NBA Player News

Layman started his career in Portland and spent the last three seasons with Minnesota so it would not be all that surprising to see him make Boston’s final roster with a limited role off the bench. But it would take a minor miracle for him to emerge with any fantasy value this season.

Niederhäuser’s availability does not affect fantasy basketball, especially with Ivica Zubac returning from a sprained ankle on Saturday. The rookie should only be rostered in dynasty leagues.

Aldama is good to go after initially being listed as questionable. He’ll take on his usual reserve role, but the former first-round pick boasts a higher fantasy ceiling with Ja Morant (calf) unavailable.

Due to a right calf contusion, Morant will miss Sunday’s rematch after logging 31 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Lakers. Cam Spencer will likely move into the starting lineup to run the point, with Javon Small playing backup minutes off the bench. Spencer is worth streaming in 12-team leagues; he should already be rostered in 14-team leagues.

Powell got off to a sizzling-hot start on the second night of a back-to-back, going 6-of-7 from the field, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, to enter halftime with 20 points. He kept the momentum going down the home stretch, finishing 9-of-12 from beyond the arc, notching his second 30-point performance in his last three games. The unheralded 32-year-old scoring machine has benefitted greatly from Miami’s new run-and-gun style offense in his Heat debut, delivering third-round fantasy value, averaging 24.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.2 blocks through 31 games. The Heat are in line for a four-game week coming up that includes a rematch against Minnesota before road tilts against the Bulls, Pacers and Thunder.

Murphy showed zero signs of rust in his return to the lineup following a brief one-game absence due to a back issue. The 25-year-old forward drained 8-of-12 shots in the opening half, including 5-of-8 from three-point range, to rack up a game-high 21 points and keep New Orleans within striking distance. He went ice-cold down the home stretch, which enabled Miami to pull away for a relatively easy win. The Pelicans will attempt to snap a prolonged seven-game losing streak next week when they return to action with a four-game slate that features showdowns against the Lakers, Hawks, Wizards and Magic.

Jović, who came into this one nursing a left groin contusion, went 6-of-10 from the floor, scoring 15 points in the opening half as Miami built an early advantage. The 22-year-old cooled off considerably over the final three quarters but still managed to turn in a respectable all-around effort. He’s been excellent over the past two weeks, averaging 14.8 points and 5.3 rebounds over his last six games during that span. He’s worthy of a speculative fantasy roster spot, especially in deeper leagues.

Fears did most of his damage during garbage time, but it counts the same for fantasy purposes. The 19-year-old lottery pick accumulated 13 second-half points on 5-of-9 shooting with three of those makes coming from downtown. He’s been a non-factor for fantasy purposes during his rookie campaign but should see an increase in offensive opportunities as the year progresses, especially if New Orleans falls out of playoff contention.

Sunday’s game was Kispert’s first since December 23, when he exited a loss to the Hornets with a hamstring injury. The former first-round pick had a solid night shooting-wise, making 50 percent of his attempts from the field and knocking down two three-pointers. However, Kispert is not worth the risk in most leagues, even with Kyshawn George (hip) essentially week-to-week. Players like Tre Johnson (13/3/3/1 with one three-pointer) will be a priority for the Wizards, and there will likely come a point when Will Riley (6/3/0/1) figures more prominently in the rotation as well.

McCollum led the way offensively for the Wizards on Sunday, recording his second 20-point game in his last eight appearances. Unfortunately, his ceiling is capped by being on a team whose priority is to give its young players more minutes for development. McCollum has been productive enough to merit being rostered in 12-team leagues, but managers are certainly rooting for him to be moved ahead of the February trade deadline. If not, he could be a shutdown risk. The Wizards begin a four-game Week 12 on Tuesday against the Magic.