DFS Alerts
Khem Birch (illness) ruled out Sunday
Despite being listed available earlier in the day, Birch was a late scratch due to a non-COVID illness, and will miss the game against the Denver Nuggets. This will leave the Magic with only eight healthy bodies, and shores up the minutes even further. Wendell Carter Jr. should now start at center and play the lion’s share of minutes there, while Mo Bamba should play behind him and back him up. Knowing that Birch is out helps secure Chuma Okeke’s minutes even more; Birch sometimes plays at power forward, but with him out that role will be taken by Okeke and James Ennis. The remaining Magic players will all play a few more minutes than they were before, as they simply don’t have any other options.
As reported by: the Orlando Magic via Twitter
Tyrese Maxey (protocols) ruled out Sunday
Maxey was a late scratch for the 76ers due to the health and safety protocols, and will miss the game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Maxey usually plays some guard minutes off the bench, and in his place, Shake Milton and Furkhan Korkmaz will likely take his minutes, with maybe Seth Curry playing a few more as well.
As reported by: Noah Levick via Twitter Brandon Ingram (toe), Zion Williamson (thumb), and Kira Lewis (calf) ruled out Sunday; Lonzo Ball (hip) will play
The Pelicans injuries were the biggest on the slate, and coach Stan Van Gundy cleared that up for us pregame as the Pelicans take on the Houston Rockets. Although Lonzo was upgraded to available and will play after missing seven games with a hip injury, Ingram and Zion were downgraded from questionable due to their respective thumb and toe injuries, while Kira Lewis was downgraded from doubtful due to a calf injury. Coach Van Gundy mentioned pregame that he only has three guards (Lonzo, Eric Bledsoe, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker), and that Lonzo won’t be on a minutes restriction, so he should be all systems go. As for the forwards, with Ingram and Zion out, it should be James Johnson, Naji Marshall, and Wes Iwundu playing the bulk of the minutes; Josh Hart is still out so the production will be there. There isn’t a huge split with Ingram and Zion both out since they both play so many minutes, but the production should flow for all of the Pelicans guards, with NAW and Lonzo in particular great plays. Johnson and Iwundu also will be able to benefit, as they are at cheap prices and still will be forced to play minutes for the shorthanded Pelicans.
As reported by: Cayleigh Griffin via Twitter Other tagged players: Zion Williamson, Kira Lewis Jr., Lonzo Ball Draymond Green (finger) will play Sunday
After missing the last game with a finger injury, Draymond was upgraded from questionable to available and will play against the Atlanta Hawks. Eric Paschall was ruled out for at least two weeks due to a hip injury, so Draymond’s return comes back at a key time. With Draymond back, Juan-Toscano Anderson will be moving back to the bench and possibly out of the rotation, while Kent Bazemore may lose a few minutes as well. He may also play some small-ball center, possibly taking a few minutes away from James Wiseman and Kevon Looney. Draymond’s return also should take some usage and assist rate away from the other key Warriors, although CourtIQ doesn’t show many major splits for Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, or Kelly Oubre. On a four game slate tonight, Draymond could be a good play in a game with the highest total on the slate.
As reported by: Mike Conti via Twitter Otto Porter Jr. (foot), Karim Mane (hamstring), and Michael Carter-Williams (illness) all ruled out Sunday
Another day, another shorthanded Magic team. As they prepare to take on the Denver Nuggets, they will only have 9 available bodies, which is actually one more than they had yesterday. Porter Jr. was ruled out with a foot injury, Mane was ruled out with a hamstring injury, and MCW was ruled out with a non-COVID illness. Khem Birch missed the last game due to an illness, but is available to play, along with Mo Bamba, who was limited to only eleven minutes last game and left as well for an illness. We’ve been able to notice a few trends as the Magic have had some of these players out regularly. Chasson Randle should get the start at point guard again, and will be backed up by RJ Hampton; both will share the floor as well, as Randle played 32 minutes yesterday and Hampton played 30. The center position will be the most crowded with Birch back; he’ll likely start, with Wendell Carter Jr. backing him up. Mo Bamba is another option for center, but with both Birch and Carter playing, Bamba may not get that many minutes (unless Birch plays with him which is possible but not for more than a few minutes). With Porter Jr. out, expect more minutes at the wing for James Ennis, Dwayne Bacon, Chuma Okeke, and Terrence Ross. Bacon and Ennis each played 36 minutes yesterday, and should be in line for at least 30 again with the Magic still shorthanded. The Nuggets are currently big favorites, and after seeing the Magic lose by 46 to the Jazz yesterday, it’s difficult to project many points for the Magic. Still, minutes are king, and with only nine available bodies, they will have to go somewhere; Bacon, Okeke, Ennis, and Randle are likely to play the most.
As reported by: the Orlando Magic via Twitter Other tagged players: Karim Mane, Michael Carter-Williams Jaylen Brown (knee) available to play Sunday
As expected, Brown was officially upgraded from questionable and is available to play against the Charlotte Hornets. He should be in line to play his low 30 minutes, and possibly more if the game is competitive.
As reported by: the Boston Celtics via Twitter Jaylen Brown (knee) expected to play Sunday; Romeo Langford (conditioning) available to play
Coach Brad Stevens mentioned pre-game that he expects Brown to play through his knee injury as the Celtics face off against the shorthanded Charlotte Hornets. Stevens also mentioned that Langford would be available to play, and that he “could get a stint or two”, but nothing is set in stone. Brown should be able to take his starting spot and play heavy minutes as he has all year. Langford, meanwhile, may play a few minutes off the bench and take some minutes from Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard, but not enough to be fantasy relevant and certainly not a guarantee to crack the rotation.
As reported by: Jay King via Twitter Other tagged players: Romeo Langford Wesley Matthews (neck) ruled out Sunday
After being listed questionable with a neck injury, Matthews was downgraded to out and will miss the Lakers game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Matthews had been playing minutes in the teens as the Lakers are still shorthanded without Lebron and Anthony Davis. With Matthews out, expect more minutes for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, and Talen Horten-Tucker to help fill out the Lakers wing rotation.
As reported by: Mike Trudell via Twitter Rajon Rondo (adductor) will make Clippers debut Sunday; will be on a minutes limit
After being acquired at the trade deadline from the Atlanta Hawks, Rondo will finally make his Clippers debut as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers. Coach Ty Lue mentioned pregame that Rondo would be on a minutes restriction, although he did not specify a direct number. It would be a surprise if Rondo played more than 18 minutes or so, as the Clippers still have plenty of options. Luke Kennard and Terrence Mann are the biggest losers; they weren’t expected to play many minutes now that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are healthy together, but with Rondo in the rotation, they may lose some more minutes and possibly be out of the rotation. Reggie Jackson will still get the start, but may lose some minutes as well. Rondo will likely play more minutes as the season goes on as he gets acclimated to the Clippers.
As reported by: Shane Young via Twitter Zach LaVine (ankle) officially available to play Sunday
As expected, Lavine was officially listed as available to play as the Bulls take on the Brooklyn Nets. Lavine may be in line for a few more minutes than usual as Coby White was ruled out due to protocols earlier in the day. Lavine should average low to mid 30’s minutes as the Bulls look to break their six game losing streak.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Joel Embiid (injury recovery) out Sunday
After playing 29 minutes yesterday in his first game back from a ten game absence, Embiid will get the second half of the back-to-back off as the 76ers take on the Memphis Grizzlies. With Embiid out, either Mike Scott or Dwight Howard will get the start, with Howard likely playing most of the minutes at center in order to matchup with Jonas Valanciunas and the Grizzlies’ bigger frontcourt. We have a great sample size in CourtIQ with Embiid off the floor, and know who the biggest jumps go to. Shake Milton has the biggest jump; in 642 minutes, Milton averages 1.06 FPM, up from his average of 0.95. Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris will have more usage as well, but they don’t show major bumps with Embiid off the floor. Howard will likely get the lion’s share of minutes at center and will benefit the most, although his salary is still elevated from when Embiid had his extended absence.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Andre Drummond (toe) ruled out Sunday
Drummond will miss his second straight game with a toe injury as the Lakers take on the Clippers in the battle for Los Angeles. With Drummond off the floor, Marc Gasol should start and play at the center position, with Montrezl Harrell backing him up and likely playing more minutes. The Lakers are still without Lebron and Anthony Davis, so without Drummond, the Lakers should run through Harrell, Dennis Schroder, and Kyle Kuzma.
As reported by: Dave McMenamin via Twitter Trae Young (knee) and Danilo Gallinari (achilles) available Sunday
The Hawks will be getting some reinforcements, as Young and Gallinari will return from a one-game absence to play against the Golden State Warriors. With Young back, Brandon Goodwin should move to the bench and will lose most of his minutes as Young and Lou Williams will play the majority of the point guard minutes. With Gallinari back, Solomon Hill and Tony Snell will lose some minutes, as Gallinari should jump back into his role of playing mid twenty minutes off the bench. The Hawks are still missing Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter, and John Collins, so Gallinari should still be needed. The Hawks have a great matchup with the Warriors, so Trae should be a great play against the Warriors, while Bogdan Bogdanovic should continue to start and play heavy minutes as well.
As reported by: Brad Rowland via Twitter Other tagged players: Danilo Gallinari Status update: Isaiah Thomas won't make Pelicans debut Sunday
Thomas signed a 10 day contract with the Pelicans, but won’t be available to make his debut tonight against the Houston Rockets. Thomas might have had to play in his first game, as the Pelicans will likely be without Kira Lewis (who is doubtful), and may be without Lonzo Ball (who is questionable and has missed the last seven games with a hip injury). Without IT, the Pelicans will continue to lean on Eric Bledsoe and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who have each played 36 minutes in the last three games.
As reported by: Andrew Lopez via Twitter Coby White (protocols) ruled out Sunday
Coach Billy Donovan mentioned in his pre-game media session that White would miss the Bulls’ game against the Brooklyn Nets this afternoon due to the health and safety protocols. White had just returned from a two game absence due to a neck injury and played 23 minutes in the Bulls last game, which is around his average in his role as sparkplug off the bench. With White out, Ryan Arcidiacono will likely be the first guard off the bench behind Tomas Satoransky, while Troy Brown Jr. may play a few extra minutes as well. Satoransky played 30 minutes in the last two games White missed, compared to a 24 minute average in the last four games with White active. Nobody shows major boosts per CourtIQ with White off the floor; Thad Young shows some improved usage, but with the Bulls still acclimating Nikola Vucevic into their lineup, it’s likely the Bulls run through Vucevic and Zach Lavine still.
As reported by: Cody Westerlund via Twitter