When asked about Joel Embiid’s availability for Game 1, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said, “I know he’s not playing in that one.”

No surprise here, as the Sixers were already preparing to be without their superstar center to open up the first-round series against the Celtics. Andre Drummond and Adem Bona will continue to hold things down in the frontcourt until Embiid returns.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the 76ers are preparing to be without Joel Embiid (appendicitis) to begin the first round of the playoffs.

While Embiid’s status for the 76ers’ first round series against the Hornets hasn’t been made official, he’s unlikely to be ready for the start of the series. Charania reports the 76ers are preparing to begin the series without their 32-year-old superstar. Paul George and Tyrese Maxey will take on added importance in his absence. Theoretically, Embiid could be available later in the series.

Kelly Oubre Jr. lit up the Magic with 19 points (6-of-12 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and five three-pointers on Wednesday.

Oubre scored in double figures in the 76ers’ final three games of the regular season and picked up right where he left off to kick off the postseason. His five triples matched his season high, which was great to see after he hit four triples total over the final five games before the postseason. He’ll look to stay hot in their series against the Celtics, which will start on Sunday in Boston.

VJ Edgecombe recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 19 points (7-of-16 FGs), 11 rebounds, one assist, one steal and one three-pointer against the Magic.

Making his postseason debut, Edgecombe was able to find multiple ways to make an impact, which contributed to them getting the win. Edgecombe enjoyed a fantastic rookie season, and it isn’t a surprise that it translated to postseason success. They’ll need it to continue during their first-round matchup with the Celtics to have a chance to pull off an upset. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday.

Andre Drummond provided a boost off the bench with 14 points (5-of-8 FGs), 10 rebounds, two assists, three steals, three blocks and two three-pointers against the Magic on Wednesday.

Drummond continues to come off the bench behind Adem Bona, and he continues to make more of an impact. He played 31 minutes to Bona’s 16, and he was far more productive. With Joel Embiid (appendicitis) Drummond will continue to be vital to the 76ers, especially as they enter into their first-round series against the Celtics, with Game 1 tipping off on Sunday.

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 31 points (11-of-25 FGs), two rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block and three three-pointers in a 109-97 win over the Magic on Wednesday.

Maxey stepped up to lead the 76ers in scoring and help them return to the playoffs. With Joel Embiid (appendicitis) still out, Maxey will have to continue to run the show for Philadelphia, which should lead to more strong scoring performances. They’ll head to Boston for Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday. Embiid could return during the series, but it will likely be at least a few games in, meaning this will continue to be Maxey’s show to run.

Trendon Watford (illness) is available to play against the Magic on Wednesday.

Watford will be available if needed, which was expected after he was initially listed as probable. However, he played a total of 15 minutes over Philadelphia’s last nine games and appeared in just three games, all of which were decided by at least 20 points. Watford likely won’t see the floor, but if the 76ers deal with injuries, Watford will be available.

Trendon Watford (illness) is probable for Wednesday’s game against the Magic.

Watford lands on the injury report due to an illness, but the good news is that he’s probable to play on Wednesday. With the 76ers healthy aside from Joel Embiid (appendicitis), they should have the bodies needed to account for Watford’s absence if his condition worsens.

Tari Eason had 20 points (8-of-17 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), eight rebounds, three assists and one three-pointer in Sunday’s win over the Grizzlies.

Eason and Clint Capela moved into the starting lineup with Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun resting on the last day of the regular season. Both reserves had outstanding games. Eason is known for scoring points in bunches off the bench, which should be valuable for the Rockets in the playoffs.

Clint Capela had 23 points (9-of-11 FGs, 4-of-7 FTs), 13 rebounds, one assist, one steal, three blocks and one three-pointer in the Rockets’ 132-101 victory over the Grizzlies on Sunday.

Capela started, played 23 minutes and had a double-double in the win over the Grizzlies on Sunday. There’s not much more you could want out of the 31-year-old big man on the last day of the regular season. Capela will go back to his reserve role in the Rockets’ first round playoff series.

Quentin Grimes had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), three rebounds, five assists, one steal and four three-pointers in Sunday’s win over the Bucks.

Grimes has scored 20 points in two of the last three games. The 25-year-old small forward is a glue guy off the bench for the 76ers, but has provided a lot of fantasy value whenever Tyrese Maxey has missed time.

Tyrese Maxey had 21 points (8-of-13 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), two rebounds, one assist, one steal and two three-pointers in the 76ers’ 126-106 victory over the Bucks on Sunday.

Maxey and the 76ers closed the season with back-to-back wins. The 25-year-old shooting guard was excellent against the Bucks on Sunday, dropping 21 points on 13 attempts from the field. A top five fantasy player this season, Maxey will be the 76ers’ leader entering the Play-In Tournament with Joel Embiid (appendicitis) still sidelined.

Amen Thompson (rest) and Jabari Smith Jr. (rest) are out for Sunday’s game against the Grizzlies.

The Rockets don’t have playoff seeding to play for, as Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves locked them into the No. 5 seed in the West. Thompson and Smith will get Sunday night off, which should mean more playing time for Aaron Holiday and Jae’Sean Tate.

Kevin Durant (rest) and Alperen Şengün (rest) are out for Sunday’s game against the Grizzlies.

With Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves, the Rockets are locked into the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. Since there isn’t anything on the line on Sunday, Reed Sheppard is the lone starter who will play. Tari Eason and Clint Capela should benefit from Durant and Şengün sitting.

Alperen Şengün amassed 22 points (10-of-13 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), six rebounds, eight assists and one blocked shot in Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves.

After totaling 20 points on 9-of-29 shooting from the field in his prior two games, Şengün had a good night scoring-wise against the Timberwolves. The Rockets’ center goes into Sunday’s regular-season finale having scored 20 points or more in three of his last six appearances. Şengün’s final stat line was solid, and it’s possible that he’ll be done until the playoffs. The Rockets will be the No. 5 seed regardless of the outcome of their game against the Grizzlies, so that could be a spot for Şengün to rest.

Kevin Durant recorded 33 points (13-of-18 FGs, 7-of-9 FTs), seven rebounds, seven assists, one steal and two blocks in Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves.

Durant has scored 30 points or more in 29 games this season, including Friday. However, the Rockets’ forward did his damage inside the three-point line, as he missed his lone three-point attempts. Minnesota struggled to come up with an answer for Durant in the mid-range and around the basket, as he shot 13-of-17 from two. The rebounds and assists were also good for fantasy managers in active leagues. Friday’s defeat and the Lakers’ win over the Suns locked Houston into the No. 5 seed in the West, making it possible that Durant won’t play on Sunday against the Grizzlies.

Amen Thompson finished Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves with 41 points (17-of-22 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), nine rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one blocked shot.

Thompson came out hot on Friday, as his 24 first-half points were the most in a half for him in his NBA career. The Rockets’ athletic wing finished with his first 40-point game while also recording nine rebounds and seven assists. Thompson’s offensive ceiling would be raised considerably if he could develop a consistent perimeter shot, but many teams struggle to keep Amen away from the basket as it is.

VJ Edgecombe stuffed the stat sheet on Friday with 16 points (7-of-14 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block against the Pacers.

Edgecombe continues to stuff the stat sheet in a way that few rookies typically do. He did a little bit of everything in this game to help the 76ers end a three-game losing streak. Edgecombe has taken on a large role during his first year in the league, and he’ll need to continue to make large contributions to help the 76ers make it out of the play-in tournament. Edgecombe isn’t in contention for Rookie of the Year, but he has made a huge impact for fantasy managers and will continue to do so for a long time.

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 32 points (11-of-28 FGs, 9-of-10 FTs), eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and one three-pointer in a 105-94 win over the Pacers on Friday.

Though it wasn’t his most efficient shooting night, Maxey was able to have a strong scoring performance to help Philadelphia snap a three-game losing streak. It was also great to see Maxey have his first 30-point game since before his 10-game absence with a finger injury. With Joel Embiid (appendicitis) set to miss some time, Maxey will have to take on even more responsibility on the offensive end to carry the 76ers through the play-in tournament. That’s just more of what he’s done all season long.

Andre Drummond provided a boost off the bench with 10 points (4-of-10 FGs), 16 rebounds, one assist and one steal against the Pacers on Friday.

Drummond was once again the backup center behind Adem Bona, but Drummond played 29 minutes to Bona’s 19. This was the second straight game that Drummond played a much larger role than Bona despite coming off the bench. This was a strong performance for Drummond, and with Joel Embiid sidelined indefinitely after undergoing an appendectomy, Drummond will be a pivotal piece for the 76ers entering the play-in tournament.

Tari Eason (illness) is questionable for Friday’s tilt with the Timberwolves.

Eason played through the illness on Thursday against the 76ers, but he could be held out for the second leg of Houston’s back-to-back set. If Eason is ultimately sidelined, Josh Okogie and Jae’Sean Tate could earn some additional run.

VJ Edgecombe added 21 points (7-of-17 FGs, 4-of-7 FTs), six rebounds, eight assists, two steals and three three-pointers in the loss to the Rockets on Thursday.

Edgecombe did many things well against Houston. He was productive from the three-point line as a scorer, but also was the lead table setter for the Sixers’ offense. And on the defensive end, the rookie guard had active hands in coming up with a pair of steals, helping round out a balanced overall performance. Edgecombe has had a very good rookie season and should only become more productive as his career lengthens.

Tyrese Maxey finished Thursday’s loss to the Rockets with 23 points (9-of-20 FGs), three rebounds, five assists and five three-pointers.

Maxey played 33 minutes against the Rockets and finished as Philadelphia’s leading scorer. The versatile combo guard used the three-point shot to find most of his production on Thursday, while also making some contributions as a passer. While the sixth-year guards’ numbers were solid, they weren’t exceptional — the Sixers will almost certainly need Maxey to perform at a higher level down the stretch of the season, so long as Joel Embiid is out of the lineup recovering from injury.

Paul George finished with seven points (2-of-8 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, one assist and one steal in Thursday’s loss to the Rockets.

George had one of his least impactful games of the season against the Rockets. He failed to convert any of his five three-point attempts and finished with more turnovers than made field goals on the evening. As a result, the veteran forward tied a season-low in points and scored in single digits for just the fifth time all season. The Sixers will need him to bounce back on Friday against the Pacers.

Amen Thompson finished Thursday’s win over the 76ers with 19 points (7-of-14 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Thompson logged 42 minutes on Thursday and impacted the game in several areas. He left some meat on the bone as a scorer due to his poor free-throw shooting and inefficiency from beyond the arc, but still finished just under 20 for the game. Thompson didn’t dominate the glass or dial up a ton of assists, but he made contributions in each area, while his three steals helped the Rockets to an eight-game win streak. They’ll face the Timberwolves on Friday.

Jabari Smith Jr. totaled 19 points (7-of-15 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), five rebounds, one block and one three-pointer in the win over the 76ers on Thursday.

Smith couldn’t find his rhythm from beyond the arc but still managed to hover around the 20-point mark on Thursday. His scoring came from the charity stripe and mostly inside the paint. The fourth-year forward has played his role well this year and continues to put up some of his best numbers alongside Kevin Durant as a full-time starter. With two games left on the schedule, the Rockets have a chance to extend their eight-game winning streak while trying to land homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Kevin Durant added 29 points (10-of-18 FGs, 6-of-8 FTs), seven rebounds, five assists and three three-pointers in the win over the 76ers on Thursday.

Durant had another efficient outing on Thursday. He shot the ball well from both inside and outside the arc, and consistently made his way to the free-throw line to add to his total. The veteran wing also established himself as a passer in this game, which is reflected in the team-high assists that he generated against the Sixers. Durant and the Rockets are playing some of their best ball of the season down the stretch. They’ve won eight straight games with two remaining on their schedule.

Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Josh Okogie, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün will start Thursday’s game against the 76ers.

The need to account for Philadelphia’s perimeter trio of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Paul George likely factored into Rockets’ head coach Ime Udoka’s decision to change Houston’s lineup, especially after the 76ers lost Joel Embiid (appendectomy). Okogie gives the first five another versatile defender, pushing Reed Sheppard to the bench.

Adem Bona, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre and VJ Edgecombe will start against the Rockets on Thursday.

Adem Bona gets the start for the injured Joel Embiid on Thursday. Embiid was reported to have surgery scheduled for Thursday due to appendicitis, and while his return timeline is unclear, the Sixers will have to figure out how to win games without the former MVP. Philadelphia is in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings with three games remaining in the regular season.

Tari Eason (illness) is available for Thursday’s game against the 76ers.

Added to the Rockets’ injury report early Thursday afternoon, Eason is officially available to play. He’ll take on his usual role off the bench, which means that Josh Okogie and Jae’Sean Tate’s minutes are unlikely to increase.

Joel Embiid (illness) has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery on Thursday.

What was initially announced as an illness by the 76ers is reportedly something far more serious for Embiid. According to the team, the 7-footer is dealing with appendicitis and will undergo surgery on Thursday. Embiid is out indefinitely, and the 76ers will have to account for the likelihood that they won’t have the former league MVP for the postseason. Andre Drummond and Adem Bona will have to hold down the fort for the foreseeable future.

Joel Embiid (illness) is out for Thursday’s game against the Rockets.

Embiid is out after scoring 34 points in 39 minutes in Monday’s loss to the Spurs. Andre Drummond or Adem Bona will move into the starting lineup on Thursday, but neither has done enough to be a must-stream option in active fantasy leagues.

Tari Eason (illness) is questionable for Thursday’s game against the 76ers.

Eason was not on the initial injury report released by the Rockets. If he’s unable to play, fellow reserves Josh Okogie and Jae’Sean Tate could see their playing time increase. They logged a combined 19 minutes in Tuesday’s win over the Suns, with Okogie playing 12.

Alperen Şengün finished Tuesday’s win over the Suns with 12 points (5-of-15 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), 14 rebounds and six assists.

Şengün locking in during the fourth quarter helped the Rockets pull away in Phoenix. The Suns could not find an answer for the Rockets’ center, who was especially impactful in making plays for his teammates. In the fourth quarter, Şengün recorded three assists and committed just one turnover. While Amen Thompson led the way with eight assists, Şengün recorded six and was able to get the turnovers in check after being a bit loose with the basketball early on.

Amen Thompson accounted for 22 points (10-of-16 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), 11 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and one blocked shot in Tuesday’s win over the Suns.

Thompson was outstanding on Tuesday, finishing two assists shy of a triple-double. The Suns struggled to come up with an answer for the athletic wing, even though he isn’t much of a threat on the perimeter. In addition to his work on the offensive end, Thompson put up four defensive contributions, including three steals. With the Rockets still able to finish as high as third in the Western Conference, Thompson should continue to play starters’ minutes for the team’s final three games of the regular season.

Jabari Smith Jr. tallied 20 points (6-of-18 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, one assist, one block and five three-pointers in Tuesday’s win over the Suns.

For the second consecutive game, Smith scored at least 20 points and made five three-pointers. His percentage wasn’t good on Tuesday, with a 1-of-5 night inside the arc being more problematic than Smith shooting 5-of-13 from three. Add in the rebounds, and this was a solid showing from Smith, even with the low field-goal percentage. The Rockets have three games left in their regular-season schedule, starting with the 76ers on Thursday.

Kevin Durant amassed 24 points (8-of-20 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), four rebounds, three assists and five three-pointers in Tuesday’s win over the Suns.

Playing in Phoenix for the first time since being traded during the offseason, Durant started slowly on Tuesday. He missed five of his first six shot attempts, and the Rockets were on the wrong end of a 21-0 run during the first quarter. Durant and the Rockets would eventually find their footing, with the veteran forward leading seven double-digit scorers with 24 points. The victory pulled Houston into a tie for fourth in the West, but the Lakers do hold the tiebreaker. And third remains within reach, as the Rockets trail the Nuggets by one game with three to go.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, JD Davison has signed a two-year deal with the Rockets.

Davison’s deal will be converted from a two-way to a standard contract, and he’ll fill out Houston’s final roster spot ahead of the 2025-26 playoffs.

Tyrese Maxey logged 15 points (6-of-16 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), three rebounds, eight assists and one three-pointer in the loss to the Spurs on Monday.

Maxey logged 40 minutes on Monday but recorded an underwhelming final stat line. In his lowest-scoring game in over two months, inefficient shooting both inside and outside the arc was a big factor. And while Maxey came close to notching double-digit assists, he committed four turnovers in the process. Monday’s game aside, Maxey has played well down the stretch of the regular season. He’s constantly been one of the Sixers’ best fantasy performers, when healthy.

Paul George tallied 16 points (5-of-15 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, four assists, two steals and four three-pointers in the loss to the Spurs on Monday.

George had his least productive outing since returning from suspension. While he made four of his five three-pointers, he shot just 1-of-10 from inside the arc, resulting in an inefficient night overall. However, even with the mediocre performance on Monday, George’s recent play has been encouraging, given all the time he’s missed this season. He’ll have a chance to finish the regular season strong and potentially help the Sixers avoid the Play-In Tournament.

Joel Embiid finished Monday’s loss to the Spurs with 34 points (8-of-19 FGs, 16-of-19 FTs), 12 rebounds, one assist, four blocks and two three-pointers.

Embiid had it going for much of Monday’s contest, compiling 31 points and 12 rebounds through the first three quarters. However, a field-goal-less fourth quarter left him and the Sixers without much more offense the rest of the way. Still, Embiid logged his 13th 30-point outing of the season and continues to perform well in the lead-up to the postseason. The Sixers will have some work to do if they want to avoid the Play-In Tournament. They have three regular-season games remaining.

Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kelly Oubre, VJ Edgecomb and Tyrese Maxey will start on Monday against the Spurs.

Embiid (oblique, illness) is off the injury report and will return to the starting lineup for Monday’s contest against the Spurs. He’ll likely match up with superstar center Victor Wembanyama, as the Sixers compete for wins in hopes of avoiding the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Amen Thompson accounted for 18 points (8-of-11 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), three rebounds, seven assists and one steal in Sunday’s win over the Warriors.

Spending a good portion of his night chasing around Stephen Curry did not prohibit Thompson from recording a solid stat line. While he was only responsible for one steal, the Rockets’ wing shot the ball well from the field and finished second on the team in assists behind Kevin Durant. While Thompson did not reach his ADP (22), he provided fourth-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats, so he was far from a disappointment in fantasy basketball.

Alperen Şengün tallied 24 points (10-of-19 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and one three-pointer in Sunday’s win over the Warriors.

Şengün’s layup with just under 12 seconds remaining gave Houston the 117-116 victory, extending their win streak to six games. The Rockets’ center finished with a final stat line that lacked only a steal, a positive end to championship week in Yahoo! default leagues. For those competing in leagues that will be active in Week 24, the Rockets still have plenty to play for in a four-game week. As a result, Şengün’s availability should not be a concern.

Jabari Smith Jr. amassed 23 points (9-of-12 FGs), nine rebounds, one assist and five three-pointers in Sunday’s win over the Warriors.

Smith shot 5-of-7 from beyond the arc on Sunday, making it seven straight games in which he’s made at least two three-pointers. The five triples were the most in a game for him since February 23 against the Jazz. Also, the 23 points were the most that Smith has scored in a game since March 20, when he hit that number in a win over the Hawks. Smith did not record any defensive stats, but the nine rebounds helped fantasy managers.

Kevin Durant finished Sunday’s win over the Warriors with 31 points (10-of-17 FGs, 8-of-9 FTs), eight rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and three three-pointers.

While he finished with 31 points, Durant’s biggest play on Sunday was an assist. His pass to Alperen Şengün led to the game-winning layup with 11.6 seconds remaining. The Rockets have won their last six games, and KD has averaged eight helpers per game during the run. In Sunday’s victory, Durant also provided solid value in rebounds and blocked shots, which fantasy managers were undoubtedly pleased with. For managers whose leagues run through Week 24, the Rockets play four games, starting with the Suns on Tuesday.

Joel Embiid (oblique, illness) is not on the injury report for Monday’s game against the Spurs.

Embiid is off the injury report after sitting out Saturday’s loss to the Pistons, Philadelphia’s second game in as many days. His return will push Andre Drummond to the bench.

Cam Payne (hamstring) will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Payne strained his right hamstring during the first half of Saturday’s loss to the Pistons. While his availability does not affect fantasy basketball, it does cut into Philadelphia’s depth at point guard. VJ Edgecombe may have to do a bit more, especially when Tyrese Maxey is not in the game. The two-week timeframe means that Payne would not be available for the Play-In tournament if Philadelphia can’t earn a top-six seed.

Kelly Oubre Jr. tallied three points (1-of-4 FGs), four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one three-pointer in Saturday’s loss to the Pistons.

Oubre moved into the starting lineup on Saturday, his first start since returning from an elbow injury. And he struggled, shooting 25 percent from the field and not offering much value outside of the rebounds. Dominick Barlow, who moved to the bench, finished with eight points (3-of-6 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), two rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot in 29 minutes. Philadelphia begins a four-game Week 24 in San Antonio on Monday.

Paul George finished Saturday’s loss to the Pistons with 20 points (7-of-14 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs), five rebounds, four assists, two steals and three three-pointers.

George played both games of the 76ers’ first back-to-back since his return from suspension, logging 28 minutes in Saturday’s defeat. His production was solid, with the veteran forward shooting 50 percent from the field and finishing a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line. Philadelphia’s Week 24 schedule includes another back-to-back, with George’s availability likely depending on potential playoff seeding implications.

VJ Edgecombe amassed 19 points (7-of-18 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs), six rebounds, one assist, two steals, one block and two three-pointers in Saturday’s loss to the Pistons.

Limited to eight points in his last outing, Edgecombe more than doubled that number on Saturday. The 76ers’ rookie did not have the most efficient night, but he did finish with a complete stat line. With the 76ers still fighting for seeding in the East, fantasy managers whose leagues run through Week 24 should benefit from Edgecombe having four games on the schedule.

Tyrese Maxey recorded 23 points (8-of-17 FGs, 5-of-7 FTs), one rebound, one assist, one steal and two three-pointers in Saturday’s loss to the Pistons.

Maxey led all scorers with 23 points, but this was not one of his better games. The 76ers guard, who Ausar Thompson hounded for most of the night, recorded just one assist in 33 minutes. Given how many fantasy managers have benefitted from Maxey’s production throughout the season, this was a disappointing end to Week 23 for those competing for league championships. For managers whose seasons will be active in Week 24, Philadelphia plays four games.

Cam Payne (hamstring) will not return to Saturday’s game against the Pistons.

Payne played nine minutes before heading back to the locker room during the second quarter. The veteran backup has since been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain. His absence for the remainder of Saturday’s game may push Kyle Lowry into the rotation, but it does not affect fantasy basketball.

Tari Eason finished Friday’s win over the Jazz with 16 points (7-of-10 FGs), seven rebounds and two three-pointers.

Eason continues to find a bit of a rhythm ahead of the NBA playoffs and at the tail end of the fantasy playoffs. He made multiple three-pointers for the third time in the last four games and has now scored at least 15 points in four of his last five appearances. Eason’s new reserve role could be of high importance for the Rockets as the postseason nears. At his best, he can impact the game as a defender and multi-level scorer.

Thompson was one of the Rockets’ most productive players on the night. Despite a 34-point victory, he still logged 32 minutes and displayed his usual versatility on both ends of the floor. Efficient shooting inside the arc allowed him to conclude as one of two Houston players with at least 20 points. Meanwhile, his work on the defensive glass was a major factor in his team-high rebounds. As the fantasy season is nearing its conclusion, Thompson will have taken another step forward in Year 3. His potential remains high.

Kevin Durant amassed 25 points (8-of-12 FGs, 7-of-8 FTs), five rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two three-pointers in the win over the Jazz on Friday.

Durant had another efficient outing on Friday, needing only 12 shot attempts to score over 25 points and lead the Rockets in points. In addition to scoring, the decorated forward excelled on the glass and was also one of Houston’s leaders in assists on the evening. A 34-point win ultimately limited Durant to 30 minutes of action, but he still produced fairly well in his opportunities. The Rockets will close Week 23 on the road against the Warriors.