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Al Horford C | GS
Warriors' Al Horford: Ready to play Saturday
Horford (rest) is expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Kings, per Nick Friedell of The Athletic.
The veteran big man sat out Wednesday's exhibition versus Portland for rest purposes. Horford should receive some burn Saturday before the Warriors turn to some of their younger players in the second half.
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Joel Embiid C | PHI
76ers' Joel Embiid: Set to play Thursday
Embiid (rest) is set to play in Thursday's preseason game against the Nets, per ESPN.com.
The 76ers are planning to have their entire Opening Night starting lineup available Thursday. Embiid, who sat out the preseason opener, should get some run in the first half while Philadelphia gets its first look at its new-look roster.
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Donovan Clingan C | POR
Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Mixed bag in preseason opener
Clingan finished with three points (1-7 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-1 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block over 20 minutes in Wednesday's 123-118 preseason win over the Warriors.
Clingan had a hard time finding the bottom of the basket in the preseason opener, but he collected a team-high 10 boards to go with a full stat line. The 2024 first-rounder added a respectable three-point shot to his arsenal and improved as a free-throw shooter a year ago, and there's still room for growth for Clingan in his third season.
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Maliq Brown C | SA
Spurs' Maliq Brown: Sitting out Thursday
Brown (back) is out for Thursday's preseason game against the Hawks, Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Brown is dealing with some tightness, so this sounds like a precaution. The No. 44 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft is not expected to crack the rotation on Opening Night.
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Myles Turner C | MIL
Bucks' Myles Turner: Effective in preseason
Turner recorded 19 points (5-8 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 7-8 FT), five rebounds, two blocks and one steal in 22 minutes during Wednesday's 128-126 preseason win over Oklahoma City.
Turner delivered an efficient offensive performance while providing his usual rim protection. The veteran center's combination of perimeter shooting and shot-blocking should continue to make him a valuable fantasy option heading into the regular season.
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Nikola Vucevic C | ORL
Magic's Nikola Vucevic: Perfect from field
Vucevic recorded nine points (3-3 FG, 3-3 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 12 minutes during Wednesday's 122-118 preseason win over Memphis.
Vucevic made all three of his attempts from beyond the arc, showcasing his floor-spacing ability in limited action. The veteran center could provide valuable offensive production off Orlando's bench, though his playing time will be worth monitoring in a crowded frontcourt.
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Goga Bitadze C | ORL
Magic's Goga Bitadze: Solid in reserve role
Bitadze finished with seven points (3-4 FG, 1-2 FT), two rebounds and one block in 13 minutes during Wednesday's 122-118 preseason victory over Memphis.
Bitadze was efficient around the basket but saw limited playing time behind Orlando's other frontcourt options. With Nikola Vucevic also competing for minutes, Bitadze could face challenges securing a consistent rotation role.
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Day'Ron Sharpe C | BKN
Nets' Day'Ron Sharpe: Won't suit up Thursday
Sharpe has been ruled out for Thursday's preseason matchup against Philadelphia due to left shoulder soreness, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
The severity of Sharpe's shoulder issue remains unclear, though the team is likely being cautious for this exhibition. His absence could create additional frontcourt opportunities for Brooklyn's other big men during Thursday's contest.