NBA Player News

Murray, who was starting in place of the injured Deni Avdija (back), has missed Portland’s last two games. Scoot Henderson moved into the starting lineup but struggled in both games.

Holmgren has appeared in seven straight games, but he’ll sit out against Chicago while dealing with a right hip contusion. Holmgren’s absence frees up more playing time for Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe, but Jaylin Williams could be the biggest beneficiary from a fantasy standpoint.

Landale has played a key role for Atlanta off the bench, but if he’s ultimately ruled out, Mouhamed Gueye could fill in as Onyeka Okongwu’s primary backup.

Allen is on track to take the court for the first time since March 3. If he’s ultimately cleared, Allen could be on a minutes restriction, but his return will lower Evan Mobley’s fantasy ceiling. Guys like Max Strus and Jaylon Tyson could see a reduction in playing time, too.

Brown was listed as questionable with a calf injury on Thursday, but Friday’s injury report indicates he’s dealing with left Achilles tendonitis. Brown’s absence paves the way for Baylor Scheierman to see additional run, while Payton Pritchard could take on more responsibilities on offense.

White and Queta have each missed only one game in March, and neither will add to that absence total against Atlanta. Expect White and Queta to handle their usual workloads.

The Pels were hopeful to have Murphy back for the second leg of New Orleans’ back-to-back set, but he’ll join Murray on the sideline, as the latter gets a maintenance day. With both players out, guys like Yves Missi, Jeremiah Fears and Herbert Jones should take on additional minutes.

Murphy did not play in Thursday’s game against the Pistons. And with the Pelicans having a back-to-back, it was safe to assume that he would miss one of the next two games. If Murphy can play on Friday, he will likely fill the void that would be left by Dejounte Murray. Murray has not played both games of a back-to-back since returning from his Achilles tendon surgery, and he played 29 minutes against the Pistons.

Plowden has scored at least 20 points in each of his last three appearances. The 23 points he scored on Thursday represent a new career-high for the wing, who shot 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. Plowden did not provide much value beyond the points and three-pointers, but the opportunities have been there. With Nique Clifford (foot) sidelined for the rest of the week, Plowden is worth a look in deep leagues since the Kings play on Saturday and Sunday.

Back in the lineup after sitting out Tuesday’s loss to the Hornets, Achiuwa recorded the kind of stat line that has made him a popular option during the silly season. Since the All-Star break, the Kings forward has been a top-50 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. Achiuwa is rostered in 35 percent of Yahoo! leagues, so he may still be on the waiver wire in some 12-team formats. With the Kings playing on Saturday and Sunday, adding Achiuwa is worth the risk.

While DeRozan may not be labeled the Kings’ point guard, injuries at that position have led the team to ask the veteran wing to do more as a playmaker. Thursday’s game was the second in the last six in which DeRozan has recorded at least 30 points and 10 assists. He did so on excellent percentages from the field and the foul line while not committing a turnover. As long as DeRozan doesn’t see his playing time decrease, he should continue to be an excellent fantasy option for the rest of the season.