NBA Player News

Howard provided two points (0-1 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-3 FT), one assist and one steal in two minutes during Saturday's 120-117 victory over Utah.

Howard was a non-factor yet again, continuing what has been another frustrating campaign. Despite providing Orlando with a much-needed perimeter threat, Howard simply hasn't been able to carve out a meaningful role for himself. In 32 appearances this season, he has averaged just 4.8 points and 0.9 three-pointers in 10.6 minutes per game.

Isaac ended with zero points (0-2 FG, 0-2 3Pt) and one block across three minutes during Saturday's 120-117 victory over Utah.

Isaac continues to play a minimal role, having now logged no more than 15 minutes in 15 of his past 16 appearances. At this point, it's hard to consider him an every-night part of the rotation, eliminating all of his fantasy appeal. In 41 games thus far, he has averaged just 2.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.1 minutes per contest.

Wagner chipped in 13 points (4-8 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and eight rebounds over 17 minutes during Saturday's 120-117 victory over the Jazz.

Wagner scored in double digits for the second straight game, falling two rebounds short of what would have been his first double-double of the season. It appears as though Wagner has supplanted Goga Bitadze in the rotation, serving as the primary backup behind Wendell Carter. However, his role remains limited, as he is averaging just 7.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 three-pointers in 10.0 minutes per game over his past seven appearances.

Nurkic contributed three points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 14 rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal in 24 minutes during Saturday's 120-117 loss to the Magic.

Nurkic returned from a two-game absence due to illness/rest, moving straight into the starting lineup alongside the newly acquired Jaren Jackson. Utah opted to run with a sizeable lineup, an encouraging sign for anyone rostering Nurkic. With that said, we have already started to see some questionable absences, a situation that could get worse as the season progresses. For now, managers will have to hold Nurkic or try to pass him off while he is still relatively active.

Filipowski logged nine points (2-4 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 4-5 FT) and five rebounds across 12 minutes during Saturday's 120-117 loss to Orlando.

Filipowski logged just 12 minutes, continuing what has been a frustrating time for fantasy managers. The addition of Jaren Jackson prior to the trade deadline only complicates matters for Filiowski, at least for the short term. He remains a strong stash candidate, given the likely event that Utah opts to lean more on its youth. Until then, managers will simply have to deal with his inconsistent role.

Jackson closed Saturday's 120-117 loss to Orlando with 22 points (9-17 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, three assists and three steals over 25 minutes.

Jackson appeared for the first time as a member of the Jazz, finishing with 22 points in 25 minutes. It was certainly an encouraging start for Jackson, with the only worry being whether or not he is limited down the stretch. As long as he remains on the court, Jackson should continue to flirt with top 40 value, not unlike what he has been able to do thus far this season.

Ayton (knee) will be day-to-day moving forward, head coach JJ Redick told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com following Saturday's win over the Warriors.

Ayton was ruled out of Saturday's contest due to right knee soreness, and it's unclear whether the big man will miss more time. For now, he should be considered questionable for Monday's game against the Thunder. If he's unable to play, Jaxson Hayes should remain in the starting unit.

Banchero closed Saturday's 120-117 victory over the Jazz with 23 points (6-17 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 9-12 FT), seven rebounds, eight assists, one block and three steals in 38 minutes.

The Magic had to work harder than expected to get past the challenge of the Jazz, but Banchero was the driving force for Orlando due to his contributions on both ends of the court. This was Banchero's best scoring output since Jan. 30, when he had 31 points in a win over the Heat. He's now scored at least 20 points in seven of his last nine games, so he's trending in the right direction after the mini-slump he went through earlier in January.

Johnson accumulated 31 points (10-18 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 9-11 FT), nine rebounds, eight assists and three steals over 40 minutes during Saturday's 126-119 loss to the Hornets.

Johnson finished one rebound and two assists away from recording what would've been a triple-double -- a feat he's achieved regularly this season. The first-time All-Star is firmly entrenched as the Hawks' go-to option on offense and should continue to fill the stat sheet every time he steps on the court. Johnson was coming off three straight triple-doubles and has achieved that feat 10 times in 2025-26.

Murray left Saturday's 136-120 victory over the Bulls with 4:05 remaining in the fourth quarter due to an apparent left hip injury, Katy Winge of Altitude Sports. Murray totaled 28 points (11-18 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 11 assists and three rebounds in 31 minutes.

The severity of Murray's injury remains unclear, though at the time of his departure, the Nuggets held a 15-point lead, so he may have been held out for the final four minutes as a precaution. Head coach David Adelman said he's confident Murray will be OK moving forward, according to Winge. That said, fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on Murray's status leading up to the Nuggets' next game Monday versus the Cavaliers.