Houston Rockets point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (thigh) has been deemed unavailable for Wednesday's contest against the Thunder due to a thigh injury. Veteran Eric Gordon will shift into the starting five in Porter's place, placing the primary ballhandling onus on rookie Jalen Green, who will see elevated DFS appeal alongside Gordon. With Wednesday's absence being Porter's first of the season, it will be an inexact science predicting how head coach Stephen Silas will adjust his rotation, but D.J. Augustin should see increased minutes off the bench as well. The next chance that the Rockets will get their third-leading scorer back comes Saturday vs. New York.

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. (thigh) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The young guard was forced to exit early during Monday's game due to a thigh issue. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Rockets hold him out of this contest as a precaution. Jalen Green and D.J. Augustin would be in line for more playing time, assuming Porter is out. Fantasy managers should check back on Wednesday for an update on his status.

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. (hamstring) was limited during Tuesday's practice. He suffered a bruised thigh during Sunday's game and could potentially miss time. It's uncertain if Porter is going to miss Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons. He has been off to a slow start this season, but is worth holding in most formats. There is too much upside to give up on Porter this early in the season. Fantasy managers should check back on Wednesday for more information.

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. (thigh) is in danger of missing some time due to an injury he suffered on Sunday. The organization is calling the injury a left thigh contusion, so hopefully it's not going to cost him much time. The Rockets are off until Wednesday, so possibly he can rest and won't miss any action. Regardless, fantasy managers are already concerned because Porter has been off to an awful start. They should stick with him through his slump because Porter does have solid upside in Houston. Fantasy managers should check back in a day or two and see if this thigh issue is going to cost him any time.

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. had his best offensive game of the season on Thursday, scoring a team-high 20 points on 7-for-17 shooting in a 123-111 loss to Phoenix. He missed all five attempts from three-point range but was perfect with his six free throws. Porter Jr.'s night included six rebounds, three assists and two turnovers in 36 minutes. The 21-year-old is off to a slow start to the season, but the Rockets are putting a lot of trust in their youngsters, and Porter Jr. will get all the time he needs to turn things around. He finishes off the week with a back-to-back set against Denver and Golden State. These two sit among the top-four in defensive efficiency, so it will likely be very tough for Porter Jr. to repeat his Thursday's output.

The Houston Rockets told John Wall to take a seat for the season as they turned the point guard position over to Kevin Porter Jr. to ramp up their rebuild. While it's wise for the franchise's long-term outlook, the young guard needs to take care of the ball far better moving forward. On Sunday against the Celtics, KPJ produced 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting with three rebounds and three assists, but it came with a costly EIGHT turnovers. The third-year guard now has 16 assists to 19 turnovers through three games. Fantasy managers shouldn't sound the alarm yet, but it's a trend to monitor for Week 2 as the Rockets see the Mavericks, Jazz, and Lakers over the next seven days.

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. confirmed that he is going to be the starting point guard heading into the season. It's assumed the second overall pick Jalen Green will play alongside Porter as the starting shooting guard. Porter mentioned that his goal is to average 10 assists this season. He averaged 8.0 dimes per 36 minutes with John Wall off the court in 2020. The Rockets don't plan on playing Wall and are shutting him down until they can find a trade partner. That means, Porter has a legitimate shot at hitting his goal of 10 assists per game. His fantasy value is certainly on the rise after his surprisingly strong season in Houston last season.

CLEVELAND (AP) — As the Cavaliers' slow, stuttering rebuild continues around a “core four” of young players, the team still views Kevin Love as an important piece. One worth keeping around. At least, for now. On Friday, general manager Koby Altman spoke to the media for the first time since the Cavs completed a injury-marred season by going 22-50 and failing to compete for a playoff spot during a year in which Love went from being a major contributor to a distraction. The five-time All-Star played in just 25 games because of a severe calf injury. All that will be remembered from his forgettable season is an on-court lapse against Toronto when he lost his composure and smacked the ball away in frustration only to have the Raptors grab it and score. It's a regrettable moment that has stained an otherwise clean resume. Love's mini-tantrum was also a microcosm of a frustrating season for the Cavs, who used 30 different starting lineups and lost 300 total games to injuries. There was also plenty... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said Tuesday that he isn’t sure who will be attending the June 22 draft lottery when the team finds out where it will pick in July’s draft. But based on the luck he had in his first season as GM, he joked that he’s hoping it’s not him. “It’s definitely not me,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas chimed in. “You see our injuries this year?" After finishing at the bottom of the league’s standings at 17-55 — the third-worst record in team history and worst since the 1982-83 season — Houston has a 14% chance to secure the top pick, same as Detroit and Orlando. If Houston’s pick falls outside of the top four — about a 48% chance — Oklahoma City has the right to swap Miami’s No. 18 pick for it. Stone was noncommittal on his plans for the future, including whether or not Houston may try to package its three first-round picks for an established veteran. He was, however, adamant that the team doesn’t plan to intentionally perform poorly to accumulate... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The night before their season finale, the Cavaliers ditched their masks and got together for a team dinner on a rooftop in Brooklyn — a symbolic high point. The view was awesome, the ambience exquisite. Finally, something a little more familiar. Barely anything else was normal over the previous five months. “Not making any excuses,” said Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff, “it was one of the most difficult seasons that I’ve been a part of — for numerous reasons.” There were the mandated COVID-19 protocols. There were numerous injuries (star forward Kevin Love played just 25 games), drama (Kevin Porter Jr. was traded to Houston after a locker-room tantrum) and head-scratching decisions (center Andre Drummond went from starter to outcast). And, of course, there was losing, so much losing. One of the league's youngest teams, the Cavs dropped 16 of their last 18 games to finish 22-50 — tied for the fourth-worst record in the NBA to guarantee Cleveland another spot in the draft lottery... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. $50,000 for violating the league’s health and safety rules by visiting a strip club in Miami last week with teammate Sterling Brown, who was assaulted outside the establishment. The league bars players from attending indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people or entering bars, lounges and clubs. The Rockets were in Miami to play the Heat when the visit occurred April 19. According to an incident report, Miami-Dade police responding to an anonymous call about a fight in the parking lot of Booby Trap on the River around 7 a.m. found Brown with multiple lacerations. He was with another Black male and the report says both men “became belligerent and refused to cooperate.” Brown was identified by a fire department captain who took him to a hospital. The incident report says that there were no witnesses at the scene and club employees said they did not see what happened. The Rockets released a statement about the incident that said that Brown was the victim of an assault. “He had no prior knowledge of or interaction with the assailants,” the team said. “He suffered facial lacerations but will make a full recovery.” The Rockets host Brown's former team, the Milwaukee Bucks, on Thursday night. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Rockets guard Sterling Brown is back in Houston recovering from injuries sustained when he was assaulted outside a strip club in Miami early Monday morning. “He’s recovering,” coach Stephen Silas said. “He was assaulted and he has bumps and bruises and stuff like that, so stuff like that usually gets a little bit worse ... before it gets better.” The Rockets were in Miami to play the Heat when the incident occurred. Silas said that he spoke to Brown on Tuesday and he reached out to him Wednesday but had not gotten in touch with him. He said Brown is seeing doctors and working with the team’s training staff as he recovers. “The main thing for me is that he knows that we are 100% behind him and have his back and want him to get healthy soon, get back and get back with his teammates and all of those things,” Silas said. According to an incident report from the Miami-Dade Police Department, they received an anonymous call about a fight in the parking lot of Booby Trap on the... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Porter quickly went from being a future star with the Cavaliers to part of their past. Cleveland completed its trade with Houston on Friday, sending Porter to the Rockets for a second-round draft pick, a deal the Cavs had no choice to make after running out of patience with a player they once viewed as a possible franchise cornerstone. The teams agreed to the swap on Thursday night, less than a week after Porter's outburst in Cleveland's locker room convinced the team it had to part with the 20-year-old. “After careful and thoughtful evaluation, we made the very difficult and collective decision to make this trade,” Cavs general manager Koby Altman said. “Given the culture and environment we have worked to cultivate here in Cleveland, we feel this move is in everyone’s best interest. "Kevin has a bright career ahead of him as a professional basketball player and, at his core, is a good person. We wish Kevin and his family well in Houston.” Porter posted a message... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Porter quickly went from being a future star with the Cavaliers to part of their past. Cleveland completed its trade with Houston on Friday, sending Porter to the Rockets for a second-round draft pick, a deal the Cavs had no choice to make after running out of patience with a player they once viewed as a possible franchise cornerstone. The teams agreed to the swap on Thursday night, less than a week after Porter's outburst in Cleveland's locker room convinced the team it had to part with the 20-year-old. “After careful and thoughtful evaluation, we made the very difficult and collective decision to make this trade,” Cavs general manager Koby Altman said. “Given the culture and environment we have worked to cultivate here in Cleveland, we feel this move is in everyone’s best interest. "Kevin has a bright career ahead of him as a professional basketball player and, at his core, is a good person. We wish Kevin and his family well in Houston.” The Cavs positioned themselves... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Porter Jr. is no longer a problem for the Cavaliers. Cleveland has agreed to trade the troubled forward to the Houston Rockets for a future draft pick, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Thursday night. The Cavs will send Porter, the 2019 first-round draft pick who hasn't played this season and recently had an outburst in the team's locker room, to the Rockets for a protected second-round pick. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade has to be approved by the NBA. Porter's days with the Cavs reached a breaking point late last week when he became upset after learning his space in the locker room had been given to newly acquired forward Taurean Prince. Porter had only returned to practice with the Cavs a day earlier after they had spent months trying to help him. The No. 30 overall pick two years ago, Porter has plenty of talent and the Cavs were hoping they could get the 20-year-old to buy in and be part of their future.... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers are finalizing a trade to send troubled forward Kevin Porter Jr. to the Houston Rockets for a future draft pick, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Thursday night. The Cavs are sending Porter, a first-round pick two years ago who hasn't played this season, to the Rockets for a protected second-round pick. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade has to be approved by the NBA. Porter's days with the Cavs came to an end late last week when he had an outburst in the team's locker room after learning his space had been given to newly acquired forward Taurean Prince. Porter had only just returned to the team after being away to attend to personal problems. He was the No. 30 overall pick in the 2019 draft, and while the Cavs were enamored with his talent, the 20-year-old had been mostly a distraction for Cleveland. Porter was arrested in November following a single-car crash, but gun and marijuana charges were later dropped.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers went to extremes to help forward Kevin Porter Jr. He pushed them too far. Cleveland has decided to move on from the troubled and talented player, a person familiar with his standing with the team told The Associated Press on Monday. The Cavs are shopping Porter around to see if they find can a trade partner before they'll consider releasing the 2019 first-round draft pick, said the person on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. Porter has not played this season and only rejoined the team last week after tending to personal issues, which included a legal issue from November. The 20-year-old was in street clothes and on the bench Friday night when the Cavs beat the New York Knicks. But after the game, Porter reportedly became angry when he learned the Cavs had moved his locker for newly acquired forward Taurean Prince, who came over in the four-team trade with the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the week. According to reports, Porter... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers are moving on from troubled and talented forward Kevin Porter Jr., a person familiar with his standing with the team told The Associated Press on Monday. The Cavs will either trade or release Porter, who has not played for them this season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. A first-round draft pick in 2019, Porter rejoined the team only last week after tending to personal issues. He was in street clothes and on the bench Friday night when the Cavs beat the New York Knicks. Porter reportedly became angry when he learned the Cavs had moved his locker for newly acquired forward Taurean Prince, who came over in the four-team trade with the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the week. Following Monday's practice, during which the Cavs welcomed center Jarrett Allen and Prince on the floor for the first time, coach J.B. Bickerstaff said he was disappointed things didn't work out with Porter. “We all want to see Kevin be... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers are moving on from troubled and talented forward Kevin Porter Jr., a person familiar with his standing with the team told The Associated Press on Monday. The Cavs will either trade or release Porter, who has not played for them this season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. A first-round draft pick in 2019, Porter rejoined the team only last week after being away to attend to personal issues. He was in street clothes and on the bench with his teammates Friday night when the Cavs beat the New York Knicks. Porter reportedly became angry when he learned the Cavs had moved his locker for newly acquired forward Taurean Prince, who came over in the four-team trade with the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the week. The Cavs have always been intrigued by Porter's on-court ability, but the 20-year-old has had issues away from the floor. In November, he was involved in a single-car accident and police found a loaded handgun and marijuana in his vehicle. Charges were later dismissed against Porter after he proved he didn't know the gun was in his car. Cleveland drafted Porter with the No. 30 overall pick in 2019 knowing he had issues while at Southern California. As a rookie, he averaged 10 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 50 games. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — LaMelo Ball summed up his NBA debut in one word. “Disappointing,” he said. And forgettable. The hyped Hornets rookie guard didn't score in his first game for Charlotte and Cleveland pulled away in the first half and held on for a 121-114 victory Wednesday night in the Cavaliers' first home regular-season game in nearly 300 days. Collin Sexton scored 27 points, Darius Garland added 22 and the Cavs overcame a scorching shooting performance by Charlotte's Terry Rozier, a Cleveland native who finished with a career-high 10 3-pointers and 42 points. Beyond Ball's rough night — he missed all five shots and didn't play in the fourth quarte — Charlotte also suffered a major injury as center Cody Zeller broke his left hand. “Cody is obviously going to miss some time and we need other guys to step up,” Hornets coach James Boorego said. One of those would be Ball, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft who has revived interest and hope in Charlotte. But Ball's first performance... [More]