NBA News
3 observations after Sixers ride hot start to victory in masked Embiid's return
A masked Joel Embiid posted 34 points and nine assists Friday night in the Sixers' 108-98 win over the Hornets.
(Dec 21 -- Yahoo Sports)
Jimmy Butler leaves Heat's 104 97 loss to Thunder with 1st quarter illness
The Thunder won their seventh consecutive game, improving to a Western Conference best 22 5.
(Dec 21 -- Yahoo Sports)
Jimmy Butler: Uncertain to play Saturday
Butler, who left Friday's game against the Thunder due to an illness, will not travel with the team to Orlando and his status for Saturday's game for the Magic is uncertain, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
(Dec 21 -- Rotowire)
In Friday's loss to the Thunder, Duncan Robinson accounted for 13 points (4-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, six assists, and three 3-pointers in 30 minutes.
From an accuracy standpoint, Robinson didn't have the best night, shooting 3-of-11 from three. However, the six assists were a positive for managers who have him rostered. That matched his season-high, but Robinson has a long way to go before he becomes anything more than a specialist in most fantasy leagues. Rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues, he only has value where there's a clear need for points and 3-pointers.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. recorded a stat line of nine points (3-of-8 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs), six rebounds, and one steal in 30 minutes in Friday's loss to the Thunder.
Jaquez's stat line was nondescript, with his starting the third quarter being more notable. The Heat lost Jimmy Butler (illness) during the first half, and he also sprained his left ankle. If Butler cannot play in Saturday's game against the Magic, Jaquez may be Erik Spoelstra's choice to fill the resulting void in the starting lineup.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)
Isaiah Hartenstein finished Friday's win over the Heat with 13 points (4-of-6 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), 18 rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 34 minutes.
Hartenstein finished Friday's win with his ninth double-double of the season, matching his high with 18 rebounds. The offseason addition continues to flourish, closing in on top-50 per-game value in 9-cat formats. With it being unknown when Chet Holmgren will return from his hip injury, managers who have Hartenstein rostered are well-positioned to benefit.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)
Luguentz Dort shot 5-of-7 from the field in Friday's win over the Heat, tallying 14 points, one rebound, two steals, and four 3-pointers in 32 minutes.
Dort did not shoot the ball well in Tuesday's NBA Cup final (which didn't count toward official stats), and that carried over into Thursday's win over the Magic. He rebounded well on Friday, shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and finishing as one of four Thunder starters in double figures. Dort remains a top-100 player in 9-cat formats, and he's worth adding ahead of Oklahoma City's four-game Week 9 slate.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)
Jalen Williams accumulated 33 points (12-of-25 FGs, 5-of-7 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, one block, and four 3-pointers in 36 minutes in Friday's 104-97 win over Miami.
While Tuesday's NBA Cup final against the Bucks did not count toward official statistics, Williams also struggled in Thursday's win over the Magic. So, a night like Friday was much-needed for the Thunder star, who finished with a season-high 33 points. JDub's fantasy value took a slight hit due to his recent shooting struggles, but he remains a top-20 player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Oklahoma City plays four games during Week 9, beginning with the Wizards on Monday.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)
Khris Middleton accumulated 14 points (5-of-12 FG, 3-of-5 FTs), three rebounds, three assists, and one 3-pointer in 19 minutes in Friday's 124-101 loss to Cleveland.
After scoring 11 points in his first two appearances of the season, Middleton scored six on 2-of-9 shooting in the two games that followed. Accuracy remains an issue, but the Bucks forward was more active as a scorer on Friday. Middleton established season-highs in points and shot attempts as Milwaukee was without Damian Lillard (calf). With the Bucks hosting the Wizards on Saturday, fantasy managers with Middleton rostered should plan for him to sit that out.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)
AJ Green shot 0-of-4 from the field in Friday's loss to Cleveland, going scoreless with one rebound, four assists, one steal, and one blocked shot in 17 minutes.
With Damian Lillard (calf) out, Bucks coach Doc Rivers started Green instead of another point guard (Delon Wright). That approach backfired spectacularly, with Green struggling in 17 minutes on the court. Wright (two points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 17 minutes) started the third quarter, but the damage was done by then. Saturday's matchup with the Wizards should be better for Milwaukee, whether Lillard plays or not.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)
Evan Mobley tallied 15 points (6-of-10 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), seven rebounds, and four assists in 27 minutes in Friday's win over the Bucks.
Friday's blowout win was a routine night at the office for the Cavaliers' big men, with Mobley playing 27 minutes and Jarrett Allen (10 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals) playing 25. First-year head coach Kenny Atkinson vowed to unlock Mobley's full potential, and that approach has made the fourth-year big a top-25 player in 9-cat formats. Meanwhile, Allen continues to provide top-50 value starting alongside Mobley. On Saturday, they'll face a Joel Embiid-less 76ers squad to end Week 8.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)
Max Strus amassed nine points (3-of-8 FGs), two assists, and three 3-pointers in 19 minutes in Friday's win over Milwaukee.
For the first time this season, "the Strus was loose" on Friday. A fixture in the starting lineup last season, he came off the bench against the Bucks and fired up eight shots (all 3-pointers) in 19 minutes. Once he's no longer restricted, Strus will be most valuable to category league managers needing points and 3-pointers. Plan for him to sit out Saturday's game against the 76ers, as it may be too soon for Strus to play both games of back-to-backs.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)
Embiid returns with 34 in win, will sit again Sat.
Sixers center Joel Embiid, back from a one-game absence due to a sinus fracture, scored 24 of his game-high 34 points in the second half as Philadelphia topped the Hornets 108-98.
(Dec 20 -- ESPN)
Cody Martin amassed 11 points (5-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer in 20 minutes in Friday's loss to Philadelphia.
Due to Brandon Miller spraining his ankle during Monday's loss to Philadelphia, Martin made his sixth start of the season in Friday's rematch. He was solid against the 76ers, finishing one blocked shot shy of a complete stat line in 20 minutes on the floor. The negative for fantasy managers was the workload, with DaQuan Jeffries (12/5/1/1/1 with two 3-pointers in 30 minutes) and Tidjane Salaun (8/8/5/2 with two 3-pointers in 24 minutes) playing more than Martin. If Miller is back for Monday's game against the Rockets, there's no need to consider any of these three in most fantasy leagues.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)
Kelly Oubre Jr. finished Friday's win over the Hornets with 22 points (8-of-10 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and four 3-pointers.
A top-40 player in 9-cat formats over the past two weeks, Oubre has been one of the pleasant surprises in fantasy basketball this season. Friday's point total was the highest for the Tsunami Papi since October 25, when he scored a season-high 28 against the Raptors. Rostered in 44% of Yahoo leagues, Oubre should be added to more standard league rosters. With Joel Embiid out Saturday, Oubre is worth considering for streaming in some shallow formats.
(Dec 20 -- NBC Sports)