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Fantasy Week 8 | NBA Week 8

NBA roundup: Celtics down Pistons for 12th straight time

Fri Dec 13 12:15am ET
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Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score a game-high 27 points and deliver 10 assists, leading the Boston Celtics to a 123-99 win over the visiting Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

Pritchard shot 10 of 20 from the field, including 7 of 15 from 3-point range.

The Celtics received 23 points from Derrick White and 19 from Kristaps Porzingis while beating the Pistons for the 12th consecutive meeting.

Rookie Ronald Holland II scored a career-high 26 points for the Pistons, who shot 7 of 37 (18.9 percent) from 3-point territory. Detroit's Cade Cunningham finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.


Kings 111, Pelicans 109

Domantas Sabonis had 32 points and 20 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 16 of his 29 points in the third quarter and visiting Sacramento beat New Orleans.

DeAaron Fox and Keegan Murray scored 18 each for the Kings, who outscored the Pelicans 38-28 in the third quarter.

CJ McCollum scored a game-high 36 points, Trey Murphy III had 21 and Dejounte Murray added 20 to lead New Orleans.

Heat 114, Raptors 104

Bam Adebayo scored 21 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds, leading host Miami over Toronto.

Miami, which won its season-best fourth straight game, also got a game-high 23 points from Tyler Herro. The Heat also received important bench contributions from Nikola Jovic (14 points) and Dru Smith (11 points).

Raptors star RJ Barrett made just 5 of 18 shots, but he had a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Gradey Dick led Toronto with 22 points, including 12 in the first quarter. Jakob Poeltl added 16 points.

Player Notes
Tidjane Salaun Fri Dec 13 3:00pm

Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun (ankle) has been listed as questionable on Friday while he deals with an ankle sprain. The Hornets are set to take on the Chicago Bulls who have lost their last two games and could be dealing with some injuries of their own. Salaun started to see some added playing time with the Hornets' injury report growing until he sprained his left ankle against the Knicks. If he has to miss another game, Cody Martin and Josh Green should remain in the starting lineup while Martin serves as the better streaming option. In their last game, Martin finished with 14 points, six rebounds, one assist, and two steals across 33 minutes.

Zach Edey Fri Dec 13 2:40pm

Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (ankle) is headed for his 12th consecutive missed game as he's considered doubtful to play on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. The rookie big man has been battling an ankle sprain since November 17 and there isn't a firm timetable for his return. The fact that he hasn't been ruled out right away is at least a trend in the right direction. Jay Huff should continue to see extra minutes off of the bench. Over the last three games, Huff has averaged 12.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 2.3 threes per game.

Kyle Kuzma Fri Dec 13 2:10pm

Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (ribs) has been ruled out again for the sixth consecutive game since injuring his ribs against the Los Angeles Clippers on November 27. The veteran power forward has yet to find his footing this year in the midst of the injuries he's experienced. Right now, his numbers have decreased across the board from last season, especially in scoring and efficiency. In his place, Justin Champagnie will likely continue to get some more playing time. Champagnie has averaged 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game over the last three games.

Miles Bridges Fri Dec 13 2:00pm

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (knee) has been tagged as questionable and is in danger of missing his 11th consecutive game due to a bone bruise in his right knee. The sixth-year wing has appeared in 11 games this season with averages of 16.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 threes, and 1.4 turnovers per game. If he's still unable to suit up, however, Cody Martin and Josh Green should remain in the starting five. Martin has turned himself into a valuable streamer in deeper leagues with 9.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.0 threes per game over the last five contests.

Evan Mobley Fri Dec 13 2:00pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (ankle) has drawn a questionable status for Friday's game against the Washington Wizards. He's suffering from a sprained left ankle but will likely test it out during warm-ups and determine if he can play. The young big man has been a consistent force in scoring and boards, so if he has to miss this game, Jarrett Allen's usage should increase. Georges Niang will likely see some added playing time while Tristan Thompson may get a crack at some relief minutes. Niang's only start of the season yielded 14 points, eight rebounds, one steal, and four threes against the Chicago Bulls.

LaMelo Ball Fri Dec 13 1:50pm

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (calf) is dealing with a left calf strain and has been ruled out of Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls. This will be the seventh consecutive game that he's missed after suffering the calf strain against the Miami Heat near the end of November. Since Tre Mann (back) is also sidelined, Vasilije Micic has become a starter with Josh Green while Isaiah Wong has seen some time off of the bench. Micic has been the most reliable streaming option of the three as he's averaged 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 2.2 threes per game across his six starts.

Caleb Martin Fri Dec 13 1:30pm

Philadelphia 76ers forward Caleb Martin (shoulder) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers due to a right-shoulder impingement. The 29-year-old has been going through a rough stretch during the first quarter of the season, and he barely saw any playing time over the last two games. As Martin watches from the sidelines, Kenyon Martin Jr. has been enjoying a solid streak over the last seven games. During that time, he's averaged 11.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 66.0% from the floor.

RJ Barrett Thu Dec 12 11:00pm

Toronto's F RJ Barrett recorded a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in a 104-114 loss to Miami on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Jusuf Nurkic Thu Dec 12 7:40pm

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (thigh) is off the injury report ahead of Friday's game against Utah. The 30-year-old missed the last six games because of a thigh contusion. As a result, Mason Plumlee took his spot in the lineup. However, with Nurkic back in the mix for the favorable matchup with the Jazz, Plumlee isn't worth starting in any fantasy lineup.

Austin Reaves Thu Dec 12 7:30pm

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (pelvis) is unlikely to play in Friday's matchup with the Timberwolves, marking his sixth-consecutive absence. LeBron James (foot) has already been ruled out due to left foot soreness, so the Lakers could be without two of their top scoring options. As a result, Anthony Davis would be in line for a bump in offensive production. Rui Hachimura, D'Angelo Russell, and Dalton Knecht could also see an uptick in scoring opportunities.

Kevin Durant Thu Dec 12 7:30pm

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (ankle) is probable for the meeting with the Jazz on Friday night. The 36-year-old has been banged up a few times during the 2024-25 campaign, most recently missing the last three games because of a sprained ankle. But outside of that, he continues to play well, averaging 25.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 44.9% from downtown. With Durant's anticipated return, Royce O'Neale, coming off a 16-point, seven-rebound effort versus Orlando on December 8, likely won't be as productive.

Patrick Williams Thu Dec 12 7:20pm

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (foot) is questionable for Friday's game against the Hornets. The 23-year-old has been sidelined for nearly a month because of an issue with his surgically-repaired left foot. However, he may need a few more days to recover, although the questionable designation is a step in the right direction. With that in mind, since Williams has averaged only 9.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals this season, there aren't many fantasy managers concerned with his availability. But until Williams is back on the floor, Ayo Dosunmu, averaging 15.5 points in 12 starts this season, should remain with the first five.

Josh Giddey Thu Dec 12 7:10pm

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (back) is questionable for Friday's encounter with the Charlotte Hornets. The 22-year-old has played as well as expected in his first season in The Windy City, logging 11.7 points, 6.9 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per contest. He's dealing with back spasms, so there's a chance it could keep him off the floor. If that is the case, Lonzo Ball (knee), who is probable, may see additional minutes, with Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu also in line for more work and scoring opportunities.

Nikola Vucevic Thu Dec 12 7:00pm

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (illness) is questionable for Friday's matchup versus the Hornets. The veteran hasn't missed a game all year. He's also played extremely well, averaging 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 47.4% shooting from behind the arc. But if the illness keeps Vucevic off the floor, Jalen Smith could find himself in the starting lineup. But even if Smith doesn't start, he should see enough minutes to justify his presence in fantasy lineups.

Malcolm Brogdon Thu Dec 12 6:50pm

Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) won't play in Friday's game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. Brogdon began the year on the shelf because of a thumb injury before making his 2024-25 debut against the Pistons on November 17. However, he'll now miss a third-straight game because of hamstring inflammation. The 32-year-old hasn't played the best in his first season in Washington, averaging only 13.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 33.3% shooting from behind the arc. But with the Wizards down Brogdon, Kyle Kuzma (rib), Corey Kispert (ankle), and Kyshawn George (ankle), Justin Champagnie, Jordan Poole, and Jonas Valanciunas may do most of the heavy lifting offensively.

Anthony Davis Thu Dec 12 6:10pm

Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis (foot) is listed as probable ahead of Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised as Davis has been a regular on the injury report for what seems like years. Davis continues to deal with a plantar fasciitis issue on his left foot, but should be able to play through it. The Lakers are going to need to rely on Davis with LeBron James (foot) ruled out for Friday. Fantasy managers should expect Davis to have a big workload on Friday with Max Christie likely getting the starting nod in place of James.

Austin Reaves Thu Dec 12 6:00pm

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (pelvis) is listed as questionable ahead of Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Reaves has been upgraded to questionable for this game after missing each of the last five games due to a pelvic contusion. He was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, which is good news for the Lakers. The return of Reaves would mean D'Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent would likely see less minutes. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Friday for another update.

Jalen Duren Thu Dec 12 5:50pm

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (wrist) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Boston Celtics. The big man was tagged as questionable coming into this game, but Duren will officially sit out due to a wrist sprain. The loss of Duren should mean an increased role for Isaiah Stewart in the rotation. Stewart has been quiet lately but figures to have more fantasy value with an expanded role on Thursday. He's worth a look as a streaming option with Duren unavailable.

Sam Hauser Thu Dec 12 5:40pm

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (groin) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons. This was expected to happen after Hauser suffered a groin injury during their last game. The Celtics are going to be shorthanded at the forward spot with Jayson Tatum (knee) also heading to the sideline. The expectation is that Payton Pritchard, Al Horford, and possibly Drew Peterson gets additional playing time with Hauser and Tatum sidelined. Pritchard is the best streaming option between the three players for Thursday's game.

LeBron James Thu Dec 12 5:40pm

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot, personal) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. James reportedly left practice early on Wednesday due to personal reasons. However, he is also considered day-to-day due to a left foot injury. It's uncertain which issue is actually keeping him out of this game, but regardless James will miss his second straight game on Friday. Max Christie figures to see an expanded role with James sidelined. Christie finished with four points and four rebounds across 26 minutes during their last game. Cam Reddish should also see an expanded role, but neither player is an ideal streaming option with James out.


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