NBA Player News

Despite the Grizzlies being down multiple point guards due to injury, Clayton logged 25 minutes in Milwaukee. He missed Friday’s loss to the Raptors due to illness, which may have affected the rookie’s playing time. However, Clayton played well in his time on the floor, shooting 4-of-6 from three and making more than 50 percent of his shots overall. The Grizzlies play four games in Week 24 without a back-to-back; we’ll see who’s available.

After playing seven minutes in Monday’s loss to the Knicks, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft did not play at all on Wednesday. Jonathan Kuminga has seemingly absorbed the minutes that once went to Risacher. Logging 30 minutes, Kuminga finished with 24 points (11-of-20 FGs, 0-of-1 FTs), six rebounds, three assists and two three-pointers. An afterthought in fantasy basketball since the All-Star break, it’s fair to wonder about Risacher’s future in Atlanta, especially if he racks up more DNP-CDs during the postseason.

Collins started on Wednesday for the injured Darius Garland to give the Clippers a bigger opening unit. He did solid work on the glass and was decent as a scorer in his 27 minutes, ultimately falling just short of a double-double. Collins has had an up-and-down season with the Clippers, with highs and lows coming in bunches. Whether or not he remains in the starting unit once Garland returns remains to be seen. He and the Clippers face the Trail Blazers on Friday in a game that could determine which team gets the Western Conference’s eighth seed and two guaranteed chances in the Play-In Tournament to advance.

Miller was one of the Clippers’ most impactful performers against OKC. He scored efficiently and produced well off the bench, and also finished in a tie for a team-high in assists during his 30 minutes. Wednesday’s outing was another strong one in what’s been a breakout season for the third-year guard. He continues to be one of the Clippers’ best and most reliable bench options.

Leonard extended his streak of 20-point games to 56 on Wednesday. However, Oklahoma City’s defense made things tough on him throughout the night, as he shot under 50.0 percent from the field and committed three turnovers. The former two-time Finals MVP contributed on the glass and was solid from beyond the arc, but Wednesday certainly wasn’t one of his more productive outings.

21 minutes was all Joe needed to leave his mark on Wednesday’s game. Off the bench, he buried four three-pointers and finished as Oklahoma City’s second-leading scorer on the evening. Joe is one of many reliable wing options on a Thunder team that can go deep into its bench. While he may not have had a major fantasy impact, Joe has put together another strong season for OKC — he’ll likely have some big moments in the postseason.

Not much was required from SGA on Wednesday for the Thunder to collect the win. Yet, he logged another 20-point game and really controlled the contest as a facilitator, tallying double-digit assists en route to a double-double. The reigning MVP has been consistent throughout the season and is averaging 30 or more points for the fourth straight season. Wednesday’s victory locked OKC into the top spot in the Western Conference standings, giving them homecourt advantage throughout the postseason.

Chet had it all clicking on Wednesday, on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he only missed three shots on the night while using the three-point line to help tally 30 points; his handful of assists shouldn’t be ignored, either. And the versatile big man also dominated the game on the defensive end by combining for six stocks in his 31 minutes of game action. The Clippers had very few answers for him, and the Thunder cruised to a comfortable win to clinch the first seed in the Western Conference.

Poulakidas had the best game of his young NBA career on Wednesday. In just his 11th appearance, the rookie led all players in made three-pointers on the night, which helped him reach the 20-point mark as a scorer for the first time in his career. Poulakidas’s role could be reduced if the Mavericks’ injured wings return before the season ends. If not, he will likely get more opportunities to close the regular season strong.

Bagley made the start on Wednesday, replacing veteran center Dwight Powell in the opening unit. As a result, Bagley was one of the only two Mavericks players to score 20 or more points, doing so on very efficient shooting and a few three-pointers. The former second-overall pick has played well this season for the Mavericks and has now tallied 20 or more points in three of the last four games. He’s found a nice rhythm to end the season.

Flagg logged one of his worst scoring games of the season on Wednesday. He shot the ball poorly and failed to make a three-pointer, while only getting three points from the charity stripe. Yet the rookie forward didn’t let his scoring struggles stop him from contributing in other areas. He was the only Mavericks player to collect double-digit rebounds, and his six assists were among the best on the team. Flagg will have a chance to close his rookie season on a higher note, as Dallas will play against San Antonio on Friday and Chicago on Sunday.