DFS Alerts
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 rematch against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Jazz have a good sample size with Conley off the floor, so we should be able to project who benefits. 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 should rejoin the rotation and play a few 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
Josh Okogie (protocols) ruled out Saturday; Malik Beasley (suspension) available
Okogie was unable to clear the health and safety protocols, and will miss his third straight game as the Timberwolves have a rematch against the Houston Rockets. Malik Beasley was not listed on the injury report however, and is expected to make his return to the lineup. Okogie’s absence doesn’t open much production, but Beasley coming back means he will soak up plenty of usage, as he leads the team with a 25.3% usage percentage with D’Angelo Russell off the floor. Assuming Beasley plays his usual minutes, Jaylen Nowell will likely take the biggest hit and lose the most minutes.
As reported by: the Minnesota Timberwolves via Twitter Other tagged players: Malik Beasley Evan Fournier (protocols) ruled out Saturday
Fournier won’t be able to make his team debut, as he was ruled out due to the health and safety protocols and won’t join the lineup as the Celtics play the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Kemba Walker, Semi Ojeleye, and Tristan Thompson ruled out as well, the Celtics will be shorthanded on the second half of a back-to-back. The Celtics could start Payton Pritchard in place of Walker, but coach Brad Stevens has juggled his starting lineup due to matchups and has been unpredictable at times. It’s likely that none of the peripheral players produce enough, and instead the Celtics are carried by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, and Marcus Smart.
As reported by: Jay King via Twitter Kevin Porter Jr. (quad) probable Saturday
After missing the last three games with a quad injury, Porter Jr. is now listed as probable to make his return to the lineup 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. could be in line for some big minutes off the bench. It remains to be seen if Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk will be playing, but it looks like they won’t be joining the team and we are currently projecting them out. John Wall should still start, but it’s possible his minutes are reduced with Porter Jr. back and after playing 37 minutes last night.
As reported by: Alykhan Bijani via Twitter Lonzo Ball (hip) listed doubtful Saturday; Jaxson Hayes (wrist) listed questionable
On the second half of a back-to-back, the Pelicans look to be without their star point guard as they prepare to take on the Dallas Mavericks. Ball has missed the last four games due to a hip flexor strain, and is not expected to play again today. Hayes meanwhile popped up on the injury report with a right wrist sprain, and is listed as questionable. In Ball’s absence, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been getting the start and playing heavy minutes, topping out at 40 minutes last night as coach Stan Van Gundy prefers to keep his rotations tight. Kira Lewis Jr. has been playing the backup point guard, but could be in line for some more minutes as the Pelicans play their second game in two days. Alexander-Walker averages 0.99 FPM in a 418 minutes sampleper CourtIQ with Lonzo and J.J Redick off the floor. If Hayes were to miss, Willy Hernangomez would likely play the backup center minutes, while Steven Adams and Zion Williamson could play a few more minutes at center.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Jaxson Hayes Kemba Walker (knee) and Semi Ojeleye (side) ruled out Saturday
As expected, both players will miss the second half of a back to back as the Celtics prepare to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Walker will miss the second half of a back-to-back as he has all year, while Ojeleye will miss his second game in a row with a side injury he suffered earlier this week. Tristan Thompson remains out as well due to the health and safety protocols. Evan Fournier is expected to make his team debut today, and could end up playing substantial minutes due to Walker’s absence. With Ojeleye, Thompson, and Daniel Theis all out or no longer with the team, Robert Williams should continue to start and play big minutes, while Grant Williams, Moe Wagner, and Tacko Fall should split the backup center minutes. With Walker off the floor, Jayson Tatum sees the biggest bump, averaging 1.33 FPM per CourtIQ. However, with Fournier entering the rotation, some of the usage and assist bumps he gets might go down as another playmaking wing enters the fold.
As reported by: Rylan Stiles via Twitter Other tagged players: Semi Ojeleye Collin Sexton (hamstring) ruled out Friday
Sexton has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers due to right hamstring soreness that has now forced him to miss two games, while Kevin Love, Taurean Prince, and Matthew Dellavedova all remain sidelined with their respective ailments. The absence of Sexton could allow recently-signed Quinn Cook to step into a larger role as the sole backup point guard behind Darius Garland whereas there should also be more playmaking opportunities for the likes of Larry Nance Jr. and Cedi Osman, who will likely remain in the starting lineup alongside Isaac Okoro on the wing in tonight’s contest. The sample size isn’t particularly vast with Sexton and all of the other injured Cavaliers off the court, but in that time, Jarrett Allen surprisingly sees his usage rate climb to 22.6% while averaging 1.39 DraftKings and 1.40 FanDuel points per minute this season.
As reported by: Chris Fedor via Twitter
Michael Carter-Williams (illness) won't start Friday
Carter-Williams was never listed on the Magic’s injury report, but he reportedly won’t start in Friday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers due to an illness. There hasn’t been any confirmation that Carter-Williams will be unavailable in tonight’s contest, but the fact that he was unable to start certainly isn’t a promising sign. Orlando is also still without Terrence Ross because of a sore right knee, and since Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., Gary Harris, and RJ Hampton won’t be available to make their Magic debuts following yesterday’s trade deadline, they will have just eight available players, one of them being Mo Bamba, who has played more than 14 minutes on just two occasions over the entire season. This will likely thrust Khem Birch into the large majority of available center minutes, whereas Dwayne Bacon, Chasson Randle, James Ennis, and Chuma Okeke should see plenty of additional minutes and usage this evening.
As reported by: Orlando Magic PR via Twitter Luka Doncic (back) officially out Friday
As expected, Doncic has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers due to low back tightness, while Willie Cauley-Stein remains in the NBA’s health and safety protocols and is still without a firm timetable for a return. Dallas didn’t part with any major rotation pieces at Thursday’s trade deadline, so even though J.J. Redick and Nico Melli won’t be available, they’re still relatively deep at the respective positions. In Doncic’s absence, Jalen Brunson will almost assuredly step into the starting lineup at point guard and will instantly become one of the best values on the entire slate given his projected increase in minutes, usage, and assist opportunities this evening.
As reported by: Mavs PR via Twitter Danuel House Jr. (personal) officially out Friday
Despite never being listed on the Rockets’ injury report, House Jr. has been ruled out and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to personal reasons, while Kevin Porter Jr. will remain sidelined with a sore right quad that’s now forced him to miss three games. Houston is also still without Eric Gordon because of a strained right groin, and following the departure of Victor Oladipo to Miami at yesterday’s trade deadline, Sterling Brown figures to receive another start at the shooting guard position and has managed to record at least 28 minutes of action in each of the previous two games. This will also leave open the opportunity for D.J. Augustin to continue seeing an expanded role off the bench, and he even had his minutes increased all the way up to 23 in Wednesday’s loss.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Kevin Porter Jr. (quad) officially out Friday
As expected, Porter Jr. has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a sore right quad that’s now forced him to miss three games. Houston is still without Eric Gordon because of a strained right groin, and following the departure of Victor Oladipo to Miami at yesterday’s trade deadline, Sterling Brown figures to receive another start at the shooting guard position and has managed to record at least 28 minutes of action in each of the previous two games. This will also leave open the opportunity for D.J. Augustin to continue seeing an expanded role off the bench, and he even had his minutes increased all the way up to 23 in Wednesday’s loss.
As reported by: Cayleigh Griffin via Twitter James Harden (neck) will play Friday
Harden has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Friday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons after missing one game due to a sore neck, while Landry Shamet remains sidelined with a sprained right ankle that’s already forced him to miss multiple games. There haven’t been any reports of a minute restriction for Harden, so he should be able to handle his usual minute allotment as the starting point guard in tonight’s contest. Brooklyn will still be without both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant for at least one more game, but they will have Blake Griffin back in the rotation after he saw his playing time increase to 19 minutes earlier in the week, and as his workload continues to be ramped up, Jeff Green, DeAndre Jordan, and Nicolas Claxton figure to have more volatile minute floors moving forward.
As reported by: Malika Andrews via Twitter Luka Doncic (back) listed doubtful Friday
Doncic has been added to the Mavericks’ injury report and is listed as doubtful for Friday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers due to low back tightness, while Willie Cauley-Stein remains in the NBA’s health and safety protocols and is still without a firm timetable for a return. Dallas didn’t part with any major rotation pieces at Thursday’s trade deadline, so even though J.J. Redick and Nico Melli won’t be available, they’re still relatively deep at the respective positions. In Doncic’s absence, Jalen Brunson will almost assuredly step into the starting lineup at point guard and will instantly become one of the best values on the entire slate given his projected increase in minutes, usage, and assist opportunities this evening.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report DeAndre’ Bembry (protocols) and Paul Watson (protocols) ruled out Friday
Bembry and Watson are new additions to the Raptors’ injury report and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns as they’ve been placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols and may be required to self-isolate for a currently undetermined period of time pending additional testing and contact tracing. Toronto will also be without Patrick McCaw and Matt Thomas, who was preemptively shipped out to create roster space for an ultimately nonexistent Kyle Lowry trade, but it appears that Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood will be available to make their Raptors debut following the trade with Portland prior to the deadline. The addition of another rotation player really throws a wrench into the projections of the existing Raptors players, and on a slate without any dearth of value, this seems like a game that can be easily avoided across the daily fantasy industry this evening.
As reported by: Josh Lewenberg via Twitter Other tagged players: Paul Watson Damian Lillard (rest) ruled out Friday
Lillard was included on the Trail Blazers’ initial injury report and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic to rest a left knee contusion he appeared to sustain towards the end of Thursday’s win. Portland will obviously be without Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood following the trade with Toronto at the trade deadline, but even though Norman Powell is expected to join the team prior to the start of tonight’s contest, there still has yet to be a decision on his availability and remains listed as questionable. The absence of Lillard and Trent should open up plenty of playing time for Anfernee Simons regardless if he starts or comes off the bench, while the return of Jusuf Nurkic, albeit a limited one, should lower the expected minutes total of Enes Kanter moving forward.
As reported by: Jason Quick via Twitter