129-132
FINALPortland
Trail Blazers
24-28|L10: 5-5
Utah
Jazz
16-35|L10: 2-8
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Eastern Conference
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POR • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #
3 months ago
This is not surprising after both were named in separate federal indictments on Thursday. The NBA “will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities” as they work to figure out how accurate the allegations are and what potential sanctions might result from this. Both Billups and Rozier face an uphill battle to return this season.
Source: Shams Charania
POR • • #
3 months ago
Billups was arrested by the FBI on Thursday as part of a larger investigation into illegal gambling activity. There is no timeline yet for how long Billups might be away from the team, but it’s safe to assume that Splitter will be running the show for an extended period of time. The seven-year NBA veteran transitioned to coaching in 2019 when he was an assistant in Brooklyn for four seasons. He then spent a year as an assistant in Houston before joining Portland’s staff. Splitter also serves as the head coach of Paris Basketball and has won a pair of league championships. For now, there is no reason to assume the Trail Blazers will make any meaningful changes to their scheme or rotations.
Source: Shams Charania
POR • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #
3 months ago
Heat guard Terry Rozier was also arrested in connection to the same investigation this morning. Two senior law enforcement officials did say that Billups’ arrest was not connected to any games that he coached, but there is no other information regarding his role or potential consequences. The Department of Justice will hold a press conference on Thursday at 10 AM ET to provide more information.
Source: Tom Winter
POR • Guard • #17
3 months ago
While Sharpe didn’t have the best shooting night against the Timberwolves on Wednesday, fantasy managers still have to be encouraged by his outing. The 22-year-old shooting guard led the team with 20 field goal attempts. Last year he averaged 15.3 field goal attempts per game. Sharpe will have better shooting nights and fantasy managers can expect the increased usage to stick given the investment the Trail Blazers made in him by signing him to an extension this past offseason.
UTA • Center • #24
3 months ago
Kessler was incredibly efficient Wednesday. He was 7-of-7 from the floor, made 6-of-8 free throws and had four assists to just one turnover. The 24-year-old center averaged just 1.7 assists per game last year, but it looks like he could average over double that amount this year if the season opener was any indication.
UTA • Power Forward and Small Forward • #23
3 months ago
After an offseason full of trade speculation, Markkanen had his typical good game against the Clippers in the season opener. The 28-year-old power forward had 20 points and made 4-of-7 three-point attempts. He chipped in six rebounds and five assists as well. Markkanen can still be a top-50 fantasy player when healthy as he showed against the Clippers on Wednesday.
UTA • Center • #22
3 months ago
The Jazz starting lineup will raise some eyebrows, as Mykhailiuk and Filipowski are among the first five. The former filled that role throughout the preseason, while the latter started Utah’s preseason finale after being limited during training camp. Filipowski is the superior option for fantasy managers, as he offers a more varied offensive repertoire than Mykhailiuk. Also, Svi’s insertion into the lineup may be due to Ace Bailey (illness) being under a minutes restriction. George will start at point guard, as Isaiah Collier (hamstring) is not ready to return to action.
Source: Andy Larsen
POR • Center-Forward • #35
3 months ago
While Williams fully participated in Monday’s practice, he’s still working his way back from a conditioning standpoint. The Time Lord’s continued absences mean Portland will stick with a center rotation of Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen. The former will remain in the starting lineup even after Williams is cleared to return.
Source: NBA Injury Report
POR • Guard-Forward • #4
3 months ago
Thybulle fully participated in recent practices and will be available for Wednesday’s season opener. How much he’ll play is unknown, but the defensive-minded wing can record a few steals and blocks. Unless you’re in dire need of defensive value in a deep fantasy league, there isn’t much to gain from rostering Thybulle.
Source: NBA Injury Report
UTA • Point Guard • #13
3 months ago
Collier missed the entire preseason with a strained right hamstring, and he won’t be available when the Jazz open the regular season on Wednesday. The second-year guard will miss at least another week before he’s re-evaluated, leaving Keyonte George and rookie Walter Clayton Jr. to handle the point guard duties. While George was a player selected in standard league drafts, and with good reason, Clayton was only worth a late-round flier in redraft formats.
Source: Utah Jazz
POR • Center-Forward • #35
3 months ago
Official confirmation is still needed, but Williams reportedly isn’t expected to be available to play in the regular season opener. That means rookie Yang Hansen will fill out the backup center minutes behind Donovan Clingan.
Source: Casey Holdahl
POR • Guard-Forward • #4
3 months ago
Thybulle practiced on Monday, and now he is expected to be available against Minnesota in the season opener. However, the defensive specialist won’t play enough minutes to be worth roster for Portland this season.
Source: Casey Holdahl
POR • Guard • #17
3 months ago
This was expected to be a tough decision for Billups, but this lineup will be optimal for fantasy managers this season. Jerami Grant will come off the bench for the first time as a Trail Blazer and for the first time since the 2019-20 season. This should be the starting five for Portland for much of this season as they look to return to the postseason.
Source: Casey Holdahl
POR • Guard • #00
3 months ago
Unsurprisingly, Portland will extend the rookie contracts of their 2023 and 2024 first-round picks. This will be a big season for Henderson and Murray as they look for new contracts next summer, though Scoot’s season won’t get off to the ideal start, as he’s set to be sidelined for the start of the year.
Source: Sean Highkin
POR • Center-Forward • #35
3 months ago
Neither Williams nor Thybulle played during the preseason, with the former working his way back from a March arthroscopic procedure on his left knee. Both participated in Monday’s contact session, which could bode well for their availabilities for Wednesday’s opener against the Timberwolves. However, due to the Trail Blazers’ depth on the wing and at the center position, Williams and Thybulle aren’t likely to get the minutes needed to become fantasy-relevant.
Source: Sean Highkin
POR • Forward • #33
3 months ago
Camara sat out the second half of Portland’s October 10 exhibition against the Kings with a sore knee and did not play in the team’s preseason finale. However, he was a full participant in Monday’s practice, which may be a positive sign regarding the forward’s availability for Wednesday’s opener against the Timberwolves. Fantasy managers should consider Camara, who has established himself as one of the NBA’s better defenders, questionable for the opener.
Source: Sean Highkin
POR • Forward • #8
3 months ago
While no final decision has been made regarding Avdija’s availability for Wednesday’s opener against the Timberwolves, his ability to go through a full-contact practice on Monday is a positive. Upper back stiffness was an issue during various points of Avdija’s preseason, including his having to sit out the second half of Portland’s preseason finale on October 16. Either he or Jerami Grant will be in the starting lineup on Wednesday, with Avdija offering a far higher fantasy ceiling. Even if he comes off the bench to begin the season, Avdija is the superior option for fantasy managers.
Source: Sean Highkin
POR • Guard • #17
3 months ago
Toumani Camara inked a four-year, $82 million extension earlier in the day, and Sharpe’s new deal came shortly thereafter. With the pair of extensions, Portland locks in part of its young core as the team looks to move past a rebuild and into playoff contention. Sharpe is a player who has garnered some preseason hype due to his work in training camp and preseason play, and fantasy managers should consider him a top-100 player who could be worth a mid-round dice roll on upside.
Source: Shams Charania
POR • Forward • #33
3 months ago
Camara had tremendous success in his second season, hanging his hat on defense but showcasing his abilities on both ends of the court. Portland has the 2023 second rounder locked in through the 2029-30 campaign, and he figures to factor heavily into the team’s gameplan this season. Camara skyrocketed up fantasy draft boards, and he’s one of the most popular breakout candidates heading into the 2025-26 season.
Source: Shams Charania
POR • Center • #23
3 months ago
On most nights, Clingan will be no higher than fourth in the Trail Blazers’ offensive pecking order. That makes it critical that he’s productive in other areas, especially rebounds and blocked shots. Clingan was a factor in those areas on Thursday night, and that should be the norm during the regular season. He can be an effective option in fantasy, especially for managers willing to punt points or free-throw percentage. However, Clingan being able to do a bit more scoring-wise would give him a shot at cracking the top-75 in standard leagues.
POR • Guard • #17
3 months ago
Sharpe didn’t have his best night shooting the basketball, as he was 2-of-9 from beyond the arc. However, the athletic wing’s ability to attack the defense off the dribble led to him attempting seven free throws, boosting the points tally. While he hasn’t returned the best fantasy value as a pro, Sharpe is a player many believe can break out this season. And this has to be a big year for the Trail Blazers’ wing if he’s to get the contract extension he desires, and if the team is to make a run at a play-in tournament slot or playoff berth.
POR • Forward • #9
3 months ago
Since Toumani Camara was unavailable for Thursday’s preseason finale, there was no question about who Portland’s starting forwards would be. Grant and Deni Avdija filled those spots, with the latter not returning for the second half due to lingering upper back stiffness. Grant went off against Utah, scoring 32 points while providing solid value in rebounds, “stocks” and three-pointers. The issue is that Grant has rarely done this in recent years. And with the Trail Blazers being in the midst of a rebuild, he’s been a challenging player to trust in most fantasy leagues. Managers drafting this weekend should be careful not to allow Thursday’s effort to persuade them to reach for Grant.
POR • Guard • #4
3 months ago
While Holiday did record seven assists in his preseason debut on October 8, Thursday’s performance was his best for scoring and making plays for others. The veteran guard was efficient against the Jazz, including shooting 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. After a subpar fantasy season with the Celtics, Holiday may be in a good position to bounce back, especially with Scoot Henderson (hamstring) unavailable to begin the regular season. With a Yahoo! ADP of 111.2, Holiday may be slept on by many fantasy managers.
UTA • Center • #22
3 months ago
After offering limited production in his first action of the preseason on Monday, Filipowski was slightly better on Thursday. And his role changed, with the second-year forward/center starting while Taylor Hendricks (8/7/2 with one three-pointer in 24 minutes) came off the bench. Kyle offers a higher offensive ceiling, but Hendricks is the superior defender. While either one can begin the regular season as the starter, that may be a timeshare situation that limits the fantasy ceilings of both players.
UTA • Power Forward and Small Forward • #23
3 months ago
While starting point guard Keyonte George only dished out two assists on Thursday, frontcourt starters Markkanen and Walker Kessler combined for 13. Markkanen, responsible for five helpers, shot the ball well and was a steal shy of a complete stat line. Lauri’s production has not been the concern for fantasy managers since he arrived in Utah; it has been the front office’s willingness to tank. While the front office said all the right things during the offseason regarding their desire to compete this season, the Western Conference is loaded, and a potential first overall pick (AJ Dybantsa) is playing not too far down the road at BYU. Those circumstances conspire to push Markkanen down some draft boards, even if he’s good enough to finish safely within the top-50 in fantasy basketball.
UTA • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #3
3 months ago
George, who averaged 5.6 assists per game last season, did most of his damage as a scorer in Utah’s preseason finale. Walker Kessler, taking on more of the facilitating duties and doing a good job of it, freed up George to hunt for his shot more, and he did so efficiently. With Isaiah Collier (hamstring) out and Walter Clayton Jr. (8/3/5/1 in 19 minutes) being a rookie, George may have the starting point guard job sewn up ahead of the October 22 regular season opener. If so, he’s a player worth selecting in standard league drafts just outside the first 100 picks, if not slightly earlier.
UTA • Center • #24
3 months ago
Limited by a left shoulder injury, Kessler saw his first action of the preseason on Thursday. And there were few, if any, signs of rust. More of the offense ran through the 7-footer, resulting in Kessler recording eight assists. The lack of turnovers was just as impressive, with Kessler only committing one. He only averaged 1.7 assists per game last season, recording five or more on five occasions, so fantasy managers should not overreact to Thursday’s performance. However, if Kessler is given more opportunities within the half-court to facilitate, that may raise his fantasy ceiling.
POR • Forward • #8
3 months ago
Avdija dealt with upper back stiffness during the preseason, and that issue sidelined him for the remainder of Thursday’s preseason finale. With Toumani Camara unavailable, Avdija started and finished with eight points (3-of-9 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), three rebounds, and three assists in 16 minutes. The question for Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups ahead of Portland’s October 22 opener is who starts between Avdija, Camara and Jerami Grant? Camara offers the most defensively, while Avdija is the most versatile offensive weapon. Grant offers more experience but a limited fantasy profile.
Source: Portland Trail Blazers
UTA • Center • #24
4 months ago
Kessler has been able to participate in practice, but he has been sidelined for their preseason games to this point. It would be nice to see him play in this game, but even if he doesn’t, it’ll be more important for him to be available when the regular season starts next week. Jusuf Nurkic should continue to start if Kessler remains out.
Source: Andy Larsen
POR • Guard • #17
4 months ago
Sharpe led the Trail Blazers in points with 18 and shot attempts with 16. While Portland had five other players in double figures, Sharpe looks poised to establish himself as the primary scoring option for the Trail Blazers this year. That makes the 22-year-old shooting guard an excellent pick in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts.
UTA • Center • #24
4 months ago
Kessler has already been ruled out for Tuesday night’s preseason matchup with the Mavericks, and he participated in practice on Sunday. He’s continuing to progress well, so he should be available to start the regular season, even if he hasn’t been available for these exhibitions.
Source: Andy Larsen
UTA • Power Forward and Small Forward • #23
4 months ago
Markkanen reached double figures as a scorer in his first outing of the preseason. Although the three-point shot didn’t fall for him, he was efficient inside the arc and earned a few free throws in his 18 minutes of game action. The veteran forward added some nice assists, as well, but didn’t have a massive impact in any single category. He’ll have one preseason game left to iron out the wrinkles before the regular season begins and he looks to bounce back from his least productive season as a member of the Jazz.
UTA • Center • #11
4 months ago
The first-year member of the Jazz had another nice preseason outing, following a couple of 12-point performances in the two previous games. He crashed the glass hard on Monday and recorded more boards than his previous total through the first two preseason games. Notably, the veteran center drilled a pair of three-pointers and has now tallied at least one make from beyond the arc in all three preseason games. If he remains the starting center into the regular season, Nurkic could be a double-double threat on a nightly basis.
UTA • Small Forward • #28
4 months ago
Sensabaugh led the Jazz in scoring on Monday despite logging fewer than 20 minutes of game action. The third-year forward was productive from beyond the arc and shot efficiently overall en route to his third straight game with at least 16 points. Sensabaugh is averaging 22.0 points through the three preseason games and is performing well as the regular season approaches. He set career-highs in points per game last season and shot the ball efficiently along the way. If the preseason is a sign of things to come, Sensabaugh has a chance to log another productive season.
UTA • Power Forward and Small Forward • #23
4 months ago
Markkanen will make his 2025 preseason debut on Monday, replacing Svi Mykhailuk in the starting unit. Markkanen played just 47 regular-season games for the Jazz last season, where he averaged his lowest points per game since 2021-22. The remaining four starters will make their third starts of the preseason against the Mavericks as they look to collect their first win.
Source: Ryan Miller
UTA • Center • #24
4 months ago
Due to left shoulder bursitis, Kessler has yet to appear in a game during the preseason. He’ll have one more opportunity to play before the start of the regular season, as the Jazz host the Trail Blazers on Thursday. If the shoulder injury keeps Kessler out for regular-season games, Jusuf Nurkić is the most likely replacement.
Source: Utah Jazz
UTA • Power Forward and Small Forward • #23
4 months ago
Markkanen has been dealing with a wrist injury that was never expected to impact his availability to start the regular season, but it has kept him sidelined during the preseason. He’ll make his preseason debut against the Mavs.
Source: Utah Jazz
UTA • Power Forward • #20
4 months ago
Niang was given a two-week timeline for re-evaluation on September 27, but he’s still not ready to return. The new evaluation on October 12 means he’ll be sidelined through the start of the regular season. Once he’s back on the court, there’s no guarantee Niang will play enough minutes to be a viable fantasy option in 12-team leagues.
Source: NBA.com
UTA • Power Forward • #20
4 months ago
Niang was given a two-week timeline for re-evaluation on September 27, but he’s still not ready to return. The new evaluation on October 12 means he’ll be sidelined through the start of the regular season. Once he’s back on the court, there’s no guarantee Niang will play enough minutes to be a viable fantasy option in 12-team leagues.
Source: NBA.com
UTA • Center • #22
4 months ago
Due to lower back injury management, Filipowski has been limited during the preseason, sitting out Utah’s first two preseason games. While he’s unlikely to begin the regular season as a starter, the second-year post player’s minutes will likely increase after an impressive showing at Summer League. Filipowski will be worth taking a late-round flier on, especially with Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler’s availability concerns.
Source: Andy Larsen
UTA • Center • #24
4 months ago
Like fellow starter Lauri Markkanen, Kessler has not appeared in any of Utah’s preseason games due to a sore left shoulder. Fully participating in Sunday’s practice may be a positive sign regarding Kessler’s availability for Monday’s preseason game against the Mavericks. When healthy, he has top-50 fantasy potential, especially in free-throw percentage-punt molds. However, there are lingering tanking concerns, even if the Jazz front office said during the summer that they would not go that route this season. Jusuf Nurkić filled the void in the starting lineup for Utah’s first two preseason games.
Source: Andy Larsen
UTA • Center • #24
4 months ago
Like fellow starter Lauri Markkanen, Kessler has not appeared in any of Utah’s preseason games due to a sore left shoulder. Fully participating in Sunday’s practice may be a positive sign regarding Kessler’s availability for Monday’s preseason game against the Mavericks. When healthy, he has top-50 fantasy potential, especially in free-throw percentage-punt molds. However, there are lingering tanking concerns, even if the Jazz front office said during the summer that they would not go that route this season. Jusuf Nurkić filled the void in the starting lineup for Utah’s first two preseason games.
Source: Andy Larsen
UTA • Power Forward and Small Forward • #23
4 months ago
Limited to individual workouts after suffering a wrist injury while playing for Finland at EuroBasket, Markkanen fully participated in Sunday’s session. Jazz head coach Will Hardy said Friday that the forward’s limitations were about maintenance rather than significant injury concerns. Sunday’s development should be taken as a sign that Markkanen is on track to be ready to go when the Jazz open the regular season on October 22.
Source: Andy Larsen
POR • Forward • #33
4 months ago
Camara played 14 minutes during the first half of Friday’s game, finishing with three points (1-of-3 FGs), two rebounds, one assist, one steal and one three-pointer. More concerning than the numbers was the reason why he did not play after halftime, with Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups revealing after the game that Camara was dealing with some knee soreness. The issue doesn’t sound serious, so fantasy managers should continue to draft Camara with the expectation that he’ll be good to go when the regular season begins.
Source: Conor Bergin
POR • Forward • #8
4 months ago
After coming off the bench in Wednesday’s preseason opener, Avdija was in the starting lineup on Friday. His inclusion meant Jerami Grant was pushed to the bench, with the veteran forward contributing 18 points (6-of-13 FGs, 6-of-8 FTs), four rebounds and one assist. While Grant did not sound like he expected to come off the bench at all when asked about the possibility at the beginning of training camp, there’s clearly a competition for that place in the starting lineup. Fantasy managers are likely rooting for Avdija to win the job, as he offers a far higher fantasy ceiling.
POR • Guard • #17
4 months ago
Sharpe has lived up to his surname during the preseason, shooting 15-of-29 from the field in Portland’s two exhibitions. That’s good news for the Trail Blazers, as the fourth-year wing is entering a pivotal season for his NBA career. Portland has until October 20 to work out a rookie extension with Sharpe, or he’ll be a restricted free agent next summer. Given how he’s played during the preseason, betting on Sharpe to come through in a contract year would not be a bad idea.
UTA • Power Forward and Small Forward • #
4 months ago
Clayton’s play was a reason the Jazz were able to push Friday’s game to overtime. The rookie guard logged 34 of 53 minutes, finishing with a complete stat line. Clayton was on the floor for extended periods with Keyonte George, which may be a sign that there will be times when the Jazz are willing to go small on the perimeter. That would bode well for Clayton, as the Jazz still have Isaiah Collier in the mix despite his not playing in the team’s first two preseason games. Who serves as the starting point guard when the regular season begins will offer the highest fantasy upside, but the competition isn’t over yet.
UTA • Small Forward • #28
4 months ago
Two nights removed from scoring 21 points against the Rockets, Sensabaugh was even more productive in San Antonio. His ability to get to the foul line had much to do with the high point total, as the Jazz wing made all 12 of his attempts. Sensabaugh shot 2-of-8 from beyond the arc on Friday, but if there’s one thing that can be assumed, it’s that he’ll find a way to get his points whether the threes are falling or not. Sensabaugh’s fantasy prospects once the regular season begins depend partially on Lauri Markkanen, who has not played during the preseason due to a wrist injury. While the injury is not considered serious, it is something to watch before the regular season. If Markkanen is limited or can’t play, Sensabaugh can achieve fantasy relevance in the short term.
UTA • Power Forward and Small Forward • #23
4 months ago
Markkanen, who represented Finland at EuroBasket this summer, injured his wrist during his nation’s run to a fourth-place finish. However, Jazz head coach Will Hardy did not sound too concerned about the injury and its potential impact on the forward’s availability once the regular season begins. “It’s more maintenance. I’m lucky that I got to see this in San Antonio a bunch when guys were playing Eurobasket. They just competed really hard for a month and laid it all on the line,” Hardy said. “It’s nothing that we’re concerned about, but it’s just some bumps and bruises that we want to manage in this moment as he’s coming off of that. There’s nothing to be concerned about at all.” Markkanen was limited to 47 games last season, with the front office’s desire to improve its draft lottery odds being a factor. While the team has said it has no plans of tanking this season, the last two years have likely impacted how many managers view Markkanen, who isn’t guaranteed to be available during the fantasy playoff weeks. If he’s unable to get cleared for the start of the regular season, young players like Taylor Hendricks, Ace Bailey and Brice Sensabaugh will be worth a longer look in drafts.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune
POR • Guard • #4
4 months ago
Holiday, acquired from the Celtics during the offseason, only played 17 minutes in his unofficial Trail Blazers’ debut. The veteran guard did not shoot the ball well, but he was solid otherwise, making plays for others and committing just one turnover on the night. With Scoot Henderson likely to miss the start of the regular season with a torn left hamstring and Damian Lillard out for the season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles, Holiday will have to take on point guard duties for the foreseeable future. After seeing his fantasy value take a hit in Boston last season, Holiday will be worth the investment in Portland.
POR • Forward • #8
4 months ago
With a healthy Jerami Grant back in the fold, the question ahead of Wednesday’s preseason opener was who Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups would bring off the bench. Avdija was the answer to that question in San Francisco, but he still brought solid fantasy value to the table. While not starting isn’t the best for Deni, his skill set is such that his fantasy value should not suffer too much. Grant finished Wednesday’s defeat with eight points, five rebounds, one assist, three steals and one three-pointer, shooting 2-of-11 from the field. Regardless of where he is in the rotation, as long as he’s active, Avdija is the superior fantasy option.
POR • Forward • #33
4 months ago
Camara did not have the best night shooting the basketball at the charity stripe, as he missed both of his free-throw attempts. However, the third-year forward shot 4-of-9 from beyond the arc while offering his usual value as a defender. Camara established himself as one of the NBA’s top wing defenders, earning second-team All-Defense honors. His defensive prowess should keep Camara in the starting lineup once the regular season begins, and he should be selected in all fantasy drafts.
POR • Guard • #17
4 months ago
Sharpe’s Wednesday night ended with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter, and he looked terrific. Living up to his surname, the Trail Blazers wing shot 66.7 percent from the field and offered value in the rebound and three-point categories. Along with Scoot Henderson, who’s currently injured, Sharpe will be expected to take a significant step forward for the Blazers this season. While he’s never been the best fantasy option, this will be the season when it’s worth rolling the dice on Sharpe.
UTA • Small Forward • #28
4 months ago
If there’s one thing that Sensabaugh can do, it’s score, and he was in fine form Wednesday night. The third-year wing was efficient with his shot, going 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, and he recorded a complete stat line. Kyle Filipowski was the subject of significant buzz during the summer, but deep-league fantasy managers should not overlook Sensabaugh. This preseason, he’s playing to be in the rotation from the start instead of waiting until the Jazz officially pulled the plug, as was the case last season.
UTA • Power Forward • #0
4 months ago
Wednesday’s game may not have been official, but it was a big moment for Hendricks. The Jazz forward was playing in a live game for the first time since October 28, when he fractured his leg during a game against the Mavericks. He looked good against the Rockets, shooting the ball well from the field while being impactful as a defender and secondary playmaker. Utah did not have Lauri Markkanen for Wednesday’s game, and his absence makes a difference. However, Hendricks began last season as a starter and appears likely to regain that role. He’ll be worth a look as a late-round pick, especially with the Jazz rebuilding.
UTA • Center • #11
4 months ago
Nurkić started his unofficial Jazz debut on Wednesday, as the Jazz were without starting center Walker Kessler. And the veteran center looked good against the Rockets, not missing a shot from the field and finishing a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line. While there could be times when Nurkić is worth streaming, he isn’t a player that fantasy managers should plan on drafting. That also goes for Kevin Love, who played 20 minutes off the bench and finished with 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and two three-pointers. Both veterans may be trade candidates this season, especially if Utah is in “lottery odds” mode near the February trade deadline.
UTA • Point Guard and Shooting Guard • #3
4 months ago
After beginning last season as Utah’s starting point guard, George was moved to the bench due to his struggles running the team. The Jazz decision-makers, from the front office down to head coach Will Hardy, must have liked what they saw from George on Wednesday. In addition to shooting efficiently, he recorded nine assists without committing a turnover. With Isaiah Collier (DNP) finishing last season as the starter and Utah adding another point guard to the roster this summer in first-round pick Walter Clayton Jr. (7/1/3 with one three-pointer), this is a crucial preseason for George. If he wins the starting job, he’ll be worth a look in the latter rounds of drafts.
POR • Guard • #4
4 months ago
Portland opens its preseason without Scoot Henderson, who will likely miss the start of the regular season after suffering a torn left hamstring just before the start of training camp. Holiday, acquired from the Celtics this summer, will be in the starting lineup alongside Sharpe. The eye-opening omission from the starting lineup is Deni Avdija, who will come off the bench after enjoying the best season of his NBA career. Grant is back after missing a significant amount of time, but Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has not finalized his starting five for the regular season.
Source: Sean Highkin