DFS Alerts
Lineup update: Pacers will start LeVert, Sumner, McDermott, Brissett, and Sabonis Saturday
Sumner returns from his absence and goes right into the starting lineup, as Aaron Holiday moves to the bench. Sumner’s start isn’t as great as it was before now that McDermott is back, but he’ll still be a passable value play; the minutes are there, but upside may be capped.
As reported by: the Indiana Pacers via Twitter
Lineup update: Sixers will start Maxey, Green, Thybulle, Harris, and Embiid Saturday
The 76ers will have Maxey and Thybulle start in place of Ben Simmons and Seth Curry. Maxey usually produces well per minute, so he is a viable punt and should be a good play. Thybulle is a risky play, as even if he plays heavy minutes, he won’t produce well per minute. This lineup should allow Embiid and Harris to dominate from a usage perspective.
As reported by: Derek Bodner via Twitter Other tagged players: Matisse Thybulle Lineup update: Raptors will start Flynn, Trent, Watanabe, Siakam, and Birch Saturday
Yuta will get the start for the Raptors, as Stanley Johnson moves to the bench. With no Lowry or VanVleet, Yuta will be a great punt as he’ll likely be thrust in heavy minutes and can produce well from a per minute rate. Johnson is tougher to prioritize now that he’s coming off the bench.
As reported by: Blake Murphy via Twitter Ben Simmons (back) and Seth Curry (hip) ruled out Saturday; Joel Embiid (knee) will play
Simmons and Curry were both ruled out for the 76ers as they prepare to play the Detroit Pistons. Embiid will play, and he will have a massive role for the team. Per a 178 minute sample per CourtIQ, Embiid averages 1.84 FPM with Curry and Simmons off the floor, up from his 1.60 average. Harris also sees a bump in produciton and will be a good play as well. Maxey and Thybulle will jump into the starting lineup; Thybulle usually isn’t great form a per minute rate, while Maxey could be a viable punt as he’s a cheap salary across the industry and should be in line for big minutes. Embiid is the best play for the team and arguably on the slate, as him starting should lead to massive production for a shorthanded 76ers team.
As reported by: Justin Grasso via Twitter Other tagged players: Seth Curry, Joel Embiid Lineup update: Grizzlies will start Morant, Brooks, Anderson, Jackson Jr., and Valanciunas Saturday
Jackson Jr. will get his first start of the year for the Grizzlies, as they play a big lineup that they trotted out often last season. Desmond Bane will move to the bench, which means the Grizzlies will likely just play bigger overall. Bane loses significant minutes as a result, as he’ll have to compete with De’Anthony Melton and Tyus Jones for bench backcourt minutes. Jackson will lose some usage and rebounding with the first unit, but his minutes certainly should go up.
As reported by: Rob Fischer via Twitter Other tagged players: Desmond Bane Yuta Watanabe (ankle) available to play Saturday; Aron Baynes (foot) ruled out
Yuta was upgraded from questionable with an ankle injury to available and will play against the Memphis Grizzlies. Baynes was ruled out, but he hasn’t played in a month and isn’t relevant. Yuta should have to play a significant role, as the Raptors will be without both Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet. Whether Yuta starts or comes off the bench, he’ll likely have to play minutes in the mid 20’s.
As reported by: Aaron Rose via Twitter Other tagged players: Aron Baynes Jerami Grant (knee) will play Saturday
After missing five games due to a knee injury, Grant is available to make his return against the Philadelphia 76ers. Grant will reclaim his role in the starting lineup and should help present a different Pistons lineup than the one that was filled with replacement players. Mason Plumlee and Killian Hayes will both be back for the Pistons, pushing Isaiah Stewart to the bench and like Cory Joseph as well. With how much playmaking and usage Grant and Plumlee combine for, along with the fact that the remaining Pistons’ salaries have gone up, it’s tough to prioritize anyone outside of Grant and Plumlee.
As reported by: Omari Sanfoka via Twitter Status update: Rui Hachimura (illness) will start and be on a minutes restriction Saturday, per coach Scott Brooks
Rui will make his return and start against the Indiana Pacers. Coach Brooks mentioned he’d be on a minutes limit, but there was no specified number mentioned. Rui only missed two games, so it’s not likely his restriction will cap him to say 15 minutes. It’s more likely that Brooks mentioned this as to be cautious not to get Rui in the upper 30’s, as he has done this season. Either way, Rui’s return puts a dent into Davis Bertans’s minutes the most, and will take away some usage from Bradley Beal.
As reported by: Fred Katz via Twitter Ty Jerome (calf) ruled out Saturday
Jerome was added to the injury report late with a calf injury, and will miss the game against the Golden State Warriors. On it’s own, this is not a huge deal, as his minutes would likely be picked up by Svi Mykhailiuk, Gabriel Deck, Theo Maledon, and Charlie Brown Jr. However, Lu Dort is still questionable, so if he were to sit, the Thunder backcourt would be pretty thin. Maledon and Mykhailiuk would likely handle as many minutes as they could, while Jaylen Hoard and Kenrich Williams might have to re-enter the rotation as well. In a fast-paced matchup against the Warriors, Svi and Maledon could be viable, while Darius Bazley should lead the team in usage if Dort sits. If Dort ends up playing, he could be a good play himself.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) and Jeremy Lamb (knee) ruled out Saturday; Edmond Sumner (knee) available to play
The Pacers will get back one more player today, but will still be without one of their big guns as they prepare to play the Washington Wizards. Brogdon was ruled out with a hamstring injury and will miss his fifth straight game, while Lamb will miss his eleventh straight with a knee injury. Sumner is available to make his return after missing two games with a knee injury. Sumner was starting beforehand in place of Brogdon, but with McDermott back and Aaron Holiday playing well last few games, it’ll be interesting to see who gets moved back to the bench. As we’ve seen the last few games, no Brogdon means Sabonis becomes an elite play, and Caris LeVert and TJ McConnell both will see increased minutes and usage. In a game environment that led to 295 real-life points in regulation last game, the Pacers will be one of the best options to look as their production should be concentrated.
As reported by: Tony East via Twitter Other tagged players: Jeremy Lamb, Edmond Sumner Mike Conley (hamstring) ruled out Saturday
Conley will miss his seventh straight game with a hamstring injury as the Jazz prepare to play the Houston Rockets. With no Donovan Mitchell either, it’ll continue to be Joe Ingles and Georges Niang getting the starts, with Jordan Clarkson and Bojan Bogdanovic showing increased usage and splits, along with Ingles.
As reported by: Eric Walden via Twitter Carmelo Anthony (ankle) ruled out Saturday
Carmelo was ruled out due to a right ankle sprain, and will miss the Blazers game against the San Antonio Spurs. Melo played 18 minutes last night, and has stayed in roughly the 18-22 minute range all year. This should mean a re-entry into the rotation for either Derrick Jones or Nassir Little, or possibly both. Neither player will factor in heavily from a production standpoint. The Blazers production will still be concentrated around their starters, so despite the minutes that opened up, there isn’t that much value to be gleaned from Carmelo’s absence.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl via Twitter Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle), DJ Wilson (protocols), and Avery Bradley (personal) all ruled out Saturday; Kelly Olynyk (ankle) and Jae'Sean Tate (knee) listed questionable
The Rockets will be without half of their team again as they prepare to play the Utah Jazz. KPJ remains out with his ankle sprain, Bradley will miss his second game in a row due to personal reasons, and Wilson will miss his fourth due to the health and safety protocols. Olynyk and Tate are both questionable for the second game in a row; Olynyk played yesterday despite his ankle injury, while Tate was ultimately ruled out with his knee injury. The Rockets will have at most nine available players, and Olynyk and Tate both can’t go, they’ll only have 7, with one of them “active” but not available to play. DJ Augustin and Danuel House were both removed from the injury report, so this is good news for their outlook after they both played yesterday after long absences. It should be more minutes for the same group of characters; KJ Martin will have to play heavy minutes to help out in the frontcourt, along with Anthony Lamb, and Da’Quan Jeffries. Armoni Brooks and Augustin will both chip in at guard, with the newly signed Khyri Thomas filling as well. If Olynyk and Tate both can’t go, it’ll be full systems go for the other Rockets. If Olynyk can play, he may be a good value as someone who plays big minutes and will likely lead the team in fantasy points.
As reported by: Alykhan Bijani via Twitter Other tagged players: DJ Wilson, Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, Jae'Sean Tate Yuta Watanabe (ankle) and Aron Baynes (foot) listed questionable Saturday
Yuta was upgraded from doubtful with an ankle injury to questionable, as the Raptors prepare to play the Memphis Grizzlies. Baynes was listed as questionable with a foot injury, but he hasn’t played in a month and won’t crack the rotation even if he’s active. Yuta is the bigger news, as he played 30 minutes the last time he was active. The Raptors are clearly trying to evaluate their younger players, so if Yuta is active, he could play big minutes with no Lowry or VanVleet for the team. This should be the Pascal Siakam show, with Malachi Flynn and Khem Birch supporting him.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Aron Baynes Joel Embiid (knee), Seth Curry (hip), and Ben Simmons (back) listed questionable Saturday; Furkan Korkmaz (ankle) remains out
The 76ers are close to locking up the one seed, and may end up resting some players today as they prepare to play the woeful Detroit Pistons. Embiid, Curry, and Simmons were all listed as questionable with their various injuries, while Korkmaz will miss his third straight game with an ankle injury. There’s certainly a chance that all three get ruled out, and each player’s absence will lead to various winners. If Embiid sits, Dwight Howard would be an incredibly popular value play, as he’d likely start at center; Mike Scott would be competing for his minutes. If Simmons or Curry sit, Shake Milton or Matisse Thybulle may get the start for either player, and would compete for elevated minutes. Tobias Harris shows great splits without Embiid and without Simmons, so he’d certainly be a great play if either of them sits. Howard, Milton, and possibly Thybulle would all be great values as well. Fortunately, the 76ers are the first game of the night, so we should get the news.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Seth Curry, Ben Simmons, Furkan Korkmaz