NBA Player News

Dončić joins LeBron James (foot) and Austin Reaves (forearm) as questionable for the second night of this back-to-back. If Dončić is unavailable, there is a good chance the other two are out as well, which would leave the Lakers incredibly shorthanded. Luke Kennard and Jake LaRavia are both candidates to move into the starting unit, while Kobe Bufkin may return to the rotation as a backup ball handler behind Marcus Smart.

The Hawks once again sat first-round picks Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor, so it’s clear that qualifying for Saturday’s semifinals was not a priority. Memphis jumped out to a huge lead, and that was it, with Veesaar offering limited production in his second start in Las Vegas. Veesaar has played well throughout the summer when sharing the court with a solid point guard, so Thursday’s effort should not cause too much concern. While Ejiofor is likely to be the priority in the competition for frontcourt minutes, Mouhamed Gueye’s foot injury opens the door for Veesaar when training camp opens in the fall.

Coward and the Grizzlies rolled to a 96-64 victory, guaranteeing themselves a place in Saturday’s semifinals. The second-year guard was efficient offensively, shooting well over 50 percent from the field, with his final line lacking only a blocked shot. With the Grizzlies embarking on a new era, the tandem of Coward and lottery pick Cameron Boozer will be asked to lead the way, and they possess the highest fantasy ceilings on the current roster.

Boozer and the Grizzlies needed a big win to clinch a spot in Saturday’s semifinals, and they understood the assignment from the opening tip. Memphis led 32-2 and never looked back, going on to win 96-64. Boozer made things look easy for himself against the shorthanded Hawks, scoring on all three levels and also doing some facilitating. With Memphis now in the semifinals, any thoughts about a potential shutdown for Boozer and the other summer Grizzlies who are guaranteed roles for next season can be put to rest.

With the Knicks continuing to struggle offensively in Las Vegas, Akins did his best to provide a spark off the bench. Not only did he lead all scorers with 21 points, but the undrafted wing out of Michigan State was one of two Knicks in double figures. Having spent last season in the G League, Akins is looking to earn either an Exhibit 10 contract or a two-way deal. Thursday’s performance is a step in the right direction, and the Knicks will play once more before heading home.

After shooting 1-of-7 from beyond the arc in Tuesday’s loss to the Grizzlies, Cryer rebounded nicely to help the Warriors keep their hopes of qualifying for the semifinals alive. He shot 5-of-12 from beyond the arc, leading five Warriors in double figures with 17 points. Unlike first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg (3/6/6/1/2 with one three-pointer), Cryer’s status for next season is not secure. He’s still on a two-way deal, but if the Warriors stay healthy, Cryer’s role is unlikely to match what it was last season.

Wilson may have shot the ball reasonably well on Thursday, but this was his worst showing in Las Vegas by some distance. More damaging than the 1-of-6 day from beyond the arc was the turnover count, as the lottery pick was responsible for eight. Wilson has said he does not plan to sit at all, but the Bulls will have nothing to play for in their fifth and final game. And his absence could create opportunities for fellow first-round pick Dailyn Swain (four points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal), who has struggled throughout Chicago’s time in Las Vegas.

Chicago’s Caleb Wilson had the better individual game, but Carr was part of the team that won Thursday’s matchup by a 105-82 final score. The 24th overall pick in last month’s draft has looked ready to contribute immediately for the Lakers, and there is never not a need for capable 3-and-D wings in today’s NBA. With the Lakers now 4-0 and headed to the semifinals, it’s unlikely that Carr gets shut down for Saturday’s game. If they get to the final on Sunday, good luck getting him to sit down.

With the Heat summer league team as a free agent, Keels has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL in his right knee and will not play again this week. While his absence won’t impact fantasy basketball for next season, the former second-round pick loses out on opportunities to further prove himself worthy of a training camp invitation at a minimum.

Having appeared in nine total NBA games in his first two professional seasons, Newton is looking to use summer league as a springboard into a greater opportunity in 2025-26. The former UConn standout put up 20 points on good shooting numbers on Thursday, and the victory may be enough to push Houston into Saturday’s semifinals. Newton is unlikely to be in a position where he can offer reliable fantasy value once the season begins. Still, a good finish to the summer could ensure him a longer look from Rockets decision-makers.

Thornton continues to perform well in Las Vegas, and his effort on Thursday may have pushed the Rockets into Saturday’s semifinals. Houston will have to wait for results from other games to know for sure, but their point differential may be high enough. Thornton is a winning player, and the ability to fill a stat line is another reason why fantasy managers in deep leagues should be mindful of the rookie. Of course, Houston’s point guard options will include a healthy Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard and offseason signing Marcus Smart, so it won’t be easy for Thornton to crack Ime Udoka’s rotation. But his play in Las Vegas is a reminder of what the second-round pick is capable of.