NBA Player News

Poeltl (ankle) posted six points (3-5 FG), five rebounds, two blocks and one assist across 20 minutes in Friday's 135-106 loss to the Rockets.

Poeltl is averaging 26.4 minutes per game for the season, but he was unsurprisingly held below that mark Friday while he suited up for the first time since Jan. 7 following a near-month-long recovery from a sprained left ankle. The veteran center may need another game or two to ramp up before he resumes playing a 25-to-30-minute role on a regular basis, but he's worthy of a pickup in 10-team leagues where he might have been available now that he's playing again. Poeltl won't typically post any eye-opening scoring totals and is a negative in the three-pointers and free-throw percentage categories, but he's a stellar contributor in three other categories (blocks, field-goal percentage and rebounds).

Gobert produced 22 points (6-7 FG, 10-11 FT), 16 rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 39 minutes during Friday's 108-106 loss to the Magic.

Gobert led all players in Friday's contest in rebounds and free throws made while ending with a team-high-tying point total and as the lone Timberwolves player with a double-double in a losing effort. Gobert, who also recorded a team-high-tying pair of blocks, has tallied at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in three games this season. He has now posted a double-double in eight of his last 10 contests.

Adebayo finished Friday's 110-102 victory over the Wizards with 20 points (8-14 FG, 4-7 FT), 14 rebounds, one assist and one block in 33 minutes.

Adebayo led all Heat players in rebounds while ending as one of two players with 20 or more points in a well-rounded double-double performance. Adebayo has recorded a double-double in four straight games and in 27 outings this season. He has added 20 or more points in 20 of those 27 double-double performances.

Gafford produced 11 points (4-8 FG, 3-4 FT), 14 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal over 32 minutes during Friday's 110-102 loss to the Heat.

Gafford led all Wizards in rebounds while adding a pair of assists and ending as one of five players with a double-digit point total in a double-double performance. Gafford, who has started in every game he has played in this season, has hauled in 10 or more rebounds in 10 games, finishing with a double-double in eight of those outings. He has now posted a double-double in three of his last four appearances.

Collins (ankle) tallied nine points (4-9 FG, 1-2 FT), three assists and two rebounds in 20 minutes Friday in the Spurs' 114-113 loss to the Pelicans.

After missing the Spurs' previous three games with a right ankle sprain, Collins slotted back in as the backup to starting center Victor Wembanyama on Friday. Considering Collins was previously sidelined for nine games from Dec. 31 through Jan. 17 with a sprain of the same ankle, he'll most likely be held out for the second leg of the back-to-back set Saturday versus the Cavaliers. If that's the case, Dominick Barlow would likely serve as Wembanyama's backup.

Sengun accumulated 24 points (10-14 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 13 rebounds and eight assists across 29 minutes during Friday's 135-106 win over the Raptors.

The third-year center likely would have come away with his fourth career triple-double had the game been closer, but the Rockets emptied their bench in the fourth quarter. Sengun has delivered four straight double-doubles and eight in the last nine games, a stretch in which he's averaging 22.2 points, 10.9 boards, 6.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks while shooting 56.6 percent from the floor.

Duren amassed 11 points (5-7 FG, 1-2 FT), 13 rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes during Friday's 136-125 loss to the Clippers.

It was the 24th double-double of the season for Duren, putting him 13th in the NBA in that category. The 20-year-old center has taken a huge step forward in his second season, and over 19 games since returning from an ankle injury after Christmas, he's averaging 14.8 points, 12.5 boards and 2.5 assists while shooting 64.9 percent from the floor and 77.3 percent from the free-throw line -- the latter mark a more than 16-point improvement from his 2022-23 performance.

Richards registered eight points (3-5 FG, 2-4 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist and one block across 31 minutes during Friday's 126-106 loss to the Thunder.

Richards continues to profile as an above-average shot blocker and rebounder on both ends. Interestingly, Richards carries similar splits playing with or without LaMelo Ball (ankle) this season, so his ability to boom is more tied to game script and matchup. Shot selection is also a factor given that Richards often feasts on putback attempts and easy looks at the basket.

Nurkic amassed 14 points (7-9 FG, 0-1 FT), nine rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal in 23 minutes during Friday's 129-120 loss to the Hawks.

Nurkic has compiled 42 points and 20 rebounds and over his last two games, marking a huge improvement from the 24 points and 24 rebounds he compiled over a four-game stretch prior while he also battled a thumb injury. His ability to chip in as a defensive playmaker and secondary facilitator adds versatility to his fantasy floor, so his buy-low window is closing now that he has returned to being active in the scoring column.

Jokic ended Friday's 120-108 victory over the Trail Blazers with 27 points (11-16 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 22 rebounds, 12 assists, two blocks and one steal in 38 minutes.

Jokic took the night off Wednesday against the Thunder, and the extra day of rest seemed to work wonders as the All-Star turned in a brilliant effort against the Trail Blazers. His 22 rebounds marked a season high as well as his 11th consecutive game with double-digit rebounds.