NBA Player News
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Jaxson Hayes C | LAL
Lakers' Jaxson Hayes: Available Saturday
Hayes (back) is available for Saturday's game against the Nuggets, Ryan Ward of SI.com reports.
Hayes will return to the lineup Saturday after a two-game absence due to back soreness. He is expected to resume his usual backup center duties behind Deandre Ayton, which will likely push Drew Timme out of the rotation.
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Luke Kornet C | SA
Spurs' Luke Kornet: Back to bench Saturday
Kornet is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game versus the Hornets.
Victor Wembanyama is back in the first unit after missing Thursday's loss to Denver with right ankle soreness. Kornet has averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 15.1 minutes per tilt across his last eight games off the bench, and he'll be battling for the backup center minutes with Mason Plumlee on Saturday.
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Victor Wembanyama C | SA
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama: Available Saturday
Wembanyama (ankle) is available for Saturday's game against the Hornets, Paul Garcia of ProjectSpurs.com reports.
Wembanyama has officially been cleared to play this afternoon after missing Thursday's loss to Denver with right ankle soreness. While Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson remained optimistic Wembanyama would be cleared to play, the star center's status was technically a game-time decision until he completed his pregame routine. Before the one-game absence, Wembanyama had been on an absolute tear, averaging 33.3 points per game over his last four outings, which is well above his season average of 24.2 points.
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Jericho Sims C | MIL
Bucks' Jericho Sims: Joins starting lineup
Sims is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Hawks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is sitting out Saturday, clearing the way at power forward for Sims to draw his 10th start of the season. Sims has averaged 5.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 25.3 minutes per tilt across nine games as a starter this year, shooting a ridiculous 85.7 percent from the floor during that stretch.
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Omer Yurtseven C | GS
Warriors' Omer Yurtseven: Expected to sign 10-day contract
The Warriors are expected to sign Yurtseven to a 10-day contract, per NBA reporter Marc Stein.
Golden State is turning to Yurtseven to provide immediate frontcourt reinforcement as the team navigates a brutal injury crisis. The Warriors' depth was decimated during Friday's loss to Minnesota, when Al Horford (calf) and Quinten Post (ankle) both exited early, joining Draymond Green (back) on the sidelines. Kristaps Porzingis (illness), Green and Horford have all been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Knicks, while Post is listed as questionable.
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Ryan Kalkbrenner C | CHA
Hornets' Ryan Kalkbrenner: Available Saturday
Kalkbrenner (illness) is listed as available for Saturday's game against the Spurs.
The rookie center will return after a one-game absence and should reclaim his reserve role behind Moussa Diabate, likely pushing Xavier Tillman out of the rotation. Over his last eight appearances, Kalkbrenner has provided steady rim protection and efficiency, averaging 5.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 16.1 minutes per contest during that span.
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Victor Wembanyama C | SA
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama: Optimism to play Saturday
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said that he's optimistic that Wembanyama (ankle) will play against the Hornets on Saturday, Jared Weiss of The Athletic reports.
Wembanyama was unable to play against the Nuggets on Thursday due to a right ankle injury. The third-year phenom can be considered a game-time decision for Saturday's contest, and if he can't play, he'll likely be available for Monday's game against the Clippers. If Wembanyama is ruled out, then Luke Kornet would likely remain in the Spurs' starting lineup.
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Quinten Post C | GS
Warriors' Quinten Post: Questionable for Sunday
Post is questionable for Sunday's game versus the Knicks due to a sprained left ankle.
Post sustained the injury during Friday's loss to Minnesota, but it appears that he didn't come away with a high-grade sprain. The Warriors are already very thin down low, with Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Al Horford (calf) both ruled out for Sunday, so they'd likely be left with Gui Santos and two-way player Malevy Leons to soak up the bulk of the center minutes if Post cannot play.
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Al Horford C | GS
Warriors' Al Horford: Not playing Sunday
Horford (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Knicks.
Horford strained his right calf during the first quarter of Friday's loss to the Timberwolves. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the game that he expects Horford will miss time, per Anthony Slater of ESPN.com. It comes as no surprise seeing Horford scratched for Sunday's lineup, and the veteran big man will likely be sidelined for Monday's game against the Wizards. The Warriors will also be without Draymond Green (back) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) on Sunday, so Golden State's frontcourt depth would be extremely depleted if Quinten Post (ankle) is also unable to play.
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Kristaps Porzingis C | GS
Warriors' Kristaps Porzingis: Ruled out for Sunday
Porzingis (illness management) is out for Sunday's game against the Knicks.
Porzingis will sit out the first leg of the Warriors' back-to-back set as the team continues to manage his recovery from a persistent illness. While he notched a season-high 20 points in his first start for Golden State on Friday, the medical staff is sticking to a strict maintenance plan to navigate his illness. By resting him Sunday, the Warriors aim to have him available for Monday's matchup against the Wizards.