NBA Player News

Westbrook joins James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard on the sideline for Wednesday’s game. His absence means Bones Hyland will start at the point, and while erratic, he’s worth streaming in active leagues due to the Clippers’ lack of healthy options. Xavier Moon could also enter the rotation, but Hyland is the player who fantasy managers should target in this spot.

Despite inefficient shooting, Giddey was impactful on the offensive end on Monday. His best asset, as usual, was his facilitating — he led all players in assists and was one of two players in the game to crack double figures in that department. The fifth-year guard also had production on the glass and was disruptive on the defensive end of the floor before finishing the night with a fairly balanced final line. The Bulls have three more games this week, meaning Giddey could have three more chances to deliver during this round of fantasy basketball playoffs.

Sexton came off Chicago’s bench and provided a massive spark on Monday. His impact was immediate; the veteran combo-guard went 5-of-7 from the field in the first quarter, which consisted of three three-pointers en route to 17 open-quarter points. He was quieter for the rest of the way, but the tone he set early helped the Bulls build a big lead and play from ahead for most of the game. Sexton has now scored 20 or more points in five of the seven games he’s appeared in during March. It would be reasonable to expect a similar outing from him against the 76ers on Wednesday.

Fresh off a game-winning putback layup, Thompson put forth another efficient scoring performance, albeit in a loss. He missed his only three-point attempt but was fantastic inside the arc and productive at the charity stripe. Uncharacteristically, the fourth-year guard didn’t make a difference as a facilitator, and he tallied his fewest rebounds of March. Still, Thompson’s versatile skill set led to some activity on the defensive end, helping boost his final stat line.

Having appeared in 37 games and been active for a few others, Nance was approaching his 50-game limit as a two-way contract player. Monday’s transaction was a deserved reward for the forward, who has averaged 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game this season. In a corresponding move, the Bucks waived Cam Thomas to free up a standard contract slot.

Şengün was very active on both ends of the floor on Monday. In the loss, he logged 37 minutes and nearly as many points, thanks to an extremely efficient shooting performance. The do-it-all center also attacked the glass hard to finish as the only Rockets player with double-digit rebounds. And the double-digit assists helped Şengün tally another triple-double on the season. Even with some back tightness, he continues to play and produce good numbers and be valuable in fantasy leagues.

In a high-scoring affair on Monday, Durant was unsurprisingly one of the contest’s most productive players. He logged a game-high 40 minutes and used that time to make the Bulls pay both inside and outside the arc. The two-time Finals MVP also made contributions on the glass and finished the game just above his regular-season average in assists. The balanced effort was not enough, however, as Houston walked away with its third loss in the last five games. The Rockets will face the Timberwolves on Wednesday in a game that could have a big impact on the playoff picture.

While Jackson and the Grizzlies lost by 39 points against the Hawks on Monday, the 21-year-old small forward still played 30 minutes. That allowed Jackson to put up 26 points, which led the Grizzlies. It’s Jackson’s third game this month with at least 20 points, though he’s averaging 11.5 points this season. Jackson isn’t a major fantasy asset, but he’s still one of the Grizzlies’ key contributors as the season winds down.

McCollum took on more of a playmaking role in this one with Jalen Johnson (shoulder) sidelined. The 34-year-old shooting guard had 15 points and nine assists in the blowout 146-107 win. McCollum was a team-high +31 in 22 minutes. He would’ve been able to have an even better fantasy game if the game was closer and he played more minutes.

Alexander-Walker has now scored at least 20 points in eight of his last 10 games. The 27-year-old shooting guard had 26 points in 26 minutes as the Hawks crushed the Grizzlies 146-107 on Monday. He could’ve had an even better game had the game been closer and he played more minutes. Alexander-Walker has provided eighth overall per game value over the last two weeks. The Hawks have three more games in Week 22 with a matchup against the Pistons on Wednesday up next.

The Clippers will roll out a starting lineup on Monday without John Collins, who will miss the game with an ankle injury. Batum will fill in for the injured Collins to provide the same sort of length and physicality at the forward position from the opening tip. The Clippers recently defeated the Dallas Mavericks to end a four-game losing streak, and a win on Monday would keep them in eighth place in the Western Conference standings, as the regular season nears its completion.