Cedric Coward (wrist) doubtful vs. Warriors

Coward has gotten off to a strong start in his second season, especially over his last two games, where he has recorded a double-double in each. It was an ugly win, but Memphis is now 4-0 to start the season. Coward has been a big part of that and is currently a top-50 player in fantasy basketball. He’ll look to keep it going in Portland on Thursday.

Coward returned to the Grizzlies’ starting lineup after missing Friday’s win over the Warriors, leading to GG Jackson heading to the bench and playing just 10 minutes. Coward recorded a double-double and played 32 minutes. As long as his wrist doesn’t give him trouble, Coward should provide reliable fantasy value, especially in category leagues.

While Coward returns after a one-game absence and pushes GG Jackson to the bench, the Grizzlies will not play Zach Edey due to injury management. As a result, Stewart will start at center in his second official game for the franchise.

Coward is back after sitting out Friday’s win over the Warriors. With his return, GG Jackson will head to the bench after making a spot start the last time out.

Coward missed Friday’s game against Golden State, which allowed GG Jackson to start in his place. Coward should start if he’s back, but if not, Jackson may start again, though he only played 15 minutes on Friday, while Jerami Grant played 26 minutes.

Initially doubtful with a sprained left wrist, Coward is officially out for Friday’s game. GG Jackson replaces him in the starting lineup and is worth streaming in deep leagues.

It wasn’t the best outing for Coward who had five fouls in this game. He was being drafted in the 80’s and through the 90’s in redraft leagues. Obviously, you would want more at that price point, but it didn’t happen tonight. He’ll have his next opportunity against the Warriors on Friday.

It’s notable that Jerome got the start over Scotty Pippen Jr. during Memphis’ preseason opener and he responded by pouring in 10 first-half points on 4-of-8 shooting as Memphis exploded for 82 points in an impressive opening half. It’s fair to wonder whether Jerome can build off his initial success with the Grizzlies last year when he averaged 19.7 points while shooting over 42 percent from three-point range after finally making his season debut in late January.

Coward was, again, one of Memphis’ top performers on Sunday. He struggled inside the arc but was lethal from beyond it, draining all five of his three-point attempts before finishing tied for a team-high 19 points. The second-year guard also fared well on the glass and as a facilitator in the loss. If he can increase his three-point efficiency and take a step forward as a passer, he should be in for a good sophomore season as it pertains to fantasy basketball.

The results in Summer League don’t mean a great deal, but teams with a chance to take home the title usually ramp things up a notch toward the end of the week. Coward has surpassed 20 points in each of his last two games, with Saturday’s effort helping push the Grizzlies into Sunday’s title game. Given the players Memphis has moved on from within the last year, the franchise is embarking on a new era, and Coward is expected to be one of the leaders. And his skill set is such that he could be an incredibly valuable player in fantasy basketball, especially for those competing in category leagues.