NBA Player News

Theis is out for Thursday's game versus the Suns due to neck spasms, Jim Eichenhofer of the Pelicans' official site reports.

Theis had appeared in each of the Pelicans' last six games, but his absence Thursday could open up more time for Jeremiah Robinson-Earl or Trey Jemison at the backup center spot behind starter Yves Missi. Theis' next chance to suit up will come Saturday versus the Thunder.

Poeltl is listed as questionable for Thursday's game versus the Thunder due to an illness.

Poeltl is in danger of missing his first contest of the 2024-25 season due to an illness. If the 29-year-old big man is forced to sit out, Jonathan Mogbo, Chris Boucher and Bruno Fernando are candidates to receive increased playing time.

Bryant notched eight points (2-6 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds and two blocks in nine minutes during Wednesday's 134-93 win over the Lakers.

Bryant dusted himself off and moved into the rotation, albeit during the final minutes of a 40-point blowout. After starting the season as the backup behind Bam Adebayo, Bryant has since struggled to be an every-night part of the rotation. At this point, it would likely take an injury to Adebayo for Bryant to even come close to being a noteworthy asset.

Koloko contributed four points (2-3 FG) and four rebounds across 13 minutes during Wednesday's 134-93 loss to the Heat.

Koloko was afforded some additional playing time as the Lakers were obliterated by the Heat. It was another in a string of poor performances, with the Lakers having now lost six of their past eight games. While Koloko returning to the court has been a great storyline, his role remains limited. As long as Anthony Davis is healthy, Koloko is unlikely to play meaningful minutes, at least not on a consistent basis.

Tillman totaled two rebounds and one steal over eight minutes during Wednesday's 130-120 victory over the Pistons.

Tillman suited up for just the second time in the past four games, failing to score in eight minutes. It's been a rough start to the season for Tillman, who is typically utilized as the third- or even fourth-string center. To this point, he is averaging a mere 1.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game.

Kornet finished Wednesday's 130-120 victory over the Pistons with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, one assist, two blocks and two steals in 21 minutes.

Kornet played at least 20 minutes for the second straight game, coming within a whisker of his first double-double of the season. Despite being the third-string center in Boston, injuries and rest for his teammates often afford Kornet additional playing time, much like in this performance. Whenever one of either Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford is given the night off, Kornet should be at the top of the list of beneficiaries.

Turner logged 11 points (4-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, four assists and four blocks across 31 minutes during Wednesday's 99-90 loss to the Nets.

Turner registered a game-high four blocks Wednesday, turning in his fourth game in 20 appearances with at least four swats this season. Over his last 10 outings, the 28-year-old sharpshooting big man is shooting 40.0 percent from downtown while averaging 14.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 three-pointers per game. Turner should remain a steady force for fantasy managers when it comes to triples and blocks moving ahead, and he has an advantageous matchup Friday against the Bulls, a team with the fifth-worst defensive efficiency rating (117.6) in the NBA.

Claxton provided 16 points (7-8 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 1-4 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and one block over 25 minutes during Wednesday's 99-90 victory over Indiana.

It was an efficient night from the floor for Claxton, who matched his season high in scoring that he set back during the Oct. 29 loss to the Nuggets. The 25-year-old big man's role has fluctuated under head coach Jordi Fernandez this season, and he's also dealt with various injuries, but his production is beginning to stabilize a bit in the past few weeks. Over his last six games (four starts), Claxton is averaging 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 24.8 minutes per contest while shooting 65.2 percent from the field. While it's also worth noting he knocked down his first three-pointer of the year Wednesday, fantasy managers still shouldn't expect outside scoring to become a habit for Claxton.

Kornet isn't part of the second unit for Wednesday's game against the Pistons, Zack Cox of the Boston Herald reports.

Kornet drew a start Monday for the second leg of a back-to-back set. However, with the Celtics frontcourt healthy, Kornet will rejoin the reserves. He swatted six shots in 27 minutes during the start.

Porzingis is in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pistons, Zack Cox of the Boston Herald reports.

Porzingis will return to the lineup Wednesday after a one-game absence, and the Celtics will go with a big frontcourt since Al Horford will also be in the starting unit. Porzingis has played three times this season and is averaging 19.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.