NBA Player News

Vanderbilt had a solid first half, so it is disappointing that an injury will end his night early. Vanderbilt will likely be an important reserve for the Lakers this season, so hopefully this is precautionary. More minutes will go to Jake LaRavia if Vanderbilt misses time during the regular season.

Fantasy managers will have to wait a little longer to see Zu in a Pacers’ uniform, and it’s unlikely he sees a ton of run for Indiana down the stretch of a lost season. While Zubac is on the shelf, Jay Huff should continue to start at center.

The second-year man out of Memphis has offered quality minutes for the Cavaliers this season, and he’ll be rewarded by having his two-way contract converted into a standard deal. Tomlin is a valuable member of Cleveland’s rotation, but his production hasn’t been noteworthy in the world of fantasy hoops, so he can remain on the waiver wire.

Smart will eventually return to the bench when the Lakers are finally healthy, but for now, he’ll remain productive. This was his second straight game with at least 15 points after five straight scoring in single digits. Smart isn’t a reliable option for fantasy managers, but he is still capable of making an impact. This was the first leg of a back-to-back, so it would be surprising if Austin Reaves (calf) played against the Spurs on Tuesday. That could mean extra minutes for Smart.

The Lakers three-game winning streak came to an end, but James was able to remain productive. This was his third straight triple-double, and after turning it over 15 times across two games, he only coughed up the rock three times in this one. With Luka Dončić (hamstring) sidelined, James has stepped up as the Lakers’ primary playmaker. This was the first night of a back-to-back, and LeBron has played in both legs of their last two back-to-backs. Expect him to be out there against the Spurs on Tuesday.

Joe has been red-hot recently, though only as a reserve. Over his last four games, he has averaged 20.7 points in the three games he came off the bench and scored just two points in his lone start. Joe has taken on more minutes due to the all the injuries in the backcourt and has been a decent streaming option as of late. He’ll look to stay hot against the Suns on Wednesday.

After missing nearly a month with a hamstring injury, Williams was back in the lineup against Los Angeles. He was limited to 24 minutes, but he was able to make a strong impact despite a subpar shooting night. Nearly half his points came from the free throw line, which helped make up for his field goal percentage. Williams is typically able to contribute more value than he did in this game, but this was about getting him back on the floor. He’ll likely continue to have his minutes managed and should miss back-to-backs. OKC plays in Phoenix on Wednesday and against the Bucks on Thursday; expect Williams to play against the Suns.

Braun hasn’t been available often this season, and when he has, he hasn’t been productive as of late. This was the first time he has scored 20 points in a game in over three months, which is a sign of hope for fantasy managers. It has been a disappointing season for him, but this could help him get back on track. He’ll look to carry some of this production over into Wednesday’s game against the Grizzlies.

Jokić wasn’t able to do enough for Denver to get the win, but he was able to record his third straight triple-double. Despite a lengthy absence, Jokić has been able to pick up where he left off over these last six games. He’s back to playing his usual minutes, and he should continue to be the best player in fantasy basketball. They’ll host the Grizzlies on Wednesday in their final game before the All-Star break.

It may have come in a losing effort, but Oubre produced another solid stat line on Monday. The six defensive contributions were one shy of his season-high, which the veteran wing recorded in a January 11 loss to the Raptors. With Paul George serving a 25-game suspension, there isn’t a good reason to leave Oubre on the waiver wire in deep leagues. And Monday’s performance will likely get him on the radar in some 12-team leagues as well.

With Joel Embiid (knee) unavailable, even more of the scoring responsibilities fell upon Maxey’s shoulders. He’s now scored 30 points or more in 22 games, with Monday’s being his first since January 29 against the Kings. Despite Maxey’s efforts, the 76ers fell behind big during the third quarter in the final game of their road trip, losing 135-118. Philadelphia returns home for its final game before the All-Star break, Wednesday night against the Knicks.