Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington is available for Tuesday's game against the Hornets, making his return after missing three matchups with a left ankle sprain. He is expected to immediately rejoin the starting lineup, shifting Caleb Martin to a bench role. With the Mavericks dealing with multiple injuries, Washington's minutes are unlikely to be heavily restricted in his return.
Mavericks' Cooper Flagg is ruled out for Tuesday's game, extending his absence to eight consecutive contests due to a left mid-foot sprain. Despite the injury limiting him to just four games in February, he remains a strong Rookie of the Year contender, averaging 20.4 points and 6.6 rebounds. Optimism surrounds his potential return as early as Thursday. His ongoing foot issue is a significant factor in the tight ROY race against Kon Knueppel.
At this point of the year, with the Lakers at the three-fourths mark of the regular season, all that’s needed is a sign. A sign that as the team has gotten healthier, they have something they can point to that indicates growth in chemistry or continuity – especially among their three best players in Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Lineups with Doncic, Reaves, James and Hachimura played just nine minutes in the previous four games compared to 127 minutes in the previous 12 games the Big 3 shared the floor.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are aiming for a third consecutive win as they host the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite tempered offensive outputs since the All-Star break against tougher defenses, projections indicate a return to form for James, particularly in playmaking, against the Pelicans' weak defense. He is expected to exceed 5.5 assists, with forecasts ranging from 6.2 to 7.5. James also recorded eight rebounds and eight assists in his last matchup against New Orleans. Lineups with James, Doncic, and Reaves have a positive plus/minus for the season.
Tyronn Lue didn’t want Darius Garland’s first minutes with the Clippers to come in the shadow of Kawhi Leonard. That meant the uniform wasn’t the only thing new for the 26-year-old guard Monday night in his Los Angeles debut. Garland scored 12 points in 23 minutes in a 114-101 win against the Warriors — off the bench. It was Garland’s first time taking the court since the Cavaliers sent him to LA for James Harden. Leonard led LA with 23 points.
Golden State Warriors two-way guard Nate Williams stated he does not fear guarding stars like Kawhi Leonard, attributing his mindset to his upbringing and faith. Williams defended Leonard for over a minute, allowing only one missed field goal attempt. He scored a career-high 18 points in the Warriors' loss. Leonard led LA with 23 points in a win where Darius Garland debuted.
Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black has been officially ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Wizards due to a quadriceps injury, marking his second consecutive absence. He was initially probable before being downgraded. Tristan da Silva is expected to start in his place, and Jevon Carter will also likely see increased minutes in the Magic's rotation.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown is not on the injury report for Wednesday's game against the Hornets, confirming his availability. He missed Monday's contest against the Bucks due to an illness. With Brown's return, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White are expected to see reduced usage in the Celtics' rotation.
Boston Celtics big man Neemias Queta is off the injury report and cleared to return for Wednesday's game against the Hornets after being rested Monday. The 26-year-old is expected to send Nikola Vucevic back to the bench. Over his last five appearances, Queta has been highly efficient, averaging 13.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.6 assists in 24.6 minutes, shooting 69.2% from the field.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has been named Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for February, his first such honor. White anchored the Celtics' league-best defensive rating (105.5) for the month, leading all NBA guards with 75 contested shots and averaging 1.7 blocks per game. Praised by coaches and teammates, he's averaging career-highs of 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals this season, with some considering him a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Houston Rockets' Amen Thompson is reportedly being overworked by coach Ime Udoka, with his usage rate and pick-and-roll ball-handler frequency significantly increasing as he transitions to starting point guard. Playing 36.9 minutes per game (second in the league) and often guarding opponents' top scorers, his Box Plus/Minus has slipped. Concerns are growing that this heavy workload could lead to injury, with the severity currently unknown.
Golden State Warriors two-way guard Nate Williams delivered a career-high 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including three 3-pointers and 5-of-6 free throws, along with two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 22 minutes during the team's loss to the Clippers. Williams, who also guarded Kawhi Leonard, stated his "no-fear" approach. Head coach Steve Kerr praised his energy and competitiveness. This breakout performance followed a hectic four days that included G League play and becoming a father.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, shooting a career-low 39% from the free-throw line this season, dismisses underhanded attempts as "silly as hell." He attributes his struggles to a lack of outside shooting in practice, contrasting it with his 60% rookie year when such shots were emphasized. Despite his offensive role being limited to rebounds and screens, Robinson has been a success, leading the East in offensive rebounds. He remains healthy via load management, sitting out back-to-backs, including Wednesday's game vs. the Thunder.
Kon Knueppel is argued to be the NBA Rookie of the Year over Cooper Flagg, despite Flagg's higher raw stats. Knueppel leads in advanced metrics like TS% (65.1 vs. 51.5) and Win Share (+6.1 vs. +3.2), and broke the rookie single-season three-point record. While Flagg is the focal point for the Mavericks, Knueppel significantly impacts the surprising Hornets. Flagg's midfoot injury could also influence the race.
Atlanta Hawks fans are enthusiastic about Jonathan Kuminga's recent performance, but Golden State Warriors fans have seen similar promising starts before. The question remains whether a change in team context will lead to a different long-term outcome for Kuminga.
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant expressed gratitude for the NBA's second apron, believing it contributes to league parity and makes it an exciting time to be a player and a fan. He stated that the current landscape is 'fun for everybody watching the game.'
Tristan Vukcevic (Wizards) will miss Tuesday's game against the Magic due to a left thigh contusion. This marks his second consecutive absence. With Anthony Gill also battling an illness, the Wizards' frontcourt depth is further impacted, potentially leading to Julian Reese and Will Riley seeing increased minutes at center.
Kyshawn George (Wizards) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against Orlando due to a right elbow sprain. He sustained the injury during Monday's game against the Rockets and will require at least one contest to recover. His absence is expected to provide expanded roles for Bilal Coulibaly and Will Riley in the upcoming game.
Dejounte Murray (Pelicans) is a top fantasy basketball pickup, showing strong form since returning from an Achilles injury. In his three games back, he's averaging 15.6 points with a .545 effective field goal percentage. His point total for Tuesday's game against the Lakers is set at 13.5, a favorable matchup given the Lakers' defensive rating. Sportsbooks are expected to adjust to his improved play soon.
Nic Claxton (Nets) has been cleared to play in Tuesday's game against Miami, after being sidelined for Sunday's contest against the Cavaliers due to a thumb injury. His return means he is no longer on the injury report, and Day'Ron Sharpe's fantasy value will likely decrease as he returns to a bench role.
