DFS Alerts

Lineup update: Celtics will start Smart, Fournier, Brown, Ojeleye, and Thompson on Tuesday

In place of Tatum, Ojeleye will get the start as expected, but Fournier will enter the starting lineup in place of Kemba, which was a mild surprise. Fournier has been on a minutes restriction lately, but with him getting the start, his minutes have a chance to bump up and he could get in the high 20’s/low 30’s in a phenomenal matchup against the Thunder.

Jeremy Lamb (knee) ruled out Tuesday

Lamb will miss his fifth straight game with a knee injury as the Pacers prepare to play the Portland Trail Blazers. Lamb was unable to take the court in warmups, so he remains a bit further away from a return. It should continue to be more minutes for TJ McConnell, Edmond Sumner, and Justin Holiday.

Stats update: Kevin Durant will "probably" start Tuesday; should have a higher minutes restriction, per Coach Nash

After playing 28 minutes off the bench, Durant will likely start today against the Toronto Raptors, per coach Steve Nash. Nash also said that Durant’s minutes limit will likely increase, but there was no specified limit. We are currently projected Durant at 31 minutes; there’s certainly some volatility still within that projection, but it’s likely to be close as it should be more than 28, but not high enough to reach the mid 30’s, as they try to protect him for the playoffs.

Goga Bitadze (ankle) ruled out Tuesday; Jeremy Lamb (knee) a game-time decision

The Pacers will be without Bitadze again in the frontcourt as they take on the Portland Trail Blazers. Goga will miss his fourth game in a row due to an ankle injury, which will likely mean another start for JaKarr Sampson at center with Oshae Brissett alongside him. Lamb is a game-time decision with a knee injury that’s caused him to miss four games in a row. If he returns, he’ll eat into the minutes of TJ McConnell and Edmond Sumner, but likely not too many, as Lamb usually only plays minutes in the teens if the Pacers backcourt is healthy. Even if Lamb sits, the biggest winners are Brissett and Sampson again, as they’ll be needed against Jusuf Nurkic and the Blazers hefty frontcourt.

Kent Bazemore (protocols), and Damion Lee (protocols) remain out Tuesday

The Warriors will continue to be without two of their rotation players as they prepare to play the Dallas Mavericks. Lee will miss his fourth straight game due to the health and safety protocols, while Bazemore will miss his third for the same reasons. Mychal Mulder should continue to start, while Juan Toscano-Anderson and Jordan Poole get a few more minutes as a result of the Warriors’ depleted depth.

Tony Bradley (ankle) listed questionable; Lu Dort (hip) not on injury report

The Thunder will be getting at least one key contributor back, and possibly two as they prepare to play the Boston Celtics. Dort was not listed on the injury report, and his absence due to a hip injury will be limited to one game as he should be back tonight. Bradley was listed as questionable with an ankle injury that caused him to miss last game. If Bradley ends up sitting, it should mean a few more minutes for Moses Brown as the starting center, as well as Isaiah Roby as well. With Dort returning to the lineup, Svi Mykhailiuk will move back to the bench, and Dort should be one of the leaders for the team in usage, taking away from Theo Maledon and Darius Bazley.

Robert Williams (knee) ruled out Tuesday

Williams will miss his seventh straight game due to a knee injury, as the Celtics prepare to play the Oklahoma City Thunder. Williams was listed as questionable, giving him a chance to make his return, but ultimately couldn’t get cleared. Tristan Thompson should continue to start in his place, with the backup center minutes mostly going to Grant Williams as a small-ball center. The Celitcs will be without Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker, so this will likely be the Jaylen Brown show, with Marcus Smart and Payton Pritchard also chipping at the guard minutes. Jaylen averages 1.33 FPM with all the injured Celtics off the floor, up from his 1.14 FPM average per CourtIQ. After accounting for the matchup against the dreadful Thunder, Brown should be one of the top plays on the slate.

Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) and Josh Richardson (hamstring) doubtful Tuesday; Luka Doncic (elbow), Dorian-Finney-Smith (leg), Maxi Kleber (back), and JJ Redick (heel) all questionable

Entering yesterday’s game, the Mavs had six rotation players on their injury report. It looks they will have the same six as they prepare to play the Golden State Warriors. Porzingis and Richardson were both listed as doubtful; they both have missed the last two games and appear set to miss their third in a row. Luka, Finney-Smith, Kleber, and Reddick are all questionable. Kleber looks to be the biggest worry, as he only played 10 minutes last night due to the back injury he suffered, but he was still only listed as questionable. The biggest name is certainly Luka; if he ends up sitting, the entire nature of the slate would change as the Mavs would be filling his massive usage through various players. Jalen Brunson and Tim Hardaway Jr. would be phenomenal plays if Luka ends up sitting.

Gary Trent Jr. (leg) and Paul Watson (knee) ruled out Tuesday

On the second half of a back-to-back, the Raptors will likely be without the same players that they were yesterday as they prepare to play the Brooklyn Nets. Trent will miss his second straight game with a leg injuries, while Watson will miss his fourth straight with a knee injury. Since the Raptors regular starters came back, Trent had lost significant minutes; he only averaged 16 minutes in his last two games available. The Raptors should continue to run through Lowry, VanVleet, Siakam, and Anunoby, along with Khem Birch.

As expected with Kristaps Porzingis and Josh Richardson out, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dwight Powell will remain in the starting lineup Monday night when the Mavericks take on the Sacramento Kings.

Kristaps Porzingis, Josh Richardson, JJ Redick ruled out Monday; Luka Doncic, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Maxi Kleber available

Kristaps Porzingis, Josh Richardson, JJ Redick all have been ruled out for Monday when the Mavericks take on the Sacramento Kings while Luka Doncic, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Maxi Kleber will be available despite being listed on the injury report earlier in the day. With Richardson and Porzingis out Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dwight Powell will likely remain in the starting lineup with Jalen Brunson, Nicolo Melli, Trey Burke, and Willie Cauley-Stein seeing extended run off the bench. With Kristaps and Richardson off the floor according to CourtIQ the biggest benefactors from a FPM bump perspective are Melli (.32), Hardaway Jr. (.11), Finney-Smith (.10), and Luka (.06). Any time Kristaps is out Luka becomes a top play and all the other Mavericks starters see huge bumps and should at least be considered.

Status note: Richaun Holmes will be limited to about 20 minutes Monday

Richaun Holmes will be limited to about 20 minutes Monday as he works his way back from injury. Hassan Whiteside, Chimezie Metu, and Damian Jones stand to see extra minutes for however long Holmes is limited.

Goran Dragic will start for the Heat Monday when they take on the Chicago Bulls while Kendick Nunn and Tyler Herro are out.

As reported earlier Willy Hernangomez will draw the start for Steven Adams who is out for Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Torrey Craig will enter the starting lineup while Jae Crowder and Dario Saric are out on Monday when the Suns play the New York Knicks.