NBA Player News
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Cade Cunningham SG | DET
Pistons' Cade Cunningham: Sniffs triple-double in win
Cunningham contributed 17 points (6-11 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 15 assists, eight rebounds and three steals across 30 minutes in Friday's 126-110 win over the Grizzlies.
After scoring just eight points on six shots during Thursday's win over Philadelphia, Cunningham was a bit more aggressive hunting his shot, though he has totaled just 27 field-goal attempts over his last three outings. However, he excelled as a playmaker yet again, dishing out double-digit assists for a fourth consecutive contest. He led all players in assists while finishing second on the Pistons in both points and rebounds. Additionally, the star guard matched the game-high mark in steals.
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Javon Small PG | MEM
Grizzlies' Javon Small: Drops career-high 23 points
Small posted 23 points (6-9 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 7-7 FT), three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 23 minutes during Friday's 126-110 loss to the Pistons.
Small continues to deliver, despite shifting between the bench and the starting unit. With Memphis openly resting players, Small's playing time has been tough to project. However, he has scored in double figures in four of the past five games, averaging 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.0 three-pointers during that span, which is good enough for top-60 value. While there is certainly an element of risk, Small is someone to consider adding across most formats.
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Al Horford C | GS
Warriors' Al Horford: Exits early with tight calf
Horford won't return to Friday's game against the Timberwolves due to right calf tightness. He finished with three points (1-3 FG, 1-3 3Pt) and one rebound in five minutes.
Horford entered the starting five in place of Draymond Green (back) but checked out of the game with just over seven minutes remaining in the first quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game shortly thereafter. The absences of Green and Horford for the rest of the evening should open up more playing time for Kristaps Porzingis and Quinten Post in the frontcourt. The Warriors will likely send Horford in for further testing before deciding on his availability for Sunday's game against the Knicks, but the veteran big man would appear to be questionable -- at best -- for that contest.
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RJ Barrett SG | TOR
Raptors' RJ Barrett: Posts 22 points in Friday's win
Barrett logged 22 points (9-16 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block over 35 minutes during Toronto's 122-115 win over Phoenix on Friday.
Barrett gave the Raptors a boost in the second half with 17 of his 22 points coming over the final two quarters of Friday's game, and he finished as the team's second-leading scorer behind Brandon Ingram (36 points). Barrett has seen a scoring uptick as of late, posting at least 20 points in seven of his last nine outings. Over that nine-game span, he has averaged 21.4 points on 54.7 percent shooting along with 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 threes over 32.9 minutes per game.
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Dwight Powell C | DAL
Mavericks' Dwight Powell: Double-doubles in 21 minutes
Powell ended Friday's 138-105 loss to Cleveland with 11 points (4-5 FG, 3-3 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals in 21 minutes.
Powell had mostly been out of the rotation the past three games, but with Daniel Gafford taking a rest day and Marvin Bagley getting abused by Evan Mobley, Powell got some time to shine in the blowout loss. This was his third double-double of the season, but he'll likely return to being a fringe rotation player Sunday in Cleveland with Gafford expected back for that one.
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Naji Marshall SG | DAL
Mavericks' Naji Marshall: Scores 17 points with seven boards
Marshall produced 17 points (7-12 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-4 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and one steal across 27 minutes during Friday's 138-105 loss to the Cavaliers.
This was a nice bounce-back performance from Marshall, who was held to just five points on 2-for-7 shooting his last time out. Marshall continues to alternate double-digit scoring games with single-digit stinkers, which makes him a tough guy to roster in standard fantasy leagues.
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Cooper Flagg SF | DAL
Mavericks' Cooper Flagg: Nets 25 points with five dimes
Flagg finished Friday's 138-105 loss to the Cavaliers with 25 points (8-16 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 8-8 FT), four rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes.
Flagg got off to a slow start, scoring just six points on 2-for-8 shooting in the first half, but he flipped the script after halftime. This was his most points and free throws since returning from the foot injury, and it's encouraging to see him starting to regain his rhythm. Flagg playing in games on back-to-back nights is also a good sign.
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Evan Mobley PF | CLE
Cavaliers' Evan Mobley: Scores 29 points with seven boards
Mobley produced 29 points (12-15 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 3-7 FT), seven rebounds, two assists and one steal across 23 minutes during Friday's 138-105 win over the Mavericks.
Mobley tied his season high in points, and he got whatever he wanted throughout the game. The 24-year-old big man is flirting with top-40 value on the season behind averages of 17.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 triples and 1.9 blocks per game.
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Donovan Mitchell SG | CLE
Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell: Scores 24 points with eight assists
Mitchell registered 24 points (11-16 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), two rebounds, eight assists and two steals in 29 minutes during Friday's 138-105 win over the Mavericks.
Mitchell busted out of his shooting funk by staying aggressive and relentlessly attacking the paint, and the Mavericks had no answers for him. Since James Harden joined the team, Mitchell has averaged 25.9 points, 5.5 assists, 1.9 triples and 1.7 steals per game.
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James Harden PG | CLE
Cavaliers' James Harden: Nets 17 points with seven assists
Harden logged 17 points (6-11 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists and one steal across 29 minutes during Friday's 138-105 victory over the Mavericks.
Harden has been hot over the past three games, during which he has averaged 22.7 points per game on 60.5 percent shooting from the field, 6.7 assists and 3.7 triples per contest. He'll look to keep his foot on the gas pedal in Sunday's rematch with Dallas.