NBA Player News
-
Payton Pritchard PG | BOS
Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Pours in game-high 26 in win
Pritchard racked up 26 points (10-18 FG, 6-11 3Pt), six rebounds, seven assists and one steal in 33 minutes off the bench during Thursday's 121-110 win over Golden State.
The 28-year-old guard led all scorers on the night as he picked up right where he left off prior to the All-Star break. Pritchard has scored at least 24 points in five of his last six games since shifting to the second unit Feb. 3, averaging 22.5 points, 6.2 assists, 3.5 boards, 3.5 threes and 1.0 steals during that span while shooting 52.0 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.
-
Derrick Jones Jr. SF | LAC
Clippers' Derrick Jones: Posts 22 points in narrow win
Jones posted 22 points (7-15 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 6-7 FT), three rebounds and one assist across 34 minutes during Thursday's 115-114 win over Denver.
Although Bennedict Mathurin's 38-point result was the biggest headline for the Clippers, Jones proved to be a valuable piece of the puzzle as the team moves forward without James Harden's services. Kris Dunn lacks the necessary production to fill the scoring gap at point guard, so the Clippers will lean more on Jones and Mathurin while Kawhi Leonard takes the reins on offense. Jones is currently averaging a career-high 10.5 points per game this season, and that number could continue to rise due to the Clippers' needs on offense.
-
John Collins PF | LAC
Clippers' John Collins: Records third double-double
Collins recorded 11 points (5-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt), 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and one steal across 32 minutes during Thursday's 115-114 win over Denver.
Collins' rebound numbers have prevented him from reaching the double-double milestone consistently this season. His current 2025-26 average of 5.2 rebounds per game marks his lowest in the category by a wide margin. There's a chance that Ivica Zubac's departure could give his results a slight boost, but Brook Lopez and Derrick Jones have fared well off the glass and could hinder Collins' chance for improvement.
-
Bennedict Mathurin SF | LAC
Clippers' Bennedict Mathurin: Explodes for 38 points in victory
Mathurin ended Thursday's 115-114 victory over the Nuggets with 38 points (12-22 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 12-13 FT), five rebounds, four assists and three steals over 34 minutes.
Mathurin gave a glimpse of his potential production with the Clippers before the All-Star break, but Thursday's line blew well past expectations. Filling the gap left by James Harden is no easy task, but if Mathurin's nightly shot volume stays high, the Clippers' overall outlook will improve dramatically. The former Pacer is playing off the bench, but he's averaging 30.3 minutes per game since joining the Clippers.
-
Evan Mobley PF | CLE
Cavaliers' Evan Mobley: Eases back into rotation
Mobley (calf) logged 10 points (5-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt), nine rebounds, two assists and one block across 19 minutes during Thursday's 112-84 victory over Brooklyn.
Mobley had a successful return after missing the Cavaliers' final seven games before the All-Star break due to a strained left calf. He nearly finished with a double-double in just 19 minutes as the Cavaliers cruised to an easy win and didn't need to extend their starters. Mobley also played alongside trade-deadline pickup James Harden for the first time, and the pair will look to grow their chemistry in the games to come. The Cavaliers will conclude their back-to-back set Friday with a matchup against the Hornets, and given the light workload he handled Thursday, Mobley could be cleared to play in Charlotte.
-
Donovan Mitchell SG | CLE
Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell: Scores 17 points in 21 minutes
Mitchell ended Thursday's 112-84 win over the Nets with 17 points (7-12 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), three rebounds and five assists across 21 minutes.
Mitchell's 17 points were well below his season average (28.8) but still a game-high mark in Cleveland's blowout win over the Nets. The All-Star guard played only 21 minutes as his team led comfortably throughout. That extra rest will come in handy as the Cavaliers face Charlotte on Friday during the second leg of a back-to-back set.
-
James Harden PG | CLE
Cavaliers' James Harden: Impresses on both ends
Harden totaled 16 points (6-8 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, nine assists and three steals in 28 minutes during Thursday's 112-84 victory over the Nets.
Harden continues to look comfortable in Cleveland, posting a third consecutive double-double. It was an efficient scoring night for Harden, who also made an impact on defense with three steals. His 28 minutes were a team-high mark as Cleveland won big versus Brooklyn. Harden is now averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists in four games with the Cavaliers.
-
Jaylen Brown SF | BOS
Celtics' Jaylen Brown: Tallies triple-double vs. Warriors
Brown produced 23 points (10-18 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 15 rebounds and 13 assists in 37 minutes during Thursday's 121-110 victory over Golden State.
Brown looked sharp coming out of the All-Star break and cruised to his third triple-double of the season. He produced with ease on the offensive end and has now put up 20 or more points in 17 consecutive appearances. Brown also set a new season high in assists, beating his previous best of 12 dimes Jan. 23 against the Nets.
-
Jalen Smith PF | CHI
Bulls' Jalen Smith: Flirts with double-double in return
Smith accumulated nine points (2-6 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists, one block and three steals across 24 minutes during Thursday's 110-101 loss to the Raptors.
Smith returned to action after missing the previous three games with a calf issue. He moved straight back into the starting lineup, falling one point short of a double-double. In nine appearances over the past month, Smith has been able to flirt with top-80 value in standard leagues, averaging 12.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.0 three-pointers and 0.9 steals. While the rotations in Chicago are going to be unpredictable, it does appear as though Smith could be looking at a sizeable role for the foreseeable future.
-
Nick Richards C | CHI
Bulls' Nick Richards: Only 12 minutes in loss
Richards amassed six points (2-2 FG, 2-2 FT), five rebounds and one block in 12 minutes during Thursday's 110-101 loss to Toronto.
With Jalen Smith returning from a calf injury, Richards was limited to just 12 minutes, the fewest he has played since joining the Bulls. While he was able to cobble together some intriguing performances in his first two games for Chicago, his two most recent appearances have been far less inspiring. For now, he should only be rostered in deeper formats.