NBA Player News
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Keon Johnson SG | BKN
Nets' Keon Johnson: Solid showing from first unit
Johnson finished Saturday's 115-113 loss to the Celtics with 21 points (8-15 FG, 5-9 3Pt), six rebounds, two assists and one steal over 31 minutes.
Johnson registered his eighth game of the season with at least 20 points Saturday. With Cam Thomas (hamstring) sidelined for the rest of 2024-25, Johnson has a clear pathway to a stable starting role moving ahead. Over his last 15 appearances in the first unit, Johnson has averaged 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers in 27.8 minutes.
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Corey Kispert SG | WAS
Wizards' Corey Kispert: Won't return Saturday
Kispert has been ruled out for the rest of Saturday's game against the Nuggets due to a left thumb sprain.
Kispert was replaced by Justin Champagnie at the 5:01 mark of the third quarter, and the former will not return after spraining his left thumb. Kispert will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury, but he is in jeopardy of being sidelined for Monday's game against Portland. He'll finish Saturday's game with four points (2-5 FG, 0-2 3Pt), two rebounds and one assist across 15 minutes. Bub Carrington should see an increase in minutes off the bench for the rest of Saturday's game due to Kispert's absence.
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Maxwell Lewis SF | BKN
Nets' Maxwell Lewis: Heats up with 15 points off bench
Lewis posted 15 points (6-7 FG, 3-3 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one block across 16 minutes during Saturday's 115-113 loss to the Celtics.
In the Nets' first game since the team announced that Cam Thomas (hamstring) would miss the rest of the season, Lewis set season highs in both scoring and minutes off the bench in his first appearance since the Mar. 4 loss to the Spurs. It'll be interesting to see if Saturday's performance earns Lewis more playing time going forward, and fantasy managers should monitor his role down the stretch.
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Cameron Johnson SF | BKN
Nets' Cameron Johnson: Team-high 23 points in narrow loss
Johnson totaled 23 points (9-19 FG, 2-8 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 10 rebounds, six assists and one block across 35 minutes during Saturday's 115-113 loss to the Celtics.
It was the second double-double of the season by Johnson, who led the Nets in scoring Saturday. With Cam Thomas (hamstring) out for the remainder of the campaign, Johnson should function as Brooklyn's top scoring option to close out the final month of action. Johnson has averaged 18.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.1 three-pointers in 32.5 minutes over seven outings in March thus far.
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Jrue Holiday PG | BOS
Celtics' Jrue Holiday: Dishes out season-high 12 assists
Holiday finished Saturday's 115-113 win over the Nets with 11 points (5-12 FG, 1-5 3Pt), five rebounds, 12 assists, two blocks and two steals across 38 minutes.
It was the first double-double of the year for Holiday, who dished out a season-high 12 assists in the absence of backcourt mate Derrick White (knee). Saturday's performance comes on the heels of Holiday dropping a season-best 25 points in Friday's win over Miami, so perhaps the veteran guard is turning a corner amid a tough year. Through his last eight appearances, Holiday has averaged 11.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers in 32.1 minutes.
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Jayson Tatum PF | BOS
Celtics' Jayson Tatum: Teases triple-double Saturday
Tatum (knee) closed Saturday's 115-113 win over the Nets with 20 points (8-19 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 3-3 FT), eight rebounds and eight assists over 36 minutes.
Tatum teased what could've been his third triple-double of the season Saturday, and he struggled to shoot the ball from beyond the arc. The Celtics have been frequently listing Tatum with a right knee issue on the injury report of late, which is something fantasy managers should monitor as the team looks to preserve the All-Star forward for the postseason. Tatum has averaged 27.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 3.5 three-pointers in 37.7 minutes across 11 games since the All-Star break.
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Payton Pritchard PG | BOS
Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Busts out of slump in win
Pritchard had 22 points (7-11 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, three assists and two steals in 33 minutes during Saturday's 115-113 win over the Nets.
After shooting just 28.9 percent from the floor over his past four games, Pritchard broke out of his slump Saturday and stepped up for a short-handed Celtics team that was without Derrick White (knee). Jaylen Brown also went down with back spasms during this one, so Pritchard could be in line for an expanded role if the former cannot suit up for Tuesday's meeting with the Nets. Over his last eight games, Pritchard has averaged 15.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 3.8 three-pointers in 29.3 minutes while shooting 44.8 percent from deep.
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Luguentz Dort SF | OKC
Thunder's Luguentz Dort: Doesn't return Saturday
Dort did not return to Saturday's win against the Pistons after suffering a groin injury in third quarter. He finished with seven points (3-6 FG, 1-4 3Pt), seven rebounds, one assists and one block over 27 minutes.
Dort suffered the injury when he slipped awkwardly after his foot tangled with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Dort did not return after going to the locker room, and it's unclear whether he'll be available for Sunday's game against the Bucks. Isaiah Joe and Alex Caruso would stand to see their minutes increase if Dort is ruled out for Sunday's contest.
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Kristaps Porzingis C | BOS
Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis: Scores efficiently in return
Porzingis (illness) recorded 24 points (9-16 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 5-6 FT), two rebounds and one block across 32 minutes Saturday in the Celtics' 115-113 win over the Nets.
Though he didn't offer much of a multi-category impact Saturday, Porzingis' efficient scoring performance was a welcome sight for fantasy managers after he had missed Boston's last eight games with a non-COVID-related illness. Though Porzingis was expected to be on a playing-time restriction Saturday, he ended up exceeding his season-long average of 28.9 minutes per game. Porzingis will now get two days to rest up and recover before the Celtics return to action with a rematch with the Nets in Boston on Tuesday.
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Cade Cunningham SG | DET
Pistons' Cade Cunningham: Ejected from Saturday's game
Cunningham was ejected late in the third quarter of Saturday's game against the Thunder after being assessed two technical fouls, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Cunningham was assessed two technical fouls in quick succession near the end of the third quarter while arguing over a foul call. His night will end with 11 points (5-18 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), nine assists and seven rebounds over 29 minutes. Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley will play more prominent roles in the fourth quarter due to Cunningham's ejection.