NBA Player News
-
Austin Reaves SG | LAL
Lakers' Austin Reaves: Uncertain to play Thursday
Reaves questionable for Thursday's game against the Heat due to a right forearm contusion.
Along with LeBron James (foot) and Luka Doncic (hip), Reaves is under consideration for a maintenance day as the Lakers head into the second leg of a back-to-back set. During Wednesday's 124-116 win over the Rockets, Reaves turned in 14 points (4-9 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 5-6 FT), eight assists, three assists and one block over 39 minutes.
-
Luka Doncic PG | LAL
Lakers' Luka Doncic: Iffy for Thursday
Doncic is questionable for Thursday's game against Miami with right hip soreness.
Presumably, the Lakers are considering a maintenance day for the second leg of this back-to-back set -- LeBron James (foot) and Austin Reaves (arm) are also questionable. Doncic generated 40 points (12-25 FG, 7-17 3Pt, 9-14 FT), nine rebounds, 10 assists and one steal across 38 minutes in Wednesday's 124-116 win over the Rockets, so the Lakers may play it safe here.
-
Donovan Mitchell SG | CLE
Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell: Listed as questionable
Mitchell is questionable for Thursday's game against the Bulls with a left eye contusion.
Mitchell was a very late addition to the injury report, which isn't a great sign in fantasy hoops. If Cleveland's franchise player is unable to give it a go, the team could rely more on Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis and Max Strus.
-
Jalen Brunson PG | NY
Knicks' Jalen Brunson: Fully practices Thursday
Brunson (ankle) practiced in full Thursday, Steve Popper of Newsday reports.
After missing Tuesday's game against the Pacers, Brunson continues to trend in the right direction. Knicks head coach Mike Brown said Tuesday that he believes Brunson will return to the lineup Friday against the Nets, and his availability at Thursday's practice reinforces that belief.
-
Bilal Coulibaly SF | WAS
Wizards' Bilal Coulibaly: Listed out for Thursday
Coulibaly (heel) is out for Thursday's game against Detroit.
The second-year forward will be sidelined for a second straight contest, but he remains day-to-day. In Coulibaly's absence, the Wizards could lean more heavily into rookie Will Riley, who is averaging 15.4 points in 35.6 minutes per game over the last five contests.
-
Alex Sarr C | WAS
Wizards' Alex Sarr: Cleared to play Thursday
Sarr (toe) is available to play Thursday against the Pistons.
After missing the Wizards' first two games of the week -- first due to right hamstring injury management, then due to left big toe capsulitis -- Sarr will make his return to action Thursday. Since returning to action March 8 following a month-long absence due to a right hamstring strain, Sarr has yet to clear 25 minutes in any of his four appearances. Expect the Wizards to keep his workload in check once again Thursday as he returns from a two-game absence.
-
Brooks Barnhizer SG | OKC
Thunder's Brooks Barnhizer: Gets garbage time minutes Wednesday
Barnhizer played the final 12 minutes of Wednesday's 121-92 win over the Nets, finishing with three rebounds.
After a stint in the G League with the Oklahoma City Blue, Barnhizer rejoined an undermanned parent club Wednesday for the second leg of the back-to-back set. Even with six players sitting out, Barnhizer wasn't included in the rotation, as all of his playing time came while Oklahoma City sat on a comfortable lead.
-
Jalen Slawson SF | IND
Pacers' Jalen Slawson: Provides stellar line as starter
Slawson generated 17 points (6-10 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 3-3 FT), seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and one steal across 37 minutes Wednesday in the Pacers' 127-119 loss to the Trail Blazers.
With Indiana holding out seven players for Wednesday's contest, Slawson entered the starting five for the second time in three games and came through with a magnificent all-around line for those that streamed him into fantasy lineups or used him in DFS. After converting on an unsustainably low 27.3 percent of his field-goal attempts through his first four games with the Pacers, Slawson enjoyed some positive regression Wednesday and coupled his improved shooting with strong outputs in the defensive categories. While he shouldn't be counted on to provide this level of offensive production moving forward, Slawson -- who has averaged 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals in 37 games in the G League this season -- could prove to be a major asset in the defensive categories if he's able to maintain a regular 25-plus-minute role for the banged-up Pacers. Fantasy managers should bear in mind, however, that Slawson will have some limited availability moving forward while he's signed to a two-way contract; he's eligible to play in eight of the Pacers' remaining 12 contests.
-
Terry Rozier SG | MIA
Heat's Terry Rozier: Expected to be released
The Heat are planning to release Rozier in the near future, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
Chiang expects this to be done in the coming weeks and notes that Rozier will not be on the postseason roster. He's been away from the team since being arrested back in October as part of a federal investigation related to sports gambling.
-
Cade Cunningham SG | DET
Pistons' Cade Cunningham: Set for re-evaluation in two weeks
The Pistons confirmed Thursday that Cunningham has been diagnosed with a left lung pneumothorax and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Cunningham exited in the first quarter of Tuesday's win over the Wizards due to what the Pistons initially believed was a back spasm, but further testing on the two-time All-Star revealed a lung issue. Though the Pistons will see where Cunningham is at on the health front in two weeks before updating his availability for the remainder of the season, Shams Charania of ESPN reported earlier Thursday that Detroit is more optimistic that the 24-year-old will be available for the start of the playoffs, which begin April 18. In the meantime, Daniss Jenkins is expected to replace Cunningham in the starting five, while supporting players such as Tobias Harris, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Caris LeVert and Marcus Sasser could take on larger roles.