Phoenix Suns point guard Cameron Payne (wrist) and shooting guard/small forward Landry Shamet (ankle) are expected to suit up for the team's second-half opener vs. Oklahoma City next Thursday. Payne has been sidelined since Jan. 22 due to a wrist injury, with his likely return coming at a key point with Chris Paul (hand) banged up. Shamet has missed Phoenix's last nine games with an ankle sprain, although his production off the bench has been largely sporadic. It's unclear at this stage if either player would face a minutes restriction in their first game back, but both could be appealing DFS plays if Paul doesn't suit up against the Thunder.

Phoenix Suns shooting guard Landry Shamet led the starters with 16 points in Thursday's big win over Washington, sinking four of his eight triples and shooting 6-for-10 overall. He also collected a couple of steals. Shamet is filling in for Devin Booker (hamstring) in the starting unit, and he's been decent with 41 percent shooting from deep and a 10.4 points average. Booker has missed seven games and it doesn't look like he'll return before next week, so Shamet will get at least one more game as a starter on Sunday versus Charlotte.

Phoenix Suns shooting guard Landry Shamet replaced Devin Booker (hamstring) in the starting unit on Thursday against Detroit and did a good job with 5-for-11 shooting in a 114-103 win. He hit 4-for-8 from deep and ended up with 14 points, three rebounds, one assist and one turnover in 31 minutes. Booker looks certain to miss Friday's clash with the Warriors as well, which should Shamet another good opportunity to impress. Guys like Cameron Johnson and Cameron Payne are also benefitting from Booker's absence.

Phoenix Suns guard Landry Shamet (foot) is listed as probable for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He tweaked his foot during Wednesday's season opener, but it seems to be a minor injury. Shamet finished that game with 11 points and knocked down three shots from beyond the arc. There isn't much fantasy upside for Shamet on this roster. However, he is an important shooter off the bench for Phoenix. He can remain on the waiver wire in most fantasy formats right now.

NEW YORK (AP) — Defense wins championships is one of the oldest clichés in sports. It’s mostly been true, too. Now, even coaches who preached defense before look around an NBA where the pace is quicker, the shots come from deeper, and can come to only one conclusion. “It seems like offense wins,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. That’s what the Brooklyn Nets are looking to prove with an NBA title. Perhaps no team has ever packed so much offensive punch. Kevin Durant is a four-time NBA scoring champion. James Harden has won three. They’ve both been league MVPs. Kyrie Irving is a perennial All-Star who hit the winning shot to cap the biggest NBA Finals comeback ever. “You look at Kyrie, Durant, Harden. (Spencer) Dinwiddie’s out, he’s a terrific player. He’s an All-Star-caliber talent,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “So, they’re up there with the best of them.” Stopping one is possible. Stopping two is doable. Stopping all three the four times it would require to beat Brooklyn in a series... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers acquired guard Luke Kennard from Detroit, and sent guards Landry Shamet to Brooklyn and Rodney McGruder to Detroit as they attempt to improve the supporting cast around Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. In addition to Kennard, the Clippers received center Justin Patton from the Pistons in the draft-night deal, as well as the draft rights to junior-college player Jay Scrubb and four second-round picks (2023 via Portland, and 2024, 2025 and 2026 via Detroit). "The draft assets allow us the opportunity to continue drafting and developing young talent, or otherwise explore trade opportunities, for years to come,” Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations, said Thursday in confirming the moves. Kennard missed most of last season due to knee tendinitis. Over 28 games, he averaged career highs in points (15.8), assists (4.1) and rebounds (3.5) as a starter for Detroit. “Luke is a young, ascending player who has worked hard to establish... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers says Lou Williams is expected to join the team for the NBA’s restart in Florida.Williams has described himself as “50-50” on whether he would finish out the pandemic-interrupted season because he didn’t want to distract from the ongoing push for social justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death while in police custody. “Obviously, up until we get on the plane, anything can happen,” Rivers said during a video conference with media Wednesday. “But I do expect Lou to be with us. I would be very surprised if he's not.”Williams, last year's Sixth Man of the Year, was averaging 18.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 60 games before the league shut down in March due to the coronavirus. Rivers said he doesn't think any of the Clippers are opting out from resuming the season. The team heads to Orlando, Florida, on July 8.“But listen, it is their choice and we support that,” the coach said. "There are so many reasons for everybody to... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers says Lou Williams is expected to join the team for the NBA’s restart in Florida.Williams has described himself as “50-50” on whether he would finish out the pandemic-interrupted season because he didn’t want to distract from the ongoing push for social justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death while in police custody. “Obviously, up until we get on the plane, anything can happen,” Rivers said during a video conference with media Wednesday. “But I do expect Lou to be with us. I would be very surprised if he's not.”Williams, last year's Sixth Man of the Year, was averaging 18.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 60 games before the league shut down in March due to the coronavirus. Rivers said he doesn't think any of the Clippers are opting out from resuming the season. The team heads to Orlando, Florida, on July 8.“But listen, it is their choice and we support that,” the coach said. "There are so many reasons for everybody to... [More]