NBA Player News

Of the 71 points scored by Rockets starters, Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. were responsible for 49 of them. The limited production from the other starters was too much to overcome in Dallas, as Houston desperately missed Alperen Şengün (illness). Over the past two weeks, Durant has provided top-15 value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Houston plays once during Week 8, and they’ll have a total of five games in leagues that will combine Weeks 8 and 9 to account for the NBA Cup.

Sunday’s game will be the eighth that Okoro has missed, which opens up a spot in the starting lineup. While Julian Phillips was the most recent replacement, it was because the Bulls did not have Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu is probable to play on Sunday, so he’ll likely move into the starting lineup if cleared.

Sunday’s game will be the fifth that Smith has missed with a strained left hamstring. Zach Collins will once again fill the backup center role, with Lachlan Olbrich being available in case of emergency.

Kornet did not play in Friday’s game against the Cavaliers, resulting in Bismack Biyombo moving into the starting lineup. With Biyombo and Kelly Olynky combining to play 16 minutes on Friday, neither will be worth the risk if Kornet remains out on Monday. San Antonio was willing to go small for extended periods, with Jeremy Sochan spending some time at the five.

Initially doubtful for Sunday’s game, Morant is officially inactive. Vince Williams Jr. will continue to replace him in the starting lineup, with Cam Spencer playing additional minutes off the bench. While Williams is a solid option for managers needing assists, his low percentages have opened the door for Spencer to emerge as a solid deep-league option.

While Wembanyama returned to practice on Sunday, he has not yet reached the point where he can play in games. The next opportunity for him to play will be on Wednesday when the Spurs visit the Lakers in an NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup. As long as he’s healthy, Luke Kornet will be the starter until Wemby returns.

McLaughlin’s continued absence does not affect fantasy basketball, especially with Stephon Castle being questionable for Monday’s game. There’s no reason to consider rostering McLaughlin in fantasy leagues.

Added to the injury report Sunday afternoon, Williams will not be able to play. With Donovan Clingan (leg) also out, the Trail Blazers will be without their top two centers. Duop Reath and Yang Hansen will have to do the heavy lifting in Memphis.

Clingan will miss a second straight game as he continues to recover from a left lower leg contusion. With Robert Williams III (illness) also out, the Trail Blazers will have to rely on Duop Reath and Yang Hansen to fill the void at the center position. While neither is a great streaming option, the chosen starter will be worth a look in deep leagues.

Curry suffered a right quad contusion during the Warriors’ November 26 loss ot the Rockets, and Sunday’s game against the Bulls will be the fourth that he’s missed. The superstar guard did not travel with the team for its three-game road trip, instead staying back in the Bay Area to recover. The upcoming schedule works out well for Curry and the Warriors, who won’t play their first game of Week 8 until Friday due to the NBA Cup knockout rounds. If he can return to practice on Wednesday, Curry may have a chance of playing against the Timberwolves on December 12.

McBride injured his left ankle during Sunday’s win over the Magic, with Orlando guard Desmond Bane landing on the Knicks guard’s leg after attempting to block his layup attempt. McBride did not return after exiting, and he’ll undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. If he misses time, the Knicks will have to rely more on Jordan Clarkson for scoring off the bench, and inconsistency has been an issue for him this season.