NBA Player News

Gordon did almost all of his damage in the first half and didn’t score after the break. He played solid defense on Steph Curry for much of the night but the Nuggets ran out of gas down the stretch on the road. Boogie Cousins scored 19 points in 15 minutes, Will Barton had 14 points and two 3-pointers and Monte Morris played well, also scoring 14 points with six dimes and two 3-pointers in 36 minutes. This series would likely have looked different if Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. were available, but they both had lost seasons due to injury. Bones Hyland disappeared in this one, missing all six of his shots and scoring four points in 19 minutes. Cancun, here they come.

Broome was waived by the Clippers in September after being traded by the 76ers in July. He’ll have a chance to earn a roster spot, though the current Bucks roster is too deep for Broome to carve out a significant role this season. Subsequently, Milwaukee waived John Butler Jr.

Collins has been sidelined since undergoing season-ending toe surgery in February. With Nic Claxton dealing with a hamstring injury, Collins could occupy some of the center minutes to start the season, likely behind Jalen Smith. However, “close” isn’t a clear enough timeline for fantasy managers to take action on a potential backup center.

With starter Zach LaVine (nine points and one rebound) playing 15 minutes, Clifford was one of the reserves who logged extended minutes in Monday’s preseason opener. The second-year guard capitalized on the opportunity, leading all scorers with 23 points and grabbing nine rebounds. With DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook no longer in the fold, Clifford is one of the Kings who will have more opportunities to produce. Keep an eye on him during the preseason, as he may be worth a late-round flier.

Hunter, whose 2025-26 season ended in February due to an eye injury that required surgery, was in the starting lineup on Monday. The Kings did not have Keegan Murray, so fantasy managers should not read too much into that. What they should read into when evaluating Hunter is that he did not have an official shot from the field, with his points coming via a three-shot foul. And there was no rebounding or defensive production to speak of. Hunter has rarely offered reliable fantasy value as a pro, making him challenging to trust in drafts.

After a positive showing at Summer League, Carr got his preseason off to an excellent start on Monday. The first-round pick shot over 50 percent from the field and was a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line in his 23 minutes. Carr may not be a must-have player in standard redraft leagues, but he should be a popular target in dynasty startups. He has the all-around skill set, size and acumen to be an impact wing at the NBA level.

With LeBron James and Rui Hachimura out of the picture, LaRavia’s opportunities should increase, whether he starts or comes off the bench. He was the Lakers’ sixth man on Monday and provided solid production outside of his poor foul shooting. While he may not be someone who fantasy managers look to invest a top-100 pick in, LaRavia is well worth the risk as a late-round option.

Going into training camp, many saw Grimes as a frontrunner for one of the two undecided spots in the Lakers’ starting lineup. He started Monday’s preseason opener, logging 19 minutes and shooting reliably alongside playmaker Luka Dončić. The concern is that Grimes offered little production beyond points, three-pointers and percentages. Hopefully, that won’t be the case for him once the games count.

Dončić got his work done early on Monday, playing 16 minutes in the first half and not seeing any action in the second. He delivered his usual performance, doing most of what he wanted as a scorer while also recording five turnovers. The Lakers didn’t have Austin Reaves on Monday, but that won’t change anything regarding Dončić’s fantasy outlook. He will be one of the top options to have rostered, regardless of league format, but the Lakers point guard will be most valuable in turnover-punt builds.

As expected, Acuff started at point guard in the Kings’ preseason opener. The lottery pick out of Arkansas led the team in shot attempts, which was unsurprising since he logged 27 minutes and no other starter played more than 15. Acuff shot reasonably well from the field overall, but he went 1-of-4 from beyond the arc and finished with more turnovers (five) than assists (four). Efficiency can be an issue for rookie point guards, but it seems clear Acuff will be given every opportunity to work through those struggles.

Stewart, acquired from the Pistons in late June, played just two minutes on Monday before exiting wth a left ankle injury. The forward/center landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot and did not return. With Zach Edey still out, Quinten Post (eight points, four rebounds and two three-pointers) would have added fantasy value if neither is available when the regular season begins. Post started Monday’s game and logged 12 minutes.