NBA Player News

The Pistons should have their starting backcourt available for Monday’s game, as Cunningham and Killian Hayes (protocols) are no longer on the injury report. While both could be on a minutes restriction, their returns would drop spot starter Derrick Walton Jr. from the rotation. Fantasy managers who have Cunningham rostered need to make sure that he isn’t stashed in an IL+ slot.

Miller handled the bulk of the scoring duties for the Hornets on the second night of a back-to-back while Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball and rookie sensation Kon Knueppel taking a back seat in a one-sided affair. The 23-year-old forward drained 6-of-10 shots, including 4-of-4 from three-point range, to score 18 of his 23 points by halftime. He was able to take off most of the final quarter after Charlotte built up a 33-point advantage in the final stanza. The Hornets have a three-game week coming up that features matchups against the Cavaliers, Magic and Wizards.

It certainly qualifies as an underwhelming performance on the heels of an explosive 42-point effort during Saturday’s win over the Wizards. Murray struggled to get going on the second night of a back-to-back as Denver looked completely out of sync, shooting just 41 percent overall to finish with only 87 points. The Nuggets have a four-game slate next week that features showdowns against the Lakers, Wizards, Bucks and Grizzlies.

Kalkbrenner had no trouble exploiting Denver’s extreme lack of interior defense by shooting 80 percent from the floor in limited minutes off the bench as he continues to work his way back from a left elbow sprain. The 24-year-old rookie center continues to split time with Moussa Diabate, who has been battling lingering hip and hamstring issues, and finished with four points and nine boards in 25 minutes during this one.

Strawther took advantage of the lopsided score to do some serious damage off the bench, hitting 5-of-7 shots, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. The seldom-used 23-year-old guard has played sparingly this season, even with all of Denver’s injury issues, but he’s capable of producing double-digit points with consistent playing time.

While fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears (two points, three rebounds, two assists and one block) has hit a rough patch recently, shooting 40.2 percent from the field over the past two weeks, Queen’s production has been consistent. During these two weeks, the rookie center has been close to a top-50 player in eight-cat formats. Fears was limited to ten minutes, with Queen sharing the frontcourt with Yves Missi (10/7/4/1/2) to begin the second half. That’s something fantasy managers should watch during the Pelicans’ three-game Week 14.

Williamson’s game does have some flaws: he isn’t a great foul shooter, and turnovers can be an issue. However, when he’s healthy, the Pelicans’ forward can offer solid fantasy value. Having scored at least 20 points in six of his last seven appearances, Williamson has been close to a top-75 player over the past two weeks. The Pelicans play three games in Week 14 without a back-to-back, so availability shouldn’t be an issue for Zion.

Murphy led six Pelicans in double figures with his 21 points, extending his streak of games with at least 21 to eight. Over the past two weeks, he has been a top-10 player in eight-cat formats. With the Pelicans not having control of their first-round pick, tanking should not be in the equation. That’s good news for fantasy managers who are hoping Murphy can help carry them to a league title. The Pelicans open a three-game Week 14 on Wednesday against the Pistons.

Adams, who started alongside Alperen Şengün, needed help getting back to the locker room after rolling his left ankle during the fourth quarter. The good news is that X-rays were negative, so the veteran center is dealing with a sprain. However, Adams is likely going to miss some time, which should push Clint Capela (DNP-CD) into the rotation.

Durant didn’t shoot the ball well, making one of his eight three-point attempts, but that didn’t prevent him from making some history. With a fourth-quarter free throw, he passed Dirk Nowitzki to move into sixth on the all-time scoring list. The next name on the storied list is Michael Jordan. Durant didn’t have his best night scoring-wise, but he did dish out eight assists to preserve some value. He’ll look to have a better night on Tuesday against the Spurs.

Şengün had a good night, shooting 66.7 percent from the field and matching his career-high with five steals. If there has been an issue for the Rockets’ center recently, it has been the foul line. Over the past two weeks, Şengün has only made 45.8 percent of his attempts. Sunday’s 3-of-5 effort is a step in the right direction, and he’s still shooting 69.9 percent for the season.