NBA Player News

After joining multiple rotation players in sitting out Wednesday’s game against Philadelphia, Hartenstein was back in the lineup on Friday. He only played 25 minutes in the blowout win, but that was enough time for him to record a double-double. OKC has already locked up the best record in the West, so it’s certainly possible that Hartenstein and the rest of the rotation pieces see more rest nights and minutes limits for the rest of the regular season, which would limit their fantasy output.

Martin is a legitimate member of Utah’s rotation and has a chance to bump Svi Mykhailiuk from the starting lineup. Springer could have a tough time getting in because of the Jazz’s wealth of young guards.

Young has scored at least 28 points in four of his previous five games and is keeping the Hawks afloat in the Eastern Conference. It appears like he’ll suit up on Sunday in an attempt to lead his team to a third straight win.

Alvarado has been upgraded from questionable to available for Sunday’s game. The Pelicans guard has a good chance to continue starting alongside CJ McCollum in the backcourt against Detroit.

Williamson is set to miss his second straight game while Missi is a new addition to the injury report after playing against the Timberwolves on Friday. Bruce Brown will likely start for Williamson and Karlo Matkovic could draw a spot start in Missi’s place.

Green has been downgraded from probable to questionable since Saturday. The Hornets wing will likely be replaced by Nick Smith Jr. if he’s ruled out for Sunday’s contest.

Appearing in a game for the first time since February 27, Hachimura was said to be on a limit of 20-24 minutes on Saturday. He only played 18, due partially to things getting out of hand in the Lakers’ 146-115 defeat. Hachimura did not provide much value in his time on the court, and his fantasy prospects aren’t as promising when used in a reserve role. Dorian Finney-Smith (2/2/1/1/1 in 21 minutes) has been the starter since Hachimura’s injury; while his fantasy ceiling is lower, DFS’s defensive ability makes him a solid fit in the Lakers’ starting lineup. Whether or not that remains the case once Rui’s restriction is lifted may be another matter, as he played well before the knee injury.

James returned to the Lakers’ lineup on Saturday after missing seven games with a strained groin. Unfortunately for him, things did not go as smoothly as hoped. While LeBron recorded solid numbers in the rebound, assist and steals categories, he was also responsible for five turnovers. With the game getting out of hand during the fourth quarter, James exited with 6:42 remaining, finishing at 31 minutes. A player displaying some rust in their first game back from injury is unsurprising, even for one of LeBron’s caliber. He’ll look to bounce back on Monday in Orlando, the first of four games the Lakers play during Week 21.

LeBron James’ return to the Lakers lineup did not significantly impact Reaves’ production. He was highly efficient and extended his streak of 20-point games to six. Since the All-Star break, the Lakers guard has provided top-25 value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Reaves’ usage is not on par with that of James or Luka Doncic, but it doesn’t need to be. The good news for fantasy managers is that the Lakers play four games during Week 21, starting with the Magic on Monday.

Doncic was excellent offensively when he shot the ball Saturday night. The issue was turnovers, as he racked up seven turnovers. The Lakers guard has been responsible for five or more in nine of his last 11 outings. However, this isn’t a significant issue in eight-cat formats or for managers willing to punt turnovers. Also, Doncic has been productive enough across the board to alleviate the impact of the turnovers, providing top-20 value in nine-cat formats during this 11-game stretch. The Lakers hit the road for four games during Week 21, starting with the Magic on Monday.

Vucevic has recorded a double-double in three of his last four outings. And over the past two weeks, the Bulls center has provided sixth-round value in eight-cat formats. While the fantasy value has tailed off after a red-hot start to the season, Vooch remains ranked well within the top 50 in eight- and nine-cat formats regarding season-long value. Based on the Yahoo! ADP of 54, he’s exceeded the expectations of many fantasy managers.