MALIK MONK

By Mike Barner, RotoWireSpecial to Yahoo SportsWe've already seen the upside that stashing players can bring in fantasy basketball. Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers (71 percent available)When Myles Turner went down with an injury last season, Jackson showed the type of upside he could bring to the table. Over his final 20 games, Jackson averaged 11.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 20 minutes per game. However, with Turner mostly healthy, Jackson has only averaged 16 minutes per game this season. He posted 10 points, 10 rebounds and 7 blocks against the Hawks, then followed that up with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks against the Grizzlies.

LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Houston's Garrison Mathews and Tari Eason and Sacramento's Malik Monk have been fined for an on-court altercation during Friday's game, and Jalen Green and Jae’Sean Tate with the Rockets were suspended one game without pay for leaving the bench area. The NBA announced the discipline on Sunday, when Green and Tate served their suspensions against the Los Angeles Clippers. Mathews was fined $35,000 for initiating the altercation after pursuing a loose ball and taunting Monk. Monk was fined $25,000 for continuing the altercation and taunting Mathews. Eason’s $30,000 fine involved escalating the situation and making inadvertent contact with a referee during the fourth quarter of the Kings’ 139-114 win over the Rockets.

Houston’s Garrison Mathews and Tari Eason and Sacramento’s Malik Monk are facing fines for an on-court altercation during Friday’s game.

Early in the fourth quarter, Malik Monk and Rockets guard Garrison Mathews sprinted to the backcourt after a loose ball. The two came face-to-face in a heated exchange and players from both sides rushed to the altercation near the Rockets’ bench to separate them. Things got chippy between the Rockets and Kings 👀Four players were ejected from the game. “At the end of the day that's the fight that we need as a team, that's the fight that we'll need this season, and that's the fight we'll need for the playoffs." He was fined $25,000 and ejected in a December win over the Toronto Raptors when frustrations boiled over regarding the officials.

Domantas Sabonis had 25 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists as the Sacramento Kings beat the skidding Houston Rockets 135-115.

Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown was fined $25,000 after an explosive ejection in a 124-123 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, the NBA announced Friday. After the win, Monk explained how Brown's ejection motivated the team. "So Mike just had to take one for the team and bring the energy up and we just fed off that." "I think the fact that he fought so hard for his players and then the players responded," Kings assistant coach Jordi Fernandez said after the game. "I think this is for coach, obviously fighting for all of us and then very happy for the players."

Week 7 of the NBA season is in the rearview, and now it's time to reflect, overreact and assess the fantasy basketball landscape. But I've been most impressed by the assists — can we say Point Zion is back? All this to say, it's going to take a significant haul to pry Zion from another fantasy manager — but it's possible. Some fantasy managers could be willing to deal after he's already missed five games to either injury or rest this year. Nick Nurse says that Gary Trent Jr. (and Scottie Barnes) found out they’d be coming off the bench at #Raptors shootaround when going through their matchups.

By Gabe Allen, RotoWireSpecial to Yahoo SportsWe’ve reached December, and the fantasy waiver wire is still alive and well. And as usual, this article focuses primarily on players I haven’t already recommended adding this season, with one exception. Players who have posted a stat line like that in recent memory aren’t found on the waiver wire often. However, across the last six contests, McConnell is averaging 9.7 points, 6.3 dimes, 3.3 boards and 1.8 swipes in 21.7 minutes. Seasoned fantasy basketball managers know how difficult dimes and steals are to find via the free-agent pool, especially in deep leagues, so McConnell is certainly worthy of consideration.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — (AP) — Devin Booker had 44 points, eight rebounds and six steals, and the Phoenix Suns extended their winning streak to five with a 122-117 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night. “It’s kinda hard to stop an All-Star, especially when he’s rolling.”Damion Lee scored 15 points off the bench, hitting three 3-pointers. Monk scored 30 points for the Kings, his fourth game over 20 points this season. “Next game, we’ve got to win,” Sabonis said. … The Kings have scored over 100 points in every game this season.

The Kings made two discrete decisions during the offseason aimed at ending what has become the longest postseason drought the NBA has ever seen . The Kings enter Wednesday's action ranked 27th in the NBA in points allowed per possession outside of garbage time, according to Cleaning the Glass . After annihilating the Nets on national TV, the Kings now rank second in the whole stinkin' NBA in offensive efficiency, according to NBA Advanced Stats , behind only the East-leading Celtics. The glass-half-empty take: The Kings' offense will level out at least a little. Fox won't keep shooting an obscene 84 percent at the cup and 56 percent from floater range.

Stephen Curry scored a season-high 47 points, knocking down seven 3-pointers, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings 116-113 to snap a five-game losing streak.

Malik Monk had a career-best 41 points and Austin Reaves set career highs with 31 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 146-141 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night in what might have been Frank Vogel’s final game as coach. ESPN reported after the game that Vogel, who led the team to the 2020 title in the Orlando bubble, will be let go as early as Monday. “My reaction is I haven’t been told (anything) and I’m going to enjoy tonight’s game,” Vogel said when asked about the report.

LeBron James scored 50 points for the 15th time in his career and helped rally the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half to a 122-109 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Warriors Lakers Basketball Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) drives against Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — LeBron James scored a season-high 56 points and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 124-116 on Saturday night to snap a four-game losing streak. James then threw down a thunderous alley-oop from Monk, who stole the inbound pass after a Los Angeles turnover. Golden State ran over Los Angeles with 42 points in the second quarter to take a 67-62 halftime lead. It was his 24th straight game with at least 25 points to extend the longest streak of James’ illustrious career.

LeBron James scored a season-high 56 points and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 124-116 on Saturday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

The Los Angeles Clippers completed a four-game season sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers with a 132-111 victory.

LeBron James scored 15 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied for a 14-point second half deficit to defeat the Utah Jazz 106-101 Wednesday night.

LeBron James returned from a five-game absence due to injury and had a triple-double of 29 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from a 21-point, second-quarter deficit, beating the New York Knicks 122-115 in overtime Saturday night.

Lakers Clippers Basketball Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr., center, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers guard Malik Monk, left, and guard Avery Bradley defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Mark J. Terrill)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Reggie Jackson scored 25 points, including a driving layup with four seconds remaining, and the Los Angeles Clippers held off the Los Angeles Lakers 111-110 on Thursday night. There were five lead changes in the final 63 seconds, including Jackson's winner. The Clippers led by 17 with four minutes left in the third quarter before the Lakers started to chip away. The Lakers trailed 94-78 in the final minute of the third quarter before rallying with 12 straight points, including six by Westbrook to get back into the game.

Reggie Jackson scored 25 points, including a driving layup with four seconds remaining, and the Los Angeles Clippers held off the Los Angeles Lakers 111-110.

Lakers Hawks Basketball Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) scores during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.) (Hakim Wright Sr.)ATLANTA — (AP) — Trae Young scored 36 points and the Atlanta Hawks earned their seventh straight win by rallying in the fourth quarter to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 129-121 on Sunday. Malik Monk led Los Angeles with 33 points in the Lakers' third consecutive loss, all without LeBron James. Anthony Davis, returning after missing one game with a sore right wrist, had 27 points for Los Angeles. Monk set a season high by scoring 29 points in the Lakers' 134-118 home win over the Hawks on Jan. 7.

Trae Young scored 36 points and the Atlanta Hawks earned their seventh straight win by rallying in the fourth quarter to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 129-121.

Lakers Hornets Basketball Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) (Jacob Kupferman)ATLANTA — (AP) — LeBron James has continued swelling in his left knee and is not with the Los Angeles Lakers for Sunday's game at the Atlanta Hawks. Guard Kendrick Nunn is out with a right knee bone bruise. Guard Russell Westbrook also is expected to play with a sore right knee. Lakers coach Frank Vogel said an MRI on James' knee revealed “general swelling.”“As the long as the swelling is there he’s going to be out,” Vogel said.

LeBron James has continued swelling in his left knee and is not with the Los Angeles Lakers against the Atlanta Hawks.

Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been ruled out Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets.

LeBron James welcomed Anthony Davis back with a lob pass for the game’s first basket, then turned to this own offense to score 33 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 106-96 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Lakers Kings Basketball Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) passes off while defended by Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) and center Alex Len (25) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. LeBron James had 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Lakers. Malik Monk scored 22. They led by six at halftime before the Kings took control in the third quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 40-23. Fox fueled another big run later in the third when Sacramento scored 15 straight and led 92-79.

De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points, Chimezie Metu made a clutch 3-pointer with 46.7 seconds remaining and the Sacramento Kings ended their longest losing streak of the season by beating the Los Angeles Lakers 125-116.

Hawks Lakers Basketball Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. Avery Bradley and Talen Horton-Tucker scored 21 points apiece for the Lakers, who have won five of six overall while remaining perfect on a five-game homestand that ends Sunday. “We’re getting our guys back,” said James, who also had nine assists, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots. “What we love about him is that he can create, and he can be a finisher,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. Collins had missed the Hawks’ previous five games, and Bogdanovic scored 15 points after missing the last four.

The Los Angeles Lakers held off the Atlanta Hawks 134-118 for their first four-game winning streak of the season.

LeBron James scored a season-high 43 points and extended his streak of 30-point games to seven in the Los Angeles Lakers' 139-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

Nic Claxton threw down a tiebreaking alley-oop over LeBron James with 40.7 seconds left, and James Harden and the Brooklyn Nets returned from a week-long COVID-19 hiatus to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 122-115.

Keita Bates-Diop scored a career-high 30 points and the San Antonio Spurs routed the slumping Los Angeles Lakers 138-110 in the final event at Staples Center under the 22-year-old arena’s original name.

Devin Booker continued to distance himself from a hamstring injury that cost him seven games, scoring 24 points with nine rebounds and seven assists as the Phoenix Suns earned a 108-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

DeMar DeRozan scored 38 points after missing two weeks in the NBA’s health and safety protocols to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 115-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Lakers forward Anthony Davis will be out for at least four weeks after spraining a ligament in his left knee.

Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves blew out the depleted Los Angeles Lakers for a second time this season with a 110-92 victory.

Rookie Austin Reaves swished a 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left in overtime to give the Los Angeles Lakers a 107-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

LeBron James scored 30 points and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 117-102 in the latest chapter of the NBA’s most storied rivalry.

Anthony Davis scored 25 points, Russell Westbrook added 23 and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the absence of LeBron James to beat the Sacramento Kings 117-92.

De’Aaron Fox scored 34 points, Buddy Hield had 13 of his 25 points after regulation and the Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 141-137 in triple overtime Friday night.

LeBron James made the tiebreaking 3-pointer in overtime and followed with a back-breaking 3 in his return from the first suspension of his career to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat Indiana 124-116 on Wednesday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 47 points and Khris Middleton tied Milwaukee’s franchise record for career 3-pointers in the Bucks’ 109-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Anthony Davis had 34 points and 15 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-106 on Sunday.

Heat Lakers Basketball Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the hoop against Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. After Los Angeles took control in overtime, the Heat just missed — repeatedly. Malik Monk scored five of his season-high 27 points in overtime, and the Lakers rallied late in regulation before surging in overtime for a 120-117 victory Wednesday night. The Heat forced a five-second violation by the Lakers on the ensuing inbounds play, but Herro missed an off-balance 3-pointer. The Lakers played a video tribute to Morris and his role in their 2020 championship run during the first timeout.

Malik Monk scored five of his season-high 27 points in overtime, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from a big deficit in the final minutes of regulation before surging in overtime for a 120-117 victory over the Miami Heat.

LeBron James will miss the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night because of a sore right ankle.

LeBron James will not play in the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Spurs in San Antonio on Tuesday night due to a sore right ankle.

LeBron James and Russell Westbrook were on one side.

LeBron James has heard the basketball world talking about how the Los Angeles Lakers are too old, and he is laughing.

Hornets Pacers Basketball Indiana Pacers' Domantas Sabonis,right, goes to the basket against Charlotte Hornets' Miles Bridges (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference play-in game Tuesday, May 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Domantas Sabonis had 14 points, 21 rebounds and nine assists, and the short-handed Indiana Pacers routed the Charlotte Hornets 144-117 in the Eastern Conference’s first play-in game Tuesday night. And the Pacers won this one despite losing forward Caris LeVert to the league's health and safety protocol. Pacers: Sabonis had a franchise-record nine triple-doubles in the regular season, four in May. UP NEXTThe Pacers travel to Boston or Washington on Thursday, with the winner claiming the East's final playoff spot.

Domantas Sabonis had 14 points, 21 rebounds and nine assists, and the short-handed Indiana Pacers routed the Charlotte Hornets 144-117 in the Eastern Conference’s first play-in game.

Terry Rozier scored 28 points, LaMelo Ball added 26 points and the Charlotte Hornets inched closer to securing a spot in the play-in tournament with a 122-112 win over the Orlando Magic.

Pistons Hornets Basketball Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, drives against Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, May 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) (Nell Redmond)CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — LaMelo Ball returned from a 21-game absence with 11 points, leading the Charlotte Hornets to a 107-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. A leading candidate for Rookie of the Year, Ball had surgery to repair a broken wrist sustained on March 20. Malik Monk, who returned after a 15-game absence (ankle), joined Ball with 11 points. Pistons: Detroit started three rookies — Bey, Hayes, and Isaiah Stewart.

LaMelo Ball returned from a 21-game absence with 11 points, leading the Charlotte Hornets to a 107-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dunks against the Charlotte Hornets in the second half during an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Salt Lake City. Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz enjoyed another record-breaking performance from long range Monday night in a 132-110 victory against the Hornets. The Jazz set their previous mark for 3s with 26 in the first meeting between the teams on Feb. 5. Gordon Hayward and LaMelo Ball each scored 21 points to lead the Hornets. Jazz: Utah became the fastest team in NBA history to make 500 3-pointers in a season, reaching the milestone in just 31 games.

Meanwhile, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms — whose city was picked to play host to the NBA All-Star Game and skills competitions on March 7 — raised major concerns about the notion of fans coming to the city for the events. Their games are halted because they were the last team to play the Spurs, losing to them on Sunday. AdThe NBA does not reveal which players tested positive, but its announcement of the latest postponements said the Spurs had positive tests among players — and did not mention coaches. “Under normal circumstances, we would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to host the NBA All-Star game, but this is not a typical year," Bottoms said. “I have shared my concerns related to public health and safety with the NBA and Atlanta Hawks.