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Fantasy Week 8 | NBA Week 8

NBA roundup: Spurs rally from 17 down to edge Blazers

Sat Dec 14 1:43am ET
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Victor Wembanyama made two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining and the San Antonio Spurs overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to notch a 118-116 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

Wembanyama made all 10 of his free-throw attempts while recording 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Devin Vassell scored 23 points off the bench, Julian Champagnie had 19 points and Jeremy Sochan added 15 for San Antonio, which overcame Portland with a 24-4 run in the final quarter.

Jerami Grant matched his career high of eight 3-pointers and scored 32 points as Portland lost its fifth straight game and fell for the ninth time in the past 11. Anfernee Simons produced 30 points and seven assists, and Deni Avdija had 19 points off the bench.

Suns 134, Jazz 126


Devin Booker put up a game-high 34 points and Kevin Durant returned from an injury absence to score 30, lifting Phoenix to a win over Utah in Salt Lake City.

Tyus Jones added 19 points and 11 assists and former Jazz forward Royce O'Neale chipped in with 17 points as the Suns snapped a three-game skid at the end of a four-game road trip.

Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 23 points and John Collins totaled 22 points, six rebounds and six assists. Lauri Markkanen contributed 19 points and Keyonte George tallied 18 points, nine assists and six rebounds, but the Jazz lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Cavaliers 115, Wizards 105

Donovan Mitchell had 20 points and Darius Garland, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen combined to make 24 free throws as Cleveland survived a surprising challenge from visiting Washington.

Garland finished with a team-high 24 points, Allen 21 and LeVert 14 for the Cavaliers, who improved to 14-1 at home this season. LeVert did most of his scoring on free throws as he made 8-of-12 attempts, while Garland went 9 of 10 and Allen 7 of 10.

Bilal Coulibaly paced Washington with a career-high-tying 27 points to go with six rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Jordan Poole chipped in with 17 points, a team-high six assists and three steals, Justin Champagnie pulled a team-high eight rebounds to complement 16 points and Alexandre Sarr added 14 points.

Pacers 121, 76ers 107

Tyrese Haliburton recorded 32 points to propel Indiana to a road victory over Philadelphia.

Pascal Siakam chipped in 23 points and eight boards for Indiana, while Obi Toppin notched 20 and eight off the bench. Haliburton drained 7 of 15 shots from beyond the arc and also dished out 11 assists.

Sixers star Joel Embiid, who has missed significant time this season due to injuries and suspension, exited late in the second quarter and did not return after taking an errant blow to the face. He finished with 12 points and five assists in 17 minutes. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 22 points, while Kelly Oubre Jr. had 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Timberwolves 97, Lakers 87

Anthony Edwards scored 23 points on 9-for-20 shooting, and Minnesota held on for a wire-to-wire win over Los Angeles in Minneapolis.

Julius Randle finished with 21 points for Minnesota, which won for the fifth time in its past six games. Jaden McDaniels scored 18 points, and Rudy Gobert registered a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Anthony Davis scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Los Angeles, which lost for the eighth time in 11 contests. Austin Reaves contributed 18 points, and Max Christie scored 15. LeBron James did not play because of left foot soreness. James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, missed his second game of the season.

Grizzlies 135, Nets 119

Ja Morant had 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as Memphis won its fourth straight game, beating visiting Brooklyn.

Desmond Bane added 21 points and eight assists and Santi Aldama made five 3-pointers and had 20 points off the bench for the Grizzlies, who won for the 10th time in their past 11 games. Jaren Jackson Jr. put up 20 points, Brandon Clarke scored 14 and Jaylen Wells had 12.

Dorian Finney-Smith scored 19 points to lead Brooklyn, which committed 18 turnovers and lost for the fifth time in its past six games. Dennis Schroder and Jalen Wilson scored 15 points apiece, and Noah Clowney, Shake Milton, Day'Ron Sharpe, Cameron Johnson and Keon Johnson each had 12 points.

Nuggets 120, Clippers 98

Jamal Murray scored 20 points in his return from a hamstring injury and Michael Porter Jr. added 17 as Denver beat visiting Los Angeles to win consecutive games for the first time in a month.

Nikola Jokic scored 16 points, while Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson added 14 each as the Nuggets won for the first time in three tries against the Clippers this season.

Kevin Porter Jr. and Norman Powell each scored 16 points as the Clippers lost their season-high-tying third consecutive game.

Bulls 109, Hornets 95

Chicago led Charlotte nearly wire to wire behind a stingy defensive performance and salvaged the finale of a three-game homestand.

The Bulls pounced on Charlotte with an early 12-2 run. Ayo Dosunmu, who scored a team-high 19, notched seven straight to cap the pivotal early run. Dosunmu led six Chicago scorers in double figures, including all five starters. Josh Giddey had a strong all-around performance with 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Charlotte's Brandon Miller led all scorers with 21 points, but he committed a game-high seven turnovers and shot a dismal 3-for-15 from 3-point range. Mark Williams, who shot 6-for-7 from the floor and grabbed nine rebounds, finished with 15 points in the loss, the Hornets' ninth in their last 10 games.

Player Notes
Donovan Clingan Fri Dec 13 8:20pm

Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (knee) is available ahead of Friday's game against the San Antonio Spurs. The rookie big man has missed the last seven games due to a right knee injury. As a result, Clingan will have a minutes limit during Friday's game. He wasn't doing great before going down, but Clingan did have a 19-rebound game in his most recent contest. Clingan won't be a strong streaming option while under a minutes limit. However, he's someone worth monitoring if the Blazers do decide to give him more run later in the season.

Bradley Beal Fri Dec 13 8:10pm

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (knee) has been downgraded to out ahead of Friday's game against the Utah Jazz. Beal is dealing with swelling in his right knee and as a result the team will have him sit out at least Friday's game. His next chance to play will be on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers. The late addition to the injury report is a surprise to fantasy managers, so they should quickly edit their lineups. Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale should see increased value with Beal sidelined. O'Neale has been solid lately and is worth a look as a streaming option with increased playing time.

Christian Braun Fri Dec 13 8:00pm

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (quad) is available ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Braun hasn't missed a game this season and that streak will continue to live on. He has been playing big minutes for the Nuggets this season as he's averaging over 35 minutes per game. He's not an elite contributor in any category, but does a little of everything. Fantasy managers who have Braun rostered can get him in their lineups ahead of tip-off.

Jamal Murray Fri Dec 13 8:00pm

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (hamstring) has been upgraded to available ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Murray was a game-time decision coming into this contest, but he apparently felt good during his pre-game routine. He'll make his return after missing each of the last two games due to a hamstring issue. This means that Russell Westbrook will head back to the bench and will lose fantasy value. There is no word of Murray being limited, so fantasy managers should expect him to be a full-go on Friday.

Aaron Gordon Fri Dec 13 7:50pm

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) is available ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. As expected, Gordon is good to go after being listed as probable on the injury report. Gordon missed a game last week, but has been mostly healthy since his absence in mid-November. Gordon has been hit-or-miss this season, but should be plugged back into lineups in season-long formats. He's averaging 14.3 points, 6.0 rebounds,and 3.5 assists across 29 minutes per game this season. Gordon is a solid contributor, but keeping him off the injury report has been the biggest challenge.

Joel Embiid Fri Dec 13 7:40pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (eye) won't return to Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. The big man exited to the locker room after getting hit in the face while going for a rebound in the second quarter. The organization has decided to hold out Embiid for the rest of the night while he undergoes further testing. There is a concern that he injured his already repaired orbital fracture. Fantasy managers should get more information in the next day or two. Andre Drummond figures to start in the second half and will see an increased workload until Embiid is able to get back on the court. Drummond was a strong fantasy option when Embiid was out earlier in the season, so he could be worth snagging again.

Bradley Beal Fri Dec 13 6:50pm

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Bradley Beal (knee) is now questionable heading into Friday's meeting with the Jazz. The veteran wasn't listed on the injury report throughout the day. However, he began experiencing right knee swelling, so there's a chance he won't be out there. Beal has already missed eight games this season, although fantasy managers are now left wondering if this injury will open the door for another extended stint on the shelf. Fortunately, the Suns are expected to get Kevin Durant (ankle) back, which will help. Royce O'Neale, who was expected to head back to the bench, may find himself remaining in the starting lineup.

LeBron James Fri Dec 13 6:40pm

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot) won't play on Friday against the Timberwolves, with the multi-time MVP expected to miss more time moving forward. Head coach JJ Redick was asked if he knows when James will return. However, the first-year coach answered with a simple "no." Of course, the Lakers will be without arguably their top performer, meaning guys like Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D'Angelo Russell will need to pick up the slack on the scoring end.

Austin Reaves Fri Dec 13 6:30pm

Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Austin Reaves (pelvis) has been upgraded and will play in Friday's game versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. Reaves has missed the last five games because of a pelvic contusion. But after going from questionable to probable, he'll be back on the floor for this one. With LeBron James (foot) out indefinitely, Reaves should pick up some of the slack on the scoring end, making him a must-start in any fantasy setup. That won't change until James returns to the lineup.

Anthony Davis Fri Dec 13 6:30pm

Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis (foot) will play on Friday against the Timberwolves. AD has been a constant mention on the league's injury report because of an ailing foot injury. However, as is usually the case, he's good to go. With LeBron James (foot) out indefinitely, Davis should be the No. 1 scoring option for the Lakers, so a rise in statistical contributions could be on the horizon.

Nikola Vucevic Fri Dec 13 6:20pm

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (illness) will miss his first game of the 2024-25 campaign on Friday against the Hornets. The 34-year-old has played at an All-Star-caliber level this season, averaging 21.0 points, 9.8 boards, and shooting 47.4% from behind the arc. Without him, Jalen Smith will presumably enter the starting lineup, immediately giving him credibility as a streaming option and DFS value play. Josh Giddey, Zach LaVine, and Coby White could also see a bump on the scoring end with Vucevic sidelined.

Zach LaVine Fri Dec 13 5:50pm

Chicago Bulls forward Zach LaVine (back) will play in Friday's game against the Hornets. The veteran has played well throughout the 2024-25 campaign, averaging 22.1 points and shooting 43.2% from behind the arc. But he was dealing with back spasms. Fortunately, it won't keep him off the floor for the favorable matchup versus Charlotte.

Josh Giddey Fri Dec 13 5:50pm

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (back) is cleared to suit up in Friday's matchup versus the Charlotte Hornets. Like his teammate, Zach LaVine (back), he was battling back spasms. However, it won't cost Giddey his first game of the 2024-25 campaign. The 22-year-old has played well in his first season in Chicago, averaging 11.7 points, 6.9 assists, and 6.2 rebounds, although he may be even more productive in the favorable matchup against the Hornets.

Evan Mobley Fri Dec 13 5:40pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (ankle) won't play on Friday against the Wizards. The 23-year-old has played well this season, averaging 18.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals. But he'll miss his second game of the 2024-25 campaign, so his next chance to play will be on Monday in Brooklyn. Without Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and Donovan Mitchell should get a few extra scoring opportunities. Georges Niang could also work his way into the starting lineup, giving him DFS value potential.

Patrick Williams Fri Dec 13 5:40pm

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (foot) said he will play in Friday's game against the Hornets. The 23-year-old has been out of commission since November because of issues with his left foot, the same one he had surgery on back in March. With that in mind, he has averaged only 9.9 points and 5.0 rebounds this season, so he isn't the most dependable fantasy option. But Williams' return could at least mean less work for Ayo Dosunmu and Matas Buzelis.

Thomas Bryant Fri Dec 13 5:20pm

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Heat have agreed to trade center Thomas Bryant to the Pacers. In exchange, Indiana will swap a future second-round pick with Miami. The 27-year-old has averaged only 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds this season. But with James Wiseman (Achilles) and Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) both sidelined, the team needed another big. While Bryant won't start unless Myles Turner isn't available, he should see more playing time in Indiana. Still, unless he finds himself with the first five, his contributions could be sporadic.

Austin Reaves Fri Dec 13 4:50pm

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (pelvis) is probable for Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has missed the Lakers' previous five contests because of a pelvic contusion and was initially labeled as questionable heading into this one. Luckily, Los Angeles will likely have him back on the court on Friday night. It can't come at a better time, considering LeBron James (foot) isn't available. As such, Reaves could be more involved on the scoring end, which is why he'll surely see more attention from DFS managers.

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.


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