NBA Player News

Brewer is a defensive specialist and this will be his third stint with the Kings. Brewer was with the Kings (and Sixers) in 2018-19 and averaged 4.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 24 games during that stint. He will be nothing more than a DFS flier in Orlando, and not a great one at that.

Davis was effective in his 35 minutes of game action, finishing as one of two Mavericks players to score at least 20 points and one of two to collect double-digit rebounds. Thursday’s double-double marked his 13th of the season. However, the veteran big man exited the floor late in the fourth quarter after suffering a hand injury and didn’t return. His status moving forward will certainly be worth monitoring from a fantasy basketball standpoint.

Anthony Edwards had a balanced performance on Thursday. He started the game strong with an 11-point opening quarter, which was later followed by an almost-as-good 10 points in the third quarter. Along the way, the superstar shooting guard shifted into his playmaking role — Edwards finished with a team-high in assists and fell just shy of a triple-double. He’ll face the Cavaliers again on Saturday, and fantasy managers hope more production follows.

McDaniels followed a strong 19-point outing against the Heat on Tuesday by breaking the 20-point mark for the 9th time this season. He made the most of his opportunities and shot the three-pointer well, and had his usual impact on the defensive end of the floor. McDaniels finished as one of four Timberwolves starters to score at least 20 points in this game, ultimately helping lead Minnesota to a fourth straight win.

Randle had it all clicking on Thursday night. He utilized the three-point shot to help land his highest points total since Christmas Day against the Nuggets. The veteran forward was also tenacious on the glass en route to his 12th double-double of the season. Randle concluded as one of Minnesota’s best facilitators in the win and finished with an impressive final stat line overall. He continues to have a nice season in his second year with the organization.

Mobley’s near-20-point effort on efficient shooting was the highlight of the night for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He added in a trio of threes for the seventh time this season, as well. Yet he was unspectacular on the glass and finished with just one stock. Mobley has certainly had better days — he’ll have a chance to put up better numbers on Saturday against this same Timberwolves team.

Merrill started and closed Thursday’s games in a similar way, scoring 11 points in both the first and fourth quarters, with three-point production being key. The sharp-shooting guard’s production in between those two periods was also similar, as he went scoreless in the middle two quarters. As a result, Merrill ended with 22 points and five threes. He didn’t make major contributions elsewhere in this game; however, he’s now scored 15 or more points and made at least four three-pointers in four consecutive games.

After a one-game absence, Mitchell returned to the floor on Thursday and added to his streak of 30-point games, which now sits at four. Efficient shooting helped lead him to a team-high in points, with most of his scoring production coming in a 19-point second half. Mitchell also tied a season-high in assists in his effort to give the Cavs a second straight win. A flurry from the T’Wolves in the third quarter ultimately swung the game in their favor, leaving Mitchell’s production wasted in a loss. Both he and the Cavs will have a chance to avenge their loss on Saturday at home against the same Timberwolves.

Williams played nine minutes in the first half, tallying two points (1-of-4 FGs), three rebounds and one assist. His absence for the rest of the night may result in a few more minutes for Ryan Nembhard, but that isn’t guaranteed. In recent games, Nembhard has not been productive enough to merit being rostered in most fantasy leagues.

Due to condensation on the court, the Heat-Bulls game in Chicago has been postponed. No official makeup date has been announced yet, but that will be announced in the coming days. Both teams return to action on Saturday, with the Heat visiting the Pacers and the Bulls hosting the Mavericks.

Limited to 12 points in Wednesday’s loss to the Raptors, Bridges was a bit more effective on Thursday. He’s recorded at least four assists in each of his last three games, and the Hornets’ forward has offered top-50 value in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. While Bridges’ fantasy ceiling isn’t particularly high, he provides a solid floor for managers seeking consistent production.