NBA Player News

Hartenstein returned from a calf injury and logged 24 minutes in OKC’s win over Brooklyn. In his time on the floor, he led all Thunder players in rebounds and blocks, while finishing the game as one of five OKC players to score in double figures. Hartenstein’s production on Friday was about where it’s been throughout the season. He’s capable of more, but fantasy managers should expect him to stick around these numbers that fall pretty close to his averages.

Dunn has not offered much value as a scorer, and that is unsurprising. However, he was productive against the Timberwolves, scoring in double figures for the first time in four games while also recording seven assists. Since the trade deadline, Dunn has provided 10th-round per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats, according to Basketball Monster. While that isn’t terrible value, it hasn’t been enough to move the needle among most fantasy managers.

With no Kawhi Leonard or John Collins, Mathurin moved into the starting lineup for the first time since being traded to the Clippers. And given those absences, it appeared that he would be the offensive focal point. Unfortunately for Mathurin and those who were hoping he would have a big night, the Clippers wing ran into Jaden McDaniels. Mathurin struggled to get to his spots for most of the night, resulting in an inefficient night at the office.

Since returning to the Clippers’ starting lineup, Jones has reached double figures in five of his last eight games. Thursday’s performance was among the best, with “Airplane Mode” leading the way on a night when the Clippers didn’t have Kawhi Leonard or John Collins. Jones offers limited fantasy value when the Clippers are whole, but he’s capable of providing greater offensive value, as he did on Thursday. LA plays its last game of Week 18 on Sunday against the Pelicans.

Randle had a rough night in Inglewood, producing his lowest scoring output of the season. Fantasy managers were able to salvage something due to the six assists, but this was a disappointing night for the Timberwolves’ forward. Naz Reid (11 points, seven rebounds, one steal and two blocks) and Jaden McDaniels (12/7/2/3) stepped up, supplementing Anthony Edwards’ 31-point night to help the Timberwolves escape with the 94-88 victory. Randle will look to bounce back when Minnesota visits Denver on Sunday.

DiVincenzo has made at least three three-pointers in four straight games, knocking down four against the Clippers. The assists and steals have been just as important over the past week for the Timberwolves’ guard, who has been a top-50 player. DiVincenzo and the Timberwolves have one more game in Week 18, on Sunday against the Nuggets in Denver.

Edwards leads the NBA in points scored in road games, and he was at his best during the second half of Thursday’s victory. He scored 21 points after halftime, including a three-pointer over two defenders with 42.9 seconds remaining that gave the Timberwolves a four-point lead. While the shot selection can be an adventure at times, Edwards is one of the NBA’s most lethal scorers. And when he’s shooting as well as he did in the second half of Thursday’s game, Ant-Man is nearly impossible to stop.

Sensabaugh scored at least 20 points for the third time in Utah’s last four games. While he hasn’t done much else consistently, he has proven to be an effective scorer throughout his first three seasons in the NBA. With Lauri Markkanen (hip) set to miss at least two weeks, Sensabaugh’s offense off the bench will be vital for the Jazz. Expect him to have more big performances down the stretch.

After being held to four points in Monday’s loss, Bailey got back on track in this one. This was the second-highest scoring outing of his career, surpassed only by his 25-point game against the Spurs last month. With Lauri Markkanen (hip) set to miss at least two weeks, Bailey should be the focal point of the offense for Utah, which should lead to more outings like this one.

Konchar got the starting nod with Lauri Markkanen (hip) set to miss at least two weeks. He continued to not provide much production, outside of steals. He is averaging 3.8 steals over his last four games and should continue to provide plenty of swipes. However, managers that need more than that should be cautious about rostering him, even if he’s starting.

Efficiency was still as issue for Murray in his second game of the season, but he was better in other areas. There aren’t many players that can match Dejounte’s combination of assists and steals. He logged 26 minutes in this game, which was more than enough for the Pels to get a third straight win. He may sit for the rematch with the Jazz on Saturday to ensure he is available to play the Clippers on Sunday, which would likely allow Jeremiah Fears to start.