NBA Player News

Ainge was asked if he would like to have a coach in place by the NBA Draft and free agency, but it doesn’t seem like that is the case. “It’s important we get it right,” Ainge said. “We have big shoes to fill. It will be interesting to see how long this drags out, and if Utah ends up with a replacement before they begin adding new players to the roster. The longer they wait, the harder it might be to lure guys to the franchise in free agency, so we will see how long this drags out.

Initially listed as questionable, Murray is good to go for Thursday’s game. However, with it being the first of two games in as many nights for the Pelicans, fantasy managers should plan for the likelihood that Murray does not play against the Raptors on Friday. If Trey Murphy (ankle), who remains questionable for Thursday’s game, can’t play, Yves Missi could still make a spot start.

After missing Orlando’s last two games due to illness, Suggs was listed as questionable on the injury report for Thursday’s game against the Kings. His ability to participate in shootaround, with Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley saying that the point guard is “definitely” feeling better, is a positive sign regarding Suggs’ availability. If he can play against Sacramento, Jamal Cain is the player most likely headed to the bench. Jevon Carter, who started the first game that Suggs missed, would also lose out on streaming value with the point guard back in the lineup.

Jeffries, who began his NBA career with the Kings, has returned to Sacramento on a short-term deal. He was in training camp with the team in the fall but was waived just before the start of the season. While Jeffries’ return gives the Kings needed depth on the perimeter due to injuries to Russell Westbrook and Nique Clifford, it is unlikely to affect fantasy basketball.

Barrett struggled on Wednesday with his shooting, both inside and outside the arc. He failed to convert on any of his seven three-point attempts and even shot below 50.0 percent from the free-throw line. The seventh-year guard was one of Toronto’s top rebounders and facilitators on the night, but his inefficient scoring held back his production in a big way. Fantasy managers will hope he can bounce back on Friday against the Pelicans.

Despite being relatively unproductive as a scorer, Barnes offset those struggles by making plays throughout the night as a passer. He’d finish with double-digit assists for the second straight game and narrowly miss out on a triple-double for a consecutive time. Still, Barnes rebounded well, made plays on defense, and provided a balanced performance overall. He’ll have a chance to stay productive against the Pelicans on Friday.

Ingram was Toronto’s leading scorer on a night when not much went right for the team’s offense. He shot unspectacularly in his 36 minutes but failed to reach the 20-point mark. The former Most Improved Player did decent work on the glass and as a passer, as well, but his final line wasn’t one that should excite fantasy managers during the fantasy playoffs. Ingram and the Raptors will face the Pelicans on Friday and will have a chance to put forth a better performance.

Mathurin’s return from a four-game absence was a successful one, as he helped lead the Clippers to a third consecutive win. Per usual, the Clippers’ sixth man scored the ball well, with free-throw shooting being a primary reason. He also contributed as a passer and ultimately tied a team-high in assists. Mathurin’s offensive production off the bench is necessary for Los Angeles. Fantasy managers can expect him to remain in his role the rest of the way, with nightly scoring production being likely.

After a low-scoring outing in the Clippers blowout win on Monday, Garland upped his overall production in Wednesday’s blowout victory. In 30 minutes, he tallied at least five made three-pointers for the fifth time in 11 games as a Clipper, and used that three-point production to score over 20 points for the seventh time since being traded to Los Angeles. The seventh-year guard has proven to be a good fit at the guard position for the Clippers in his limited time with the team. As they fight for seeding towards the end of the regular season, likely in the Play-In Tournament, Garland should remain a focal point of the offense and a productive player in fantasy leagues.

Leonard’s streak of 20-point performances extended to 49 consecutive games on Wednesday after the Clippers defeated the Raptors by 25 points. He shot efficiently from the field, as he usually does, and found good production at the free-throw line along the way. Leonard’s defensive stats weren’t noteworthy in his 30 minutes of game action, but his impact was felt nonetheless. The two-time NBA champion hasn’t had many dominant performances lately. Yet, he’s remained a reliable contributor on a nightly basis from a fantasy basketball standpoint.

Saraf played 34 minutes on Wednesday and showcased his ability to affect the game as both a passer and scorer. He was one of Brooklyn’s top scorers on the night, as he used the three-point shot to his advantage. And not only did he lead the Nets in assists, but he also led all players in Wednesday’s contest in that category. Saraf has come on strong over the stretch of his rookie season and continues to put up quality numbers for a Nets team that is far from playoff contention.