NBA Player News

LaVine recorded 28 points (10-19 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 5-8 FT), four rebounds and four assists over 34 minutes during Wednesday's 121-96 loss to the Clippers.

The veteran guard had twice as many points as any other Sacramento starter, and only three of LaVine's teammates even scored in double digits in the rout. LaVine figures to see heavy usage on a roster lacking in established offensive options as long as he can stay healthy -- he played just 39 regular-season games in 2025-26 due to a hand injury that required surgery, but LaVine looks fully recovered to begin the current campaign.

Acuff totaled 12 points (5-24 FG, 0-7 3Pt, 2-5 FT), three rebounds, three assists and three steals across 35 minutes during Wednesday's 121-96 loss to the Clippers.

The seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft displayed some shooting jitters in his debut, but Acuff was still able to contribute on the defensive end of the court. The Kings figure to give Acuff all the minutes he can handle this season, especially with Ben Simmons (Achilles) no longer in the picture, and the Arkansas product could produce strong averages as a result, albeit with shaky percentages.

Henderson provided 15 points (7-14 FG, 1-6 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 19 minutes off the bench during Wednesday's 124-83 victory over the Suns.

While all five Portland starters scored in double digits during the rout, Henderson was the only member of the second unit to deliver 10-plus points. The fourth-year guard is firmly behind Damian Lillard and Ja Morant on the backcourt depth chart to begin the season and is working off the bench with Jrue Holiday, but after a strong training camp and preseason, Henderson could be poised to thrive in that role.

Morant ended with 14 points (6-8 FG, 2-3 3Pt), five rebounds, eight assists and three steals over 23 minutes during Wednesday's 124-83 victory over Phoenix.

While backcourt-mate Damian Lillard led all scorers with 25 points, Morant led Portland in assists and had an efficient shooting night as well. Simply staying on the court will be Morant's top priority after he suited up for only 79 regular-season games over his final three seasons in Memphis, but he's healthy to begin 2026-27 and is getting a clean slate with the Blazers.

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.