NBA Player News
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Andrew Nembhard PG | IND
Pacers' Andrew Nembhard: Productive in return
Nembhard (calf) finished Saturday's 134-119 loss to the Spurs with 25 points (8-13 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 7-9 FT), seven assists, one rebound and one steal over 28 minutes.
Nembhard was cleared to play Saturday after missing the Pacers' prior three games due to a right calf contusion. The fourth-year guard scored 15 of his team-high 25 points in the second half and finished second on the Pacers in assists behind T.J. McConnell (eight). Nembhard has missed eight of Indiana's 22 games since Feb. 2 due to multiple injuries, but the 2022 second-round pick is enjoying a career-best season, due in most part to the absence of Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles).
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Jae'Sean Tate SF | HOU
Rockets' Jae'Sean Tate: Plays six minutes in return
Tate (knee) registered zero points (0-1 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and one rebound over six minutes during the Rockets' 123-122 win over the Heat on Saturday.
Tate was given the green light to return from a 14-game absence due to an MCL sprain in his right knee. All six of his minutes came in the third quarter. Even though he's healthy again, Tate is uncertain to be a regular part of the Houston rotation moving forward.
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Nikola Jovic PF | MIA
Heat's Nikola Jovic: Plays four minutes in return
Jovic recorded zero points (0-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and one rebound over four minutes during the Heat's 123-122 loss to the Rockets on Saturday.
The four-minute appearance was Jovic's first since Feb. 20. He missed 11 straight games due to a back injury but didn't play in coach's decision in the Heat's two games prior to Saturday's contest. All of Jovic's runtime against Houston came in the second quarter, and the fourth-year big man doesn't seem to have a clear path to consistent playing time, even while Miami had multiple key players Saturday due to injury.
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PJ Washington PF | DAL
Mavericks' P.J. Washington: Chips in 21 points in OT loss
Washington totaled 21 points (7-14 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 4-5 FT), six rebounds and one steal in 41 minutes during Saturday's 138-131 overtime loss to the Clippers.
Washington finished Saturday's overtime loss as the Mavericks' second-leading scorer behind Naji Marshall (28 points). Washington has scored at least 20 points in three of his last four outings, and over that span he has averaged 20.5 points on 50.9 percent shooting along with 8.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 3.0 threes, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks over 33.8 minutes per game.
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Cooper Flagg SF | DAL
Mavericks' Cooper Flagg: Teases triple-double Saturday
Flagg racked up 18 points (6-16 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 6-7 FT), 10 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks across 41 minutes during Saturday's 138-131 overtime loss to the Clippers.
Flagg scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half, though he went 1-for-8 from the field over the second half and overtime. He still finished as the Mavericks' third-leading scorer and finished second on the team in both rebounds and assists, falling two dimes shy from logging the first triple-double of his young NBA career. Flagg has averaged 18.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals over 31.7 minutes per game over his last 10 outings.
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Naji Marshall SG | DAL
Mavericks' Naji Marshall: Leads Dallas in scoring Saturday
Marshall finished with 28 points (11-23 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 5-7 FT), two rebounds, four assists and two steals over 37 minutes during Saturday's 138-131 overtime loss to the Clippers.
Marshall struggled from deep, but he scored 19 of his team-high 28 points during the second half and overtime and was the only Mavericks player to score 20-plus points in Saturday's loss. The sixth-year pro has scored at least 25 points in three of his last four outings and has connected on 47.8 percent of his field-goal attempts over that span. Marshall is averaging a career-high 15.3 points per game this season along with 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 threes and 1.0 steals over 29.6 minutes per game.
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Kawhi Leonard SF | LAC
Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Drops 34 points in overtime win
Leonard posted 34 points (12-22 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds, five assists, one block and two steals across 36 minutes during Saturday's 138-131 overtime win over the Mavericks.
Leonard and Darius Garland were cleared for Saturday's game after both missed Thursday's loss to the Pelicans due to injury management. The duo combined for 75 of the Clippers' 138 points, with Leonard leading the team with a plus-23 point differential. It was Leonard's 20th game scoring at least 30 points and the ninth time this season that he connected on at least five three-pointers. He has averaged 29.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.6 threes and 1.8 steals over 30.6 minutes per game since March 1.
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Darius Garland PG | LAC
Clippers' Darius Garland: Huge performance vs. Dallas
Garland ended Saturday's 138-131 overtime win over Dallas with 41 points (15-24 FG, 8-12 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, 11 assists, one block and one steal in 39 minutes.
Garland was cleared to return for Saturday's game after a one-game absence due to left toe injury management. The veteran point guard made a big impact in his return, becoming the first Clippers player in franchise history with 40-plus points, 10-plus assists and seven-plus three-pointers in a game. This is the kind of production the Clippers were envisioning from Garland after acquiring him from the Cavaliers in early February in exchange for James Harden. Since making his Clippers debut March 2, Garland has averaged 21.4 points, 7.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 3.9 threes and 1.1 steals over 28.4 minutes per game.
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De'Anthony Melton SG | GS
Warriors' De'Anthony Melton: Leads Golden State in scoring
Melton ended Saturday's 126-110 loss to Atlanta with 20 points (7-15 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), two rebounds, four assists and one steal over 22 minutes.
Melton was given the green light to play Saturday after initially being tagged as questionable due to a knee injury. Although he played just 22 minutes, the veteran wing still led the Warriors in scoring and gave the team a boost in the second quarter with nine points in the frame. Since joining the Warriors' starting lineup permanently in early February, Melton has averaged 15.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.9 threes and 1.6 steals over 25.0 minutes per game.
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Zaccharie Risacher SF | ATL
Hawks' Zaccharie Risacher: Gives Atlanta spark off bench
Risacher registered 17 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 4-5 FT) and two rebounds over 23 minutes during Saturday's 126-110 win over Golden State.
Risacher gave the Hawks a spark off the bench during Saturday's win, scoring 13 of his 17 points in the first half to finish tied with Nickeil Alexander-Walker as the team's third-leading scorer behind Dyson Daniels (28 points) and CJ McCollum (23 points). It's been an up-and-down season for Risacher, who was moved to a bench role following the All-Star break, though he's scored 33 points over his last two outings while going 11-for-14 from the field in that span (including 6-for-7 from three-point range).