DFS Alerts
RJ Barrett (protocols) listed available Thursday
Barrett joins Obi Toppin as the first two Knicks to clear the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and they will be available to play in Thursday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards, although the Knicks remain shorthanded with Derrick Rose undergoing ankle surgery and still five other players in health and safety protocols. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Barrett, so he’ll slot into his familiar starting position alongside Evan Fournier on the wing. The only other question needing to be addressed about the starting lineup is whether Kemba Walker or Alec Burks heads to the bench to assume Rose’s vacated role as the sixth-man, but either way, both figure to see plenty of playing time in an already thin Tom Thibodeau rotation this evening.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (protocols) ruled out Thursday
Alexander-Walker is the first Pelicans player to enter the NBA’s health and safety protocols, so hopefully his unavailability for Thursday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic isn’t a perquisite to a larger breakout amongst the rest of the team. With Kira Lewis Jr. still out indefinitely with a sprained knee, New Orleans is thin in the backcourt behind Devonte’ Graham, who should theoretically now have a much longer leash in the starting lineup without Alexander-Walker coming off the bench. This means Tomas Satoransky is the next man up to handle the backup point guard responsibilities, but it remains to be seen just how much overlap he might have with Graham on the court. If it ends up being none or extraordinarily little, then there should be ample playing time on the wing to be absorbed by Garrett Temple and Trey Murphy while Alexander-Walker remains sidelined.
As reported by: Pelicans PR via Twitter Richaun Holmes (eye) will start Wednesday
Holmes has finally been cleared to play after missing seven consecutive games due to a right eye injury, but even though acting head coach Doug Christie disclosed to reporters that Holmes won’t have a minute restriction in Wednesday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, he did say that he and the medical staff will monitor Holmes’ workload closely. With Holmes rejoining the starting lineup, Tristan Thompson will head back to the bench to resume his usual reserve role, but the extent of that role will hinge on Christie’s decision to keep Damian Jones in the rotation or not, and any sort of timeshare at the center position would hinder Holmes and Thompson’s daily fantasy upside in tournament formats moving forward.
As reported by: Sean Cunningham via Twitter Cole Anthony (ankle) and Wendell Carter Jr. (leg) ruled out Wednesday
The Magic continues to hold out Anthony and Carter Jr. because of their respective ailments. There’s certainly a debate about whether that is due to their health or just a precaution until the team is closer to full strength and not ravaged by the NBA’s health and safety protocols, but either way, Orlando will be down to just four regular roster players in tonight’s contest. In Anthony and Carter’s absences, Hassani Gravett and Robin Lopez will receive the starting nod at point guard and center, respectively, and Lopez has been phenomenal for daily fantasy purposes in the previous two games, logging at least 33 minutes in each, whereas Gravett has certainly held his own coming off the bench and totaling a minimum of 24 minutes in each contest as well.
As reported by: Orlando Magic PR via Twitter Other tagged players: Wendell Carter Jr. Kevin Huerter (protocols) listed out Wednesday
With Huerter entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the Hawks are now up to six total players in protocols on top of their usual injured players like De’Andre Hunter and Solomon Hill, who are out for the remainder of the season. Despite Atlanta signing several players to hardship contracts, head coach Nate McMillan already disclosed to reporters at shootaround that he has an eight or nine-man rotation in mind and hopes to avoid having to play any of the newcomers to the roster in tonight’s contest. This means that the second unit should consist of Jalen Johnson, Skylar Mays, Sharife Cooper, and whoever doesn’t start between Onyeka Okongwu and Gorgui Dieng this evening.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Reggie Jackson (protocols) and Luke Kennard (hip) ruled out Wednesday
As far as NBA rosters go nowadays, the Clippers haven’t yet been severely affected by the league’s health and safety protocols as Jackson is just the second player to enter the protocols thus far. Even so, the Clippers are slated to be without four key rotation pieces now in Jackson, Kennard, Marcus Morris, and Isaiah Hartenstein which should allow Justise Winslow to receive another spot start, but what head coach Tyronn Lue does with the fifth spot in the lineup is a bit more uncertain. He could turn to Eric Bledsoe to take over the primary playmaking responsibilities or he could start someone like Nicolas Batum and rely on a committee approach in the first unit with Winslow, Terrance Mann, and Paul George all capable ballhandlers.
As reported by: Andrew Greif via Twitter Other tagged players: Luke Kennard Lou Williams (protocols) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (protocols) ruled out Wednesday
With Williams and Luwawu-Cabarrot entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the Hawks are now up to five total players in protocols on top of their usual injured players like De’Andre Hunter and Solomon Hill, who are out for the remainder of the season. Despite Atlanta signing several players to hardship contracts, head coach Nate McMillan already disclosed to reporters at shootaround that he has an eight or nine-man rotation in mind and hopes to avoid having to play any of the newcomers to the roster. This means that the second unit should consist of Cam Reddish, Jalen Johnson, one of Skylar Mays or Sharife Cooper, and whoever doesn’t start between Onyeka Okongwu and Gorgui Dieng this evening.
As reported by: Sarah K. Spencer via Twitter Other tagged players: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot Raptors-Bulls postponed Tuesday
Game Update: Raptors-Bulls postponed Tuesday
As reported by: Shams Charania via Twitter Other tagged players: Troy Brown Jr. Tyler Herro (quad) will play Tuesday
After heading into several consecutive games with a questionable designation and being ruled out, Herro finally will make his return for Tuesday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers following a three-game absence due to a right quad contusion. Even though Herro doesn’t play a frontcourt position, where Miami is currently decimated by injuries and the NBA’s health and safety protocols, his presence will still certainly be a welcome addition to the rotation. Presuming head coach Erik Spoelstra keeps Herro in his usual sixth-man role, KZ Okpala or Max Strus are the leading candidates to join the starting lineup at power forward, but given the personnel at his disposal, it would not be surprising to see some unusual lineup combinations, including four shooters spacing the floor around either Dewayne Dedmon or Omer Yurtseven for stretches of the game.
As reported by: Anthony Chiang via Twitter Kristaps Porzingis (toe) ruled out Tuesday
The hits keep coming for the Mavericks as they’ll be without yet another starter in Porzingis for Tuesday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to right toe soreness. Meanwhile, Tim Hardaway Jr. earlier became the fourth Maverick to enter the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and he’ll be sidelined for a currently undetermined period. Dallas is already without Luka Doncic and Reggie Bullock as well, so Sterling Brown and Frank Ntilikina figure to receive the starting nod alongside Dorian Finney-Smith on the wing. The Mavericks do still have Trey Burke and Theo Pinson available off the bench to help absorb additional wing and guard minutes, but with Porzingis unavailable, they will be dangerously thin in the frontcourt, which could lead to Marquese Chriss making his Mavericks debut and logging significant minutes after signing his hardship contract yesterday afternoon.
As reported by: Mavs PR via Twitter Tim Hardaway Jr. (protocols) ruled out Tuesday
Hardaway Jr. becomes the fourth Maverick to enter the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and he’ll be sidelined for a currently undetermined period. Dallas is already without Luka Doncic and Reggie Bullock, so Sterling Brown figures to receive the starting nod alongside Dorian Finney-Smith on the wing in just his second game back from a prolonged injury absence. The Mavericks still have Trey Burke and Frank Ntilikina available off the bench to help absorb wing and guard minutes, but if Kristaps Porzingis is ruled out, they will be dangerously thin in the frontcourt, which could lead to Marquese Chriss making his Mavericks debut after signing his hardsip contract yesterday afternoon.
As reported by: Shams Charania via Twitter Tyler Herro (quad) now listed probable Tuesday
After heading into several consecutive games with a questionable designation and being ruled out, Herro finally is on track to make his return for Tuesday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers following a three-game absence due to a right quad contusion. Even though Herro doesn’t play a frontcourt position, where Miami is currently decimated by injuries and the NBA’s health and safety protocols, his presence will still certainly be a welcome addition to the rotation. Presuming head coach Erik Spoelstra keeps Herro in his usual sixth-man role, KZ Okpala is the leading candidate to join the starting lineup at power forward, but given the personnel at his disposal, it would not be surprising to see some unusual lineup combinations, including four shooters spacing the floor around either Dewayne Dedmon or Omer Yurtseven for stretches of the game.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Richaun Holmes (eye) ruled out Monday
Holmes will miss yet another game, and his absence should lead to another start at the center position for Tristan Thompson, who suddenly becomes a viable daily fantasy option against the Warriors on tonight’s slates across the industry. Additionally, Damian Jones should be the primary back up Thompson once again and see minutes in the high teens, but he’s nothing more than a large-field tournament flier in hopes he can reproduce the fantasy output from Sunday’s contest in just 19 minutes of action.
As reported by: James Ham via Twitter Ja Morant (knee) available to play Monday; Tyus Jones (finger) ruled out
With the Grizzlies heading into the second leg of a back against the Oklahoma City Thunder, head coach Taylor Jenkins hinted to beat reporters that Morant was on track to make his return to the lineup in Monday’s matchup after an extended absence due to a sprained left knee and a stint in the NBA’s health and safety protocol. It’s not yet known if Morant will be limited by a minute restriction, but even if he is limited, Tyus Jones will be relegated back to his normal backup point guard role once healthy and see a massive decrease in playing time. However, if since Jones has been ruled, De’Anthony Melton should be able to maintain his low-20s minute role off the bench as a combo guard for at least one more game.
As reported by: Grizzlies PR via Twitter Other tagged players: Tyus Jones Gordon Hayward (back) officially out Monday
The Hornets are on the second leg of a back-to-back set and Hayward has been ruled out due to low back pain, as expected following his earlier doubtful designation on the injury report. Since Cody Martin is still in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, Kelly Oubre Jr. appears to be the most logical candidate to join the starting lineup alongside Terry Rozier on the wing, but even if he remains in his usual sixth-man role and someone like Jalen McDaniels or PJ Washington starts, Oubre should still be expected to see 30-plus minutes against the Utah Jazz this evening.
As reported by: Charlotte Hornets PR via Twitter