NBA Player News

VanVleet closed with six points (2-8 FG, 2-6 3Pt), two rebounds, 11 assists, one block and three steals in 30 minutes during Wednesday's 128-110 win over the Mavericks.

VanVleet took charge of the offense, recording a game-high 11 assists, making a successful return after missing the entire 2025-26 season due to an ACL injury. Not surprisingly, VanVleet was relatively passive when it came to scoring the basketball, instead opting to prioritize his teammates. While he will almost certainly score more than six points on most nights, managers shouldn't expect him to be an above-average scorer. His value lies in assists and steals.

Ighodaro (hip) didn't return to Wednesday's 124-83 loss to Portland, Duane Rankin reports. He finished with eight points (4-7 FG, 0-2 FT), three rebounds and three assists over 15 minutes.

Ighodaro came off the bench Wednesday. He was having a productive night, though it came to an end due to a right hip injury suffered toward the end of the first half. This isn't a new issue for the 24-year-old, so it won't improve his chances of suiting up for Saturday's meeting with the Warriors. With Mark Williams (shoulder) out indefinitely, Khaman Maluach will presumably remain the starting center for the foreseeable future. The Suns may also need Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat to take on some minutes at the five.

Demin managed four points (2-10 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 0-0 FT), four rebounds, two assists and a steal across 27 minutes in Wednesday's 110-103 loss to the Hornets.

Demin endured a difficult shooting performance in Brooklyn's season opener, missing all five of his three-point attempts while contributing little as a facilitator. However, his 27-minute workload as a starter suggests the Nets remain committed to his development. His fantasy upside will depend on improving his efficiency and generating more assists, as limited scoring and peripheral production could make him difficult to trust in standard formats.

Clowney logged nine points (3-3 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, an assist and a steal across 22 minutes in Wednesday's 110-103 loss to the Hornets.

Clowney was perfect from the field but attempted only three shots, highlighting his limited offensive involvement in Brooklyn's season opener. Still, his nine points were the third-best mark on the team behind Julius Randle (33) and Michael Porter (26). His move to a reserve role after starting in 60 of his 66 appearances in 2025-26 also raises questions about his fantasy outlook, particularly with Randle and Porter occupying prominent frontcourt roles. Unless Clowney earns additional minutes or becomes more involved offensively, his production could remain inconsistent despite his ability to contribute off the bench.

Porter produced 26 points (10-21 FG, 5-11 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds, an assist and three steals across 34 minutes in Wednesday's 110-103 loss to the Hornets.

Not only did Porter finish the game as the Nets' second-best scorer, but he was also one of two players who surpassed the 20-point plateau, with Julius Randle (33 points) being the other. Porter's substantial workload while sharing the frontcourt with Randle suggests his scoring opportunities should remain plentiful, so fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned about some potential regression that might affect the star forward.

Miller finished with 18 points (7-21 FG, 3-14 3Pt, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, an assist and a block across 36 minutes in Wednesday's 110-103 win over the Nets.

Miller struggled with his shooting efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc, but his 21 field-goal attempts and team-high 36 minutes highlight his substantial offensive role. The high-volume shooting should support his scoring upside even when his efficiency fluctuates. This wasn't the best season-opening performance for Miller, who signed a five-year, $209 million rookie-scale contract extension Monday, but his role as the Honets' go-to scoring weapon is pretty much set in stone, so managers shouldn't be overly concerned for just one inefficient outing.

Diabate registered 17 points (7-11 FG, 0-0 3Pt, 3-3 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and five steals across 34 minutes in Wednesday's 110-103 win over the Nets.

Diabate opened the regular season with an impressive two-way performance, with his five steals providing a significant fantasy boost while ending just two boards shy of a double-double. The 34-minute workload was particularly encouraging, suggesting he could maintain a substantial role in Charlotte's frontcourt. He can be even better defensively because of his blocking ability, but if Diabate gets enough playing time, he can be a double-double threat every time he steps on the court.

Allen supplied 21 points (6-9 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three rebounds and four assists across 29 minutes off the bench in Wednesday's 110-103 win over the Nets.

Allen made an immediate impact as Charlotte's sixth man, leading the team in scoring while connecting on five three-pointers in an extremely efficient shooting display. It's only one game, and he's not expected to play 29 minutes on a regular basis, but he should have a steady workload regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench, particularly if the Hornets continue to rely on his perimeter shooting. His limited defensive contributions and dependence on three-point efficiency could make his fantasy production somewhat inconsistent, but there's no question this was an excellent start to his Hornets tenure.

Smith supplied 30 points (11-17 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 4-5 FT), five rebounds, one assist and two steals over 36 minutes during Wednesday's 128-110 victory over the Mavericks.

Smith was phenomenal on opening night, leading the Rockets with 30 points, including four triples. It certainly was a night to remember for Smith, who will look to build on what was a solid 2025-26 campaign this season. 30 points could very well end up being one of his highest scoring games of the season, which, hypothetically, makes this a sell-high opportunity. However, most managers will be fully aware of his resume. Simply enjoy this effort and hope that he can build on it moving forward.

Risacher ended Wednesday's 128-110 loss to Houston with four points (2-7 FG, 0-4 3Pt), six rebounds, two assists and five steals over 27 minutes.

Risacher salvaged what was otherwise a disappointing performance, recording a career-high five steals. The jury is still out when it comes to Risacher's projected value, although most are beginning to lose patience. He will get an opportunity to turn things around in Dallas, but will need to offer more on the offensive end, should he wish to play a consistent role. Assuming the steals are more of an anomaly than a regular occurrence, he remains a stream-level player only at this point.