NBA Player News

With Yanic Konan-Niederhäuser (foot) done for the season, Jackson has moved into the backup center role. The former first-round pick had his best game as a Clipper on Saturday, recording a double-double along with three steals. Jackson played 24 minutes and even started the second half in place of starter Brook Lopez (four points, one rebound). The veteran center only played 12 minutes, and Saturday’s game, being the Clippers’ second in as many nights, may have been a factor. Consistency has been an issue for Jackson throughout his career, but he doesn’t need to play starters’ minutes to provide value. Keep an eye on him during the first two games of the Clippers’ four-game Week 20.

Mathurin came off the bench on Monday and concluded as one of the Clippers’ highest scorers on the evening. He was somewhat inefficient from the floor, got to the line often, and struggled from beyond the arc, things that have been consistent during his brief tenure as a Clipper. Still, he provides the team with real scoring upside and has continued to log heavy minutes for head coach Ty Lue. Given his workload, he’s got nightly potential to put up relevant performances as far as fantasy basketball is concerned.

Miller provided a huge spark off the bench for the Clippers on Monday, reaching the 20-point mark for the fifth time this season while also tying a team-high in rebounds. Miller went without a turnover in his 26 minutes of game action and added a few assists for good measure. He’s enjoyed a breakout season and, although he isn’t yet a reliable fantasy player, is a potential high-risk, high-reward streaming option.

Garland was likely tasked with doing even more on offense against the Spurs with Kawhi Leonard sidelined (ankle), and he mostly delivered. The former NBA All-Star led the Clippers in scoring, albeit on unspectacular shooting efficiency, and earned his fifth double-double of the season thanks to some strong facilitating. The ball distribution was nearly cancelled out by a season-high eight turnovers. Nonetheless, Garland has steadily made strides as he becomes more comfortable with his new team. He should be able to finish the fantasy season strongly.

Vassell’s three-point shooting was the highlight of his outing on Monday. He was San Antonio’s leader in three-point makes, which allowed him to finish as one of four Spurs with at least 20 points against Los Angeles. The sixth-year guard’s production has gradually slipped over the past couple of years as his role has changed, but performances like Monday’s show that he’s still a capable scorer on a nightly basis. He could look to secure back-to-back 20-point games when the Spurs face the Kings on Tuesday.

Castle did a little bit of everything in Monday’s four-point win. In addition to finishing as the Spurs’ leading scorer, he tallied a team-high in assists and was one of San Antonio’s better rebounders on the evening. Inefficient three-point shooting and some ball-security struggles are arguably Castle’s only weaknesses in this game. He’s flirted with two straight double-doubles after securing one against the Nuggets on March 12; he’ll be on triple-double watch on Thursday against the Kings.

Wemby worked his way to double-double No. 34 on the season on Monday in his 34 minutes of game action. The former first-overall pick didn’t have one of his more efficient shooting performances, thanks to struggles from beyond the arc, but still did enough damage to finish the game as one of four Spurs players to score at least 20 points. He led the team in rebounding and was dominant on the defensive end, coming away with five stocks. Wemby’s floor remains as high as any other player’s the rest of the fantasy season. His production shouldn’t slip, barring something unforeseen happening.

Leonard, who injured his left ankle during Saturday’s loss to the Kings, did not play in Monday’s loss to the Spurs. He may not be out for too long, as the All-Star forward will travel with the team for a three-game road trip that begins Wednesday night in New Orleans. Leonard is considered day-to-day moving forward. John Collins started Monday’s defeat, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one steal in 26 minutes.

Thompson was one of Houston’s most productive players against the Lakers. On the offensive end, he excelled in his role as a combo guard, scoring as well as nearly any other Rockets player while concluding with a team-high in assists. Thompson didn’t wow with his defensive stats in terms of being disruptive with steals and blocks, but he rebounded well en route to his 16th double-double of the season. Wednesday’s rematch against the Lakers will give him a chance to outdo himself.

Smith Jr. led the Rockets in scoring on Monday, despite some struggles from behind the three-point line. He scored the ball fairly consistently throughout the game, but never had any major scoring runs. The fourth-year forward also made an impact on the glass and finished as the only starter not to commit multiple turnovers. Smith wasn’t otherworldly on Monday but did well in his minutes.

Durant logged an unspectacular game on Monday, relative to his usual production. He scored under 20 points and failed to make a three-point shot for the second time in the last three games, each coming in Houston losses. And even beyond the low scoring total, his struggles against this Los Angeles defense can be seen in the seven turnovers he committed. Durant lacked his usual production, but he will have an opportunity to bounce back on Wednesday in a second straight matchup with the Lakers.