NBA Player News

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.

Kuminga finished with 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 0-0 FT), a rebound, three assists, four steals and a block across 30 minutes in Wednesday's 131-106 win over the Heat.

Kuminga's regular-season debut with Minnesota featured limited rebounding but excellent defensive production, with his four steals showing how he can contribute in other areas, since he'll likely hold a secondary role in an offense monopolized by Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. Kuminga's fantasy outlook will improve if he maintains this playing time and contributes more consistently in peripheral stats, since he's not expected to be a go-to scoring option anytime soon.

Christie racked up five points (2-8 FG, 1-7 3Pt), three rebounds and two assists over 29 minutes during Wednesday's 128-110 loss to Houston.

Christie took his place in the starting lineup despite dealing with a minor foot concern. While it was good to see him on the floor, his production left a lot to be desired. He provides the team with a legit floor-spacing option, although he typically offers very little else outside of points and threes. On nights such as this, it's clear to see why he should be viewed as more of a stream-level player.

Flagg closed Wednesday's 128-110 loss to the Rockets with 32 points (10-17 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 11-13 FT), five rebounds, two assists, one block and three steals across 33 minutes.

Flagg was as advertised, getting it done on both ends of the floor despite what ended up being a comprehensive loss. While there is cause for concern when it comes to what Dallas might be able to achieve this season, it's clear that Flagg is going to be leading from the front, no matter what. His ADP settled in the 6-10 range across most formats, meaning a lot of fantasy managers could have their season riding on his production.

McDaniels delivered 17 points (8-11 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 0-0 FT), eight rebounds, an assist and three steals across 29 minutes in Wednesday's 131-106 win over the Heat.

McDaniels opened the campaign with an encouraging combination of scoring, rebounding and defensive production, ending just two boards away from a double-double and also making his presence felt as a defensive asset. His 17 points came on unusually efficient shooting, but maintaining that offensive output could be difficult with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball commanding significant usage. However, his eight rebounds and three steals highlight the peripheral contributions that can sustain his fantasy value even when his scoring opportunities fluctuate on a per-game basis.

Ball contributed 21 points (7-17 FG, 5-13 3Pt, 2-3 FT), two rebounds, six assists and two steals across 29 minutes in Wednesday's 131-106 win over the Heat.

Ball made an immediate impact in his Minnesota debut, finishing second on the team in scoring while sharing backcourt responsibilities with Anthony Edwards, who led the way with an impressive 45-point performance. His 13 three-point attempts suggest he'll retain considerable offensive freedom despite playing alongside another high-volume scorer. Ball's six assists and just one turnover were also encouraging, although his long-term fantasy ceiling will depend on how consistently he handles playmaking duties in his new surroundings. One game isn't enough to draw meaningful conclusions, but this was certainly an encouraging start to life in Minnesota for Ball.

Thompson tallied 10 points (3-6 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT) and a rebound across 16 minutes in Wednesday's 131-106 loss to the Timberwolves.

Thompson made three triples but offered virtually nothing outside the scoring column, highlighting his increasingly specialized fantasy profile. His 16-minute workload was particularly concerning, as limited playing time can make it hard to generate consistent three-point production, especially since three bench players (Bobby Portis, Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson) played 20-plus minutes. Unless his minutes increase considerably, Thompson could struggle to provide reliable fantasy value beyond occasional perimeter shooting.

Mitchell scored 11 points (4-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT) while adding 11 assists and a block across 33 minutes in Wednesday's 131-106 loss to the Timberwolves.

Mitchell handled substantial playmaking responsibilities in Miami's season opener, finishing with a double-double despite attempting just eight shots. His 11 assists were encouraging, but five turnovers and limited defensive production somewhat diminished his fantasy output. Mitchell's value will depend heavily on his ability to sustain strong assist numbers, particularly given his relatively modest scoring upside -- at best, he's likely to operate as the Heat's No.4 option on offense behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins.

Adebayo posted 15 points (6-12 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-3 FT), seven rebounds, four assists and three steals across 31 minutes in Wednesday's 131-106 loss to the Timberwolves.

Adebayo opened the regular season with a well-rounded performance, although his scoring numbers were below expectations and his perimeter shooting remained inconsistent. His three steals helped offset a modest scoring total and highlighted his ability to provide fantasy value through defense and playmaking beyond scoring. With Giannis Antetokounmpo sharing the frontcourt, Adebayo's scoring opportunities could fluctuate, making his peripheral production particularly important.

Murray amassed 23 points (9-18 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals over 34 minutes during Wednesday's 123-120 loss to the Pacers.

Murray didn't miss a beat, delivering a two-way masterclass despite the loss Wednesday. He led the team in minutes, points, assists, steals and blocks, rewarding anyone who took a chance on him in drafts. While his production could ebb and flow, to some degree, managers should feel relatively confident when it comes to his floor, given his proven ability to contribute across multiple categories, as evidenced in this performance.