DFS Alerts
LeBron James (groin) will start Saturday
James has officially been upgraded from questionable and will start in Saturday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies after missing one game due to a sore left groin, while Danny Green was already ruled out with right hip soreness. There initially wasn’t any indication from the team or head coach Frank Vogel on who will replace Green in the starting lineup, but Alex Caruso will surprisingly receive the starting nod alongside Avery Bradley on the wing, whereas Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Markieff Morris could be in line for additional playing time in the second unit with one less player available. In James’ absence, Rajon Rondo ended up receiving the starting nod at point guard, and he was solid for fantasy purposes in just under 26 minutes of action in Thursday’s blowout win, but he’ll likely see that playing time regress closer to normal levels unless Vogel opts to utilize lineups with James and Rondo together on the floor for extended stretches of tonight’s contest.
As reported by: Mike Trudell via Twitter
Andre Drummond (calf) will play Saturday
As expected, Drummond has officially been upgraded from probable and will play in Saturday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers after missing two games due to a strained left calf, while Tristan Thompson was already ruled out for tonight’s second leg of a back-to-back set with a left knee contusion. In Drummond’s absence, Thompson has started at the center position and managed to record at least 31 minutes in both contests, whereas Ante Zizic stepped into a minimal role as the backup center but only averaged 8.6 minutes over this span with Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr.‘s ability to man the five-spot in smaller lineup combinations for extended stretches. If Drummond isn’t limited and steps directly into the playing time vacated by Thompson, he’ll be an excellent option for daily fantasy formats, and he has a 29.2% usage rate, a 22.6% rebound rate, and is averaging 1.38 DraftKings and 1.37 FanDuel points per minute in a 105.3 minutes sample size with Thompson and Alfonzo McKinnie off the court.
As reported by: James Rapien via Twitter Caris LeVert (hand) available to play Saturday
LeVert has officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Miami Heat despite dealing with a right-hand contusion. With Kyrie Irving out for the season with a right should impingement, LeVert has taken on an expanded role in head coach Kenny Atkinson’s rotation and has seen his minute restrictions from earlier in the year lifted in recent weeks despite only logging just 27 minutes in Friday’s blowout loss. There haven’t been any reports of a potential limitation on LeVert’s playing time in tonight’s contest, so he should be fine to handle a normal allotment of minutes and will keep ancillary rotation pieces like Garrett Temple and Rodions Kurucs in their usual reserve roles with the second unit. LeVert has a 31.1% usage rate, a 23.4% assist rate, and is averaging 1.13 DraftKings and 1.09 FanDuel points per minute with Irving off the court, making him a viable tournament option on a seven-game slate.
As reported by: Alex Schiffer via Twitter Draymond Green (knee) listed questionable Saturday
Green has been downgraded to questionable on the latest Warriors’ injury report for Saturday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns due to a sore left knee, while Jordan Poole was already ruled out with a sprained right ankle and Andrew Wiggins will return from a one-game absence because of back spasms. If Green is cleared to play, he will likely move over to the de facto starting point guard position with Poole and Ky Bowman unavailable, whereas Wiggins and recently-signed Mychal Mulder figure to help shoulder the load as offensive ballhandlers in the first and second units as well. There is almost no sample size with Poole and Bowman off the court since the conclusion of the NBA trade deadline, but Wiggins has a 24.8% usage rate and is averaging 1.07 DraftKings and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute in a 192.8 minutes sample and figures to see an even bigger boost in his usage and assist numbers this evening.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Andrew Wiggins (back) listed available Saturday; Jordan Poole (ankle) listed out
As expected, Wiggins has officially been upgraded from probable on the latest Warriors’ injury report and will be available to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns after missing one game due to back spasms, while Poole has been ruled out with a sprained right ankle. Draymond Green is also now listed as questionable because of a sore knee, but if he’s cleared to play, he will likely move over to the de facto starting point guard position with Poole and Ky Bowman unavailable, whereas Wiggins and recently-signed Mychal Mulder figure to help shoulder the load as offensive ballhandlers in the first and second units as well. There is almost no sample size with Poole and Bowman off the court since the conclusion of the NBA trade deadline, but Wiggins has a 24.8% usage rate and is averaging 1.07 DraftKings and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute in a 192.8 minutes sample and figures to see an even bigger boost in his usage and assist numbers this evening.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Jordan Poole Danny Green (hip) listed out Saturday
As expected, Green has been downgraded from doubtful on the latest Lakers’ injury report for Saturday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to right hip soreness, while LeBron James remains questionable with a sore left groin that has already forced him to miss one game. There hasn’t been any indication from the team or head coach Frank Vogel on who will replace Green in the starting lineup, but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the overwhelming favorite to start alongside Avery Bradley on the wing, whereas Alex Caruso and Markieff Morris could be in line for additional playing time in the second unit. In James’ absence, Rajon Rondo ended up receiving the starting nod at point guard, and he was solid for fantasy purposes in just under 26 minutes of action in Thursday’s blowout win.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Victor Oladipo (ankle) listed questionable Saturday
Victor Oladipo (ankle) listed questionable Saturday
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Coby White (back) available to play Saturday
White has officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Saturday’s matchup against the New York Knicks despite dealing with a low back strain, while Denzel Valentine is available off the bench following a seven-game absence because of a sore left hamstring and Wendell Carter Jr. was already cleared to start after missing nearly two months with a severely sprained right ankle. It was always difficult to imagine the Chicago training staff allowing head coach Jim Boylen to throw Carter directly into a substantial minute workload given his difficulty to stay healthy early in on his career, and he’ll be subject to a restriction of 22 minutes in his first game back. Even though Carter is starting in his return, one or both of Daniel Gafford Christiano Felicio should continue to have significant roles in the frontcourt rotation, especially with Luke Kornet still slated to miss another month of action with a fractured left foot and ankle sprain.
As reported by: K.C. Johnson via Twitter Eric Gordon (knee) expected to play Saturday
Gordon is still technically listed as questionable on the Rockets’ injury report, but according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston, he is expected to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics after missing one game due to a right knee contusion. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Gordon, so he’ll more than likely be fine to handle a normal minute workload off the bench, and he managed to log at least 24 minutes in each of his previous two games prior to sitting out Wednesday’s blowout win. Danuel House Jr. and Robert Covington have remained in the starting lineup at the forward positions, and Covington was solid fantasy purposes once again in just over 29 minutes of action last time out, whereas House has consistently disappointed when both James Harden and Russell Westbrook are available. Clearly, Covington appears to have the more secure minute floor of the two, and he has averaged 1.02 DraftKings and 1.05 FanDuel points per minute since being traded to Houston prior to the deadline.
As reported by: Mark Berman via Twitter Wendell Carter Jr. (ankle) will start Saturday
As expected, Carter Jr. has officially been upgraded probable and will start in Saturday’s matchup against the New York Knicks after missing nearly two months with a severely sprained right ankle, while Denzel Valentine will be available off the bench following a seven-game absence because of a sore left hamstring. It was always difficult to imagine the Chicago training staff allowing head coach Jim Boylen to throw Carter directly into a substantial minute workload given his difficulty to stay healthy early in on his career, and he’ll be subject to a restriction of 22 minutes in his first game back. Even though Carter is starting in his return, one or both of Daniel Gafford Christiano Felicio should continue to have significant roles in the frontcourt rotation, especially with Luke Kornet still slated to miss another month of action with a fractured left foot and ankle sprain.
As reported by: K.C. Johnson via Twitter Deandre Ayton (hip) and Cameron Johnson (back, hip) questionable Saturday
Ayton and Johnson have officially been listed as questionable on the Suns’ initial injury report for Saturday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors due to their respective ailments, while Aron Baynes is listed as probable with a rib contusion. Johnson made several trips to the locker room during Friday’s loss, but he was able to play the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter and close the game with the other Suns’ starters. If Ayton is unable to suit up, Baynes would likely join the starting lineup at the center position, but he hasn’t played more than 16 minutes in any of his five games since returning from an extended injury layoff, which may allow Cheick Diallo to enter the rotation and absorb a meaningful role off the bench after accruing a DNP-CD in three of the previous four contests.
As reported by: Gina Mizell via Twitter Other tagged players: Cameron Johnson Wendell Carter Jr. (ankle) listed probable Saturday; Denzel Valentine (hamstring) available
Carter Jr. has been upgraded from questionable to probable on the latest Bulls’ injury report for Saturday’s matchup against the New York Knicks due to a sprained right ankle that has already forced him to miss almost two months, while Valentine will be available to return from a seven-game absence because of a sore left hamstring. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for either player, but it’d be difficult to imagine the Chicago training staff allowing head coach Jim Boylen to throw Carter directly into a substantial minute workload given his difficulty to stay healthy early in on his career. Even if Carter is cleared to start, one or both of Christiano Felicio and Daniel Gafford should continue to have significant roles in the frontcourt rotation, especially with Luke Kornet still slated to miss another month of action with a fractured left foot and ankle sprain.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Denzel Valentine Caris LeVert (hand) questionable Saturday
LeVert has officially been listed as questionable on the initial Nets’ injury report for Saturday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to a right-hand contusion. With Kyrie Irving out for the season with a right should impingement, LeVert has taken on an expanded role in head coach Kenny Atkinson’s rotation and has seen any minute restrictions from earlier in the year lifted in recent weeks despite only logging 27 minutes in Friday’s blowout loss. The Nets haven’t been in many situations where both LeVert and Irving are unavailable for the same game, but if LeVert is unable to suit up, either Garrett Temple or Rodions Kurucs would be the leading candidates to join the starting lineup and either Theo Pinson or Chris Chiozza would be forced into backup point guard duties in tonight’s contest. Unsurprisingly, Spencer Dinwiddie benefits the most with Levert and Irving off the court, as he owns a 33.2% usage rate, a 40.1% assist rate, and is averaging 1.25 DraftKings and 1.20 FanDuel points per minute in a 1,099.3 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Brian Lewis via Twitter Tristan Thompson (knee) out Saturday; Andre Drummond (calf) probable
Thompson has been included in the initial Cavaliers’ injury report and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers due to a left knee contusion, while Drummond is listed as probable with a strained left calf that has forced him to miss two games. In Drummond’s absence, Thompson has started at the center position and managed to record at least 31 minutes in both contests, whereas Ante Zizic stepped into a minimal role as the backup center but only averaged 8.6 minutes over this span with Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr.‘s ability to man the five-spot in smaller lineup combinations for extended stretches. If Drummond isn’t limited and steps directly into the playing time vacated by Thompson, he’ll be an excellent option for daily fantasy formats, and he has a 29.2% usage rate, a 22.6% rebound rate, and is averaging 1.38 DraftKings and 1.37 FanDuel points per minute in a 105.3 minutes sample size with Thompson and Alfonzo McKinnie off the court.
As reported by: Chris Fedor via Twitter Other tagged players: Andre Drummond Bruce Brown (knee) officially out Friday; Sekou Doumbouya (calf) available to play
As expected, Brown has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns due to a sore left knee that has now forced him to miss two games, while Doumbouya is available to play off the bench despite dealing with a strained left calf. In his absence, head coach Dwane Casey expanded his rotation to 12 players and really diluted the vacated guard minutes with Khyri Thomas and Derrick Walton Jr. both getting minimal run with the second unit, while Brandon Knight and Langston Galloway each accrued 25 minutes off the bench in Tuesday’s loss. There isn’t a tremendous sample size with Brown and the other departed former Pistons off the court since the trade deadline, but in that limited time, Christian Wood has a 29.4% usage rate, a 22.9% rebound rate, and is averaging 1.31 DraftKings and 1.27 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: Johnny Kane via Twitter