NBA Player News

While George didn’t shoot the ball poorly, he was responsible for seven turnovers in Saturday’s defeat. That was a season-high for the point guard, who recorded three turnovers or fewer in seven of his previous nine games. However, even with Saturday’s performance, George has been a top-10 player in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks. After two inconsistent seasons, the Jazz point guard has turned the corner in year three.

Mobley’s near-20-point effort on efficient shooting was the highlight of the night for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He added in a trio of threes for the seventh time this season, as well. Yet he was unspectacular on the glass and finished with just one stock. Mobley has certainly had better days — he’ll have a chance to put up better numbers on Saturday against this same Timberwolves team.

Merrill started and closed Thursday’s games in a similar way, scoring 11 points in both the first and fourth quarters, with three-point production being key. The sharp-shooting guard’s production in between those two periods was also similar, as he went scoreless in the middle two quarters. As a result, Merrill ended with 22 points and five threes. He didn’t make major contributions elsewhere in this game; however, he’s now scored 15 or more points and made at least four three-pointers in four consecutive games.

After a one-game absence, Mitchell returned to the floor on Thursday and added to his streak of 30-point games, which now sits at four. Efficient shooting helped lead him to a team-high in points, with most of his scoring production coming in a 19-point second half. Mitchell also tied a season-high in assists in his effort to give the Cavs a second straight win. A flurry from the T’Wolves in the third quarter ultimately swung the game in their favor, leaving Mitchell’s production wasted in a loss. Both he and the Cavs will have a chance to avenge their loss on Saturday at home against the same Timberwolves.

Williams played nine minutes in the first half, tallying two points (1-of-4 FGs), three rebounds and one assist. His absence for the rest of the night may result in a few more minutes for Ryan Nembhard, but that isn’t guaranteed. In recent games, Nembhard has not been productive enough to merit being rostered in most fantasy leagues.

Due to condensation on the court, the Heat-Bulls game in Chicago has been postponed. No official makeup date has been announced yet, but that will be announced in the coming days. Both teams return to action on Saturday, with the Heat visiting the Pacers and the Bulls hosting the Mavericks.

Limited to 12 points in Wednesday’s loss to the Raptors, Bridges was a bit more effective on Thursday. He’s recorded at least four assists in each of his last three games, and the Hornets’ forward has offered top-50 value in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. While Bridges’ fantasy ceiling isn’t particularly high, he provides a solid floor for managers seeking consistent production.

Interestingly, Knueppel did not attempt a shot during the first quarter of Thursday’s game. His involvement in the Hornets’ offense did increase in the ensuing quarters, but that was an interesting approach for the rookie to take. Over the past two weeks, Knueppel has been a seventh-round player in eight-cat formats. The Hornets end their Week 12 slate on Saturday against the Jazz.