DFS Alerts
Nassir Little (knee) ruled out Tuesday
Little has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards due to a sprained left knee he sustained towards the end of Monday’s blowout loss, while Derrick Jones Jr. will miss a third straight game with a sprained left foot. In Little’s absence, Rodney Hood will join the starting lineup at small forward, but the Trail Blazers have continued to cap his playing time to the mid-20s in terms of minutes regardless of role, so Anfernee Simons still figures to have a substantial role off the bench and has logged at least 27 minutes in each of the previous four contests.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl via Twitter
Nicolas Batum (groin) will start Tuesday
Batum has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets after missing one game due to a left groin contusion, while Patrick Beverley remains sidelined with right knee soreness and is still without a timetable for a return. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Batum, so he should reclaim his normal place in the starting lineup and see somewhere near his usual minute workload, which will send Patrick Patterson back to the bench following his respectable fantasy performance in just under 20 minutes of action in Sunday’s win. However, ever since Marcus Morris returned from an extended injury absence, Batum has seen his previously stable minute floor become exponentially more volatile on a nightly basis.
As reported by: Shane Young via Twitter Norman Powell (quad) available to play Tuesday
As expected, Powell has officially been upgraded from probable and will be available to play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic after missing two games due to a right quad contusion, while OG Anunoby remains sidelined with a strained left calf. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Powell, so he should rejoin the starting lineup in place of Anunoby and see somewhat close to his usual workload as a starter, which will send Terence Davis back to the bench to resume a reserve role following a couple of lackluster fantasy performances as a member of the first unit. Powell’s price tag is still elevated across the industry despite the two-game absence, but he’ll remain an intriguing tournament option since he was logging heavy minutes prior to his aforementioned injury.
As reported by: Blake Murphy via Twitter Naz Reid (wrist) available to play off the bench Monday
Reid has officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available off the bench in Monday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers after missing two games due to a sprained right wrist, while D’Angelo Russell has also been cleared to play despite dealing with a right quad contusion that recently kept him sidelined for three games. Reid had been starting at the center position ever since Karl-Anthony Towns has been sidelined with COVID-19, so his demotion, temporary or not, will allow Ed Davis to start at the five once again following another underwhelming fantasy performance in just under 23 minutes of action last time out. As for Russell, there haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction on the second leg of a back-to-back set, so he should be fine to assume his usual minute workload as a member of the first unit this evening.
As reported by: Dane Moore via Twitter Steven Adams (calf) officially out Monday
As expected, Adams has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings due to right calf tightness. In his absence, Jaxson Hayes will receive the starting nod at the center position in tonight’s contest, but the promotion to the first unit doesn’t necessarily guarantee Hayes a stable minute floor as there are a number of ways Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy can go with lineup combinations throughout the games. Nicolo Melli also figures to see an increased role off the bench as a small-ball five or power forward, and Zion Williamson is more than capable of absorbing minutes as a small-ball center as well, which may lead to more playing time for players in the second unit like Josh Hart or Nickeil Alexander-Walker this evening.
As reported by: Pelicans PR via Twitter D'Angelo Russell (quad) will play Monday
Russell has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Monday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers despite dealing with a right quad contusion that recently forced him to miss three games, while Naz Reid will be a game-time decision because of a sprained right wrist that as already kept him sidelined for two games. Reid has been starting at the center position ever since Karl-Anthony Towns has been sidelined with COVID-19, so his potential absence would create a major void in the frontcourt rotation and would likely allow Ed Davis to start at the five once again following another underwhelming fantasy performance in just under 23 minutes last time out. As for Russell, there haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction on the second leg of a back-to-back set, so he should be fine to assume his usual minute workload as a member of the first unit this evening.
As reported by: Dane Moore via Twitter Terry Rozier (ankle) ruled out Monday
Rozier has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to a sprained right ankle he sustained during the first half of Saturday’s win. In his absence, Hornets head coach James Borrego already confirmed that LaMelo Ball will receive his first start of the season at point guard, and he was fantastic for fantasy purposes in just over 31 minutes of action last time out. This also means that Malik Monk should step into 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: Charlotte Hornets PR via Twitter Andre Drummond (back) ruled out Monday
Drummond has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a sore lower back, while Larry Nance Jr. was already ruled out with a sprained right wrist. Both Nance and Drummond logged at least 32 minutes on the front end of Cleveland’s back-to-back set on Sunday night, so with Drummond now unable to suit up, there will be a surplus of playing time available for the taking in the frontcourt rotation. As of now, Cedi Osman will likely join the starting lineup at power forward whereas Taurean Prince should also see an uptick in minutes coming off the bench with the second unit. Additionally, Jarrett Allen and JaVale McGee will likely see most, if not, all of the vacated center minutes this evening.
As reported by: Spencer Davies via Twitter Larry Nance Jr. (wrist) listed out Monday; Andre Drummond (back) listed questionable
Nance Jr. was included on the Cavaliers’ injury report and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a sprained right wrist, while Drummond is listed as questionable with a sore lower back. Both Nance and Drummond logged at least 32 minutes on the front end of Cleveland’s back-to-back set on Sunday night, so if Drummond is unable to suit up, there will be a surplus of playing time available for the taking in the frontcourt rotation. As of now, Cedi Osman will likely join the starting lineup at power forward whereas Taurean Prince should also see an uptick in minutes coming off the bench with the second unit. Additionally, should Drummond be unavailable, Jarrett Allen and JaVale McGee will likely see most, if not, all the of the vacated center minutes this evening.
As reported by: Kelsey Russo via Twitter Other tagged players: Andre Drummond Juancho Hernangomez (injury management) unlikely to play Monday
Hernangomez has officially cleared the NBA’s health and safety protocols, but even though he’ll be active for Monday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he’ll only play in case of emergency as he continues to ramp up his conditioning following an extended self-isolation period. The Timberwolves continue to list D’Angelo Russell as questionable with a quad injury, but he’s played through the aforementioned tag in two straight games now, making it highly likely he’ll be good to go for tonight’s contest. As for Naz Reid, his status may be more up in the air, and he remains questionable after missing two games because of a sprained right wrist.
As reported by: Chris Hine via Twitter Gary Harris (adductor) ruled out Monday
Harris was included on the Nuggets’ initial injury report and has officially been ruled out of Monday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a strained adductor he sustained early in Sunday’s win. Monte Morris ended up starting the second half of that contest in place of Harris and was relatively solid for fantasy purposes in just 26 minutes of action in a blowout. However, it’s still certainly possible that head coach Michael Malone opts to start someone out of the normal rotation like Bol Bol or RJ Hampton to keep his second unit intact to begin the game, but either way, Morris and Michael Porter Jr. figure to see increased roles no matter if they join the first unit or come off the bench as normal.
As reported by: Mike Singer via Twitter Naz Reid (wrist) ruled out Sunday
Reid has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a sprained right wrist that already forced him to miss Friday’s loss, while D’Angelo Russell was cleared to play once again despite dealing with a right quad contusion that recently forced him to be sidelined for three games. Reid had been starting at the center position ever since Karl-Anthony Towns has been sidelined with COVID-19, so his absence creates a major void in the frontcourt rotation and will likely allow Ed Davis to start at the five once again following a dismal fantasy performance in just under 23 minutes last time out. As for Russell, there haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction in his second game back, so he should be fine to assume his usual minute workload as a member of the first unit this evening.
As reported by: Dane Moore via Twitter D’Angelo Russell (quad) will play Sunday
Russell has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers despite dealing with a right quad contusion that recently forced him to miss three games, while Naz Reid will be a game-time decision because of a sprained right wrist that kept him sidelined for Friday’s loss. Reid has been starting at the center position ever since Karl-Anthony Towns has been sidelined with COVID-19, so his potential absence would create a major void in the frontcourt rotation and would likely allow Ed Davis to start at the five once again following a dismal fantasy performance in just under 23 minutes last time out. As for Russell, there haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction in his second game back, so he should be fine to assume his usual minute workload as a member of the first unit this evening.
As reported by: Jace Frederck via Twitter Norman Powell (quad) officially out Sunday
Powell has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic due to a bruised quad that has now forced him to miss two games, while OG Anunoby will also be held out once again with a strained left calf that has now forced him to miss three consecutive games. Powell had started several games in a row with Toronto’s recent rash of injuries in their starting lineup, and since he’s unable to suit up, Terence Davis will remain in the starting lineup alongside Fred VanVleet on the wing, but he was rather underwhelming for fantasy purposes in just 19 minutes of action last time out. This will allow Yuta Watanabe, Stanley Johnson, and possibly one of Paul Watson, DeAndre’ Bembry, or Malachi Flynn to see substantial playing time with the second unit this evening.
As reported by: Blake Murphy via Twitter Donovan Mitchell (concussion) and Derrick Favors (back) available to play Sunday
As expected, Mitchell has officially been upgraded probable and will be available to play in Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets after missing two consecutive games due to a concussion, while Favors has also been cleared to return following a two-game absence because of a lower back contusion. There hasn’t been any indication from the Jazz that Mitchell might be subject to a minute restriction, so he should be fine to assume his usual place in the starting lineup and handle a somewhat normal minute workload. This means that Joe Ingles will head back to the bench to resume a reserve role, and with Favors back as well, Georges Niang figures to see a reduction in playing time as he was helping to fill the vacant backup center minutes along with Juwan Morgan and Udoka Azubuike.
As reported by: Eric Walden via Twitter Other tagged players: Derrick Favors