DFS Alerts
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) ruled out Wednesday; PJ Tucker (calf) available to play, will have minutes restriction
Giannis was downgraded from questionable to out, and will miss his sixth straight game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tucker was upgraded to available to play, and will make his return after missing ten games with a calf injury. Tucker will be on an unspecified minutes restriction, and likely won’t be playing more than 20 or so minutes. With Giannis out, it will be the usual bumps up to Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. Jrue averages 1.28 FPM per CourtIQ with Giannis off the floor, up from a 1.11 average. Middleton averages 1.25 FPM, up from his 1.09 average. With Tucker back, the other Bucks players may lose out on some of the giant value they’ve had, particularly Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, and Pat Connaugthon.
As reported by: Eric Nehm via Twitter Other tagged players: P.J. Tucker
Karl-Anthony Towns (personal) ruled out Wednesday
Towns will miss the Wolves’ rescheduled game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to personal reasons yet again. In his absence, Naz Reid will likely get the start as he did yesterday, while Jarred Vanderbilt should play the backup center minutes as he did last game. From a production standpoint, Naz Reid is a huge winner, as he should start and play big minutes if the game stays competitive. Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell will likely lead the team in usage and will be the Wolves’ top options, along with Reid. Reid averages 1.13 FPM per CourtIQ with Towns and Malik Beasley off the floor, while Edwards averages 1.09 FPM in the same split.
As reported by: the Minnesota Timberwolves via Twitter Kelly Oubre (wrist) downgraded to out Wednesday
Oubre was listed as doubtful last night, and was ultimately downgraded to out as the Warriors take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. With no Oubre, James Wiseman, and Eric Paschall, the Warriors will have to fill out some minutes as they did last game. Kevon Looney will continue to start at center, while Kent Bazemore should get the start in place of Oubre like he did the last two games. Bazemore averaged 34 minutes the last two games, and could be in line for that range of minutes again. Juan Toscano-Anderson re-entered the rotation in Oubre’s absence, and should have to play around 20-22 minutes again. From a production standpoint, Curry is a big winner; he averages a massive 1.76 FPM per CourtIQ with Oubre, Wiseman, and Paschall off the court, up from his average of 1.47 FPM. Draymond Green also shows a slight boost to his rates: he’s at 1.05 FPM, up from 0.97. Steph, Draymond, Bazemore, and Looney will all be playing heavy minutes as well; coach Kerr elected to only play eight players in his regular rotation last game, and could do something similar today as well.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) and P.J. Tucker (calf) questionable Wednesday
The Bucks had their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves rescheduled to 4:30 PM ET, and they may be getting their MVP back. Giannis was listed as questionable to return from the knee injury that’s caused him to miss the last five games, while Tucker is questionable with a calf injury that’s caused him to miss ten games. If Giannis were to play, he’d be the top option for the team and would put a big dent of the values of Jrue Holiday and Khris Middelton, along with Bobby Portis. Tucker doesn’t produce much, but he can play big minutes, and would take them away from Portis, Brook Lopez, and Pat Connaughton as well. On the showdown slate, Giannis’ injury will obviously be the biggest variable; if he sits, Middelton and Holiday would get major boosts up as they have while he has sat the last week.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: P.J. Tucker Paul George (rest) and Kawhi Leonoard (foot) ruled out Wednesday
On the second half of a back-to-back, the Clippers will be without their two top players as they take on the Detroit Pistons. George will be rested after playing 38 minutes last night, while Kawhi was surprisingly held out with his foot injury that caused him to miss the last two games. Serge Ibaka and Patrick Beverley remain out as well. With both Kawhi and PG both out, there will be a dearth of usage that needs to be filled, along with big minutes. Luke Kennard and Terrence Mann will likely join the starting lineup, and both will be good plays. In 177 minutes with Ibaka, Leonard, and George off the floor, Kennard averages 1.09 FPM per CourtIQ, up from his average of 0.80 FPM. Marcus Morris will also have a higher usage, while Nicolas Batum and Ivica Zubac will be better plays as well. The Clippers will have a few options to fill out minutes, but Kennard, Mann, and Morris will likely be the best options for the team.
As reported by: Andrew Greif via Twitter Other tagged players: Kawhi Leonard Kevin Durant (hamstring), Blake Griffin (knee), LaMarcus Aldridge (illness), and Chris Chiozza (hand) ruled out Wednesday; Kyrie Irving (personal) not on injury report
The Nets will be severely shorthanded as the they play the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half of a back-to-back. Durant is the biggest absence, as he and Griffin will be rested after playing yesterday. Aldridge will miss his second straight game due to an illness, while Chiozza had surgery on his hand and will likely be out for 5-8 weeks. Harden and Tyler Johnson remain out due to their respective hamstring and knee injuries. Kyrie is not listed on the injury report, so it looks like he’ll be available to play and would be in line for massive usage. In a 200 minute sample per CourtIQ, Irving averages a whopping 1.68 FPM with Durant, Harden, Griffin, and Aldridge off the court, up from his average of 1.33 FPM. Landry Shamet would also have to fill in for some big minutes, as the Nets guard depth is depleted. Joe Harris and Bruce Brown would have to fill in and could play heavy minutes. As for the frontcourt, one of DeAndre Jordan or Nic Claxton will get the start; Claxton started yesterday, but Jordan could have to play against the bigger Embiid. Jeff Green and Timofey Luwawu-Cabbarot, and Alize Johnson will help out at the frontcourt. The Nets will have some cheap value, but Kyrie will have massive usage and is one of the top plays of the slate.
As reported by: Billy Reinhardt via Twitter Other tagged players: Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Chiozza, Kyrie Irving Kyle Lowry (rest), Fred VanVleet (suspension), Gary Trent Jr. (ankle), DeAndre Bembry (hamstring), and Jalen Harris (hip) all ruled out Wednesday; Paul Watson (protocols) will play
The Raptors are playing their second games in as many nights, and somehow they are more shorthanded today than they were yesterday as they prepare to play the San Antonio Spurs. Lowry will be rested for the second straight day, and Bembry and Harris will remain out due to their respective hamstring and hip injuries. Trent Jr. picked up an ankle injury in yesterday’s game, and will miss his first game since being traded to the team. VanVleet is out due to his one game suspension, which means he is healthy enough to play the next Raptors game. Paul Watson has cleared protocols and is available to play; he may be badly needed as the Raptors backcourt is decimated. With no Lowry, VanVleet, Trent Jr., and Bembry, it will have to be the Malachi Flynn show again. He should be in line to play minutes in the upper 30’s yet again. Rodney Hood and Watson may have to play big minutes as the guard positions (one of them, probably Hood will start), but Flynn will handle the most. Pascal Siakam also will get a bump; he played 40 minutes yesterday, and could have to play heavy minutes while also playing his point forward role. OG Anunoby also will play big minutes, while Chris Boucher and Khem Birch will split the center minutes. The Raptors still have eleven healthy bodies, but so many of them are in the frontcourt, the best value will be Flynn again, along with Siakam and Anunoby.
As reported by: Eric Koreen via Twitter Other tagged players: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., DeAndre Bembry, Jalen Harris, Paul Watson Terry Rozier (knee) listed probable Wednesday; PJ Washington (ankle) and Nate Darling (ankle) ruled out
On the second half of a back-to-back, the Hornets may be in slightly better shape than they were yesterday, as they prepare to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rozier missed yesterday’s game with a knee injury, but is now probable to play. Washington will miss his second straight game due to his ankle sprain, while Darling hurt his ankle last night and will miss tonight as well. LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, and Malik Monk are all out still as well. The Hornets have been notorious for downgrading players from probable to out, but we will have to assume that Rozier will play right now. Rozier should jump back into the starting lineup alongside Devonte’ Graham, and may have to play heavy minutes as the Hornets don’t have many ballhandlers other than Graham and Brad Wannamaker. With Washington sitting today, it’s likely Bismack Biyombo gets another start, with Jalen McDaniels and Miles Bridges playing at the forward positions. Coach Borrego usually runs his starters for heavy minutes, so it’s likely Rozier, Graham, and Biyombo are good plays at various price points.
As reported by: the Charlotte Hornets via Twitter Other tagged players: PJ Washington, Nate Darling Lineup update: Jazz will start Conley, Mitchell, Bogdanovic, Niang, and Gobert on Tuesday
As expected, Niang will start in place of Royce O’Neale. Although he won’t have a lot of usage along the Jazz regulars, this secures his minutes floor, and he should be in line for mid 20’s in minutes according to our projections.
As reported by: Tony Jones via Twitter KZ Okpala (health and safety protocols) is available to play Tuesday
Despite being listed as out earlier in the day, Okpala has passed through the health and safety protocols and will be available to play against the Phoenix Suns. Okpala had been playing as the backup center before he missed eleven games due to the protocols. Now that the Heat have Nemanja Bjelica playing that role, Okpala will compete for those minutes, although it’s more likely he needs to get his conditioning up to date before he plays significant minutes.
As reported by: the Miami Heat via Twitter
Lineup note: Thunder will start Maledon, Dort, Bazley, Roby, and Brown on Tuesday
As expected, Roby will get the start in his first game back from concussion protocol, alongside Bazley and Brown. Kenrich Williams will lose the most minutes, as he was in line to start if Roby came off the bench, but now Kenrich will likely play minutes in the 19-22 range.
As reported by: Joe Mussatto via Twitter Lineup update: Hornets will start Graham, Caleb Martin, Bridges, McDaniels, and Biyombo on Tuesday
Coach Borrego was torn on two decisions, and decided to go with Caleb Martin (instead of Cody), and Biyombo (instead of Cody Zeller). At cheap pricing, both players are likely going to be popular values throughout the slate. Biyombo is likely to get minutes in the mid twenties, while Zeller fills out the rest for him. As for Caleb, he could be pulled in favor of Cody Martin or Brad Wannamaker, but getting the start does give him a bit more security for his minutes.
As reported by: Harrison Faigen via Twitter Other tagged players: Bismack Biyombo Lineup update: Lakers will start Schroder, Caldwell-Pope, Horton-Tucker, Kuzma and Drummond Tuesday
THT will get the start tonight against the Hornets, and could be in line for big minutes as a result. Although he played 23 minutes last game, he played 34 the game before so he does have the upside to reach big minutes. This is a slight bump to him, with a slight downtick to Wesley Matthews (who was another option to start). Kuzma should also play a few more minutes, as him starting alongside THT makes it less likely Kuzma gets subbed for him.
As reported by: Harrison Faigen via Twitter Jordan Clarkson (ankle) officially out Tuesday
Clarkson was officially ruled out with an ankle sprain, as expected, as he was ruled out with an ankle sprain as the Jazz play the OKC Thunder. Already without Joe Ingles and Royce O’Neale, the Jazz will have to fill in significant minutes. Georges Niang will likely start in place of O’Neale, while Miye Oni and Matt Thomas should be the main guards off the bench. Because of the heavy amount of minutes that O’Neale and Ingles have played on the year, there isn’t a lot of CourtIQ with them both off the floor. O’Neale only has a 9% usage rate on the year (per CourtIQ), so his absence will open up minutes but not much production there. Ingles averages 0.88 FPM and a 16% usage on the year, so his absence could open up more for the team. Donovan Mitchell should still lead the team in usage, along with Bojan Bogdanovic and Conley. Niang getting the start may lead to heavy minutes, which could make him a good play at a cheap salary. The rest of the minutes will likely be filled out by players who won’t get enough minutes to be worthwhile fantasy plays. It’s likely that the remaining regular Jazz players (along with Niang) are the biggest benefactors of the Jazz’s injuries.
As reported by: Sarah Todd via Twitter Markieff Morris (ankle) ruled out Tuesday
Morris was downgraded from questionable to out, and will miss the game against the Charlotte Hornets with an ankle injury. Talen Horton-Tucker will start in his place, with Kyle Kuzma moving up to the power forward position. Off the bench, Kostas Antetokounmpo and Devontae Cacok may re-enter the rotation, but it’s likely that Kuzma and THT monopolize the minutes at the power forward position. The Lakers usage will run through Dennis Schroder, Andre Drummond, and Kuzma, while THT and Alex Caruso help fill out at the wings and could be good values.
As reported by: Mike Trudell via Twitter