NBA Player News

Ayton racked up four points (2-4 FG), six rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes during Monday's 103-94 victory over Orlando.

Ayton drew another start with Alex Sarr (knee) sidelined but remained a secondary offensive option, attempting just four shots while Anthony Davis dominated the scoring opportunities in Washington's frontcourt. Ayton's limited involvement is concerning for his short-term fantasy value, particularly with Sarr eventually expected to return. His rebounding offers some utility, but his upside appears restricted in the current rotation.

Carter recorded six points (2-3 FG, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds and one steal in 34 minutes during Monday's 103-94 loss to Washington.

Carter was largely uninvolved offensively despite Orlando playing without Paolo Banchero (ankle), attempting just three shots while finishing one rebound shy of double figures. His 34 minutes were encouraging, but Nikola Vucevic continues to provide competition in the frontcourt. Carter should remain a reliable source of rebounds, though his scoring production could fluctuate significantly.

Huff closed with 22 points (8-14 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 6-7 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks across 40 minutes during Monday's 108-104 loss to Atlanta.

Huff paced Indiana in scoring and rebounding while taking on a massive workload with Ivica Zubac (ankle) unavailable. Although he missed all five of his three-point attempts, the big man was efficient inside the arc and came within two rebounds of a double-double. Huff's combination of scoring and shot-blocking gives him intriguing short-term fantasy upside, particularly if Zubac remains sidelined, though Monday's 40 minutes were largely a product of Indiana having just six available players.

Mara supplied 10 points (5-7 FG), nine rebounds and one block over 20 minutes during Monday's 117-112 win over the Cavaliers.

Mara delivered an efficient performance in a reserve role, finishing one rebound shy of a double-double while providing Oklahoma City with productive frontcourt minutes. His playing time remains a consideration for fantasy managers, but Monday's showing offered another glimpse of his potential as a rebounder and interior scorer in the absence of Chet Holmgren (knee).

Hartenstein closed Monday's 117-112 victory over the Cavaliers with five points (2-8 FG, 1-2 FT), 14 rebounds, four assists and two steals across 28 minutes.

Hartenstein struggled to find his touch offensively but made his presence felt elsewhere, pulling down seven offensive rebounds while leading both teams in total boards. The veteran center continues to provide fantasy value through his rebounding, passing and defensive contributions, even when his scoring is limited.

Cleveland recalled Diop (knee) from the G League's Cleveland Charge on Monday.

Diop has continued to miss games due to his injury, having yet to make his 2026-27 season debut, even though he would be limited to a depth role when healthy. He's back with the NBA team after spending time with the G League squad, and his status remains uncertain for the time being. However, he could still be expected to make some appearances for the Charge while he builds competitive momentum once his knee is fully healed.

Jokic registered 26 points (10-22 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), nine rebounds, eight assists, four steals and a block across 35 minutes in Monday's 118-110 loss to the Trail Blazers.

Jokic narrowly missed another triple-double, finishing one rebound and two assists short despite a strong all-around performance. His four steals provided a substantial fantasy boost, helping compensate for relatively inefficient shooting. Jokic remains one of fantasy basketball's most reliable contributors thanks to his exceptional involvement across scoring, rebounding and playmaking, with defensive production offering additional upside. He's averaging 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game to open the season.

Clingan delivered 17 points (8-16 FG, 1-3 3Pt), 18 rebounds, three assists and four blocks across 32 minutes in Monday's 118-110 win over the Nuggets.

Clingan delivered an outstanding fantasy performance, grabbing nine offensive rebounds while providing elite rim protection against Denver's frontcourt led by none other than Nikola Jokic. Clingan's combination of rebounding volume and shot-blocking makes him an appealing option at center, and even though he's not likely to hover around the 15-point mark on a regular basis, his floor remains very high due to his two-way contributions.

Smith registered 13 points (6-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 0-1 FT), seven rebounds and four assists across 28 minutes in Monday's 126-107 loss to the 76ers.

Smith provided efficient interior scoring and useful contributions on the glass while coming close to matching his season-high assist total. This was Smith's fifth double-digit scoring performance this season, and he has also recorded at least seven rebounds five times. His scoring and rebounding will drive his fantasy appeal on a young Chicago roster.

Towns finished with 11 points (4-11 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-3 FT), 16 rebounds and five assists across 35 minutes in Monday's 103-90 win over the Nets.

Towns struggled offensively, failing to score in the first half before finishing with 11 points. However, his 16 rebounds and five assists helped compensate for the disappointing scoring output. Towns continues to provide substantial fantasy value through rebounding and playmaking, and his scoring has been solid for the most part. While this 11-point performance was a season-low mark, he had scored at least 19 points in each of his previous six showings.