K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports that Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (ankle) exited Friday's preseason contest against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game with a right ankle injury. Buzelis finished with six points and one block in 12 minutes. If the injury doesn't sideline him for long, the 21-year-old could play a significant role in Chicago's offense this season. He averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks last campaign, making him an intriguing fantasy option heading into 2026-27.

The Memphis Grizzlies announced Friday that forward/center Isaiah Stewart (ankle) suffered a left ankle sprain during the team's preseason opener and is likely to miss Opening Night. Stewart was acquired from Detroit during the offseason after averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks last season while finishing seventh in Sixth Man of the Year voting. With the 25-year-old sidelined, Zach Edey and Quinten Post could see increased minutes in Memphis' frontcourt, potentially boosting their fantasy value early in the regular season.

Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Max Christie grabbed 14 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal across 24 minutes in Friday's 135-117 preseason loss to the Houston Rockets. The 23-year-old will likely be the team's primary ball-handler at times, as Kyrie Irving and Marcus Sasser also serve in the Mavs' backcourt. Christie's playmaking ability and three-point shooting could make him a strong streaming candidate throughout the 2026-27 campaign.

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams collected two points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal across 14 minutes in Friday's 135-117 preseason victory over Dallas. Adams returned to the lineup on Friday after undergoing ankle surgery in January. The 33-year-old veteran big man will likely back up starting center Alperen Sengun once the regular season starts. Heading into his 13th campaign, Adams isn't a fantasy-relevant piece unless Sengun gets injured.