DFS Alerts
Keita Bates-Diop ruled out Saturday; Drew Eubanks available to play
With Bates-Diop ruled out, we know that Tre Jones will start at this point but Pop has only named four of his five starters. With Jones starting at PG, it could change the landscape a bit for Derrick Jones who may take on a little more responsibility as a scorer but could see his assist numbers potentially take a small dip. We’ll continue to update on the SAS starters.
Other tagged players: Drew Eubanks, Tre Jones
Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) ruled out Saturday
Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) ruled out Saturday. The Bucks will be a little short on the wing with Middleton and now Divincenzo inactive. Even more should fall on the shoulder of Giannis and Jrue Holiday, but Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen both benefit here and become more confident mid-range targets on the wing.
Luke Kennard (protocols) ruled out Saturday
Luke Kennard is now in health and safety protocols and won’t play Saturday night. Eric Bledsoe is likely to start for him, but Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson, Terance Mann and Serge Ibaka all become a little more interesting. There is some blowout risk here with Brooklyn coming in as 12.5 point favorites, but if LAC can keep this competitive, there is definitely upside here with how shorthanded they are.
Brandon Ingram (Achilles) ruled out Saturday
Brandon Ingram (Achilles) ruled out Saturday. The Pelicans will be even more shorthanded and Josh Hart’s status is also in some doubt, which is not ideal for New Orleans in a tough spot against the Bucks. Devonte Graham and Nickeil Alexander-Walker become much more interesting with Ingram out, and they’d benefit even further if Hart were also to miss this game. Herb Jones is another viable punt/mid-range option with the Pels shorthanded.
As reported by: Andrew Lopez via Twitter Other tagged players: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Lonnie Walker (protocols), Doug McDermott (protocols), and Dejounte Murray (conditioning) ruled out Saturday
Walker and McDermott are the latest Spurs to enter the NBA’s health and safety protocols and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons, while Murray has cleared the league’s protocols but will remain sidelined for at least one more game as he works his way back into game shape. The absences of Walker and McDermott should force the hand of head coach Gregg Popovich to start someone like Bryn Forbes or Joshua Primo alongside Derrick White in the backcourt, though Devin Vassell could end up being the main beneficiary of additional playing time with his ability to play multiple positions off the bench this evening.
As reported by: Tom Osborn via Twitter Other tagged players: Doug McDermott, Dejounte Murray Javonte Green (adductor) listed doubtful Saturday
Green was included in the Bulls’ initial injury report and is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s meeting with the Washington Wizards due to a right adductor strain. In his absence, Derrick Jones Jr. should slot into the starting lineup and absorb the role in the rotation that enabled Green to accrue 28 minutes in Friday afternoon’s win. The trickledown effect throughout the rest of the rotation should allow Troy Brown Jr. and Matt Thomas to see increased playing time off the bench in tonight’s contest as well.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Kemba Walker (knee) ruled out Friday; Evan Fournier (ankle) will start
Walker was never listed on the Knicks’ injury report, but he’s now been downgraded to out and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, while Fournier was cleared to play following his original questionable designation with a sore right ankle. In Walker’s absence, head coach Tom Thibodeau will opt to start rookie Miles McBride in the backcourt as another potential ballhandler outside of RJ Barrett in the first unit. However, despite the starting status, McBride doesn’t have the safest minute floor with both Immanuel Quickley and Alec Burks both capable offensive creators and available to come off the bench behind him this evening.
As reported by: NY_KnicksPR via Twitter Other tagged players: Evan Fournier Jarrett Allen (protocols) will start Friday
Jarrett Allen (protocols) will start Friday
As reported by: Kelsey Russo via Twitter Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) and Kenrich Williams (ankle) will play Friday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) and Kenrich Williams (ankle) will play Friday
As reported by: Joe Mussatto via Twitter Other tagged players: Kenrich Williams Jimmy Butler (ankle) will play Friday
Jimmy Butler (ankle) will play Friday
As reported by: Anthony Chiang via Twitter Jae'Sean Tate (protocols) now listed available Friday
Jae’Sean Tate (protocols) now listed available Friday
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Kyle Lowry (protocols) now listed available Friday
Kyle Lowry (protocols) now listed available Friday
As reported by: Anthony Chiang via Twitter Shake Milton (protocols) available to play Thursday
The Sixers are getting closer and closer to being back at full strength as Danny Green is the only regular rotation player still in the NBA’s health and safety protocols for Thursday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets with Milton now being cleared to return. Given the solid start of the roster, head coach Doc Rivers should have an easy time transitioning Milton back into game action, and his minute workload should consist of all the backup point guard minutes behind Tyrese Maxey, though it’s certainly possible his minutes are extended past that threshold if one of Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, or Georges Niang happen to struggle or get in foul trouble.
As reported by: Keith Pompey via Twitter Warriors-Nuggets postponed Thursday
Game Update: Warriors-Nuggets postponed Thursday
As reported by: Shams Charania via Twitter Other tagged players: Bones Hyland, Zeke Nnaji Spencer Dinwiddie (protocols) and Davis Bertans (illness) ruled out Thursday
Dinwiddie is the latest Wizard to enter the NBA’s health and safety protocols, joining Montrezl Harrell, Aaron Holiday, and Raul Neto as the players that have already been confirmed out for Thursday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Bertans is listed as questionable with a non-COVID related illness. Washington is also waiting for further clarification on the availability of Bradley Beal, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Anthony Gill as each appear to have at least a chance of clearing the league protocols prior to tipoff of tonight’s contest. However, regardless of Beal’s status, the Wizards’ depth at point guard is almost non-existent, which could lead to a substantial role for one or multiple of their 10-day hardship contract players like Brad Wanamaker, Craig Sword, or Jordan Goodwin this evening.
As reported by: Shams Charania via Twitter Other tagged players: Davis Bertans