NBA Player News

Mobley sprained his ankle during Cleveland’s Game 1 loss to the Pacers, which kept him out of Game 2 on Tuesday. Dean Wade moved into the starting lineup but offered minimal value, finishing with three points, 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one three-pointer in 30 minutes. He’ll likely retain his spot in the starting lineup if Mobley cannot play. However, with Cleveland in a 0-2 hole, look for the Defensive Player of the Year to do all he can to be available.

With Caris LeVert (knee) sidelined by a knee injury, Sasser has stepped up for the Pistons. He followed up a 19-point performance against the Lakers with 18 more on Thursday, and the overall stat line was solid. Rostered in one percent of Yahoo! leagues, Sasser is not someone who has to be rostered. But he is worth watching, especially if LeVert and Tobias Harris (hip) remain out.

For the first time in four games, Thompson managed to crack double figures in the points category. And he’s been a disappointment in fantasy basketball thus far, sitting well outside the top-150 in eight-cat per-game value. For a player who many fantasy managers were banking on for top-100 value, the season has reached an uncomfortable point. While few category league managers want to move on from a player with Thompson’s defensive potential, it will be challenging to get decent value back in a trade.

While Cunningham has recorded double-doubles in two straight and four of his last five games, turnovers have been an issue. After recording five in Tuesday’s win over the Lakers, he was responsible for seven on Thursday. The good news for managers in eight-cat formats is that turnovers aren’t a factor in those leagues. As for managers in nine-cat formats, Cunningham’s value takes a slight hit because of that category.

Once again, Jaquez gave the Heat some much-needed production off the bench as they held off the Pistons in Detroit. He’s scored at least 19 points in three straight and five of his last six, providing 10th-round per-game value in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks. Coming off the bench limits Jaquez’s value to managers in 10-team formats, but those competing in 12-team leagues should strongly consider adding him if he’s on the waiver wire.

Five of Wiggins’ seven rebounds were on the offensive end of the floor, the second time in three games that he’s accomplished that feat. However, what will stand out to fantasy managers is the 17 points, as Wiggins has met or exceeded that number in four straight appearances. Rostered in 56 percent of Yahoo! leagues, he has been a top-40 player in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks. Managers competing in 10-team leagues may want to consider adding Wiggins, especially with Tyler Herro (toe) still out.

While the Heat only grabbed six more rebounds than the Pistons, their starting frontcourt combined to corral 11 offensive rebounds. Adebayo and Kel’El Ware (5/13/0/2/2) were responsible for three offensive rebounds apiece, while Andrew Wiggins grabbed five. Bam’s double-double was his second in as many games after missing two games with a back injury. The Heat head home for their final two games of Week 11, a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back.

Powell put on a show in the Motor City, finishing two points and one three-pointer shy of his season-highs in those categories. He continues to exceed his Yahoo! ADP (88) by a significant margin, providing third-round per-game value in eight-cat formats. And as long as the Heat are without Tyler Herro (toe), Powell’s fantasy ceiling will remain high.

Zubac injured his ankle during a December 20 win over the Lakers and was given a three-week timeline to return. For him to progress to on-court work is a step in the right direction, but the timeline has not changed. Brook Lopez will remain the starter in Zubac’s absence, with Yanic Konan Niederhäuser filling in as the backup.

While left hip tightness forced an early exit from the Clippers’ December 26 win in Portland, Bogdanović has missed the first three games of the team’s five-game homestand due to left hamstring injury management. Not only will he miss the final two games, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll be available when the Clippers hit the road on January 7 against the Knicks. According to the team, Bogdanović is “undergoing a process to address the residual weakness in the left hamstring hip area.”

Friday’s game will be the seventh that Williams has missed due to left patellar tendinitis. That leaves the backup point guard duties to Cam Spencer, who has played well enough to merit being rostered in deep leagues, even with Ja Morant available.