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Cameron Green not guaranteed spot as Australia remain coy on XI for fifth Ashes Test

  • Steve Smith defends allrounder but refuses to confirm his place in side

  • Beau Webster and Todd Murphy in the mix to face England at the SCG

Steve Smith has launched an impassioned defence of Cameron Green but can’t guarantee the out-of-form allrounder’s place in the XI for the Ashes series finale.

Australia’s stand-in captain insists all options are on the selection table for the fifth Test, including using both allrounders Green and Beau Webster at the SCG and leaving out spin for the third time in four starts.

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Mets weren’t sold on Tatsuya Imai as impact starter: report

On paper, Tatsuya Imai certainly seemed like a potential fit for the Mets. 

He’s still just 27 years old, brings a ton of potential upside coming over from Japan, and wasn’t commanding too much in free agency with his market not developing as hoped. 

However, the team reportedly was never serious about pursuing the right-hander before he reached an agreement on a three-year pact with the Astros on Thursday. 

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, that’s because the Mets weren’t sold on Imai as an impact starter. 

With the way his contract with Houston is set up -- including incentives based on innings pitched and opt-outs after every year -- it seems other clubs may have felt the same way. 

Imai pitched to a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts over 162.2 innings last year for the Saitama Seibu Lions. 

There are, however, some concerns about the righty making the transition to the States. 

So now, the Mets will have to turn their attention elsewhere if they hope to add to their rotation this offseason. 

Feinsand again connected them to Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, two of the best available in free agency.

It remains to be seen if David Stearns will shell out the money and years the top arms are seeking, though. 

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Red Wings Top Prospect Sets Historic Mark Last Achieved By Current Vezina Favorite

Detroit Red Wings top prospect Sebastian Cossa continues to dominate in the AHL, earning Goaltender of the Month honors for December, marking the second consecutive month he has received the award.

Cossa previously won the accolade for November, becoming the first netminder in Red Wings franchise history to win the award twice in a single season. He also becomes the first AHL goalie since Henderson’s Logan Thompson in 2021 to capture the honor in consecutive months.

Thompson, now with the Washington Capitals, has gone on to thrive at the NHL level. He was recently named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster and currently sits as a Vezina Trophy favorite, highlighting just how elite Cossa’s company is as he joins the list of goalies who have translated AHL dominance into NHL stardom.

The 23-year-old Hamilton, Ontario native was spectacular in December, posting a 7-0-1 record with two shutouts, a 1.76 goals-against average, and a .929 save percentage. This season, Cossa has been nearly untouchable, boasting a 15-1-1 record, a 1.65 GAA, and a .936 save percentage, leading all AHL goalies in every major statistical category.

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Cossa recently experienced a rare setback in an overtime loss to the Milwaukee Admirals, stopping 21 of 24 shots. Prior to that, he had allowed just four goals over his previous four starts, stopping 85 of 89 shots with two shutouts.

With aging NHL goaltenders Cam Talbot and John Gibson nearing the end of their tenures in Detroit, fans are eagerly anticipating Cossa’s NHL debut. The Red Wings, long plagued by goaltending instability since the days of Chris Osgood, appear to have found their next franchise netminder.

Selected 15th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Cossa has consistently shown why Detroit invested a top pick in him. His dominance in the AHL this season has many believing he is ready to kick down the door to the NHL and become the long-term solution between the pipes for the Red Wings, following in the footsteps of other elite goalies like Logan Thompson.

Non-NHL Red Wings Who Could Compete at the Winter OlympicsNon-NHL Red Wings Who Could Compete at the Winter OlympicsGrand Rapids Griffins forward Eduards Tralmaks is one of several players within the Red Wings organization who could see action at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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Latest Cody Bellinger free agency buzz: Yankees make formal offer to outfielder

Here is the latest news and buzz surrounding free agent outfielder/first basemanCody Bellinger and his chances of returning to New York with the Yankees or Mets...

Jan. 2, 5:22 p.m.

As the offseason continues, it seems the Yankees have formally made an offer to Bellinger earlier this week, per the NY Post's Jon Heyman.

It's no surprise the Yankees did so, as Bellinger is the team's No. 1 target this offseason, but Heyman added that with both sides in a weekslong standoff, the Mets can't be ruled out. 

Other teams linked to Bellinger are the Dodgers, where the outfielder started his career, and the Giants. Heyman also adds the Blue Jays as a potential landing spot if Toronto does not land Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette. 

Dec. 26, 9:50 a.m.

While the holiday season has lowered the hot stove temperature, it appears the Yankees' hopes of re-signing Cody Bellinger remain high enough.

A reunion with the star outfielder is still a priority in the Bronx, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and the club feels "pretty confident" he won't move boroughs for a deal over in Queens.

The pursuit of Bellinger is also endorsed by the Yankees' captain. Heyman reports Aaron Judge is "a big advocate" for a long-term commitment with the former MVP, who hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI as a one-year rental in pinstripes last season.

It's unclear when Bellinger will take himself off the free-agent market, but with high demand from championship contenders, some projections have him earning around $30 million annually on a six-year contract. The Yankees may have to sweeten the pot in order to convince him to stay.

Dec. 14, 7:35 p.m.

While reports indicated that the San Francisco Giants "do not anticipate making the nine-figure investment" required to sign free agents this offseason, they aren't checked out of the marketplace altogether.

The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reported recently that the Giants “have checked in on” Cody Bellinger, the Yankees' No. 1 target.

Bellinger proved to be a big part of the Yanks' last season, contributing well on both sides of the ball with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, and a .272/.334/.480 slash line for an .813 OPS (125 OPS+ and wRC+) while ranking in the 93rd percentile in outs above average (seven) and with 12 defensive runs saved.

Dec. 4, 11:42 a.m.

While other suitors are certainly in the mix, Cody Bellinger remains the Yankees' No. 1 target, and the club is making a "big effort" to bring him back, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Heyman lists the Mets, Phillies, Angels, and Dodgers as other possibilities.

ESPN's Jeff Passan has previously reported that signing Bellinger would be a "multipart move" for the Yankees, as the club would almost certainly need to move one of their other outfield pieces --potentially Jasson Dominguez or up-and-coming prospect Spencer Jones.

With Trent Grisham accepting the qualifying offer, the Yanks would have a surplus of outfielders if Bellinger was to re-sign.

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Non-NHL Red Wings Who Could Compete at the Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics are just weeks away from getting underway, and excitement is beginning to build across the hockey world as national teams begin to announce and finalize their rosters. While traditional powerhouses like Canada and the United States will once again command much of the spotlight, several other participating nations will be looking to make an impact in the ice hockey tournament.

Here are some players within the Detroit Red Wings organization who could potentially participate in the Winter Olympics. They may not be suiting up for the sport’s biggest superpowers, but each could play a meaningful role for their country and gain valuable experience competing against some of the best players in the world on the Olympic stage.

Eduards Tralmaks - Latvia 

Latvia has emerged as one of the fastest-rising nations in hockey. Once a frequent relegation team at tournaments such as the World Juniors and World Championships, the program has now established itself among the sport’s elite and is producing an increasing number of NHL players. Currently, Latvia boasts four skaters and two goaltenders in the NHL, with several other Olympic hopefuls playing in leagues around the world, including the AHL.

Tralmaks is one of six Latvian skaters competing in the AHL and is tied for second in scoring among them with Providence Bruins forward Dans Ločmelis, trailing only Sandis Vilmanis of the Charlotte Checkers by a single point. Latvia faces a challenging Olympic group, matched up against the United States along with rising hockey nations Germany and Denmark. For Tralmaks, the Olympics could provide a major opportunity to prove himself on an international stage and potentially raise his profile with a strong performance.

Michal Svrcek - Slovakia

Slovakia has remained competitive at the World Juniors, and Svrcek has put together a solid tournament, recording a goal and an assist through four games. He is set to face Canada in the quarterfinals, a matchup that could present opportunities against a Canadian squad that has surrendered its share of goals.

Looking ahead to the Olympics, Slovakia is expected to feature nine NHL players, including high-profile names such as Juraj Slafkovský and Šimon Nemec. Beyond those nine, depth becomes a concern, as Slovakia has only about ten additional skaters in the AHL. That limited pool may force management to look elsewhere for reinforcements, including other professional leagues or even junior talent. 

Svrcek fits that profile well as a recent fourth-round pick, he is enjoying an excellent season in Sweden’s U20 Nationell league with Brynäs IF, where he has totaled 14 points in nine games. Given his strong play and upward trajectory, he could be one of several prospects from Slovakia’s system considered for Olympic selection.

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Michal Pradel - Slovakia 

With no Slovak goaltenders currently in the NHL and only a limited presence in North America, Slovakia may be inclined to lean on whoever is performing best at the World Juniors. After taking over the starting role in the team’s second game of the tournament, Pradel elevated his play immediately, delivering a standout 31-save performance in a 4–1 victory over Germany.

That showing earned him the net for the next two starts, beginning with a challenging matchup against the United States. Facing one of the strongest junior lineups in the world, Pradel made several highlight-level saves and kept Slovakia competitive, stopping 35 shots in a narrow 6–5 loss despite allowing six goals. He was steady again overall, though his most recent start against Switzerland showed some vulnerability, as the Swiss capitalized early and held on for a 3–2 win, with Pradel stopping 15 of 18 shots.

At just 18 years old, Pradel remains very much a developing goaltender, and Slovakia’s management may ultimately prefer more experienced options. However, if they choose to reward recent form, bringing Pradel along in a depth role could make sense, allowing him to gain valuable experience and learn alongside veteran goaltenders.

Kevin Bicker - Germany

Germany has traditionally been known more as a soccer nation than a hockey powerhouse, but its hockey programs have steadily grown in recent years, fueled by the emergence of NHL stars such as Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, and Moritz Seider. Despite that progress, Germany’s player pool in North America remains limited, with only six NHL players and four skaters in the AHL.

Because of that lack of depth, Germany may need to look toward its junior and domestic programs for additional options. One potential candidate is 20-year-old Kevin Bicker, a Red Wings prospect selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. As one of the rarer NHL draft picks to emerge from Germany, Bicker showed enough ability at the junior level to earn selection and now represents a viable option for the national team.

With few German players competing in North America, attention could shift back home, where Bicker currently plays in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) with Löwen Frankfurt. A strong showing against elite international competition could help solidify his place on Team Germany and potentially influence Detroit’s decision to offer him an entry-level contract.

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Sabres Notes: Tuch Status Quo, Is Levi A Depreciating Asset?

Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekalainen indicated after taking control of the Sabres last month that resuming negotiations with winger Alex Tuch, and according to the Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, he has already been in contact with agent Brian Bartlett and that contract discussions are expected to continue into January.

The issue that appears to be the sticking point is Tuch’s asking price, which has reportedly been in excess of $10 million per season on an eight-year max deal, close to what LA Kings forward Adrian Kempe signed for earlier in the season, but there is not any proof to this point whether the Sabres stance has loosened since October, when Tuch paused talks with the club. 

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The clock is ticking on the Sabres, as they have to make some progress and get the 29-year-old winger locked up before the March 6th trade deadline or trade him, which conceivably could bring back a considerable return. 

Another potential ticking clock that Kekalainen inherited was the Sabres goaltending situation. The veteran GM indicated that he was on board with the club claiming Colten Ellis off waivers from St. Louis and thus maintaining three goalies on the NHL roster, but that addition pretty much ruled out once-prized Sabres prospect Devon Levi playing in the NHL this season. 

Levi signed a two-year, $1.625 million deal with the Sabres this summer, and did not have any leverage since he did not qualify to be a restricted free agent with the ability to sign an offer sheet. The 24-year-old was waiver exempt and demoted after training camp after putting up two excellent seasons in the AHL with Rochester. This season his numbers have slipped slightly (11-5-4, 2.82 GAA, .906 save %). 

The dilemma Buffalo faces is that Levi, like Ellis this season, will not be waiver exempt next year. Kekalainen could use the young goalie as a trade commodity in a goalie-starved league to add help and improve the club’s playoff chances before the deadline, but if he waits until the summer to make a decision, he risks getting little in return. 

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Knicks' Jalen Brunson named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December

While the Knicks are hellbent on reaching greater heights in 2026, their captain wrapped up 2025 with yet another accolade bestowed on him by the NBA.

December was chock-full of dominance from superstar Jalen Brunson, who took home Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors on Friday. He's now a three-time recipient with the Knicks, embarking on a new calendar year with a record of 23-10, the fourth-best mark in the league.

Brunson naturally served as the Knicks' holiday season catalyst, averaging a laudable 30.6 points and 7.1 assists with a 40.5 shooting percentage from three across 14 games in December.

His knack for scoring and facilitating helped the Knicks win 10 of 14 games during the month, and following a 25-point performance in their win over the Spurs in the NBA Cup final, he received MVP honors for the in-season tournament.

So far this season, Brunson is averaging a career-high 29.4 points with 6.6 assists (30 games). The veteran All-Star has also been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice.

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'It's A Dream Come True For Me': Rakell, Karlsson Thrilled To Represent Sweden At Olympic Games

On Friday, a few Pittsburgh Penguins' players got some news that they've been waiting on for quite a while. 

And it looks like they'll be spending most of February in Milan, Italy.

It was announced that defenseman Erik Karlsson and forward Rickard Rakell made the cut for the final 2026 Swedish Olympic roster, which will mark the second time Karlsson has represented his country in the Olympics and the first time for Rakell.

Forward Bryan Rust - who was invited to Team USA's Olympic camp over the summer - did not make the final cut for Team USA.

For Karlsson, the chance to compete again at the highest-level international tournament in the world is something that he's been anticipating for a decade. And - for Rakell - it's a childhood aspiration finally realized.

"Super excited," Rakell said. "It's a dream come true for me to get the chance to play in the Olympics and represent my country. I couldn't be more excited."

As much as there was a degree of certainty for Karlsson making the final roster despite not being named as one of the First Six - he said he was a "lock" back in training camp - it was not the same situation with Rakell, especially given his longer-term injury this season and the breadth of competition for few spots on the forward front.

And there was also the fact that, for the 4 Nations Face-off last February, he was left off the initial roster despite being in the midst of a career season. He was eventually named as an injury replacement, he competed in the tournament, and he finished his NHL season with career-highs in goals (35) and points (70). 

So, for those reasons, he wasn't entirely sure that he would make the cut. But he's glad that he did. 

"Yeah, obviously, that's all you want," Rakell said. "You never know if it's the last chance you get to play in a tournament like that, and you're thinking about it pretty much all of last year, all of summer, and coming into this year, and you never know with the injuries and all that happens, what's going to happen to you.

"Ultimately, it's coaches' decision to make the team, so even though you don't want to think about it too much, you just try to focus on your game here and try to give your best every night. I was really excited to get the call."

Sweden Announces Men's 2026 Olympic Hockey Roster: Full ListSweden Announces Men's 2026 Olympic Hockey Roster: Full ListSweden named the 25 players representing the men's national hockey team at the 2026 Olympics, including both Minnesota Wild goaltenders.

Rakell is also excited to have the opportunity to share his first Olympic experience with his teammate in Karlsson, who Rakell has become close friends with since the blueliner's arrival in Pittsburgh during the summer of 2023.

"I'm very happy to go with him and just share that moment together," Rakell said. "Obviously, since the day he got here, we didn't really know each other before, but we've become really good friends, and I'm super excited to see him [there]. He's going to be a top player on our team there, and just watching him here every day and get to see him, get to learn from him... it's a lot of fun."

Karlsson also sees the value in having someone like Rakell on the roster because of his situational versatility and ability to perform on big stages. 

"I think he’s shown over the last couple of years that he’s a capable player in situations like that," Karlsson said. "I think he had a good 4 Nations. He’s a guy that can play up and down the lineup and a reliable guy. So, I’m happy that he got the recognition for it, and very well-deserved.”

USA Hockey Reveals Men's 2026 Olympic Roster: Full ListUSA Hockey Reveals Men's 2026 Olympic Roster: Full ListUSA Hockey named the 25 players representing the men's national team at the 2026 Olympics.

Karlsson competed in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, when the Swedes lost to Sidney Crosby and Team Canada in the gold medal game. Although he joked about having "not very good memories" about losing to Crosby and company, he also recalled the experience as being one of the best of his playing career. 

And for the NHL to be back in the Olympics for the first time in 12 years - and for him to be a part of that - means a lot to him. 

“It’s weird," Karlsson said. "Obviously, I missed two of them in the time that [we] could have played, which is very frustrating at one point. But at the same time, there’s nothing you can do about it. So, I’m just happy that it’s back on, and hopefully, it stays this way for the younger generation and we don’t get to miss another one because it’s a very special thing to be a part of.”

He added: "Very happy that we get the chance to be back and experience it again. And, you know, hopefully, it’s not my last one.”

The Swedish Olympic roster will largely feature the same players that made the 4 Nations cut, even if there are a few alterations. Gustav Nyquist, William Karlsson, Viktor Arvidsson and Mattias Ekholm were players on the 4 Nations roster that were left off, while Gabriel Landeskog, Alexander Wennberg, Pontus Holmberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Philip Broberg.

During 4 Nations, Rakell spent some time playing with Mika Zibanejad, William Nylander, and Elias Pettersson - all of whom made the cut - while Karlsson was paired with Ekholm, meaning he will have a new defense partner for the Olympics. 

Regardless, both players feel good about the group that's headed to Milan.

"I feel really good about it," Rakell said. "As a group, we learned some things at the 4 Nations, and going to the Olympics, I think we have a better view of what we can improve and learn from our mistakes there to just try to give our best effort at the Olympics."

Finland Announces Men's 2026 Olympic Hockey Roster: Full ListFinland Announces Men's 2026 Olympic Hockey Roster: Full ListFinland named the 25 players representing the men's national hockey team at the 2026 Olympics. All but one of the players are in the NHL.

While the Olympics were, obviously, a heavy emphasis Friday, Rakell and Karlsson remain focused on what is right in front of them in Pittsburgh, where the team has won four of its last five games. The team plays a lot of games between now and the Olympics - 17, to be exact - and they are in the midst of a playoff race.

Not only are the NHL games in front of them important, but playing well going into the Olympics does help ensure that both players will be at the height of their game when the time comes to play in the highest level of best-on-best possible.

“Obviously, right now, I think we’re all very excited to go to Milan and compete for your nation," Karlsson said. "But at the same time, we're also very excited for the upcoming games in between with the Pittsburgh Penguins. I think that we have something good going on. We got off to a good start after the break, and that’s what we’re focusing on right now.

"So, whatever needs to be done here for this team to be successful, we’ve got to deal with. Then, when we get to Milan, we’re going to deal with what we have to do there to be successful.”

'You Can Never Be Satisfied In This League': McGroarty Taking Strides At NHL Level With Penguins'You Can Never Be Satisfied In This League': McGroarty Taking Strides At NHL Level With PenguinsPittsburgh Penguins' forward Rutger McGroarty is learning every day at the NHL level - and he only figures to get even better with more experience at the highest level of hockey.

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NBA Minutes Report: Injuries to Nikola Jokic, Austin Reaves, more have changed landscape

Welcome to the Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report. Every week, I will review each team's updated minutes per game to see which players are seeing the court more or less than in previous weeks. With this information in hand, I'll try to discuss any relevant fantasy risers or fallers; players who we should be adding off waivers or removing from our teams.

The charts below are also great for exploring on your own. You can track the minutes over the last three, five, and ten games, and for the entire season, to see which trends stand out to you.

All of this data was made accessible by Kyle Bland, who is incredibly talented and also extremely generous. Be sure to follow him to check out all of his baseball data as well.

NBA: Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Clippers
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Nikola Jokić, Kawhi Leonard drop elite stat lines
Over the last week, Jokić and Kawhi recorded stat lines that have rarely been seen in NBA history.

Atlanta Hawks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jalen Johnson34.636.535.6
Dyson Daniels3434.434
Nickeil Alexander-Walker33.733.432.7
Onyeka Okongwu32.833.834
Trae Young31.431.528.2
Vít Krejčí2826.824.9
Zaccharie Risacher23.422.323.5
Luke Kennard20.820.819
Kristaps Porziņģis17.317.317.3

Kristaps Porziņģis returned on Wednesday after missing 10 games with an illness. The Hawks will take the time to ramp him up, and he will eventually cut into minutes for Vít Krejčí and others. I also wrote an article this week on why the Hawks have been better without Trae Young, but why it's unlikely that they'll be able to trade him for much.

Boston Celtics

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Payton Pritchard36.936.134.2
Derrick White36.435.334.6
Jaylen Brown34.23434.7
Neemias Queta26.324.926.9
Anfernee Simons22.622.322.8
Hugo González2024.919.7
Luka Garza18.721.318.1
Sam Hauser17.920.220.3

The Celtics have been relatively healthy for the last few weeks, and we've seen very little change in their minutes allotment.

Brooklyn Nets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Michael Porter Jr.34.334.533.4
Nic Claxton31.231.231
Egor Dëmin3130.326.5
Noah Clowney2929.329.9
Terance Mann27.327.725.6
Danny Wolf19.519.421.9
Cam Thomas19.319.319.3
Ziaire Williams1816.920.7
Ben Saraf——19.6

The Nets are currently dealing with injuries to Egor Dëmin and Terance Mann, and Ben Saraf has been sent to the G-League, so the rotation could be shaken up a bit this week. However, they did get Cam Thomas back for the last two games, so we should see his minutes tick up a bit over the next few games (if he can play better defense). He could also take over the lead if/when Michael Porter Jr. is traded.

Charlotte Hornets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Brandon Miller36.733.433.5
Moussa Diabaté31.831.925.4
LaMelo Ball29.327.427.1
Sion James2523.925.1
Kon Knueppel23.826.732.2
Tidjane Salaün22.221.919
Collin Sexton21.720.320.3
Miles Bridges2126.330.9
Josh Green17.116.415.5
Ryan Kalkbrenner——25.5

Miles Bridges suffered an ankle injury this week, and while it might not be a serious one, I covered the fallout from that in a video this week. I also discussed the injury to Ryan Kalkbrenner and how it has led to an emergence for Moussa Diabaté.

Chicago Bulls

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Nikola Vučević29.729.729.3
Ayo Dosunmu25.923.521.2
Kevin Huerter2524.924
Isaac Okoro252323.4
Jalen Smith24.721.718.2
Matas Buzelis24.522.324.3
Zach Collins24.420.518
Tre Jones23.423.623.7
Josh Giddey2228.229.6
Coby White17.723.927.2

In a week full of injuries, the Bulls suffered two big ones with both Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Coby White (calf) getting hurt on Monday.I discussed all the repercussions in a video this week.

Cleveland Cavaliers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Darius Garland28.329.931.8
Jaylon Tyson27.525.427.2
Evan Mobley25.825.727.8
Sam Merrill24.725.825.8
Jarrett Allen24.124.324.6
De'Andre Hunter22.223.925.4
Dean Wade21.82425.2
Craig Porter Jr.20.320.814.9

De'Andre Hunter is battling an illness, but his minutes have dipped a bit anyway with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen both active. There's a chance the Cavs could get Max Strus back in the next two weeks, which would be a big boost for them.

Dallas Mavericks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cooper Flagg35.236.136.9
P.J. Washington32.431.432.5
Max Christie30.730.726.2
Brandon Williams30.222.524
Naji Marshall27.828.830.8
Klay Thompson23.625.422.5
Daniel Gafford21.319.117.2
Dwight Powell18.518.518.7
Ryan Nembhard16.921.623.8

The Mavericks aren't really a healthy team, but they have been healthy over the last few weeks, so we've seen their rotation stabilize. Brandon Williams is back to being the main point guard, with De'Angelo Russell and Ryan Nembhard splitting back-up minutes. That kills the fantasy value for the latter two.

Denver Nuggets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jamal Murray36.337.735.5
Spencer Jones35.134.530.2
Peyton Watson34.133.828.2
Tim Hardaway Jr.30.432.330.8
Nikola Jokić28.734.133.7
Bruce Brown2626.527.5
Jonas Valančiūnas16.314.715.1
Julian Strawther15.513.811
DaRon Holmes II151515

The Nuggets got good news (kinda) on Tuesday when it was revealed that Nikola Jokić will only miss a month with a knee injury. That's obviously a long time, and made doubly disruptive by the fact that his fill-in, Jonas Valančiūnas, said he felt a pop in his calf this week. That would leave the Nuggets without any real center and also without other starters like Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, and Christian Braun. These could be a bleak couple of weeks for Denver. My colleague, Kurt Helin, wrote an article about the entire fallout.

Detroit Pistons

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Cade Cunningham3433.333.7
Jalen Duren26.827.328.2
Duncan Robinson26.728.525.1
Marcus Sasser24.124.18.6
Isaiah Stewart22.521.923.4
Javonte Green21.421.219
Ausar Thompson20.424.923.1
Jaden Ivey2018.517.6
Ronald Holland II18.918.919.6
Tobias Harris18.223.423.9

Tobias Harris (hip) and Caris LeVert (knee) are both dealing with injuries, and while they aren't considered long-term injuries, they have shifted the minutes usage a bit, especially for Marcus Sasser, who used the Harris injury and mediocre production from Ausar Thompson to sneak into a larger role.

Golden State Warriors

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Stephen Curry34.333.433.7
Jimmy Butler III33.232.233
Draymond Green28.826.325
Will Richard2520.120.6
Brandin Podziemski23.825.426.9
De'Anthony Melton23.221.519.2
Moses Moody19.924.523.6
Al Horford1513.813.8
Buddy Hield12.69.513.7
Quinten Post12.415.220.8

The Warriors are relatively healthy, except that Seth Curry is yet another player out with sciatica (what is going on?) Quinnen Post has seen his minutes start to dry up with De'Anthony Melton and Will Richard playing more in smaller lineups.

Houston Rockets

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Amen Thompson34.236.537.9
Kevin Durant31.934.536.7
Jabari Smith Jr.31.932.836.8
Alperen Sengun31.233.435
Tari Eason25.321.921.9
Reed Sheppard25.227.127
Steven Adams23.32121.3
Dorian Finney-Smith15.215.215.2
Josh Okogie1216.321.2

The Rockets got Dorian Finney-Smith back and continued to play Tari Eason more minutes, which has led to a much smaller role for Josh Okogie. Alperen Sengun is also battling a calf injury, and Steven Adams is dealing with an ankle injury, so we'll see if those linger at all.

Indiana Pacers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Pascal Siakam32.932.132.9
Bennedict Mathurin32.532.232.5
Andrew Nembhard31.431.432.2
Aaron Nesmith24.824.824.8
Jarace Walker20.619.418.9
Ben Sheppard18.618.618.6
Jay Huff1718.621
T.J. McConnell16.717.117.1

Isaiah Jackson is dealing with a concussion, but other than that, this Pacers rotation has been pretty consistent for the last few weeks.

NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
Fantasy Basketball Week 2 Injury Report: Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards headline the list of sidelined stars
The Pacers, Lakers and Thunder are among the teams with lengthy injury reports at the halfway point of Week 2.

Los Angeles Clippers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Kawhi Leonard37.438.236.7
James Harden36.336.936.8
Brook Lopez30.628.822.8
Kris Dunn28.328.428.3
Nicolas Batum26.825.124.6
John Collins20.425.526
Kobe Sanders19.317.718.3
Derrick Jones Jr.19.119.119.1

The Clippers weirdly went on a nice run after Ivica Zubac got hurt. A lot of that has to do with the recent production from Kawhi Leonard, which I covered in a video this week, but getting Derrick Jones Jr. back has also been a nice boost. The minutes decrease for John Collins can just be chalked up to a recent illness.

Los Angeles Lakers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Luka Dončić34.130.534.9
LeBron James3131.332.9
Deandre Ayton30.729.929.3
Jake LaRavia28.930.624.9
Rui Hachimura272730.6
Jarred Vanderbilt25.424.620.8
Marcus Smart24.92727.8
Nick Smith Jr.20.622.820
Jaxson Hayes18.118.117
Austin Reaves14.818.329.8

Austin Reaves is hurt again, which means the Lakers have gone back to using Jake LaRavia for major minutes. Rui Hachimura is also dealing with a calf injury, which is why Jarred Vanderbilt has seen his minutes tick up.

Memphis Grizzlies

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Jaren Jackson Jr.34.132.831.3
Santi Aldama33.932.232.6
Jaylen Wells29.630.630.4
Ja Morant29.129.126.7
Cedric Coward28.127.327.2
Christian Koloko24.518.618.6
Cam Spencer23.627.629.1
GG Jackson2221.621.6
Jock Landale18.321.624.3
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope16.418.321.5
Zach Edey——21.9

With Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey still out, GG Jackson has emerged as a consistent part of the rotation. Injuries to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (hamstring) and Vince Williams Jr. have also opened up more minutes for Cedric Coward again, and the Grizzlies are even trying to experiment with Christian Koloko as a starting frontcourt player. It hasn't worked great.

Miami Heat

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Andrew Wiggins31.430.330.9
Norman Powell29.731.932.1
Kel'el Ware28.328.126
Jaime Jaquez Jr.2830.730.8
Davion Mitchell26.727.729.7
Pelle Larsson24.224.220.8
Nikola Jović23.923.920.5
Bam Adebayo21.229.631.1
Tyler Herro——34.5

Tyler Herro continues to miss time, and now Pelle Larsson is out with an ankle injury. That has led to more minutes for Nikola Jović, who had a decent outing earlier this week. Bam Adebayo also missed two games with a back injury, but he was back for 21 minutes on Monday, so he should begin to ramp back up to his usual workload.

Milwaukee Bucks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Kevin Porter Jr.38.637.436.3
Ryan Rollins35.132.328.3
Myles Turner29.82929.1
AJ Green29.529.928.2
Giannis Antetokounmpo26.126.126.1
Kyle Kuzma23.326.828.2
Bobby Portis22.626.927.6
Gary Trent Jr.17.713.521.7
Gary Harris16.916.716.7

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned this week, and I talked about the fallout to the rotation in a video this week.

Minnesota Timberwolves

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Anthony Edwards33.435.936.7
Julius Randle31.233.233.7
Rudy Gobert29.832.232.4
Donte DiVincenzo27.93032.3
Naz Reid2626.228.6
Jaden McDaniels25.929.330.3
Jaylen Clark16.413.713.2
Mike Conley16.117.919.1
Bones Hyland13.817.919.8

Minnesota has a pretty consolidated six-man rotation, and little has changed. Bones Hyland, Mike Conley, and Jaylen Clark hover on the periphery as the rest of the rotation, but none of them play enough minutes to matter for fantasy leagues.

New Orleans Pelicans

Trey Murphy III36.334.334.6
Saddiq Bey34.33231.2
Zion Williamson29.127.225.9
Derik Queen26.925.128.2
Jeremiah Fears26.124.424.2
Bryce McGowens23.625.520.9
Jordan Poole21.924.125.8
Kevon Looney212121
Yves Missi19.317.713.6

Herbert Jones is battling an ankle injury that has kept him off the court and led to a brief boost in minutes for Bryce McGowen; however, that has not lasted. Kevin Looney has also returned this week and has played solid minutes off the bench behind Derik Queen. This team is really Queen, Trey Murphy III, and Zion Williamson, when he's healthy, with some solid production from Saddiq Bey sprinkled in at times throughout a given week.

New York Knicks

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
OG Anunoby36.535.635.3
Jalen Brunson36.33737.3
Mikal Bridges35.43637.3
Karl-Anthony Towns31.13131.9
Miles McBride22.222.222.2
Jordan Clarkson19.623.522
Mitchell Robinson18.220.320.4
Tyler Kolek15.320.418.9
Kevin McCullar Jr.13.611.37.8
Mohamed Diawara13.310.79
Josh Hart—34.433.9

The Knicks welcomed Deuce McBride back from his ankle injury, but now Josh Hart is out. We've also reached a point in the season where the Knicks are playing so many games in a short period of time that head coach Mike Brown has really extended the rotation to include plenty of young guys like Tyler Kolek, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Mohamed Diawara. It won't last, but they've looked solid.

Oklahoma City Thunder

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander31.23333
Jalen Williams30.230.230.1
Cason Wallace28.626.526.3
Chet Holmgren28.228.528.1
Luguentz Dort23.525.124.6
Ajay Mitchell22.222.222.9
Isaiah Hartenstein19.722.923.3
Aaron Wiggins18.816.317.3
Alex Caruso16.117.418

Things have remained pretty consistent for the Thunder over the last two weeks, but that also means that Isaiah Hartenstein is in a much smaller role than we saw earlier in the season when Jaylin Williams was out. However, he has also been battling a calf strain, so there's a chance the Thunder are keeping his minutes in the low-to-mid twenties to manage that as well.

Orlando Magic

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Paolo Banchero36.335.335.9
Desmond Bane33.833.935.4
Wendell Carter Jr.32.831.531.9
Anthony Black31.132.534
Jalen Suggs25.425.428.6
Tyus Jones24.825.821.9
Tristan da Silva23.923.422.2
Goga Bitadze17.417.416.3

Jalen Suggs returned this week from his hip injury, and while he still isn’t built up to a full workload, it’s nice to see him back on the court. The Magic can use his ball-handling, and his return would likely mean a hit in usage for Desmond Bane and Anthony Black, even though Black will likely remain in the starting lineup and maintain fantasy value. Tyus Jones will also see a big decrease in minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Tyrese Maxey404039.2
VJ Edgecombe3635.735.7
Joel Embiid35.133.932.4
Paul George34.33433.1
Quentin Grimes28.627.629.3
Dominick Barlow25.626.825.7
Adem Bona20.52120.5
Jared McCain17.624.521.1

The 76ers are healthy, and, for now, that means limited minutes for Adem Bona and Jared McCain. We know Bona will be relevant whenever Joel Embiid misses time, but it seems that the strong play from Quentin Grimes has really capped McCain’s value right now. Kelly Oubre Jr. could also return next week, so we'll need to keep an eye on how that changes the dynamic in Philly.

Phoenix Suns

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Devin Booker34.133.233
Dillon Brooks33.431.430.3
Royce O'Neale30.928.228.5
Collin Gillespie29.130.131.4
Oso Ighodaro26.424.123.3
Jordan Goodwin24.422.923.3
Ryan Dunn19.42320.5
Mark Williams17.220.721.8

Grayson Allen remains out with a knee injury, so Collin Gillespie has remained incredibly valuable to the Suns. With Jalen Green expected back in the second week of January, it will be interesting to see what that does to Gillespie’s role, but he has been a top-40 player in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks, so he needs to be relied on until the Suns show us otherwise.

Portland Trail Blazers

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Deni Avdija36.637.137.1
Toumani Camara31.334.632.7
Shaedon Sharpe31.130.431.6
Caleb Love31.130.422.2
Kris Murray28.128.527.9
Donovan Clingan26.627.728.8
Sidy Cissoko23.820.624.2
Robert Williams III1818.517.8
Jerami Grant——35.2

I admit that I thought this team would be better. Yes, Jrue Holiday is still out, and Jerami Grant has missed the last seven games with an Achilles injury, but the younger players haven’t taken the leap I thought they would. Scoot Henderson and Holiday are both doing on-court basketball activities, so it’s possible that both could be on the court within the next two weeks. That would take away almost all of the playing time for Caleb Love, and Grant’s return would move Kris Murray back into a smaller role.

Sacramento Kings

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Maxime Raynaud32.231.331
DeMar DeRozan29.734.233.7
Keegan Murray29.632.335.4
Nique Clifford262623.5
Keon Ellis24.717.419.6
Russell Westbrook24.428.230.2
Dylan Cardwell22.32321.5
Dennis Schröder21.523.424.4
Precious Achiuwa20.721.418.8

I never thought we’d see Maxime Raynaud lead the Kings in minutes this season, but here we are. With Zach LaVine (ankle) banged up and Russell Westbrook having his minutes dialed back from early-season highs, we also got to see Keon Ellis play more minutes and rookie Nique Clifford get more run. Frankly, that should have been the case all along, but I’m hesitant to believe the Kings keep this up when they’re healthy.

San Antonio Spurs

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
De'Aaron Fox3534.131.6
Devin Vassell32.431.630.4
Stephon Castle31.530.829.5
Julian Champagnie28.725.724.6
Victor Wembanyama26.225.523.2
Harrison Barnes25.226.325.7
Keldon Johnson24.522.621
Luke Kornet22.122.724
Dylan Harper20.120.220.5

The Spurs seemed to survive a big-time scare when Victor Wembanyama went down with a knee injury in the New Year’s Eve game against the Knicks. Sadly, given his frame, I’m not sure we’ll ever really see him consistently play 70+ minutes a game. The Spurs also lost Devin Vassell to an oblique injury, but it is reportedly expected to only last a couple of games. Dylan Harper should get more run as long as Vassell is out.

Toronto Raptors

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Scottie Barnes37.535.535
Brandon Ingram36.634.535.3
Immanuel Quickley32.33332.4
Ja'Kobe Walter26.723.620.6
Jamal Shead26.323.424.2
Collin Murray-Boyles25.525.221.3
RJ Barrett24.124.124.1
Sandro Mamukelashvili19.123.523.7

RJ Barrett returned this week, and Scottie Barnes had a record-breaking game mixed in. I covered it all in a video this week.

Utah Jazz

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
Lauri Markkanen3736.837.1
Keyonte George36.235.336
Brice Sensabaugh35.328.723.1
Jusuf Nurkić30.631.628.3
Isaiah Collier22.923.823.6
Svi Mykhailiuk17.71822.1
Walter Clayton Jr.17.316.715.6
Cody Williams16.412.413.3
Kevin Love16.222.421.6
Kyle Filipowski15.618.823.5

The Jazz had been playing too well, so Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and Jusuf Nurkić all missed some games this week. With Ace Bailey (hip) out, Brice Sensabaugh has been getting some extra run, and Kyle Anderson returned on Thursday to play 32 minutes and put up a solid line. The Jazz were very depleted in that game, so I wouldn't expect that level of production to continue with the team fully healthy.

Washington Wizards

NameLast 3Last 5Last 10
CJ McCollum3131.433.1
Justin Champagnie28.225.324
Bilal Coulibaly26.82625.4
Alex Sarr26.525.625.4
Tre Johnson26.32422.3
Bub Carrington25.822.930
Khris Middleton22.621.621.7
Marvin Bagley III21.221.223.5

The Bub Carrington mini breakout appears to be over. We also had a hip flexor injury to Kyshawn George, which has allowed Justin Champagnie to see an uptick in minutes and usage. George's absence has also allowed Bilaly Coulibaly to return to a higher usage role on the team, which has regained some of his fantasy value.