NBA Player News
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Nikola Jokic C | DEN
Nuggets' Nikola Jokic: Out again Sunday
Jokic (personal) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Grizzlies.
Jokic will miss a second straight game due to personal reasons. Dario Saric started in Jokic's absence Friday and played 34 minutes during a loss to the Pelicans. Jokic's next chance to suit up will come Tuesday during a rematch against the Grizzlies.
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John Collins C | UTA
Jazz's John Collins: Posts 16/8 line in defeat
Collins accumulated 16 points (6-13 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks in 32 minutes during Saturday's 121-117 loss to the Kings.
Collins continued to perform well at the five, but a switch to power forward is looming with Walker Kessler's (hip) return on the horizon. The Jazz have had to speed up Kyle Filipowski's development to lessen the Jazz's size disadvantage, and the rookie will eventually move back to a reserve role to make room for Collins when Kessler returns. A production fluctuation from Collins is a distinct possibility, but the scenario will become clearer next week.
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Chris Boucher C | TOR
Raptors' Chris Boucher: Leads bench with 15 points
Boucher logged 15 points (5-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT) and four rebounds in 20 minutes during Saturday's 126-123 overtime loss to the Celtics.
Boucher ended Saturday's game as the Raptors' third-leading scorer behind Jakob Poeltl (35) and RJ Barrett (25). Boucher has reached double-digit points in seven of his last 10 outings, and over that span, he has averaged 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds over 18.6 minutes per game.
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Al Horford C | BOS
Celtics' Al Horford: Knocks down five threes vs. Raptors
Horford produced 18 points (6-11 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 32 minutes during Saturday's 126-123 overtime win over Toronto.
Horford returned to the starting lineup Saturday after sitting Wednesday against the Nets due to rest and a left big toe sprain. The veteran big man isn't a focal point in the Celtics' offense, but with the Raptors' defense honed in on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Horford saw plenty of open looks from beyond the arc and tied a season high with five three-pointers. Horford is averaging 9.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals over 27.0 minutes per game.
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Dereck Lively II C | DAL
Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Will remain in starting role
Lively will remain in the starting role "for the next couple of games," head coach Jason Kidd told media, including Landon Thomas of Mavs Fans For Life, in his post-game press conference following Saturday's win over the Spurs. "We'll see how D Live handles these next couple of games as a starter, and then we'll figure out who will start after that. But, D Live has been great."
Lively got the start in Saturday's win over the Spurs and posted seven points, four rebounds, two assists and four blocks across 20 minutes. Even though Daniel Gafford outplayed him with a 22-point, seven-rebound, three-block effort in only 18 minutes, it seems Lively will stay with the first unit for now. There's no timetable for Kidd to make a definitive decision on who will be the starting center going forward -- assuming he'll make one at some point.
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Daniel Gafford C | DAL
Mavericks' Daniel Gafford: Shines off bench Saturday
Gafford closed Saturday's 110-93 win over the Spurs with 22 points (9-10 FG, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, three blocks and one steal across 18 minutes.
Gafford and Dereck Lively have been alternating in the starting role, but the former is expected to continue coming off the bench in the next few games, according to Jason Kidd and per Landon Thomas of Mavs Fans For Life. Gafford has been playing at a high level in recent days and has scored in double digits in six straight contests.
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Zach Collins C | SA
Spurs' Zach Collins: Leads Spurs in loss Saturday
Collins posted 20 points (6-13 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 8-8 FT), six rebounds, three blocks and one steal over 26 minutes during Saturday's 110-93 loss to the Mavericks.
Collins got the start in place of Victor Wembanyama (knee), and even though he struggled with his shot from beyond the arc, he ended up leading the Spurs in scoring. Collins should return to the bench as soon as Wembanyama is ready to return to the hardwood, so his potential upside in most formats will be directly tied to the Frenchman's availability.
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Anthony Davis C | LAL
Lakers' Anthony Davis: Leads Lakers to victory Saturday
Davis scored 31 points (12-20 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 5-7 FT) while adding 14 rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block across 37 minutes in Saturday's 104-99 win over the Pelicans.
Dalton Knecht and LeBron James posted impressive performances Saturday, but Davis was the main offensive weapon for Los Angeles and once again carried the team in scoring. This was the big man's eighth game with at least 30 points in his 12 appearances thus far.
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Jakob Poeltl C | TOR
Raptors' Jakob Poeltl: Career night vs. Boston
Poeltl finished Saturday's 126-123 overtime loss to the Celtics with 35 points (16-19 FG, 3-4 FT), 12 rebounds and one steal over 37 minutes.
Poeltl scored a career-high 33 points Saturday as he dominated the paint all night long. He grabbed a game-high six offensive rebounds in the process and carried the scoring load for a short-handed Raptors team playing the second leg of a back-to-back. Poeltl now has eight double-doubles through the first 14 games of the regular season, and he's averaging a career-high 16.2 points along with 11.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals over 32.6 minutes per game.
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Alex Len C | SAC
Kings' Alex Len: Back to bench Saturday
Len is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Utah.
Len is back on the bench for the second half of this back-to-back set, as Trey Lyles will get the nod at center. Len posted just two points and one rebound in nine minutes in Friday's loss to Minnesota.