NBA Player News
-
Joel Embiid C | PHI
76ers' Joel Embiid: Won't play Saturday
Embiid (illness/knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Mavericks, NBA reporter Marc Stein reports.
Embiid will miss both ends of the 76ers' back-to-back set due to illness and right knee injury management. His absence should allow Andre Drummond to make another start, while Adem Bona should serve as Drummond's primary backup. Embiid's next chance to play will come Tuesday against Brooklyn.
-
Anthony Davis C | WAS
Mavericks' Anthony Davis: Cleared to play
Davis (illness) will play Saturday against the 76ers, Austin Krell of OnPattison.com reports.
Davis will play through a probable tag after pushing through Thursday's game with the same illness. For now, there's no word of any limitations for him in this contest in terms of minutes.
-
Jakob Poeltl C | TOR
Raptors' Jakob Poeltl: Out Saturday, considered DTD
Poeltl (back) won't play in Saturday's game against the Celtics, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Per Grange, head coach Darko Rajakovic said Poeltl's back injury isn't considered serious, and the big man is considered day-to-day. Poeltl's next chance to play will come Sunday at Brooklyn. In the meantime, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Murray-Boyles should handle most of the minutes at center.
-
James Wiseman C | IND
Pacers' James Wiseman: Back with Indiana on 10-day deal
Wiseman signed a 10-day contract with the Pacers on Saturday.
Wiseman was waived by the Pacers in late October, but he'll rejoin the team via a hardship exception. Per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star, head coach Rick Carlisle said that the Pacers elected to terminate forward Gabe McGlothan's 10-day deal and bring Wiseman aboard to address the team's depth at center while Tony Bradley (finger) nurses an injury. If Indiana gets one or more of its injured players back in action by the time Wiseman's 10-day deal expires, the Pacers may not have the ability to re-sign the veteran center.
-
Joel Embiid C | PHI
76ers' Joel Embiid: Tabbed doubtful
Embiid (illness/knee) is doubtful for Saturday's game against the Mavericks, Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com reports.
Embiid is on track to miss a second consecutive game due to illness and right knee injury management. If he sits Saturday, Andre Drummond would likely draw another start, while Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow could see center minutes off the bench.
-
Jakob Poeltl C | TOR
Raptors' Jakob Poeltl: Not expected to play Saturday
Poeltl (back) has been downgraded to doubtful for Saturday's game against the Celtics, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Poeltl was held out of Thursday's win over the Bucks while managing a back injury. He was initially tagged as questionable for Saturday's game, but it appears the veteran center will be held out of the front end of the Raptors' back-to-back set. Assuming Poeltl is ruled out, Sandro Mamukelashvili would likely start at center for a second consecutive game (and fourth time this season).
-
Jarrett Allen C | CLE
Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen: Double-double in Friday's loss
Allen closed Friday's 136-125 loss to the Bulls with 14 points (6-9 FG, 2-2 FT), 12 rebounds, five assists, one block and two steals in 30 minutes.
The double-double was his fourth of the season and first since Nov. 12. Ongoing finger issues have cost Allen nine of the Cavs' last 13 contests, but Friday marked the first time he'd played at least 30 minutes in a game since Nov. 5, an encouraging sign. In three games since getting back on the court, the veteran center is averaging 12.3 points, 7.0 boards, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 61.5 percent from the floor.
-
Isaiah Hartenstein C | OKC
Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein: Returns with poor scoring result
Hartenstein finished Friday's 112-107 loss to the Timberwolves with one point (0-2 FG, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds and one block in 28 minutes.
Although Hartenstein's work off the glass was sufficient, he was limited to just one point in the defeat. Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle were very effective under the basket, denying Hartenstein putback opportunities via offensive boards. The Thunder's inability to dominate inside was their undoing. The team will hope for a better result from Hartenstein on Monday against the Grizzlies.
-
Rudy Gobert C | MIN
Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Wins battle under the basket
Gobert totaled nine points (3-7 FG, 3-7 FT), 14 rebounds and one assist over 33 minutes during Friday's 112-107 win over the Thunder.
Isaiah Hartenstein was neutralized by Gobert, who outrebounded his opponent 14 to 10 and held the Oklahoma City center to just one point. Although Anthony Edwards' late-game heroics will grab the headlines for this game, the stalwart efforts from Gobert and teammate Julius Randle in the interior were the key difference-makers.
-
Naz Reid C | MIN
Timberwolves' Naz Reid: Posts 15 points off bench
Reid registered 15 points (5-10 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 5-7 FT), six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals across 31 minutes during Friday's 112-107 win over the Thunder.
Reid provided his customary interior support in the win, logging an almost identical line to his result against Memphis on Wednesday. The only knock on Reid is his recent lack of success beyond the arc. Over the last five games, he's made only 12 of 39 attempts for a conversion rate of 30.8 percent.