NBA Player News
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Kris Murray PF | POR
Trail Blazers' Kris Murray: Headed to bench
Murray will return to the bench for Sunday's game against the Warriors.
Donovan Clingan is back and starting, so Murray will shift to the second unit. As a reserve this season, Murray has recorded averages of 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
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Seth Curry SG | GS
Warriors' Seth Curry: Cleared to play Sunday
Curry (glute) will play Sunday against the Trail Blazers.
Curry was able to shake off a questionable tag for this contest. He hasn't been a consistent part of the rotation, however.
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Zach LaVine SG | SAC
Kings' Zach LaVine: Won't return Sunday
LaVine will not return to Sunday's game against the Timberwolves due to a left ankle injury.
LaVine twisted his left ankle early in Sunday's game, and while he attempted to play through it, ultimately, he bowed out during the third quarter. LaVine will end his evening with 10 points (4-8 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), one rebound, one assist and two turnovers in 16 minutes, and for now, he should be considered questionable for Thursday's game in Portland.
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Brandon Clarke C | MEM
Grizzlies' Brandon Clarke: Doubtful for Monday
Clarke (knee) is doubtful for Monday's game against the Clippers, Drew Hill of The Daily Memphian reports.
While it's unlikely that Clarke will play, simply receiving the doubtful tag can be considered a sign of progress. Clarke recently got in a practice with Memphis' G League affiliate, which is a big step in his rehab from knee surgery.
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Jaylon Tyson SF | CLE
Cavaliers' Jaylon Tyson: Double-double from second unit
Tyson closed Sunday's 119-111 overtime loss to the Hornets with 16 points (6-13 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 13 rebounds, one assist and one steal across 35 minutes off the bench.
The second-year forward moved back to the second unit for the first time since Nov. 28, but Tyson still saw a starter's workload and delivered his third double-double of the season, all three of which have come in December. Through six games this month, the 20th overall pick in the 2024 Draft is averaging 17.5 points, 9.0 boards, 2.5 assists and 1.8 threes, and Tyson's role isn't going to shrink as long as Evan Mobley (calf) remains sidelined.
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James Harden PG | LAC
Clippers' James Harden: Iffy for Monday
Harden is questionable for Monday's game against the Grizzlies with a left calf contusion, NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
This is a new injury for Harden, and it remains to be seen if he'll be able to push through it. The Clippers may opt to be cautious, as Harden has been shouldering a heavy workload. In his most recent outing, Harden produced 22 points (7-18 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 4-5 FT), three rebounds, seven assists and three steals across 40 minutes against the Rockets on Thursday.
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Donovan Mitchell SG | CLE
Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell: Can't find rhythm in OT loss
Mitchell posted 17 points (6-24 FG, 1-11 3Pt, 4-5 FT), two rebounds, seven assists, one block and two steals over 38 minutes during Sunday's 119-111 overtime loss to the Hornets.
It was Mitchell's worst shooting performance of the season, as he failed to score at least 28 points for the first time in December. The All-Star guard has still drained at least one three-pointer in every game he's played this season, and through the first six contests this month he's averaging 33.0 points, 5.5 assists, 4.3 boards, 4.0 threes and 1.3 steals.
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Nicolas Batum PF | LAC
Clippers' Nicolas Batum: Under the weather
Batum (illness) is questionable for Monday's game against the Grizzlies, NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
Batum was unable to participate in Sunday's practice due to an illness, which puts him in jeopardy of missing Monday's game. Kobe Brown and Bogdan Bogdanovic would be in line for more minutes off the bench if Batum is not cleared to play.
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Darius Garland PG | CLE
Cavaliers' Darius Garland: Strikes for team-high 26 in OT loss
Garland amassed 26 points (8-19 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 7-8 FT), two rebounds, nine assists, one block and one steal over 39 minutes during Sunday's 119-111 overtime loss to the Hornets.
The 26 points led the Cavaliers on the afternoon, as Garland reached 20 points for only the third time in his last eight games while continuing to sit out the second half of back-to-backs. Over that span, which stretches back to Nov. 21, Garland has averaged 16.4 points, 7.0 assists, 2.9 boards, 1.6 threes and 0.8 steals.
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Ryan Kalkbrenner C | CHA
Hornets' Ryan Kalkbrenner: Three rejections Sunday
Kalkbrenner ended Sunday's 119-111 overtime victory over the Cavaliers with seven points (3-4 FG, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, three blocks and one steal in 20 minutes.
The second-round rookie recorded multiple rejections for the sixth time in the last eight games (seven starts), although his three boards were his lowest total during that stretch. Kalkbrenner's defensive contributions are keeping him in the starting five, but over those eight contests he's averaging just 8.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 25.6 minutes.