DFS Alerts
Deandre Ayton (ankle) out Tuesday
Ayton has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a sprained left ankle that has now forced him to miss three consecutive games, while Cameron Johnson remains sidelined with mononucleosis and is still without a timetable for a return. In his absence, Aron Baynes has started the previous two contests at the center position and has been phenomenal for fantasy purposes in an average of 34.9 minutes over this span. Other than the increased role as a starter for Baynes, it’s been Ricky Rubio and Mikal Bridges that have benefitted the most with Ayton, Kelly Oubre, and Frank Kaminsky off the court, as they each own a minimum of a +1.5% increase in usage rate and are averaging at least +0.10 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long numbers.
As reported by: Sean Highkin via Twitter
Luka Doncic (wrist) and Dorian Finney-Smith (hip) available to play Tuesday
Doncic and Finney-Smith have officially been upgraded from questionable will be available to play in Tuesday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, while Seth Curry, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Willie Cauley-Stein remain sidelined with their respective ailments. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for either Doncic or Dorian Finney-Smith, so the return of Finney-Smith should send one of Maxi Kleber or Courtney Lee back to the bench to resume a reserve role, but they each were rather disappointing from a fantasy perspective despite logging at least 31 minutes apiece in Sunday’s loss.
As reported by: Mavs PR via Twitter Other tagged players: Dorian Finney-Smith LaMarcus Aldridge (shoulder) will play Tuesday
As expected, Aldridge has officially been upgraded from probable and will play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks after missing six games due to a strained right shoulder, while Lonnie Walker IV will miss a second straight contest with a left contusion and join Dejounte Murray and Jakob Poeltl on the Spurs’ inactive list. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Aldridge, but even if he’s limited, he’ll almost certainly reclaim his usual starting center spot from Drew Eubanks, who actually had a serviceable fantasy outing in 22 minutes of action in Sunday’s loss. Even with Aldridge back in the fold, DeMar DeRozan still benefits from Murray being off the court, as he owns a 29.4% usage rate, a 27.6% assist rate, and is averaging 1.27 DraftKings and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute in a 933.4 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Evan Closky via Twitter Jerome Robinson (Achilles) will start Tuesday
Robinson has officially been upgraded from questionable and will start in Tuesday’s matchup against the New York Knicks after missing one game due to left Achilles soreness, while Isaac Bonga was already ruled out with a groin contusion. In Robinson’s absence, Bonga actually ended up receiving the starting nod alongside Bradley Beal on the wing, but he was essentially irrelevant for fantasy purposes in just over 15 minutes of action, whereas Troy Brown Jr. saw 30 minutes off the bench and Shabazz Napier was forced into a massive 40-minute workload as the only true point guard on the Wizards active roster with Ish Smith still sidelined. Not one individual player sees a substantial increase in usage rate with Smith off the court since the All-Star break, but Brown does have a 22.6% assist rate and is averaging 1.01 DraftKings and 1.02 FanDuel points per minute in a 203.3 minutes sample size.
As reported by: the Washington Wizards via Twitter Ryan Arcidiacono (Achilles) out Tuesday
Arcidiacono has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs due to right Achilles soreness that has now forced him to miss two games, while Zach LaVine will miss a fifth straight contest with a left quadriceps strain. Arcidiacono ended up being a DNP-CD in last Friday’s loss with Shaq Harrison and Denzel Valentine grabbing ahold of nearly all of the wing minutes that weren’t already claimed by Otto Porter Jr. and Coby White, as they both were phenomenal for fantasy purposes in at least 27 minutes of action in the aforementioned contest. In addition, White will finally receive the first start of his rookie campaign and remains in consideration for all daily fantasy formats on a nine-slate, as he has a 26.2% usage rate, a 28.2% assist rate, and is averaging 1.15 DraftKings and 1.09 FanDuel points per minute with LaVine, Arcidiacono, and the other ailing Bulls off the court this season.
As reported by: Cody Westerlund via Twitter La La Land Value
With Dwight Howard being ruled out. Javale McGee should pick up some extra minutes now at Center. Deandre Jordan started and played 29 minutes last game, so there is a chance that the Lakers need to combat that size with McGee. For a bargain basement salary I think McGee is a safe option to make value.
Dwight Howard (illness) listed out Tuesday
Howard has been added to the latest Lakers’ injury report and is listed out for Tuesday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets due to a stomach illness, while LeBron James and Alex Caruso remain probable with their respective ailments. This will be the first time Howard has missed a game all season, and in his absence, JaVale McGee should step into a larger role as the starting center, though it may not be as large as some would like with Anthony Davis’ ability to slide over to the center position in smaller lineup combinations that could include Kyle Kuzma or Markieff Morris in tonight’s contest. However, even if McGee doesn’t see a substantial increase in playing time, he could still pay off his minuscule salary across the daily fantasy industry since he has an 18.7% rebound rate and is averaging 1.11 DraftKings and 1.18 FanDuel points per minute on the season thus far.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Stephen Curry (illness) listed out Tuesday
Curry has downgraded from questionable on the latest version of the Warriors’ injury report and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers due to an illness that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Draymond Green remains sidelined and will miss a sixth straight contest with a sore left knee. In his and Green’s absences, Mychal Mulder has started alongside Damion Lee in the backcourt, whereas Juan Toscano-Anderson should remain in the starting lineup at one of the forward positions and has logged more than 27 minutes in three of Warriors’ previous five contests. This has allowed Eric Paschall to essentially assume a starting workload off the bench, and he has benefitted the most with Curry, Green, and Kevon Looney off the court since the trade deadline, as he has a 21.6% usage rate, an 18.8% assist rate, and is averaging 1.00 DraftKings and 0.96 FanDuel points per minute in a 255.5 minutes sample size.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Isaac Bonga (groin) out Tuesday; Anzejs Pasecniks (neck) available to play
Bonga has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the New York Knicks due to a groin contusion, while Jerome Robinson remains listed as questionable with left Achilles soreness that has already forced him to miss one game. In Robinson’s absence, Bonga actually ended up receiving the starting nod alongside Bradley Beal on the wing, but he was essentially irrelevant for fantasy purposes in just over 15 minutes of action, whereas Troy Brown Jr. saw 30 minutes off the bench and Shabazz Napier was forced into a massive 40-minute workload as the only true point guard on the Wizards active roster with Ish Smith still sidelined. Not one individual player sees a substantial increase in usage rate with Smith off the court since the All-Star break, but Brown does have a 22.6% assist rate and is averaging 1.01 DraftKings and 1.02 FanDuel points per minute in a 203.3 minutes sample size.
As reported by: the Washington Wizards via Twitter Other tagged players: Anzejs Pasecniks Lou Williams (calf) out Tuesday
Williams is a new addition to the Clippers’ injury report and has been ruled out of Tuesday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors due to a sore right calf. Williams has seen his playing time off the bench diminish as the Clippers have added NBA-quality players like Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson at the trade deadline and through the buy-out market, and in his absence, Jackson and Landry Shamet will likely absorb larger roles in the second unit, especially if head coach Doc Rivers opts to condense his rotation nine-players in tonight’s contest. Even with some roster turnover, Paul George has still been the main beneficiary from a usage standpoint with Williams off the court, and he has a 33.2% usage rate, a 24.2% assist rate, and is averaging 1.38 DraftKings and 1.32 FanDuel points per minute in a 706.5 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Andrew Greif via Twitter LaMarcus Aldridge (shoulder) upgraded to probable Tuesday; Lonnie Walker IV (shin) ruled out
Aldridge has officially been upgraded from doubtful to probable for Tuesday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks due to a strained right shoulder that has already forced him to miss six games, while Walker IV will miss a second straight contest with a left contusion and join Dejounte Murray and Jakob Poeltl on the Spurs’ inactive list. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Aldridge, but even if he’s limited, he’ll almost certainly reclaim his usual starting center spot from Drew Eubanks, who actually had a serviceable fantasy outing in 22 minutes of action in Sunday’s loss. Even Aldridge likely back in the fold, DeMar DeRozan still benefits from Murray being off the court, as he owns a 29.4% usage rate, a 27.6% assist rate, and is averaging 1.27 DraftKings and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute in a 933.4 minutes sample size.
As reported by: RJ Marquez via Twitter Other tagged players: Lonnie Walker IV Boom Or Bust Value Play
Let me start off by saying this is a very risky pick and could easily not work out. With that said, I really like him for large field tournaments tonight. The Magic have struggled on defense with Isaac out, and the second unit has been even worse. Jackson is likely only going to play 20 minutes tonight but could easily have a big fantasy game in that span. Jackson has over 30% usage in three straight games.
LeBron James (groin) plans to play Tuesday
LeBron James (groin) plans to play Tuesday
As reported by: Mike Trudell via Twitter Kick Up Your Spurs
You will see multiple Spurs popping in the optimal tonight due to the injuries on this team. Trey Lyles is a solid option in cash games based on his recent run of production, as he has played in 33+ minutes in 4 out of 5 games, with the lone exception being a blowout loss at Brooklyn. As a versatile forward he also grabs one of the top matchups on paper for the slate: Dallas allows 15% more production than the league average to players with Trey Lyles. The price tag still isn’t moving enough, so he should be considered in your cash lineup tonight.
EDIT: With Aldridge being upgraded to probable, I am removing the other Spurs pieces from my cash game core.
The Love Shaq
With the injuries to the Bulls, Shaq Harrison has established a role in this rotation. He has three straight games of 28+ minutes, including 34 and 36 in the last two. A 110 implied total against a weak Cleveland team, combined with a low salary, is enough to put Harrison in play for cash games on Tuesday night.