Williams finished Sunday's 115-105 loss to the Cavaliers with 11 points (4-7 FG, 3-3 FT), nine rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 28 minutes.
Williams is starting to get his legs under him and his workload is trending up with three straight games in which he's eclipsed 28 minutes. He's been very productive as well, averaging 16.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.7 blocks in that span. It required some patience, but Williams' fantasy managers are starting to see some nice dividends.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Perfect from field in loss
Rotowire
Williams closed with 20 points (9-9 FG, 2-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, three blocks and two steals in 31 minutes during Monday's 115-108 overtime loss to the Bulls.
Williams couldn't miss despite the loss, scoring a season-high 20 points while remaining perfect from both the field and the charity stripe. Williams also saw upwards of 30 minutes for the first time this season, a sign that he is nearing full health after an extended injury layoff. Over the past two weeks, Williams is averaging 15.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 combined steals and blocks in just 23.6 minutes per game.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: First double-double of season
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Williams (thumb) closed Saturday's 106-94 loss to the Thunder with 12 points (4-9 FG, 4-5 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and one block over 22 minutes.
Williams was questionable to play Saturday with a thumb injury, but he was able to suit up for the Hornets and came away with his first double-double of the season in the rout. Through his last six appearances, Williams is averaging 13.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 blocks in 20.2 minutes while shooting 61.5 percent from the field. The 23-year-old big man is still having his workload monitored after missing the first 20 games of the campaign with a foot injury, but he should see his minutes incrementally rise as he becomes further removed from the issue. As long as he's healthy, Williams should be a big help to fantasy managers in the blocks, boards and field-goal percentage categories.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Good to go
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Williams (thumb) is available for Saturday's game against Oklahoma City, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Williams was tabbed questionable due to a sore left thumb but will play through the injury. With LaMelo Ball (ankle/wrist), Brandon Miller (ankle) and Cody Martin (knee) sidelined, Williams could see an uptick in usage. Williams played a season-high 26 minutes in Charlotte's most recent game and totaled 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Iffy for Saturday vs. OKC
Rotowire
Williams (thumb) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Thunder.
Williams is in jeopardy of missing his second contest over the club's last four outings while he deals with left thumb soreness. If the big man is sidelined, Nick Richards will likely get the starting nod, with Moussa Diabate receiving an increased role off the bench.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Comes close to double-double
Rotowire
Williams produced 12 points (4-8 FG, 4-5 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and one steal in 19 minutes during Monday's 114-101 loss to the Rockets.
Williams returned to the lineup after a one-game absence, and as he often does, he flirted with a double-double. The big man has scored in double digits in three of his previous four starts, averaging 12.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks across 18.0 minutes per game. As long as he's healthy, his per-minute production warrants fantasy consideration.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Good to go against Rockets
Rotowire
Williams (foot) is off the injury report ahead of Monday's game against Houston.
Williams did not play Friday against the 76ers due to left foot injury management, but it appears he will be available for Monday's game. Over his last three games, Williams has averaged 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 blocks over 17.7 minutes per contest.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Won't play Friday
Rotowire
Williams (foot) has been ruled out of Friday's game against the 76ers.
Williams will be held out Friday due to left foot injury management. With the big man sidelined, Nick Richards and Moussa Diabate are candidates to receive an uptick in playing time. Williams' next chance to feature will come Monday against the Rockets.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Quality outing in loss
Rotowire
Williams amassed 16 points (7-12 FG, 2-3 FT), eight rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 19 minutes during Thursday's 123-114 loss to Washington.
Williams made his third straight start Thursday and appears to be finding his rhythm. Even in fewer than 20 minutes of action, the 22-year-old center was just two boards shy of a double-double. While Williams will likely continue to split minutes with Nick Richards, fantasy owners can expect Williams to maintain his 64.1 field-goal percentage.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Productive in start
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Williams had 15 points (6-7 FG, 3-4 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and one block across 17 minutes during Friday's 109-95 loss to the Bulls.
Williams got his first start of the season, falling one rebound short of a double-double. Williams continues to work his way back from injury, playing a season-high 17 minutes, while also seeing action in the second half for the first time. Given he has already moved ahead of Nick Richards in the rotation, it seems like just a matter of time before Williams is playing closer to starter minutes.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Starting vs. Chicago
Rotowire
Williams is in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Bulls.
Williams returns after a one-game absence due to injury management and will be slotted right into the starting five. The big man is averaging 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds across 10.3 minutes per game in his first three outings this season, but he should see an uptick in playing time now that he'll run with the starters.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Not listed on injury report
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Williams (foot) is not on the injury report for Friday's game against the Bulls.
Williams didn't play last Sunday against the Pacers due to left foot injury management, but the big man benefited from four days of rest. It's unclear if he'll start or not, but his availability is a positive sign. The big man is averaging 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds across 10.3 minutes per game in his first three outings this season.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Charlotte happy with ramp-up
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Williams (foot) remains questionable for Friday's game against Chicago, but coach Charles Lee noted that Williams has done a "great job" acclimating to his workload across three contests since returning from an extended absence, Sam Perley of the Hornets' official site reports.
Williams' body responding well to his first games in nearly a year is an excellent sign. Lee also mentions that "the team will look to add a little more" to Williams' plate moving forward. Charlotte having four days off while the bracket of the Emirates NBA Cup plays out is beneficial timing for the 22-year-old.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Won't play Sunday
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Williams has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Pacers due to left foot injury management.
Williams will take a seat for the second half of a back-to-back set after posting 12 points, five rebounds and two assists in 11 minutes during Saturday's loss to the Cavaliers. In his absence, Taj Gibson is a candidate for more playing time, especially if Nick Richards (ankle) joins Moussa Diabate (illness) and Williams on the sideline.
Williams (foot) recorded four points (1-4 FG, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and one block in nine minutes Tuesday in the Hornets' 110-104 loss to the 76ers.
The third-year center made his first NBA appearance since Dec. 8, 2023, after a back contusion cost him the final 62 games of last season and a left foot tendon strain kept him sidelined for the first 20 games of the current campaign. As was to be expected following a year-long absence, Williams had significant restrictions in place in his return, as he was eased back in as a bench player and was part of a three-man center rotation with Nick Richards (29 minutes) and Moussa Diabate (10 minutes). Williams should eventually assume Diabate's minutes, but it's unclear if when or if he'll supplant Richards as the Hornets' starting center. On the rare occasions he's been healthy during his career, Williams has displayed an intriguing fantasy profile due to his efficient scoring and strong contributions in the rebounds, blocks and steals categories. He's worthy of a speculative pickup in most fantasy leagues where he's available, but he'll likely need to take hold of a consistent 20-plus-minute role before he becomes a usable option in 12-team leagues or shallower.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Making return Tuesday
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Williams (foot) is available for Tuesday's game against the 76ers, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Williams will make his season debut, playing in his first matchup since December 2023. However, the big man is expected to operate under a heavy minutes restriction and will come off the bench Tuesday, according to Boone. The No. 15 pick of the 2022 Draft will likely split playing time with Nick Richards, though Williams should continue to pick up more minutes as the Hornets slowly work him back from the foot injury.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: May debut Tuesday
Rotowire
Williams (foot) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the 76ers.
Williams is listed as something other than out for the first time this season and appears on track to make his debut Tuesday, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com. Given the big man's injury history, he'll likely face heavy restrictions if given the green light. Two-way player Moussa Diabate has started at center in both of the Hornets' last two games, but with Nick Richards returning to action Saturday after a 14-game absence and with Williams on the cusp of playing, Diabate will likely fall out of the rotation soon.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Ruled out again
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Williams (foot) will remain out for Saturday's game against the Hawks.
The Hornets recalled Williams from the G League's Greensboro Swarm after he got in some practice time earlier this week, but the big man looks like he'll still need more time to recover from a left foot tendon strain before making his season debut. After Saturday's contest, the Hornets will have off the next two days before returning to action Tuesday versus the 76ers.
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Hornets' Mark Williams: Will remain out Friday
Rotowire
Williams (foot) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Knicks.
Williams and Nick Richards (ribs) both remain out, but they appear to be nearing a return to game action after recently going through a workout with the Hornets' G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. Williams' next chance to suit up will come Saturday versus the Hawks, but he can be considered doubtful for that contest. With all the injuries to Charlotte's frontcourt, Taj Gibson and Tidjane Salaun have taken on leading roles.
