Wed Oct 15 4:14pm ET
Field Level Media
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green will miss the team's season opener against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 22 due to a hamstring injury.
Green is slated to be re-evaluated in 10 days, new coach Jordan Ott said Tuesday, meaning he'll likely miss more games than just the opener. After the game against the Kings, the Suns have three road games in a four-night stretch against the Los Angeles Clippers (Oct. 24), Denver Nuggets (Oct. 25) and Utah Jazz (Oct. 27).
Green was acquired from the Rockets in the offseason megadeal in which Kevin Durant was traded from the Suns to Houston.
Green injured the hamstring early in training camp before aggravating it during a trip to China, where the Suns played two preseason games against the Brooklyn Nets. Green didn't play in a single exhibition with his new team.
"We all know the soft tissue injuries are really hard to see exactly the progress," Ott told reporters before Tuesday night's 113-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. "Obviously it's frustrating, but this is all part of it. Thankfully, we caught it early, it's not that serious, but he wants to be out there. New teammates, new system. There's just other ways. We're going to have to speed him up. That's the reality of it. He did a great job in the China trip hanging in there with us."
The opener will mark Green's first missed regular-season contest since February 2023. He played in every game over the past two seasons for Houston.
Green, 23, averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists and made a career-high 234 3-pointers last season. The scoring average was his second-highest behind the 22.1 he put up in the 2022-23 season. Overall, he averaged 20.1 points and made 779 treys for the Rockets.
Green was the second overall pick in 2021 and started all 307 games in which he played for the Rockets.
Orlando Magic point guard Jalen Suggs (knee) was involved in some contact drills during Tuesday's practice, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley told reporters that Suggs was "able to do a little bit of contact" during practice, which included three-on-three action. The team has its final preseason game scheduled for Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans and will begin the regular season on Oct. 22 with a matchup against the Miami Heat. Suggs' availability for game action will depend on how his knee responds to the increased workload.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (undisclosed) has made progress in his recovery, as he is now participating in five-on-five drills during practice, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports. Williams has been sidelined for the entire preseason due to an undisclosed health issue, but this recent update gives fantasy managers hope that he can be ready for the start of the regular season. The Suns' opening night is scheduled for Oct. 22 against the Sacramento Kings. Williams has bags of fantasy potential, but injuries have kept him back. Last season, the 23-year-old averaged 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 26.6 minutes with the Charlotte Hornets.
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Gary Harris (hamstring) will be sidelined for 1-2 weeks due to a hamstring strain, Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports. On Tuesday, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said that Harris will be out for at least a week, raising doubts about his availability for the start of the season. The Bucks begin their 2025-26 regular-season campaign next Wednesday against the Washington Wizards. Harris' absence will limit Rivers' bench options; however, he is not expected to play a significant role with the team this season. The 31-year-old has not been a relevant player in fantasy basketball for several years, averaging just 3.0 points per game in 14.8 minutes with the Orlando Magic last season.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (knee) exited Tuesday's preseason matchup against the Detroit Pistons after the first half, Chris Fedor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. The team ruled out Hunter for the rest of the game with a right knee contusion. Hunter had a great performance against the Pistons, scoring 14 points in as many minutes with 3-for-6 shooting from the field. He finished 2-for-3 from downtown and 6-for-7 at the charity stripe. While Hunter's knee issue appears to be minor, it's worth monitoring his status ahead of next week's season opener against the New York Knicks. This season, Hunter is expected to have a starting role with the Cavaliers. Should he be sidelined, it would create an opportunity for Dean Wade or Jaylon Tyson to step up and make a greater impact.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (hamstring) returned to the lineup for a 13-minute shift against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 118-100 loss on Tuesday night. He was very impactful in limited action, tallying eight points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Duren shot 3-for-6 from the field and made both of his free throws. The talented big man sat out Detroit's first two preseason contests due to hamstring tightness. Seeing Duren back on the court against Cleveland is great news for fantasy managers, especially with the regular season approaching. Isaiah Stewart moved to the bench on Tuesday and will have limited fantasy potential as long as Duren stays healthy.
According to Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott, guard Jalen Green (hamstring) will be reevaluated in 10 days after reaggravating a left hamstring injury during preseason play in China. Unfortunately, that will rule him out for the opener versus the Sacramento Kings on October 22. It also appears there's a good chance he won't suit up for subsequent meetings with the Clippers and Nuggets. The 23-year-old was traded to Phoenix in the offseason in the deal that sent Kevin Durant to the Rockets. In his final year in Houston, he averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and a career-high 35.4% shooting from behind the arc. All things considered, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised to see Green miss at least a few contests. It could also take him some time to ramp up to a full workload. However, unless the 2021 No. 2 overall pick suffers a setback, the latest report won't impact his fantasy value. Grayson Allen is the favorite to enter the starting lineup until Green can return to the court.
According to Will Guillory of The Athletic, New Orleans Pelicans guard/forwardTrey Murphy III(foot) is available to suit up for Tuesday's preseason contest versus the Houston Rockets. The 25-year-old had been out of action due to left foot soreness. Murphy is capable of providing outstanding fantasy value during the upcoming campaign as he averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals in 35.0 minutes per contest across 53 outings last season.
According to Ky Carlin of USA Today, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said center Joel Embiid (knee) could suit up for Friday's preseason finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Embiid participated in a team scrimmage on Sunday without any restrictions and was a partial participant in Tuesday's practice as planned. If he does take the floor on Friday and everything checks out, fantasy managers should expect him to be ready for the start of the regular season.
Tony Jones of The Athleticreports that Philadelphia 76ers guard/forwardPaul George(knee)participated in team activities during practice on Tuesday. George's recovery continues to trend in the right direction after undergoing knee surgery in July. The veteran forward appeared in just 41 games during an injury-plagued first season with the Sixers, averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest. Despite the encouraging update, it remains uncertain whether George will be available for the regular-season opener against the Celtics on October 22.
Chicago Bulls guard/forward Kevin Huerter (groin) practiced on Monday and might be available for action on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports. Groin tightness has kept Huerter off the floor during the preseason, and he isn't expected to feature in Tuesday's game against the Denver Nuggets. But Chicago's preseason finale on Thursday appears to be Huerter's target date, and he is trending toward being ready to play. Huerter had a great run with the Bulls last season, averaging 13.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. However, he will likely be relegated to a reserve role for this season, which will be a big blow to his fantasy prospects.
Chicago Bulls point guard Tre Jones (foot) missed Monday's practice but could still play on Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports. Jones appears to be dealing with only a minor issue and may remain in the lineup on Tuesday for his fourth preseason appearance. The 25-year-old has done well during preseason, averaging 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.7 steals in 22.3 minutes. Jones will come off the bench for the Bulls this season, but he'll be a regular part of the rotation, and a strong preseason will increase his chances of earning a meaningful role on the team.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (Achilles) is expected to make his team debut in Tuesday's preseason contest against the Phoenix Suns, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports. Smart has dealt with an Achilles issue during training camp and also battled an illness last week, but the veteran is now good to go. The Lakers will likely ease him into action and limit Smart's playing time. Smart is projected to start out the season as a member of the second unit, but LeBron James' (sciatica) absence could give him an increased workload.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (ankle) won't be in the lineup on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers, Anthony Slater of The Athletic reports. The veteran star was initially expected to play, but he's dealing with an ankle issue and will receive some extra rest on Tuesday. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr hopes that Butler III can recover in time for Friday's preseason finale against the Los Angeles Clippers. Next week, Butler III will start his first full season in San Francisco, with high expectations on his shoulders as his two-year, $121 million contract extension kicks in. During his 30-game spell with the Warriors last season, Butler III struggled with his shooting, averaging 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in 32.7 minutes.
Miami Heat forward/center Bam Adebayo (knee) sat out most of the second half of Monday's preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. The team announced that Adebayo had sustained a right knee contusion. Before exiting, Adebayo put up 13 points and had nine rebounds with three assists in 19 minutes. After a trip to the locker room, Adebayo cheered on his team from the bench, indicating that the injury doesn't seem serious. It's possible he might have even continued playing if it had been an important game. Still, ideally, a player would want to be fully healthy with a week to go before the regular-season opener. Miami begins the action on Oct. 22 against the Orlando Magic.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (wrist) made his 2025 preseason debut in Monday's 114-101 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The Finnish star notched 10 points in 18 minutes, shooting 4-for-9 from the field. Three of his misses came from downtown as Markkanen failed to make a single three-point attempt. He also tallied four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Markkanen had missed the previous preseason contests due to a wrist problem. Utah closes out its preseason schedule on Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers, giving Markkanen one more opportunity to shake off some rust before the regular season begins. The same applies to Kyle Filipowski (back), who also made his preseason debut against Dallas.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports that Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (rest)is expected to play in Tuesday's preseason game against the Phoenix Suns. Doncic has competed as a full participant throughout Lakers training camp and is all set to make his first preseason debut. Barring any setbacks, fantasy managers should anticipate that the 26-year-old star guard will be ready to go for the Lakers' regular season opener on October 21st against the Warriors.
Portland Trail Blazers forwardToumani Camara(knee)was held out of practice on Monday due to knee soreness, per Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 Portland. Camara is now deemed questionable for Tuesday's preseason matchup with the Golden State Warriors. Despite the setback, the 25-year-old is still expected to be available on October 22nd for the team's regular-season opener against the Timberwolves. Last season, Camara provided strong all-around production, averaging 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals during 32.7 minutes per contest across 78 appearances.
K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports on Monday that Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan doesn't expect guardCoby White(calf)to suit up during the preseason but anticipates him to be ready for Opening Night. White is close to full recovery after dealing with a calf strain. Fantasy managers should expect the 25-year-old to have a solid upcoming season after he averaged 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists after the All-Star break during the 2024-25 campaign.
According to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Hornets guard Tree Mann (hip) is listed as day-to-day due to soreness in his right hip, putting him in jeopardy of missing Wednesday's preseason matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies. Mann agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal in July to remain with the organization after managing to suit up for just 13 games last season due to a back issue. Before going down, Mann averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists across 24.5 minutes per contest. Once the 24-year-old guard is good to go, he will come off the bench and won't see enough action to secure a roster spot across most fantasy formats.
Los Angeles Lakers small forward Dalton Knecht has turned heads in training camp, with head coach JJ Redick calling him the team's best offensive performer so far. Knecht's scoring efficiency matched LeBron James with a 117 offensive rating last season. However, his defensive struggles remain a concern, as evidenced by his 118 defensive rating, one of the worst on the roster. With the Lakers entering their first full season featuring Luka Doncic and chasing another championship run, Knecht's ability to evolve into a more reliable two-way player could determine how large a role he earns in Redick's rotation.
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