• Shut down for season
    The Hornets announced Thursday that Ball (ankle) will miss the remainder of the season.

    Advice: Ball hasn't played since Jan. 26 due to an injury the Hornets initially labeled as right ankle soreness before eventually updating his diagnosis as right ankle tendinopathy. Though head coach Steve Clifford suggested earlier this month that Ball was doing more work on the court, the Hornets weren't willing to put a timeline on his return to the court. Ultimately, Ball didn't demonstrate enough progress in his recovery from the right ankle injury to make it back for the final two-plus weeks of the season and will be shut down for the remainder of the campaign as he turns his focus to further rehab. Ball has now played just 58 games over the past two seasons due to injuries, but he was productive during his time on the court when healthy in 2023-24, as he averaged 23.9 points, 8.0 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 three-pointers and 1.8 steals in 32.3 minutes per game over his 22 appearances. Provided he doesn't require any offseason procedures on his right ankle, Ball should be fully healed ahead of training camp in the fall. Rotowire.com 3 minutes ago
    LaMelo BallCHA - PG,SG
     
  • Pops for 17 in loss
    Hield ended with 17 points (7-11 FG, 3-7 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one block across 26 minutes off the bench during Wednesday's 108-107 loss to the Clippers.

    Advice: It was Hield's best scoring effort since he poured in 22 points against the Heat on Feb. 14, the last game before the All-Star break. The 31-year-old guard has started only one of the Sixers' last 10 games, and Hield has averaged 10.5 points, 2.9 boards, 2.0 threes and 1.9 assists over that stretch while seeing 22.4 minutes a contest. Rotowire.com 10 minutes ago
    Buddy HieldPHI - SG,SF
     
  • Double-double in tough loss
    Oubre ended with 17 points (6-17 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists and one steal across 38 minutes during Wednesday's 108-107 loss to the Clippers.

    Advice: The 28-year-old forward very nearly played hero, but his layup attempt at the buzzer was blocked by Kawhi Leonard -- although the refs acknowledged after the game that Oubre was fouled on the play and should have gone to the line with a chance to win it. The double-double was his fourth of the season, with them of them coming since he rejoined the Sixers' starting five Mar. 8. Over his last 10 games, Oubre has averaged 17.6 points, 6.5 boards, 2.5 assists, 1.3 threes, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks despite shooting 39.8 percent from the floor and 26.5 percent from beyond the arc. Rotowire.com 12 minutes ago
     
  • Drops game-high 26 in loss
    Maxey accumulated 26 points (9-20 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 5-6 FT), seven rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and one steal across 44 minutes during Wednesday's 108-107 loss to the Clippers.

    Advice: The fourth-yard guard led all scorers on the night as he scored at least 24 points for the fourth straight game and the seventh time in the last eight contests. Over that latter stretch, Maxey has averaged 25.3 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 boards, 2.9 threes and 0.9 steals as he continues to carry the offensive load for the Sixers in the absence of Joel Embiid (knee). Rotowire.com 19 minutes ago
    Tyrese MaxeyPHI - PG,SG
     
  • Comes up big late against Sixers
    Leonard registered 17 points (7-19 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-4 FT), nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals over 36 minutes during Wednesday's 108-107 victory over the 76ers.

    Advice: After making only one bucket in the first half, Leonard came to life late in the fourth quarter and completed two three-point plays in the final minute before blocking Kelly Oubre's attempt at a game-winning layup. It was still Leonard's lowest scoring output since Mar. 12, and over the last eight games the 32-year-old forward has averaged 23.4 points, 5.4 boards, 2.6 assists, 1.4 threes, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 53.4 percent from the floor. Rotowire.com 21 minutes ago
    Kawhi LeonardLAC - SG,SF,PF
     
  • Double-double in Wednesday's win
    George accumulated 22 points (7-18 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal across 34 minutes during Wednesday's 108-107 win over Philadelphia.

    Advice: The 33-year-old wing led the Clippers in scoring on the night while producing only his second double-double of the season, with the other coming back on Nov. 30. George has ceded most of his distribution duties to James Harden, and his 3.6 assists a game is his lowest mark since 2017-18, but he's compensated for his reduced usage with better efficiency, with his 47.0 percent shooting from the floor being a career high. He's been even sharper through 14 games in March, and George has averaged 23.9 points, 5.0 boards, 3.6 threes, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks on the month while shooting 52.7 percent on field-goal attempts and 46.4 percent on threes-point attempts. Rotowire.com 25 minutes ago
    Paul GeorgeLAC - SG,SF,PF
     
  • Double-double against former club
    Harden ended Wednesday's 108-107 win over the 76ers with 16 points (6-15 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, 14 assists, one block and two steals over 39 minutes.

    Advice: A few nights after losing to the Sixers in Los Angeles, Harden got some revenge against his former team in Philly. It was the 22nd double-double of the season for the 34-year-old guard, and through 13 games in March, Harden has averaged 15.6 points, 9.9 assists, 4.8 boards, 2.4 threes, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 steals. Rotowire.com 30 minutes ago
    James HardenLAC - PG,SG
     
  • Solid total in loss
    Caldwell-Pope racked up 13 points (5-9 FG, 3-6 3Pt), six rebounds, six assists, one block and two steals over 36 minutes during Wednesday's 104-97 loss to the Suns.

    Advice: Denver's backcourt continues to deal with Jamal Murray's (ankle) absence, and although Caldwell-Pope can be a volatile fantasy prospect, he's delivered solid assist and rebound totals alongside one of his best scoring results over the past two weeks. Short of putting Murray and Reggie Jackson o the floor at the same time, the Nuggets lack playoff experience in the backcourt, so they'll beed to see more production from Caldwell-Pope down the stretch. Rotowire.com Today, 1:59 am
  • Poor result in victory
    Beal registered 10 points (3-11 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal in 37 minutes during Wednesday's 104-97 victory over the Nuggets.

    Advice: Beal has played through a finger injury but his resent results suggest some difficulty with his shot. The veteran has converted only 31.8 percent of his 22 shot attempts over the past two games, and the Suns need much more from Beal if they hope to stay out of the play-in bracket. With only 19 total points over the past two games, Beal will try to turn things around against the Thunder this Friday. Rotowire.com Today, 1:42 am
    Bradley BealPHX - PG,SG