NBA Player News
-
Malik Monk SG | SAC
Kings' Malik Monk: Won't play Saturday
Monk (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Clippers.
Monk injured his right ankle during the Kings' 114-109 win over the Pacers on Tuesday. The injury is severe enough for the veteran guard to be sidelined for a second consecutive game, and his next opportunity to play is Sunday against the Jazz in Sacramento. Killian Hayes will likely operate in an elevated role off the bench in Monk's absence.
-
Nicolas Batum PF | LAC
Clippers' Nicolas Batum: Ruled out Saturday
Batum (rest) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Kings.
Batum will sit out the second leg of this back-to-back set, though he'll likely return for Monday's game against the Spurs. With the veteran forward sidelined, Kobe Sanders and Derrick Jones are candidates to see an uptick in playing time.
-
Darius Garland PG | LAC
Clippers' Darius Garland: Good to go Saturday
Garland (toe) is available for Saturday's game against the Kings.
Garland did not play in the front end of the Clippers' back-to-back set against the Bulls on Friday while managing a lingering left toe injury, but the veteran point guard will be available for Saturday's Western Conference clash. Over his last three outings, Garland has averaged 21.7 points, 6.3 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 4.3 threes and 1.3 steals over 26.3 minutes per game.
-
Jaxson Hayes C | LAL
Lakers' Jaxson Hayes: Available Saturday
Hayes (back) is available for Saturday's game against the Nuggets, Ryan Ward of SI.com reports.
Hayes will return to the lineup Saturday after a two-game absence due to back soreness. He is expected to resume his usual backup center duties behind Deandre Ayton, which will likely push Drew Timme out of the rotation.
-
Justin Edwards SF | PHI
76ers' Justin Edwards: Strong two-way performance Saturday
Edwards logged 19 points (9-13 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks over 31 minutes during the 76ers' 104-97 win over the Nets on Saturday.
Edwards was particularly effective in the third quarter with nine of his 19 points coming out of halftime, and he finished Saturday's game as the Sixers' second-leading scorer behind Quentin Grimes (28 points). Edwards also showed his defensive chops with a game-high three steals, and he has logged at least two steals in four of his last five outings. He has started each of the 76ers' last two games and will likely continue to operate in an elevated role for as long as Kelly Oubre (elbow), Tyrese Maxey (finger) and Paul George (suspension) are sidelined.
-
Quentin Grimes SG | PHI
76ers' Quentin Grimes: Game-high 28 points vs. Brooklyn
Grimes posted 28 points (10-22 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 7-7 FT), eight rebounds, four assists and one steal over 34 minutes during Saturday's 104-97 win over the Nets on Saturday.
The Nets attempted to make a late run in the fourth quarter, but Grimes kept the 76ers afloat with 15 of his game-high 28 points coming in the fourth quarter. Grimes has struggled from three-point range of late (2-for-18 from beyond the arc over his last three outings), but the fifth-year pro is working in an elevated role on offense due to the absences of Tyrese Maxey (finger), Kelly Oubre (elbow) and Paul George (suspension). Grimes has started each of the Sixers' last seven games, and over that span he has averaged 18.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals over 33.1 minutes per game.
-
Ryan Dunn SF | PHO
Suns' Ryan Dunn: Drops out of rotation
Dunn (coach's decision) went unused off the bench in Friday's 122-115 loss to the Raptors.
Dunn had been seeing his playing time trend down recently, but Friday marked the first time all season that the second-year forward failed to see any action for non-injury reasons. Though he's regarded as a versatile defender, Dunn's perimeter shooting hasn't developed as the Suns had hoped, as he's converting on just 32.6 percent of his three-point attempts on the season. Now that the Suns are at full strength on the wing and at forward sans Dillon Brooks (hand), Dunn looks like he could find himself outside of the rotation more often than not while head coach Jordan Ott prioritizes Grayson Allen, Haywood Highsmith and Rasheer Fleming in the second unit.
-
Luke Kornet C | SA
Spurs' Luke Kornet: Back to bench Saturday
Kornet is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game versus the Hornets.
Victor Wembanyama is back in the first unit after missing Thursday's loss to Denver with right ankle soreness. Kornet has averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 15.1 minutes per tilt across his last eight games off the bench, and he'll be battling for the backup center minutes with Mason Plumlee on Saturday.
-
Amir Coffey SF | PHO
Suns' Amir Coffey: Falls out of rotation
Coffey (coach's decision) went unused off the bench Friday in the Suns' 122-115 loss to the Raptors.
After appearing in seven of the Suns' first eight games out of the All-Star break while averaging 5.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 14.9 minutes, Coffey has now been left out of the rotation for two of the past three contests. Though Dillon Brooks (hand) is likely still a week or more away from a return, the Suns appear set to move forward with Grayson Allen, Haywood Highsmith and Rasheer Fleming as their primary reserve options at forward and on the wing, which leaves Coffey and Ryan Dunn on the outside looking in for rotation spots.
-
Gradey Dick SG | TOR
Raptors' Gradey Dick: Exits rotation Friday
Dick (coach's decision) went unused off the bench Friday in the Raptors' 122-115 win over the Suns.
Dick had appeared in each of Toronto's previous five contests while averaging 5.8 points in 6.8 minutes, but he ended up being the odd man out after head coach Darko Rajakovic condensed his rotation to nine Friday. The third-year wing's chances of re-emerging as a regular in the rotation will become even more difficult moving forward, as Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) appears to be closing in on a return, which will bring the Toronto roster back to full strength.