West's best meet in NBA Cup semis as Thunder battle Rockets
Fri Dec 13 8:00pm ET
Field Level Media
LAS VEGAS -- Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder may not have been the marquee NBA Cup semifinal the league was hoping for, but it might just be the best window into the future of the Western Conference.
The Thunder are getting used to being the hunted this season after taking the league by storm and earning a No. 1 seed in the Western Conference last season. They may not catch anyone by surprise this year, but they are still the deepest and most dangerous team in the conference -- even without Chet Holmgren, who has been out for more than a month after suffering a fracture near his hip.
For most franchises, the "next man up" mantra tends to be wishful thinking. With a team that is led by a talent like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it's not even a second thought. With the depth that Oklahoma City has, it becomes an outright expectation.
The Thunder have gone 11-3 with Holmgren on the sideline. They sit at 19-5 overall and are on track to be the No. 1 seed again.
They find themselves in the NBA Cup semifinals as the top seed in the West draw, having gone 3-1 in group play. They beat the Dallas Mavericks 118-104 on Tuesday to advance to Las Vegas.
Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't plan on leaving empty-handed.
"It would mean a lot, this opportunity to win," he said. "You play the game at a high level as a kid. You tie your shoes up and play AAU ball to win the tournament on the weekend. You go to college to try and win the NCAA Tournament. (Or even) the tournament at the beginning of the season, the Maui Invitational or whatever it's called.
"You're always trying to win. That's my mindset. That's my teammates' mindset. We're always trying to win."
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.2 points, fourth in the league before Friday's games, and 6.3 assists. Jalen Williams has also become a key piece; the third-year forward is averaging 21.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Isaiah Hartenstein has filled Holmgren's role in the starting lineup with 11.6 points and 12.8 rebounds per game after making his Thunder debut on Nov. 20.
The Rockets are in a similar position to last season's Thunder, but their rise is perhaps even more surprising. As much promise as Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun are showing, things got pretty rough for them during their first few seasons in the league. Green especially struggled to find his footing.
Houston's willingness to stay with their young duo appears to be paying off in spades. The Rockets sit at 17-8, trailing only the Thunder in the West, and have won seven of their last 10 games. Green is averaging a team-high 19.2 points per game, while Sengun averages 18.8 points and 10.6 rebounds.
The Rockets earned the West's No. 2 seed in knockout play by going 3-1 during the group stage. They advanced to Las Vegas with a thrilling but controversial 91-90 victory against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, as a loose-ball foul sent Green to the line for the game-winning free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining.
It was a statement performance defensively for the Rockets, who are now among the league's toughest units. Saturday's semifinal is another chance to make a statement against a Thunder defense that many pundits consider the league's best.
"I think we're the top two defenses," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. "They're very stingy on that end and they do it in a different way. They're one of the best at creating turnovers and drawing (players) into a crowd. They give up some things as well, but they really protect the paint at a high level.
"It's an honor to get here, and we felt we did good in our group to get here. Now we just want to make some more noise while we're here."
--Will Despart, Field Level Media
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Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against Dallas and is considered day to day after imaging showed no structural damage. He has now missed two straight contests. In his absence on Thursday, Jaxson Hayes started and delivered 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block in 34 minutes, making him the clear streaming option if Ayton remains sidelined. Jarred Vanderbilt can chip in rebounds and defensive stats, but he is a fringe add. Ayton remains a hold in all formats.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James delivered 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in 35 minutes in Thursday's 124-104 win over Dallas, becoming the oldest player to record a triple-double. With Luka Doncic (hamstring) sidelined and Austin Reaves still ramping up, James has steadied the offense and kept the Lakers' role players slotted cleanly. Doncic's eventual return could trim James' usage slightly, but the 41-year-old remains a must-start given his current playmaking spike. Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, and Luke Kennard are the most likely to lose touches.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) is expected to return Feb. 20 against the Clippers. Coach JJ Redick indicated Thursday that Doncic is trending in the right direction, with the team taking a cautious approach given the soft-tissue nature of the injury. Doncic has missed the last four games. His return would reclaim a 37.7 percent usage role, trimming minutes for Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart, and Luke Kennard. LeBron James and Austin Reaves could see slight usage dips, though both remain strong fantasy plays once Doncic is active.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (elbow) is ramping up, but the team still is not sure he will be ready to play coming out of the All-Star break, general manager Zach Kleiman said Friday. Morant has been sidelined since Jan. 21 with a UCL sprain and is due for a recheck soon. In the meantime, Ty Jerome is the best streamer after logging 19 points and seven assists in 21 minutes Tuesday. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cam Spencer round out the minutes, with steals and assists as their main appeal.
Utah Jazz forward/center Oscar Tshiebwe (concussion) will not return to Thursday's loss to Portland after entering the league's concussion protocol. The two-way big logged five minutes before exiting and has appeared in just three games this season. With Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) out for the year and Jusuf Nurkic (rest) questionable, Utah's frontcourt is thin. Kyle Filipowski stepped up with 15 points, nine rebounds, and six steals in 29 minutes and profiles as the primary beneficiary. Kevin Love could reenter the rotation if Tshiebwe misses time, but Filipowski is the clear fantasy add.
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Naji Marshall (foot) has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's game against the Lakers. Marshall produced 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting with two rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 29 minutes before exiting. He was already dealing with the foot issue entering the game, which raises concern about a potential aggravation. If he misses time, P.J. Washington should absorb more frontcourt responsibility, while Caleb Martin (ankle) could see an expanded role if cleared.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) will not return to Thursday's game against the Lakers. He finished with two points, six rebounds, and one block in 28 minutes before being ruled out late in a 124-104 loss. Dallas is already thin in the frontcourt, so any missed time would tighten the rotation. Marvin Bagley III logged 20 minutes and has produced 16 points and 12 rebounds in one of his last three games, giving him short-term streaming appeal. P.J. Washington could also absorb more small-ball center minutes if needed.
Lakers' F LeBron James recorded a triple-double, finishing with 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 124-104 win over the Mavericks on Thursday, Feb. 12.
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (knee) has been downgraded to out for Thursday's game against the Jazz. Williams logged five points, five rebounds, and two blocks in 12 minutes Wednesday and remains on a light workload when active. His absence solidifies Donovan Clingan's role as the primary center and could open a few backup minutes for Yang Hansen. Hansen has totaled six points and five rebounds across his last five appearances, limiting him to emergency depth in deep leagues.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (back) has been downgraded to out for Thursday's game against the Jazz. Avdija logged 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 27 minutes Wednesday but struggled to 21 percent shooting on 14 attempts. His absence opens usage on the wing, with Vit Krejci a clear beneficiary after posting 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in 20 minutes. Sidy Cissoko could also see an expanded run. Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant should shoulder more offensive responsibility, while Avdija remains a hold if this proves short-term.
Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (calf) will not play Thursday against the Thunder. Turner posted five points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in 31 minutes in his last outing. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) also sidelined, Milwaukee's frontcourt minutes are up for grabs. Jericho Sims started on Wednesday and delivered 17 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes, making him a strong short-term streamer for rebounds and field goal percentage. Bobby Portis and Ousmane Dieng should also benefit, while Pete Nance could pick up some minutes, but his role is too inconsistent to rely on in most formats.
Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (foot) has been upgraded to probable ahead of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Marshall was initially tagged as questionable on the injury report due to a left foot strain. He appears to be feeling better now and is likely going to suit up for Thursday's game. He figures to see a larger role in the rotation with Cooper Flagg (ankle) out for this game. Marshall finished with 31 points, four rebounds, and two assists across 36 minutes of action on Tuesday. Fantasy managers should check back ahead of tip-off, but they should be able to get Marshall active in their lineups on Thursday.
Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (ankle) has been downgraded to doubtful ahead of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was tagged as questionable to start the day after tweaking his ankle during Tuesday's contest against the Phoenix Suns. There's now a good chance that Martin is unable to go for the final game before the All-Star break. The Mavs are already without Cooper Flagg (ankle), so losing Martin as well will hurt. Klay Thompson and Khris Middleton both figure to see larger roles in the rotation, assuming Martin is unable to go. Thompson is the better option between the two, but both should have streaming value for this small slate on Thursday.
Forward/center Jeremy Sochan is expected to sign with the New York Knicks once he clears waivers, per ESPN. San Antonio moved on after Sochan fell out of the rotation amid a crowded frontcourt. In 28 games this season, he averaged 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 68.8 percent at the line, a sharp dip from last season's 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds. He projects as a low-usage reserve behind OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns, limiting fantasy appeal to deep formats only.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (foot) has been upgraded to available for Thursday's game against the Thunder. Kuzma has started in each appearance since Jan. 19 but did not play Feb. 6. His recent lines underscore the volatility, posting 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting against Chicago, then three points on three attempts two games later. He finished with 15 points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes Wednesday. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) still out, Kuzma retains scoring opportunity, though Cam Thomas and Kevin Porter Jr. continue to siphon usage, keeping Kuzma in risk-reward territory.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (foot) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against Oklahoma City. Rollins remains day-to-day, but his absence keeps Milwaukee's backcourt usage condensed. Cam Thomas is the clear short-term beneficiary after erupting for 34 points with four threes, four rebounds, and two assists in 25 minutes Wednesday. He profiles as a points-and-threes streamer while Rollins sits. Kevin Porter Jr., who logged 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in 39 minutes, should continue handling primary playmaking duties. AJ Green's role remains steady, but low usage limits his ceiling.
Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Shaedon Sharpe (calf) will miss his fourth consecutive contest on Thursday against the Utah Jazz.` He strained his left calf last week and will be out through the All-Star break, possibly returning against the Nuggets on Feb. 20. Vit Krejci will continue to see an expanded role during Sharpe's absence. He finished with 17 points, one rebound and one assist across 20 minutes against Minnesota on Wednesday. Scoot Henderson and Blake Wesley could also take on extra minutes.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (hamstring) is expected to play Thursday against the Utah Jazz. He recorded 18 points, four rebounds, and two assists in 19 minutes during Wednesday's loss to Minnesota. The 22-year-old had been a candidate for a maintenance day, but he has been cleared to suit up. That said, Henderson will likely remain on a limited workload as he continues to work his way back from a hamstring tear in just his fourth appearance of the season.
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (knee) will not suit up for Thursday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. He's set to miss his second straight contest due to right knee soreness. With Ayton sidelined, Jaxson Hayes is expected to draw another start, while Maxi Kleber should handle increased minutes off the bench. In his starts this campaign, Hayes has averaged 11.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Dallas has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers, making this a favorable matchup for the Lakers' frontcourt.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (rest) will not play on Thursday against the Bucks in the second game of his team's back-to-back set before the All-Star break. Hartenstein played only 18 minutes on Wednesday in the Thunder's blowout win in Phoenix, producing eight points, six assists, and four rebounds. Despite the light workload, he'll get Thursday off, with Jaylin Williams in a great spot to step up in his place. Kenrich Williams could also be in the mix more, and the team could also go with more small-ball lineups against Milwaukee. Jaylin Williams is the main value to target for streaming and DFS usage while Hartenstein is sidelined.
