NBA Player News

Towns (quadriceps) has been downgraded to doubtful for Wednesday's game against the Cavaliers, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.

Towns was previously listed as questionable, so this could be a huge blow for the Knicks, but it sounds like the talented big man still has a chance to play, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. The team is already shorthanded, as Josh Hart (back) and Mitchell Robinson (load management) have already been ruled out. Guerschon Yabusele could be poised for a sizable workload as a result of this news.

Gafford (ankle) remains doubtful to play Opening Night against the Spurs on Wednesday, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.

During the portion of shootaround that was open to the media, Gafford was walking around in slides instead of shoes. He's listed as doubtful on the official injury report, and it's likely the Mavericks hold him out to be safe. Dereck Lively could have a higher floor in fantasy as a result.

Ware (ankle/neck) participated in Wednesday's morning shootaround, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

According to coach Erik Spoelstra, Ware remains questionable to face the Magic on Wednesday. However, it does appear that he's trending in the right direction. If Ware can get through warmups with no setbacks, he could get the green light to play through his injuries.

Hayes closed with four points (2-3 FG), six rebounds and one assist in 14 minutes during Tuesday's 119-109 loss to the Warriors.

Hayes operated as the direct backup to Deandre Ayton on Tuesday, with Jarred Vanderbilt logging 12 minutes at forward. Ayton had a decent showing in 34 minutes, and at least for now, it doesn't appear like Hayes is going to be a threat to Ayton.

Hartenstein chipped in six points (2-5 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds, five assists and one steal in 37 minutes before fouling out of Tuesday's 125-124 double-overtime win over Houston.

Hartenstein drew the start alongside Chet Holmgren to match up with Houston's jumbo lineup. Still, it's worth noting that Oklahoma's lineups could be fluid at times -- Jalen Williams (wrist) is still sidelined. The Thunder could opt to move Hartenstein or Cason Wallace to the second unit once Williams returns. Hartenstein was a top-70 player in nine-category leagues on a per-game basis during the 2024-25 regular season, and he may struggle to reach those heights again with a fully healthy Holmgren next to him.

Capela chipped in four points (1-1 FG, 2-2 FT) and one steal over eight minutes during Tuesday's 125-124 double-overtime loss to Oklahoma City.

The Rockets started a jumbo lineup of Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun in the front court Tuesday, but coach Ime Udoka has previously said that lineups could be fluid based on matchups. Still, it's pretty telling that Capela logged just eight minutes in this double-overtime loss. There will likely be some games where Capela is way more involved, and it's worth noting that Adams is expected to have a maintenance plan. But if Tuesday was any indication, Capela's fantasy appeal isn't the greatest as things currently stand.

Ayton posted 10 points (5-7 FG, 0-2 FT), six rebounds and one block over 34 minutes during Tuesday's 119-109 loss to the Warriors.

Despite playing 34 minutes, Ayton failed to offer anything of note, a worrying sign given his history. While all the signs pointed to him being primed and ready to go, this performance won't do him any favors. With that said, it is just one game, so there is still ample time for him to turn things around, starting when the Lakers play the Timberwolves on Friday.

Horford notched five points (2-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt), five rebounds and one assist over 20 minutes during Tuesday's 119-109 win over the Lakers.

Horford came off the bench, playing his first game for the Warriors. Despite the fact that he was spoken about as a possible starter during the preseason, Steve Kerr opted to go with a smaller lineup, relegating Horford to the second unit. With that said, he could still slide into the starting lineup from time to time, depending on the size of the opponent.

Holmgren produced 28 points (11-17 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes before fouling out of Tuesday's 125-124 double-overtime win over the Rockets.

Holmgren started the game on fire, keeping the Thunder close early. It was one of the best offensive performances of his career, an indication that he is perhaps going to be more aggressive on that end of the floor this season. While he failed to record a defensive stat, managers should feel comfortable that he will get things going on that end of the floor sooner rather than later.

Adams provided four points (1-4 FG, 2-2 FT), 13 rebounds and three assists across 36 minutes during Tuesday's 125-124 double-overtime loss to Oklahoma City.

Adams was given the starting nod, likely a matchup-based decision given the size of the opposition. He led the Rockets with 13 rebounds, a handy bonus for anyone who streamed him on a low-volume night. Reed Sheppard played 28 minutes off the bench and could supplant Adams in the starting lineup from time to time, should the matchup call for it.