NBA Player News

Ayton (back) is questionable for Monday's game against Portland, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein.

After sitting out Sunday's game against the Heat in what was the first leg of a back-to-back set, Ayton's availability is still a question mark. If he's able to get the green light Monday, he's likely to see a spike in usage with Luka Doncic (rest) and Austin Reaves (groin) both sidelined.

The Grizzlies assigned Edey (ankle) to the G League's Memphis Hustle on Monday, Drew Hill of The Daily Memphian reports.

Edey is briefly heading to the G League affiliate to get some practice reps, an encouraging sign following his offseason ankle surgery. It sounds like the second-year big man has a chance to return to the court at some point in early November. Edey's eventual presence will almost certainly force Jock Landale into a bench role.

Poeltl (back) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Bucks, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca reports.

After participating in Monday's practice, Poeltl is trending in the right direction for Tuesday. The big man is trying to end a three-game absence with a back issue. If Poeltl returns to the lineup, rookie first-rounder Collin Murray-Boyles would likely revert back to the bench and lose some streaming upside.

Robinson (rest) won't play Monday against the Wizards.

Monday's game is the second leg of a back-to-back set, so Robinson will be held out for load management despite seeing just 13 minutes Sunday. Despite his per-minute upside, Robinson could be a frustrating player to roster in fantasy formats. Ariel Hukporti and Guerschon Yabusele could see a bump in playing time as a result Monday.

The Clippers assigned Niederhauser to the G League's San Diego Clippers on Monday.

Niederhauser has been unable to crack the rotation thus far, with an average of 4.4 minutes in three appearances. Expect him to get plenty of reps in the G League to open his rookie season.

Looney (knee) recorded three points (1-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, two assists and one block across 16 minutes in Sunday's 137-106 loss to the Thunder.

Making his Pelicans debut after he had missed the team's first five games while recovering from a left knee sprain, Looney ousted Derik Queen for the top backup job at center behind starter Yves Missi. Though he's a rugged defender and strong rebounder, Looney's low-usage game will make it difficult to extract much fantasy value from him, especially while he's stuck in a sub-20-minute role.

Drummond closed Sunday's 129-105 victory over Brooklyn with five points (2-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds, one block and one steal over 23 minutes.

Drummond saw increased playing time in Joel Embiid's (injury management) absence and was able to make an impact. It's also worth noting that despite not starting over Adem Bona, Drummond still posted more points and rebounds while seeing more minutes. However, when Embiid returns Tuesday against Chicago, Drummond will likely shift back to his role as the team's third-string center.

Carlson ended with 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-4 3Pt), five rebounds and one assist in 20 minutes during Sunday's 137-106 victory over New Orleans.

Sunday marked Carlson's fourth time reaching double digits in scoring in his career, and the reason for his extended playing time was due to Chet Holmgren (back) being ruled out and Ousmane Dieng (calf) leaving the game early. If these respective injuries persist for Holmgren and Dieng, Carlson may find himself in a role as the backup big man to Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams.

Filipowski racked up four points (2-5 FG, 0-1 3Pt), one rebound, two assists and one steal over 16 minutes during Sunday's 126-103 loss to the Hornets.

Taylor Hendricks replaced Filipowski in the first unit and responded with a strong 14-point outing in 25 minutes. Filipowski is shooting 36.8 percent from the field to open the campaign, so it's not a surprise to see the Jazz go in a different direction, at least in the short term.

Hayes provided 15 points (7-7 FG, 1-1 3Pt), five rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal over 32 minutes during Sunday's 130-120 win over Miami.

Making his first start of the season, Hayes delivered an impressive offensive performance, albeit with limited usage. The 25-year-old center will return to the bench as soon as Deandre Ayton's back spasms subside, but Hayes will be an intriguing fantasy option in the short term if he gets another starting opportunity or two.