DFS Alerts
Jaylen Brown (knee) ruled out Friday; Payton Pritchard (knee) available to play
Brown has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers due to left knee soreness, while Pritchard has been cleared to return from a two-week absence because of a sprained right knee. The Celtics are still without Marcus Smart, so there will be quite a void that needs to be filled in the wing and backcourt rotations sans Brown and Smart, and in their absences, Javonte Green, Semi Ojeleye, and Grant Williams appear to be the likeliest candidates to join the starting lineup alongside Jayson Tatum on the wing. As for Pritchard, there haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction, but given the nature of the injury and the amount of time missed, it would be foolish to expect him to immediately step into a substantial minute workload off the bench this evening.
As reported by: the Boston Celtics via Twitter Other tagged players: Payton Pritchard
David Nwaba (ankle) ruled out Thursday
As expected, Nwaba has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a sprained right ankle, while Victor Oladipo was previously ruled out for rest purposes on the second leg of a back-to-back set after logging just under 32 minutes in Wednesday’s blowout loss. However, the Wizards will have John Wall back in the starting lineup following his one-game absence, and while his sample size with Oladipo off the court remains extremely limited, Wall does have a massive 53.3% assist rate in this time. The absence of Oladipo should also allow Eric Gordon to remain in the starting lineup for at least one additional game, and he leads the team with a 31.1% usage rate in the aforementioned scenario.
As reported by: Ben DuBose via Twitter Ben Simmons (calf) ruled out Thursday
Simmons was originally listed as probable on the Sixers’ injury report, and despite going through the team’s morning walkthrough, he’s officially been ruled out of Thursday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers due to left calf tightness. In his absence, Tyrese Maxey is likely the leading candidate to join the starting lineup at point guard to give head coach Doc Rivers multiple facilitators in the first unit, while Shake Milton should also see increased playing time off the bench in tonight’s contest. Depending on how Rivers opts to deploy his rotation, it’s certainly possible someone like Isaiah Joe sees nominal minutes at the end of the rotation as well, which would certainly affect the minute floor of Maxey and Milton in the backcourt this evening.
As reported by: Derek Bodnar via Twitter Trae Young (calf) and Onyeka Okongwu (Achilles) ruled out Thursday
Young has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz due to a right calf contusion, while Okongwu will remain sidelined with left Achilles soreness that’s now forced him to miss several games. However, the Hawks will have the services of Kevin Huerter following his original probable designation on the injury report, and he’ll continue to start at the shooting guard position alongside Rajon Rondo in the backcourt and should help alleviate some of the playmaking responsibilities in Young’s absence. With Rondo starting at point guard, Brandon Goodwin will likely assume the backup role, especially with how depleted Atlanta is at the wing positions with De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic still unavailable because of their respective ailments.
As reported by: Mike Conti via Twitter Other tagged players: Onyeka Okongwu Eric Paschall (knee) listed out Thursday
Paschall has officially been downgraded from questionable and is now listed out for Thursday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks due to right knee soreness, while Kevon Looney was already ruled out with a sprained left ankle he sustained during Tuesday’s loss. This will leave the Warriors extremely depleted in the frontcourt, specifically at the center position, and with just nine available players, Juan Toscano-Anderson should have a significant minute floor as the starting power forward alongside Draymond Green in tonight’s contest. Warriors head coach has already stated he’ll have to rotate Green and Toscano-Anderson at the five, which means he’ll be forced to utilize smaller lineup combinations and could allow second unit players like Damion Lee, Brad Wanamaker, or Kent Bazemore to see significantly more playing time off the bench this evening.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Damian Lillard (abdominal) and Derrick Jones Jr. (foot) ruled out Thursday
Lillard has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers due to an abdominal strain, while Derrick Jones Jr. will remain sidelined with a sprained left foot. The Trail Blazers will also be without C.J. McCollum and Nassir Little because of their respective ailments, leaving them with just nine available bodies for tonight’s contest. In Lillard’s absence, Anfernee Simons will more than likely step into the starting lineup at point guard, but Simons was limited to just 14 minutes in Tuesday’s win after aggravating a hamstring injury, according to head coach Terry Stotts, so if that’s actually true, it remains to be seen if Simons will be subject to some kind of minutes cap and it could allow CJ Elleby to see his first significant playing time of the season.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl via Twitter Other tagged players: Derrick Jones Jr. Victor Oladipo (rest) officially out Thursday; David Nwaba (ankle) questionable
As expected, Oladipo has been included on the Rockets’ injury report and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to rest purposes on the second leg of a back-to-back set after logging just under 32 minutes in Wednesday’s blowout loss. Meanwhile, David Nwaba is currently listed as questionable, but head coach Stephen Silas already admitted to reporters that there is only a “small chance” he’s able to play in tonight’s contest. The Wizards will have John Wall back in the starting lineup following his one-game absence, and while his sample size with Oladipo off the court remains extremely limited, Wall does have a massive 53.3% assist rate in this time. The absence of Oladipo should also allow Eric Gordon to remain in the starting lineup for at least one additional game, and he leads the team with a 31.1% usage rate in the aforementioned scenario.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Other tagged players: David Nwaba Steven Adams (calf) available to play Wednesday
Adams has officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns after missing one game due to left calf tightness. In his absence, Jaxson Hayes received the starting nod at the center position, but he got in foul trouble early and only ended up logging 11 minutes of game action. Instead, Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy turned to Willy Hernangomez, who has phenomenal for fantasy purposes in just under 29 minutes of relief. Van Gundy hinted that Hernangomez could have earned himself more playing time moving forward, so it’d be far from surprising if Hayes ended up being a DNP-CD while Hernangomez assumes the backup center role in tonight’s contest.
As reported by: the New Orleans Pelicans via Twitter Andre Drummond (back) will play Wednesday
Drummond has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers after missing one game due to a sore lower back, while Larry Nance Jr. will miss a second straight contest with a sprained right wrist. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Drummond, so he will assume his usual place in the starting lineup at the center position, which will send Jarrett Allen back to the bench to assume a reserve role following a monster fantasy performance in just under 35 minutes of action in Monday’s win. Additionally, Taurean Prince will remain in the starting lineup for at least another game with Nance sidelined, but he’ll likely have a much less secure minute floor with another body available in the frontcourt rotation this evening.
As reported by: Chris Fedor via Twitter Otto Porter Jr. (back) listed out Wednesday
Porter Jr. has officially been downgraded from questionable and is now listed out for Wednesday’s matchup against the New York Knicks due to lower back spasms that ultimately limited him to just 18 minutes in Monday’s win. The absence of Porter and Wendell Carter Jr. has allowed Thaddeus Young to thrive off the bench seeing time with both the first and second units and has logged at least 29 minutes in each of the previous three contests. Additionally, Lauri Markkanan has been spending more time at the five in these lineup combinations, which has enabled Chandler Hutchison and Cristiano Felicio to see sporadic minutes for spurts with the reserves over the last few games.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Terry Rozier (ankle) ruled out Wednesday
Rozier has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to a sprained right ankle that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. In his absence, Hornets head coach James Borrego already confirmed that LaMelo Ball will receive his second start of the season at point guard, but he was hindered by foul trouble he was rather underwhelming for fantasy purposes in just over 31 minutes of action last time out. This also means that Malik Monk could remain a larger role off the bench with the second unit, but since Borrego only utilized an eight-man rotation in the previous contest, his minute floor may not be as secure if Caleb or Cody Martin rejoin the wing rotation and see substantial playing time this evening.
As reported by: Rick Bonnell via Twitter Kemba Walker (rest) officially out Wednesday
As expected, Walker was included on the Celtics’ initial injury report and won’t play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings due to rest purposes on the second leg of a back-to-back set after logging just over 30 minutes in Tuesday’s win. Boston is still without Marcus Smart and Payton Pritchard because of their respective ailments, so with the team fairly depleted in the backcourt, head coach Brad Stevens hinted that he won’t hesitate to roll out lineup combinations with Jayson Tatum running the point. Even if that’s the case, it’s likely Jeff Teague or one of the end-of-the-bench guards like Tremont Waters or Carsen Edwards end up receiving the starting nod alongside Jaylen Brown in the backcourt. However, even if Waters or Edwards starts, it seems highly improbable they see extensive minutes with Teague and Tatum absorbing most of the playing time at the point position this evening.
As reported by: Brian Robb via Twitter Rudy Gay (hip) ruled out Wednesday
Gay is a late addition to the Spurs’ injury report and won’t play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to left hip flexor tightness, while LaMarcus Aldridge was previously ruled out with right hip flexor soreness. In Aldridge’s absence, Jakob Poeltl should receive the starting nod at the center position, but he’s been volatile in terms of playing time and fantasy production as a spot starter in the past, and if he finds himself in foul trouble, it’s possible Drew Eubanks sees substantial run off the bench at the five as well. Gay being unavailable does cast some uncertainty on how head coach Gregg Popovich will deploy his frontcourt rotation, but it appears as if Devin Vassell will have the first crack at additional playing time in the second unit, though it isn’t impossible Trey Lyles sees some limited run at power forward as well.
As reported by: Paul Garcia via Twitter Russell Westbrook (rest) officially out Wednesday
As expected, Westbrook was included on the Wizards’ injury report and won’t play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to rest purposes on the second leg of a back-to-back set after logging 33 minutes in Tuesday’s loss. Washington is also still without Raul Neto because of left groin tightness, so Ish Smith is poised to see a heavy workload as the starting point guard for a depleted backcourt rotation, especially since Neto had started at the point in the previous five games Westbrook was sidelined. Unsurprisingly, Bradley Beal has been a usage monster with Westbrook off the court this season as he owns a 40.7% usage rate in addition to taking on more of a facilitator role on offense with a 31.4% assist rate in a 295.0 minutes sample size thus far.
As reported by: the Washington Wizards via Twitter Draymond Green (adductor) and Eric Paschall (back) will play Tuesday
As expected, Green has officially been upgraded from probable and will be available to play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics despite dealing with left adductor tightness, while Paschall has also been cleared to play after missing the second half of Saturday’s blowout win a tight lower back. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for either forward, so even though Paschall won’t start, he should have a great chance to see an increased role off the bench in the second unit, especially if Warriors head coach Steve Kerr allows him to play alongside Green for any significant period of time. However, if only one of Green or Paschall is on the floor at once, one of the reserve wings like Damion Lee or Kent Bazemore could see an increase in playing time or it’s possible someone like Juan Toscano-Anderson could join the rotation following a string of DNP-CDs in recent weeks.
As reported by: Anthony Slater via Twitter Other tagged players: Eric Paschall