NBA Player News

One game removed from grabbing a season-high 19 rebounds, Gobert was active in all facets on Thursday. The 18 points were three more than his total in Minnesota’s prior three games, and he’s hit double figures in rebounds in all six games that he’s played since the All-Star break. Also, Gobert matched his season-high with five assists. The offensive production can be a struggle at times, as the 7-foot-1 center can become an afterthought on that end of the floor. However, that doesn’t prevent Gobert from offering a solid return in other areas.

Sensabaugh is back after sitting out Friday’s blowout win over the Grizzlies. He’s capable of putting up big numbers, but the Jazz may look to limit the wing’s minutes to protect their draft lottery odds. The Jazz and Kings go into Sunday with matching 22-59 records, tied for fourth-worst in the league. Sacramento visits Portland, which secures the No. 8 seed with a victory.

Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Joe remain out for Oklahoma City’s final regular-season game, as the outcome will not affect playoff seeding. Nikola Topić started at point guard on Friday and played 39 minutes; he’ll likely take on a similar workload on Sunday. Brooks Barnhizer and Payton Sandfort played significant minutes off the bench against the Nuggets and will remain in the rotation.

With nothing on the line in Sunday’s game, the Thunder are once again resting their rotation player of note, save Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Jared McCain. Dort only played 20 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Nuggets; look for him to take on a similar workload on Sunday. Wiggins, McCain and Nikola Topić should remain in the starting lineup.

With the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference secured earlier this week, the Thunder’s priority has been getting their rotation players to full strength. No Holmgren, Hartenstein or JayWill means that Branden Carlson and Kenrich Williams will play significant minutes on Sunday, as was the case in Friday’s loss to the Nuggets.

The three veterans won’t be available for Sunday’s season finale. The absences of DeRozan, Westbrook and Monk have benefited Devin Carter, Nique Clifford and Daeqwon Plowden. That will remain the case on Sunday, with Carter coming off a 29-point effort in Friday’s win over the Warriors.

Murray was cleared to resume contact on March 25, but he’ll end the season with his last game action occurring on February 25. Nique Clifford and Daeqwon Plowden have seen their minutes increase substantially over the final month of the season, and they should play plenty on Sunday.

Filipowski will remain out due to lower back injury management. Oscar Tshiebwe has been the starting center recently, and that’s likely to remain the case on Sunday. Filipowski’s absence also frees up playing time for Blake Hinson, who went off for 30 points in Friday’s win over the Grizzlies.

The continued absences of Harkless and Collier free up minutes for Bez Mbeng and Hayden Gray, with Gray having agreed to a rest-of-season contract on Saturday. Kennedy Chandler, who played 41 minutes in Friday’s win over the Grizzlies, is a free agent after his second 10-day contract expired.

Krejčí was also listed as questionable ahead of Friday’s win over the Clippers before being ruled out. And even if he can play on Sunday, playing time is likely to be scarce with Shaedon Sharpe making his return on Friday after missing time with a fibula injury.

Thybulle sprained his right ankle during the first half of Friday’s win over the Clippers but returned after halftime. The probable tag suggests that he’ll be cleared to play in a game that the Trail Blazers need to win to secure the No. 8 seed in the West. A loss combined with a Clippers win over the Warriors would drop Portland to the No. 9 seed.