NBA Player News
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Karl-Anthony Towns C | NY
Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns: Good to go Friday
Towns (knee) is available for Friday's game against the 76ers, Ky Carlin of USA Today reports.
After sitting out Thursday's win over the Pacers due to left knee soreness, Towns will shed his probable tag for the second leg of New York's back-to-back set. Over five regular-season appearances in December, the star big man has averaged 25.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 32.4 minutes per contest. With Towns and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) both back in the lineup, Ariel Hukporti should see a significant dip in minutes.
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Anthony Davis C | WAS
Mavericks' Anthony Davis: Probable for Saturday
Davis (illness) is listed as probable for Saturday's game against the 76ers.
Davis played through the illness during Thursday's win over Detroit and is likely to suit up Saturday. The star big man has appeared in six of Dallas' seven games this month, during which he has averaged 19.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals in 30.7 minutes per contest.
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Jakob Poeltl C | TOR
Raptors' Jakob Poeltl: Questionable against Boston
Poeltl (back) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Celtics, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports.
The Raptors continue to monitor Poeltl while he manages a lower-back injury. If the veteran big man doesn't get the green light, Sandro Mamukelashvili would likely draw the start at center and experience a surge in fantasy value.
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Luke Kornet C | SA
Spurs' Luke Kornet: Holding onto starting role
Kornet contributed 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal across 23 minutes during Thursday's 119-94 win over the Wizards.
Kornet continues to start while the Spurs ease Victor Wembanyama (calf) back into the fray. Kornet has averaged 6.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 blocks in 26.6 minutes per contest over his last 13 games (all starts).
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Maxi Kleber C | LAL
Lakers' Maxi Kleber: Logs 19 minutes in return
Kleber (back) accumulated five points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-4 FT), two rebounds, one assist and one block in 19 minutes during Thursday's 143-135 victory over the Jazz.
Kleber made his return from a three-game absence with a lumbar muscle strain, and he saw an uptick in playing time due to the absence of Deandre Ayton (elbow). Even so, Kleber remains far off the fantasy radar, Kleber has averaged 2.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 12.7 minutes per contest over 11 games this season.
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Jalen Duren C | DET
Pistons' Jalen Duren: Dominant with double-double
Duren closed with 17 points (8-20 FG, 1-2 FT), 13 rebounds, one assist and two steals over 34 minutes during Thursday's 116-114 overtime loss to Dallas.
Duren recorded his 14th double-double of the campaign as he continues to have a breakout season in Detroit. Through 24 games, he's averaging 18.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks in 29.2 minutes per contest.
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Victor Wembanyama C | SA
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama: Omitted from injury report
Wembanyama (calf) isn't listed on the injury report ahead of Friday's game against the Hawks.
Wembanyama's status is worth noting because Friday is the second end of a back-to-back for the Spurs. The superstar big man is likely to have a minutes restriction following his recent lengthy layoff due to a strained calf, and it remains to be seen if the Spurs are ready to reinsert him into the starting lineup. Wembanyama has averaged only 19.0 minutes per game in his last two appearances, but he's still been productive, totaling 37 points (12-22 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 11-14 FT), 17 rebounds, six assists, six blocks and one steal.
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Alex Sarr C | WAS
Wizards' Alex Sarr: Strong numbers in limited minutes
Sarr (adductor) registered 18 points (8-18 FG, 2-4 3Pt), four rebounds, three assists and one block across 24 minutes Thursday in the Wizards' 119-94 loss to the Spurs.
Aside from a 6-for-14 showing from two-point range, Sarr generally performed well in his return from a right adductor strain, which had kept him out for the Wizards' last six games. Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly (23 minutes) -- who had missed the previous four contests with an oblique injury -- saw far less playing time than the rest of the Wizards' starters, but both should see their minutes restrictions lifted after getting another game or two under their belt. The Wizards have a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back set coming up against the Grizzlies and Spurs, respectively, so Sarr could be a candidate to sit out one of those games for maintenance purposes.
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Donovan Clingan C | POR
Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Extends range behind the arc
Clingan finished with 19 points (6-9 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 5-13 FT), eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks over 35 minutes during Thursday's 134-133 overtime win over the Kings.
Clingan was impressive overall against Sacramento. The Connecticut product is known for hitting the glass and protecting the rim, which he did Thursday to the tune of eight boards and two blocks. He also sank a pair of three-pointers, which is huge for Portland's offense. If Clingan can draw rim protectors to the arc, it will open more space for his teammates to drive.
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Isaiah Hartenstein C | OKC
Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein: Back in action Friday
Hartenstein (calf, rest) will be available for Friday's game against Minnesota.
As expected, Hartenstein is no longer on the injury report after getting the night off for maintenance Thursday against the Clippers. The big man is averaging a double-double this season with 12.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game.