NBA Player News

His Lithuanian team has signed a player to replace him, so you can look for the 6-11, 240-pound center to try to make the team this fall. The Spurs have a lot of question marks at center, so the time is right for Javtokas to make his move.

Santos has been on fire recently. He followed up his career-high 31-point performance on Wednesday with another strong scoring performance in this one. Plus, he shot better than 65 percent from the floor in each game. He has contributed a little value across the board, but his strongest attribute has been his efficient scoring. With Stephen Curry (knee) set to be evaluated next week, Santos’ time as a starter could be coming to a close, but he’ll continue to be an important piece for this team.

Golden State just won their third game in a row, which is their longest streak since January. They had Stephen Curry for those games. Porziņģis has been a big reason for their recent success, and this was his second-highest scoring performance since the Warriors traded for him. Availability will continue to be a question mark, especially with two back-to-backs left on the schedule, but Porziņģis will continue to make a big impact when available.

Coulibaly had a strong scoring effort in this game, though he was limited to 19 minutes and didn’t play the final 18 minutes of this game. He has certainly shown some scoring prowess in recent weeks, though his minutes have been limited as Washington continues to prioritize improved lottery odds. Coulibaly should be an intriguing option in fantasy drafts next season, but his impact for the rest of this year will be limited.

Riley has been playing big minutes for Washington for a while now, but he was pushed to the bench for this game. However, it ended up being one of his best performances of the year, and he ended up having one of his most efficient shooting performances of the season. Riley should continue to be productive as the season comes to a close, though he may not be able to maintain this level of efficiency moving forward.

Grant injured his right calf during the second half of Friday’s defeat, and there is some concern that he’ll miss time. Following the game, acting head coach Thiago Splitter said Grant felt a pop in his calf. He’ll be evaluated further on Saturday, and Sunday’s game against the Wizards could be off the board for Grant, at a minimum. If he misses time, Scoot Henderson (9/2/3/3 with one three-pointer) would have added importance to the Trail Blazers, even if he continues to come off the bench.

Avdjia did everything but make a three-pointer on Friday, helping compensate for another high-turnover night. The Trail Blazers’ playmaker was responsible for five turnovers against the Mavericks, and he’s been responsible for at least three in each of his last ten appearances. Given how much Avdija has the ball in his hands, the turnovers are somewhat understandable. And the task would become more difficult if Jerami Grant (calf) has to miss time.

Holiday finished Friday’s defeat with his first 20-point game in two weeks, with his scoring output having decreased during the second half of March. After scoring 20 or more in five of Portland’s first six games of the month, the veteran guard was limited to 15 or fewer in seven straight before Friday. With Jerami Grant leaving Friday’s game with a calf injury, the Trail Blazers may need more offensive production from Holiday going forward, which could raise his ceiling. But only if he can take advantage.

While Dwight Powell (four points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal in 21 minutes) served as the Mavericks’ starting center on Friday, Bagley was on the court for longer. And he was excellent, scoring a season-high 26 points and finishing one rebound shy of a double-double. Bagley finished with a complete stat line, a reminder of what he’s capable of despite coming off the bench on most nights. Dallas plays four games in Week 23, starting with a home-and-home against the Bucks on Monday and Tuesday.

Marshall has not provided much beyond points, rebounds and assists on most nights this season. That wasn’t the case in Portland, as he recorded a career-high five steals, providing fantasy managers with an excellent bonus. While the Mavericks are done for Week 22, they’ll play four games in Week 23, making Marshall a player worth rostering for championship week in Yahoo! default leagues.

Murray wasn’t able to match his 53-point performance from Wednesday’s win, but he was able to stay hot to help push Denver’s win streak to five games. It has been an incredible season for him, and he now ranks inside the top 10 in nine-category leagues over the course of the season. He’ll look to keep it going against the Warriors on Sunday to wrap up the week, though they only play two games next week, which will limit his fantasy impact.