Jeremy

Sochan

While Bismack Biyombo is available for Saturday’s game, he’s been moved to the bench for matchup reasons. A more athletic defender, Sochan will start opposite Kristaps Porzingis, and the lineup change raises his fantasy ceiling. Biyombo can still offer rebounds and blocks as a reserve, but this is not a great matchup.

Castle has only missed one game during his rookie season, but there is a chance that he misses a second one against Detroit. He has been starting for San Antonio, so if he sits, Julian Champagnie will likely make a return to the starting lineup. Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson would also likely be in line for extra minutes and shots.

Biyombo returns to the starting lineup after coming off the bench for the Spurs’ last two games. Jeremy Sochan returns to the bench but should still offer deep-league value. That’s the lone change to San Antonio’s starting five.

Sochan has started the last two games for San Antonio as part of a smaller starting lineup, and that has led to two wins for the Spurs. Sochan has scored in double figure in six consecutive games, but his 23 points on Friday were a new season-high for him. Though the Spurs’ playoff hops went down the drain when Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the rest of the season, they have won four of their last six games and sit just three games out of the postseason picture. Sochan should continue to produce at a high level as long as he is starting.

San Antonio decided to go small on Wednesday, with Sochan replacing Bismack Biyombo (four points and four rebounds in 10 minutes) in the starting lineup. While it did not work to slow Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 31 points, the Spurs neutralized the other Knicks starters. Sochan has reached double figures in his last five outings, but he’s ranked well outside the top 200 in eight- and nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. However, he’ll have a higher ceiling if interim coach Mitch Johnson sticks with Sochan at the five.

The Spurs have replaced Bismack Biyombo at the center position with Sochan. Smaller, more athletic defenders tend to give Karl-Anthony Towns more trouble, which is likely why Sochan is in the lineup. This change raises Sochan’s fantasy ceiling, but he remains a late-round option at best.

Sochan and Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt received their marching orders with 6:27 remaining after getting into an altercation. Sochan responded to a Vanderbilt forearm by hitting him with the ball, and the Lakers forward responded with a shove. Both players were grabbed by their respective teammates but were ejected for their actions. Sochan finished with 15 points, three rebounds, one assist and one three-pointer in 26 minutes.

Sochan missed Monday’s game against the Mavericks with a calf injury, but returned Wednesday after a one-game absence despite initially being listed as questionable. The 21-year-old power forward poured in 18 points including two made 3-pointers. He also grabbed seven rebounds in just 24 minutes. Sochan has emerged as the big man with the most fantasy value on San Antonio in the wake of Victor Wembanyama’s season-ending injury.

Vassell and Sochan are available after being questionable on the initial injury report. The latter is back after sitting out Monday’s loss to the Mavericks. Fantasy managers who have Vassell or Sochan rostered need to ensure those players are in their active lineups.

Sochan missed the second leg of San Antonio’s back-to-back when they played Dallas on Monday, but there is a chance that he is back for the rematch. Keldon Johnson scored 28 points off the bench with Sochan out but will likely take a production hit if Sochan returns.