NBA Player News

Avdija closed Wednesday's 124-83 victory over Phoenix with 18 points (7-16 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-4 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals in 23 minutes.

Damian Lillard celebrated his return to Portland with a game-high 25 points, but Avdija was plenty productive as well, delivering the game's only double-double. The 25-year-old forward is coming off a career-best 2025-26 campaign that saw him score 24.2 points with 6.9 boards, 6.7 assists, 1.9 threes and 1.4 combined steals and blocks, and while the Blazers offense will now flow through the duo of Lillard and Ja Morant in the backcourt, it's encouraging that in Avdija's first game alongside them, his shot volume didn't take a big dip from the 16.1 FG attempts he averaged last season.

Wells posted 12 points (5-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-3 FT), five rebounds and four steals across 28 minutes during Wednesday's 123-103 win over Utah.

Wells made his presence felt defensively, collecting a game-high four steals while helping Memphis pull away in the second half. The third-year wing also grabbed three offensive rebounds and finished plus-25, the second-best mark among the Grizzlies' starters. Although Ty Jerome dominated the scoring opportunities, Wells' combination of playing time and defensive production gives him some appeal in deeper fantasy formats.

Edey posted six points (3-5 FG), nine rebounds and two blocks across 21 minutes during Wednesday's 123-103 victory over the Jazz.

Edey grabbed three offensive rebounds and protected the rim effectively despite playing just 21 minutes in his first regular-season appearance following two left ankle surgeries earlier this year. Memphis has emphasized managing the center's workload carefully, which could limit his immediate fantasy ceiling. Nevertheless, his rebounding and shot-blocking production in relatively modest minutes illustrates the value he can provide as his conditioning improves.

Boozer racked up seven points (2-15 FG, 0-6 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 11 rebounds and five assists over 33 minutes during Wednesday's 123-103 victory over the Jazz.

The third overall pick endured a miserable shooting performance in his NBA debut, missing all six attempts from beyond the arc. However, Boozer compensated with a game-high 11 rebounds and five assists, showcasing his ability to contribute without scoring efficiently. He also logged a team-high 33 minutes and finished plus-32, offering encouraging evidence that Memphis will give him ample room to develop through early offensive struggles.

Camara recorded 18 points (6-9 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes during Wednesday's 124-83 win over the Suns.

Every Trail Blazers starter scored in double digits, and the team built a 21-0 lead in the first quarter before the visitors even got on the board. Camara will look to provide stable secondary scoring in an offense that flows through the veteran backcourt of Damian Lillard and Ja Morant, and the fourth-year forward is coming off a career-best 2025-26 campaign that saw him average 13.4 points, 5.1 boards, 2.7 threes, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.3 minutes while playing all 82 regular-season games.

Coward chipped in seven points (3-6 FG, 1-2 3Pt), seven rebounds, two assists and one block across 28 minutes during Wednesday's 123-103 win over the Jazz.

Coward didn't need to shoulder much of the scoring load with Ty Jerome dominating offensively, but the second-year wing made an impact on the glass and finished with a plus-23 rating. His 28-minute workload suggests he'll remain an important part of Memphis' young rotation, though his scoring opportunities could fluctuate depending on the team's other offensive options.

Lillard recorded 25 points (7-12 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds, six assists and one steal in 24 minutes during Wednesday's 124-83 victory over the Suns.

In his first actual game action since being re-acquired by Portland last July, Lillard produced game highs in points and made three-pointers. He looked good alongside Ja Morant in the Blazers' new-look backcourt, and Lillard seemed fully recovered from the Achilles injury that cost him all of 2025-26. The 36-year-old guard had averaged at least 24.0 points, 7.0 assists, 4.0 boards and 3.0 threes in six straight seasons prior to the injury, and he seems more than capable of returning to that level of production.

Markkanen chipped in 18 points (4-13 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 9-10 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and one block across 36 minutes during Wednesday's 123-103 loss to the Grizzlies.

Markkanen struggled to find his shooting touch, particularly from beyond the arc, but his aggressiveness at the free-throw line helped salvage his scoring output. The veteran forward played a team-high 36 minutes and finished one rebound shy of a double-double. Despite sharing the frontcourt with Jaren Jackson, Markkanen should remain a prominent offensive option for Utah, and his substantial workload is a positive indicator for his early-season fantasy value.

Hayes closed Wednesday's 123-103 loss to the Grizzlies with five points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-4 FT), five rebounds, three assists, six blocks and two steals across 26 minutes.

Hayes made an immediate defensive impact in his Jazz debut, accounting for half of Utah's 12 blocked shots while adding two steals. The center started alongside Jaren Jackson and Lauri Markkanen, indicating a potentially meaningful role in Utah's frontcourt rotation. Although his offensive production and free-throw shooting were underwhelming, Hayes' defensive upside could make him a useful specialist in deeper fantasy leagues if he maintains substantial playing time.

Jackson provided 15 points (6-10 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal across 28 minutes before fouling out of Wednesday's 123-103 loss to the Grizzlies.

Jackson delivered efficient scoring and a pair of blocks in his first game back in Memphis since being traded to Utah in February. However, the former Grizzlies star fouled out in the fourth quarter and committed five turnovers, limiting an otherwise productive performance. Jackson's defensive contributions and ability to stretch the floor remain valuable for fantasy managers, though foul trouble continues to be a concern.