DFS Alerts

Zion Williamson (finger) out Friday

Zion Williamson will be out Friday when the Pelicans take on the 76ers and possibly longer with a broken finger on his left hand. Brandon Ingram is already out and Steven Adams is doubtful so the Pelicans are likely to be without three starters tonight. This will likely mean more minutes for Naji Marshall, James Nunnally, Weneyen Gabriel, and possibly even Wes Iwundu. When we look at CourtIQ with Zion, Ingram, and Adams off we don’t have much of a sample size but the biggest winners from an FPM standpoint are Lonzo Ball, James Johnson, James Nunnaly and Jaxson Hayes. Lonzo Ball also sees a 6% usage rate increase so even more of the offense should run through him making him a strong play with James Johnson, Marshall, Jaxson Hayes, and Willy Hernangomez also gaining some consideration as value plays with a lot of the important pieces out for New Orleans tonight

Cam Johnson (wrist) ruled out Friday; Jae Crowder (ankle) questionable

Cam Johnson has been ruled out after previously being listed as questionable and Jae Crowder has been upgraded to questionable after previously being listed as out ahead of Friday’s game against the New York Knicks. If Jae Crowder is able to return he will likely return to the starting lineup and push Torrey Craig back to the bench. With Johnson being ruled out Crowder would take the minutes vacated by him along with a couple from the other bench Suns players. If Crowder were to continue to miss Torrey Craig would likely remain in the starting lineup with Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky seeing larger roles off the bench. The offense should continue to be run through Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton and these should be the only Suns players considered for tonight barring any unexpected news.

Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marc Gasol and Kyle Kuzma are probable Friday; Alex Caruso is questionable; Talen Horton-Tucker, LeBron James, and Dennis Schroder are out

Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marc Gasol and Kyle Kuzma are all listed probable; Alex Caruso is listed as questionable; Talen Horton-Tucker, LeBron James, and Dennis Schroder are listed out ahead of Friday’s game with the Portland Trail Blazers. The injury list for the Lakers looks very similar as to last night’s when they lost to the Clippers. If the same players are available as last night (mainly concerning the Caruso questionable tag who did play last night) we should expect the rotations to be somewhat similar. Caruso, KCP, Kuzma, AD, and Drummond started and all played about 30 minutes aside from Drummond who played 22 before the game turned into a blowout. Wes Matthews and Ben McLemore led the second unit in minutes along with Montrezl Harrell and and Markieff Morris who all saw minutes in the 20’s. Alfonso Mckinnie and Marc Gasol got some run but not enough to play a very important role. Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma, and Andre Drummond are the Lakers’ top options with Lebron and Schroder out and much of the offense should be run through them with Caruso (if active) being the primary facilitator.

Harrison Barnes (adductor) listed doubtful Friday; Chimezie Metu (back) questionable

Harrison Barnes and Chimezie Metu will have the same injury designations as they did Wednesday ahead of their game tonight against the San Antonio Spurs. Barnes is listed as doubtful with an adductor injury that has cost him the last five games, while Metu is listed as questionable with a back injury that has cost him the last three. Maurice Harkless will likely start again in place of Barnes if he is to miss; he played 36 minutes on Wednesday, and could be in line for significant starter minutes again if this game stays close. Delon Wright once again got the start for Tyrese Haliburton, and played 40 minutes and dominated the ball but has seen his price skyrocket to 6.8K on DK limiting his value. If Metu plays, he would likely take a few minutes away from Marvin Bagley and possibly Richaun Holmes as well, but Wright and Buddy Hield should dominate most of the offense for the Kings with Holmes and Bagley also contributing.

Joel Embiid (injury recovery) listed questionable Friday

Joel Embiid is listed questionable ahead of Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. If Embiid were to miss Mike Scott or Dwight Howard would likely draw the start at center and split time with the other. When looking at CourtIQ with Embiid off the floor the big winners are Tobias Harris (4% usage rate increase, .12 FPM increase) and Ben Simmons (3.2% and .04) while Shake Milton, George Hill, Matisse Thybulle, and Tyrese Maxey all see boosts as well. Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons would become much better plays from a production standpoint if Embiid were to miss while Howard and Scott would see a large increase in minutes and could offer some value.

Status Update: Jae'Sean Tate (knee) said he will be a game-time decision Friday

Jae’Sean Tate who missed last game because of health and safety protocols said he will be a game-time decision Friday because of a sore left knee when the Rockets take on the Milwaukee Bucks. Tate joins Christian Wood, Kelly Olynyk, and DJ Augustin as questionable while eight other Rockets’ players are listed as out. Tate could be forced to suit up so the Rockets meet the minimum of eight available players regardless of how his knee is feeling but if he is truly good to go he should see a ton of minutes and be considered a decent play at his price point.

Kristaps Porzingis (knee) and Maxi Kleber (Achilles) listed out Friday

As was expected, Kristaps Porzingis (knee) and Maxi Kleber (Achilles) have been listed out Friday and will miss the Mavericks’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Willie Cauley-Stein (who started last night) or Dwight Powell will likely start at center, while Tim Hardaway Jr. should remain in the starting lineup. With Porzingis and Kleber off the floor no players show major FPM or usage boosts. The offense should flow through Luka Doncic as it usually does, while Hardaway will get more minutes and does show the biggest boosts in CourtIQ. Assuming he starts as was the case last night, he will likely be the biggest winner of the Mavs having no Kristaps or Kleber.

Devonte' Graham (knee) and Cody Martin (ankle) ruled out Friday

Devonte’ Graham (knee) and Cody Martin (ankle) have both been ruled out ahead of Friday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic. This was somewhat expected but it is good to get the news early in the day. With these two joining Miles Bridges who remains out Malik Monk and Caleb Martin should continue to see more minutes than what they would normally. Last night in a blowout loss to the Bulls Monk saw 31 minutes off the bench while Caleb saw 26 with Brad Wannamaker soaking up the rest of the backup guard minutes. With Graham, Cody Martin, and Bridges off the floor according to CourtIQ the biggest benefactors from an FPM increase perspective are Lamelo Ball (.05), Bismack Biyombo (.06), and Caleb Martin (.02). Caleb Martin and Malik Monk become much stronger plays with Graham, Cody Martin, and Bridges out tonight and offer some value both being $4.5K or less on DK.

Lineup update: Lakers will start Caruso, Caldwell-Pope, Kuzma, Davis, and Drummond Thursday

Lu Dort (hip) will play Thursday

Dort was upgraded from questionable with a hip injury to available, and will play against the Golden State Warriors. Dort should be able to rejoin the starting lineup, and play his usual 30-32 minutes. He should lead the team in usage, along with Darius Bazley.

Talen Horton-Tucker (calf) ruled out Thursday

THT was ruled out for the Lakers game against the LA Clippers. The Lakers will be super shorthanded for ballhandlers, as they’ll be without Lebron James and Dennis Schroder. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ben McLemore, and Alex Caruso should all see more minutes as a result.

Wayne Ellington (calf) active Thursday

Ellington was not listed with the inactives Thursday, so he should be considered “active” to play against the Memphis Grizzlies. He was listed as probable, so this does make sense, despite the team not ultimately ruling him. He’ll be coming off the bench, so even if he does play, he’s tough to prioritize with the volatility surrounding his minutes.

Lineup update: Pistons will start Joseph, Frank Jackson, Bey, Doumboya and Stewart Thursday

Cory Joseph was upgraded from probable to available, and will start for the Pistons at point guard. Frank Jackson will play alongside him, and both guards are good values across the industry. Wayne Ellington hasn’t had an official status, but he wasn’t mentioned in the inactives for the team, so he should play, although with him coming off the bench, he’s ultimately a big risk for the team.

Lineup update: Pacers will start Aaron Holiday, LeVert, McDermott, Brissett, and Sabonis Thursday

The Pacers are running with the same lineup they had yesterday; Aaron Holiday will get the start at point guard. He’s still cheap, but his price has gone up on some sites. Sabonis will stay at the center, while Brissett and McDermott are both at the forwards again.

Lineup update: Mavs will start Doncic, Richardson, Hardaway Jr., Finney-Smith, and Cauley-Stein Thursday

The Mavs are rolling with WCS at center, over Dwight Powell. Both players have had their minutes flip flop regardless of who’s been starting, so it’s tough to project, but Cauley-Stein is a viable value piece, while Powell is certainly riskier.