Golden State Warriors DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II might have to come out of the lineup on Thursday against the Lakers due to an illness. The defensive specialist returned to action from a hamstring strain right before the All-Star break and featured in four consecutive games. However, it looks like he might have to sit out some action again on Thursday, with the team officially regarding him as questionable for the contest. Health issues have limited Gary Payton II to only 20 appearances this season. Lester Quinones and Moses Moody will battle for the available minutes if Payton II can't play on Thursday, though neither is a good fantasy option.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was asked if he thought about retirement while he enjoyed the All-Star festivities and he had quite the straightforward answer. He explained that he has thought of it, but those thoughts go away as he prepares for each game. When it gets down to it, he doesn't think he's "anywhere close" to calling it quits, but he also knows that his body may tell him it's time before he thinks he'll be ready. This doesn't come as much of a surprise because he hasn't even hinted at retirement and he's still playing close to the level he was on while winning championships and MVP awards. Even after he's done carrying a whole team, his shooting ability could allow him to play for a very long time.

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry finished only two assists shy of a double-double in Sunday's All-Star Game. The former MVP added 16 points to his eight assists, shooting 6-for-17 from the field. Nearly all of Curry's attempts came from downtown as the stars went berserk with three-point shooting and combined for 168 attempts from deep. The man with the most three-point makes ever in the NBA finished a 4-for-13 record from behind the arc. Curry has been on a scoring tear lately and appears to be gearing up for a big finish to the season. He's just set a new record with four consecutive games with at least seven makes from downtown, and the Warriors desperately need more big numbers from him to remain in contention for a playoff spot.

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.