Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against Dallas and is considered day to day after imaging showed no structural damage. He has now missed two straight contests. In his absence on Thursday, Jaxson Hayes started and delivered 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block in 34 minutes, making him the clear streaming option if Ayton remains sidelined. Jarred Vanderbilt can chip in rebounds and defensive stats, but he is a fringe add. Ayton remains a hold in all formats.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James delivered 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in 35 minutes in Thursday's 124-104 win over Dallas, becoming the oldest player to record a triple-double. With Luka Doncic (hamstring) sidelined and Austin Reaves still ramping up, James has steadied the offense and kept the Lakers' role players slotted cleanly. Doncic's eventual return could trim James' usage slightly, but the 41-year-old remains a must-start given his current playmaking spike. Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, and Luke Kennard are the most likely to lose touches.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (elbow) is ramping up, but the team still is not sure he will be ready to play coming out of the All-Star break, general manager Zach Kleiman said Friday. Morant has been sidelined since Jan. 21 with a UCL sprain and is due for a recheck soon. In the meantime, Ty Jerome is the best streamer after logging 19 points and seven assists in 21 minutes Tuesday. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cam Spencer round out the minutes, with steals and assists as their main appeal.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) is expected to return Feb. 20 against the Clippers. Coach JJ Redick indicated Thursday that Doncic is trending in the right direction, with the team taking a cautious approach given the soft-tissue nature of the injury. Doncic has missed the last four games. His return would reclaim a 37.7 percent usage role, trimming minutes for Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart, and Luke Kennard. LeBron James and Austin Reaves could see slight usage dips, though both remain strong fantasy plays once Doncic is active.