NBA Player News

Santos finished with 12 points (5-10 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds and a steal across 25 minutes in Wednesday's 127-105 loss to the Lakers.

Santos opened the season in a starting role and provided respectable scoring and rebounding, but he did little in other categories in a game that was completely out of the Warriors' reach by the end of the third quarter. Santos should continue to see consistent minutes early in the season due to the absence of several players, including Jimmy Butler (knee), Moses Moody (knee), and Kristaps Porzingis (illness). However, his offensive involvement could remain inconsistent, and his fantasy ceiling may be limited unless he increases his defensive production or secures a larger role as the season progresses.

Lendeborg contributed 12 points (5-11 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-3 FT), three rebounds, two assists and a steal across 29 minutes in Wednesday's 127-105 loss to the Lakers.

Lendeborg's 29 minutes were an encouraging sign for the role he's expected to have in the Warriors rotation in the early weeks of the campaign. However, his modest peripheral production and inefficient free-throw shooting limited his fantasy impact. With the Warriors missing several established contributors, mainly Jimmy Butler (knee) and Moses Moody (knee), as well as Brandin Podziemski (back) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness), Lendeborg should get consistent playing time in the coming weeks, but his production needs to increase to be a valuable option in most fantasy formats.

Curry tallied 23 points (7-15 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 7-7 FT), two rebounds, an assist and two steals across 21 minutes in Wednesday's 127-105 loss to the Lakers.

Curry scored 20 of his 23 points in the first half but was held to just three points after halftime before sitting out the fourth quarter. His limited minutes were largely a product of the lopsided score, though his workload will be worth monitoring after an injury-shortened 2025-26 regular season. Still, this 23-minute outing confirmed that Curry remains Golden State's primary offensive option. His scoring and three-point volume should sustain his fantasy value.

Reaves delivered 23 points (6-11 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 10-10 FT), four rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block across 32 minutes in Wednesday's 127-105 win over the Warriors.

Even though Luka Doncic and Walker Kessler stole the show in this win, Reaves posted a strong line in his own right. His six assists and three combined steals-plus-blocks provided valuable production beyond scoring, reinforcing his multi-category fantasy appeal. With Doncic commanding significant usage, Reaves may experience occasional scoring fluctuations, but his playing time and versatility should support a relatively stable fantasy floor as the Lakers' No. 2 offensive option in most games.

Kessler delivered 26 points (12-12 FG, 0-0 3Pt, 2-4 FT), nine rebounds, an assist and two blocks across 30 minutes in Wednesday's 127-105 win over the Warriors.

There was a lot of talk about how Luka Doncic and Kessler would thrive playing together, and while one game isn't enough to draw conclusions, this was an impressive performance from the big man. He made all 12 of his field-goal attempts, posting an unusually productive scoring performance for a player whose fantasy value typically centers on rebounds, blocks and efficiency. His 30-minute workload was particularly encouraging, suggesting a prominent role in Los Angeles' frontcourt. Although his scoring output is unlikely to remain this high consistently, his combination of rebounding, rim protection and efficient finishing gives him a solid fantasy foundation, especially if he develops a rapport with the playmaking of both Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Doncic produced 28 points (7-18 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 9-9 FT), eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals across 30 minutes in Wednesday's 127-105 win over the Warriors.

Doncic opened the regular season with a strong all-around performance, and while his shooting line wasn't entirely efficient, he caused damage from three while also filling out that stat sheet as he often does -- he ended just two rebounds and three assists away from a triple-double despite playing just 30 minutes. Scoring prowess aside, his rebounding and playmaking reinforce his elite fantasy ceiling. The six turnovers were a drawback, but his high usage should keep him among the league's most productive fantasy options every time he steps on the hardwood.

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.