DFS Alerts
Andre Iguodala (hip) listed questionable Saturday
Iguodala was listed as questionable due to a hip injury as the Heat take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Iguodala won’t take away much from a production standpoint, but his 20 or so minutes will need to be replaced. Most likely, it’ll be a combination of Victor Oladipo, Trevor Ariza, Tyler Herro, and Goran Dragic; the Heat are more likely to spread his production out than to give it all to one player.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report
Hassan Whiteside (knee) ruled out Saturday
Whiteside will miss his sixth straight game with a knee injury as the Kings take on the Milwaukee Bucks. In his place, Chimezie Metu should continue to play the backup center, while Richaun Holmes may play an extra minute or two.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) listed doubtful Saturday; P.J. Tucker (calf) ruled out
On the second night of a back-to-back, the Bucks will tread cautiously with the reigning MVP as Giannis was listed as doubtful due to a knee injury as the Bucks take on the Sacramento Kings. Tucker, meanwhile, will miss his sixth straight game due to a calf injury. Fortunately, we have a decent sample with Giannis off the floor, as the biggest winners are by far Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. Jrue averages 1.35 FPM, up from 1.09, while Middleton averages 1.36 FPM, up from 1.14 per CourtIQ. Both players are also priced to be playing with Giannis in, so they both look to be clear values. From a minutes perspective, this should open up playing time for Pat Connaughton, Bobby Portis, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, especially with Tucker still out. Jeff Teague made his debut yesterday with the team, and may be in line for a few extra minutes as the Bucks need the playmaking without their superstar. Still, Holiday and Middelton are the biggest beneficiaries if Giannis is ruled out as expected.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: P.J. Tucker Drew Eubanks (migraine) ruled out Saturday
Eubanks was a late addition to the injury report with a migraine, and will miss the Spurs game against the Indiana Pacers. Eubanks has been averaging 12-15 minutes off the bench as the backup center behind Jakob Poetl. With Eubanks not there for his normal role, Poetl may play a few more minutes, as the Spurs are without Trey Lyles and Gorgui Dieng. The Spurs will likely need to play a small-ball center, with Keldon Johnson and Rudy Gay possibly playing up a position, and maybe more minutes for Luka Samanic.
As reported by: Paul Garcia via Twitter Killian Hayes (hip) available to play Saturday
As expected, Hayes was removed from the injury report and is available to play today against the New York Knicks. Hayes has been out since January due to a hip injury, but will make his long-awaited return to a Pistons backcourt that is even more crowded by the day. Hayes joins Cory Joseph, Dennis Smith Jr., Hamidou Diallo, Wayne Ellington, Saben Lee, Josh Jackson, and Frank Jackson as potential options for the Pistons backcourt. Although Hayes may get the start, he shouldn’t be expected to play too many minutes as they want to ease their rookie point guard back. It’s a true guessing game to see who will continue to get minutes for the Pistons, and especially in a matchup against the Knicks it’s best to stay away entirely.
As reported by: Rod Beard via Twitter Mike Conley (injury management) ruled out Saturday
Conley will miss the second half of the back-to-back as he has all year, and won’t be available for the Jazz’s game against the Orlando Magic. The Jazz have a good sample size with Conley off the floor, so we should be able to project who benefits rather clearly. Joe Ingles should step in to the starting lineup, and have a bump in his minutes and usage. Jordan Clarkson should play a few more minutes off the bench, while Miye Oni and Matt Thomas should play a few more minutes off the bench. Conley’s absence mainly opens up minutes, but nobody shows major jumps. Ingles is the biggest beneficiary, but Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Clarkson all should benefit from a few more minutes and shots.
As reported by: the Utah Jazz via Twitter Domantas Sabonis (ankle) ruled out Saturday; Jeremy Lamb (toe) and Malcolm Brogdon (hip) listed questionable
The ironman streaks continue to break in April, as Sabonis will miss his first game of the year with an ankle injury as the Pacers take on the San Antonio Spurs. Lamb and Brogdon both missed last night’s game, but have a chance to make their return tonight. Although the Pacers have a few options to fill Sabonis’ spot, Doug McDermott seems most likely to start in his place as coach Bjorkgren usually sticks with his regular rotation for as far as it can go. If Brogdon were to sit, it would likely be Edmond Sumner getting the start again, but TJ McConnell playing most of the minutes off the bench. Lamb has only been averaging fifteen minutes or so, and his minutes would likely be picked up by Justin Holiday and McConnell as well. CourtIQ shows us some major splits with Sabonis off the court. The biggest winner is certainly Myles Turner; in 313 minutes with Sabonis off the floor, his FPM goes from 0.99 FPM to 1.31, and his usage increases from 17.1% to 24.4% per CourtIQ. Justin Holiday, TJ McConnell, and Brogdon also show major boosts with Sabonis off the floor. If Brogdon were to sit as well, Justin Holiday would be the biggest winner; his FPM jumps from a paltry 0.71 FPM to 1.05 FPM in a 158 minute sample. He would be in line for big minutes, as well as McConnell who has a team-leading 1.24 FPM with Sabonis and Brogdon off the floor. Caris Levert hasn’t played many minutes with both of them off the floor, but would also be a big winner. Brogdon’s injury looms large ahead of tonight’s slate.
As reported by: the Indiana Pacers via Twitter Other tagged players: Jeremy Lamb, Malcolm Brogdon Derrick Jones Jr. (thigh) ruled out Saturday; Nassir Little (thumb) now questionable
After only playing 11 minutes yesterday, Jones Jr. will miss the game tonight with a thigh injury as the Blazers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nassir Little had missed the last three games with a thumb injury, but has been upgraded to questionable. With Norman Powell newly acquired, Jones Jr.‘s role had been slowly declining; after playing minutes in the low 30’s earlier in the year, he averaged 19 minutes in the last three games before suffering the injury. In his absence, his minutes will likely be picked up by a combination of Carmelo Anthony, Robert Covington, Powell, and possibly Little if he is available to play.
As reported by: Danny Marang via Twitter Other tagged players: Nassir Little Malik Beasley (hamstring) and Ricky Rubio (back) doubtful Saturday
The Wolves could be shorthanded in the backcourt as they play their second game in as many nights against the Philadelphia 76ers. Both Beasley and Rubio were listed as doubtful; Rubio missed the last game with a back injury, while Beasley’s hamstring injury appears to be a new one that he suffered yesterday. Jordan McLaughlin should get the start at point guard in place of Rubio like he did yesterday, while Josh Okogie likely gets the start in place of Beasley, although Jaylen Nowell is another option for coach Finch. With Rubio, Beasley, and D’Angelo Russell off the court, the biggest winner is Anthony Edwards; per a 293 minutes sample in CourtIQ, he averages 1.21 FPM and a 34.9% usage, up from his regular averages of 1.0 FPM and 27.9% usage. Karl Anthony Towns also benefits from the added usage, while McLaughlin and Nowell should pick up the minutes if both guards end up sitting as expected.
As reported by: the Minnesota Timberwolves via Twitter Other tagged players: Ricky Rubio Otto Porter Jr. (foot) listed questionable Saturday
Otto Porter Jr. was added to the injury report with a foot injury, and is listed as questionable ahead of the Magic’s game against the Utah Jazz. The Magic have several players currently questionable that would drastically affect their rotation; Khem Birch, Michael Carter-Wiliams, Terrence Ross, and Karim Mane are all questionable with various ailments. Porter Jr. and Birch have played the last two games, Ross has played the last two, while MCW missed last game due to an illness. The Magic’s rotation is incredibly muddied as is, but there are a few players who can take advantage of the missing players. If Birch were to sit, Wendell Carter Jr. should be able to take advantage of the center minutes. If MCW were to sit, Chasson Randle should get another start and play heavy minutes at the point guard position. If Ross or Porter Jr. sit, the wing minutes would get taken up by Dwayne Bacon, Chuma Okeke, and James Ennis. Hopefully there’s more clarification given before the game starts, as it’s difficult to project anything definitively with so many players questionable.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report RJ Barrett (ankle) listed probable Saturday
After playing 31 minutes yesterday, Barrett was listed as probable due to an ankle injury as the Knicks take on the Detroit Pistons. Barrett should be able to play through the injury, as he has been an ironman and hasn’t missed a game all year. If he were to sit, Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley both take advantage of the usage that opened up and would be great plays in a good matchup
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Kristaps Porzingis (rest) ruled out Saturday; Maxi Kleber (leg) questionable
Porzingis will miss the second half of the back-to-back as he has most of the year, as the Mavericks take on the Washington Wizards. Maxi Kleber was also listed as questionable due to a leg injury. With Porzingis off the court, Luka Doncic will still lead the way for the team; although his rates don’t change substantially with Porzingis off the floor, he still averages a team-leading 1.55 FPM per CourtIQ. Nobody shows drastic splits, but the minutes will be key as Dwight Powell and Dorian Finney-Smith will play a few more minutes as the Mavericks play small. If Kleber were to sit, the Mavs would be down two starters in the frontcourt. Nicolo Melli may be in line for a few more minutes as well, along with possibly an appearance for Boban Marjanovic as well.
As reported by: Tim McMahon via Twitter Other tagged players: Maxi Kleber Ty Jerome (ankle) available to play Friday
Despite originally being listed out on the Thunder’s injury report, Jerome has now been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns after missing one game due to a sprained right ankle. His absence combined with the unavailability of Lu Dort, Darius Bazley, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander allowed Svi Mykhailiuk the opportunity to play monster minutes on the wing in Oklahoma City’s previous outing, and he was tremendous for fantasy purposes in those 36 minutes of action. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Jerome, so his presence in the starting lineup will likely siphon away playing time from the likes of Mykailiuk, Kenrich Williams, and Justin Jackson, and if Jerome isn’t limited, it’s possible he possesses some upside for tournament formats at his current projection.
As reported by: Steve McGehee via Twitter
Hassan Whiteside (knee) ruled out Friday
Whiteside has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs due to a knee injury that’s now forced him to miss four consecutive games, while Marvin Bagley III continues to be sidelined with a fractured hand. Richaun Holmes has been playing extremely well of late and has been commanding a large portion of the center minutes sans Bagley, but with Whiteside unavailable once again, Chimezie Metu figures to step into the available backup minutes in the second unit for tonight’s contest, though head coach Luke Walton has hinted to beat reporters he’d like to get newly-acquired Chris Silva some run soon.
As reported by: Jason Jones via Twitter Ricky Rubio (back) ruled out Friday
Rubio was a late addition to the Timberwolves’ injury report, and he’s now officially been ruled out and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets due to back spasms, while Josh Okogie has cleared the NBA’s health and safety protocols and will be available to play off the bench in tonight’s contest. In Rubio’s absence, Jordan McLaughlin will receive the starting nod at the point guard position, but his minute floor may not be as secure as it would seem with Anthony Edwards and Jaylen Nowell each more than capable of running offensive sets. Still, McLaughlin could be worth a look in large-field tournament formats given the off-chance he commands more of the vacated minutes at the point than projected.
As reported by: Timberwolves PR via Twitter