NBA Player News

Vassell, who did not play in Sunday’s preseason opener against Guangdong, is available and will start against the Heat. His insertion into the starting lineup is the lone change for San Antonio, with Lindy Waters III being bumped to the bench. With De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper unavailable, look for Vassell to spend ample time on the ball as a playmaker, with Wemby also getting his chances to fill that role.

No surprise here after Young returned from a knee injury and played 20 minutes against the Hornets on Thursday. The Hawks will give the 27-year-old point guard the night off for right knee injury management reasons rather than put him back on the floor for the second game of a back-to-back. Young’s next chance to play will come Sunday against the Bulls. Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson will have more playmaking responsibilities in his absence Friday.

Clark was added to the injury report as questionable with an illness early Friday afternoon. The 24-year-old shooting guard will have the rest of the afternoon to get over his illness before the matchup with the Thunder on Friday night. Clark’s availability doesn’t significantly impact fantasy basketball either way.

Good news for Jones as he’s been upgraded to probable ahead of the Bulls matchup with the Cavaliers on Friday. The 25-year-old point guard had 11 points and 11 assists in the win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday. Even with Ayo Dosunmu (thumb) expected back, Jones should see 20-25 minutes off the bench and he’s been productive lately.

Good news for fantasy managers with Dosunmu as the 25-year-old point guard has been upgraded to probable for Friday’s game against the Cavaliers. Dosunmu is dealing with injuries to both of his thumbs, which has caused him to miss the last three games. Kevin Huerter will likely see fewer minutes with Dosunmu expected back.

No surprise here as Minott was initially listed as probable with a back injury. The 23-year-old small forward’s availability doesn’t significantly impact fantasy basketball either way. Expect Jordan Walsh to remain ahead of Minott in the Celtics’ rotation.

Hauser left Monday’s loss to the Pistons with a left ankle sprain in the first half. The 28-year-old small forward was listed as probable for Friday’s game against the Heat so it’s no surprise that he’s ultimately available. Luckily for Hauser, the injury wasn’t serious.

Robinson was limited to 13 minutes in Thursday’s overtime defeat, as he limped off the court less than a minute into the third quarter after suffering an apparent left knee injury. While he did not shoot the ball well in Dallas, scoring two points on 1-of-7 shooting, Robinson’s perimeter shooting ability has been an essential factor in the Pistons’ 21-6 start. Caris LeVert replaced him at the time of the injury; he and Jaden Ivey are the players most likely to be asked to pick up the slack if Robinson misses time.

Murray has been a consistent provider of blocked shots this season, averaging a career-best 1.9 per game. But he’s kicked things up a notch recently, recording 11 blocks over the last three games. While his scoring opportunities aren’t as plentiful as some would like them to be, the Kings forward has found other ways in which to provide reliable fantasy value. Murray is closing in on top-25 value in nine-cat formats, and he’s ranked just outside the top-50 in eight-cat.

Westbrook finished Thursday’s defeat with his tenth double-double of the season. And to the surprise of many, he’s turned into a player who can once again be relied on in 12-team leagues. Westbrook is providing top-75 value in eight-cat formats, well ahead of his Yahoo! ADP (139). Of course, the ADP was heavily influenced by Westbrook not agreeing to a deal until after the preseason, as many fantasy drafts were already in the books. He’s rostered in 63 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and that number should continue to increase.

DeRozan had one of his best games of the season on Thursday, including a 3-of-4 effort from beyond the arc. The three-point shot remains a minimal part of his offensive repertoire, but the veteran wing has been proficient when he’s taken those shots. DeRozan is shooting over 40 percent from three on just over two attempts per game, with the percentage being the highest of his NBA career. DeRozan isn’t going to be a player who provides consistent value in that category, but he’s been far from a liability. Add that to his other tools, and he’s capable of threatening top-50 status before the season ends.