NBA Player News

Porzingis (back) returned to the court for the Celtics to begin the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Heat, Abby Chin of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Porzingis exited the game with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter and retreated to the locker room, with the big man later being diagnosed with a low-back contusion. He was listed as probable to return to the contest, and his ability to check into the game to begin the fourth quarter suggests Porzingis' back issue shouldn't be much of a concern moving forward.

Porzingis is probable to return to Sunday's contest against Miami due to a low back contusion, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Porzingis checked out of the game with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter and gingerly walked to the locker room after he apparently suffered the injury while fighting for a loose ball in the paint. Given his probable tag, Porzingis looks likely to return to the contest once he gets treatment for his back.

Zeller (knee) is questionable to play Monday versus Memphis.

Zeller is at risk of missing his third consecutive game due to left knee soreness. Zeller has played sparingly for New Orleans, averaging just 4.6 minutes across his last eight appearances, so the Pelicans' rotation would not be overly fazed by another absence from the 31-year-old.

Kleber (toe) will be listed as probable for Monday's game against the Wizards, Grant Afseth of SI.com reports.

Kleber has been a regular on Dallas injury reports throughout February, but he has yet to miss any games this month while being listed with a right small toe dislocation as well as a nasal fracture. The 32-year-old made his fifth straight start in Saturday's 146-111 win over the Thunder, finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 25 minutes. With the Mavericks already ruling out Dereck Lively (nose) for Monday's contest, Kleber could start again and will likely be in store for a split of the minutes at center with the newly acquired Daniel Gafford.

Lively (nose) won't play Monday versus Washington, Eddie Sefko of the Mavericks' official site reports.

Lively will miss a seventh consecutive game while dealing with a broken nose. Maxi Kleber has been starting in Lively's stead, but trade-deadline pickups P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford could poach minutes from Kleber on Monday as both players make their second appearances with Dallas.

Bagley (back) tallied two points (1-7 FG, 0-1 3Pt), two blocks and one rebound in 15 minutes Saturday in the Wizards' 119-113 loss to the 76ers.

In the aftermath of Thursday's trade deadline, Bagley looked like one of the big winners after the Wizards traded away starting center Daniel Gafford to Dallas and brought in just one new center in Richaun Holmes, who hadn't been a regular part of the Mavericks' rotation prior to being dealt. Holmes was active but didn't see any action Sunday, and though he settled back into Gafford's old starting spot in his return from a four-game absence, Bagley handled only a light role while the Wizards favored small-ball lineups. As he becomes further removed from the back injury and as the Wizards oppose more teams featuring bigger starting centers than the 76ers' Paul Reed, Bagley should see his playing time increase. Fantasy managers who might have been expecting a big blowup performance from Bagley in his return to action with Gafford out of the picture should have patience for at least a few more games.

Allen closed with 18 points (9-12 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 0-2 FT), 15 rebounds, two assists and one block across 30 minutes during Saturday's 119-95 victory over Toronto.

Allen led all players in Saturday's game in rebounds while ending as one of three Cavaliers players with 15 or more points in a well-rounded double-double performance. Allen has hauled in 15 or more boards in seven games this season, adding 15 or more points in all seven of those outings. He has now recorded a double-double in eight of his last 10 appearances.

Claxton closed Saturday's 123-103 win over San Antonio with 20 points (10-15 FG, 0-1 3Pt), 11 rebounds, two blocks and one steal across 27 minutes.

Claxton led all players in Saturday's contest in rebounds while adding a team-high-tying pair of bocks and ending as one of two Nets players with 20 or more points in a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double showcase. Claxton has tallied at least 20 points and 10 boards in five games this season, now recording a double-double in seven of his last 10 contests.

Wembanyama ended with 21 points (7-16 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds, three assists and one block in 29 minutes during Saturday's 123-103 loss to Brooklyn.

Wembanyama led all Spurs players in scoring while connecting on a trio of threes and ending perfect from the free throw line en route to the lone 20-point performance in the team in a losing effort. Wembanyama crossed the 20-point mark for the first time in the last five games, though he's posted three-plus threes in his last three contests. He has now connected on at least three threes in nine games this season, ending with 20 or more points in seven of those appearances.

Turner logged 23 points (9-9 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 3-4 FT), eight rebounds, four assists and one steal over 31 minutes during Saturday's 125-111 win over the Knicks.

The 27-year-old center appears fully recovered from the minor ankle injury that cost him a game in early February. In four contests since returning to the lineup, Turner is averaging 18.8 points, 7.0 boards, 2.3 assists, 1.5 threes, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks while shooting 56.9 percent from the floor.