NBA Player News

Smith and Okoro were initially listed as doubtful, so the status downgrades were expected. The former’s absence coincides with Guerschon Yabusele’s return, so he can fill the resulting void in the starting lineup. Okoro’s absence means that Tre Jones should get another start.

James went nearly perfect from the floor in his first 30-point outing since Jan 13. He missed only one shot in his 34 minutes, contributed as a rebounder, and was disruptive on the defensive end before the final horn sounded. The 23rd-year pro hasn’t had the same impact as a scorer this season as in years’ past. However, James showed on Wednesday that he’s still more than capable of going off on any given night. He’ll have a chance to score another 30-point game on Thursday against the Heat.

Following his 36-point outing against the Rockets on Monday, Dončić outdid himself in Wednesday’s rematch. The superstar guard reached the 40-point mark for the 12th time this season and came up just one rebound shy of a triple-double. Dončić has been on an absolute tear of late, averaging 34.9 points across his 10 appearances in March. His production has helped the Lakers to seven consecutive wins and into third in the Western Conference standings.

Braun logged his highest scoring performance of the season on Wednesday, finishing with 10 or more made field goals for the first time. His scoring came mostly from inside the arc, although a couple of made three-pointers helped him reach his new season-high. Yet, the versatile wing did more than just score; he was one of Denver’s top rebounders against Memphis, produced one of his highest assist totals, and also set a new season-high in steals. Braun’s balanced production was not rewarded with a win. However, his production may help some fantasy managers during the fantasy playoffs.

Murray logged 41 minutes on Wednesday and came close to logging his first triple-double of the season. He was particularly productive in the fourth quarter of this game, scoring seven points and dishing out six assists in an attempt to secure a second straight win. Instead, the Nuggets came up short and now find themselves just 2.5 games away from the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Murray and the Nuggets will have a chance to get back on track against the Raptors on Friday.

The three-time MVP had highs and lows in Wednesday’s loss. He scored the ball efficiently and produced well from both inside and outside the arc, while also finishing with a team-high in rebounds before coming up an assist shy of a triple-double. Yet, much of his production is overshadowed by how much he struggled to take care of the basketball. Jokić’s 10 turnovers marked a season high, and his three fourth-quarter giveaways marked a quarter of Denver’s 12 as a team in the closing period. The Nuggets find themselves dangerously close to the Play-In Tournament, which suggests Jokić could log heavy minutes down the stretch to help keep his team in the top six in the Western Conference.

The third-year forward was one of six Memphis players to score in double figures on Wednesday. And although his scoring came on inefficient shooting, he came up big with nine points in the final frame to help the Grizzlies to a seven-point win. The late scoring also led Jackson to extend his streak of double-digit scoring games to 14, which he’ll have a chance to push to 15 games on Friday against the Celtics. His involvement shouldn’t change down the stretch of the regular season.

Despite not shooting the ball well, Coward managed some decent production in his 25 minutes. The low shooting efficiency was offset by frequent, accurate free-throw shooting and good overall production on the glass. Coward has now scored in double figures in five of his last six appearances. With the Grizzlies’ postseason hopes dwindling, it’s likely they continue to put the ball in his hands and give him opportunities.

In his first game back from a shoulder injury, Jerome helped lead the Grizzlies to a nice victory over the Nuggets. In his 25 minutes on the floor, he had a big scoring impact from the three-point line, but was also Memphis’ most productive rebounder and passer on the evening. His well-rounded performance nearly led to a triple-double. Nonetheless, Jerome’s final line was an impressive one, especially considering how few minutes he logged.

Collin Sexton’s return from a four-game absence on Wednesday didn’t seem to impact Dillingham’s production. The young point guard secured a fourth consecutive double-digit scoring performance while making solid contributions as a passer, again. Dillingham has played north of 20 minutes per game pretty consistently of late. And given his production, he could become an interesting streaming option should any of the main guards ahead of him in the rotation miss time.

Buzelis didn’t shoot the ball well on Wednesday, which didn’t stop him from finishing as Chicago’s leading scorer on the night. Three-point shooting factored heavily into his near-20-point performance, and he’s now tallied at least three triples in four of the last five games. Buzelis also led the Bulls in rebounding before falling a few boards short of a double-double. Fantasy managers shouldn’t expect his involvement or production to lessen down the stretch of the season; he’ll be a strong play during the fantasy playoffs.