Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Clemson Tigers Game Preview
NBA Minutes Report: Tyler Kolek emerges, Ivica Zubac gets hurt, more
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.
Atlanta Hawks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | 35.5 | 35.8 | 34 |
| Jalen Johnson | 35.2 | 36 | 36.5 |
| Dyson Daniels | 32.5 | 33.8 | 34.5 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 32 | 32.8 | 32.6 |
| Trae Young | 28.7 | 25.8 | 25.8 |
| Zaccharie Risacher | 25.2 | 23.5 | 23.9 |
| Vít Krejčí | 21.8 | 22.9 | 24 |
| Luke Kennard | 19.7 | 18.8 | 18.7 |
Trae Young is back, but has that actually been a good thing for this team? The Hawks' offense was kind of flowing without him, and the defense has taken a real step back with Young on the court. Fantasy managers don't care about that, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker has seen his usage take a big hit, and this team isn't playing as well of late.
The Hawks have the NBA’s worst defense this season with Trae Young on the court:
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) December 24, 2025
On: 127.1 (30th)
Off: 113.1 (10th)
Atlanta’s record with Young is 2-8 compared to 13-8 without. pic.twitter.com/MLy1mtYWhX
Boston Celtics
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Derrick White | 34.4 | 34.1 | 33.5 |
| Jaylen Brown | 34 | 34.3 | 35.9 |
| Payton Pritchard | 32.3 | 32.6 | 32.4 |
| Hugo González | 31.4 | 25.2 | 18.4 |
| Luka Garza | 25.1 | 25.1 | 15.2 |
| Sam Hauser | 24.2 | 19.7 | 22.4 |
| Anfernee Simons | 24.1 | 24.7 | 23.7 |
| Neemias Queta | 23.5 | 26.1 | 25.8 |
| Jordan Walsh | 17.1 | 21 | 24.8 |
As we've seen all season, the fringes of the Celtics' rotation (apart from White, Brown, and Pritchard) continue to change, with Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza getting increased minutes. Jordan Walsh has been battling an illness recently, but over the last two weeks, Gonzalez and Garza have been the two biggest contributors on the fringe of the rotation as the Celtics have looked to play a little bigger. Neemias Queta is still seeing some minutes, but Sam Hauser and Josh Minott are seeing their minutes decline.
Brooklyn Nets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 34.5 | 32.9 | 33.4 |
| Egor Dëmin | 30.6 | 27.1 | 25.8 |
| Nic Claxton | 29.9 | 30 | 30.2 |
| Noah Clowney | 29.3 | 28.5 | 29.2 |
| Terance Mann | 28.8 | 26.8 | 24.9 |
| Danny Wolf | 20.1 | 22.2 | 23.2 |
| Nolan Traore | 18.4 | 13.7 | 13.7 |
| Day'Ron Sharpe | 18.1 | 16.9 | 17.2 |
| Ziaire Williams | 16.9 | 19.5 | 20.4 |
Don't look now, but the Nets are playing some feisty basketball. They've won three of their last four games and six of their last nine, and their defense has been tremendous. Offensively, this team is still basically driven by Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton, but Egor Dëmin is emerging as a little bit more of a consistent threat, averaging 14 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals over his last five games, which is a top-150 player. This still isn't a really good team, but they're playing hard.
Charlotte Hornets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kon Knueppel | 31.2 | 34.5 | 34.3 |
| Miles Bridges | 31.2 | 33 | 32.7 |
| Brandon Miller | 29 | 32.3 | 31.8 |
| Moussa Diabaté | 26.9 | 24 | 21.2 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 24.2 | 24 | 25.5 |
| LaMelo Ball | 24.1 | 25.4 | 25.7 |
| Sion James | 22.2 | 24.8 | 24.9 |
| Tidjane Salaün | 20.2 | 18.1 | 18.6 |
| Collin Sexton | 16 | 16 | 14.5 |
LaMelo Ball continues to be in and out of the lineup, and both Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kalkbrenner have been battling day-to-day injuries, which has meant extra minutes for Moussa Diabaté. Diabaté hasn't done a ton with the minutes, but he is averaging 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals over the last three games with Kalkbrenner out, so the defensive value has been great. It won't help fantasy managers too much, but it makes him a valuable player in the Hornets' rotation. Collin Sexton also missed seven games with a quad injury and returned earlier this week to play 20 minutes against the Wizards, so we should expect those minutes to tick up soon.
Chicago Bulls
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Josh Giddey | 32.7 | 31.1 | 32.9 |
| Nikola Vučević | 31.2 | 30.6 | 29.3 |
| Coby White | 30.7 | 30.2 | 28.9 |
| Matas Buzelis | 26.8 | 25.3 | 27.8 |
| Tre Jones | 22.8 | 23.4 | 24.5 |
| Kevin Huerter | 22.7 | 23.6 | 20.6 |
| Isaac Okoro | 20.1 | 22.9 | 23.5 |
| Zach Collins | 17.5 | 16.1 | 17.5 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | 15.6 | 15.6 | 24.5 |
The Bulls are finally healthy with only one player on their entire injury report. Of course, that has led to a confusing rotation behind Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Nikola Vučević. Matas Buzelis continues to be the most intriguing player of the rest of the roster, and he has looked good in his last three games, but he needs to find more consistency. Kevin Huerter is also averaging 13 points and 4.3 rebounds in his last three games and has taken a lot of minutes from Ayo Dosunmu, who also continues to play through multiple hand injuries.
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Darius Garland | 31.7 | 31.7 | 32.7 |
| Donovan Mitchell | 30.4 | 30.9 | 33.4 |
| Dean Wade | 27.4 | 26.4 | 25 |
| Sam Merrill | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| De'Andre Hunter | 25.6 | 26.1 | 26.8 |
| Evan Mobley | 25.3 | 25.3 | 32.8 |
| Jarrett Allen | 23.1 | 25.3 | 24.9 |
| Jaylon Tyson | 21.6 | 24.6 | 28.9 |
| Lonzo Ball | 18.7 | 20.7 | 23.2 |
Evan Mobley made his return after only missing five games with a calf injury that was allegedly supposed to have sidelined him for up to four weeks. Jarrett Allen went back to playing 23 minutes with Mobley back and scored seven points with eight rebounds. Thomas Bryant basically fell out of the rotation with only three minutes played. It's back to the status quo for the Cavs.
Dallas Mavericks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cooper Flagg | 36.9 | 37.4 | 36 |
| Max Christie | 33.5 | 22.3 | 25.7 |
| P.J. Washington | 31.2 | 32.4 | 32.8 |
| Naji Marshall | 29.5 | 31.2 | 31.5 |
| Klay Thompson | 28.7 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Anthony Davis | 27.4 | 30.7 | 29.9 |
| Ryan Nembhard | 24.7 | 24.4 | 26.2 |
| Brandon Williams | 19.9 | 22.5 | 22.2 |
| Jaden Hardy | 19.4 | 19.4 | 15.3 |
Anthony Davis continues to battle injuries and just left Thursday's game with a groin injury. As we've come to see, a Davis injury will mean more minutes and usage for P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall and would likely also mean more run for Daniel Gafford, who hasn't played over 17 minutes in any of the six games since being back from injury. Ryan Nembhard's play has also really fallen off of late, and we saw Brandon Williams play 30 minutes and score 26 points on Thursday, so this might be an ugly hot hand situation for a while.
Denver Nuggets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Nikola Jokić | 35.9 | 34.9 | 35.2 |
| Jamal Murray | 35.6 | 35.4 | 35.6 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 31.6 | 30.4 | 29.8 |
| Peyton Watson | 31.5 | 31.5 | 27.3 |
| Spencer Jones | 29 | 26.7 | 26.2 |
| Bruce Brown | 27.4 | 28.8 | 27.6 |
| Cameron Johnson | 26.5 | 30.2 | 33.7 |
| Jalen Pickett | 13.7 | 18.4 | 16.6 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 13.6 | 13.9 | 13.9 |
The Nuggets could be getting Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun back as early as next week, and they need them because Cameron Johnson is now going to be sidelined for a month with a knee injury. Without him, Bruce Brown figures to take on a big of a bigger role, and Tim Hardaway Jr. should see his usage continue to increase. He's averaging 17.8 points and 2.8 rebounds over the last four games, but he doesn't contribute much else
Detroit Pistons
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cade Cunningham | 33.4 | 36.2 | 34.5 |
| Ausar Thompson | 29.8 | 24.2 | 25 |
| Tobias Harris | 29.8 | 27.9 | 27.4 |
| Duncan Robinson | 29.1 | 25.2 | 25.6 |
| Jalen Duren | 26.9 | 28.8 | 28.6 |
| Ronald Holland II | 23.1 | 19.2 | 19.4 |
| Isaiah Stewart | 22.1 | 24 | 23.1 |
| Javonte Green | 18.7 | 17.8 | 15.2 |
| Caris LeVert | 18.3 | 20.2 | 21 |
| Jaden Ivey | 15.2 | 16.2 | 15.8 |
There are too many players in this rotation. Yes, it's great to have a deep team, and the Pistons remain at the top of the Eastern Conference, but this is a ship driven by Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren and then a rotation of guys who step up in different games. That might change if Ausar Thompson could develop some consistency, but this feels like a team that could make a consolidation trade to move on from somebody like Jaden Ivey, who barely plays, and some other pieces to add a bigger offensive force that can help them win a title.
Golden State Warriors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Stephen Curry | 33 | 33.6 | 33.3 |
| Jimmy Butler III | 32 | 33 | 30.7 |
| Brandin Podziemski | 28.6 | 29.2 | 26.6 |
| Moses Moody | 26.8 | 26.9 | 23.4 |
| Quinten Post | 21.7 | 22.3 | 24.6 |
| De'Anthony Melton | 18.4 | 17.8 | 18.5 |
| Draymond Green | 17.9 | 22.7 | 21.7 |
| Will Richard | 15 | 15 | 19.4 |
| Gary Payton II | 14.6 | 11.7 | 12.4 |
Draymond Green's minutes are down because he stormed off the court in the third quarter on Monday. I mean, not really, but also kind of. Green simply isn't the player that he used to be, and he's not impacting the game in as meaningful a way. You have to wonder if the team would be better off if some of his minutes went to Brandin Podziemski or Al Horford, who just came back from injury.
Draymond Green has not recorded a positive plus-minus in any game this month
— Peter O’Keefe (@POK252) December 24, 2025
The Warriors are a -60 in his 124 minutes on the floor, with Gary Payton II the next worst at -20 pic.twitter.com/hphZq42MZX
Houston Rockets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Amen Thompson | 37.2 | 38.1 | 37.7 |
| Kevin Durant | 36.8 | 38.5 | 36.9 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 34.7 | 37.3 | 37 |
| Alperen Sengun | 33.4 | 33.3 | 34.3 |
| Reed Sheppard | 26.5 | 27.3 | 26.3 |
| Tari Eason | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Steven Adams | 19.8 | 23.2 | 21.7 |
| Josh Okogie | 18.4 | 22.8 | 22.9 |
Can we just take a minute to acknowledge that Clint Capela has somehow become a player who plays just seven minutes a game? Jabari Smith Jr. is back to being a top-100 player in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks, averaging 16.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Tari Eason also returned from injury and has seen his minutes tick up due to his strong defensive value. He played 26 minutes on Christmas against the Lakers, and that has relegated Josh Okogie to a much smaller role.
Indiana Pacers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Pascal Siakam | 33.9 | 33.6 | 33.3 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 32.5 | 33.5 | 32.1 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 32 | 32.7 | 32.5 |
| Ethan Thompson | 26.2 | 21.2 | 21.1 |
| Jay Huff | 22.5 | 22.1 | 24.1 |
| Johnny Furphy | 21.7 | 16.9 | 14.4 |
| T.J. McConnell | 19.1 | 17.9 | 15.6 |
| Jarace Walker | 17.4 | 18.1 | 18.7 |
This Pacers rotation has been pretty consistent for the last few weeks. They are working around injuries to Ben Sheppard and Isaiah Jackson, but neither player was playing huge minutes. T.J. McConnell has gone on one of his runs where he's playing really solid basketball, and is a top-100 player in fantasy leagues over the last two weeks, but he's still seeing under 20 minutes per game, which makes it hard to trust him too much.
Los Angeles Clippers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| James Harden | 37.8 | 36.8 | 35.1 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 37 | 37.7 | 34.9 |
| John Collins | 29.8 | 27.8 | 28.7 |
| Kris Dunn | 29.5 | 28.2 | 27.7 |
| Brook Lopez | 22.5 | 20.2 | 18.1 |
| Nicolas Batum | 21.7 | 23.2 | 23.3 |
| Ivica Zubac | 21.2 | 27.5 | 31.6 |
| Bogdan Bogdanović | 20.6 | 21 | 21.3 |
| Kobe Sanders | 20.1 | 16.4 | 18.7 |
Ivica Zubac went down with an injury this week, and the Clippers will be without him until the middle of January. I covered the fallout in a video this week, but I think John Collins figures to benefit the most.
Los Angeles Lakers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| LeBron James | 31.9 | 32.9 | 33.6 |
| Deandre Ayton | 31.9 | 31.3 | 29.7 |
| Marcus Smart | 29.9 | 29.8 | 29.6 |
| Jake LaRavia | 29.8 | 27.8 | 23 |
| Rui Hachimura | 27.7 | 30.5 | 30.7 |
| Luka Dončić | 26.7 | 32.8 | 34.7 |
| Nick Smith Jr. | 25 | 18.4 | 16.5 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | 24.5 | 22.7 | 19.5 |
| Austin Reaves | 18.3 | 18.3 | 31.8 |
Austin Reaves is hurt again, leaving the Lakers' Christmas game with a calf injury. We don't know how many games, if any, he'll miss, but his absence previously has (obviously) led to more usage for LeBron James and Luka Dončić, who is back from his own brief absence with a leg injury. Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia would also likely benefit a little with increased playing time if Reaves were to miss games.
Memphis Grizzlies
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cam Spencer | 34.7 | 33.5 | 29.2 |
| Jaylen Wells | 32.1 | 31.5 | 30.1 |
| Santi Aldama | 31.6 | 32 | 29.5 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 31.3 | 32 | 30.2 |
| Cedric Coward | 27.9 | 26.6 | 27.4 |
| Jock Landale | 23.4 | 25.5 | 22.5 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 22.7 | 23 | 21.3 |
| GG Jackson | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Brandon Clarke | 3.9 | 10.2 | 10.2 |
| Vince Williams Jr. | 21.7 | 21.1 | |
| Ja Morant | 21 | 23.1 |
With Ja Morant sidelined again, Cam Spencer is enjoying a bit of a breakout, which I covered in a video this week, so check that out. Brandon Clarke also returned and then got hurt again, which led to an opportunity for GG Jackson, who returned from his own injury on Monday and then played 30 minutes on Tuesday, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds. He's a name to keep an eye on.
Miami Heat
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 35.2 | 32.9 | 30 |
| Norman Powell | 34.9 | 34.3 | 32.9 |
| Bam Adebayo | 34.6 | 33.6 | 32.8 |
| Davion Mitchell | 29.1 | 30 | 30.8 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 28.5 | 30.6 | 31.4 |
| Kel'el Ware | 27.7 | 26.6 | 23.9 |
| Kasparas Jakučionis | 25.2 | 20.8 | 16.8 |
| Tyler Herro | 32.3 |
Tyler Herro is still out with his toe injury and is still trying to fit into this new-look Miami offense. I covered all of that in a video this week. In that time, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has stepped back into his larger role, but Kel'el Ware has also seen his role increase in a two-big-man look with Bam Adebayo. Ware has been a top-70 player in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks and deserves a bit more attention for how well he's played.
Milwaukee Bucks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | 38.4 | 35.4 | 34.1 |
| Bobby Portis | 36.8 | 30.6 | 26.5 |
| Kyle Kuzma | 33.4 | 31.3 | 27.4 |
| Myles Turner | 32.1 | 29.7 | 26.5 |
| Ryan Rollins | 27.9 | 26.4 | 28.9 |
| AJ Green | 24.6 | 24.6 | 26.1 |
| Jericho Sims | 21.8 | 21.2 | 23.8 |
| Gary Trent Jr. | 17.7 | 22 | 24 |
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains out, and Gary Trent Jr. has played just 23 total minutes in the last two games as he battles a calf injury. In their stead, Kevin Porter Jr's has been a top-15 player in fantasy basketball, and Ryan Rollins and Bobby Portis Jr. have both continued to play well in their expanded roles. They're both top-100 players in fantasy basketball, but Myles Turner doesn't seem to be doing much more with the bigger role, averaging just 13.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over his last 5 games.
Minnesota Timberwolves
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Anthony Edwards | 38.7 | 39.2 | 37.6 |
| Rudy Gobert | 37 | 35.9 | 31.2 |
| Julius Randle | 35 | 34.5 | 35 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 33.2 | 34 | 32.3 |
| Naz Reid | 27.3 | 28.5 | 29.8 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 24.2 | 30.5 | 34.1 |
| Bones Hyland | 22.2 | 23.3 | 21.6 |
| Mike Conley | 21.1 | 21.1 | 18.9 |
Minnesota has a pretty consolidated eight-man rotation, and little has changed. Bones Hyland has stepped into a slightly bigger role as a ball-handling scorer off the bench, and he might be better suited in that role than Mike Conley right now.
New Orleans Pelicans
| Trey Murphy III | 32.5 | 33.9 | 34.8 |
| Bryce McGowens | 30.6 | 16.5 | 23.4 |
| Saddiq Bey | 29.7 | 29.6 | 31.5 |
| Jordan Poole | 29.4 | 27.7 | 27.3 |
| Derik Queen | 28.8 | 29.3 | 30.8 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 24.6 | 24.4 | 26.8 |
| Zion Williamson | 23.2 | 23.5 | 23.5 |
| Jose Alvarado | 21 | 22.2 | 24.2 |
| Herbert Jones | 16.9 | 23 | 22 |
The Pelicans reportedly don't want to trade Herbert Jones, but his ankle injury has kept him off the court and sapped some of his effectiveness. Derik Queen continues to be effective, even playing alongside Zion Williamson, and both have been top-80 players in fantasy basketball over the last two weeks. I would like to see more minutes for Jeremiah Fears, but Jordan Poole has seemed to cut into those.
New York Knicks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jalen Brunson | 38.7 | 37.1 | 36.8 |
| Mikal Bridges | 38 | 37.7 | 35.7 |
| Josh Hart | 34.1 | 34 | 33.5 |
| OG Anunoby | 33.3 | 33 | 32.3 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 30.2 | 31.5 | 31.9 |
| Tyler Kolek | 26.1 | 24 | 17.9 |
| Jordan Clarkson | 25.5 | 24.4 | 23 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 21.7 | 22.8 | 20.6 |
Tyler Kolek season is here, and I'm not sure it's going anywhere. Deuce McBride is still managing an ankle injury, and Landry Shamet is out with a shoulder injury, so Kolek has stepped up and is averaging 10.7 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds over the last two weeks while playing crucial minutes at the end of games for the Knicks. At this point, the Knicks can't take Kolek out of the rotation, so even when Deuce returns, it might be somebody like Jordan Clarkson who needs to lose more minutes.
Oklahoma City Thunder
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 35.8 | 34.6 | 33.4 |
| Jalen Williams | 31.6 | 31 | 29.2 |
| Chet Holmgren | 28.8 | 28.3 | 27.1 |
| Luguentz Dort | 28.5 | 26.4 | 25.1 |
| Cason Wallace | 25.2 | 26.3 | 25.3 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 24.6 | 25.6 | 24.2 |
| Ajay Mitchell | 22.2 | 24.6 | 25.1 |
| Alex Caruso | 19.3 | 19.1 | 18.9 |
Isaiah Hartenstein came back from his calf injury last week, so we've actually seen the full Thunder roster for the first time all season. Turns out, it's a roster that can't beat the Spurs. I'm kidding, but the Spurs are playing tremendously well against the Thunder. The rotation has become pretty consistent, but it's a matter of who emerges. Chet Holmgren has not been as effective in recent games, but Ajay Mitchell has stepped up and been a top 100 player in fantasy leagues over his last four games.
Orlando Magic
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Paolo Banchero | 37.6 | 37.5 | 33 |
| Desmond Bane | 36 | 36.4 | 35.9 |
| Anthony Black | 34.2 | 35.3 | 33.4 |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 32.3 | 32.2 | 31.2 |
| Tyus Jones | 26.4 | 21.5 | 18.7 |
| Noah Penda | 21 | 18.6 | 13.5 |
| Jase Richardson | 18.9 | 16.7 | 13.6 |
| Jalen Suggs | — | 29.5 | 29.7 |
| Tristan da Silva | — | 12 | 21.5 |
| Franz Wagner | — | — | 27.4 |
Orlando's rotation has become consolidated thanks to injuries to Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Tristan Da Silva. In that time, Desmond Bane has taken on a much larger role, averaging 198 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks, which makes him a top 40 player. Anthony Black has also stepped into a much larger role and has been highly efficient for the Magic as well. We've also seen Noah Penda take on a bigger role now that he's up from the G-League. I don't expect that to last too long, but it's been fun to see.
Philadelphia 76ers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 39.3 | 39.3 | 39.3 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 36.4 | 37.7 | 31.3 |
| Paul George | 33.1 | 33.2 | 30.1 |
| Joel Embiid | 31.5 | 31.2 | 29.8 |
| Jared McCain | 30.2 | 24.5 | 23.3 |
| Andre Drummond | 24 | 21.6 | 18.9 |
| Dominick Barlow | 24 | 27.4 | 28.3 |
| Quentin Grimes | 21.2 | 30 | 32.9 |
Joel Embiid survived a bit of an injury scare earlier this week, but seems ot have survived it. Quentin Grimes has seen his minutes decrease in the last two games, but he has also been battling an illness, so it might be connected to that. The 76ers continue to hum because of their young guards and a resurgent season from Paul George, who is averaging 16.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 12 games. Also, it's pretty fun that Dominick Barlow is playing such a big role on a two-way deal.
Phoenix Suns
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Collin Gillespie | 32.2 | 31.8 | 31.7 |
| Devin Booker | 31.4 | 31.4 | 29.9 |
| Dillon Brooks | 29.6 | 27.9 | 30.1 |
| Royce O'Neale | 28 | 26.9 | 27.8 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 26.3 | 22.8 | 23 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 25.8 | 22.9 | 22.8 |
| Ryan Dunn | 22 | 19.8 | 20.3 |
| Mark Williams | 19.5 | 21.3 | 22.1 |
| Grayson Allen | — | 28.5 | 28.3 |
Grayson Allen is battling a knee injury, but it doesn't sound too serious. Jalen Green is also expected back in the first week of January, so this Suns team could be getting healthy soon. Collin Gillespie has also remained tremendously valuable even with Devin Booker back, but it remains to be seen if that would continue with both Allen and Green back too.
Portland Trail Blazers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Deni Avdija | 38.5 | 38.1 | 36.5 |
| Toumani Camara | 35.2 | 33.1 | 32.1 |
| Donovan Clingan | 32.6 | 30.9 | 28.7 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | 31.8 | 32.7 | 31.5 |
| Kris Murray | 30.5 | 27.2 | 26.7 |
| Sidy Cissoko | 22 | 24.6 | 24.8 |
| Caleb Love | 20.3 | 16.3 | 17.5 |
| Robert Williams III | 16.1 | 17.2 | 19.3 |
| Jerami Grant | — | 37.4 | 33.9 |
Jrue Holiday is still out, and now Jerami Grant has missed the last three games with an Achilles injury. In those three games, Donovan Clingan and Shaedon Sharpe have taken on larger usage roles. Those two guys, along with Deni Avdija, have all been top-60 players in that span, but Grant doesn't figure to be out for too much longer.
Sacramento Kings
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| DeMar DeRozan | 38.9 | 38.1 | 34.5 |
| Keegan Murray | 35.6 | 37.7 | 36 |
| Russell Westbrook | 32.7 | 32.3 | 30.8 |
| Maxime Raynaud | 30.1 | 30.7 | 29.3 |
| Dennis Schröder | 27.8 | 26.2 | 26.2 |
| Nique Clifford | 27.1 | 22.9 | 21.1 |
| Dylan Cardwell | 22.7 | 21.1 | 21.1 |
| Precious Achiuwa | 18.2 | 19 | 18.5 |
Zach LaVine remains out with an ankle injury but could return early next week. Keegan Murray also suffered a calf injury earlier this week, so we're still awaiting news on how long he will be out. Russell Westbrook continues to take on a large usage role with LaVine out and will do so for the foreseeable future. We have also seen Maxime Raynaud emerge of late, averaging 14.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists over the last two weeks, which has made him a top 100 player in fantasy leagues.
San Antonio Spurs
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| De'Aaron Fox | 33.2 | 29.3 | 30.7 |
| Devin Vassell | 30.8 | 29.2 | 29.8 |
| Stephon Castle | 30.5 | 28.1 | 28 |
| Harrison Barnes | 27.4 | 24.4 | 27.8 |
| Luke Kornet | 25.1 | 23.2 | 25.3 |
| Victor Wembanyama | 23.5 | 21.8 | 21.6 |
| Keldon Johnson | 21 | 20 | 20.3 |
| Julian Champagnie | 20.2 | 20.9 | 25.1 |
| Dylan Harper | 19.5 | 19.9 | 21.6 |
Victor Wembanyama is back but still on a bit of a minutes restriction. Nevertheless, the Spurs have been on a run of strong play lately, and this is a true contender. That being said, Dylan Harper has taken a bit of a backseat with the full crew back, and I'm a little surprised that Devin Vassell has been getting more playing time and being more productive than Harper. That said, he does fit what the team needs a little better, so he will likely remain impactful, and he's been a top 110 player in fantasy leagues over the last two weeks.
Toronto Raptors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Scottie Barnes | 34.3 | 34.2 | 35.2 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 32.9 | 32.4 | 32.3 |
| Brandon Ingram | 32.6 | 34.2 | 34.4 |
| Sandro Mamukelashvili | 25.7 | 26.4 | 24.2 |
| Ochai Agbaji | 23 | 22.3 | 21.4 |
| Collin Murray-Boyles | 22 | 19.6 | 17.7 |
| Jamal Shead | 21 | 22 | 23.2 |
| Ja'Kobe Walter | 19.3 | 17.9 | 18.7 |
Not much has changed for the Raptors in recent weeks. They're still managing Jakob Poeltl's minutes, and he's missed three of the last four games. No other big man is really stepping up in his absence, so there's no real corresponding move. RJ Barrett should also return as early as next week, which would be welcome for the Raptors.
Utah Jazz
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Keyonte George | 36.5 | 37.9 | 34.7 |
| Lauri Markkanen | 36.2 | 38 | 35 |
| Kevin Love | 30.2 | 25.6 | 20.7 |
| Ace Bailey | 29.1 | 27.6 | 28.9 |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 27.8 | 29.1 | 25.5 |
| Isaiah Collier | 26 | 27.5 | 21.8 |
| Kyle Filipowski | 22.9 | 26.7 | 27.8 |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | 22.5 | 21.1 | 23.5 |
| Brice Sensabaugh | 20.8 | 20.3 | 16.9 |
Things have remained pretty status quo for the Jazz over the last few weeks. The minutes and usage are dominated by Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George, with Jusuf Nurkić and Isaiah Collier also continuing to give meaningful production in their minutes as well. Sadly, even though Ace Bailey is getting plenty of run, he's averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and little else.
Washington Wizards
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| CJ McCollum | 35.6 | 34 | 33.3 |
| Kyshawn George | 34.6 | 35.2 | 33.1 |
| Bub Carrington | 30 | 31.9 | 31.2 |
| Alex Sarr | 25.3 | 24.9 | 24.9 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 23.4 | 23 | 25.9 |
| Tre Johnson | 22.8 | 21.6 | 20.8 |
| Khris Middleton | 22 | 22 | 25.1 |
| Jamir Watkins | 21.9 | 14.9 | 18.1 |
| Marvin Bagley III | 21.5 | 23.4 | 25.3 |
Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and Khris Middleton are all back. Coulibaly played 23 minutes in his first game back, and Bub Carrington was down to 15 minutes. However, Carrington also had a foot injury in that game, so we may not know until Friday just how the Wizards are splitting up these minutes after Carrington emerged when everybody else was out. Marvin Bagley III has also played well in his limited minutes, and he could be useful on another squad if he gets traded.
Kyle Whittingham, Michigan football finalizing deal: Social media reacts
NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-12-28 20:29:47
NHL Rumors: Blackhawks' Connor Murphy Connected To 2 Teams
After a solid start to the season, the Chicago Blackhawks have been going through some big-time struggles as of late. The Blackhawks are currently on a six-game losing streak and have won only two out of their last 10 contests.
Due to the Blackhawks' current struggles, they now have a 13-17-6 record and are at the very bottom of the NHL standings. With this, they are starting to stand out as prime sellers, and one of their most notable trade candidates is pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) defenseman Connor Murphy.
With the Blackhawks having so many promising young defensemen in their system, it would not be particularly surprising if they flipped Murphy by the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Due to this, Murphy was included in The Athletic's latest NHL trade matchmaker column. In it, Pierre LeBrun named the Florida Panthers as the team that could land Murphy, while Chris Johnston picked the Vegas Golden Knights.
LeBrun going with the Panthers is understandable, as it is clear that they could use more depth on their blueline. If they added Murphy, he would provide them with another solid veteran blueliner as they look to win their third straight Stanley Cup. A right of side of Aaron Ekblad, Seth Jones, and Murphy would be a strong trio for Florida.
Yet, Johnston picking the Golden Knights is also easy to understand, as it is no secret that they need to upgrade the right side of the blueline. When looking at the Golden Knights' current roster, Murphy could fit nicely on their second pairing if acquired. However, even if he played bottom-pairing minutes for Vegas, he would still improve their group.
NHL Rumors: Sabres Linked To Skilled Blue Jackets Winger
Things have been going very well for the Buffalo Sabres as of late. The Sabres have won each of their last seven games and now have an 18-14-4 record. With this, they are now seventh in the Atlantic Division, but also only three points behind the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning. With this, the Sabres have created far more hope for their 2025-26 season.
With the Sabres starting to improve and desperately looking to break their 14-year playoff drought, it would be understandable if new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen looked to add to the team's roster. With this, The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently named the Buffalo Sabres as a potential landing spot for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov.
"You won’t find anyone in the NHL more familiar with Chinakhov than Jarmo Kekäläinen, the man who drafted him in Columbus. With Kekäläinen now in charge of the Sabres front office, it’s not unreasonable to expect him to lean on some known quantities as he starts to put his own stamp on the Buffalo roster," Johnston wrote.
Chinakhov would certainly have the potential to be an interesting addition for the Sabres. The 2020 first-round pick has skill and at 24 years old, the possibility of him hitting a new level is still there. Furthermore, while Chinakhov is in the final year of his current deal, he is a pending restricted free agent (RFA). With this, he would have the potential to be more than a rental for the Sabres if they issue him a qualifying offer over the summer.
In 29 games so far this season with the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov has posted three goals and six points. While these numbers do not necessarily stand out, he notably had 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games for the Blue Jackets just back in 2023-24. He also had seven goals and 15 points in just 30 games last season.
‘This s*** is crazy’ — Baylor’s addition of James Nnaji further blurs line between pro and college hoops
Tyler Kolek-Jordan Clarkson backcourt winning the Knicks' biggest games
With the Knicks trailing and disjointed for most of their nationally-televised, playoff-intensity contest, head coach Mike Brown turned to two of his bench guards — Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson — to provide a lift late in the ball game. The poised floor general and sparkplug scorer went beyond their job descriptions, mounting massive runs that scored their team a decisive victory, further adding to their pedigree and readiness for the championship hunt ahead.
Does this story sound familiar to Knicks fans? It should, as it seems to happen every other week now.
What started off as a low-risk, high-reward veteran’s minimum flier and rocky second-year development project have turned into a devastating combination for opponents and a surprise surge of depth for a team that’s struggled with the issue for two years now. They’re winning New York the biggest games on the biggest stages of their schedule, and if that’s any indication of what’s to come in the playoffs, the Knicks will be at a new level of formidable.
But let’s start at the beginning. New York drafted Kolek 34th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he failed to find consistent playing time in his rookie season.
There were stronger, more veteran options, and though Kolek had impressed in Las Vegas Summer League and some spot backup minutes, he didn’t look fully confident and prepared defensively. Entering this training camp with a new coach but similar competition, Kolek was seemingly at risk of being moved before a surprise retirement announcement from Malcolm Brogdon.
He was unremarkable in preseason and in spot minutes to start the year, but when Landry Shamet went down with an injury in late November, Kolek seized his opportunity. He’s since averaged 7.1 points, 3.8 assists and 0.8 assists in 16.6 minutes per game on 57 percent shooting from two, 38 percent from three, and very few giveaways.
Kolek’s brought a new level of defensive intensity to his court presence, and seems to have found a liking to Brown’s offensive system. His veteran teammates also have a newfound trust in him to control the ball.
Clarkson is 33 years old and came to the Knicks with far less to prove than Kolek but just as much to accomplish. He played for three teams prior, his latest stop in Utah, where he cemented himself as a Sixth Man of the Year winner and reliable postseason contributor.
His production slowed with age, and the stakes around him disappeared with the talent. With a chance at bringing his plug-and-play ball handling and scoring to a contender desperately needing it, he took the veteran’s minimum to sign in New York.
It wasn’t the hottest or most consistent of starts, but Clarkson’s gotten more comfortable as the season has progressed, climaxing in the last couple of weeks. He scored 15 in the Cup Championship, 18 the game after, and 25 on Christmas, helping will the Knicks to three victories that looked out of reach.
Kolek and Clarkson have had great individual performances, but it’s been their production as a tandem that’s flipped entire games on their heads. First in the Cup Championship, when the two controlled the fourth quarter, finishing the game with a combined near-30 off the bench.
Then, with the Knicks looking hapless and trailing by 17 in the fourth quarter, they totally shifted the momentum again. Both were constantly pushing the ball, getting into the paint and connecting from three.
The two combined for 41 points and 11 assists in the clutch victory, with Clarkson chipping in three steals. In both wins, Brown trusted the combo deep into the final period, even grouping them with Jalen Brunson for stretches.
Just Kolek and Clarkson as a pairing, now seen much more frequently since the injuries to Shamet and Miles McBride, is outscoring opponents by 6.6 points per 100 possessions in 192 minutes. It will be interesting to see how Brown keeps this duo intact once those pieces return.
In the meantime, the Knicks are happy to have such a weapon off the bench as the season enters its midpoint and the starters’ legs start to get heavy. Not only will that help steal them regular-season wins when the stars don’t have it, but potentially a playoff series down the line.
Kolek and Clarkson having these huge nights to win the Cup and then beat the Cavs on Christmas Day brings major confidence that they can do the same in a pivotal playoff game. The Knicks scrambled to find those kinds of guys at the end of their bench in past postseasons, but seem to finally have it.
Hutson And Demidov Gave A Big Surprise To Fans
While the NHL takes some time off over Christmas with no games on the schedule from December 24 to 26, a couple of Montreal Canadiens players couldn’t help but get on the ice over the short break. Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov didn’t just head to the CN Sports Complex in Brossard; they also visited local outdoor rinks.
On Christmas Eve, reigning Calder Trophy winner Hutson surprised fans in Notre-Dame-De-Grace by showing up to play shinny hockey with them. Needless to say, those who were in attendance were incredibly happy to skate alongside the young star.
Since arriving in Montreal, Hutson has demonstrated his love for the game with an incredible work ethic, hitting the ice so often on days off that the team has had to step in and tell him to stay off the ice. With that taken into account, it’s not surprising that he felt the need to skate on Christmas Eve, and showing up at a local rink and making everyone’s day shows how much he enjoys the city of Montreal and its fans. He has already demonstrated his commitment to the town and the team by signing an 8-year contract that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2033-34 season.
Canadiens Sign Promising Prospect
The State Of The Canadiens’ Defence
Canadiens: Sending Dobes Down Would Cause Trouble
Then, on Christmas Day, Hutson did it again, but this time he brought a friend: Russian rookie Demidov. According to a Canadiens fan who was there, they played 15 against two, and the fans still basically looked like pylons, but they didn’t care; the kids’ eyes were lit up with Christmas magic.
Ivan Demidov & Lane Hutson meeting Habs fans at the outdoor rink in Montreal today pic.twitter.com/LLzcU0osdH
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 26, 2025
The players also took pictures with fans and were happy to donate their time to make fans’ Christmas even better. For years, parents have been reading Roch Carrier’s The Sweater as a bedtime story to their kids, a book in which a young boy’s biggest Christmas wish is to get a Montreal Canadiens sweater for Christmas, but this would make for a great children’s book as well. Imagine the child receiving a Hutson jersey, going to the rink to wear it, and ultimately playing with the player.
Kudos to Hutson and Demidov for taking the time to make some kids’ dreams come true this year. It didn’t cost them anything, but for those who had the opportunity to skate alongside their idols over Christmas, it was a priceless experience.
A day after a dominant performance in a Habs win in Boston:
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 25, 2025
Lane Hutson was back in Montreal today playing shinny hockey in NDG. pic.twitter.com/njla6FglCU
Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.
Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.
Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.
Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here.
Why the Maple Leafs Added Steve Sullivan To Their Coaching Staff
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Friday the addition of Steve Sullivan to their coaching staff. The opening emerged earlier in the week after the club relieved Marc Savard of his duties as assistant coach. Savard had been responsible for the team’s power play, which ranked last in the NHL at the time of his departure.
We have added Steve Sullivan as an Assistant Coach.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 26, 2025
Sullivan joins the Leafs from the Toronto Marlies. pic.twitter.com/Pn6K0RgNiA
While the Leafs did not have an immediate replacement behind the bench during their 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the coaching staff clarified they would evaluate long-term options for the power play moving forward. Ultimately, the team promoted Sullivan from their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, where his coaching focused on individual skills and offensive development. Interestingly, the Marlies’ power play currently ranks 22nd in the AHL with a 16 percent efficiency rate.
Per TSN's Darren Dreger, the power play responsibilities will be "shared" as Sullivan gets up to speed with the big club.
Sullivan’s promotion from the Marlies fills the Savard vacancy. He’s a powerplay guy but, the PP responsibilities will be shared while Sullivan gets up to speed on the Leafs bench.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 26, 2025
A Familiar Face in Toronto
Sullivan is a well-known figure in Toronto, having played 154 games over four seasons with the Maple Leafs. He arrived in 1997 as part of the high-profile trade that sent fan favorite Doug Gilmour to the New Jersey Devils. Sullivan eventually thrived as the NHL transitioned out of the "dead-puck" era, using his speed and skill to navigate a changing league.
Front Office Experience and Controversy
Following his retirement as a player, Sullivan joined the Arizona Coyotes' front office, eventually rising to Director of Player Development. After the abrupt resignation of GM John Chayka, Sullivan served as interim GM until Bill Armstrong was hired.
During his tenure as interim GM, Sullivan oversaw the 2020 NHL Draft, where the club selected Mitchell Miller with the 111th pick. The selection drew immediate and severe criticism after it was revealed Miller had admitted to the racial bullying of Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, a Black and developmentally disabled classmate, four years prior. Following the public outcry, the Coyotes renounced the selection. Sullivan bore the brunt of the fallout from the decision and parted ways with the organization in 2021.
Return to Coaching
Sullivan returned to the bench in 2024, joining John Gruden’s staff with the Marlies. He filled the vacancy left by Rich Clune, who departed for an assistant coaching role with the Anaheim Ducks. Now back in the NHL, Sullivan's primary challenge will be revitalizing a struggling Maple Leafs power play.
Texas RB Quintrevion Wisner entering transfer portal after leading Longhorns in rushing the past 2 seasons
Coventry v Swansea, Egypt v South Africa, and more: EFL, Afcon 2025 – as it happened
⚽ Coventry win as Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Hull are held
⚽ Mo Salah strikes from the spot as Egypt beat South Africa
Championship: Despite failing to properly get his head to a free-kick aimed towards the far post, Jack Robinson somehow manages to take advantage of some slapstick defending to bundle the ball over the line anyway and equalise for Birmingham City against 10-man Derby County. It’s as scruffy a goal as you’ll ever see but the home fans at St Andrew’s won’t care.
Millwall 0-0 Ipswich Town: It’s half-time at the Den, where the deadlock between Millwall and Ipswich remains resolutely unbroken.
Continue reading...Did Kyle Whittingham retire? Michigan target explains move from Utah
After years of coaching flubs, landing Kyle Whittingham would be best-case scenario for Michigan
Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom reaches $86M, 7-year agreement with Athletics
Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and the Athletics have agreed to an $86 million, seven-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.
The deal includes a club option for an eighth season, the person told The Associated Press on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been finalized.
Soderstrom’s agreement, which is subject to a successful physical, contains bonus provisions that could raise its value to $131 million, the person said.
Soderstrom started 145 of the 158 games he played this year — 100 of those starts in left field — his first full major league season after making his debut in 2023 and playing 45 games before 61 last year. He batted .276 with 25 home runs and 93 RBIs with 141 strikeouts and 55 walks this past season.
Drafted 26th overall by the A’s in 2020, the 24-year-old Soderstrom has locked in a long-term contract to stay close to where he grew up in Turlock, California. He was on track to become eligible for arbitration after the 2026 season and for free agency after the 2029 season.
Planning to move to Las Vegas for 2028, the A’s last offseason agreed to a $60 million, five-year contract with designated hitter/outfielder Brent Rooker and a $65.5 million, seven-year deal with outfielder Lawrence Butler. The team is entering the second of three planned seasons at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento.