NBA Player News

Valanciunas closed with 16 points (6-9 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds, five assists and one steal over 31 minutes during Saturday's 124-114 loss to Milwaukee.

Valanciunas earned his first start since Nov. 8, when he recorded 16 points in a loss to the Grizzlies, in an effort to counter the Bucks' frontcourt physicality of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Even though the Wizards suffered another loss, Valanciunas had a decent showing, and the veteran continues to remain valuable in fantasy even if he's not starting. Valanciunas has scored at least 15 points in back-to-back games for the first time this season, and he's registered double-digit points in 12 of his 18 contests.

Duren provided four points (2-2 FG) and two assists over 13 minutes during Saturday's 111-96 loss to the 76ers.

Most of the starters struggled in this matchup, and Duren wasn't the exception -- he logged only 13 minutes, to the disappointment of fantasy managers. Duren has been far from the double-double machine he was in 2023-24, and he's reached that outcome just eight times so far. He's also recorded single-digit points in four of his last six appearances.

Drummond has been diagnosed with a sprained right ankle, and there's no clear timetable for his return, head coach Nick Nurse told Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire. "I don't know," coach Nick Nurse said of a Drummond timeline. "Again, they did all the X-Rays and stuff, and it is just a sprain. So there's nothing else there. I mean, he's going to be in a boot, yeah."

Drummond exited Saturday's win over the Pistons during the first quarter after landing on Tobias Harris' foot on a made basket. The fact that he wasn't able to put any pressure on his ankle as he exited the court was concerning, but further tests seem to suggest the big man avoided a severe injury. Drummond finished Saturday's game with four points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds and a steal across four minutes. The big man could be in line to miss at least a few games due to this injury. Guerschon Yabusele and Adem Bona will be in line for more minutes in the frontcourt with Drummond sidelined.

Jackson-Davis is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Suns, John Dickinson of 95.7 The Game San Francisco reports.

Jackson-Davis will return to the first unit after coming off the bench in the 105-101 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. He's averaging 8.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.6 blocks per game when deployed in a starting role this season.

Plumlee is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Warriors.

Plumlee will move into the starting lineup due to the absence of Jusuf Nurkic (ankle). The veteran big man is averaging 9.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in his previous three starts this season.

Williams (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Dallas.

Williams will be sidelined for a third straight game due to a concussion. His next chance to play will be against the Clippers on Tuesday. Jabari Walker will continue to serve as Portland's backup center behind Deandre Ayton due to the absence of Williams and Donovan Clingan (knee).

Drummond (ankle) won't return to Saturday's game against the Pistons, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. He finished with four points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds and a steal across four minutes.

Drummond exited the game in the first quarter after landing on Tobias Harris' foot on a made basket, and he wasn't able to put any pressure on his ankle as he exited the court. He's been diagnosed with a right ankle sprain, and it's unclear if he'll be sidelined for an extended stretch. Guerschon Yabusele will see even more minutes in the frontcourt as a result.

Valanciunas is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Bucks, Varun Shankar of The Washington Post reports.

The Wizards will add size to their frontcourt to counter the duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez, so Valanciunas will start at center and Alex Sarr will get the nod at power forward. Valanciunas is averaging 11.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game since the beginning of November.

Nurkic has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Warriors due to a right quadricep contusion.

A left ankle sprain was behind Nurkic's other two absences earlier this month, but the quad issue is a new concern for the center. Head coach Mike Budenholzer had previously labeled Nurkic as probable for Saturday's game following Friday's practice, but the 30-year-old big man evidently didn't heal up as quickly as the Suns anticipated. Look for Mason Plumlee and Oso Ighodaro to cover most of the minutes at center Saturday while Nurkic sits and turns his focus toward getting ready for Tuesday's matchup with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.

Drummond (ankle) went to the locker room in the first quarter of Saturday's game against the Pistons, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Drummond injured his right ankle after landing on Tobias Harris' foot on a made basket. Drummond wasn't able to put any pressure on his ankle and needed help to the locker room, per Ky Carlin of USA Today. If Drummond is unable to return to Saturday's contest, Adem Bona should see additional playing time off the bench.