NBA Player News

Diawara ended with six points (2-10 FG, 2-7 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist in 20 minutes during Thursday's 122-120 preseason win over Toronto.

Diawara remained in the starting lineup, with Josh Hart given the night off. Although it does appear as though he could feature on a nightly basis, Diawara's upside is very limited at this point. Only those in deeper formats need to pay attention to the situation, at least for now.

Drummond closed with 14 points (6-7 FG, 2-5 FT), eight rebounds, four assists and one block in 15 minutes during Thursday's 122-120 preseason win over the Raptors.

Drummond put together his best preseason performance for his new team, falling just two rebounds short of a double-double. Although he is well and truly into the backend of his career, Drummond still offers plenty when it comes to per-minute rebounding numbers. He is slated to be the primary backup behind Karl-Anthony Towns, a role that should yield anywhere between 14 and 18 minutes per game. Barring any unforeseen injuries to Towns, Drummond will only hold value as a spot-streamer for anyone needing a quick bump in boards.

Shead finished with four points (1-6 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four assists, two steals, two blocks and one rebound in 21 minutes during Thursday's 122-120 preseason loss to New York.

Despite continued shooting woes, Shead got it done on the defensive end of the floor, racking up four combined steals and blocks. Although he did manage to finally land a three-pointer, it would appear as though anyone considering Shead with a flier pick in drafts shouldn't be hoping for too much in terms of offensive output. At best, he could be utilized as a steals specialist, with some upside in assists.

Murray-Boyles totaled 12 points (4-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block in 22 minutes during Thursday's 122-120 preseason loss to the Knicks.

Murray-Boyles delivered yet another impressive performance, this time contributing on both ends of the floor. While his scoring has done most of the talking thus far during the preseason, he went to work on the defensive end Thursday, compiling four combined steals and blocks. Unsurprisingly, the hype around Murray-Boyles continues to grow, with fantasy managers now likely to have to spend a seventh or eighth round pick to secure his services.

Thompson recorded 12 points (6-13 FG, 0-1 3Pt), five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block across 22 minutes in Thursday's 116-89 preseason win over the Thunder.

Thompson was one of six Houston players who scored in double digits in this comfortable win. He left his mark in other areas as well, ranking third on Houston in rebounds and assists. Thompson is penciled as a starter in the Rockets' backcourt for the regular-season opener against the Mavericks on Oct. 21, and he should be a valuable fantasy asset in most formats due to his ability to fill the stat sheet with ease.

Bogdanovic recorded 15 points (5-9 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 0-0 FT), six rebounds, an assist and a steal across 16 minutes in Thursday's 116-89 preseason win over the Thunder.

Bogdanovic provided an impressive scoring spark off Houston's bench, leading the team in points while connecting on five three-pointers. Bogdanovic's perimeter shooting could help him secure a role in Houston's rotation, although his regular-season fantasy value will depend on consistent playing time. If he sees enough time, he should be an asset in category-based leagues as a three-point specialist, though his fantasy upside is almost non-existent in other categories.

Durant recorded 11 points (4-10 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 3-3 FT) and an assist across 16 minutes in Thursday's 116-89 preseason win over the Thunder.

Durant endured a relatively quiet performance in Houston's preseason finale, but fantasy managers shouldn't be overly alarmed that he missed all four of his three-pointers. The veteran forward should be just fine for the start of the regular season Oct. 21 against the Mavericks. Durant remains a high-end fantasy scoring option despite the underwhelming preseason outing, and he should be one of the team's go-to options alongside star big man Alperen Sengun when the season kicks off.

Barnhizer recorded nine points (4-5 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), a rebound and two assists across 12 minutes in Thursday's 116-89 preseason loss to the Rockets.

Barnhizer made the most of his limited playing time as the Thunder wrapped up their preseason with a lopsided loss. The young forward was particularly effective inside the arc, making all four of his two-point attempts, though he missed his lone three-pointer. His contributions were otherwise modest, and he committed two turnovers and picked up four personal fouls. Barnhizer's efficient scoring offered a positive takeaway from an otherwise difficult night for Oklahoma City, but his regular-season fantasy outlook remains uncertain given the team's considerable depth. He's not expected to see many minutes in the regular season as a depth option at both forward spots.

Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 17 points (5-12 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 5-5 FT), a rebound, three assists and a block across 26 minutes in Thursday's 116-89 preseason loss to the Rockets.

Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an inefficient scoring performance by his standards, but he still finished second on the team in points. The star guard also failed to make a sizable impact as a playmaker with just three assists, but with the regular season around the corner, fantasy managers would be wise not to read too much into this performance. Gilgeous-Alexander remains an elite fantasy option heading into the regular season, even if his preseason numbers were a bit up-and-down.

Coach Mike Brown isn't concerned about Hart missing Tuesday's regular-season opener Tuesday against Philadelphia, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News reports.

Hart was held out of Thursday's preseason matchup against the Raptors due to right ankle soreness, but it doesn't appear as though he's in any danger of missing the season opener. It'll be worth monitoring his status over the next few days, but all signs point to him suiting up Tuesday.