DFS Alerts
Jarrett Allen (ankle) and Joe Harris (groin) available to play Friday
As expected, Allen and Harris have been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Friday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings despite dealing with their respective ailments. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for either player, so they should be expected to be able to handle their usual allotment of minutes in today’s contest. The Nets were recently fined by the NBA league offices for insufficient injury reporting, so it’s likely they’ll continue to be extremely liberal with their injury designations for their remaining time in the Orlando bubble.
As reported by: Brian Lewis via Twitter Other tagged players: Joe Harris
Steven Adams (leg) out Friday; Terrance Ferguson (leg) available to play
Adams was a late addition to the Thunder’s injury report and has officially been ruled out of Friday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a lower left leg contusion. Adams was able to return to the game in Wednesday’s win, so it is a bit surprising that he is unable to suit up for today’s contest but it is possible Oklahoma City is just being cautious with their starting big man. However, now that he is unavailable, Nerlens Noel instantly becomes one of the top value options of the slate since he is the only true center on the Thunder’s active roster with Mike Muscala already ruled out and still in the concussion protocol.
As reported by: Brady Trantham via Twitter Other tagged players: Terrance Ferguson This Fast Paced Guard Is Priority Number One For Me On Today's Slate
This is a game I want to target, as it’s one of the two games with a monster total that projects to play fast, the other being Pelicans/Wizards. The Kings have played much faster in the bubble (10th in bubble pace) and the Nets have as well, as they rank 3rd in pace in the bubble. The main reason for the Kings fast pace has been a healthy De’Aaron Fox. Comparing play and rates in the bubble for this game, both Fox and LeVert are standout plays. Both have the same 32% usage while Fox has a much higher 33% Assist Percentage, but LeVert has more rebounding opportunities. Fox gets the edge in minutes, averaging 34.8 per game vs. LeVert at 31.5 per game since the restart. Fox has also averaged 1.23 fppm in the bubble to LeVert’s 1.14. Truth be told, they both are great plays, but Fox is priority number one in this game, as I just feel a tad more comfortable with the Kings going all out in this one, as they are technically still alive and the game doesn’t mean much for the Nets.
Steven Adams (leg) and Terrance Ferguson (leg) listed questionable Friday
Adams is a late addition to the Thunder’s injury report and is listed as questionable for Friday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a lower left leg contusion. Adams was able to return to the game in Wednesday’s win, so it would be somewhat surprising if he’s unable to suit up for today’s contest. However, if he is unavailable, Nerlens Noel would instantly become of the top value options of the slate since he’d be the only true center on the Thunder’s active roster with Mike Muscala already ruled out and still in the concussion protocol.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Terrance Ferguson Zion Williamson (rest) out Friday
The Pelicans have announced that Williamson will sit out on the second leg of a back-to-back set and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards for rest purposes. It’s unclear if head coach Alvin Gentry’s intentions have changed, but prior to the first game of the Orlando restart, he confirmed that Nico Melli would have started at power forward if Williamson had been unable to suit up in that contest. J.J. Redick and Josh Hart are also candidates to join the starting lineup, though Redick is an intriguing option in daily fantasy formats regardless of role since both he and Derrick Favors own at least a +2.2% increase in usage rate and are averaging a minimum of +0.07 more fantasy points per minute with Williamson off the court this season.
As reported by: Andrew Lopez via Twitter Richaun Holmes (hip) and Kent Bazemore (calf) questionable Friday
Both players will be game-time decisions. Holmes’ absence would land Alex Len on the punt play radar – Len seemed to hop Harry Giles in the rotation yesterday but it’s possible Giles gets more involved with Holmes out. That’s still a very fluid situation. If Bazemore sits, we could see DaQuan Jefferies get more involved off the bench, but there won’t be any big winners from a DFS perspective.
As reported by: Sean Cunningham via Twitter Other tagged players: Kent Bazemore Aex Caruso (neck) out Thursday
Caruso has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets due to neck muscle spasms. Meanwhile, as head coach Frank Vogel hinted following Wednesday’s loss, LeBron James was previously announced unavailable for tonight’s contest to rest a lingering sore groin on the second leg of a back-to-back set. Caruso had been James’ direct backup thus far in the Orlando restart, so his absence is imperative for any potential Lakers’ value options, and with him unable to suit up, Quinn Cook will step into the starting lineup and a major role in the rotation, making him an excellent source of value on this evening’s daily fantasy slates.
As reported by: Bill Oram via Twitter Russell Westbrook (quad) officially out Thursday
As expected, Westbrook has officially been downgraded from questionable, confirming an earlier report from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, so the Rockets will be without their All-Star guard for Thursday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a right quad contusion. There was only one game prior to the Orlando restart where both Westbrook and Eric Gordon were inactive, and in that contest, Ben McLemore ended up receiving the start alongside James Harden in the backcourt, but he logged just 15 minutes while Austin Rivers came off the bench and saw nearly 33 minutes of action, likely making him the preferred option of the two for daily fantasy formats this evening.
As reported by: Mark Berman via Twitter Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Troy Daniels (hip) out Thursday
As expected, Will Barton and Gary Harris remain sidelined for the Nuggets with their respective ailments, but Paul Millsap will sit on the second leg of a back-to-back set and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers for rest purposes, while Murray and Daniels are also unavailable despite their earlier questionable designations on the injury report. The absence of Millsap re-opens the door for Michael Porter Jr. to maintain his recent elevated playing time, and he should continue to see full starters’ minutes with increased usage for as long as Murray is unable to suit up with a hamstring injury. The absence of Daniels is intriguing since he and P.J. Dozier have been absorbing most of the available reserve guard minutes, which could allow Bol Bol to assume a larger role in the second unit.
As reported by: Harrison Wind via Twitter Other tagged players: Troy Daniels Paul Millsap (rest) out Thursday; Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Troy Daniels (hip) questionable
As expected, Will Barton and Gary Harris remain sidelined with their respective ailments, but Millsap will sit on the second leg of a back-to-back set and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers for rest purposes, while Murray and Daniels are questionable for tonight’s contest. The absence of Millsap re-opens the door for Michael Porter Jr. to maintain his recent elevated playing time, and he should continue to see full starters’ minutes with increased usage for as long as Murray remains unable to suit up with a hamstring injury. The potential absence of Daniels is intriguing since he and P.J. Dozier have been absorbing most of the available reserve guard minutes, which could allow Bol Bol to assume a larger role in the second unit.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl via Twitter Other tagged players: Jamal Murray, Troy Daniels Malcolm Brogdon (neck) available to play Thursday
Brogdon was listed as questionable on the Pacers’ initial injury report, but he’s officially been cleared to play in Thursday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns despite still recovering from a cervical strain in his neck. However, Brogdon showed no ill-effects in Tuesday’s win, as he managed to log nearly 33 minutes and was more than serviceable for fantasy purposes. Head coach Nate McMillan also confirmed with reporters during his pregame Zoom conference that Goga Bitadze will be available off the bench for a second straight contest, but opposed to last time out, he plans to allocate at least some of backup center minutes to Bitadze in this afternoon’s contest.
As reported by: Scott Agness via Twitter Goran Dragic (ankle) out Thursday
Dragic was originally listed as questionable on the Heat’s injury report, and he’s officially been ruled out of Thursday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a sprained ankle, joining fellow backcourt member Jimmy Butler on the inactive list for this today’s contest. Given how depleted the Heat backcourt will be this afternoon, Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, and Tyler Herro will likely handle nearly all of the available backcourt minutes with Andre Iguodala and Derrick Jones Jr. absorbing more playing time off the bench at the forward positions. Unsurprisingly, Nunn and Bam Adebayo have benefited the most with Dragic and Butler sidelined, as they each own at least a +2.2% increase in usage rate and are averaging a minimum of +0.12 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long averages.
As reported by: Ira Winderman via Twitter LeBron James (groin) out Thursday; Alex Caruso (neck) questionable
As head coach Frank Vogel hinted following Wednesday’s loss, James has officially been ruled out for Thursday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets to rest a lingering sore groin on the second leg of a back-to-back set, while Caruso is listed as questionable with neck muscle spasms. Caruso has been James’ direct backup thus far in the Orlando restart, so his status for tonight’s contest is now imperative for any potential Lakers’ value options, and if he’s unable to suit up or if Vogel opts to keep him in a reserve role, Quinn Cook could step into a major role in the rotation and become an excellent source of value on this evening’s slates.
As reported by: Bill Oram via Twitter Other tagged players: Alex Caruso Russell Westbrook (quad) not expected to play Thursday
Westbrook is still listed as questionable on the Rockets’ injury report, but according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the team is planning on being without their All-Star guard for Thursday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a right quad contusion. There was only one game prior to the Orlando restart where both Westbrook and Eric Gordon were inactive, and in that contests, Ben McLemore ended up receiving the start alongside James Harden in the backcourt, but he logged just 15 minutes while Austin Rivers came off the bench and saw nearly 33 minutes off of action.
As reported by: Tim MacMahon via Twitter All-Star Guard Looks to Keep Team in Playoff Hunt
We’re all going to be eyeing the injury news today, but it’s worth noting that beyond the injury situations Portland is sitting just one game out of the 8th spot in the West so they will be looking to win as much as possible. It’s tempting to see “at Denver” and imagine a slow-paced game with a visiting team struggling at altitude, but without real home-court advantage Portland is a 4-point favorite today and has the highest implied point total on the slate. While some stars are taking it easy, Lillard has averaged 43 minutes per game in the re-start as Portland fights for every win.
