NBA Player News

Clayton is back after missing Friday’s loss to the Raptors, and he will start. Also in the lineup is Okani, making his first start as an NBA player, and Prosper, who steps in for GG Jackson.

Ayton bounced back from a lackluster three-point performance on Tuesday to reach the 20-point mark on Thursday for the first time since March 12 against the Bulls. He hardly missed shots and did the majority of his damage in the paint. The former first-overall pick didn’t contribute in many other statistical categories, but his scoring production against the Warriors was important, as the Lakers gear up for the playoffs.

The two California teams squared off on Thursday, and it was James who carried the Lakers to a comfortable win. The four-time Finals MVP picked his spots and converted efficiently as a scorer to lead the Lakers in total points. And when he wasn’t scoring, the veteran forward displayed the type of vision that’s made him such a unique player throughout his career. James worked the defensive glass fairly well, nearly well enough to tally another triple-double. He has taken control of the Lakers’ offense lately with the injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and that should remain the case as long as they’re out of the lineup.

Edgecombe did many things well against Houston. He was productive from the three-point line as a scorer, but also was the lead table setter for the Sixers’ offense. And on the defensive end, the rookie guard had active hands in coming up with a pair of steals, helping round out a balanced overall performance. Edgecombe has had a very good rookie season and should only become more productive as his career lengthens.

Maxey played 33 minutes against the Rockets and finished as Philadelphia’s leading scorer. The versatile combo guard used the three-point shot to find most of his production on Thursday, while also making some contributions as a passer. While the sixth-year guards’ numbers were solid, they weren’t exceptional — the Sixers will almost certainly need Maxey to perform at a higher level down the stretch of the season, so long as Joel Embiid is out of the lineup recovering from injury.

George had one of his least impactful games of the season against the Rockets. He failed to convert any of his five three-point attempts and finished with more turnovers than made field goals on the evening. As a result, the veteran forward tied a season-low in points and scored in single digits for just the fifth time all season. The Sixers will need him to bounce back on Friday against the Pacers.

Thompson logged 42 minutes on Thursday and impacted the game in several areas. He left some meat on the bone as a scorer due to his poor free-throw shooting and inefficiency from beyond the arc, but still finished just under 20 for the game. Thompson didn’t dominate the glass or dial up a ton of assists, but he made contributions in each area, while his three steals helped the Rockets to an eight-game win streak. They’ll face the Timberwolves on Friday.

Smith couldn’t find his rhythm from beyond the arc but still managed to hover around the 20-point mark on Thursday. His scoring came from the charity stripe and mostly inside the paint. The fourth-year forward has played his role well this year and continues to put up some of his best numbers alongside Kevin Durant as a full-time starter. With two games left on the schedule, the Rockets have a chance to extend their eight-game winning streak while trying to land homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Durant had another efficient outing on Thursday. He shot the ball well from both inside and outside the arc, and consistently made his way to the free-throw line to add to his total. The veteran wing also established himself as a passer in this game, which is reflected in the team-high assists that he generated against the Sixers. Durant and the Rockets are playing some of their best ball of the season down the stretch. They’ve won eight straight games with two remaining on their schedule.

Etienne struggled from the field on Thursday in his 39 minutes on the floor. He was particularly cold inside the arc, with his efficient three-point shooting being the positive on the evening. Etienne did, however, make contributions on the glass and as a facilitator to help make up for the inefficient scoring. He’ll have a chance to bounce back on Friday against the Bucks.

Despite shooting poorly from the three-point line, Saraf still managed to find production against the Pacers. He finished with a handful of boards and tied a team-high in assists, showing off some versatility in his game. Saraf has put together a solid few weeks toward the end of his rookie season that could be a confidence booster heading into the offseason and ultimately his second season. He’s got two games left to close strong.