NBA Player News

Yikes. Banchero’s ice-cold stretch continued in this one as he was held to 13 points or fewer for the second straight contest. The 23-year-old franchise cornerstone has been stuck in a rut offensively for the better part of the last two weeks, averaging just 19.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks over that six-game stretch, delivering abysmal 13th-round fantasy value during that span. Orlando’s persistent offensive struggles aren’t going to vanish overnight but they’ll get Franz Wagner (ankle) back at some point soon which should help elevate the rest of their secondary scorers. However, they need Banchero to elevate his game if they’re going to be a true contender in the Eastern Conference.

Yabusele did not play in Friday’s loss to the Suns, and his absence did not significantly affect the Knicks’ rotation or fantasy basketball. And with Josh Hart (ankle) also questionable for Sunday, Yabusele could fall out of the rotation entirely.

Williams won’t be available for Sunday’s game due to an illness, meaning he’ll miss out on a shot at extended minutes with Michael Porter Jr. (rest) also sidelined. Cam Thomas’ minutes have been limited since his return from a hamstring injury, but his usage may increase even if the playing time doesn’t.

Due to left knee injury management, Powell will sit out the first of two games that Memphis will play in as many days. His absence does not affect fantasy basketball, but there may be additional minutes available for fellow rookie Nolan Traoré.

Sunday’s game is the first of two in as many days for the Nets, so Porter getting a night off for rest is unsurprising. Danny Wolf moved into the starting lineup the last time that MPJ missed a game, so fantasy managers should anticipate the same on Sunday. Wolf is worth holding onto in deep leagues, as the Nets have another back-to-back during Week 13.

After missing the last eight games with a high right ankle sprain, Hart could potentially return on Sunday. Miles McBride has performed well as his most recent replacement in the starting lineup. If Hart’s minutes are limited, the Knicks could leave McBride in the starting five for the time being.

Ingram did not play in Friday’s loss to the Celtics, with Ja’Kobe Walter moving into the starting lineup. Walter would likely retain that role if Ingram remains out, and he would be worth the streaming risk in deep leagues.

Barnes did not play in Friday’s loss to the Celtics, resulting in Sandro Mamukelashvili moving into the starting lineup alongside Collin Murray-Boyles. If Barnes can play on Sunday, Mamu could potentially remain in the starting lineup since RJ Barrett (ankle) is out.

Poeltl has not appeared in a game since December 21, and updates have been scarce since he was cleared for contact on January 5. The Raptors will continue to rely on Collin Murray-Boyles and Sandro Mamukelasvhili, with the former offering a higher fantasy ceiling.

Barrett exited Friday’s loss to the Celtics during the latter stages of the fourth quarter. With Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes listed as questionable, the Raptors could be severely shorthanded on Sunday. Ja’Kobe Walter and Ochai Agbaji will see their minutes increase with Barrett unavailable.

Tyson has been productive for most of the season, but the last few games prior to this one had been rough. However, he was able to get back on track in this one by scoring at least 20 points for the fifth straight game. He had scored a total of 21 points across his four previous games, but he has largely been a consistent producer this season. This could kickstart a strong stretch for him, but he remains a risky option since the Cavs are healthier than they’ve been for much of the season.