DFS Alerts
Mason Plumlee (concussion) listed out Thursday; Jahlil Okafor (knee) listed available
After being listed as questionable due to a concussion earlier in the day, Plumlee was downgraded to out and will miss the game against the Sacramento Kings. Meanwhile, Okafor is able to return after a two month absence due to a knee surgery, and is available to play. Jerami Grant was also ruled out earlier in the day, so the Pistons will be shorthanded in the frontcourt. The last game that Plumlee missed, Isaiah Stewart got the start at center and was one of the top value plays of the slate. Stewart averages 0.92 FPM per CourtIQ with Grant and Plumlee off the floor, and if he plays around 28-30 minutes, he should be a great play due to his cheap salary. With Grant’s absence, Wayne Ellington will likely get the start in his place, although Hamidou Diallo is another option. Ellington actually shows positive splits with Plumlee and Grant off the floor; in a 126 minute sample in CourtIQ, Ellington averages 0.83 FPM, up from his 0.69 average. Saben Lee also shows good splits; he averages 1.06 FPM, up from his 0.93 average. With a great matchup against the Kings, the starting lineup for the Pistons will be worth watching to ensure Stewart is a great play, along with Josh Jackson and Saddiq Bey, who will need to fill in for Grant.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Jahlil Okafor
Norman Powell (toe) available to play Thursday
After being listed as probable with a toe injury, Powell was upgraded to available and will join the Blazers as they take on the Utah Jazz. Powell played 37 minutes last game, so he should be all set to play his regular minutes. With Jusuf Nurkic available as well, the Blazers will have their regular starting lineup available to take on the Jazz.
As reported by: Jay Allen via Twitter Jordan Clarkson (ankle) ruled out Thursday
After being listed doubtful with an ankle injury, Clarkson was downgraded to out and will miss tonight’s game as the Jazz take on the Portland Trail Blazers. Mike Conley is also officially active; he usually has sat out all back to backs, but perhaps with Clarkson unavailable, the Jazz decided they need to have Conley available. With Clarkson out, Joe Ingles may play a few more minutes off the bench, along with Miye Oni and Matt Thomas possibly re-entering the rotation. From a production standpoint, nobody of the Jazz regulars show major splits with Clarkson off the floor; Donovan Mitchell shows a slight bump, but not a substantial one. It’s most likely the extra minutes that Mitchell, Ingles, Conley, and Bojan Bogdanovic would see that would make them good plays.
As reported by: the Utah Jazz via Twitter Maxi Kleber (leg) and Trey Burke (calf) available to play Thursday
After missing the Mavericks last game due to a leg injury, Kleber was upgraded from questionable to available to play against the Milwaukee Bucks. Kleber should be able to slide back into his starting power forward spot, alongside Kristaps Porzingis; Nicolo Melli should move back to the bench. Burke is also available to play; he may not enter the rotation, but can offer some backcourt depth behind Luka Doncic. Kleber doesn’t always project strongly, but he does play heavy minutes, so Melli should lose the most minutes, while the rest of the Mavericks will be hard to play with Luka and Porzingis dominating production.
As reported by: Brad Townsend via Twitter Other tagged players: Trey Burke Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) officially ruled out Thursday
As expected, Giannis was downgraded from doubtful to out, and will miss the Bucks’ game against the Dallas Mavericks. This will be the third straight game that Giannis misses with knee soreness, as the Bucks look to stay cautious with their MVP before their playoff run. The Bucks started Bobby Portis the last time he missed, but the game before it was Pat Connaughton, so it’ll be interesting to see who coach Budenholzer looks to. Regardless of the start, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton are the biggest winners as they have been all year. Per CourtIQ, Jrue Holiday averages 1.36 FPM, up from his 1.11 average, while Khris Middelton averages 1.31 FPM, up from his 1.13 average. Bobby Portis should get a few more minutes as well, while Donte DiVicenzo and Connaughton will be able to take a few more shots as well. Overall, Holiday and Middleton are definitely the biggest winners with Giannis out, while Portis, Connaughton, and DiVicenzo are ancillary winners as well.
As reported by: Eric Nehm via Twitter Lineup update: Lakers will start Schroder, Caldwell-Pope, Matthews, Morris and Drummond Thursday
Wesley Matthews gets the start in place of Kyle Kuzma, as the Lakers prepare to play the Miami Heat. Matthews is one of the worst producers on the slate, and has a very low usage, which should allow Dennis Schroder and Andre Drummond to soak up plenty of usage on the starting lineup. Ben McLemore will come off the bench in his Lakers debut.
As reported by: Mike Trudell via Twitter Jusuf Nurkic (knee) available Thursday
After missing one game with knee inflammation, Nurkic is available to return as the Blazers play the Utah Jazz. Nurkic has been limited to around 20 minutes since he’s returned, while Enes Kanter fills in for the remaining center minutes. Kanter will come off the bench, and should fill in for around 28 minutes or so, as the Blazers will need a center to matchup with Gobert for most of the game.
As reported by: Jason Quick via Twitter Kyle Kuzma (calf) ruled out Thursday
Coach Vogel ruled Kuzma out for the game as the Lakers play the Miami Heat. Vogel mentioned that Kuzma got an MRI on his calf, and it revealed a grade 1 calf strain, which may keep Kuzma out for a few more games. For today, the Lakers are in quite a predicament. Already without Lebron James and Anthony Davis, they’ll have to play without Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker, who was suspended for today’s game. One of Ben McLemore or Wesley Matthews could end up starting for Kuzma, but coach Vogel declined to announce his starters up front. It’s difficult to use CourtIQ to our advantage, as there is not a large sample of data with AD, Lebron, and Kuzma off the floor. The team’s usage and offense will certainly flow through Dennis Schroeder, who averages 1.20 FPM in a 130 minute sample, up from his 0.97 FPM average. Andre Drummond will also likely put up good points, while the rest of the Lakers wings will be a mix of players who will play heavy minutes but may not produce at a high rate unless a hot shooting night comes along. McLemore, Matthews, and Alex Caruso will try to fill in, but the Lakers have a 97 implied team total, the lowest of the entire slate by far. It’s a tricky spot, as it could be empty minutes for some Lakers fill ins. Schroder will still produce at a high rate and is the Lakers best bet at production.
As reported by: Harrison Faigen via Twitter Lineup update: Malachi Flynn will start for Raptors Thursday
Flynn has played 30 minutes in three straight games while playing off the bench, but will make his first career start today as the Raptors take on the Chicago Bulls. With Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet injured and DeAndre Bembry suspended, Flynn will have to be the Raptors’ primary ballhandler. Flynn has scored 35 DK points or more in all three of the last games, and he’s almost guaranteed to play heavy minutes since the Raptors still only have eight bodies. On the year, Flynn averages 0.98 FPM with no Lowry or VanVleet on the floor, per CourtIQ. His salary has rose around the industry, but still should be a good play due to the amount of minutes he has to play.
As reported by: Eric Koreen via Twitter Tyler Herro (foot) and Gabe Vincent (knee) available to play Thursday; Dewayne Dedmon won't play
Herro and Vincent were listed as probable, and were upgraded to available as the Heat prepare to play the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, despite Dedmon being available to play for the team, coach Spolestra said that he wouldn’t crack the rotation tonight. Herro should reclaim his role as bench sparkplug, playing minutes in the high 20’s – low 30’s. Vincent will likely not play more than a few spot minutes off the bench, while Nemanja Bjelica will continue to play the backup center minutes without Dedmon in the rotation.
As reported by: Ira Winderman via Twitter Other tagged players: Gabe Vincent, Dewayne Dedmon Darius Miller (groin) remains out Thursday
Miller will miss his second straight game with a groin injury, as the Thunder play the Cleveland Cavaliers. Miller only usually plays 10-15 minutes off the bench, but with the Thunder injured, he will sit and limit the Thunder to only nine healthy bodies. Expect a few more minutes for Justin Robinson, Jaylen Hoard, and Theo Maledon.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Kyle Kuzma (calf) officially listed as questionable Thursday
Kuzma was listed as probable on the 1:30 injury report, but was officially downgraded to questionable for the 5:30 injury report with calf tightness as the Lakers face the Miami Heat. If Kuzma were to sit, the Lakers would be severely shorthanded, as they are already without Lebron and Anthony Davis, as well as the suspended Talen Horton-Tucker. Markeiff Morris would have to play a few more minutes, while Dennis Schroder would command more usage. Ben McLemore is available to make his debut with the Lakers, so he may be thrust into heavy minutes if Kuzma sits.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Zach Lavine (ankle), Coby White (cervical), and Lauri Markkanen (leg) officially available Thursday
As expected, all three of the Bulls players who were listed as probable will play as the Bulls prepare to play the Toronto Raptors. All of Lavine, White, and Markkanen played in the Bulls’ last game and will play again today. Lavine will continue to start, while White and Markkanen will continue to come off the bench as the Bulls continue to work in Nicola Vucevic into their offense.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Coby White, Lauri Markkanen Abdel Nader (knee) remains out Thursday
Nader remains out Thursday due to his knee injury, and will miss the Suns game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Nader has missed the last ten games, and only usually plays a few minutes off the bench when he’s healthy. Cam Johnson and Torrey Craig will continue to play and fill in his minutes.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Status update: Dewayne Dedmon available to make Heat debut Thursday
Dedmon signed a contract with the Heat, and is available to play tonight as the Heat take on the Los Angeles Lakers. Dedmon will likely fight for the backup center minutes, as Nemanja Bjelica has been playing the backup center, and the Heat may look for someone with a bit more size. Dedmon may get a few minutes tonight, but probably won’t get more than 10 as the Heat work him into their rotation.
As reported by: Anthony Chiang via Twitter