NBA Player News

DeRozan shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc on Tuesday, the first time since December 18 (ten games) in which he’s made multiple triples in the same game. Fantasy managers don’t look to him for value in that category, but nights like Tuesday are helpful, considering the decreased scoring output. Compared to last season, DeRozan’s average (18.4) has declined by nearly four points. Because of the overall production and efficiency, he’s still offering top-50 value in nine-cat formats, but things could be better for the veteran guard/forward.

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.

Hyland had a solid stretch in mid-December, but his role has been limited recently. However, he went over 20 minutes in this game, which allowed him to set a new season high for assists. He has redeemed his value this season, but that hasn’t led to him being a consistent contributor in redraft leagues. Still, at only 25 years old, he has value in dynasty formats.

Though he didn’t contribute as much on the glass as he typically does, Mobley was able to pour in the points. This was his highest scoring performance since November. Still, his fantasy impact has been limited recently by a lack of rebounds. He has a total of 18 rebounds over his last four games, which is well below his season average of 8.6 boards per game. He had at least 10 rebounds in the two games prior to this stretch, and he’ll look to get back on track against the Jazz on Monday.

Merrill slid back into the starting lineup for this game, replacing Craig Porter Jr. with the opening group. He took advantage of the opportunity, with this being his fourth straight game with at least five three-pointers. He has been on fire lately, having shot at least 50 percent from the floor in each of those. Managers should ride the hot hand with Merrill and stream him in as long as he’s hitting shots.