DFS Alerts
Status update: Nickeil Alexander-Walker will remain on a minutes restriction Monday
NAW will be on a similar minutes restriction from yesterday, as the Pelicans prepare to play the Memphis Grizzlies. NAW played 21 minutes yesterday, but did end up closing for the team and is clearly one of coach Van Gundy’s trusted players. There’s a chance that he gets a few more minutes as he works his way into shape, but he’ll likely stay in that range, as Van Gundy said he wants to keep him in the 20-24 range. He’ll most likely be chipping away from Kira Lewis Jr. the most, along with a few minutes from Naji Marshall and James Johnson.
As reported by: Christian Clark via Twitter
Lineup update: Cavs will start Sexton, Dotson, Okoro, Wade, and Allen Monday
The Cavs elected to start Damyean Dotson at shooting guard, which makes him a phenomenal value. The Cavs will only have nine bodies available, and with Dotson getting the start, his floor for minutes is significantly higher. Wade will remain in the starting lineup, and with the frontcourt even more hobbled, he’ll be thrust into minutes in the mid thirties and will be a great play as well.
As reported by: Chris Fedor via Twitter Other tagged players: Dean Wade Tony Snell (Achilles) ruled out Monday; De’Andre Hunter (knee) available to play, will be on a minutes restriction
Hunter will make his long awaited return for the Hawks as they prepare to play the Washington Wizards. Coach McMillan mentioned he’d be on a minutes restriction, so he won’t be able to play heavy minutes, but will take away a few minutes from his teammates. Snell was ruled out due to an Achilles injury, so a starting spot opens up as Snell had been starting for the last few games. There’s a chance Hunter takes that spot, but it’s more likely to be Kevin Huerter or Solomon Hill that slots in. Hunter will get eased into action, as the Hawks prepare for the playoffs.
As reported by: Mike Conti via Twitter Other tagged players: Tony Snell Lineup update: Wizards will start Westbrook, Neto, Mathews, Hachimura, and Len Monday
Mathews will get the start for the injured Bradley Beal as the Wizards prepare to play the Atlanta Hawks. Mathews does not produce great from a per minute basis, but he will have to play more minutes now that he’s starting. The lineup will certainly allow Westbrook to produce at his amazing rates, while Rui Hachimura shows increased usage without Beal and will need to continue to play big minutes for the team.
As reported by: Fred Katz via Twitter Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) and Jeremy Lamb (knee) ruled out Monday
Brogdon and Lamb were both ruled out ahead of the Pacers game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Brogdon will miss his sixth game in a row with a hamstring injury, while Lamb will miss his twelfth straight game with a knee injury despite being listed as questionable for each game. We’ve seen what the Pacers will do in these circumstances; Edmond Sumner and Caris LeVert will start at the guard spots, while McDermott and Oshae Brissett will start at forward alongside Sabonis. TJ McConnell and Aaron Holiday will chip in off the bench. Sabonis and LeVert will certainly be the top options for the team, as they show major splits with no Brogdon on the court. The prices of the Pacers have gone up lately, but Sabonis and LeVert are certainly capable of paying it off.
As reported by: Scott Agness via Twitter Other tagged players: Jeremy Lamb De'Andre Hunter (knee) and Tony Snell (Achilles) both a game-time decision Monday
Hunter and Snell will both be game-time decisions for the Hawks ahead of their game against the Washington Wizards. Snell has started for the team the last few games, but has seen his role minimize as the Hawks have gotten healthier. Hunter is angling for a return from the knee surgery that’s kept him out since March. If Hunter plays, he’ll be on a minutes restriction, so he shouldn’t be in consideration for DFS, but he will chip away at the minutes of some of the other Hawks, mainly Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Danilo Gallinari. Snell would play the same role; he could take minutes away from players who’d be in consideration otherwise.
As reported by: Mike Conti via Twitter Other tagged players: Tony Snell Carmelo Anthony (ankle) ruled out Monday
Carmelo will miss his second straight game due to an ankle injury, and will miss the game against the Houston Rockets. With no Melo last game, it was Nassir Little who got the first crack at his minutes, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson coming in for him right after. Neither player will be trustworthy, as coach Stotts elects to run his starters heavy minutes, and even if Little or RHJ got more playing time, the production concentrates heavily around Dame, McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic. It’s more likely that Norman Powell and Robert Covington benefit from an extra couple of minutes than anything else, although the risk of a blowout is clearly there against the Rockets.
As reported by: Jay Allen via Twitter Kevin Love (calf), Darius Garland (ankle), Cedi Osman (ankle), and Isaiah Hartenstein (head) all ruled out Monday
The Cavs will be extremely shorthanded once again as they prepare to take on the Indiana Pacers. Love will sit out after starting yesterday for the team, while Osman, Garland, and Hartenstein will all miss the game after missing yesterday as well. Dean Wade should stay in the starting lineup and take Love’s spot, while Damyean Dotson or Brodric Thomas will take Osman’s. Hartenstein’s minutes will get filled likely be a combination of Mfiondu Kabengele and Anderson Varejao again; Kabengele played 23 minutes yesterday while Varejao played 16 minutes as both players chip in for frontcourt depth. Wade will be the most popular value play; he’s played 28 minutes or more in five games in a row, and the Cavs are only losing bodies, so he’s likely in line for at least 32-34 minutes. Thomas or Dotson could be sneaky plays; one of them will likely start, and have to play substantial minutes for a team missing bodies, in a fast paced matchup against the Pacers.
As reported by: Tom Withers via Twitter Other tagged players: Darius Garland, Cedi Osman, Isaiah Hartenstein Steven Adams (toe) listed doubtful Monday; Zion Williamson (finger) and Brandon Ingram (ankle) remain out
The Pelicans will likely have the same roster available for their game against the Memphis Grizzlies as they did yesterday. Adams was listed as doubtful with a toe injury, while Zion and Ingram will miss the game again with their respective injuries. We’ve seen this the last few days for the Pelicans; Willy Hernangomez and Jaxson Hayes will split the center minutes, while Naji Marshall and James Johnson will start at the forward positions. Johnson was one of the most popular value plays, and should continue to be as he’ll have to play big minutes one again. Hernangomez got the start yesterday, but Hayes played more minutes off the bench, so both players will be viable. Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe should both run the offense and be the top producers, as they’ll soak up far more usage with no Zion and Ingram.
As reported by: Jim Eichenhofer via Twitter Other tagged players: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram Talen Horton-Tucker (calf) available to play Sunday
THT is officially available to play off the bench after missing two games with a calf injury. With Matthews starting, THT is a risky play now that he’s off the bench, but he’s still playable due to how shorthanded the Lakers are.
As reported by: Kyle Goon via Twitter Buddy Hield (ankle) available to play Sunday
Hield was officially available to play and will start against the Thunder. He’ll have to play heavy minutes for a shorthanded team, and along with Delon Wright and Marvin Bagley will be a top option for the team.
As reported by: Sean Cunningham via Twitter Lineup update: Wesley Matthews will start for Kyle Kuzma (back) Sunday
Matthews will get the start for the Lakers. With no Kuzma, Matthews will join, but won’t produce well per minute. Caruso should be the top value still for the Lakers, while Matthews may be viable as a value but has a low ceiling.
As reported by: Ryan Ward via Twitter Status update: Buddy Hield (ankle) expected to play Sunday; still a game-time decision
Hield is expected to play, but is a game-time decision against the OKC Thunder. If Hield should play, he’ll likely play heavy minutes as the Kings are still without Fox, Haliburton, and Barnes. If he ends up not being able to play, it’ll likely be heavy minutes for Terrence Davis, with more minutes for Kyle Guy and Justin James.
As reported by: James Ham via Twitter Theo Maledon (foot) and Aleksej Pokusevski (knee) will play Sunday
Maledon and Poku were both upgraded from questionable to available, and will play against the Sacramento Kings. Both players will start, as the Thunder will be without Lu Dort and Ty Jerome once again. Poku should be a good play as his salary has gone down across the industry and will have increased responsibility with no Dort.
As reported by: Joe Mussatto via Twitter Other tagged players: Theo Maledon Alex Caruso (foot) available to play Sunday; Talen Horton-Tucker (calf) a game-time decision
Caruso was upgraded from questionable to available, and will play through his foot injury against the Phoenix Suns. Coach Vogel mentioned that THT would be a game-time decision, as the calf injury that caused him to miss the last two games. With Caruso starting, he’ll be incredibly valuable as he’ll be thrust into heavy minutes and will have to facilitate the offense with no Lebron James, Kyle Kuzma, and Dennis Schroder. Caruso will be a top play, along with Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond.
As reported by: Alex Regla via Twitter Other tagged players: Talen Horton-Tucker