DFS Alerts
Kawhi Leonard (protocols) and Paul George (protocols) available to play Friday; Patrick Beverley (knee) remains out
Leonard and George weren’t included on the Clippers’ initial injury report and will be available to play in Friday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic after missing two games due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, while Beverley will miss a third straight contest because of a sore right knee. There haven’t been any reports of potential minute restrictions for Leonard and George, so they should be fine to handle their usual minute allotments and assume their usual places in the starting lineup, which will send Luke Kennard and Terance Mann back to the bench to assume their usual reserve roles in tonight’s contest. However, the continued absence of Beverley will allow Reggie Jackson to start at point guard once again, though it’s unlikely he’ll still maintain the stable minute floor that’s enabled him to average just under 38 minutes over the previous two games.
As reported by: Andrew Greif via Twitter Other tagged players: Paul George, Patrick Beverley
Kevin Durant (injury recovery) ruled out Friday
Durant is a new addition to the Nets’ injury report and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder as the team continues to manage his recovery from an Achilles injury. In his absence, Jeff Green becomes a candidate to rejoin the starting lineup at the power forward position, but the last time Durant was sidelined, Bruce Brown ended up receiving the starting nod alongside Joe Harris, who essentially played a small-ball four to begin that contest, and was rather mediocre for fantasy purposes in 23 minutes of action. The sample size is still incredibly small for the Big Three era in Brooklyn, but thus far with Durant off the court, Kyrie Irving has led the way with a massive 41.3% usage rate while James Harden owns an equally substantial 47.2% assist rate.
As reported by: the Brooklyn Nets via Twitter Some conflicting reports, but Gary Trent Jr. expected to start over Rodney Hood on Thursday
Some conflicting reports, but Gary Trent Jr. expected to start over Rodney Hood on Thursday. This doesn’t change a ton, but Trent Jr.‘s minute projection climbs to about 30 with Rodney Hood now projected for 18 minutes of floor time. Trent Jr.‘s DFS viability improved with him in the starting lineup.
Other tagged players: Rodney Hood
Andre Iguodala (neck spasms) also now out on Thursday
Andre Iguodala (neck spasms) also now out on Thursday. His absence should open up extra floor time for the likes of KZ Okpala, Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. None of them are recommended DFS targets with Tyler Herro back, but Okpala and Vincent should see minutes in the low-to-mid 20’s.
As reported by: Tim Reynolds LeBron James will play Thursday
LeBron James will play Thursday. The Lakers are on the second half of a back-to-back set, but James will play with Anthony Davis on the shelf. With Davis off the floor this year, LeBron holds a 36.6% usage rate and 1.54 FPPM mark per CourtIQ, so the ceiling is massive if his court time isn’t limited.
As reported by: Johnny Kane Kyle Kuzma will start in place of Anthony Davis on Thursday
Kyle Kuzma will start in place of Anthony Davis on Thursday. Kuzma should be expected to see close to 30 minutes as a starter, with Markieff Morris also eating up some of what Davis is leaving behind. Montrezl Harrell and Talen Horton-Tucker are also candidates to see a little extra run.
As reported by: Ryan Ward Tyler Herro will play Thursday; Avery Bradley not expected to play
Tyler Herro will play Thursday, while Avery Bradley is not expected to play. We have Herro projected at 32 minutes in his return thanks to the continued absences of Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic. Kendrick Nunn’s ceiling takes a hit, but he’s still expected to see minutes in the low-to-mid 30s with a lack of depth at guard, so he’s not out of DFS consideration just yet. Bradley will sit on the second half of a B2B after returning to the lineup last night.
Other tagged players: Avery Bradley Rodney Hood back in starting lineup alongside Lillard, Jones Jr., Anthony and Kanter; Gary Trent to the bench
Rodney Hood back is in the starting lineup alongside Lillard, Jones Jr., Anthony and Kanter with Gary Trent Jr. heading back to the bench. Hood is projected for 25 minutes and is a fringe GPP option with CJ McCollum on the shelf. Trent’s playing time should land somewhere in the mid 20s after he played 41 as a starter with Hood on the shelf on Tuesday.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl Other tagged players: Gary Trent Jr. Christian Wood will start Thursday; DeMarcus Cousins to the bench
Christian Wood will start Thursday in his return to the Rockets lineup, pushing DeMarcus Cousins to the bench. Wood should be expected to step into near-normal minutes – he’s projected for 32 minutes in the RotoGrinders projections. This takes Cousins out of play for DFS purposes, while Wood is a GPP option in what will be a different offense than the one he left with Oladipo and Wall healthy and in the fold.
As reported by: Mark Berman Other tagged players: DeMarcus Cousins Duncan Robinson, Gabe Vincent listed available to play Thursday; Avery Bradley listed questionable
Butler and Dragic will remain out on Thursday. We still don’t have official word on Tyler Herro, who remains questionable – Avery Bradley also now joins Herro with a questionable tag on the 5:30 injury report. The Heat will have Duncan Robinson and Gabe Vincent available. It’s looking like we could see a rotation similar to last night with Kendrick Nunn seeing heavy minutes as a starting guard with the offense running through him and Bam Adebayo. Duncan Robinson has been playing minutes in the mid-to-high 30s with the Heat shorthanded and he figures to push for that again here in what is expected to be a competitive game. We’ll continue to update on the Heat as news trickles in pre-game.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Gabe Vincent, Avery Bradley Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic listed out Thursday
Butler and Dragic will remain out on Thursday. We still don’t have official word on Tyler Herro, who remains questionable – Avery Bradley also now joins Herro with a questionable tag on the 5:30 injury report. The Heat will have Duncan Robinson and Gabe Vincent available. It’s looking like we could see a rotation similar to last night with Kendrick Nunn seeing heavy minutes as a starting guard with the offense running through him and Bam Adebayo. Duncan Robinson has been playing minutes in the mid-to-high 30s with the Heat shorthanded and he figures to push for that again here in what is expected to be a competitive game. We’ll continue to update on the Heat as news trickles in pre-game.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro, Avery Bradley, Duncan Robinson, Gabe Vincent Anthony Davis (quad) ruled out for Thursday
Anthony Davis (quad) ruled out for Thursday. This is the second half of a back-to-back set for the Lakers, and after consistently listing Davis and LeBron James questionable throughout the year, at least one of them will actually sit here. We don’t have clarity on LeBron’s status, as he continues to hold his questionable tag. With Davis off the floor, Markieff Morris and Kyle Kuzma are both potential starters in the frontcourt, although it’s actually Montrezl Harrell that leads the team in minutes with Davis off the court so far this year. Kuzma owns a .86 FPPM mark with Davis off while Morris sits at .75 and Harrell at .98. LeBron owns a 36.6% usage rate and a 1.56 FPPM mark, so if he plays, he’s a very strong upside target in all formats.
As reported by: Bill Oram Other tagged players: LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, Montrezl Harrell Devin Booker (left hamstring strain) and Cam Payne (right foot soreness) ruled out for Thursday
Devin Booker (left hamstring strain) and Cam Payne (right foot soreness) have been ruled out for Thursday. Both players sat on Wednesday – Cam Johnson continued to start in Booker’s place while E’Twaun Moore and Jevon Carter picked up what Cam Payne had left behind. Chris Paul holds a 26% usage rate and 1.24 FPPM with Booker off the floor this year, so he’s still firmly on play despite the back-to-back. Jae Crowder, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges also pick up some appeal with Booker out.
As reported by: Keelan Olson Other tagged players: Cameron Payne, Chris Paul, E'Twaun Moore Jimmy Butler upgraded to questionable Thursday; Herro, Dragic, Duncan Robinson also questionable
Jimmy Butler has been upgraded to questionable Thursday, while Tyler Herro, Goran Dragic and Duncan Robinson are also questionable. The Heat have a lengthly injury report this afternoon with Max Strus also listed questionable and Gabe Vincent coming in with a probable tag – Maurice Harkless, Meyers Leonard and Chris Silva remain out. Butler’s return to the lineup would be a big plus for what has been a very shorthanded group, but it will eat into the usage and per-minute upside of Bam Adebayo and Kendrick Nunn, who have been leading the offense with Butler, Herro and Dragic on the shelf. The Heat draw a Clippers team on Thursday night that will be without Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Patrick Beverley.
As reported by: Ira Winderman Other tagged players: Tyler Herro, Goran Dragic, Duncan Robinson D'Angelo Russell (quad) ruled out Wednesday
Russell has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors due to a right quad contusion that has now forced him to miss three consecutive games. In Russell’s absence, Ricky Rubio will receive another start at the point guard position following another solid fantasy performance in 28 minutes of action last time out. Jordan McLaughlin has served as the backup point guard in these contests and has also been fairly productive during his time on the floor, but if Rubio continues to flirt with 30 minutes as a starter, which isn’t guaranteed by any means, it’s improbable McLaughlin will see enough playing to become fantasy relevant on a 12-game slate across the industry this evening.
As reported by: Jon Krawczynski via Twitter