Golden State Warriors

Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton (back) will remain out on Wednesday against Miami. Melton was back in practice on Tuesday, but the team won't be able to count on his services for a 17th consecutive game. Philadelphia will be off until Feb. 22 following Wednesday's game, so there's a strong chance this is the final contest Melton misses. His return to practice certainly suggests that the versatile guard isn't far from being game-ready again. The likes of Buddy Hield and Kelly Oubre Jr. will be in for busy nights again on Wednesday without Melton.

Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton (back) is still sidelined for Monday's contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Make it 16 consecutive absences for Melton due to a lumbar spine stress response on his back, but head coach Nick Nurse said before Friday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks that there's a "decent chance" Melton returns before the All-Star break. Melton has one more opportunity to suit up this week, coming on Wednesday versus the visiting Miami Heat. Kelly Oubre Jr. is getting plenty of run in Philly's starting lineup in the meantime, averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 boards, 1.1 triples, and 0.9 blocks during 34.9 minutes across his last nine games. Cleveland ranks first in the Eastern Conference in defensive efficiency (107.5) this season, so Oubre's fantasy expectations should be tempered on Monday.

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (hamstring) isn't on the injury report ahead of Saturday's battle with Phoenix. He's set to return to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 2. Health issues have left a major dent on Payton II's season, as the defensive specialist has featured in just 16 games. He will be a decent source for steals to fantasy managers, but Payton II likely won't play enough to make a difference in other areas. He's averaged 1.1 steals for the season in 16.3 minutes.

According to Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, guard Buddy Hield will start on Friday night against the Atlanta Hawks. The 31-year-old was traded ahead of the deadline on Thursday after spending time in Indiana over the last few seasons. He's been a sporadic fantasy producer this season, currently averaging 12.0 points, the second-lowest mark of his career. However, Hield should get routine playing time in Philly, and his start on Friday night is already a good sign regarding his fantasy potential. With Tyrese Maxey (illness) out of the lineup, Hield is a must-start in all fantasy leagues. He's also worth considering for DFS lineups.

Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton (back) won't be available for Friday's tilt versus the Atlanta Hawks. Melton just can't seem to get over the lumbar spine stress response in his back, which has plagued him since early January. The Sixers have a short turnaround in the form of a matchup with the Washington Wizards on Saturday, but Melton will hope to be ready by then. Tyrese Maxey (illness) is up in the air for Friday, and Philly traded away both Patrick Beverley and Jaden Springer on Thursday. It could be down to Tobias Harris to run the Sixers offense in a cushy situation against the Hawks, who rank 29th in the league in opponent field-goal percentage (50.4%). Harris has been a second-round fantasy player in nine-category leagues since Jan. 10, accumulating 20.8 points, 3.9 assists, 1.1 treys, and 1.0 steals while shooting 95.8% from the free-throw line through his past 12 games.