NBA Player News
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Julius Randle PF | MIN
Timberwolves' Julius Randle: Struggles from field again
Randle produced 11 points (3-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-6 FT), six rebounds, four assists and one steal over 28 minutes during Wednesday's 153-128 loss to the Clippers.
Randle was coming off a 14-point performance in the loss to the Lakers during the first leg of this back-to-back set, and the veteran forward continues to ride a woeful stretch in which his scoring numbers have fallen off significantly. This was his fourth straight game without reaching the 20-point mark. Over that stretch, the veteran forward is shooting 41.3 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from three, numbers well below his season-long averages.
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Bennedict Mathurin SF | LAC
Clippers' Bennedict Mathurin: Thrives off bench in win
Mathurin supplied 22 points (5-10 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 10-12 FT), two rebounds, three assists and one steal over 25 minutes during Wednesday's 153-128 win over the Timberwolves.
Even though Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland carried the team offensively, the Clippers wouldn't have won this game as comfortably as they did without Mathurin's contributions. The forward, who joined the Clippers on the deal that sent Ivica Zubac to the Pacers, was the team's second-highest scorer and has been a regular scoring weapon off the bench for Los Angeles. Mathurin has scored 20-plus points in four of his last five outings off the bench, averaging 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in that span.
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Darius Garland PG | LAC
Clippers' Darius Garland: Reaches 20-point mark once again
Garland amassed 21 points (8-13 FG, 5-9 3Pt), one rebound, six assists and two steals in 23 minutes during Wednesday's 153-128 victory over the Timberwolves.
Garland didn't debut for the Clippers until March 2 and made his first start last Saturday in a win over the Grizzlies. The Clippers have gone 3-0 with Garland as a starter, and the former Cavaliers floor general has posted excellent numbers so far with averages of 21.7 points, 6.3 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Garland has scored at least 21 points in his three starts while shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three, so the arrow is definitely pointing up for him.
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Kawhi Leonard SF | LAC
Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Explodes for 45 points in big win
Leonard totaled 45 points (15-20 FG, 6-9 3Pt, 9-10 FT), five rebounds, five assists and two steals across 32 minutes during Wednesday's 153-128 victory over Minnesota.
This 45-point outing was tied as Leonard's second-best scoring output of the campaign, falling short of his 55-point effort in a win over the Pistons on Dec. 28. It also extended a very productive stretch for the star forward, who has now scored at least 28 points in five outings in a row. Leonard is averaging a robust line of 29.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game in his 10 appearances since the All-Star break, a stretch in which he's been one of the most valuable fantasy options around the league.
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Kyle Filipowski PF | UTA
Jazz's Kyle Filipowski: Comes close to double-double
Filipowski recorded 15 points (5-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 4-6 FT), seven rebounds, five assists and one block in 28 minutes during Wednesday's 134-117 loss to the Knicks.
Filipowski finished just three rebounds away from recording what would've been his fourth consecutive double-double, and the former Duke standout has done a good job adjusting to life as a starter for the Jazz. Filipowski has started every game since the All-Star break and failed to score in double figures just once, averaging 15.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game over that 10-game stretch. He should remain in the starting role since the other center options have been ruled out for the season, including Walker Kessler (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic (nose) and Jaren Jackson (knee).
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Ace Bailey SG | UTA
Jazz's Ace Bailey: Puts up 21 points in loss
Bailey provided 21 points (8-16 FG, 5-10 3Pt), four rebounds, two assists and one steal over 36 minutes during Wednesday's 134-117 loss to the Knicks.
The rookie took a while to get going, but he's been putting up excellent numbers in recent weeks for a shorthanded Utah squad. This game marked Bailey's return from a one-game absence, and he's scored in double digits in six of his last seven outings while reaching the 20-point plateau thrice in that span. The Rutgers product is now averaging 16.9 points per contest since the All-Star break.
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Brice Sensabaugh SG | UTA
Jazz's Brice Sensabaugh: Thrives in starting role
Sensabaugh notched 29 points (9-19 FG, 6-11 3Pt, 5-6 FT), five rebounds, five assists and one steal over 30 minutes during Wednesday's 134-117 loss to New York.
Sensabaugh started for a second straight game and surpassed the 20-point mark again, as he was coming off a 21-point effort in the win over the Warriors on Monday. Sensabaugh's role often defines his numbers, but he's showcased his scoring ability coming off the bench. The former Florida standout has scored in double digits in all but two of his last nine outings while starting just twice in that span. During that eight-game stretch, Sensabaugh is averaging 16.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest.
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OG Anunoby SF | NY
Knicks' OG Anunoby: Stuffs stat sheet in win
Anunoby finished Wednesday's 134-117 victory over the Jazz with 22 points (7-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 5-5 FT), two rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals in 31 minutes.
Anunoby had a slump right after the All-Star break with three single-digit games in his first four contests, but it's safe to say those issues are no longer a problem. Anunoby has scored at least 22 points in three of his last four games and is making his presence felt in other areas, ultimately averaging 19.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.9 steals per contest since the beginning of March.
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Jalen Brunson PG | NY
Knicks' Jalen Brunson: Scores 28 points again
Brunson finished Wednesday's 134-117 victory over the Jazz with 28 points (7-16 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 10-11 FT), four rebounds, eight assists and three steals across 33 minutes.
Jordan Clarkson's performance off the bench was eye-popping, but it was Brunson who set the tone offensively for the Knicks and posted a similar line to the one he had in the loss to the Clippers on Monday. This was Brunson's third consecutive game with at least 24 points and seven assists. He's averaging 22.1 points, 10.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds per contest since the beginning of March, a span in which he's racked up two double-doubles in seven appearances.
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Karl-Anthony Towns C | NY
Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns: Double-double streak snapped
Towns closed Wednesday's 134-117 victory over Utah with 21 points (8-13 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds and seven assists across 30 minutes.
Towns finished just three rebounds away from recording what would've been his third consecutive double-double with at least 20 points. He also did a good job as a playmaker and notched at least seven assists for a second consecutive contest. Towns' numbers seem to be trending in the right direction of late. He has scored at least 17 points in six games in a row, tallying five double-doubles while averaging 22.7 points, 12.8 boards and 4.2 dimes per contest over that stretch.