NBA Player News

Kornet, who has been starting for the injured Victor Wembanyama, is dealing with a sore left ankle. If he’s unable to play on Friday, Kelly Olynyk would benefit the most in terms of playing time. While Jeremy Sochan may also pick up a few more minutes, Olynyk is the player to target as he would likely move into the starting lineup.

George had one of his least impactful games of the season against the Rockets. He failed to convert any of his five three-point attempts and finished with more turnovers than made field goals on the evening. As a result, the veteran forward tied a season-low in points and scored in single digits for just the fifth time all season. The Sixers will need him to bounce back on Friday against the Pacers.

Thompson logged 42 minutes on Thursday and impacted the game in several areas. He left some meat on the bone as a scorer due to his poor free-throw shooting and inefficiency from beyond the arc, but still finished just under 20 for the game. Thompson didn’t dominate the glass or dial up a ton of assists, but he made contributions in each area, while his three steals helped the Rockets to an eight-game win streak. They’ll face the Timberwolves on Friday.

Smith couldn’t find his rhythm from beyond the arc but still managed to hover around the 20-point mark on Thursday. His scoring came from the charity stripe and mostly inside the paint. The fourth-year forward has played his role well this year and continues to put up some of his best numbers alongside Kevin Durant as a full-time starter. With two games left on the schedule, the Rockets have a chance to extend their eight-game winning streak while trying to land homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Durant had another efficient outing on Thursday. He shot the ball well from both inside and outside the arc, and consistently made his way to the free-throw line to add to his total. The veteran wing also established himself as a passer in this game, which is reflected in the team-high assists that he generated against the Sixers. Durant and the Rockets are playing some of their best ball of the season down the stretch. They’ve won eight straight games with two remaining on their schedule.

Etienne struggled from the field on Thursday in his 39 minutes on the floor. He was particularly cold inside the arc, with his efficient three-point shooting being the positive on the evening. Etienne did, however, make contributions on the glass and as a facilitator to help make up for the inefficient scoring. He’ll have a chance to bounce back on Friday against the Bucks.

Despite shooting poorly from the three-point line, Saraf still managed to find production against the Pacers. He finished with a handful of boards and tied a team-high in assists, showing off some versatility in his game. Saraf has put together a solid few weeks toward the end of his rookie season that could be a confidence booster heading into the offseason and ultimately his second season. He’s got two games left to close strong.

Liddell was one of Brooklyn’s bright spots on Thursday. Despite the loss, he drained a few triples en route to his second 20-point performance of the season. His work on the glass led to a team-high in boards, as well, in his 37 minutes on the floor. Liddell has put together three straight double-digit scoring performances after doing so just once in the games prior. He’s trending in the right direction as the season nears its conclusion.

While he wasn’t Joe Mazzulla’s choice to fill in for the injured Jaylen Brown (Achilles), Scheierman still provided key offensive contributions on Thursday. The second-year wing made six of his seven three-point attempts, matching his career-high in points. In fact, Scheierman totaled 21 points over his previous five appearances. Jordan Walsh received the starting nod in New York, and he finished with five points, two rebounds, one assist and one three-pointer. Scheierman has the higher offensive ceiling, and that’s how things played out on Thursday.

With no Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were going to need others to step up offensively on Thursday. Unsurprisingly, Pritchard answered the call, recording his first 20-point game since March 29 against the Hornets. He scored eight of his points in the third quarter, helping the Celtics erase a 12-point deficit and take a two-point lead into the fourth quarter. Pritchard’s 23 points weren’t enough to help Boston take home the victory, but they’re still well-positioned to be the No. 2 seed in the East.

Thursday’s game was the first at Madison Square Garden for Tatum since he ruptured his Achilles tendon during Game 4 of last May’s second-round playoff series. The Celtics star recorded another double-double, his tenth of the season, and he’s scored at least 20 points in seven consecutive games. Add in the assists, and the overall stat line compensated for the low field-goal percentage. Plus, Boston played Thursday’s game without Jaylen Brown, which clearly makes a difference.