NBA Player News

While Iwundu’s absence may not impact many fantasy teams, it could have larger ramifications. The Hawks have eight players in protocols, two out with injury, and two more questionable. They have exactly eight active players if Cam Reddish (ankle) and Delon Wright (ankle) both end up missing the Christmas Day game against the Knicks, which is the league minimum for them to play the game.

Jović exited early on Monday after a hard fall on a dunk attempt, but all testing has indicated this injury isn’t that serious. His status for Thursday’s game in Brooklyn is up in the air, and the team is considering him day-to-day at this point.

Young has been sidelined since October, and the expectation is that he will return this month. This move lines up with that and could indicate that Young is getting close to returning. Depending on how he responds to practicing with Atlanta’s G League affiliate, he could be back with the Hawks this weekend. They play on Thursday, Friday and Sunday this week, and there isn’t a clear target date at this point, but there is certainly a chance. When he returns, Nickeil Alexander-Walker will likely return to a reserve role when Young returns.

McGlothan spent the preseason with Indiana, and now he’ll get an opportunity to suit up for them during the regular season on a hardship contract. After going undrafted in 2024, McGlothan could make his NBA debut as soon as Thursday against the Knicks.

Gobert exited early against Sacramento due to the birth of his child, but he will be back at practice on Tuesday and available to play against Memphis. He’ll occupy his typical starting spot, which means there won’t be a bonus opportunity for Naz Reid.

Harden played through a calf issue against the Grizzlies and had one of his least productive offensive outings of the season. He was held under 15 points for the third time all season failed to reach his season average in assists. The former MVP did add fantasy value by collecting at least three steals for the third game in a row. But needless to say, Monday’s performance didn’t meet the standard he’s set.

Dunn’s scoring production hinged largely on whether he could make open three-pointers in this game, which he did. As a result, he logged his highest scoring total of the month and, additionally, recorded his third straight game with at least four assists. Surprisingly, the savvy on-ball defender didn’t record any steals or blocks for the first time since October. Still, he had a solid performance overall and will likely continue to start at shooting guard.

Leonard led the Clippers in scoring on Monday, as he was the only player on the team to reach the 20-point mark. He didn’t provide much fantasy value outside of his scoring, though, which isn’t usually the case. Still, the 20-point outing allowed him to extend his streak of such games to eight. The Clippers need Leonard’s scoring to win games, and he continues to be one of their best options. Expect him to remain an efficient scorer so long as he’s healthy and on the floor.

Wells was solid on the offensive end on Monday, connecting on half of his shot attempts while getting some production from the free-throw line. Yet, his effort defending the Clippers’ James Harden all night long was impressive and significant in limiting the former MVP’s production — Wells’ counting stats won’t tell the full story of just how impactful he was in this game. Nevertheless, he’ll have a chance to extend his streak of double-digit scoring performances to 10 games on Wednesday against the Timberwolves.

Spencer set new career-highs in points and threes on Monday, helping him finish as the Grizzlies’ second leading scorer. He also made his usual contributions as a facilitator and continues to be one of the most productive guards off the bench in the NBA. Even with Ja Morant healthy and back in the lineup, Spencer has remained a productive fantasy player. He’s rostered in just 22 percent of Yahoo! leagues and can serve as a solid streaming option at the very least.

JJJ did it all for Memphis on Monday. Outstanding shooting led him to his first 30-point outing of the season and helped him to finish as the Grizzlies’ leading scorer on the evening. He was also dialed in from beyond the arc and was a monster on the defensive end of the floor. Altogether, his numbers led to an exceptional fantasy basketball performance. He’ll look to put together another strong showing on Wednesday against the Timberwolves.