NBA Player News

Yang made his first career start against the Grizzlies on Sunday with Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams sidelined. Clingan has already been ruled out for Thursday while Williams, who is questionable with an illness, should return. It’s likely Williams will start over Yang, but he should still play significant minutes off the bench.

The Jazz are a young team so even in a blowout, George, the 22-year-old point guard, played 34 minutes. He scored 20 points, which was his lowest output in five games, and was just two rebounds and three assists shy of a triple-double. George’s run of excellent play continues. He’s becoming one of the biggest fantasy steals of the season. The Jazz are back on the floor Tuesday against the Grizzlies.

The Thunder have won their last 11 regular-season meetings with the Grizzlies, and Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the way on Monday. With Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein out due to injury, SGA carried a little more of the offensive workload, finishing with his 22nd game of 30 points or more this season. And he made some history, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in league history to score at least 20 points in 100 consecutive games. SGA and the Thunder will likely encounter more resistance on Tuesday when they visit the Spurs.

Markkanen returned from a two-game absence due to a groin injury. The Jazz lost by 23 points, but he still played 36 minutes and scored 27 points in the blowout loss. He’s had at least 26 points in five of six games in December so far. Markkanen will be back in action Tuesday against the Grizzlies.

Johnson and Jamal Murray did their impression of the splash brothers Monday against the Jazz as the pair combined for 12 three-pointers. Johnson’s six threes were the only field goal attempts he made. He only played 29 minutes as the Nuggets were able to rest their starters for the entire fourth quarter. Johnson was likely in line for a ceiling game if he had continued playing.

The Jazz didn’t put up much of a fight against the Nuggets on Monday as Denver was able to sit its starters for the entire fourth quarter. Murray was part of that group, but before he sat out the fourth he lit up the Jazz with an efficient shooting display. The 28-year-old point guard had 27 points on 16 attempts and made six three-pointers. After only playing 27 minutes, Murray should be well rested for Tuesday’s game against the Mavericks.