38 mins agoDallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic cooked up a 40-point triple-double in Wednesday's blowout win against Utah, posting 40 points with 14-for-25 shooting and recording 10 rebounds and 11 assists. He did most of his scoring early in the game and registered the first 25-point first-half triple-double in NBA history. Doncic shot a superb 6-for-12 from deep, and his line included a steal. The Mavericks star has had a couple of close misses in getting a 40-point triple-double lately and finally got the job done on Wednesday. It wouldn't be surprising to see him keep up the form in the next couple of games, as the Mavericks gear up to face the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies, who are both among the worst teams in the league.Source: ESPN
50 mins agoPhiladelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was back from a two-game absence on Wednesday and made the Washington Wizards look silly with a 50-point performance in a 131-126 win. He logged 38 minutes to prove he's fully recovered from the illness that kept him sidelined for a couple of games, and Embiid added 13 rebounds for a big double-double. He also notched seven assists with one steal and one block while hitting 19-for-29 from the field and 11-for-13 at the charity stripe. Teams can do very little to keep Embiid in check, and the Wizards, in particular, are probably sick of seeing him, with the reigning MVP having averaged 45 points against them in the last four games. Unfortunately for them, there's another meeting scheduled with Embiid and Philadelphia for Monday.Source: ESPN
1 hour agoMemphis Grizzlies guard/forward Desmond Bane dropped a career-high 49 points on the miserable Detroit Pistons in Wednesday's 116-102 road win. He caught fire with 13 first-quarter points and set his new scoring record with 19-for-31 shooting. Bane missed his first couple of attempts from deep but finished a solid 4-for-8 from downtown in the end, and he kept himself busy all over the court. In 36 minutes on the floor, Bane added six rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and two blocks to his tally. Bane is a huge problem for teams when he gets going, and he's kicked off November by averaging 35.3 points in three games with 55 percent shooting from deep.Source: ESPN
1 hour agoOrlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero was on a roll against Cleveland on Wednesday and finished a 121-111 loss with a career-high 42 points on 16-for-26 shooting. Banchero's offensive game has been inconsistent throughout the season, but he certainly made up for it a bit with his performance on Wednesday. Defensively, Banchero contributed a pair of blocks, and he had six rebounds and one assist. Last year's Rookie of the Year has failed to take a step forward in 2023-24 and was even averaging fewer than 20 points per game ahead of Wednesday's action. But he's a solid contributor across multiple categories, and there's still plenty of time left in the season for Banchero to improve his production.Source: ESPN
1 hour agoLos Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (groin/hip) is listed as probable for Thursday's in-season tournament semifinal against New Orleans. He's battling a couple of health issues but hasn't missed any of the last 14 games and likely won't sit out a special clash against his former team either. Davis had a disappointing second half in Tuesday's quarterfinal against Phoenix, but he still boasts at least 27 points in four consecutive games and a 10-game double-double streak. In in-season tournament outings, Davis has contributed 21.2 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks.Source: NBA Injury Report
1 hour agoLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (calf) continues to carry a questionable tag with him as the in-season tournament action is set to resume in Las Vegas on Thursday, with a semifinal against New Orleans scheduled for the team. Despite the injury, he's just logged 40 minutes in an intense quarterfinal and has played in 12 consecutive games, so there's no reason to think we won't see him on the court. James has had some of his best games of the season during in-season tournament play, averaging 26.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.2 assists with 56.5 percent shooting.Source: NBA Injury Report
1 hour agoNew Orleans Pelicans small forward Matt Ryan (elbow) won't play in Thursday's in-season tournament semifinal against the Lakers, missing a 10th consecutive game. Ryan initially landed on the shelf with a calf problem, but he's now dealing with a right elbow sprain. The 26-year-old played a pretty decent role for the Pelicans when he was healthy, but with other injuries clearing up, Ryan will probably find it difficult to earn consistent minutes once he's ready to return.Source: NBA Injury Report
2 hours agoIndiana Pacers forward/center Jalen Smith (heel/knee) will remain on the shelf as the in-season tournament reaches its conclusion. He has been ruled out for Thursday's semifinal against Milwaukee and won't play in Saturday's potential final either. The 23-year-old has been out for three games already. Even with Smith unavailable, Isaiah Jackson has seen only a handful of minutes and remains a non-factor in fantasy basketball, with Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle having elected to run smaller lineups.Source: Scott Agness
13 hours agoGolden State Warriors guard Chris Paul (leg) will suit up for Wednesday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The veteran guard has missed the last two games due to a left leg nerve contusion. Cory Joseph has been seeing more run in the rotation with Paul out. The assumption is that Paul is going to resume his normal role off the bench. That means, Joseph won't have much streaming value with Paul back in the picture.Source: NBA Injury Report
13 hours agoGolden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (finger) is available for Wednesday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Wiggins will make his return to the starting five after missing the past two games due to a index finger contusion. His return should push Moses Moody back to the second unit. The expectation is that Wiggins is going to resume his normal role in the rotation, so Moody won't have much streaming value off the bench.Source: NBA Injury Report
13 hours agoLos Angeles Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr. (quad) is headed to the G-League for a rehab stint. Boston was cleared for 5-on-5 work earlier this week. That being said, it appears he's ready for his first game action of the year. Boston has been unable to play this season due to tendinitis in his left quadriceps. He's averaging 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists across 13.8 minutes per game during his first two seasons with the Clippers. That being said, Boston is unlikely to be a significant contributor once he's healthy. He might be able to crack the rotation, but probably won't be worth a look in any fantasy formats.Source: Joey Linn
14 hours agoMilwaukee Bucks forward Pat Connaughton (ankle) will remain on the sideline for Thursday's game against the Indiana Pacers. This marks the fourth game in a row that Connaughton has missed due to a right ankle sprain. His absence should mean more minutes for MarJon Beauchamp and AJ Green in the rotation. Normally, neither of them would be streaming options. However, it's a two-game slate and with increased minutes they could be valuable given the limited selection.Source: Ti Windisch
14 hours agoLos Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) is listed as probable ahead of Thursday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The expectation is that Vanderbilt will be available for the third time this season. He has been playing minutes in the teens, but that could change over time. Vanderbilt has been an important bench piece and it's likely going to stay there way. That being said, Vanderbilt is unlikely to have much fantasy value if he continues playing minutes in the teens.Source: Brad Turner
14 hours agoDenver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (heel) will suit up for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Gordon will play after being listed as probable due to a lingering heel issue. The Nuggets will also start Jamal Murray, so both Reggie Jackson and Justin Holiday will come off the bench on Wednesday. Jackson still has some streaming appeal with Murray limited in this game. The expectation is that Gordon is going to play his normal role on Wednesday.Source: Vic Lombardi
14 hours agoPortland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (thumb) will return to the starting five for the first time since Opening Night. The young guard suffered a torn UCL in his thumb and has been out ever since. He has been making good progress and will return to the starting unit for Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors. The expectation is that Simons is going to be limited during his first game back. Fantasy managers in season-long formats can get him back in their lineups. However, Simons won't be an ideal option in DFS contests for Wednesday's 11-game slate.Source: Casey Holdahl