DFS Alerts
Status update: Garrett Temple will play Saturday
Temple is available to play against the San Antonio Spurs after missing seven games with an ankle injury. He should only play a few minutes and shouldn’t be a consideration on today’s slate.
As reported by: KC Johnson via Twitter
Reggie Bullock (ankle) and Julius Randle (thigh) ruled out Saturday; Nerlens Noel (shoulder), Derrick Rose (conditioning), and Elfrid Payton (hamstring) all available
The Knicks will have a different looking lineup today, as Randle will miss his first game of the year with a thigh injury as the Knicks take on the Milwaukee Bucks. Bullock will miss his second game in a row with an ankle injury. Rose is able to return after missing ten games due to COVID, while Noel and Payton are both available as expected. With Randle off the floor, Taj Gibson will start in his place, while Alec Burks stays in the starting lineup in place of Bullock. With Randle playing so many minutes and taking up so many of the Knicks production, there is certainly production to spread around. Rose may not play many minutes, but averages a team leading 1.42 FPM in 75 minutes per CourtIQ. Elfrid Payton, RJ Barrett, and Mitchell Robinson all benefit as well, as they are all expected to play heavy minutes and take some of the rebounds and usage from Randle.
As reported by: the New York Knicks via Twitter Other tagged players: Reggie Bullock, Nerlens Noel, Derrick Rose, Elfrid Payton Bradley Beal (foot) will play Saturday
After being listed as questionable due to a foot injury, Bradley Beal was upgraded to available and will start against the Detroit Pistons. Beal should be available to play his usual heavy allotment of minutes alongside Russell Westbrook, while Deni Avdija joins the starting lineup in place of Garrison Mathews.
As reported by: the Washington Wizards via Twitter Status update: Al Horford won't be active with Thunder anymore
Woj let out quite a Woj bomb, as the Thunder will no longer be playing Al Horford for the rest of the year, starting today against the Boston Celtics. With Horford’s absence, the Thunder will have a dearth of big men as Darius Bazley and the newly traded Tony Bradley are out, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In Horford’s absence, Moses Brown gets a huge boost in minutes, and averages 1.2 FPM with Horford and SGA off the floor per CourtIQ. Isaiah Roby and Aleksej Pokusevski should also benefit as they can play at the center position, and also alongside Brown if needed.
As reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski via Twitter Kevin Porter Jr. (quad) will start Saturday
After missing the last three games with a quad injury, Porter Jr. is available and will start against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Eric Gordon, David Nwaba, and Danuel House Jr. all out, along with Victor Oladipo off the team due to trade, Porter Jr. should be able to play big minutes, especially since Wall’s minutes may be monitored as the Rockets are on a back-to-back. With Porter Jr. starting, Ben McLemore moves to the bench after playing 36 minutes last night and hitting seven threes. Porter Jr. is a good play on his own, while capping the upside of John Wall and eliminating a lot of the production of the Rockets peripheral players.
As reported by: Adam Spolane via Twitter Status update: Kelly Olynyk available to make debut Saturday; Avery Bradley not available
After being traded to the Rockets, Olynyk will be available to make his debut with the team as they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a rematch of last night’s game. Bradley is not available, but hopes to be available next game. Olynyk will play off the bench, and will likely not play too many minutes as he gets acclimated to his team. Christian Wood should still play the bulk of the center minutes, while John Wall and Kevin Porter Jr. will play the bulk of the guard minutes.
As reported by: Adam Spolane via Twitter Other tagged players: Avery Bradley Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee), Jrue Holiday (knee), and Donte DiVicenzo (foot) ruled out Saturday
As expected, all three of the doubtful players are ruled out as the Bucks take on the New York Knicks. The Bucks will be playing their B-team as these three will join Khris Middleton, PJ Tucker, and Bobby Portis on the sidelines. The Bucks look to only have eight players available, and many of them don’t play outside of garbage time, so it is difficult to assess who will be the most productive, but nearly everyone is priced at minimum salary. Brook Lopez will likely start at center, while Pat Connaughton will also be playing; they are the only two projected to be active who regularly play for the Bucks. Otherwise, Brynn Forbes and Thanasis Antetokounmpo are the top projected players, with Sam Merrill and Jordan Nwora not far behind. Overall, the best approach would likely be to rotate the Bucks cheap value, as the dearth of minutes makes it a near certainty that multiple cheap Bucks will pay off their salary.
As reported by: Jim Owczarski via Twitter Other tagged players: Jrue Holiday, Donte DiVincenzo Status update: Daniel Gafford will make Wizards debut Saturday; Chandler Hutchison not available
After being traded to the team, Gafford will be available to make his team debut, while Hutchison won’t make his debut for the Wizards against the Detroit Pistons. Gafford will take Wagner’s spot in a muddied center rotation, as he will split minutes with Alex Len and Robin Lopez.
As reported by: Chase Hughes on Twitter Other tagged players: Chandler Hutchison Status update: George Hill will not make his debut Saturday
Hill won’t be available to make his team debut for the 76ers as they prepare to take on the Los Angeles Clippers. This means that Philly should run similar rotations they did last game, with Seth Curry and Ben Simmons playing the majority of the backcourt minutes, with Tobias Harris, Danny Green, and Dwight Howard playing the bulk of the frontcourt minutes.
As reported by: Derek Bodner via Twitter Hassan Whiteside (knee) listed questionable Saturday
Whiteside was not listed on the injury report in the afternoon, but was added to the evening report with a knee injury and is listed as questionable ahead of the Kings game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Whiteside missed the last game with this injury, and if he sits again it should allow Richaun Holmes to pick up a few more minutes, while Chimezie Metu could also be in line for a few more minutes.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Luka Doncic (back) listed questionable Saturday; Kristaps Porzingis (knee) listed doubtful; Nicolo Melli available to make debut; Willie Cauley-Stein (protocols) and JJ Redick (knee) ruled out
After missing the front half of a back-to-back, Doncic is now listed as questionable to make his return against the New Orleans Pelicans. Meanwhile, Porzingis was listed as doubtful due to a knee injury that he has been maintaining all year long. Porzingis played 38 minutes yesterday, so it’s likely that he sits out due to rest. If Luka was to play, he would be a phenomenal play; his rates don’t increase too much with Porzingis off the floor, but would lead the team in usage and assist rate and has a great matchup against the Pelicans. If Luka were to sit, Jalen Brunson would be one of the top plays of the slate, as he would join the starting lineup and averages 1.08 FPM with Luka and Porzingis off the court per CourtIQ. Dwight Powell will likely join the starting lineup in place of Porzingis, as Willie Cauley-Stein is out due to the health and safety protocols. Nicolo Melli is available to make his team debut, and could play some frontcourt minutes as well.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Kristaps Porzingis, Nicolo Melli, Willie Cauley-Stein, J.J. Redick Julius Randle (thigh) downgraded to questionable Saturday
After being listed as probable earlier in the year, Randle was downgraded to questionable due to a thigh injury as the Knicks plan to take on the depleted Milwaukee Bucks. Nerlens Noel and Reggie Bullock remain questionable, while Elfrid Payton remains probable. There’s no report yet on Derrick Rose, so it looks as if he’ll be unable to play as he tries to get his conditioning back. If Randle were to sit, the Knicks would look completely different, as Randle’s heavy minutes and usage would need to be replaced. Randle hasn’t missed a game all year, so it would be interesting to see who would benefit the most. Mitchell Robinson shows an increased FPM from 0.88 to 1.05 per CourtIQ, while Elfrid Payton also will pick up more usage and assists. As for minutes, it’s likely that Alec Burks could join the starting lineup to replace the offensive production, while Obi Toppin could play a few more minutes.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee), Jrue Holiday (knee), and Donte DiVincenzo (foot) listed doubtful Saturday; Khris Middleton (hip), PJ Tucker (calf) and Bobby Portis (protocols) ruled out
The Bucks will be playing their B-team most likely, as they had almost their entire regular rotation on the injury report ahead of a game against the New York Knicks. Tucker and Portis will each miss their second game in a row, while Middleton was also ruled out due to a hip injury after playing 28 minutes yesterday. Giannis, Holiday, and DiVincenzo were all listed as doubtful with their respective lower leg injuries, but none of them look to be long-term as they all played yesterday as well and it’s likely the Bucks are just resting their players and not wanting them to play two games in a row. The Bucks look to only have eight players available, and many of them don’t play outside of garbage time, so it is difficult to assess who will be the most productive, but nearly everyone is priced at minimum salary. Brook Lopez will likely start at center, while Pat Connaughton will also be playing; they are the only two projected to be active who regularly play for the Bucks. Otherwise, Brynn Forbes and Thanasis Antetokounmpo are the top projected players, with Sam Merrill and Jordan Nwora not far behind. Overall, the best approach would likely be to rotate the Bucks cheap value, as the dearth of minutes makes it a near certainty that multiple cheap Bucks will pay off their salary.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Jrue Holiday, Donte DiVincenzo, Khris Middleton, P.J. Tucker, Bobby Portis Hamidou Diallo (groin) and Dennis Smith Jr. (back) ruled out Saturday; Rodney McGruder (elbow) questionable; Saben Lee (elbow) probable
The Pistons had a lengthy injury report submitted ahead of their game against the Washington Wizards. Smith Jr. was ruled out for a second straight game due to a back injury, while Diallo will miss the second game of a back-to-back with a groin injury after playing 18 minutes yesterday. McGruder was listed as questionable due to a elbow injury, while Lee was listed as probable due to an elbow injury of his own. The Pistons have a muddied backcourt even with these injuries, as Cory Joseph was traded to the team and played 18 minutes in his team debut yesterday, while Wayne Ellington played 22 and Frank Jackson played 10. If McGruder were to sit, there may be enough minutes available for one of Lee, Joseph, or Ellington to be a good play, but with the incredible value elsewhere on the slate, none of them standout as special plays. The Pistons should still run through Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee, and Saddiq Bey.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Dennis Smith Jr., Rodney McGruder, Saben Lee Colin Sexton (hamstring) probable Saturday; Jarrett Allen (concussion) ruled out
After missing yesterday’s game due to a hamstring, Sexton was listed as probable to play against the Sacramento Kings. The Cavs will be shorthanded in the frontcourt however, as Allen was ruled out due a concussion he suffered. Kevin Love, Matthew Dellavedova, and Taurean Prince all remain out as well. The Cavs just traded away JaVale McGee for Isaiah Hartenstein, who was unable to make his debut yesterday but should be available today. He’ll likely get the start at center, as the Cavs are short in size elsewhere. Other than Hartenstein, Dean Wade and Larry Nance Jr. will help out at the center while they run with smaller lineups. Still, Hartenstein will be one of the top plays of the slate if there’s no mention of any minutes limits. With Sexton’s return, Cedi Osman should move back to the bench, while Sexton looks like a good play against a porous Kings defense.
As reported by: Chris Fedor via Twitter Other tagged players: Jarrett Allen