NBA Player News
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Bruce Brown SG | DEN
Nuggets' Bruce Brown: Muted effort in win
Brown accumulated four points (1-8 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, five assists and two steals over 28 minutes during Wednesday's 103-84 win over the Celtics.
Brown had been trending up for several weeks prior to this dud, so fantasy managers in deeper formats may want to give him another chance. Over his last seven outings, Brown has averaged 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 three-pointers in 26.8 minutes per game.
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Gary Payton II PG | GS
Warriors' Gary Payton: Terrific line in win
Payton logged 19 points (8-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt), five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 28 minutes during Wednesday's 133-112 win over Memphis.
The Warriors were extremely shorthanded for the second leg of this back-to-back set, allowing Payton to step into an expanded role on the offensive side of things. Fantasy managers will not want to chase this line, however, as it has the makings of an obvious outlier.
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Maxime Raynaud C | SAC
Kings' Maxime Raynaud: Settling into starting role
Raynaud chipped in 11 points (5-9 FG, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds and two assists over 29 minutes during Wednesday's 128-97 loss to the Rockets.
With Dylan Cardwell (ankle) likely out for another several weeks, Raynaud is holding down the No. 1 center spot for the Kings. Raynuad has started eight consecutive games, averaging 13.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 29.5 minutes per contest while shooting 56.1 percent from the field.
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Craig Porter Jr. PG | CLE
Cavaliers' Craig Porter: Picks up slack with nine assists
Porter finished with eight points (3-4 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-1 FT), two rebounds and nine assists in 22 minutes during Wednesday's 118-116 loss to the Bucks.
Porter capitalized on the absences of Donovan Mitchell (groin) and James Harden (thumb), handing out a team-high nine dimes off the bench. However, Wednesday marked just the second time Porter has appeared in Cleveland's last four outings, putting him at risk of falling out of the rotation altogether once the Cavaliers' dynamic backcourt duo is back healthy.
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Keon Ellis SG | CLE
Cavaliers' Keon Ellis: Steps up off bench Wednesday
Ellis contributed 14 points (5-9 FG, 4-8 3Pt), four rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals over 29 minutes during Wednesday's 118-116 loss to the Bucks.
Ellis took advantage of the absences of Donovan Mitchell (groin) and James Harden (thumb). Ellis is carving out a more stable role in Cleveland than he was in Sacramento, averaging 6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks in 21.6 minutes per contest in nine games for the Cavaliers.
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Gradey Dick SG | TOR
Raptors' Gradey Dick: Removed from rotation
Dick (coach's decision) went unused off the bench Wednesday in the Raptors' 110-107 loss to the Spurs.
Dick had appeared in each of the Raptors' first 58 games of the season, but after he was held under 10 minutes in two of the previous three contests, he was dropped from the rotation entirely. Rather than sticking with Dick on the second unit, head coach Darko Rajakovic went with Jamison Battle (six minutes) as the 10th man in the rotation. While Dick's removal from the rotation could prove to be a short-term arrangement, the Raptors still aren't expected to make the third-year wing a major priority when the team is at full strength.
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Keegan Murray PF | SAC
Kings' Keegan Murray: Out with ankle sprain
Murray is out for Thursday's game against Dallas with a sprained left ankle.
Murray re-aggravated the injury during Wednesday's game against the Rockets, and he recently missed 20 games with the sprain. The sharpshooter can be considered day-to-day until the team offers an update on his status. His absence allows Daeqwon Plowden and Patrick Baldwin to play more minutes for the depleted Kings.
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Donovan Clingan C | POR
Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Dealing with illness
Clingan is questionable for Thursday's game against the Bulls due to an illness.
Clingan was a late addition to the injury report, and that's not a great sign for his availability. Robert Williams (foot) is also questionable, so the Trail Blazers could be very thin up front. Meanwhile, rookie center Yang Hansen (back) is also questionable.
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Russell Westbrook PG | SAC
Kings' Russell Westbrook: Ruled out Thursday
Westbrook is out for Thursday's game against Dallas with a bruised right thigh.
The veteran guard's next opportunity to play comes Sunday against the Lakers. With Westbrook sitting out Thursday, Nique Clifford and Devin Carter should both see a larger share of backcourt minutes.