NBA Player News

This will be a sixth straight absence for Braun, and as of Friday, he was still limited to non-contact work. Braun could remain sidelined for a while longer, which means Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones should both remain in the starting unit for now.

Vučević contributed in many ways during Chicago’s three-point loss to Indiana. Of the many things he did well, his scoring and three-point shooting arguably rank at the top — his touch both in and outside the arc was enough to lead the Bulls in scoring. The veteran center also did good work on the glass and was active on the defensive end, recording three stocks. Vučević’s all-around effort didn’t lead to a win for Chicago, but his production was certainly useful for those fantasy managers who have him on their rosters.

Mathurin had another solid performance off the Indiana bench on Wednesday, reaching double figures in points for the second straight game and nearly logging enough rebounds to earn his first double-double since November. It’s unlikely Mathurin will start games or log heavy minutes in the near future, but if he can stay consistent in his current role off the bench, there are nights in which he could be a tempting streaming option for those fantasy managers looking for a scoring boost.

Nembhard was one of Indiana’s most productive players in Wednesday’s victory. Despite a rough night from beyond the arc, he finished as the Pacers’ second-leading scorer and was the team’s leading facilitator on the evening. He fell just one assist shy of what would have been his third straight game with double-digit assists. Nembhard also came up just short of a double-double in the process, but was still effective enough in this game to provide fantasy managers with some good production.

While it wasn’t his most efficient night shooting the ball, the one-time Most Improved Player and former NBA champion led all Pacers in scoring on Wednesday night. He reached the 20-point mark for the eighth game in a row while also being involved as a facilitator. Siakam didn’t record any stocks against the Bulls, which isn’t uncommon for him. And as a result, he logged only a mildly productive performance as far as fantasy basketball is concerned.

The good news for Ayton and those who have him on their fantasy rosters is that he didn’t miss a shot. The bad news is that he wasn’t much of a factor otherwise, recording four rebounds and a blocked shot in addition to his 10 points. With LeBron James being 41, the Lakers need more from Ayton. And so do those who have him rostered.

It’s unknown whether this will be LeBron’s final visit to Cleveland as an active NBA player, but the emotions of the moment appeared to get the best of him during a first-quarter video tribute. As for his production, the Lakers’ forward struggled, shooting 30 percent from the field and committing six turnovers. James will look to rebound on Friday when the Lakers visit the Wizards.

Dončić had an injury scare during the first quarter, when a step back off the court after a three-pointer led to him tweaking his left leg. The Lakers’ guard returned to action after a quick trip to the locker room, and he recorded a relatively efficient stat line. However, that didn’t keep Dončić and the Lakers from getting blown out. The Lakers face Washington on Friday, and it would be unsurprising if Luka went off.

Back in the Cavaliers’ rotation after a two-game absence, Hunter’s 19 points were the most he’s scored in a game since December 22. The issue from a fantasy standpoint is that he offers little defensive value, lowering his ceiling considerably. With Evan Mobley (calf) out, the Cavaliers are going to need increased production from the entire rotation, including Hunter. He’s worth watching, but Wednesday’s performance doesn’t change much regarding Hunter’s value in standard leagues.

With Evan Mobley (calf) unavailable, Allen had a little more room to operate in the frontcourt. While the result wasn’t an offensive explosion, the 17 points equaled his total in Cleveland’s prior two games. Of course, fantasy managers will want more from Allen defensively, but 17 and nine isn’t a bad effort from the 6-foot-9 center.

Tyson has been a revelation for the Cavaliers this season, not only earning rotation minutes but locking down a spot in the starting lineup. The second-year wing had another good night at the office on Wednesday, having now reached double figures in ten consecutive games. Wednesday’s effort was his seventh this season with at least 20 points. Given Tyson’s production, he should be rostered in a much higher percentage of Yahoo! leagues than he currently is (31 percent).