DFS Alerts
Harrison Barnes (adductor) listed doubtful Sunday; Buddy Hield (ankle) listed questionable
Barnes was listed as doubtful with an adductor injury as the Kings prepare to play the OKC Thunder. Barnes has missed six games due to the injury, and appears likely to miss his seventh. Hield popped up on the injury report with an ankle injury, a worrisome sign as he’s averaged 40 minutes over the last four games as the Kings roster has lost pieces. Still with no De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, the Kings will be almost out of options in the backcourt if Hield sits. Delon Wright should continue to start at point guard, while Terrence Davis and Kyle Guy would both have to get more minutes, with Davis likely starting in place of Hield. Davis played 32 minutes game while Hield was active, so he’d likely approach mid-upper 30’s if Hield did end up sitting. With no Barnes, it’ll continue to be Marvin Bagley and Maurice Harkless starting, with Chimezie Metu and Justin James helping to fill out depth.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Buddy Hield
Cory Joseph (ankle), Mason Plumlee (rest), Hamidou Diallo (protocols), Josh Jackson (tooth), and Wayne Ellington (calf) ruled out Sunday; Jerami Grant (knee) listed questionable
The Pistons will have another day with half their roster, as they prepare to play the Chicago Bulls. The Pistons will have at most 10 healthy bodies, as Joseph, Plumlee, Diallo, Josh Jackson, and Ellington will all miss today’s game. Grant is listed as questionable with a knee injury, and if he ended up sitting would leave the Pistons with only nine bodies. We’ve seen this before where the Pistons have half their roster, and know who the usual winners are. Killian Hayes will likely start at point guard, while Isaiah Stewart will start at center for Plumlee. Frank Jackson should start at shooting guard, while Saddiq Bey and Grant (if he plays) round out the starting lineup. The wings are where the Pistons are most shorthanded, so if Grant sits, it should be as many minutes as Bey, Frank Jackson, and Deividas Siryvidis (who played 24 yesterday, a season high) could handle. Coach Casey talked up Siryvidis pre-game, so there’s a chance his role grows, with or without Grant.
Other tagged players: Cory Joseph, Hamidou Diallo, Wayne Ellington, Josh Jackson, Jerami Grant Juancho Hernangomez (quad) listed questionable Sunday
Hernangomez was listed as questionable with a quad contusion, as the Wolves prepare to play the Orlando Magic. Hernangomez has been play around 23 minutes off the bench lately, and with no Jaden McDaniels, the frontcourt would be depleted if he sat. Jarred Vanderbilt got the start last game and played 35 minutes, and may have to do so again if Hernangomez sits. Naz Reid and Josh Okogie would also get more minutes should Hernangomez sit.
As reported by: the Minnesota Timberwolves via Twitter Robert Williams (toe) available to play Sunday
As expected, Williams was upgraded from probable with turf toe to available, and will play against the Miami Heat. Coach Stevens mentioned pre-game that Williams will have to manage the injury game by game, as turf toe can linger for a while. He will likely start for the team, but there’s a chance he comes off the bench in favor of Tristan Thompson. In a huge matchup with playoff implications on the line against the Heat, Williams will try to gut it out for his team.
As reported by: Keith Smith via Twitter Kevin Love (knee) upgraded to probable Sunday; Cedi Osman (ankle) and Isaiah Hartenstein (head) listed questionable
The Cavs posted their game notes early Sunday, with a few changes to their injury report as they prepare to play the Dallas Mavericks. Love was upgraded from questionable with a knee injury to probable, while Osman and Hartenstein were new adds to the injury report due to their respective ankle and head injuries. Love missed the last game due to the injury, which led to a start for Dean Wade. There’s a chance Wade now could start for Osman, with Damyean Dotson and Brodric Thomas as other options to fill in. Darius Garland remains out, so the team will be stretched thin if Osman can’t play. Hartenstein has been playing the backup center minutes behind Jarrett Allen, so if he ends up sitting, Allen could get a few more minutes, along with Wade and Love at the 5 as well. Osman’s injury is certainly the biggest of the group, and bears watching ahead of tonight’s slate.
As reported by: Cleveland Cavaliers Game Notes Other tagged players: Cedi Osman, Isaiah Hartenstein Wendell Carter Jr. (eye) ruled out Sunday
Carter Jr. will miss his third straight game with an eye injury as the Magic prepare for their tankfest against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Carter Jr. has said that he’s having trouble seeing, and it’s not a good sign for the rest of the year that he was ruled out so early. It should be more of the same for the Magic; Mo Bamba should get the start and will have massive upside as he usually does; he’s averaged 32 minutes in his last two starts, and should produce at a high rate per minute once again. Donta Hall was re-signed to the team, and should help play some backup center minutes as well. Moe Wagner will likely start at PF and will help chip in at center as well, as they’ll need size to matchup with KAT. Bamba’s salary across the industry has gone up, but he should have the upside to pay it off.
As reported by: the Orlando Magic via Twitter Andre Iguodala (quad) available to play Sunday
Iguodala was upgraded from questionable with a quad injury to available, and will play against the Boston Celtics. Iguodala should play his usual role as bench wing; he’ll play around 18-22 minutes, and likely won’t produce well from a fantasy perspective. The Heat are fully healthy except for Victor Oladipo, as they prepare to make their playoff push.
As reported by: Ira Winderman via Twitter Jaylen Brown (ankle) ruled out Sunday
Brown was downgraded from questionable with an ankle injury to out, and will miss his third straight game against the Miami Heat. Evan Fournier likely starts in his place as he has the last two games, with room for more minutes for Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith. We have a big sample of data with Brown off the floor, and Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum are the biggest winners. Tatum averages 1.37 FPM, up from his 1.26 average, while Kemba is at 1.23 FPM, up from his 1.09 average per CourtIQ. Both players will be the top options for the Celtics, while Fournier may play more minutes to make him a value.
As reported by: the Boston Celtics via Twitter Lineup update: Nuggets will start Campazzo, Rivers, Porter Jr., Green, and Jokic Saturday
Rivers will join the starting lineup in place of the injured Gordon. He’s already been playing big minutes, and may have to play mid thirties as the Nuggets run out of bodies. Also, Green enters the lineup in place of Millsap. Green will likely play more minutes than MIllsap, although both will be needed for heavy minutes for the shorthanded Nuggets.
As reported by: Katy Winge via Twitter Other tagged players: JaMychal Green Lu Dort (hip) will play Saturday
Dort was upgraded from questionable with a hip injury to available, and will play against the Golden State Warriors. He should have his usual role of 32 minutes, will likely lead the team in usage, and will try to help to cool off the flaming hot Steph Curry.
As reported by: Steve McGehee via Twitter Lineup update: Rockets will start Augustin, Jeffries, Lamb, Tate, and Martin Jr. Saturday
Lamb gets the start for the Rockets, as he fills in for Olynyk, while Tate and Martin Jr. move up a position. Jeffries gets the start again, but all the starters are going to have to play heavy minutes with only eight Rockets available to play.
As reported by: Mark Berman via Twitter Lineup update: Nets will start Irving, Brown, Harris, Durant, and Griffin Saturday
Brown gets the start for the Nets, as Landry Shamet moves to the bench. Brown isn’t a lock to close, as Jeff Green usually does for the team, but he certainly has a higher floor and ceiling with the start. Shamet is tough to play now that he’s coming off the bench.
As reported by: Alex Schiffer via Twitter Aaron Gordon (calf) ruled out Saturday
Gordon was ruled out due to a calf injury and will miss the game against the Brooklyn Nets. Gordon will get replaced in the starting lineup by Austin Rivers, who should be a viable value play. Gordon’s been playing around 25-29 minutes a game, and the Nuggets are already running out of bodies, so Rivers, JaMychal Green, and Paul Millsap will likely play as much as they can.
As reported by: the Denver Nuggets via Twitter Kelly Olynyk (ankle) ruled out Saturday; Jae'Sean Tate (knee) will play
The Rockets keep finding different ways to be shorthanded, and will have a new one as they prepare to play the Utah Jazz. Olynyk was ruled out with an ankle injury; he’s been the Rockets ironman as of late, as he hasn’t missed a game since joining the team. The Rockets will get Tate back after missing the last two games due to a knee injury. This leaves the Rockets with eight players, and once again there’s limited CourtIQ data with all the injured bodies. There’s no true center at all to match up with Gobert; Jae’Sean Tate, Anthony Lamb, and KJ Martin will all likely play “center” for the team. DJ Augustin, Armoni Brooks, and Khyri Thomas will help handle the ball, and Danuel House and Daquan Jeffries will help round out the rotation. Martin, Lamb, and Brooks all played the most minutes yesterday, and likely will again today. Khyri may get more minutes for the team as well. It’s a tough matchup against the Jazz, but the minutes for the starters will make them all playable, as Olynyk has led the team in production lately, and will leave a massive hole for the team.
As reported by: Cayleigh Griffin via Twitter Other tagged players: Jae'Sean Tate Lineup update: Pistons will start Joseph, Ellington, Bey, Grant, and Plumlee Saturday
Joseph and Ellington will both start for the Pistons, as they were both questionable but will be viable. Killian Hayes and Frank Jackson move back to the bench and are out of consideration now that Grant and Plumlee are back. Joseph and Ellington are tough to prioritize despite their start, as Grant and Plumlee will soak up much more production than the Pistons are used to.
As reported by: Omari Sanfoka via Twitter Other tagged players: Wayne Ellington