NBA Player News

Sasser was initially listed as doubtful, so his third straight absence doesn’t come as a surprise. Daniss Jenkins will remain the starting point guard, with Caris LeVert and Ausar Thompson filling out the minutes when Jenkins isn’t on the floor.

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.

Suggs’ playing time was not restricted on Thursday, and he showed no ill effects from the two games he missed due to an illness. He did not offer much as a scorer against the Kings, but the most important thing for fantasy managers was that Suggs played 34 minutes. Orlando plays once more during Week 22, on Sunday against the Raptors, so fantasy managers will hope to get more production from Suggs there.

After scoring at least 20 points in five of his first eight games in March, Bane has recorded two such games over his last six. Against the Kings, he shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and 8-of-8 from the foul line. The eight free-throw attempts were the most in a game for Bane since March 11. Jalen Suggs ' return to the lineup after a two-game absence allowed Bane to focus more on scoring, and fantasy managers reaped the rewards.

Limited to four points in a March 19 blowout loss to the Hornets, da Silva has reached double figures in four straight games, scoring 18 or more in each of the last three. Against the Kings, the second-year wing shot 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and produced good percentages from the field overall and the foul line. Da Silva should be rostered in 12-team leagues through the end of the regular season, as it remains unknown when Franz Wagner or Anthony Black will return from their respective injuries.

Banchero has been on a roll recently, having scored at least 30 points in three straight and four of his last six games. Against the Kings, the Magic forward shot 50 percent from the field and also put up quality numbers in rebounds and assists. Over the past two weeks, Banchero has been a third-round player in eight-cat formats, thanks to the combination of improved raw numbers and efficiency. Orlando concludes its Week 22 slate on Sunday against the Raptors.

Hart, who made nine consecutive three-pointers before missing one during Thursday’s defeat, has upped his fantasy output recently. Over the past two weeks, the Knicks’ forward has provided second-round value in eight-cat formats. Hart’s stat line against the Hornets only lacked a blocked shot, but that doesn’t matter much when you record five steals.

Nine of Anunoby’s ten field goal attempts on Thursday came from beyond the arc, and he made five of them. Unfortunately, the final stat line had little beyond points and three-pointers, so this was not the best night for Anunoby managers competing in category leagues. He’ll look to finish Week 22 with a more robust all-around stat line when the Knicks visit the Thunder on Sunday.

Brunson was one of the few Knicks to play well in Charlotte, and even he had some issues. The Knicks’ point guard was 0-of-6 from beyond the arc, the second time in the last six games that Brunson has failed to make a three-pointer. The overall field-goal percentage was respectable, and the 13 assists were the most in a game for Brunson since he recorded 15 in a March 6 win over the Nuggets. The Knicks will look to bounce back on Sunday when they visit the Thunder.