NBA Player News

The Thunder are already without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams, and they won’t have Hartenstein or Wallace for Wednesday’s game, either. Aaron Wiggins and Chet Holmgren are among those who are available, which raises their fantasy ceilings. The only question is how much they’ll play since they are key members of Oklahoma City’s regular rotation.

Swider has played in two games for the Pistons this season. His move to the Raptors isn’t expected impact fantasy basketball.

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.

Back in the Thunder lineup after a one-game absence, Holmgren recorded his ninth double-double of the season on Tuesday. According to Basketball Monster, since March 9, he has been ranked 99th in eight-cat formats, with foul shooting and decreased block production being the issues. Holmgren is shooting 62.1 percent from the charity stripe and rejecting 1.6 shots per game during this period. For the season, he’s a 72.0 percent shooter from the line and is averaging 2.4 blocks per game.

Known primarily for his defensive ability, Thybulle caught fire from deep on Tuesday. He shot 5-of-6 from three in his 15 minutes on the court, scoring a season-high 15 points. Thybulle has recorded at least one steal in his six appearances this season. Due to the minutes limit, he hasn’t reached the point where he should be rostered in fantasy leagues. That said, a good finish to this season may make Thybulle a draftable player in deep leagues for the 2025-26 campaign.

Henderson’s production has been inconsistent after a run in which he reached double figures in 11 of 12 games after the All-Star break. The second-year guard has surpassed 10 points three times in his last six appearances, shooting 32.4 percent from the field. Therefore, Henderson is ranked outside the top 250 in eight-cat formats during this stretch. The playing time will be there, and Tuesday’s performance was a step in the right direction. As has been the case throughout the season, efficiency is the key for Henderson.

Avdija recorded his third double-double in four games, but he had a tough night shooting the basketball. Deni was 3-of-9 from inside the arc, which was far more surprising than him shooting 3-of-9 from three. However, given how productive he has been, the poor shooting was a blip on the radar. Over the past two weeks, Avdija has been a top 20 player in eight-cat formats. Rostered in 84 percent of Yahoo! leagues, he can be a difference-maker for shallow-league managers where Avdija is still available.