NBA Player News

Fears amassed 28 points (10-19 FG, 5-11 3Pt, 3-3 FT), eight rebounds and six assists in 37 minutes during Friday's 117-113 loss to Sacramento.

Fears matched a 28-point effort that he also managed against the Kings a month ago. It took 11 more minutes on the court this time around, but he padded Friday's line with five more rebounds. The return of Dejounte Murray (Achilles) has cut into the rookie's production, but his proficiency at the off-guard position has offered additional opportunities. The Washington product has successfully fended off Jordan Poole on the depth chart, giving the Pelicans more flexibility to trade backcourt pieces in the offseason trade market.

Champagnie (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Heat.

Champagnie wasn't included on the Wizards' initial injury report but is now in danger of missing Saturday's contest due to a right knee contusion. If he's ultimately ruled out, Leaky Black and Jamir Watkins would be candidates to see an uptick in playing time.

Christie provided 14 points (4-7 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 3-3 FT), five rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes during Friday's 138-127 loss to Orlando.

Christie was coming off four consecutive single-digit scoring performances, but he bounced back Friday while also showing an efficient touch with his shot. Christie also drained multiple threes for the first time in his last four games, and he's now drained at least one three-pointer in 13 straight contests. Over that stretch, Williams is shooting 28-for-71 (39.4 percent) from beyond the arc.

Williams ended with 23 points (7-15 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 9-11 FT), two rebounds, five assists and two steals across 26 minutes during Friday's 138-127 loss to Orlando.

Williams reached the 20-point mark for the first time since Jan. 24, and this was his best scoring output since he delivered 26 points in a loss to the Warriors on Christmas Day. Williams has been very productive off the bench and has scored in double digits in 11 of his last 12 outings with the second unit, a stretch in which he's averaging 12.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Thompson provided 18 points (7-13 FG, 4-10 3Pt), one rebound and two assists across 22 minutes during Friday's 138-127 loss to the Magic.

Cooper Flagg stole the show with his 51-point performance, but Thompson, who returned from a one-game absence due to rest, made his presence felt with his shooting off the bench. Thompson has drained multiple three-pointers in six of his last seven appearances dating back to March 18, and he's shooting 22-for-49 (44.8 percent) from beyond the arc over that stretch.

Bane amassed 27 points (8-13 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 8-9 FT), seven rebounds, five assists and three steals over 33 minutes during Friday's 138-127 win over Dallas.

Paolo Banchero didn't have his best performance Friday, but Bane was one of several players who stepped up offensively to carry the Magic in a game where Cooper Flagg scored 51 points for the Mavs. Bane seems to be getting into a groove with the playoffs right around the corner, and he's now scored 20-plus points in three of his last five appearances. He's also been locked in from deep, and this was his fifth straight game in which he drained multiple threes after being limited to just one three-pointer made in a three-game stretch between March 21 and March 24.

Carter finished Friday's 138-127 victory over the Mavericks with 28 points (8-16 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 10-10 FT), six rebounds and three assists across 36 minutes.

Carter not only led the Magic in scoring in this win, but he also delivered a season-high mark in scoring -- his previous season-best output was a 26-point effort against the Nuggets on Dec. 18. Carter is ending the regular season on a strong note, and even though he tends to operate as the No. 3 or No. 4 option offensively for Orlando, he's making the most of his role. This was the 12th time he's scored in double digits over his last 13 appearances dating back to March 11.

Da Silva supplied 19 points (6-11 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 4-6 FT), five rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal across 29 minutes during Friday's 138-127 win over the Mavericks.

Paolo Banchero had a subpar showing after finishing with 10 points across 31 minutes Friday, but da Silva stepped up in a big way and finished tied for the third-most points on the Magic with Jalen Suggs -- only Wendell Carter (28 points) and Desmond Bane (27 points) outpaced them. The return of Franz Wagner means da Silva will head to the bench for the rest of the season, and while he can deliver solid fantasy production as long as he stays on the court, the reduced role will clearly have a toll on his fantasy value.

Buzelis closed Friday's 136-96 loss to the Knicks with 11 points (4-9 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-4 FT) and six rebounds across 23 minutes.

Buzelis is the future of the Bulls' franchise, but he didn't look the part in this 40-point loss to the Knicks. The young forward has taken a big leap in his game in his second season in The Association, so one bad game won't erase what he's done throughout the current campaign. The recent performances are a bit worrisome from a fantasy perspective, however, as Buzelis has failed to surpass the 15-point mark in three of his last five appearances despite maintaining his starting role.

Sexton registered 19 points (6-12 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, one assist and one steal across 28 minutes during Friday's 136-96 loss to New York.

Sexton returned to the bench with Josh Giddey (hamstring) back in the starting lineup, but he produced another strong showing as a scoring weapon for a Bulls team that's already out of playoff contention. Sexton has scored 15-plus points in seven consecutive games and is clearly ending the season on a strong note, showing he remains a very viable option ahead of hitting the open market in the summer.