102-94
FINALDenver
Nuggets
40-24|L10: 4-6
LA
Clippers
30-30|L10: 6-4
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//
Eastern Conference
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LAC • Shooting Guard and Small Forward • #
4 months ago
With most of the Clippers’ rotation players either resting or playing limited minutes, Sanders saw some extended run on Friday and took full advantage. The rookie out of Nevada logged 37 minutes and utilized the three-point shot to pour in a game-high in points on the evening. Sanders will likely spend most of his rookie season in the NBA G League, but his strong end to the preseason should send him into his first regular season with some positive momentum.
LAC • Shooting Guard • #3
4 months ago
Beal logged his first minutes in a Clippers uniform on Friday as he made his way back from offseason knee surgery. He got the start and made all six of his two-point shots before his night ended after the first half. Beal is expected to start for the Clippers in their regular-season opener and could serve as a nice replacement for Norman Powell, who had a career-best season alongside James Harden last season before being traded to the Miami Heat. If Beal can remain healthy, he should be a solid addition to a veteran team that has plenty of depth.
DEN • Small Forward and Shooting Guard • #8
4 months ago
Watson had at least nine points for the fourth time in five games this preseason. The 23-year-old guard started Friday as the Nuggets rested their usual starting lineup. Watson still seems ticketed for a significant bench role this year based on his usage throughout the preseason. It’ll likely still take an injury to someone ahead of him on the depth chart for him to have much fantasy value this year.
DEN • Point Guard • #
4 months ago
Hardaway Jr. started and played 22 minutes, but when the Nuggets have all their starters playing he’s going to come off the bench. Still, the 33-year-old shooting guard showed he still has something left in the tank with the Pistons last year. Playing with Nikola Jokic always helps and there will be opportunities for Hardaway Jr. with the Nuggets this year. He can certainly provide some scoring and threes for fantasy managers in a pinch.
LAC • Shooting Guard • #3
4 months ago
The Clippers are resting multiple regulars for Friday’s preseason finale, resulting in a starting lineup that we won’t see when the team opens its regular season on October 22. The most notable name in the lineup is Beal, who’s making his unofficial Clippers debut after missing the first three games of the preseason after undergoing knee surgery in July. He’ll start at shooting guard when the regular season begins, sharing the backcourt with James Harden.
Source: Law Murray
DEN • Point Guard, Small Forward, and Shooting Guard • #00
4 months ago
While Oklahoma City’s starting lineup for Friday’s game likely aligns with the group that will be on the floor for its regular-season opener, that is not the case for the Nuggets. Johnson is the only player in Friday’s lineup who’s expected to be in the starting five when the regular season begins, with the other four being part of the bench rotation. He’s still getting acclimated to his new teammates, which may be why Johnson will play on Friday.
Source: NBA Lineups
LAC • Shooting Guard • #3
4 months ago
Beal has been recovering from an arthroscopic knee procedure that he underwent in July, which has limited him throughout training camp and prevented him from playing in the preseason. He should suit up against Golden State, and coach Tyronn Lue has already said that Beal will start at shooting guard during the regular season. Even if he comes off the bench or plays a limited role on Friday, that won’t continue when games start to count next week.
Source: Chris Haynes
LAC • Power Forward • #20
4 months ago
Collins had a big scoring performance off the bench, and he did it in just 18 minutes. Collins has been more effective in his two games off the bench than he was in his lone start during the preseason. However, his fantasy upside will be limited if he isn’t part of the starting lineup for the Clippers this season.
LAC • Point Guard • #3
4 months ago
CP3 really turned back the clock in this one. He dished out nine assists while playing just nine minutes in the first half. Paul will likely spend most of the season in a reserve role, but if James Harden ever misses a game, CP3 will be worth streaming and will provide plenty of assists.
DEN • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #27
4 months ago
Murray was certainly in mid-season form in this win. After scoring a total of 36 points through their first three preseason games, he nearly matched that total against Chicago. Murray is being drafted in the fourth round in Yahoo! leagues, and he’ll be worth the selection if he is able to stay healthy, like he did last season.
DEN • Center • #15
4 months ago
Jokic has been able to consistently stuff the stat sheet during the preseason, which should come as a no surprise. He should compete for the top spot in fantasy basketball once again this season and have a chance to add another MVP to his trophy case.
LAC • Shooting Guard • #3
4 months ago
With Beal and Bogi sidelined, LA will start James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac and Derrick Jones Jr. Coach Ty Lue didn’t name a fifth starter but noted that it wouldn’t be John Collins.
Source: Joey Linn
LAC • Small Forward • #2
5 months ago
He chipped in two rebounds, an assist and two steals. Leonard led LA in scoring, and he did it efficiently, shooting 5-of-10 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Availability is always the biggest concern when drafting Leonard in fantasy hoops, but he’s proven to be an elite contributor on both ends of the floor when healthy.
DEN • Center • #15
5 months ago
Joker did what he usually does and posted useful numbers across the stat sheet. Expect more of the same from the three-time MVP, who is fresh off a season in which he became the first center to ever average a triple-double.
DEN • Point Guard and Small Forward • #4
5 months ago
Throughout the offseason, there were reports of a potential partnership between the Kings and Westbrook, who has been a free agent since opting out of the final year of his deal with the Nuggets. It was also reported that, with the signing of Dennis Schröder, the Kings would need to move a guard to make room for Westbrook. Malik Monk and Devin Carter, whose names were mentioned in trade rumors to make that happen, remain on the Kings’ roster. Would that remain the case if the team were to sign Westbrook now? Or will the most recent rumblings be a way to drum up interest in either of those players? Westbrook hasn’t been a consistently impactful fantasy option in recent years, so he is not a player managers should look to draft and stash in anticipation of a potential move to Sacramento.
Source: Shams Charania
DEN • Point Guard and Small Forward • #4
5 months ago
Throughout the offseason, there were reports of a potential partnership between the Kings and Westbrook, who has been a free agent since opting out of the final year of his deal with the Nuggets. It was also reported that, with the signing of Dennis Schröder, the Kings would need to move a guard to make room for Westbrook. Malik Monk and Devin Carter, whose names were mentioned in trade rumors to make that happen, remain on the Kings’ roster. Would that remain the case if the team were to sign Westbrook now? Or will the most recent rumblings be a way to drum up interest in either of those players? Westbrook hasn’t been a consistently impactful fantasy option in recent years, so he is not a player managers should look to draft and stash in anticipation of a potential move to Sacramento.
Source: Shams Charania
LAC • Power Forward • #20
5 months ago
After two seasons with the Jazz, Collins joined a Clippers team that aims to contend for a championship this season. That alone preserves some of his fantasy value after spending two years with a franchise willing to tank to increase its draft lottery odds. However, Collins was used in a reserve role against Guangzhou, with Derrick Jones Jr. (six points, one rebound and two three-pointers in eight minutes) receiving the starting nod. There’s still a lot of basketball to be played during the preseason, so Collins is not locked into a reserve role. But this is a position battle to track, as JC’s ceiling would be limited if he’s asked to come off the bench full-time.
LAC • Point Guard • #3
5 months ago
Paul began his second stint with the Clippers on Thursday, putting forth a stellar performance against an overmatched Guangzhou squad. After a disappointing 2023-24 season with the Warriors, CP3 was rejuvenated during his lone season with the Spurs. However, he’ll be asked to serve as James Harden’s backup in Los Angeles, which limits the 40-year-old’s fantasy ceiling. He’s worth selecting in the latter rounds of drafts, especially when factoring in nights when James Harden or Bradley Beal is unavailable.
LAC • Center • #11
5 months ago
Lopez agreed to a deal with the Clippers during the offseason and will slot in as Ivica Zubac’s backup after seven productive seasons in Milwaukee. No worse than a top-60 player in any of his three prior seasons, Lopez will have a tough time cracking the top-100 off the bench. He’ll provide blocks and three-pointers, but the value isn’t enough to make BroLo much more than a late-round flier or in-season streaming option.
LAC • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #1
5 months ago
Harden did not score much in the Clippers’ preseason opener, but he did lead the team in assists. By now, fantasy managers are aware of what The Beard brings to the table. He can offer first-round value in category leagues, but the playing time will likely decrease due to the addition of Chris Paul to the roster. In fact, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said early in camp that he wants to reduce Harden’s workload this season. CP3 played 17 minutes off the bench and is reliable enough to ensure the Clippers don’t overwork Harden this season.
LAC • Center • #40
5 months ago
Coming off the best season of his NBA career, Zubac got his preseason off to a good start Thursday night. Along with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, the 7-footer did not play after halftime in Thursday’s blowout victory. Zubac’s fantasy outlook may not be as rosy as some believe it to be, based on his Yahoo! ADP. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said earlier this preseason that Zubac played too much last season, and that was due to the team’s lack of reliable centers behind their starter. With the additions of Brook Lopez and John Collins, Zubac may not reach 30 minutes per game after averaging nearly 33 last season.
LAC • Small Forward • #2
5 months ago
Leonard was supposed to be capped at 17 minutes in Thursday’s preseason opener, but he exceeded that threshold by one minute. The Clippers had to be encouraged by what they saw from their star forward, as he shot the ball well from beyond the arc. Compared to other offseasons, Leonard could focus on his game instead of getting healthy. That should benefit him once the regular season begins, but fantasy managers should anticipate Kawhi being under some restrictions either way. The availability question is what lowers his ADP, as the Clippers forward can offer elite value when he’s on the floor.
LAC • Shooting Guard • #10
5 months ago
Unfortunately, Bogi only played two minutes in Thursday’s exhibition opener before exiting with a lower back injury. While the veteran wing said he was fine while walking back to the locker room, there’s no need to risk anything in a preseason game. Bogdanović’s early departure frees up additional minutes for Jordan Miller and Trentyn Flowers, who are both on two-way deals.
Source: Law Murray
LAC • Shooting Guard • #10
5 months ago
Harden, Leonard and Zubac being the starting lineup for the Clippers’ preseason opener was to be expected. However, with Bradley Beal (knee) still working his way back from offseason surgery, Bogdanović will start at shooting guard. He had an injury scare during EuroBasket this summer. However, while Bogi was limited early in training camp, the limitations did not last long. Also of note is Jones receiving the starting nod at the four, with John Collins coming off the bench. Many assumed Collins would slot into the starting role when he was signed in the summer, but Jones has a legitimate shot at beginning the regular season as a starter.
Source: Grant Mona
DEN • Center • #15
5 months ago
While he did shoot the ball well on Monday, Jokić was uncharacteristically sloppy regarding “ball control.” He committed six turnovers on the night, a number he met or exceeded eight times last season. Given how productive the three-time MVP is, fantasy managers have little to worry about regarding Jokić. Of the eight games in which he recorded six turnovers in 2024-25, the Joker was responsible for five double-doubles and three triple-doubles. More concerning for Nuggets head coach David Adelman was that his team combined to commit 31 turnovers on Monday; Jokić will be fine.
DEN • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #27
5 months ago
After none of the Nuggets starters played more than 19 minutes in Saturday’s preseason opener, with Murray logging 16, the first five began the third quarter of Monday’s victory on the court. Murray looked reasonably sharp against the Raptors, shooting 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc. His fantasy value last season took a hit due to a slow start, but the Nuggets point guard shot the ball better after the All-Star break. The combination of Denver’s improved depth and the exit of Michael Porter Jr. may raise Murray’s fantasy ceiling, even if his role won’t change much.
DEN • Shooting Guard • #0
5 months ago
After only attempting two shots from the field in Denver’s preseason opener on Saturday, Braun was far more active offensively in Vancouver. And he didn’t miss, making all eight of his shot attempts in the 112-108 victory. Braun was close to a top-50 player in nine-cat formats in his first season as a starter, exceeding his Yahoo! ADP by a significant margin. He’s undoubtedly capable of duplicating that production, but the Nuggets are deeper than they were a season ago. Fantasy managers will want to begin considering Braun in the latter stages of the sixth round in 12-team category leagues.
LAC • Shooting Guard • #3
5 months ago
Beal, who was limited to begin training camp after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his knee during the offseason, was a full participant in Monday’s session. That included some 5-on-5 scrimmaging, and the veteran guard is trending in the right direction. Beal will not play in Thursday’s exhibition against Guangzhou, but he did say the plan was for him to be at full go in time for the Clippers’ regular season opener against the Jazz on October 22. While his injury history makes Beal a challenging player to trust with an early draft pick, he’ll be worth a look in the middle rounds.
Source: Law Murray
DEN • Power Forward and Small Forward • #2
5 months ago
Johnson was dealt to Denver as part of a trade that sent Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn this summer. His first action with his new team, albeit just the preseason, wasn’t exactly a performance to write home about. However, Johnson should fit in flawlessly with this squad that is looking to get back to the championship after being eliminated in the conference semifinals last season.