NBA Player News

Horford will start Saturday against the Clippers.

Horford will start at the five spot Saturday, with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined due to an ankle injury. In nine starts this year, Horford is averaging 9.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists over 32.4 minutes.

Lively (ankle) is out for Saturday's game against the Spurs.

Lively will miss a fourth straight game due to a left ankle sprain. There remains no clear timetable for Lively's return. In the meantime, Dwight Powell will carry most of the load at the center position while Richaun Holmes could see some action as well.

Bamba (illness) didn't practice Saturday, Ky Carlin of USA Today reports.

Bamba has been dealing with a non-COVID illness as of late and was held out of Saturday's practice because of it. With Joel Embiid (ankle) also absent from practice, the Sixers' frontcourt health is worth monitoring as their matchup with the Heat on Monday approaches.

Embiid missed Saturday's practice due to an ankle injury, Austin Krell of USA Today reports.

Embiid didn't practice Saturday due to an ankle injury he presumably suffered during Friday's game against Toronto. Head coach Nick Nurse stated that there is "some" concern over the injury, but it doesn't seem to be too serious. The Sixers travel to Miami on Monday, so Embiid has a couple of days to get healthy. If he is ultimately unable to go, Paul Reed and Robert Covington could be in line for extra minutes.

Sabonis finished with 28 points (12-15 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 11 rebounds and 12 assists over 35 minutes during Friday's 120-105 victory over Phoenix.

Sabonis had one of the most efficient performances of his career. He barely missed from the field despite attempting 15 shots, and he also continued his impressive run of play that has him as one of the most productive big men in The Association in recent weeks. He has seven double-doubles and three triple-doubles over his last 10 outings, a span in which he's averaging 19.5 points, 13.1 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game.

Azubuike totaled 11 points (5-5 FG, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists and one block over 22 minutes during Friday's 120-105 loss to the Kings.

Azubuike made the most of his minutes in the blowout loss, not missing any of his attempts from the field and recording a double-double. Fantasy managers should not lose perspective regarding his role, however, as he's expected to maintain an end-of-bench role for Phoenix, essentially making him a non-factor across all fantasy formats unless his role changes dramatically.

Adebayo ended with 18 points (5-14 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 8-10 FT), 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals over 38 minutes during Friday's 122-113 win over the Hawks.

Tyler Herro carried the offense with a 30-point outing, but Adebayo made his presence felt down low while recording his first double-double since Nov. 28. A reliable two-way presence for the Heat who might have to accept a bigger role on offense with Jimmy Butler (calf) sidelined, Adebayo recently missed seven games with a hip injury, but he should be a must-start player in fantasy now that he's healthy. He's averaging 20.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game over his last 10 outings.

Sharpe finished with 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-6 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals over 18 minutes off the bench during Friday's 122-117 loss to Denver.

The third-year center produced his fourth double-double of the season, and Sharpe has supplied double-digit boards five times in 10 December games despite averaging just 17.3 minutes per contest over that stretch. The Nets have been unwilling to increase his role, even when Nic Claxton was sidelined early in the season, but Sharpe is finding a way to contribute even with limited court time.

Claxton recorded 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-4 FT), 16 rebounds, six assists and three blocks across 28 minutes during Friday's 122-117 loss to the Nuggets.

While his numbers didn't match up to Nikola Jokic on offense, Claxton held his way defensively as he recorded his sixth double-double of the season. The fifth-year center has also delivered at least three blocks in four straight games, and over his last eight he's averaging 11.4 points, 10.5 boards, 2.5 blocks and 1.5 assists while shooting 61.9 percent from the floor.

Jokic provided 31 points (12-17 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 11 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and three steals in 34 minutes during Friday's 122-117 win over the Nets.

It's the second straight game in which Jokic has produced at least 30 points and 10 boards, and the double-double was his 25th of the season. The 28-year-old center has had a couple games in December in which early exits led to disappointing stat lines, but those are the only occasions in his last 15 contests in which he's scored fewer than 20 points. Over that stretch, Jokic is averaging 26.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.1 threes and 0.9 blocks.