NBA Player News

Spencer didn’t bring much to the table as a scorer on Monday, but he had the most productive night of his NBA career in the assist category. The second-year guard’s 14 assists were a career-high, and he committed just three turnovers. Spencer isn’t going to offer the scoring that Ja Morant brings to the table, but he is worth rostering as long as the Grizzlies’ starting point guard is out. Rostered in 30 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Spencer has been a seventh-round player over the past two weeks.

Barlow has been a revelation for the 76ers this season, playing well enough to earn a place in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season. With Paul George suspended for 25 games, Barlow has returned to the starting lineup. Converting him to a standard deal, which includes a team option for the 2026-27 season, ensures that Barlow is eligible to play in Thursday’s game against the Lakers.

Melton is good to go after initially being questionable with a sore left knee. With Stephen Curry (knee) still out and Buddy Hield no longer in the picture, Melton boasts a higher fantasy ceiling despite coming off the bench.

Acquired from the Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, Porziņǵis missed time due to Achilles tendinitis before the trade. While he will join his new teammates in Los Angeles on Friday ahead of Saturday’s game against the Lakers, the 7-foot-2 forward/center is not expected to play until Monday’s home game against the Grizzlies.

Duren looked like a shell of himself in the 13 first-half minutes he played, and with good reason. The first-time All-Star has since been ruled out for the rest of the night with a sore right knee, finishing with four points and three rebounds. Ron Holland replaced Duren in the lineup to begin the second half.

Sabonis is back on the injury report, having last missed Sunday’s loss to the Wizards. While the veteran center was excellent in Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies, fantasy managers should begin planning for Sabonis to get nights off with the Kings headed for the draft lottery. If Sabonis doesn’t play, Maxime Raynaud would move into the starting lineup, with Dylan Cardwell also picking up additional minutes.

While Stephon Castle (adductor) is available for Thursday’s game, he’ll come off the bench, given that this is San Antonio’s second game in as many nights. Barnes returns to the starting lineup, but he has offered limited fantasy value in that role.

With the questionable tag, this is the closest that Pippen has been to making his season debut. Ty Jerome (calf), who has been limited to 20 minutes, is out for Friday’s game, so Pippen can slot into that role if he’s allowed to play.

Friday’s game is the first of two in as many nights for the Grizzlies, so Jerome was bound to miss one of them, given how long he was out with a strained calf. Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) could be available to make his season debut, and he would absorb the minutes that would have gone to Jerome. Regardless of what happens with Pippen, Cam Spencer is available and should play enough to merit rostering in deep leagues.

Friday’s game is the first of two in as many nights between the Grizzlies and Trail Blazers. Given the time he’s missed with a right knee issue, Aldama sitting out one of the games was expected. Due to the players traded, Memphis will be light on frontcourt options on Friday. Look for GG Jackson and Olivier-Maxence Prosper to play plenty.

Watson, who has provided the Nuggets with excellent contributions as the team navigated multiple injuries, pulled up during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s double-overtime loss to the Knicks. With Spencer Jones having exited earlier in the game with a head injury, the Nuggets relied more on Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. in Watson’s absence. One may move into the starting lineup, but both will have streaming value in deeper leagues.