podziemski. The second-year guard has played well since the February trade deadline, providing eighth-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Podziemski’s emergence will be key for the Warriors, as they’ll need to beat Memphis on Tuesday to earn the seventh seed in the West. Houston will be the first-round opponent for the winner of that game, while the loser plays the Sacramento/Dallas winner for the eighth seed.

Curry has been dealing with a right thumb injury, the severity of which has not been made public. With that in mind, it would have been nice for the Warriors to win Sunday’s game, as they would have avoided the play-in tournament. Instead, they’ll host Memphis on Tuesday, with the winner being the seventh seed in the West. The good news for Curry and the Warriors was that he shot the ball well on Sunday, but he must clean up the turnovers after committing eight against the Clippers.

Harden and the Clippers did what many did not believe them capable of before the season began, avoiding the play-in tournament due to their win in San Francisco. The Beard finished a game with at least 30 points and 10 assists for the 106th time in his career, tied for second-most in league history. Due to Sunday’s victory, the Clippers will be the fifth seed in the West, and they’ll face Denver in the first round.

Zubac, one of the most improved players in the NBA this season, ended his regular season with another stellar performance. He’s recorded his 59th double-double and 15th in as many games. Thanks to their win over the Warriors, the Clippers will be the fifth seed in the West, with Denver being their first-round opponent. To say the matchup with Nikola Jokic will be challenging for Zubac would be an understatement, but he has been excellent this season.

Leonard was outstanding on Sunday, as the Clippers’ overtime victory gave the team the fifth seed in the West. His workload was just as encouraging as Leonard’s production, as he played 47 of 53 minutes without issues. The Clippers avoiding the play-in tournament gets their stars additional time off ahead of next weekend’s Game 1 in Denver, which could be critical for Leonard. After years of struggling with injuries, he appears to be in his best form.

Robinson-Earl struggled with his shot in Sunday’s season finale, but he did provide solid value in the rebound and assist categories. He didn’t offer much value throughout the season, as rotation minutes were not guaranteed. Unfortunately for Robinson-Earl, he’s likely to encounter a similar situation in New Orleans next season with a healthy Zion Williamson in the fold.

Alvarado struggled in his season finale, especially from a ball security standpoint. The Pelicans’ point guard recorded six turnovers. Add in the poor shooting from the field, and this was a rough afternoon to stream Alvarado in active fantasy leagues. A backup when the Pelicans are whole, Alvarado’s fantasy value is limited. With Dejounte Murray recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, will New Orleans look to add another point guard over the summer? Or would they be fine handing the keys to Alvarado to begin the season? Those questions will significantly impact Alvarado’s 2025-26 draft position. Alvarado’s two-year, $9 million extension will kick in next season.

Reeves finished his rookie season with an eighth consecutive game in double figures, tallying 20 points or more twice. He’s one of the young Pelicans whose playing time increased once more established players were sidelined by injuries, which should temper the fantasy expectations for Reeves in 2025-26.

Already playing without Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder lost Jaylin Williams to a strained oblique during the first half of Sunday’s game. The result was even more playing time for Carlson, who had the best day of his NBA career. Not only did the rookie record season highs in points and rebounds, but this was also his first double-double. Unlike Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, Carlson will not be in the Thunder playoff rotation, even if Williams misses time. But he undoubtedly made a positive impression with his play in New Orleans.