NBA Player News

Cardwell sprained his ankle in mid-February, and he was given a four-week re-evaluation timeline on February 18. His return to practice means Cardwell could be back in action soon, and fantasy managers willing to take a speculative risk should add him off the waiver wire and stash him in an IL spot.

A second-round pick of the Jazz in the 2024 draft, Key has yet to make his NBA debut. That could change this week, with the 6-foot-2 guard being signed to a contract after a productive season with the Raptors’ G League affiliate. Key fills the roster spot that was occupied by Markelle Fultz, whose 10-day contract expired over the weekend.

Making sense of the Wizards’ rotation in recent games proved a frustrating task for many fantasy managers, and Black is a prime example of this. One day removed from playing four minutes in a loss to the Heat, he was in the starting lineup on Sunday and logged 42 minutes against the Nets. Washington did not have Bilal Coulibaly or Tre Johnson, which factored into Black’s heavier workload. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but Leaky did manage to record a career-high five steals. The Wizards play four games in Week 24 for those in active fantasy leagues, but pinpointing which will be good spots to stream Black may prove challenging.

Rostered in eight percent of Yahoo! leagues, Cardwell provided fantasy managers with an excellent stat line on Sunday. One game removed from blocking five shots in a win over the Pelicans, the rookie center recorded four more in the 138-109 loss to the Clippers. Add in the rebounds, steals and field-goal percentage, and Cardwell’s performance was an excellent capper to his Week 23. For fantasy managers in leagues that run through Week 24, the Kings play three games, and Cardwell should continue to play extended minutes.

Sunday was the second time this season in which Raynaud grabbed at least 15 rebounds in a game, the first being a 19-rebound effort against the Pelicans on February 9. The 7-foot-1 rookie has provided solid fantasy value since moving into the starting lineup for the injured Domantas Sabonis, ending Week 23 rostered in 43 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Raynaud’s rookie campaign has been an encouraging one, but his fantasy outlook for 2026-27 depends on Sabonis’ status, as he would offer limited value if relegated to the bench.

Having totaled ten assists in his previous two games, Green matched his season high on Sunday with 12. Even better for fantasy managers, the Warriors’ forward was responsible for just one turnover. With foul trouble limiting Kristaps Porziņǵis (nine points, eight rebounds and three assists) to 23 minutes, Green’s performance was one reason why the Warriors had a chance to win in the final seconds. Stephen Curry’s return may cut into the value of some other Warriors, but Green may receive a boost from the comfort level the two veterans share.

Podziemski, who made all five of his two-point attempts on Sunday, finished with a solid overall stat line. However, his usage took a hit, largely due to Stephen Curry’s return from a knee injury. After five straight games with a usage of 21.8 or higher, Podziemski’s usage against the Rockets was 16.7. While he still provided positive value in multiple categories, there’s no denying that Podz has a lower ceiling when Curry plays, even if he comes off the bench as he did on Sunday.

With the Warriors deciding to bring Stephen Curry off the bench in his first game back from a knee injury, Santos remained in the starting lineup on Sunday. He struggled offensively, shooting 2-of-8 from beyond the arc, but the Warriors’ forward still played 32 minutes. For managers whose leagues will be active in Week 24, the Warriors play four games, starting with the Kings on Tuesday. Santos will play quality minutes, but it’s unknown how soon Curry will return to the starting lineup.

Appearing in a game for the first time in over two months, Curry was supposed to be restricted to 25 minutes on Sunday. He played 26, so there’s nothing to worry about there. And Curry’s impact was felt throughout his time on the court. In addition to shot-making, the elite shooter has a gravity few players in the history of the sport have possessed. Curry’s three-point attempt that would have won the game missed the mark as time expired, so he and the Warriors missed out on the storybook ending. However, simply having him on the court changes the equation for Golden State going into the postseason.

Spending a good portion of his night chasing around Stephen Curry did not prohibit Thompson from recording a solid stat line. While he was only responsible for one steal, the Rockets’ wing shot the ball well from the field and finished second on the team in assists behind Kevin Durant. While Thompson did not reach his ADP (22), he provided fourth-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats, so he was far from a disappointment in fantasy basketball.

Şengün’s layup with just under 12 seconds remaining gave Houston the 117-116 victory, extending their win streak to six games. The Rockets’ center finished with a final stat line that lacked only a steal, a positive end to championship week in Yahoo! default leagues. For those competing in leagues that will be active in Week 24, the Rockets still have plenty to play for in a four-game week. As a result, Şengün’s availability should not be a concern.