NBA Player News

Thompson will come off the bench Saturday versus the Thunder, Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Thompson is available after previously carrying a questionable tag with his illness. However, the Rockets may be cautious with his workload since he's not 100 percent, making him a risky play in daily formats.

Williams is not in the Thunder's starting lineup against the Rockets on Saturday, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports.

Williams made his first start of the season in Wednesday's 116-106 loss to the Spurs, when he finished with 25 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one steal over 35 minutes. He'll revert to a bench role Saturday due to the returns of Aaron Wiggins and Chet Holmgren.

Joe won't start Saturday's game against the Rockets, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports.

With Luguentz Dort back in action following a one-game absence due to knee inflammation, Joe will slide back to the second unit. Over 41 appearances off the bench so far this season, the 26-year-old guard has averaged 10.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.0 minutes per tilt.

Williams will come off the bench Saturday against the Rockets, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports.

This is an expected move with Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren returning from their minor injuries. Williams was terrific in a spot start Wednesday against the Spurs with 24 points (6-15 FG, 4-11 3Pt, 8-8 FT), 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 40 minutes.

Thompson (illness) is available for Saturday's game against the Thunder.

Thompson presumably woke up under the weather Saturday and was a late addition to the injury report, though he'll give it a go against the Thunder. The third-year guard has shot just 42.6 percent from the field over his last five outings, averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.8 combined steals-plus-blocks in 35.4 minutes per contest during that stretch.

Hield (recently traded) is available for Saturday's game against the Hornets.

Hield and Jonathan Kuminga (knee) were traded by the Warriors on Wednesday in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles). With the trade finalized, Hield is ready to make his debut for the Hawks, though he'll be competing with fellow veterans CJ McCollum and Gabe Vincent for minutes off the bench behind backcourt starters Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Hield averaged 11.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.1 threes and 1.0 steals over 20.3 minutes per game over his last nine games with Golden State.

Riley will start against the Nets on Saturday.

The Wizards have only eight players available for the front end of this back-to-back set, so Riley will join the starting five for the second time this season and should see significant minutes. The rookie first-rounder has scored in double figures in four straight games, averaging 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals across 27.3 minutes per game during that span.

Vukcevic will start Saturday's game against the Nets.

Alex Sarr is sitting out the front end of this back-to-back set with ankle soreness. Vukcevic is on the streaming radar Saturday, and he's coming off a solid showing Thursday against Detroit, when he recorded 14 points (5-7 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), three rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal across 11 minutes.

Watkins is in the Wizards' starting lineup against the Nets on Saturday.

Several Wizards players are unavailable for Saturday's contest due to injury or a pending trade, so Watkins will enter Washington's starting lineup for the third time this season. The rookie second-rounder spent most of the early portion of the season in the G League but has established a consistent role for himself off the bench of late. Watkins has averaged 5.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 22.3 minutes per game over his last 10 outings.

The Clippers are signing Banton to a 10-day contract, Law Murray of The Athletic reports Saturday.

Banton has spent the entire 2025-26 season with the Texas Legends in the G League, where he is averaging 23.7 points, 5.9 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks over 33.3 minutes per game. He'll give the Clippers some added backcourt depth in the absences of Darius Garland (toe/recently traded) and Bennedict Mathurin (recently traded). Banton appeared in 67 regular-season games (seven starts) for the Trail Blazers during the 2024-25 campaign and averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 threes over 16.7 minutes per game.