DFS Alerts
Jerami Grant, Cory Joseph, Mason Plumlee, Wayne Ellington, Rodney McGruder, and Dennis Smith Jr. all ruled out Thursday; Hamidou Diallo questionable
The Pistons are playing their second game in as many nights, and will use that reason to try to tank another game. Grant, Plumlee, Ellington, and Joseph were all ruled out after playing yesterday; McGruder will miss his sixteenth straight game with an elbow injury, while DSJ will miss his seventh straight with a knee injury. Diallo is questionable after playing 17 minutes yesterday. We’ve seen this movie before from the Pistons; two games ago, they had the same active players as they will tonight (assuming Diallo plays). In that game, Killian Hayes started at point guard, Tyler Cook started at power forward, and Isaiah Stewart at center. We can use the bump in minutes as well as CourtIQ to see who the biggest winners are. Josh Jackson leads the team with 1.18 FPM and 29% usage with all the injured players off the court, up from his average of 0.97 FPM and 25.2% usage. Stewart and Hayes have each averaged around 1.10 FPM in the split as well, and will have to play big minutes; Hayes played 33 minutes in the last game without Joseph, while Stewart played 31. Cook will also be a viable value punt, as he played 30 minutes in his start last game, and is at near minimum price across the industry. Saddiq Bey and Frank Jackson should round out the viable Pistons plays. There will be plenty of value for sure, and the ownership will likely follow; Hayes, Stewart, Cook, Bey, and Josh Jackson will be the best plays for the team.
As reported by: Rod Beard via Twitter Other tagged players: Cory Joseph, Mason Plumlee, Wayne Ellington, Dennis Smith Jr., Rodney McGruder, Hamidou Diallo
Jae Crowder (ankle) ruled out Thursday; Dario Saric (ankle) questionable
The Suns will be without one of their starters as they prepare to play the Boston Celtics. Crowder hurt his ankle last night and will miss the game against his former team, while Saric is questionable with an ankle injury of his own after playing 18 minutes last night. Crowder’s absence should give the start to Cam Johnson; he started in the second half last night without Crowder, and ended up playing 30 minutes on the night. Saric should continue to play his usual range if he suits up, and if he misses, it should be a few more minutes for Johnson and potentially Frank Kaminsky re-entering the rotation. Crowder’s absence doesn’t open up much in CourtIQ, but it’s more so about his minutes; his 28 minutes need to be allocated elsewhere. Cam Johnson is the biggest winner, while Mikal Bridges, Saric (if he plays), and possibly Kaminsky all peripheral winners.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Dario Saric Troy Brown Jr. (ankle) ruled out Thursday
After missing last night’s game with an ankle injury, Brown Jr. will sit out again tonight and will miss the Bulls game against the Charlotte Hornets. Brown had been playing minutes in the teens off the bench the last few games, so that will likely be replaced by Denzel Valentine, with a few more minutes going to Coby White and Garrett Temple. Denzel played 25 minutes last night, but some of that was garbage time related.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Jayson Tatum (ankle) and Kemba Walker (illness) available Thursday; Jaylen Brown (shoulder) remains doubtful
The Celtics gave us some clarity on their injury report as they prepare to play the Phoenix Suns. Tatum was upgraded from questionable with an ankle injury to available, while Kemba was upgraded from probable with an illness to available as well. Brown remains doubtful with his shoulder injury, while Evan Fournier and Robert Williams remain out as they have been for some time. With no Brown, it’s likely that Ojeleye jumps into the starting lineup; he’s started the last two games as the Celtics were without Marcus Smart one game and Brown the next. Jabari Parker and Romeo Langford will play some more minutes off the bench to help fill out. The biggest winners from a production a standpoint are clearly Tatum and Kemba. Tatum averages 1.34 FPM with Brown off the floor per CourtIQ, up from his averages of 1.21. His usage also jumps from 30.7% to 35.3%. Kemba averages 1.12 FPM, up from his 1.02 average. Both players look even better if taking Williams and Fournier off the floor. If Brown ends up sitting as expected, Tatum and Walker will be smash plays.
As reported by: the Boston Celtics via Twitter Other tagged players: Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown Jaylen Nowell (tibia) ruled out Wednesday
As expected, Nowell was downgraded from doubtful with a tibia injury to out and will miss the Wolves game against the Sacramento Kings. Ricky Rubio and D’Angelo Russell should continue to get the bulk of the guard minutes.
As reported by: the Minnesota Timberwolves via Twitter Derrick Jones Jr. (hip) ruled out Wednesday
Despite being listed as probable with a hip injury earlier in the day, Jones was surprisingly downgraded to out and will miss the Blazers game against the Denver Nuggets. Jones’s absence should open up a few more minutes for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Carmelo Anthony, but with Damian Lillard back and in the starting lineup, it’s likely that the wings for the Blazers don’t produce enough to make value, despite the extra minutes.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl via Twitter Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Dillon Brooks (thigh) will play Wednesday; Jackson will come off the bench and will have a minutes restriction
After tearing the meniscus in his knee last year, Jackson is available to make his season debut with the Grizzlies as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers. Brooks is also able to return after missing the last game with a thigh injury. Coach Jenkins mentioned that the Grizzlies “would be smart” with Jackson’s minutes, as he’s been out for over a year and he’s a key cornerstone for the team. Jackson will come off the bench in his first game back, and should dig into the minutes of Xavier Tillman, Brandon Clarke, and Kyle Anderson. Brooks will likely get his starting spot back, pushing Desmond Bane to the bench. The Grizzlies will have even more bodies, and will spread their minutes out even more than they usually do as a result.
As reported by: Evan Barnes via Twitter Other tagged players: Dillon Brooks Status update: Austin Rivers available to make Nuggets debut Wednesday
In his pre-game news conference, Malone mentioned that Rivers would be able to make his Nuggets debut against the Portland Trail Blazers. Malone stated how they signed Rivers for him to help win games, so it’s possible he ends up getting some significant run. He’ll likely come off the bench, and will dig into the minutes of Facundo Campazzo and PJ Dozier.
As reported by: Mike Singer via Twitter Lineup update: Clippers will start Mann, Kennard, Coffey, Morris, and Zubac on Wednesday
The Clippers released their depleted starting lineup, which offers us some major value on the night. Mann and Kennard will start as expected, but it’s Amir Coffey who gets the nod alongside them. On the year, Coffey is around 0.64 FPM, which is not great, but he could end up playing 30 minutes or more, allowing him to pay off a cheap price tag. Coach Lue also mentioned that both Yogi Ferrell and Demarcus Cousins would end up playing significant minutes, so it’s possible the Clippers spread out minutes a bit more, but overall it should still be Kennard, Mann, and Morris leading the way, while Coffey and Ferrell have chances to make value as well.
As reported by: Andrew Greif via Twitter Other tagged players: Amir Coffey, Terance Mann Status update: Jusuf Nurkic will have a minute restriction "in the high 20's" Wednesday; Damian Lillard won't have a restriction
Nurkic is having his minutes limit slowly increase; after being in the low 20’s previously, it is now in the high 20’s, according to coach Stotts. He has topped out at 26 most recently, so it may be now that he gets closer to the 28-30 range. Lillard won’t have any restrictions after missing three games, and will be all systems go.
As reported by: Jay Allen via Twitter Other tagged players: Damian Lillard Lineup update: Mavs will start Doncic, Richardson, Finney-Smith, Porzingis, and Powell on Wednesday
The Mavs will make a change, as they are starting Dwight Powell in place of Maxi Kleber. Powell usually only plays fifteen or so minutes off the bench, so him starting will certainly lead to a few more minutes. Kleber will lose some minutes as a result, while Porzingis may lose some rebounds as he won’t play as a center as much.
As reported by: Chuck Cooperstein via Twitter Other tagged players: Maxi Kleber Lineup update: Rockets will start Wall, Brooks, Tate, Olynyk, and Wood on Wednesday
With no Kevin Porter Jr for the next three games due to the health and safety protocols, it looks like Armoni Brooks will get the start in his place. Brooks played 26 minutes off the bench the last two games, and could be in line for more than that now. Avery Bradley will move to the bench as a result. Brooks could be a good value, but it’ll be interesting to see how he produces in his first game alongside John Wall.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness) available to play Wednesday
THJ was originally listed as probable with an illness, but has been upgraded to available as expected as the Mavs prepare to play the Detroit Pistons. THJ will likely play his usual role of playing 20-24 minutes off the bench.
As reported by: the Dallas Mavericks via Twitter Isaiah Roby (toe) active Wednesday
Despite no mention of the news pre-lock, Roby was listed as active in the Thunder game notes. He should likely play a role off the bench in the 18-20 minute range, but won’t affect much for the Thunder overall.
As reported by: Steve McGehee via Twitter Tyler Herro (foot) officiallly available to play Wednesday
After being questionable with a foot injury that caused him to miss last game, Herro was upgraded to available to play against the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat also have Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo returning, while Andre Iguodala was ruled out with a hip injury. Herro’s return will dent the playing time of Kendrick Nunn, which was already in question. Herro himself will be tough to prioritize, as he hasn’t played more than 30 minutes in the last eight games for the Heat, and with Butler and Bam back, he won’t have the same opportunities for usage.
As reported by: the Miami Heat via Twitter