Fantasy News

Explodes for 25 points Mathurin was one of the standout performers of Thursday's slate across The Association, and it seems the former Arizona forward is approaching the 2024-25 campaign with a chip on his shoulder following the injury woes that limited him to just 59 regular-season appearances in the previous 2023-24 campaign. Mathurin averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26.1 minutes in those 59 contests, and he could be a solid weapon off the bench for the Pacers, whereas his usage might end up making him a reliable fantasy asset as well.

Perfect from field Thursday Walker was one of several solid contributors off the bench for the Pacers in this game, as no starter played more than 18 minutes. Walker is competing for a bench role as a frontcourt option, and this outing might have assured him some extra looks in the upcoming preseason games. Walker made 33 regular-season appearances off the bench as a rookie in 2023-24, averaging 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds across 10.3 minutes per game.

Productive in preseason debut Turner made his preseason debut after missing the game against the Hawks on Tuesday due to a knee problem, and the big man made his presence felt on both ends of the court. Indiana will try to be cautious in case the knee bothers Turner again, but if that's not the case, he's penciled in as the starting center for Opening Night against the Pistons on Oct. 23.

Stuffs stat sheet Thursday The rookie out of Cal was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he could have a role off the bench -- albeit minimal -- if he cracks the Opening Night roster. He'll be a solid depth piece in the rotation, but he's not expected to have much of a role, thus being an afterthought in most fantasy formats.

Comes close to double-double The Cavaliers have two players capable of running the offense in the starting unit in Donovan Mitchell (rest) and Darius Garland (rest), but having Jerome as an insurance policy off the bench wouldn't be the worst thing. Jerome barely played in 2023-24 due to an ankle injury but could compete for a spot on the Opening Night roster if he keeps this up in the remaining preseason contests.

Strong showing in limited time Allen was the only regular starter who saw the court in this preseason contest, as the coaching staff decided to rest Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley while Max Strus (hip) was ruled out. Allen is firmly entrenched as the Cavs' starting center and will remain a double-double threat whenever he steps on the floor once Cleveland's regular season begins against the Raptors on Oct. 23.

Makes preseason debut Thursday Head coach Jason Kidd announced before the 8 p.m. ET tip-off that Thompson would play under a minutes' restriction, and that's precisely what happened, as the sharpshooter logged less than 20 minutes and didn't step on the court in the second half. Thompson will be the Mavericks' third option on offense once the regular season begins with a matchup against the Spurs on Oct. 24, and that new role in Dallas should limit his fantasy upside considerably.

Scores 12 points in preseason debut Just like head coach Jason Kidd announced before the 8 p.m. ET tip-off, Irving played less than 20 minutes and didn't step on the court in the second half. The veteran floor general should ramp up his minutes in the final two preseason outings, against the Clippers and Bucks, to be ready for the Oct. 24 regular-season opener against the Spurs.

Takes advantage of spot start Prosper got the start in the frontcourt alongside Dereck Lively, and there's no question the second-year forward took advantage of the opportunity. As good as he looked alongside Lively, Prosper's path at regular minutes in the regular season is blocked, meaning he shouldn't have any value in most fantasy formats regardless of how good he looks during his brief preseason cameos.

Grabs 15 rebounds Thursday Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George (knee) and even John Collins delivered solid performances on the offensive end of the court, but Kessler made his presence felt defensively and on the glass, two areas in which he already stands out. It's unclear if Kessler will open the 2024-25 regular season as the starting center for the Jazz, but if that's the case, he'll add some much-needed size and rim protection to a towering Utah lineup that should also feature Markkanen and Taylor Hendricks in the first unit.

Bounces back in win over Dallas Markkanen needed a strong performance as a confidence booster following a woeful shooting effort against the Rockets on Monday, and that's exactly what happened here. The star forward led all players in scoring and showed he's more than ready for the start of the regular season, which will be Oct. 23 for Utah in a matchup against Memphis. Markkanen averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 three-pointers and 2.0 assists in 33.1 minutes per game over 55 regular-season appearances in 2023-24.

Productive off bench Thursday Clarkson was one of six Utah players who scored in double digits in this contest while making his presence felt on both ends of the court. He could be in line for a more prominent role in the team's final three preseason contests, and possibly in the regular-season opener against the Grizzlies on Oct. 23, in case Keyonte George (knee) receives extra rest or struggles to recover from the injury he sustained in this win over the Mavs.

Doesn’t play Thursday Morant didn't see the court in this double-digit preseason loss, though that's far from surprising, as the Grizzlies are being extremely cautious with their star point guard following the injuries and off-court issues he's had over the last two years. Morant's next chance to play will come against the Bulls on Saturday, but the star floor general will shift his focus toward being ready for the regular-season opener against the Jazz on Oct. 23, meaning his involvement in the Grizzlies' upcoming preseason games is uncertain.

Sniffs triple-double in win Dieng has made over 30 appearances for the Thunder in each of his first two seasons in the NBA, and he continues to grow as a player after being one of the youngest players selected in the 2022 NBA Draft. Dieng isn't expected to play a prominent role for the Thunder once the regular season begins in late October, but he might get an extra look in the Thunder's final two preseason contests against the Nuggets and Hawks before the start of the regular season on Oct. 24.

Not yet ready for play Davis continues to rehab from a ruptured Achilles injury suffered in June, and it's clear the Bucks aren't in a rush to get him back for a preseason game. His next chance to suit up will arrive Monday against the Bulls.

Remains out Thursday Martin continues to fight through a sprained wrist, and the injury forced him to miss another exhibition. Look for Tidjane Salaun, Tre Mann and Seth Curry to continue to get more run in the preseason until Martin is cleared for play.

Shines in win Thursday Several young players got the chance to play extended minutes in this contest for the Thunder, but it'd be hard to find anyone who took more advantage of the opportunity than Jones, who filled the stat sheet admirably and made his presence felt on both ends of the court with a strong double-double. Jones, the 26th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, isn't expected to play a big role for the Thunder as a rookie, but this game certainly gives a glimpse of his potential as a two-way threat in The Association.

Scores 25 points in preseason game The Thunder rested all of their regular and gave extra minutes to players with a minimal shot of making the Opening Night roster, but Flagler certainly made the most of the opportunity. He led the Thunder in scoring and could've earned some extra minutes ahead of Oklahoma City's final two preseason games, against Denver and Atlanta, on Oct. 15 and 17, respectively.

Won’t return Thursday George put together a strong stat line before slipping on the court in the third quarter and exiting the game. He'll be shut down for the rest of the matchup and the team will likely hold him out of Saturday's exhibition in San Antonio as well to ensure he heads into the regular season at full strength.

Helped to locker room Freeman wasn't able to bend his knee much on his way off the floor, per East. He's likely headed to the locker room for further evaluation to determine the severity of the injury.

Gets chance with starters Konchar will step into the starting five due as the Grizzlies are already dealing with a handful of injuries to key players. He should be prepared to log plenty of minutes with Jaren Jackson (hamstring), Vince Williams (lower leg) and Brandon Clarke (knee) all ruled out.

Not starting vs. Charlotte It's unclear if Morant will be sidelined for this preseason contest, but that wouldn't be shocking, as the team's goal is to have him ready for the start of the regular season against the Jazz on Oct. 23. John Konchar will start next to Marcus Smart in the backcourt with Morant not in the first unit.

Not starting vs. Utah The Mavericks are tweaking the majority of their starting lineup for this contest, and Gafford will be part of the second unit. Dereck Lively will start under center.

Coming off bench Marshall struggled from the field in Monday's exhibition against Memphis, going 4-for-11 from the field in 21 minutes as a starter. He'll take on a reserve role Thursday with Klay Thompson back in action.

Gets starting nod The Mavericks are tweaking their starting lineup for this contest, and that means mixing things up down low. Prosper will start alongside Dereck Lively in the frontcourt.

Running with first unit Lively will get a look at center over Daniel Gafford in Thursday's exhibition. The Duke product looked solid in his last appearance off the bench Monday against Memphis, logging 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in 14 minutes.

Coming off the bench Thursday The Mavericks are starting Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving for this preseason contest, so Grimes should see minutes off the bench. However, he should see minutes off the bench once most of the starters are no longer on the floor.

Not starting vs. Utah The Mavericks are starting Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving for this preseason contest, so Hardy should see minutes off the bench. However, both starters will have a minutes restriction, so Hardy should still see minutes throughout the contest.

Enters starting five Curry will get a chance to start at point guard after it was reported LaMelo Ball and Josh Green would be sat down for rest purposes. Look for Curry to get plenty of opportunities along with Tre Mann and Tidjane Salaun in Thursday's exhibition.

Out with knee soreness Clarke is likely being held out as a precaution given that Thursday night is only an exhibition. HIs next chance to suit up will arrive Saturday in Chicago.

Starting vs. Memphis Micic will get a starting nod in this contest since the Hornets are resting LaMelo Ball. The Serbian point guard will get some minutes as he's pushing to earn the backup point guard role behind Ball.

Resting Thursday The team mentioned leading up to Thursday's exhibition that a few of the regular starters would get the night off, and it's since been announced that Green and LaMelo Ball won't suit up. Cody Martin (wrist) and Tidjane Salaun could be in line for more chances in Green's absence.

Won’t play Thursday The Hornets will give Ball some rest in this preseason contest, meaning Vasilije Micic will start at point guard. Ball is expected to see minutes in the upcoming preseason games before the start of the regular season against the Rockets on Oct. 23.

Making preseason debut Williams has missed his team's first two exhibitions while on the mend from a right hamstring injury, but he's back at 100 percent and will now begin ramping up for the 2024-25 regular season. He's expected to see run behind Miles Bridges in the frontcourt Thursday evening.

Gets another chance to start Christie will start his second game of the preseason due to the absence of Austin Reaves (ankle) Thursday evening. Christie fared well in the opener with the first unit, recording 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks in 34 minutes.

Retreats to bench Connaughton drew a spot start in Sunday's preseason opener, but he'll head back to the bench with Giannis Antetokounmpo (rest) and Gary Trent (elbow) returning to play. Connaughton should see plenty of looks Thursday night as he prepares to handle a bench role in the upcoming 2024-25 campaign.

Handed walking papers Brown put pen to paper on an Exhibit 10 contract Wednesday, but his time with the team didn't last long. He'll be a strong candidate to be brought back to play for New York's G League team, the Westchester Knicks.

Latches on with Heat Washington logged six Summer League appearances with the Heat and will now set his sights on competing for a roster spot following Thursday's transaction. The big man had plenty of success at the college level a season ago for Texas Tech, averaging 9.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over 25 games.

Waived by Miami Daniels signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Heat in late September after spending all of last season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the G League, but he'll be a free agent following the latest roster moves. Daniels seems likely to play in the G League again in 2024-25.

Will play under 20 minutes The minutes' restriction makes sense for Irving, as the Mavericks are looking to manage the workload of their star players with the regular season just around the corner. Irving will play alongside Klay Thompson in Thursday's game against Utah, but Luka Doncic (calf) remains out.

Will play first half Thursday Thompson didn't play in the preseason opener against the Grizzlies on Monday, but this game Thursday will be the first time he'll feature for the Mavericks. He'll play alongside Kyrie Irving, who has been cleared to play as well, but Luka Doncic (calf) has been ruled out.

Back to bench Wiseman will return to the bench with Myles Turner (knee) available. Wiseman certainly left a good impression in the preseason opener, though, putting up eight points (4-4 FG, 0-3 FT) and four rebounds across 16 minutes in Tuesday's 131-130 preseason loss to the Hawks.

Out vs. Milwaukee Per Redick, Reaves is dealing with some ankle soreness, but nothing that the coaching staff or the medical staff would be concerned. Reaves' next chance to play will be against the Warriors on Oct. 15, but his goal is expected to be fit and ready for the regular-season opener against the Timberwolves on Oct. 22.

Will be available Thursday Goodwin didn't play against the Suns on Sunday, so his return is certainly a positive sign in his recovery process, even if he has a minutes' restriction.

Active for Thursday Jackson missed the preseason contest against the Hawks on Tuesday but will return here, and he's expected to see minutes in the frontcourt. Jackson is competing with James Wiseman to see who earns the backup role at center behind Myles Turner.

Available to play Thursday Turner missed the preseason opener against the Hawks on Tuesday due to a knee problem after being a late addition to the injury report, but it seems the issue was minor. Regardless of whether Turner starts or not, he's expected to operate under a minutes' restriction in his preseason debut.

Out again Thursday The No. 35 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Furphy tweaked his ankle in practice earlier this month and has yet to suit up for a preseason contest. His next chance to play will come against the Grizzlies on Monday.

Ruled out vs. Lakers Middleton is believed to be progressing, but there's no guarantee that he will play at all during the preseason. This game against the Lakers comes too soon for him, and it remains to be seen if he'll be cleared for action before the start of the regular season against the 76ers on Oct. 23.

Will be available vs. Lakers Trent is dealing with an elbow injury, and while he missed practice Tuesday, he was expected to be fine, so his presence in the game against the Lakers strengthens that notion. Trent is expected to be the Bucks' starting shooting guard in the preseason opener against the 76ers on Oct. 23.

Sidelined once again Williams is on a two-way contract, so missing preseason action doesn't help his cause. Still, even if healthy, he shouldn't have a shot at making the regular-season rotation. He should be considered questionable to face the Clippers on Monday.

Not playing Thursday Edwards is set to miss a second consecutive preseason contest. His next chance to play will come against the Clippers on Monday, though he's a long shot to crack the Opening Night roster even if healthy.

Out once again Washington is set to miss a second consecutive preseason contest due to a hip issue. His next chance to play will come against the Clippers on Monday, but his focus is on getting ready for the start of the regular season against the Spurs on Oct. 24.

Not facing Jazz Kleber has yet to suit up for any of Dallas' two preseason games, and while his next chance to feature will come against the Clippers on Monday, it wouldn't be surprising if he misses another game or two. He's working to be ready for the start of the regular season against the Spurs on Oct. 24, but even in the scenario he's healthy for the first game of the campaign, he'd have a minimal role at best.

Won’t play vs. Utah Doncic already missed the preseason opener against the Grizzlies, and the Mavericks are being extremely cautious with his injury. His next chance to play will come against the Clippers on Monday, though the Mavs only have two preseason tune-ups left before their regular-season opener against the Spurs on Oct. 24.

Will play vs. Lakers Antetokounmpo got the night off during Sunday's preseason opener, and while he was widely expected to play in this matchup against the Lakers, now it's been confirmed. It's possible that he'd operate under a minutes' restriction since this will be his first preseason contest, and the first game he'll play since the end of the 2024 Olympics.

Starting against Indiana The Cavaliers will be resting several regulars in this matchup, and this means Wade will have the chance to start in the frontcourt alongside Jarrett Allen. The rest of the starting lineup will feature Jaylon Tyson, Isaac Okoro and Ty Jerome.

Makes starting five Thursday Okoro will start at small forward since the Cavaliers are resting several regulars, including Max Strus, who's dealing with a minor hip injury. It seems the battle between Strus and Okoro to see who opens the season as the starting small forward is the only positional battle to watch in the Cavaliers' camp. Okoro signed a three-year, $38 million contract to stay in Cleveland in September.

Gets starting nod Thursday The Cavaliers will rest most of their would-be starters for this contest, and since that includes the starting backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, Jerome will get the nod as part of the starting unit. Jerome will start alongside rookie Jaylon Tyson in the backcourt.

Starting vs. Pacers The Cavaliers are resting most of their regulars for this contest, and Tyson will get the nod in the backcourt alongside Ty Jerome since both Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland will be rested.

Let go by New Orleans Arms has been let go by New Orleans after signing a non-guaranteed training camp contract last week. He will likely spend the 2024-25 campaign with the Birmingham Squadron of the G League.

Good to go Thursday Mills hasn't seen any action during the team's first two preseason contests. However, the veteran guard isn't dealing with any injury and is available to play Thursday.

Won’t play Thursday There is no indication that Merrill is in danger of missing any regular-season action, but his wrist soreness will hold him out of Thursday's contest. Merrill's next chance to suit up is Wednesday's preseason matchup with Detroit.

Ultimately suiting up Thursday Although the Cavaliers initially planned to sit Allen alongside the rest of the team's starters, the 26-year-old big man will ultimately suit up Thursday. However, Allen likely won't receive a full workload until the regular season rolls around.

Let go by New Orleans Ryan made 28 NBA appearances for the Pelicans in 2023-24. However, he is now set to start the 2024-25 campaign as a free agent.

Won’t play Thursday LeVert hasn't suffered any injury but will sit out Thursday's contest alongside the Cavaliers' starters. LeVert is expected to be one of the team's primary bench options once again this season.

Sitting against Indiana Allen will sit out Thursday's contest alongside the rest of the Cavaliers' starters. However, Allen is not dealing with any injury that should cause him to miss time moving forward.

Inactive Thursday Cleveland has opted to sit all of its starters for Thursday's contests, so fantasy managers don't have any injury to worry about. Mobley should be good to go for the team's next preseason matchup with Detroit on Oct. 16.

Won’t suit up against Indiana Although Garland hasn't suffered any injury, the Cavaliers are opting to sit all of their starters for Thursday's contest. Garland should be available for Wednesday's preseason matchup with Detroit.

Sitting out Thursday Mitchell hasn't suffered any injury, but the Cavaliers are opting to rest all of their starters for Thursday's contest. The star guard should be good to go for Wednesday's preseason matchup with Detroit.

Sitting Thursday Strus will miss Thursday's contest due to a right hip contusion he suffered against Chicago. His next chance to suit up is Wednesday's preseason matchup with Detroit.

Tallies three steals in 31 minutes Following his trade to New York, the hope is that Bridges will be able to return to being a top-50 fantasy asset this season. This will undoubtedly start on the defensive end, an element of his game that has taken a hit over the past two years. His three steals Wednesday were a great start, coupled with the fact that he played 31 minutes in what was a comfortable preseason victory.

Fails to score in preseason win As expected, Hart remained in the starting lineup Wednesday, a move that was facilitated following the Julius Randle trade. Hart was a real difference-maker down the stretch last season, taking advantage of injuries to other players. Although he is slated to begin the season as a starter, managers should temper their expectations, especially on the offensive end. With that said, his ability to grab out-of-position rebounds and compile assists and defensive stats make him a viable target in the later rounds of drafts.

Pops for 15 points Wednesday Kolek continues to push his claim for regular season minutes, putting together another strong performance. Taken at pick 34 in the 2024 NBA Draft, Kolek will have to earn his spot in the rotation, competing with Cameron Payne for backup point guard minutes behind Jalen Brunson. Despite being undersized, Kolek has an intriguing offensive skillset, something that could at least put him in the discussion for playing time on opening night.

Remains out Friday Allen will miss another preseason due to personal reasons but should be good to go once the regular season rolls around. His next chance to suit up is Sunday's preseason matchup with Denver.

Strong two-way production in loss George was impressive on both ends of the floor, dropping a team-high 14 points to go with four defensive stats. Taken with the 24th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, George is an intriguing, yet largely unproven prospect. While this was an encouraging performance, it's hard to envisage him seeing enough minutes to warrant fantasy attention, at least to begin the season.

Inks two-way deal Lawson was let go by Dallas on Tuesday but has now been brought back as a two-way player. He will spend the 2024-25 campaign splitting time between the Mavericks and their G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.

Scores team-high 14 points in loss Kispert remained on the bench with Bilal Coulibaly maintaining his spot in the starting lineup. Despite the bench role, Kispert led the Wizards with 14 points, providing a scoring punch in the second unit, much like he did last season. Although his upside is limited, Kispert is a player to monitor in standard formats, particularly as a streaming consideration for both points and threes.

Strong performance again Wednesday Sarr put together another impressive performance, albeit with some inefficient shooting. Across two preseason contests, he has been the standout player for Washington, despite two heavy losses. Sarr should be viewed as a viable late-round target, given his presumed role as the starting power forward.

Out Friday, doubtful Sunday Despite fully returning to practice, Wiggins will likely miss Golden State's first four preseason outings while recovering from an illness. However, there is no indication that Wiggins will be unavailable once the regular season rolls around.

Unlikely to play Saturday While Ball will not make his long awaited return Saturday, head coach Billy Donovan said that Ball is still working on a slow build up into game readiness, meaning he may come back soon. If held out, his next chance to suit up will be Monday against Milwaukee.

Rejoining team Monk exited Wednesday's preseason game due to personal reasons but appears good to go for Friday's preseason matchup against Golden State. Monk should continue to be one of the league's most productive bench players this season.

Optimistic for opening night Bamba appears unlikely to suit up this preseason while dealing with a knee injury. While Bamba is hoping to be available once the regular season rolls around, Kai Jones will serve as the team's backup center in his absence.

Out for Friday’s preseason game Avdija is missing Friday's contest in Los Angeles, the first of three preseason opportunities before the Blazers tip off the regular season at home vs. Golden State. His next chance to play would be Sunday evening against the Kings.

Iffy for Friday Powell started in each of the Clippers' first two preseason contests but could be forced to sit out Friday. If Powell is unable to suit up against Portland, Kris Dunn, Amir Coffey and Nicolas Batum are candidates to enter the starting lineup.

Could operate as starting center Jones is one of the NBA's best defensive forwards but is now expected to operate as a small-ball center for New Orleans alongside Zion Williamson in the frontcourt. The departure of Jonas Valanciunas has left a gap at the position that could also be filled by rookie Yves Missi, but Jones' shot-blocking prowess at his size could earn him starting center minutes early on.

Not with team Embiid doesn't appear to have suffered any injury but will miss his second straight preseason contest Friday. His next chance to suit up is Saturday's preseason matchup with Boston.

Set to make preseason debut Friday George will make his preseason debut with Philadelphia on Friday after sitting out the team's preseason opener. After spending the last five years with the Clippers, George is expected to take a complementary role behind Joel Embiid (rest) and Tyrese Maxey.

Still out Wednesday Quickley will miss his second straight preseason contest while dealing with a left thumb sprain. His next chance to suit up is Sunday's preseason matchup with Boston.

Inks deal with Washington Stevenson has yet to make an NBA appearance. If the 25-year-old guard is unable to make the Wizards' regular-season roster, he will likely spend the 2024-25 campaign with their G League affiliate.

Let go by Washington Nowell made 13 regular-season appearances for the Pistons and Grizzlies in 2023-24. However, he is likely going to begin the 2024-25 campaign with the Capital City Go-Go of the G League.

Calls it a career Green will retire after a 15-year career that included stints with the Spurs, 76ers, Raptors, Lakers, Cavaliers, and Grizzlies. He is a three-time NBA champion and made the 2016-17 All-Defensive second team. Green's most memorable achievement was drilling a then-record 27 threes during the 2012-13 NBA Finals in the Spurs' win over the Heat.

Goes for 11 points in loss Fox will be able to focus more on ball distribution with DeMar DeRozan at the wing. Fox's output has been necessary to keep the Kings competitive, but DeRozan's addition will ease the pressure on Fox to force low-percentage shots and instead focus on moving the ball around more frequently.

Staying in Denver through 2025-26 Strawther had a limited role in his rookie season, averaging 4.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 10.9 minutes across 50 regular-season appearances. However, the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope should open up more playing time for Strawther.

Grabs eight boards in 17 minutes Sabonis was well on his way to a characteristic double-double before taking a seat. Although Nikola Jokic received all the accolades, Sabonis bested him in a few key metrics last season. He led the league in double-doubles (77) and triple-doubles (26), beating out Jokic in both categories. He'll demand a bit more attention and respect after a dynamic 2023-24 campaign.

Team option exercised Watson averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 18.6 minutes across 80 regular-season appearances in 2023-24. Now, the third-year forward is set to take on an even bigger role and stay in Denver for at least two more years.

Team option picked up Braun was a pivotal part of Denver winning a championship during his rookie year and has continued to develop. Now that the 23-year-old forward is expected to step into a starting role, the Nuggets have locked him up for at least another two seasons.

Perfect from field with 16 points In what could be a portent of things to come, DeRozan took the court and inflicted damage quickly, nailing every shot he attempted. While the Kings have utilized Malik Monk as a scoring specialist off the bench in the past, DeRozan's skill and experience make him a front-runner to start with the first unit and stay there. The Kings have had issues with finding the right combination to complement De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, and DeRozan could prove to be the missing piece.

Scores 13 points in limited work The Warriors have several new pieces to experiment with, so it made sense for Curry to leave the court early. Although Klay Thompson is gone, Curry has inherited much-needed support around him. Buddy Hield, De'Anthony Melton and returnee Brandin Podziemski will aid Curry and fill out the backcourt this season.

Converts four beyond the arc in win Kuminga appears to have a firm hold as the starter at the four for the Warriors, although Andrew Wiggins and newly-acquired Kyle Anderson will also compete for playing time. On paper, Kuminga's skill set is a bit more diverse, with the ability to stretch the floor via a keen perimeter shot while also tending to duties in the frontcourt.

Limited impact Wednesday Holmgren had a rough shooting performance in this preseason contest, but he still made his presence felt on the glass and as a playmaker. The second-year big man is set to open the season in a starting role, though his position and partner in the frontcourt are still undetermined. Holmgren will aim to improve in his sophomore year after averaging 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks per game as a rookie across 82 regular-season appearances in 2023-24.

Posts 16 points off bench Melton's ability to slide into several different positions will add a much-needed layer to Golden State's scheme. Although the playmaker will often be seen as the off-guard, he can also be used to spell Stephen Curry, a role previously held by Chris Paul last season. Melton drilled four threes in the contest, and he can usually be counted on to attempt around five perimeter shots per game.

Efficient in preseason loss Gilgeous-Alexander was one of the best players in the 2023-24 NBA season, and that doesn't figure to change in 2024-25 as long as he remains healthy. Preseason stats are almost meaningless for star players, but if this game serves as any indication, then the star floor general is more than ready for the regular-season opener against the Nuggets on Oct. 24.

Grabs nine rebounds off bench Hartenstein came off the bench in this one after the Thunder decided to go with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren in the frontcourt, but there's no question the former Knicks big man made his presence felt even if his scoring numbers weren't eye-popping. It's unclear if Hartenstein will open the season in a starting role or not, but a frontcourt with him and Holmgren would certainly be an imposing duo, particularly on the defensive end.

Goes for 15 points Wednesday Brooks didn't play in the previous preseason game due to rest purposes, but the veteran wing logged some much-needed minutes in this one, as he aims to ramp up before the regular-season opener against the Hornets on Oct. 23. It seems Brooks is more than ready to start the campaign, as he finished as Houston's second-highest scorer in this game while showing an accurate touch from beyond the arc. Brooks is penciled in to open the campaign as the starting small forward, flanked by Jalen Green at shooting guard and Jabari Smith at power forward.

Makes impact off bench Sheppard was one of four Houston players who scored in double digits in this game, and he continues to prove he's more than ready to leave his mark in the NBA as a rookie, particularly from a scoring perspective. Sheppard was the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and while he figures to play a huge role in the organization's long-term picture, he's expected to open the 2024-25 campaign as a bench option since Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green will operate as the starting backcourt.

Sniffs double-double Sengun led the Rockets in scoring in this one, but he found a way to make an impact on the boards and defensively as well while ending just one rebound shy of a double-double. Even though it's only the preseason, Sengun is showing he's more than ready to start the campaign and picked things up right where he left them off in 2023-24. The big man is expected to play a massive role for the Rockets on both ends of the court, and his ability to fill the stat sheet across several categories should make him one of the most sought-after big men across all fantasy formats.

Limited to 17 minutes Head coach Jamahl Mosley had already stated that Banchero would play "around 16" minutes in this contest, so fantasy managers shouldn't worry about the low minutes. The Magic are trying to give Banchero enough reps to get him into a rhythm, but they're also taking care of him, as he figures to be the team's primary offensive option once the regular season begins. Banchero is likely to remain under a minutes restriction -- if he plays at all -- in the Magic's final preseason games before the regular-season opener against the Heat on Oct. 23.

Solid display off bench Black was one of two Orlando players who scored in double digits in this loss, with Jett Howard, who delivered a team-high 19 points, being the other. Black has shown glimpses of his quality in Orlando's first two preseason games. Still, and regardless of how good he looks in these games, he's ticketed to open the season as a depth option in the backcourt since Jalen Suggs and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be the starting duo at the one and two, respectively.

Catches on with Boston Scrubb signed a two-way deal with the Celtics last summer and attended training camp with the club, but he never played during the 2023-24 season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee at an October practice. A year after suffering the injury, Scrubb is presumably fully healthy again, but he's unlikely to make a push for a spot on the Celtics' season-opening roster with just three games remaining on Boston's preseason schedule. Instead, Scrubb will most likely join the G League's Maine Celtics before the regular season gets underway.

Pulls down 11 boards Bitadze got the start at center with Wendell Carter (ankle) sidelined, and while he's not expected to do much on the offensive end, there's no question Bitadze found a way to make his presence felt, especially considering he had the daunting task of guarding Victor Wembanyama. Bitadze certainly earned some points toward being the starter at center if Carter can't recover in time for the regular-season opener against the Heat on Oct. 23.

Limited to 23 minutes Wednesday Paul co-led the Spurs in minutes alongside VIctor Wembanyama and Blake Wesley, and while the veteran floor general didn't deliver an eye-popping stat line, he showed some rapport with Wembanyama, something that will be crucial for the Spurs' chances of improving their record from last season. Paul is simply getting enough reps to be ready for the regular-season opener against the Mavericks on Oct. 24, as he's already penciled in as the Spurs' starting floor general.

Stuffs stat sheet in 23 minutes Wembanyama had a woeful shooting performance, but that's to be expected since this was his first taste of game action since the Olympics. However, even considering his shooting woes, he still delivered an impressive stat line, which should only look better and better once he gets into a rhythm. Wembanyama will be the Spurs' go-to player on both ends of the court this season after running away with the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year award in the previous campaign.

Makes presence felt Wednesday Castle led the Spurs in scoring and showed some interesting traits, mainly his passing ability and an underrated skill to get to the charity stripe. The Spurs have big hopes for the rookie, and he's in contention to open the season in a starting role alongside Chris Paul in the backcourt while Devin Vassell (foot) is inactive.