NBA Player News

Barnes suffered a right knee injury in Wednesday’s game against the Hornets, but was able to finish the contest. Now the 24-year-old small forward has been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Celtics with a right knee sprain. Sandro Mamukelashvili or Ochai Agbaji could move into the starting lineup with Barnes out.

Following a one-game absence with an ankle injury, Daniels was back in the lineup to take on Charlotte. He didn’t provide his typical dose of defensive production, but he was able to have a strong game offensively. This was just the fifth time this season Daniels has scored at least 20 points in a game, and he did it in just 26 minutes. Daniels has struggled as a scorer this year, and it is unlikely he is able to replicate this type of performance often.

Coulibaly is one of the Wizards players fantasy managers will be watching his minutes as much, if not more, than his stat lines for the rest of the season. He shot the ball reasonably well against the Cavaliers, but was limited to 24 minutes. Justin Champagnie (12/4/2/2 with two three-pointers) came off the bench on Wednesday and also played 24 minutes. Coulibaly is most valuable to managers who need defensive production, but that doesn’t do them much good if his minutes are being cut for draft lottery reasons.

While George led the Wizards in scoring on Wednesday, he only played 24 minutes. And that may be the frustrating aspect of rostering him in fantasy leagues for the rest of this season. He doesn’t need much time to put up solid numbers, but the second-year wing has not exceeded 27 minutes in any of his last five appearances. Will Riley (4/4/2) shot a frigid 1-of-12 from the field but played 29 minutes. That may be the norm after the All-Star break.

Merrill put on a shooting clinic in the first half of Wednesday’s game, with the 26 points being the most he’s scored in a half in his NBA career. The sharpshooter knocked down two more triples in the second half, finishing with new highs in points (32) and three-pointers (nine). With Evan Mobley (calf) expected back after the All-Star break, Merrill or Jaylon Tyson (7/5/1/1) will be asked to come off the bench. For Merrill, he’s still capable of offering reliable fantasy value to those needing three-point production.

Playing in front of the Cavaliers faithful as a member of the team for the first time, Harden took a back seat as a scorer on Wednesday. He focused more on setting up his teammates, leading to 11 assists. Through three games in Cleveland, The Beard has accumulated 26 assists. He was responsible for six turnovers, but Harden totaled five in his first two appearances. The Cavaliers complete Week 17 with three games after the All-Star break.

Allen has scored at least 21 points in each of the last three games, which aligns with the acquisition of James Harden. The two have established immediate chemistry, which has raised Allen’s fantasy ceiling in the short term. The question now is what happens when Evan Mobley (calf) returns, which is expected to happen on February 19 against the Nets.

Mitchell notched his 27th 30-point game of the season on Wednesday, taking advantage of an overmatched Wizards squad. Since the Cavaliers added James Harden to the fold, Spida has scored at least 30 points in all three games, and Cleveland is 3-0. After the All-Star break, Mitchell and company play three more games to end Week 17, starting with the Nets on February 19.

Castle suffered a pelvic contusion during Tuesday’s win over the Lakers. The reigning Rookie of the Year said after the game that he wanted to play against the Warriors, and he has been cleared. Castle will take his usual spot in the starting lineup, and Harrison Barnes remains with the reserves.

The Grizzlies won’t have Cedric Coward for Wednesday’s game, which opens a spot in the starting lineup. Mashack, the 59th overall pick in the 2025 draft, will fill the resulting void. While starting gives him a good opportunity, the rookie is not a must-stream player.