NBA Player News
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Xavier Tillman C | CHA
Hornets' Xavier Tillman: Off injury report for Saturday
Tillman (recently traded) is off the injury report for Saturday's game against the Hawks.
Tillman is set to be available off the bench for his Hornets debut Saturday, However, he appears to be facing an uphill climb for playing time after playing an inconsistent role for the Celtics earlier this year.
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Domantas Sabonis C | SAC
Kings' Domantas Sabonis: Ruled out Friday
Sabonis is out for Friday's game against the Clippers with lower-back soreness.
Friday is the front end of a back-to-back, so it's plausible that the star big man will be able to play Saturday against the Cavaliers. Maxime Raynaud figures to jump into the starting lineup in Sabonis' stead, setting him up to split the center minutes with fellow rookie Dylan Cardwell.
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Isaiah Jackson C | LAC
Clippers' Isaiah Jackson: Not available this weekend
Jackson (trade pending) won't play for the Clippers on Friday versus the Kings or Saturday versus the Timberwolves, Joey Linn of SI.com reports.
After being acquired from the Pacers ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, Jackson is joining his new squad in Minnesota, but the team doesn't plan for him to make his Clippers debut until Tuesday's game in Houston. With Jackson out for the next two games, Brook Lopez should start at center while Yanic Konan Niederhauser serves as the primary backup.
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Nicolas Claxton C | BKN
Nets' Nic Claxton: Posts 14 points in loss
Claxton racked up 14 points (6-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-5 FT), six rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes during Thursday's 118-98 loss to Orlando.
Claxton produced another mediocre line Thursday, and he has been averaging less production across every major category since Jan. 1 when compared with his season-long numbers. While he's a versatile contributor, his overall output has dipped in recent weeks, and it's possible the Nets shut him down eventually as they play for lottery odds.
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Jalen Duren C | DET
Pistons' Jalen Duren: Questionable for Friday
Duren (knee) is questionable for Friday's game against the Knicks.
Duren left Thursday's game against the Wizards early due to right knee soreness, and the center remains day-to-day. It wouldn't be a surprise if the team held him out for the second leg of this back-to-back set. If Duren doesn't suit up, the team could rely more on Isaiah Stewart, Ronald Holland and Paul Reed.
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Karl-Anthony Towns C | NY
Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns: Not expected to play Friday
Towns is doubtful for Friday's game against the Pistons due to a right eye laceration.
Towns got his right eye bandaged up during Wednesday's 134-127 double-overtime victory over the Nuggets, and now it sounds like he won't be able to play Friday. Mitchell Robinson appears to be slated to handle the starting center job against Detroit, with Ariel Hukporti stepping into the backup role.
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Daniel Gafford C | DAL
Mavericks' Daniel Gafford: Posts third straight double-double
Gafford registered 16 points (5-8 FG, 6-8 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists, four blocks and three steals in 33 minutes before fouling out of Thursday's 135-123 loss to the Spurs.
Gafford was upgraded to available shortly before tipoff Thursday and didn't show any signs of his ankle injury hampering his play. The big man has started five consecutive matchups for the Mavs and is averaging 12.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.4 blocks in 26.4 minutes over this strong stretch.
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Joel Embiid C | PHI
76ers' Joel Embiid: Pours in 35 points in LA
Embiid closed with 35 points (13-19 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 8-8 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and one steal across 39 minutes during Thursday's 119-115 loss to the Lakers.
The 31-year-old center led the Sixers in scoring as he delivered 30-plus points for the seventh time in his last nine appearances. Embiid is still being held out for one end of Philly's back-to-backs, but he's been dominant when he's been on the court. Over that nine-game stretch, which stretches back to Jan. 16, he's averaging 33.1 points, 8.6 boards, 5.4 assists, 1.6 threes and 1.6 combined blocks and steals while shooting 53.4 percent from the floor and an impressive 51.9 percent (14-for-27) from long distance.
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Mark Williams C | PHO
Suns' Mark Williams: Nabs second straight double-double
Williams contributed 11 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 FT), 10 rebounds and one block across 23 minutes during Thursday's 101-97 loss to the Warriors.
The fourth-year center recorded his second straight double-double and his 12th of the season. Williams also extended his streak of games with at least one block to seven, a stretch in which he's averaging 13.7 points, 7.9 boards, 1.4 assists and 1.0 blocks in 25.0 minutes while shooting 71.0 percent from the floor.