NBA Player News

While Ducas has not appeared in a game since March 21, Friday will be Mitchell’s first chance to play since suffering a toe injury in early January. The Thunder rotation will be shorthanded, as all five starters are out since the team has secured the top seed in the West. Mitchell and Ducas will have ample opportunities to produce as long as their injuries don’t flare up.

The Kings were without Keegan Murray (ankle) for Sunday’s game, so Achiuwa made a spot start. While his foul shooting was a disaster, the positives outweighed that negative in terms of the Kings forward’s production. Achiuwa played 39 minutes against the Grizzlies and recorded a double-double with five “stocks.” Sacramento plays three games in Week 2, starting with the Spurs on Tuesday, and Achiuwa would be a worthwhile pickup if Murray remains out.

After totaling seven assists in his first two games, Acuff matched that number on Sunday. The field-goal percentage wasn’t the best, but the points and assists were encouraging. Tuesday’s matchup with the Spurs will be challenging, given how good their young guards are offensively. It will be fun to see how Acuff takes on that test in the first of three games the Kings will play in Week 2.

After scoring 50 points in Sacramento’s first two games, LaVine recorded his first 30-point game of the season on Sunday. He was efficient, shooting 52 percent from the field. Sunday’s performance was an excellent way for LaVine to end Week 1, as the Kings begin a three-game Week 2 in San Antonio on Tuesday.

The Grizzlies gave Zach Edey the night off, so Beef Stew was inserted into the starting lineup. Stewart’s value was his defense and three-point shooting, but he played just 22 minutes. He missed most of the preseason with a sprained ankle, which likely factored into his playing time. Edey should be back for Monday’s game against the Jazz, which would push Stewart to the bench.

Coward returned to the Grizzlies’ starting lineup after missing Friday’s win over the Warriors, leading to GG Jackson heading to the bench and playing just 10 minutes. Coward recorded a double-double and played 32 minutes. As long as his wrist doesn’t give him trouble, Coward should provide reliable fantasy value, especially in category leagues.

For those who believed Jerome would cool off after scoring 73 points in the Grizzlies’ first two games, that didn’t happen on Sunday. He did most of his damage inside the arc, making 7 of 11 two-point attempts and shooting 14-for-14 from the foul line. Add in the assists, and it was another excellent night for those rostering Jerome, one of the best players in fantasy basketball so far. The Grizzlies play three games in Week 2, starting with the Jazz on Monday.

After a strong start in his first three appearances for the 76ers, Brown cooled off on Sunday. He shot 3-of-14 from inside the arc against the Pistons, and many of those misses came in the paint. There’s no need to lose any sleep over Brown’s performance against the Pistons, as the overall track record has been good. He’ll look to bounce back on Wednesday against the Pacers.

Back in the lineup after sitting out Saturday’s win over the Bucks, James played 33 minutes on Sunday. Some of those minutes came at center, as the 76ers did not have Joel Embiid. James had a decent night, but he wasn’t as impactful as many fantasy managers likely hoped in the 76ers’ final game of Week 1.

Maxey and the 76ers were playing their third game in four days. With LeBron James (Saturday) and Joel Embiid (Sunday) each missing a game, the 76ers’ star point guard had to shoulder a heavier workload. Despite that, Maxey still recorded an efficient stat line to end Week 1. There was an injury scare when he collided with Detroit’s John Collins in the fourth quarter, but Maxey was fine. Philadelphia plays three games in Week 2, starting with the Pacers on Wednesday.

Jalen Duren’s hamstring injury wouldn’t affect Collins’ place in the Pistons’ starting lineup. However, the All-Star center’s absence meant Collins would sometimes be the biggest Piston on the floor. Philadelphia didn’t have Joel Embiid on Sunday, which made the paint a bit more manageable for Detroit. But that shouldn’t take away from Collins’ double-double and blocked shots. Collins is already rostered in 80 percent of Yahoo leagues, and the Duren injury raises his fantasy ceiling.