NBA Player News

The Suns began Tuesday’s game playing drop coverage, and Clingan was ready to make them pay. With the game just over two minutes old, the second-year center had already knocked down three three-pointers. Clingan would have his double-double by halftime, but the Suns made the proper defensive adjustments and kept him under wraps for most of the night after that early outburst. Portland has a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday against the Grizzlies to end the week. Given how shorthanded Memphis has been recently, even before the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, those could be good nights for Clingan.

Since being limited to 15 points in a February 4 loss to the Celtics, Durant has scored 20 points or more in three straight games. Given his credentials, that isn’t a groundbreaking achievement. But it is notable because the Rockets have not scored more than 106 points in any of those three games. Durant and the Rockets will look to head into the All-Star break on a high note when they host the Clippers again on Wednesday.

After scoring five points in the Knicks’ February 4 double-overtime win over the Nuggets, Bridges has gotten back on track offensively. He’s hit double figures in three straight, with Tuesday’s tally being the highest for him since dropping 23 in a February 3 win over the Wizards. With OG Anunoby (toe) out, there has been a little more room for Bridges to assert himself offensively, and that’s a positive for fantasy managers who have him on their rosters.

Hart was on triple-double watch at halftime, as he was already responsible for eight rebounds and nine assists. He finished with the 17th of his Knicks career, moving into third place on the franchise’s all-time list. Over the past two weeks, Hart has provided top-50 per-game value in nine-cat formats according to Basketball Monster. The Knicks play once more before the All-Star break, Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Limited to 11 points in Sunday’s win over the Celtics, Towns doubled that tally on Tuesday while recording his 36th double-double of the season. Unfortunately for the Knicks, he wasn’t around for the latter stages of overtime, having fouled out with 2:14 remaining in the extra session. Indiana scored the first nine points of overtime, pushing their road record on the season to 4-22. Wednesday’s game against the Knicks is far more important to Towns and the Knicks, who need a win to avoid losing the season series. And they’ll need KAT to stay on the floor, especially if Joel Embiid plays.

Brunson finished Tuesday with his second 40-point game in four outings and fourth of the season, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a disappointing overtime defeat. The Knicks point guard shot 4-of-14 from beyond the arc, putting a dent in his overall field-goal percentage. Brunson and the Knicks will look to go into the All-Star break on a high note when they visit the 76ers on Wednesday.