NBA Player News

Maluach closed with 10 points (4-9 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-1 FT), 15 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 23 minutes during Saturday's 102-98 preseason win over the Spurs.

Maluach moved into the starting lineup, replacing Oso Ighodaro, who shifted back to the bench. The move worked wonders for Maluach, allowing him to put up easily his best game of the preseason. With Mark Williams (shoulder) sidelined indefinitely, both Maluach and Ighodaro have a chance to carve out meaningful roles. Even if he does come off the bench, it appears as though Maluach is the player fantasy managers will want to be targeting in drafts, likely in the 100 range.

Kornet finished with four points (2-7 FG), 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 17 minutes during Saturday's 102-98 preseason loss to the Suns.

Kornet led the Spurs with 10 rebounds, turning in another solid performance off the bench. As was the case last season, Kornet is slated to play the primary backup role behind Victor Wembanyama. This should be enough for him to hold value in deeper formats. As for those in standard leagues, he should be viewed as nothing more than a situational streaming consideration.

Brown (back) scored eight points (3-3 FG, 2-2 3Pt) and added a rebound across 10 minutes off the bench in Saturday's 102-98 preseason loss to the Suns.

Brown missed the preseason opener against the Hawks on Thursday due to a back injury, but he was one of seven bench players to log double-digit minutes in this matchup. A second-round pick out of Duke in the 2026 NBA Draft, Brown isn't expected to have a big role with the Spurs in 2026-27, and it wouldn't be surprising if he spent most of his rookie year in the G League.

Williams (undisclosed) didn't play in Saturday's 102-98 preseason loss to the Suns.

Williams still hasn't suited up for the Spurs in the preseason. He's expected to play for the Austin Spurs in the G League in 2026-27, so his absence won't be much of an issue from a fantasy perspective. His next chance to play will come Monday against Utah.

Okongwu recorded 18 points (5-10 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 6-6 FT), three rebounds and three assists across 23 minutes in Saturday's 119-117 preseason win over the Pacers.

Okongwu delivered a productive offensive performance, making all six of his free-throw attempts while committing just one turnover. The center attempted seven three-pointers, and although he connected on only two, his tendency to stretch the floor has been noticeable in the preseason. That could add another wrinkle to his expanding offensive game. Okongwu, who averaged 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game across 74 regular-season appearances in 2025-26, will be one of the Hawks' go-to players on both ends of the floor once the regular season starts Oct. 21 at Orlando.

Lopez finished with six points (3-6 FG, 0-1 3Pt), seven rebounds, an assist and a block across 15 minutes in Saturday's 114-106 preseason loss to the Raptors.

Lopez provided a solid presence on the glass, leading the Clippers' starters with seven rebounds despite playing just 15 minutes. Lopez's abbreviated workload limited his scoring opportunities, but his rebounding production was encouraging. That said, he's expected to open the season as the No. 2 center behind Isaiah Jackson, though a strong showing in the final preseason games could change that. The veteran is still an imposing presence on the glass who can hit threes, so that should give him steady minutes regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench.

Kelley (calf) did not play during Saturday's 125-124 preseason loss to the Timberwolves.

Kelley inked a deal with the Heat on Thursday, but he has yet to suit up for Miami during the preseason. His next chance to play will come Wednesday against the Nets.

Reed posted 11 points (4-8 FG, 3-4 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and two steals in Saturday's 114-108 preseason loss to the Wizards.

Reed was one of five Detroit players -- and one of three starters -- to score in double digits, and he finished second in both rebounds and steals. Reed made the most of the absence of Jalen Duren (rest), but when the latter is healthy, Reed will operate as his backup off the bench, limiting his fantasy upside considerably.

Davis logged 10 points (3-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-6 FT), 11 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal over 22 minutes during Saturday's 114-108 overtime win over the Pistons.

All of Davis' production came in the first half, with the veteran big man observing the entire second half from the bench. He's scored in double digits in limited playing time across his first two preseason games, and Davis will likely continue to operate under a minutes restriction to keep him fresh ahead of the Wizards' regular-season opener against the Bucks on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Ighodaro is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's preseason game against the Spurs, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.

The Suns will make several lineup changes for this contest, and Ighodaro will move to the bench to make way for Khaman Maluach. Both players are competing to be the Suns' starting center on Opening Night against the Trail Blazers on Oct. 21.