Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (ankle) is off the injury report and expected to play Sunday against New Orleans. He sat out Thursday with left ankle soreness and missed practice due to illness, but he is ready to return. Leonard has been rolling, averaging 28.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.0 three-pointers across 32.1 minutes in his last five games. His return pushes Bennedict Mathurin back into a secondary role and trims Kris Dunn's usage. Leonard remains a must-start in all formats, with his recent workload easing concerns about durability.

Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (thigh) is off the injury report and expected to play Sunday against the Lakers. He sat out Thursday's win over Dallas due to a thigh contusion but is ready to return. Over his last five appearances, the veteran has averaged 15.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 three-pointers. His return likely sends Devin Carter back to the bench after Carter posted 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals in 32 minutes in the last game. Westbrook remains a viable source of points and assists, though his shooting efficiency and fluctuating role can make him a bit unpredictable from night to night.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup with Brooklyn, marking his third straight absence. The team does not anticipate a long-term issue, though he remains day-to-day heading into Tuesday. If James Harden (thumb) is unable to play, Cleveland would have even more offensive workload and minutes to spread around the rotation. Jaylon Tyson started the last game and logged 41 minutes, finishing with 15 points, four rebounds, one assist, two steals, and four three-pointers. Sam Merrill added 20 points in 36 minutes, while Craig Porter Jr. recorded 12 assists in 32 minutes. Tyson profiles as the top short-term add, and Merrill remains a viable scoring streamer.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (oblique) will sit out the next three games after imaging confirmed a strain. The former MVP experienced right-side discomfort following Thursday's win and is targeting a potential return on March 7. With Embiid sidelined, Andre Drummond is expected to step into the starting role. In his last start on Feb. 22, Drummond logged 22 minutes and produced six points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Second-year big man Adem Bona added eight points and five rebounds in 20 minutes that night. Drummond profiles as a short-term rebounding streamer, while Tyrese Maxey should shoulder even heavier offensive usage.

Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Cooper Flagg (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup with Oklahoma City, stretching his absence to seven games because of a midfoot sprain. He is trending toward missing Tuesday as well. With P.J. Washington (ankle) doubtful and Naji Marshall (finger) carrying a questionable tag, Dallas may be forced to lean heavily on Brandon Williams, who owns a 26.3 percent usage rate in a reserve role. Max Christie, Khris Middleton, and Klay Thompson should also see added scoring responsibility.

New Orleans Pelicans forward/center Zion Williamson (ankle) will not return to Saturday's game against Utah after exiting in the second quarter. He finished with four points, two assists, and one rebound in 11 minutes before being shut down. If he misses time, New Orleans could lean more heavily on Karlo Matkovic and Derik Queen. Matkovic delivered eight points, six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks in 25 minutes, profiling mainly as a blocks streamer. Queen added seven points, nine rebounds, and three assists in 19 minutes and offers the more intriguing upside in deeper formats if the role expands.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland (toe) is expected to make his team debut Monday against Golden State after being sidelined since Jan. 14. The All-Star guard, acquired at the trade deadline, is returning from toe issues that kept him out for several weeks. In 26 games prior to the move, he averaged 18.0 points, 6.9 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 30.5 minutes. Garland's return should give the offense a steady playmaker next to Kawhi Leonard and likely trim Kris Dunn's role while reducing Bennedict Mathurin's on-ball opportunities. Garland profiles as a must-start in standard leagues if his minutes are not heavily restricted.

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (ankle) is available to play ahead of Saturday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. It has been a tough month for George, who has only appeared in one contest during February. He has missed six straight games before getting cleared ahead of Saturday's contest. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Jazz have George under a minutes limit. Fantasy managers in season-long formats can go ahead and get George active in their lineups. The third-year guard won't be an ideal DFS choice, given his workload is unknown.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (back) is available to play ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Green is returning after sitting out Wednesday's win over the Memphis Grizzlies due to lower back injury management. The expectation is that Green will have his full workload on Saturday. His return to the lineup should push Al Horford back to the bench. Horford won't be as appealing as a streaming option playing with the second unit. Fantasy managers can get Green active in their lineups ahead of tip-off.

Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton (knee) has been cleared to play ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Melton is back in the mix after sitting out Wednesday's win due to left knee injury management. Given he has only missed one game, Melton should have his normal workload on Saturday. Over the last seven games, Melton is averaging 16.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over 25.3 minutes per game. He's worth a look as a streaming option given his recent play.

Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Deni Avdija (back) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against the Hornets and is tracking toward a third straight absence. His 29.0 usage rate leaves a sizable offensive gap. In Thursday's win over Chicago, Kris Murray started and logged 28 minutes with 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Jerami Grant posted 27 points with three triples in 35 minutes. Murray is a viable short-term streamer for minutes and modest across-the-board production, while Grant carries a higher scoring ceiling if Avdija remains sidelined.

Free agent guard Cole Anthony was released by the Phoenix Suns on Friday after being acquired at the trade deadline and never suiting up for the team. The 25-year-old logged 35 games this season, averaging 6.7 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 15.0 minutes, but struggled to carve out a steady role. Anthony has shown flashes as a scoring spark and secondary playmaker in past stops, which should generate interest from guard-needy teams. For fantasy managers, he is off the radar in standard leagues but is worth monitoring if he lands in a situation with an immediate backcourt opportunity.

Free agent guard Tyus Jones is expected to be released by the Dallas Mavericks before the March 1 deadline, allowing him to pursue a roster spot with a contender. The 29-year-old moved multiple times before landing in Dallas and saw limited action, appearing in eight games with two starts. In that stretch, he averaged 3.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 16.6 minutes. Jones should attract interest from playoff teams seeking steady point guard depth. His departure could open additional runs for Brandon Williams and create flexibility for Dallas to elevate Ryan Nembhard.

Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson had his two-way agreement converted to a three-year standard deal Friday. The 27-year-old is in his third season with Indiana and has steadily grown from a little-used two-way guard into a trusted reserve ball handler. His athleticism and ability to pressure the paint have made him a natural fit in the Pacers' up-tempo system, and he has also knocked down 39.5 percent of his 114 three-point attempts over the past two seasons. That progression ultimately earned him a standard three-year deal. Over his last four games, Jackson is averaging 15.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 26.2 minutes with 1.5 triples, carving out a meaningful role on a 15-45 squad. He is more of a watchlist option for now, but his value would climb quickly in deeper leagues if regular starters are sidelined.

San Antonio Spurs center Mason Plumlee is signing a deal to remain with the team for the remainder of the season. The veteran big man finished a recent 10-day agreement without appearing in a game and now profiles strictly as frontcourt insurance. With Victor Wembanyama logging 32 minutes and Luke Kornet handling backup duties, Plumlee is unlikely to enter the rotation barring injury. He can be ignored in standard formats, while Wembanyama and Kornet retain stable roles.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (hip) is trending toward a return Tuesday in Sacramento or Thursday against Chicago after missing four straight games with a right hip strain. The All-Star has appeared sparingly since late January and is likely to face some form of minutes management once cleared. In 44 games, Booker is averaging 24.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in 33.0 minutes with a 31.5 usage rate. His return would cut into Collin Gillespie and Jamaree Bouyea's workloads while easing pressure off Jalen Green as a primary scorer. Booker remains a firm hold in all formats.

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (ankle) aggravated his sprained left ankle during Wednesday's loss to the Rockets and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Sacramento will likely play the long game with him, so his fantasy return hinges on how the ankle responds over the next couple of weeks in rehab. Murray averages 34.5 minutes with an 18.3 usage rate, leaving a clear void on the wing. Nique Clifford logged 39 minutes with 13 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in his last start and profiles as the top short-term add. Daeqwon Plowden and Malik Monk also gain streaming appeal in deeper formats.

Denver's C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 14 assists and 17 rebounds in a 121-127 loss to Oklahoma City on Friday, Feb. 27.

Miami Heat guard/forward Norman Powell (groin) is considered week-to-week after sustaining a right groin strain Thursday against Philadelphia, likely sidelining him for multiple games. Powell had been operating as a high-usage scorer, so his absence opens meaningful offensive volume. Tyler Herro, who posted 25 points with four triples, four rebounds, and seven assists in 32 minutes last game, is positioned for a larger role and is a strong hold. Pelle Larsson logged 33 minutes with nine points and six assists and remains a viable streamer while Powell is out.

Houston Rockets forward/center Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) will not play in Saturday's game against Miami due to a right ankle sprain. Smith turned his ankle in Thursday's win over Orlando and will miss at least one contest, with his next chance to return coming Monday against Washington. Reed Sheppard is the leading candidate to absorb extra minutes after posting 20 points with five triples, three rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks in 31 minutes off the bench last game. Sheppard has been trending up and is more than a short-term streamer, especially if the added minutes continue.