NBA Player News

Jokic’s absence will mean increased playmaking responsibilities for Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook. Zeke Nnaji and Deandre Jordan will presumably handle center duties, but it’s unclear who will start and see the most court time.

With Jerami Grant (face) and Deni Avdija (ankle) both sidelined for this game, Scoot slid into the starting lineup and took advantage of the opportunity. He got off to an incredibly hot start and scored 17 points in just the first quarter. He made his first eight shots before finally missing, and he ended up setting new career-highs for both points and 3-pointers. Henderson’s first year and a half in the league have been disappointing, but a performance like this is great to see from him. They still have three more games this week, so we’ll see if he can keep it going in those, starting with the Clippers on Thursday.

Camara has been solid all season, but he has been more productive on offense recently. He scored in double figures in six straight games prior to their previous game, where that streak came to an end. He bounced back in this one and set a new career-high for points in the loss. Camara has been known for his defense more than his scoring, and he was still able to make an impact on that end in this game. They still have three more games this week, and Camara will look to keep up his productive play, with the Clippers coming up next on the schedule on Thursday.

Clingan didn’t score much in this game, but he still made a big impact off the bench. However, he didn’t come out of it unscathed. He briefly left in the first half after taking a shot to the face, but what was more concerning was his early exit with just a few minutes left in the game. He fell awkwardly on his left knee, the same one he had an MCL sprain in earlier in the season. However, following the game, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said Clingan’s ankle was the issue. Hopefully, it isn’t another significant injury because the rookie has played well over their last few games.

It took Johnson a few years to find his place in the league, but he has been given an opportunity for the tanking Nets and has taken advantage. He is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds and 3-pointers, and he has taken things up a notch in recent weeks. Johnson has never been a factor in fantasy, but he has been a top-150 player over the past two weeks. He has scored at least 20 points in two of their last three games and has carved out a starting role. He may not be worth rostering yet, but he’s worth keeping an eye on.

After missing five games with an ankle sprain, Johnson was back in the lineup for this game and made his presence felt immediately. Prior to his ankle injury, he had two straight games with at least 24 points, so this performance will extend that streak to three games. They will play the second leg of a back-to-back against the Clippers on Wednesday, so keep an eye on the injury report to see if Johnson pops up. They still have two more games this week after that for him to continuing pouring in the points.

With Nic Claxton (hamstring) sidelined for this game, Clowney was able to remain in the starting unit. He went scoreless in 32 minutes as a starter on Sunday, but he was far more effective in this game. He hasn’t been great on the glass for a post player, but what makes him special is his ability to space the floor, which was on full display in this game. He also blocked a shot for the first time in about a month, which is both good to see and concerning. Clowney has been a regular in the starting lineup since mid-December, and if that trend continues, he will be worth rostering.

Unfortunately, Gafford’s minutes did not increase after Dereck Lively II suffered a sprained right ankle during the first quarter of Tuesday’s game and did not return. However, the nature of the game may have impacted Jason Kidd’s lineup choices, as the contest was effectively over by halftime. As a result, fantasy managers should not read too much into Gafford’s minutes, especially with the Mavericks visiting New Orleans on Wednesday. Maxi Kleber (10 points, one rebound, three assists, and two 3-pointers) played 18 minutes off the bench, and he’s the biggest concern for fantasy managers hoping to see Gafford on the court more if Lively misses time.

Kyrie Irving’s return to the Mavericks’ lineup did not impact Marshall’s place in the rotation; he should be a starter as long as Luka Doncic (calf) remains sidelined. However, production has been less than many hoped since Dallas’s two starts went down. Over the past two weeks, Marshall has provided 15th-round value in 9-cat formats. Rostered in 16% of Yahoo leagues, he’s worth holding onto for now, but fantasy managers should not hesitate to seek alternatives on other teams.

Having last appeared in a game on New Year’s Day, Irving returned from his back injury sooner than many anticipated. Tuesday’s game did not go well, with the Mavericks guard shooting poorly from the field. The positives are the minutes since there weren’t any reported flare-ups and Irving’s four steals. With Kyrie back on the court, Spencer Dinwiddie (8/2/2/1 with one 3-pointer) returned to the bench and played 20 minutes. With Dallas visiting the Pelicans on Wednesday, Irving may get the night off, placing Dinwiddie back on the streaming radar.

Tuesday’s game was the first for Gordon since Christmas Night when he strained his right calf for the second time this season during a loss to the Suns. Playing only 19 minutes, the Nuggets forward was used in a reserve role, and it’s fair to wonder if the Nuggets will exercise a little more caution. After the first calf strain, Gordon played starters’ minutes in his second game back, playing 10 games before the Christmas Day injury. If Denver takes a more conservative approach, that should leave Russell Westbrook (9/6/3/2/1 with one 3-pointer in 26 minutes) in the starting lineup for the time being. And in the short term, fantasy managers should operate under the assumption that Gordon will be questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Rockets.