DFS Alerts
Tyler Herro (shoulder) listed questionable Sunday
Herro popped up on the injury report with a shoulder injury, and is being listed as questionable ahead of the game against the Orlando Magic. If Herro were to miss, the Heat would be missing some firepower with Bam Adebayo also out. Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, and Goran Dragic would be the biggest beneficiaries, as the Heat don’t run very deep rotations, but concentrate their production to their key players. Jimmy Butler would also be continue be to a good play, especially with Adebayo off the court. Butler averages 1.65 FPM with Adebayo and Herro off the court per a 140 minutes sample per CourtIQ, up from his usual average of 1.39 FPM.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report
Ben Simmons (protocols) available to play Sunday
After being listed as probable during the day, Simmons was cleared from the health and safety protocols and will be available to play against the San Antonio Spurs. Coach Doc Rivers mentioned that Simmons wouldn’t be on any minutes restrictions. With Joel Embiid out 2-3 weeks, Simmons will take on a bigger offensive load along with Tobias Harris. With Embiid off the court, Simmons averages a team leading 1.30 FPM, up from 1.18 per CourtIQ. Harris jumps up to 1.23 FPM, up from 1.11 and should also be a good play. Coach Rivers mentioned that Tony Bradley would likely get the start in place of Embiid, with Dwight Howard playing the backup center role.
As reported by: Tim Bontemps via Twitter Jarret Culver (toe) listed doubtful Sunday; Jordan McLaughlin (protocols) remains out
The Timberwolves look to be without the same players as they were last night, as they prepare to play the Portland Trail Blazers for the second day in a row. Culver is listed as doubtful with a toe injury, while McLaughlin has yet to be cleared for the health and safety protocols. Culver hasn’t played big minutes this season, but his absence along with McLaughlin, D’Angelo Russell, and Malik Beasley leaves the Wolves shorthanded on the wings. Jake Layman and Jaylen Nowell each played 28 minutes yesterday and should continue to benefit from the injuries.
As reported by: the Minnesota Timberwolves via Twitter Other tagged players: Jordan McLaughlin Trae Young (quad) probable Sunday; Clint Capela (heel) and Onyeka Okongwu (adductor) questionable
Another team on the second half of a back-to-back, the Hawks added a few names to their injury report before they face off the Cleveland Cavaliers. Capela was listed as questionable with left heel pain, while Okongwu has adductor soreness. Young was listed as probable due to left quad soreness and should be available to play. Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter also remain out. The big news hinges on the big men for the Hakws, as Capela’s absence would change the outlook of the team dramatically. John Collins would be the biggest benefactor, as he would get to play more of his minutes at center which has been a boon for his fantasy production. Per CourtIQ, Collins’ usage percentage jumps from 22.4% to 30.4% and his rebound percentage jumps from 13.5% to 19.5% with Capela, Hunter, and Reddish off the floor in a 195 minute sample. Should Young play, he and Kevin Huerter also benefit with the increased usage and should be good plays against a weak Cavs defense.
As reported by: Brad Rowland via Twitter Other tagged players: Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (quad) will play Sunday; Lu Dort (toe), Theo Maledon (ankle), Darius Bazley (shoulder), and Al Horford (rest) ruled out
On the second game of a back-to-back, the Thunder will get their star guard back but will be missing a a few key pieces as they take on the Memphis Grizzlies. Gilgeous-Alexander will play and should be in for heavy usage without the rest of the usual Thunder starting lineup. Dort and Maledon both played yesterday, but picked up toe and ankle injuries respectively and won’t be available. Bazley missed the last game with a shoulder injury and remains out, while Horford will sit for rest as he has on back-to-backs all year. The Thunder traded for Svi Mykhailiuk, but he won’t be available to make his team debut either. This leaves the Thunder with only nine available bodies, one of whom is Darius Miller who hasn’t played in over a month and hasn’t played more than 14 minutes all year. Isaiah Roby and Aleksej Pokusevski should stay in the starting lineup, while Ty Jerome and Kenrich Williams should take fill in at the wings. Moses Brown is back from the G-League, and should play big minutes as the backup center; he played 27 minutes against the Knicks yesterday. With so few bodies, there should be plenty of value for the Thunder cheap players as well as SGA, who is projected to have a huge usage rate.
As reported by: Nick Crain via Twitter Other tagged players: Lu Dort, Theo Maledon, Darius Bazley, Al Horford Jeremy Lamb (knee) ruled out Saturday
Despite not being listed on the injury report all day, Lamb was a late scratch due to a sore left knee and will miss the Pacers game against the Phoenix Suns. With Caris LeVert back and starting for the team, Lamb’s minutes may have been on the decline anyway, as he was playing around 17 minutes a game without LeVert. In his absence, expect TJ McConnell to pick up a few more minutes, along with Doug McDermott.
As reported by: J Michael via Twitter Monte Morris (quad) ruled out Saturday; Nikola Jokic (ankle) JaMychal Green, and Zeke Nnaji (illness) available to play
The two late additions to the injury report for the Nuggets have different fate, as Jokic is available to play despite a sprained ankle injury, while Monte Morris was ruled out with a quad injury and will miss the game against the Dallas Mavericks. Both Green and Nnaji will play as expected, as they were listed probable due to a stomach illness. With Morris out, the Nuggets will go back to their starting lineup from the bubble, with Paul Millsap playing at the power forward position, and Will Barton and Michael Porter Jr. sliding down a position. This limits the upside of Facundo Campazzo and PJ Dozier, since they will be playing off the bench and have limited minutes, while Millsap and Green should play minutes in the twenties but aren’t great plays with a Nuggets team getting slowly healthier.
As reported by: Mike Singer via Twitter Other tagged players: Monte Morris, JaMychal Green Caris LeVert (kidney) available to play Saturday; not on a minutes restriction
After a midseason trade, LeVert will be able to make his debut with the Pacers as they face off against the Phoenix Suns. LeVert had surgery on his kidney, as a mass was detected during his physical, but coach Bjorkgren said that he won’t have any minutes restrictions. He did say LeVert would play a short stint to start and get his feet under him, but will play him otherwise in a somewhat normal rotation. He is expected to start in place of Doug McDermott, and will dig into the minutes heavily of Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, and McDermott.
As reported by: Gerald Bourguet via Twitter Jarrett Culver (toe) ruled out Saturday
Culver was downgraded from doubtful to out, and will miss his second straight game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Culver hasn’t been playing big minutes, but with Malik Beasley, D’Angelo Russell, and Jordan McLoughlin all out, the Wolves are still shorthanded at the wings. Jaylen Nowell, Jake Layman, and Josh Okogie are all going to continue to get extended run at the wings, while Ricky Rubio, Anthony Edwards, and Karl-Anthony Towns will be the focal points of the offense.
As reported by: Jace Frederick via Twitter Tyrese Haliburton to remain on a minutes limit Saturday
According to coach Luke Walton’s pregame news conference, Haliburton will remain on a minutes limit as he ramps back up from a calf injury. There was no specified minutes amount listed, but Walton did mention that he would be on a minutes limit for the next few games. After playing 19 minutes in his first game back, we are projecting him for 25 minutes, although it should not be expected to reach the 30’s as the Kings look to take it slow with their promising rookie.
As reported by: Sean Cunningham via Twitter Onyeka Okongwu (adductor) available to play Saturday
Okongwu was listed as probable earlier in the day due to adductor soreness, but was upgrade to available to play against the Sacramento Kings. Okongwu should reclaim his role of backup center and will play 10-15 minutes but shouldn’t be in DFS consideration.
As reported by: the Atlanta Hawks via Twitter Bradley Beal (knee) and Davis Bertans (calf) ruled out Saturday
On the second half of a back to back, the Wizards ruled Beal out due to left knee soreness despite not being listed on the injury report all day, and will miss today’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Bertans will also miss the game with calf soreness after being downgraded from questionable earlier in the day. Deni Avdija will get the start in place of Bradley Beal, while Alex Len is also getting the start in place of Moe Wagner, as coach Brooks looks to change things up after losing four out of five games. With Beal out of the lineup, Westbrook becomes a great play, as he averages 1.41 FPM with a whopping 40% usage and 52% assist percentage in 328 minutes per CourtIQ. Len also should be a great play, as he averages 1.31 FPM without Beal on the floor, and will get the start at a cheap price across the industry. Avdija and Garrison Mathews should pick up most of the minutes, while Troy Brown Jr. should re-enter the rotation and play off the bench as well.
As reported by: the Washington Wizards via Twitter Other tagged players: Davis Bertans, Alex Len Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (knee) ruled out Saturday
After being listed as doubtful due to a knee injury earlier in the day, Luwawu-Cabarrot was ruled out and will miss his fourth straight game tonight against the Detroit Pistons. Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin remain out, so the Nets remain shorthanded in the frontcourt. Deandre Jordan should get the start again at the center position, while Jeff Green and Nic Claxton should be in line to play bench minutes and help pick up the slack from TLC’s injury.
As reported by: Brian Lewis via Twitter Devin Booker (knee) listed probable Saturday
Booker popped up on the official NBA Injury report with a sprained left knee, but is still considered probable to take on the Indiana Pacers. Cam Johnson is also out as expected due to the health and safety protocols. If Booker were to unexpectedly miss, Chris Paul would gain a big boost to his fantasy production, while Jevon Carter and Cam Payne would pick up a few minutes as well.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report James Johnson (personal) listed out Saturday
Johnson was ruled out Saturday due to a personal matter, and won’t be available to play with his teammates as they take on the Denver Nuggets. Johnson only played 5 minutes in the last game that Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis were both healthy, so his absence won’t change much for the team. Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith may pick up an extra minute or two, but nothing to change their overall outlook.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report