DFS Alerts
Evan Fournier (illness), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), and Michael Carter-Williams out Sunday
Fournier is a late addition to the Magic’s injury report and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics due to an illness unrelated to COVID-19, while Gordon and Carter-Williams remain sidelined for yet another game because of their respective ailments. In Fournier’s absence, Wes Iwundu could join the starting lineup on the wing alongside James Ennis, but he is such a low per-minute fantasy producer that he’s a difficult player to target in daily fantasy formats even if he manages to see minutes in the mid-20s in tonight’s contest.
As reported by: Josh Robbins via Twitter Other tagged players: Aaron Gordon, Michael Carter-Williams
The Obvious Value Spot
Noel is your obvious value choice of the day, but unfortunately he plays in the first game on the slate. That means that he is not available on the FanDuel or Yahoo main slates. Steven Adams is going to sit again this afternoon, which opens the door for Noel to once again play heavy minutes. Noel started and played 27 largely ineffective minutes the other day, but the entire Thunder team played like garbage in a 29 point loss to Memphis. The Thunder lack depth up front, and it’s not like anyone else came in and did anything off the bench. The good news is that a much better matchup awaits today against a Wizards squad that has checked out for the season and offers little to no resistance defensively. Noel should be able to dominate the glass in this game, and I expect a solid double-double along the lines of 14 points and 11 rebounds. That is more than enough to get the job done at a $3,900 DK salary. Almost more importantly, using Noel allows you to fit in the likes of Harden + Lillard together to start your lineup.
On A Playoff-Bound Mission?
Portland has as much to play for as any team on this slate, and you KNOW Lillard is seething after essentially costing his team a big win on Saturday with his two missed free throws in the closing seconds. Patrick Beverley even hit him with the little wave from the bench. Damian Lillard is going to come to play tonight. He might drop 50. The Sixers are without Ben Simmons, and I just can’t see the likes of Shake Milton, Josh Richardson, and company slowing him down. This is a must win game for Portland, and Philadelphia is playing for virtually nothing in this game. Given the value that is available and the safety net that Lillard provides, he is difficult to fade. Lillard is averaging over 42 minutes per game during the five seeding games, and that kind of playing time is virtually unmatched for the other high-end plays. He threw a 45/4/12 line down against the Rockets a few days ago, and I think a monster game is coming tonight.
The Top Play On The Board
It is easy to forget the data because we haven’t seen much NBA action over the last few months, so a reminder is always worthwhile. In 645 minutes with both Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon off the floor this year, James Harden owns a 45% usage rate and scores 1.82 DK fantasy points and 1.72 FD fantasy points per minute. Earlier in the year, the sites proactively priced Harden up when we knew Westbrook would sit. That didn’t really happen today. Sure, he’s expensive and checks in as the highest priced player on the slate, but he doesn’t break the bank. There are minor concerns about Houston potentially limiting his minutes, but we have not seen that in the bubble just yet from Mike D’Antoni. If Harden starts today, we should expect him to play normal minutes, and then perhaps he rests in one of the other games before the regular season ends. Then again, maybe D’Antoni wants to keep everyone sharp, or maybe he really wants that four seed. We just don’t know, but we can go off of what we have seen over the past week. Harden simply can’t be ignored given his ridiculous per minute efficiency with Westbrook off the floor, especially in what promises to be a high scoring game.
Goran Dragic (ankle) out Saturday
Head coach Erik Spoelstra confirmed with reporters that Dragic will miss a second consecutive game and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns due to a sprained left ankle. He’ll join Jimmy Butler and Kendrick Nunn on the Heat’s inactive list for tonight’s contest, which creates a large minute void that needs to be filled at both of the guard positions. This makes Andre Iguodala the leading candidate to start as the pseudo point guard and may even allow rarely-used Gabe Vincent to join the rotation and absorb nominal playing time at the point this evening.
As reported by: Ira Winderman via Twitter Alex Caruso (hip) will start Saturday; Dwight Howard (knee) available to play
Caruso has officially been upgraded from questionable and will start in Saturday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers after missing one game due to neck muscle spasms, while Danny Green was previously ruled out with a sore right hip. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported earlier in the day that LeBron James and Anthony Davis will play in tonight’s contest despite their inclusion on the Lakers’ initial injury report, so James’ return will almost assuredly send Quinn Cook back to the bench to resume a reserve role, though Kyle Kuzma could end up maintaining an increased minute load for at least one more game with Green now unavailable. A lot of the value in the ancillary Lakers pieces hinged on the availability of Caruso, but Dion Waiters should still see some extended run on the and has been one of the Lakers’ primary playmakers thus far in Orlando with the second unit since Rajon Rondo is still sidelined.
As reported by: Kyle Goon via Twitter Other tagged players: Dwight Howard TJ Warren (foot), Myles Turner (ankle), and Doug McDermott (knee) available to play Saturday
Head coach Nate McMillan confirmed with reporters during his pregame Zoom availability that all Pacers players will be available to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers despite their original designations on the injury report. This includes Warren, Turner, and McDermott, who was a late scratch from from the previous game, so they each should be able to handle their usual allotment of minutes in tonight’s contest since McMillan didn’t specify that either Warren or Turner would be subject to minute restrictions this evening.
As reported by: Scott Agness via Twitter Other tagged players: Myles Turner, Doug McDermott Donovan Mitchell (leg) and Royce O'Neale (calf) available to play Saturday
Mitchell and O’Neale have officially been upgraded from their original injury designations and will be be available to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets after missing the previous game due to their respective ailments, while Emmanuel Mudiay was previously ruled out with a sore left knee. As for Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, they weren’t included on the injury report after sitting out Friday’s first leg of this back-to-back set for rest purposes, and even with Mitchell able to suit up, they are still fine daily fantasy options along with Jordan Clarkson, who should assume most, if not all, of Mudiay’s vacated playing time in his usual sixth-man role off the bench.
As reported by: the Utah Jazz via Twitter Other tagged players: Royce O'Neale Emmanuel Mudiay (knee) out Saturday
Mudiay is a late addition to the Jazz injury report and has been ruled out of Saturday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets due to a sore left knee, while Donovan Mitchell remains questionable with a peroneal strain in his lower left leg and Royce O’Neale is still probable because of right calf soreness but is fully expected to return from a one-game absence. As for Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, they weren’t included on the injury report after sitting out Friday’s first leg of this back-to-back set due to rest purposes, and if Mitchell is unable to suit up, they’ll become fantastic daily fantasy options along with Jordan Clarkson, who should assume starters’ minutes even if he remains in his usual sixth-man role off the bench.
As reported by: the Utah Jazz via Twitter Jamal Murray (hamstring) will play Saturday
Murray is reportedly set to make his Orlando bubble debut, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and will play in Saturday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz after missing each of the Nuggets’ first four seeding games due to a tight hamstring. There’s been no official word if Murray will have a minute restriction in his return to the lineup, but it’s a pretty safe bet that the Denver medical staff will want to ease him back into action following an extended layoff. It’s certainly possible Murray starts in today’s contest, but either way, Monte Morris should see a lions share of the point guard minutes while Troy Daniels may find himself out of the backcourt rotation entirely moving forward.
As reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski via Twitter Danny Green (hip) out Saturday
Green wasn’t included on the Lakers’ initial injury report, but he’s officially been ruled out and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers due to a sore right hip, while Alex Caruso remains questionable with neck muscle spasms that already forced him to miss one game. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports already previously reported that LeBron James and Anthony Davis will play in tonight’s contest despite their inclusion on the injury report, so their return will almost assuredly send Quinn Cook back to the bench to resume a reserve role, though Kuzma could end up sticking in the starting lineup for at least one more game with Green now unavailable. A lot of the value in the ancillary Lakers pieces will hinge on the availability of Caruso, but Dion Waiters should see some extended run on the wing either way and has been one of the primary playmakers in Orlando with the second unit since Rajon Rondo is still sidelined.
As reported by: Bill Oram via Twitter Hassan Whiteside (hip) officially out Saturday
As expected, Whiteside has been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a left hip strain he apparently sustained during Thursday’s win. Whiteside’s absence actually doesn’t impact the Trail Blazers’ rotation too much since he’s only been seeing nominal minutes at the center position when Jusuf Nurkic is off the court, so now that he’s unavailable, Nurkic and Zach Collins should absorb all of the playing time at the five while Mario Hezonja may rejoin the rotation to help offset the vacancy of power forward minutes with Collins playing more at the center spot.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl via Twitter Donovan Mitchell (leg) questionable Saturday; Royce O'Neale (calf) probable
Mitchell has been included on the Jazz’s initial injury report and is questionable for Saturday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets due to a peroneal strain in his lower left leg, while O’Neale is probable with right calf soreness but is fully expected to return from a one-game absence this afternoon. As for Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, they weren’t included on the injury report after sitting out Friday’s first leg of this back-to-back set due to rest purposes, and if Mitchell is unable to suit up, they’ll become fantastic daily fantasy options along with Jordan Clarkson, who should assume starters’ minutes even if he remains in his usual sixth-man role off the bench.
As reported by: Eric Walden via Twitter Other tagged players: Royce O'Neale Kawhi Leonard (rest) out Saturday
The Clippers announced that Leonard will sit out the first leg of their upcoming back-to-back set and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers for rest purposes. Los Angeles is also without Montrezl Harrell and Patrick Beverley, which should enable Reggie Jackson and Landry Shamet to receive the starting nods at point guard and shooting guard, respectively, thought Shamet is an extremely low usage player and will be tough to target in daily fantasy formats even with two starters unable to suit up for today’s contest. Paul George, Marcus Morris, and Lou Williams figure to soak up the additional usage left behind be the aforementioned Leonard, Harrell, and Beverley this afternoon.
As reported by: Andrew Greif via Twitter Kent Bazemore (calf) out Friday; Richaun Holmes (hip) will start
Bazemore has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets due to a sore right calf, while Holmes has been cleared to play and will start following his original questionable designation with a sore hip. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Holmes, but it’s certainly possible he begins to cede additional minutes to Alex Len, who was extremely productive in his 14 minutes off the bench in Thursday’s win. With Bazemore sidelined, either DaQuan Jeffries or Corey Brewer will likely join the Kings’ wing rotation, though neither will likely see significant playing time, and Cory Joseph would be the better tournament option of the three given the likelihood of spending more time alongside De’Aaron Fox in the backcourt.
As reported by: Sean Cunningham via Twitter Other tagged players: Richaun Holmes