Thu Nov 7 7:16pm ET
Field Level Media
On an Oklahoma City Thunder roster that also includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season's runner-up for Most Valuable Player, and Chet Holmgren, who finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, Jalen Williams can sometimes get overlooked.
But heading into Friday's matchup with the visiting Houston Rockets, Williams is surging after an uneven start.
Over the last two games, Williams is shooting nearly 57 percent from the field and averaging 26 points and seven rebounds.
He's coming off a 29-point, 10-rebound, nine-assist effort in Wednesday's loss at Denver.
"He had a really good game," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He had a nice blend offensively, of attacking, shooting, moving it, and defensively he always helps with his size, his motor."
In the season's first six games, Williams was shooting less than 43 percent from the field.
Part of those shooting woes can be attributed to an uptick in 3-point attempts. After averaging just 3.1 3-point attempts per game over his first two seasons, Williams made it a point in the offseason to make outside shooting a bigger part of his repertoire.
"You don't wanna force anything," Williams said. "We have a lot of good players, so there's never really a need to try and force your will. You just try to hit open shots."
The Thunder are coming off Wednesday's 124-122 loss at Denver after winning their first seven games by at least 12 points.
Friday's game is the opener of a season-long, six-game homestand for the Thunder.
The Rockets have won back-to-back games and four of their last five, including Wednesday's 127-100 home win over San Antonio.
Friday's game figures to be an early measuring stick for the Rockets, who are looking to make another jump after finishing .500 last season following three consecutive seasons well below .500.
But Houston isn't making the game bigger than it needs to be at this stage.
"We played good teams last year, this year," Fred VanVleet told the Houston Chronicle. "It's another game. We know the challenge that they bring. We know the type of team that we are. We're ... kind of on our own road. Just got to walk that road and keep chipping away."
The Rockets are preaching patience as they focus on improving and possibly earning their first postseason berth since 2019-20.
"We're working through everything right now," VanVleet said. "There's still going to be growing pains. I think we still have to manage expectations individually, collectively. But I like where we're at. I like where we're headed."
The game features two of the league's top defenses.
The Thunder come in leading the league in defensive rating -- points allowed per 100 possessions -- by a wide margin.
Entering Thursday's games, Oklahoma City sat at 96.5, more than seven points better than No. 2 Golden State.
The Rockets were fourth at 108.0.
Friday's meeting is the first of four this season after the teams split four matchups last season.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (ankle) is considered questionable to play against Brooklyn on Monday. After dealing with a wrist injury, White hurt his left ankle against Boston on Friday. Talen Horton-Tucker has provided excellent bench scoring for the Bulls lately and might see extra action with White unavailable on Monday. At the same time, Lonzo Ball may also play a larger role in the rotation. He logged a season-high 22 minutes on Friday night. Ball was limited to two points but handed out five assists and tallied three rebounds with two steals.
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) is expected to rejoin the lineup on Monday versus New Orleans. The team has listed him as probable for the game. Bogdanovic sat out Saturday's contest against Charlotte as Atlanta completed a back-to-back. The veteran scorer has returned from a hamstring injury, and the Hawks don't want to overwork him. Since his return to the lineup on Nov. 18, Bogdanovic has averaged 12.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 24.3 minutes. New Orleans gives up the fifth-most bench points in the league, so Atlanta's second unit, led by Bogdanovic, looks to be set for a good night on Monday.
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (Achilles) has been listed as probable on the injury report ahead of Monday's action against New Orleans. The Hawks superstar is dealing with right Achilles tendinitis but has played through the issue with no problems. Young went a bit quiet against the Hornets on Saturday but has been performing at a very high level recently and should relish the challenge of taking on former teammate Dejounte Murray in Monday's matchup.
Sacramento Kings guard/forward Kevin Huerter (ankle) will not play in Sunday's contest against San Antonio. He injured his right ankle against Portland on Friday and was previously already considered doubtful for the game. Huerter's absence should guarantee extra work for Keon Ellis and Malik Monk. The latter has far more fantasy appeal, especially as Monk is set to make his first start of the campaign. He will be looking to post a third consecutive 20-point game on Sunday.
Los Angeles Clippers point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle) will sit out Sunday's tilt against Denver. He hurt his left ankle in Friday's 93-92 loss to Minnesota. Porter Jr. scored a season-high 17 points and had three steals in Friday's contest. He's carved out a decent role on the Clippers squad, averaging 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 18.7 minutes. Norman Powell's (hamstring) return will help the Clippers cope with the loss of Porter Jr.'s scoring ability on Sunday, while Bones Hyland might join the rotation.
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Norman Powell (hamstring) will return to action on Sunday against Denver. He has finally recovered from a hamstring strain, which kept Powell sidelined for six games. The 31-year-old is off to a great start to the season and has even started to sneak into All-Star conversations. Powell has averaged 23.3 points with eye-popping 48.7 percent shooting from three-point range. His return will end Amir Coffey's spell as a starter. Coffey should still play an important role in the rotation but will have far less fantasy appeal coming off the bench.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (knee) will return from a two-game absence against Dallas on Sunday. The team has upgraded him to available after initially listing Grant as questionable for the game with a left knee sprain, which has bothered him for a bit. The Trail Blazers continue to roll with a thin lineup, so Grant should get plenty of usage in the contest. However, fantasy managers shouldn't get too excited, as Grant has struggled with his shooting early in the campaign. He's only nailed 38.3 percent of his efforts from the field, averaging 16.1 points in 32.3 minutes.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray (sternum) will be in the lineup on Sunday against Dallas. He's nursing a bruised sternum, but the team has upgraded Murray from probable to available. Murray has a limited role with the Trail Blazers, averaging 4.6 points and 2.5 rebounds across 13.7 minutes. Dallas allows the third-fewest bench points in the league and does well on the glass, so Murray's output on Sunday might be even smaller than usual.
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Klay Thompson (foot) will continue to sit against Portland on Sunday, missing a fourth straight game. The former All-Star is struggling to shake off a left foot injury. Luka Doncic (wrist) will be back on Sunday, but Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Dereck Lively II (knee), and Naji Marshall (illness) join Thompson on the sidelines, opening up a lot of playing time for the rest of the gang. Thompson's next chance to return comes on Tuesday versus Memphis.
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Scoot Henderson (quadriceps) will miss Sunday's contest against Dallas. He has been available for only one of the previous five games and won't return to action on Sunday after Portland initially listed Henderson as questionable for the game. Dalano Banton will continue to benefit from Henderson's absence, though his performances are erratic, making him a risky fantasy play.
Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (illness) will miss his first game of the season on Sunday versus Portland. He continues to battle an illness, which limited Marshall to 13 minutes against Utah on Saturday. Marshall had scored 20-plus points in four consecutive games before settling for only three points in Saturday's game. He's put in impressive work as Dallas has maneuvered through the absences of Luka Doncic (wrist) and Klay Thompson (foot). Doncic's return to the lineup on Sunday will negatively impact many of the Mavericks players. But Kyrie Irving (shoulder) won't feature against the Trail Blazers, meaning Quentin Grimes, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Jaden Hardy should still play significant roles in the rotation.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic (wrist) will return to the lineup for Sunday's matchup against Portland. The team has upgraded Doncic from questionable to available, marking the end of a five-game absence for the Slovenian superstar. Kyrie Irving (shoulder) will exit the lineup on Sunday, meaning this should fully be the Doncic show. Only three teams have allowed more fantasy points to opposing point guards than the Trail Blazers in 2024-25.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against Portland. The veteran star will sit out his second game of the season. Irving has carried a big workload lately and almost posted a 30-point double-double on Saturday versus Utah. Dallas hopes to get Luka Doncic (wrist) back on Sunday, which will be a boost for the team. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd regards him as a game-time decision. If Doncic can't return, Jaden Hardy, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Quentin Grimes will carry the Mavericks backcourt.
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (back) will return to work on Sunday versus San Antonio. He's missed a couple of games due to lower back inflammation. New signing Jae Crowder made a pair of starts during DeRozan's absence and is set to land on the bench now. DeRozan's debut campaign in Sacramento has gone well, as the veteran star has averaged 22.6 points with 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He went for 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and one steal in this season's first meeting with the Spurs.
Utah Jazz forward/center Kyle Filipowski (leg) will miss a fifth consecutive game on Sunday against the Lakers. He continues to nurse a left leg injury. Filipowski had a decent run as a starter before getting sidelined and might continue to make noise once he's back. John Collins and Walker Kessler will once again do the heavy lifting on the Jazz frontcourt. The Lakers have one of the lowest rebounding rates in the league, making this a decent matchup for Utah's big men. Collins and Kessler each boast three double-doubles from their last four appearances.
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Lakers. He'll be sitting out a fourth consecutive game. Clarkson has featured just once since Nov. 19 due to a foot problem. With him unavailable, Johnny Juzang and Isaiah Collier get to play more, but neither player has been a consistent source of fantasy value. Clarkson's absence also boosts the usage of Keyonte George and Collin Sexton. Both players are looking to produce a bounce-back performance on Sunday after combining for only 18 points in Saturday's 106-94 loss to Dallas.
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (foot) will play on Sunday against Utah. The Lakers star has been upgraded from probable to available. Davis has enjoyed a great campaign thus far and should crush it in Sunday's matchup, as the Jazz allow the most fantasy points in the league to opposing centers. In the first head-to-head meeting of the season, Davis recorded 26 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and two steals with 66.7 percent shooting from the field.
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Cam Reddish (illness) will not suit up for Sunday's meeting with Utah. He was a late addition to the injury report with an illness and hasn't been cleared to play. Reddish has finished three consecutive games scoreless, so he shouldn't be a big loss for the Lakers. However, the 25-year-old has averaged over 20 minutes a night for the season, meaning there's going to be a nice chunk of minutes available without him on Sunday. With Austin Reaves (pelvis) and D'Angelo Russell (illness) also out, Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, and Max Christie get an uptick in playing time.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell (illness) will not be available for Sunday's game against Utah. An illness has taken Russell out of the lineup for the first time this season. The former All-Star has been leading the Lakers bench in recent weeks, averaging 12.1 points in 24.6 minutes. Gabe Vincent's and Max Christie's fantasy value will receive a boost on Sunday, with the former making his first start of the campaign. It's a dream fantasy matchup for Vincent against a squad that allows the most fantasy points in the league to the point guard position this season.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (pelvis) will miss his first game of the season on Sunday against Utah. He suffered a pelvic contusion in Friday's contest versus Oklahoma City, and the team has downgraded Reaves from questionable to out. Reaves' absence opens up over 30 minutes in the rotation and a starting position, which will go to Gabe Vincent on Sunday. Vincent has been limited to 2.8 points in 16.7 minutes this season but should be a lot more productive on Sunday against the Jazz, who give up 25.0 points and a league-high 10.2 assists per 48 minutes to point guards.
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