NBA Player News

Haliburton finished behind only Mikal Bridges for team lead in scoring, getting all 18 of his points from beyond the arc. Hali has played well in the World Cup thus far, but he hasn’t taken on a huge offensive workload with the likes of Anthony Edwards and Paolo Banchero on the roster. He caught fire from three-point range in this one and added some great peripherals to make up a fantastic final line. Fantasy’s eighth-ranked player on a per-game basis last season is a consensus top-5 pick in early 2023-24 drafts.

Payne played nine minutes before heading back to the locker room during the second quarter. The veteran backup has since been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain. His absence for the remainder of Saturday’s game may push Kyle Lowry into the rotation, but it does not affect fantasy basketball.

Small joins the long list of Grizzlies guards who will not be available for Sunday’s game. If Walter Clayton Jr. (hip) can play after sitting out Friday’s loss to the Raptors, he’s likely to be the starting point guard. If not, Dariq Whitehead and Lucas Williamson may have to fill the void. There’s no need to stream either of them in that scenario.

Jerome will remain out for a seventh straight game, while Spencer will miss a second due to his back injury. With Javon Small also out, the Grizzlies will rely heavily on Walter Clayton Jr. if he’s able to return from a hip injury that kept him out of Friday’s loss to the Raptors.

Prosper is available after sitting out Friday’s loss to the Raptors. Taylor Hendricks filled the result void in the starting lineup and should remain there since the Grizzlies are unlikely to have GG Jackson (knee).

After a three-game absence, Gibson is on track to play on Sunday. However, while rotation minutes are likely to be available, the 40-year-old is unlikely to affect fantasy basketball.

Coward and Jackson, with the latter having scored 30 points in Friday’s loss to the Raptors, are on track to sit out Sunday’s game due to injury. Memphis has been extremely shorthanded for most of this season. The good news is that Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Taylor Hendricks are available, and both will be key options on Sunday.

The Grizzlies have been decimated by injuries, especially on the perimeter. Clayton did not play in Friday’s loss to the Raptors, and the many absences led to recent additions Adama Bal and Dariq Whitehead playing rotation minutes. That may be the case regardless of Clayton’s availability for Sunday’s game.

With Jock Landale (ankle) sidelined for at least two weeks, the Hawks needed additional depth in the frontcourt. They’re reportedly signed Bradley to address that issue. The veteran center appeared in 38 games for the Pacers earlier this season, averaging 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game. In a corresponding move, the Hawks have waived Caleb Houstan.

One game removed from his first double-double of the season, Vassell ended his Week 23 with another solid performance. The 18 points are the most in a game for him since March 25, when the Spurs’ wing scored 19 in a win over the Grizzlies. Vassell shot 3-of-8 from beyond the arc on Saturday, and he’s now 6-of-16 over his last two games. San Antonio plays four games without a back-to-back in Week 24, which is good news for Vassell managers whose leagues will remain active.

Champagnie’s six three-pointers were the most in a game for him since February 26, when he hit that many in a win over the Nets. The Spurs’ wing also provided value in the rebound category, closing Week 23 with a solid performance. For managers whose leagues have one more week, the Spurs play four games, and they still have a slim chance of catching Oklahoma City for the 1-seed in the West. That should ensure Champagnie of playing starters’ minutes at the beginning of Week 24.