DFS Alerts
Joel Embiid (back) ruled out Monday
Despite Sixers head coach Doc Rivers confirming Embiid would play during his pregame presser, Embiid is now a late scratch and won’t be available for Monday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz due to back tightness. Tony Bradley ended up receiving the starting nod at the center position last time Embiid was sidelined, but Rivers has opted to start small with Mike Scott at the five in an effort to counteract Rudy Gobert’s presence on the defensive end of the floor. It’s still possible Bradley sees some playing time with the second depending on how often the Sixers play small, but Dwight Howard may be worth a shot in tournament formats at his depressed price tag since he should be the betting favorite to lead the reserves in minutes in more traditional lineup combinations this evening.
As reported by: Keith Pompey via Twitter
Tony Snell (Achilles) ruled out Monday
Snell has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the New York Knicks due to right Achilles soreness that has now forced him to miss two games, while Cam Reddish and Brandon Goodwin have been removed from the Hawks’ injury report and will be available to play. In Snell’s absence, head coach Lloyd Pierce already confirmed with reporters during his pregame media availability that Skylar Mays will join the rotation to help fill the void left behind by Snell in the second unit. However, Mays is remains nothing more than a dart throw in large-field tournament formats as he’s still highly unlikely to see enough playing time to become relevant across the daily fantasy industry.
As reported by: Sarah K. Spencer via Twitter Garrison Mathews (quad) will start Monday
Mathews has officially been upgraded from questionable and will start in Monday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets despite dealing with a right quadriceps contusion, while Russell Westbrook was surprisingly excluded from the Wizards’ initial injury report and will also start after previously sitting for one game of every back-to-back set this season. Westbrook did only play 29 minutes in Sunday’s blowout win, so it remains unclear if that lighter workload factored into the team’s decision to allow him to suit up, but head coach Scott Brooks did disclose to reporters that they plan to monitor his minutes in tonight’s contest. As for Mathews, he’s started the previous two games on the wing, but both Davis Bertans and Deni Avdija have remained integral pieces of the second unit, capping his playing time on both occasions.
As reported by: Fred Katz via Twitter Russell Westbrook (rest) not listed on injury report Monday; Garrison Mathews (quad) questionable
Westbrook was surprisingly excluded from the Wizards’ initial injury report and appears on track to play in Monday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets despite previously sitting for one game of every back-to-back set this season, while Mathews is currently listed as questionable due to a right quadriceps contusion. Westbrook did only play 29 minutes in Sunday’s blowout win, so it remains unclear if that lighter workload factored into the team’s decision to allow him to suit up for tonight’s contest. As for Mathews, he’s started the previous two games on the wing, so if he’s unable to suit up, either Davis Bertans or Deni Avdija would likely rejoin the starting lineup after being integral pieces of the second unit over the aforementioned timespan.
As reported by: Chris Miller via Twitter Other tagged players: Garrison Mathews Brandon Clarke (calf) available to play Sunday
Clarke will return after a four game absence with a calf injury, and will come off the bench against the Sacramento Kings. With both Desmond Bane and De’Anthony Melton inactive for the Grizzlies, Clarke will have the highest usage coming off the bench in a role he flourished in last year and parts of this season as well.
As reported by: the Memphis Grizzlies via Twitter
De'Aaron Fox (knee) will start Sunday; Marvin Bagley (calf) ruled out
Fox was able to go through warmups with no limitations, and is starting tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies after missing one game with a right knee injury. Bagley was never able to make it onto the court for warmups and will miss his second straight game with a calf injury. With Fox starting, Tyrese Haliburton will move back to the bench where he has been a sparkplug most of the year. In Bagley’s absence, it will actually be Daquan Jeffries getting the start, as coach Walton looks for a change since he started Glenn Robinson III on Friday. Jeffries may not play too many minutes, as Haliburton still is expected to close for the Kings like he has all year.
As reported by: Jason Jones via Twitter Other tagged players: Marvin Bagley Jamal Murray (ankle) available to play Sunday
Murray was listed as questionable on the injury report due to a left ankle sprain, but has been officially ruled in to face the Los Angeles Lakers. Murray played 38 minutes on Friday and should be in line to play heavy minutes again, as the Nuggets will be without PJ Dozier and Gary Harris again, as well as Will Barton who is out for personal reasons. Barton will be missing his first game all year, so Murray will have to carry a bigger offensive load and also play heavy minutes. Monte Morris will get the start for Barton, while RJ Hampton is in line for more minutes off the bench after impressing coach Malone over the last few games.
As reported by: the Denver Nuggets via Twitter Anthony Davis (achillies) will start Sunday
Although he was listed questionable due to an Achilles injury, Anthony Davis will start against the Denver Nuggets for the second game in a row. Davis played 35 minutes on Friday and showed no real limitations as he was able to put up 27 points and 9 rebounds. Lebron James will also start as expected.
As reported by: Harrison Faigen via Twitter Kawhi Leonard (leg) ruled out Sunday
Leonard was not listed on the injury report all day, and is a surprising inactive as he has been ruled out against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a lower leg contusion. Leonard will now join Paul George on the sidelines as the Clippers will have two massive usage holes to fill. Lou Williams will join the starting lineup as the Clippers will go with a three guard starting lineup. Along with Williams, Terance Mann, Marcus Morris, and Luke Kennard will also likely receive a few more minutes as well. From a usage perspective, Serge Ibaka looks to be the biggest winner as he averages 1.37 FPM with a 28.3% usage in a 68 minute sample per CourtIQ, up from his averages of 1.09 FPM and 20.9% usage. Morris, Kennard, and Williams also receive significant usage bumps as would be expected sans Leonard and George.
As reported by: Mirjam Swanson via Twitter Al-Farouq Aminu (knee), Cole Anthony (shoulder), James Ennis (groin), and Evan Fournier (back) all ruled out on Sunday
The Magic injury woes continue, as all four players that were listed questionable have been ruled out and the Magic will take on the Phoenix Suns very shorthanded. All of the players have had various lengths with their injuries; Fournier is missing his fifth straight with lower back spasms, Aminu and Anthony are missing their third straight with knee and shoulder injuries, and Ennis is missing his first game after injuring his right groin on Friday. The Magic only have eight healthy bodies, and Terrence Ross moves into the starting lineup to help MCW with ballhandling duties. Because so many of the Magic players are only playable at the frontcourt positions, MCW, Bacon and Ross will be forced to play minutes in the thirties, and room for much more if the game stays close against the Suns. There is a limited sample size in CourtIQ of all the injuries since rarely is a team so shorthanded, but Bacon has averaged 1.04 FPM in 83 minutes with all the injured Magic players off the court.
As reported by: the Orlando Magic via Twitter Other tagged players: James Ennis III, Cole Anthony, Al-Farouq Aminu Dario Saric (ankle), Cam Payne (foot), and Abdel Nader (ankle) all available to play Sunday
All three players were listed as probable earlier, and all three are active against the Orlando Magic. Nader is not expected to play, while Payne and Saric are in line to play off the bench but most likely won’t get enough minutes to be fantasy relevant.
As reported by: Gerald Bourguet via Twitter Other tagged players: Cameron Payne, Abdel Nader Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Ankle) and Josh Hart (back) available to play Sunday
Both of the Pelicans guards will be able to play through their injuries, as they have been upgraded from probable and are available against the Detroit Pistons. Hart has yet to miss a game, and has averaged 31 minutes coming off the bench. Alexander-Walker was a DNP-CD last game, and if he were to re-enter the rotation would be unlikely to play many minutes.
As reported by: the New Orleans Pelicans via Twitter Other tagged players: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Rodney Hood (foot) ruled out Sunday
After being listed questionable throughout the day, Hood was ruled out Sunday due to a left foot sprain and will miss the contest against the Dallas Mavericks. Hood suffered the injury during the Blazers game on Friday, and was limited to 12 minutes. With Derrick Jones Jr. back and starting the last few games, Hood had been relegated to the bench and only played nine minutes in the first half Friday, although he was limited partially due to foul trouble. In Hood’s absence, Nassir Little may play a few more minutes off the bench, while Carmelo Anthony, Gary Trent, and Jones may have an uptick in minutes.
As reported by: Jay Allen via Twitter Andre Drummond (rest) listed out Sunday
Despite not being listed on the injury report all day, Andre Drummond was surprisingly ruled inactive on the first game of a back-to-back against the Los Angeles Clippers. Drummond has only played 16 minutes the last two games, although one of those games was affected by a blowout. Jarrett Allen is the biggest beneficiary of the news, as he will take his starting center spot and should be in line for big minutes. In 242 minutes with Drummond, Kevin Love, and Larry Nance off the floor, Allen averages 1.25 FPM, an increase from his average 1.12 FPM per CourtIQ. Darius Garland also has increased usage in the aforementioned split, and averages 0.98 FPM, up from his 0.85 average. Although the Cavs have a tough matchup in the Clippers, there will be value to be had with Drummond’s mammoth absence.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Blake Griffin (rest) listed out Sunday; Mason Plumlee (elbow) listed as available.
After playing both ends of a back-to-back for the first time all year, Blake Griffin is listed as out due to injury management against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pistons may have been more comfortable resting Griffin since Mason Plumlee is available to return from elbow bursitis after missing the last two games for the Pistons. Plumlee is expected to start and push Isaiah Stewart back to the bench, while Saddiq Bey should take Griffin’s spot in the starting frontcourt. Bey closed the last game for the Pistons and played 27 minutes despite not starting. There has no been minutes restrictions mentioned for Plumlee.
As reported by: the Official NBA Injury Report Other tagged players: Mason Plumlee