DFS Alerts
Paul George (hamstring) and Patrick Beverley (groin) available to play Monday
George has officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Monday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies after missing one game due to a strained left hamstring, while Beverley is set to return from a six-absence because of a sore right groin. There haven’t been any reports of potential minute restrictions for either George or Beverley, so they should reclaim their usual spots in the starting lineup and could even be fine to handle close to a normal minute workload in tonight’s contest. Regardless of possible limitations, Landry Shamet and Reggie Jackson will head to the bench to assume diminished roles in the second unit at their respective positions.
As reported by: Tomer Azarly via Twitter Other tagged players: Patrick Beverley
Russell Westbrook (thumb) scratched Monday
Despite originally being listed as active, Westbrook is now a late scratch and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the New York Knicks due to right thumb soreness. In his absence, Eric Gordon will receive the starting nod alongside James Harden in the backcourt, but this will only be his second game following an extended injury layoff himself, so it’s no guarantee he’ll be able to handle a full starters’ minute workload in tonight’s contest. If that’s the case, it could lead to a more extended run for Austin Rivers and Ben McLemore off the bench with the second unit. However, it should come as no surprise that Harden is the primary beneficiary with Westbrook off the court this season, as he owns a 44.6% usage rate, a 44.1% assist rate, and is averaging 1.78 DraftKings and 1.69 FanDuel points per minute in a 761.5 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Cayleigh Griffin via Twitter Elfrid Payton (ankle) out Monday
Payton has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets due to a sore right ankle that has now forced him to miss two games, while Frank Ntilikina was already ruled out with bilateral groin soreness. In Payton’s absence, Ntilikina received the starting nod at point guard and was solid for fantasy purposes in 32 minutes of action in Friday’s loss, whereas Dennis Smith Jr. assumed the backup point guard duties in that contest and logged 16 minutes off the bench. The Knicks won’t even have the services of Kadeem Allen, who is usually recalled from the G-League for depth purposes in these situations, which means Smith should be allotted all the minutes he can handle as the starting point guard this evening. On top of that, Smith has a 22.4% usage rate, 31.3% assist rate, and is averaging 0.87 DraftKings and 0.85 FanDuel points with Payton, and Ntilikina off the court this season.
As reported by: Chris Iseman via Twitter Davis Bertans (knee) out Monday
Bertans has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a sore right knee, while Thomas Bryant will sit on the second leg of a back-to-back set because of injury management for his right knee. Bryant has played just 16 or fewer minutes in each of his first two games since returning from the aforementioned injury, so his absence won’t have too much of an impact on the remaining members of the frontcourt rotation, especially since Ian Mahinmi has also seen his playing time drastically decline in the two contests following the All-Star break. Mortiz Wagner also hasn’t seen more than 16 minutes over the Wizards previous three games, but if he can have his playing time increased to at least somewhere in the mid-20s with both Bryant and Bertans sidelined, he’ll be an intriguing tournament option since he is averaging 1.09 DraftKings and 1.07 FanDuel points per minute on the season thus far.
As reported by: Chris Miller via Twitter Tobias Harris (knee) will play Monday
Harris has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Monday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks despite dealing with a right knee contusion, while Ben Simmons has already been ruled out with a lower back injury as the Sixers await results from further testing that is supposed to take place this afternoon. Simmons exited Saturday’s loss after playing just five minutes, and he was replaced by Shake Milton in the starting lineup to begin the second half of that contest, making Milton the leading candidate to start alongside Josh Richardson in the backcourt this evening. However, Milton accrued six of his 22 total minutes in garbage time, which may indicate a potentially larger role for Alec Burks in the first unit as a primary ballhandler even if he comes off the bench. Even so, Milton and Joel Embiid have benefitted the most with Simmons off the court, as they each own a minimum of a +3.0% increase in usage rate and are averaging +0.12 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long numbers.
As reported by: Noah Levick via Twitter Still Can't Believe He Won The Dunk Contest
Jones Jr. drew the start on Saturday against Cleveland with Jimmy Butler out. Butler has already been ruled out for tonight’s game, and I’m guessing we see the same starting lineup for Miami. Jones Jr. scored 35 fantasy points, and he’s still really cheap across the industry. With all the value from Philly, he’s not getting as much love as I thought he would today.
Jake Layman (toe) available to play Monday
Layman has quickly been upgraded from probable and will be available to play in Monday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks after missing 41 games with a sprained left toe, while Allen Crabbe was already ruled out for personal reasons that have now forced him to miss two games. D’Angelo Russell was excluded from the Timberwolves initial injury report and is set to return from a one-game absence for rest purposes in Sunday’s loss, which will send Jordan McLaughlin back to the bench to resume his usual backup point guard duties following a stellar fantasy performance in just under 34 minutes as a starter in the aforementioned contest. Even though Layman will likely be eased back into game action in his return to the lineup, his mere presence could through a wrench into the minute floors of several Minnesota forwards like James Johnson, Juancho Hernangomez, and Kelan Martin in tonight’s contest and moving forward.
As reported by: Dane Moore via Twitter Allen Crabbe (personal) remains out Monday; Jake Layman (toe) probable
Crabbe has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks due to personal reasons that have now forced him to miss two games, while Jake Layman has surprisingly been upgraded to probable after missing 41 games with a sprained left toe. D’Angelo Russell was excluded from the Timberwolves initial injury report and is set to return from a one-game absence for rest purposes in Sunday’s loss, which will send Jordan McLaughlin back to the bench to resume his usual backup point guard duties following a stellar fantasy performance in just under 34 minutes as a starter in the aforementioned contest. Even though Layman will likely be eased back into game action if he’s cleared to return, his mere presence could through a wrench into the minute floors of several Minnesota forwards like James Johnson, Juancho Hernangomez, and Kelan Martin moving forward.
As reported by: Timberwolves PR via Twitter Other tagged players: Jake Layman Frank Ntilikina (groin) out Monday
Ntilikina has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t be available to play in Monday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets due to bilateral groin soreness, while Elfrid Payton remains questionable with a sore right ankle that has already forced him to miss one game. In Payton’s absence, Ntilikina received the starting nod at point guard and was solid for fantasy purposes in 32 minutes of action in Friday’s loss, whereas Dennis Smith Jr. assumed the backup point guard duties in that contest and logged 16 minutes off the bench. If he’s cleared to play without any restrictions, Payton could be a tremendous tournament option on an eight-game slate since he has a 20.0% usage rate, a 31.9% assist rate, and is averaging 1.06 DraftKings and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute on the season thus far.
As reported by: Mike Vorkunov via Twitter Thomas Bryant (rest) out Monday; Davis Bertans (knee) questionable
Bryant has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Monday’s second leg of a back-to-back set against the Milwaukee Bucks due to injury management for his right foot, while Bertans is listed as questionable with a sore right knee. Bryant has played just 16 or fewer minutes in each of his first two games since returning from the aforementioned injury, so his absence won’t have too much of an impact on the remaining members of the frontcourt rotation, especially since Ian Mahinmi has also seen his playing time drastically decline in the two contests following the All-Star break. Mortiz Wagner also hasn’t seen more than 16 minutes over the Wizards previous three games, but if he can have his playing time increased to somewhere in the mid-20s with at least one of Bryant and Bertans sidelined, he’ll be an intriguing tournament option since he is averaging 1.09 DraftKings and 1.07 FanDuel points per minute on the season thus far.
As reported by: the Washington Wizards via Twitter Other tagged players: Davis Bertans Tobias Harris (knee) upgraded to questionable Monday
Harris has been upgraded from doubtful and is now questionable for Monday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks due to a right knee contusion, while Ben Simmons has already been ruled out with a lower back injury as the Sixers await results from further testing that is supposed to take place this afternoon. Simmons exited Saturday’s loss after playing just five minutes, and he was replaced by Shake Milton in the starting lineup to begin the second half of that contest, making Milton the leading candidate to start alongside Josh Richardson in the backcourt this evening. However, Milton accrued six of his 22 total minutes in garbage time, which may indicate a potentially larger role for Alec Burks in the first unit as a primary ballhandler even if he comes off the bench. Even so, Milton and Joel Embiid have benefitted the most with Simmons off the court, as they each own a minimum of a +3.0% increase in usage rate and are averaging +0.12 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long numbers.
As reported by: Kyle Neubeck via Twitter A Rotation In Flux
One of the best situations to capitalize on is when a team’s rotation is in flux. Due to injury, the 76ers rotation will be in flux on Monday night as Philadelphia is forced to fill minutes for Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris. While Joel Embiid, Josh Richardson, and Al Horford will be some of the heaviest owned players on the slate, some of Philadelphia’s secondary players – like Alec Burks – may go a bit overlooked. We currently have Burks projected for 24 minutes but there seems to be some decent upside in that projection as it wouldn’t be surprising if he logged closer to 30 minutes of court time. At 24 minutes Burks rates as a fringe value option but if you up his projection to 30 minutes he would arguably become the best value option on the slate.
Mario Hezonja (ankle) available to play Sunday
Despite Hezonja originally being listed out on the Trail Blazers’ injury report, he’s now been listed as available for Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons after missing three games due to a sprained left ankle. Head coach Terry Stotts previously told reporters at his pregame media availability that Hezonja would “try to play” if he made it through pregame warmups, so there is still at least some doubt as to whether he actually sees the court in tonight’s contest. There also hasn’t been any specification on how many minutes Hezonja might play, but it appears more than likely that his potential presence in the rotation would only affect the playing time off ancillary pieces like Wenyen Gabriel and possibly Nassir Little this evening.
As reported by: Jamie Goldberg via Twitter Mario Hezonja (ankle) will try to play Sunday
Despite Hezonja originally being listed out on the Trail Blazers’ injury report, head coach Terry Stotts disclosed to reporters during his pregame media availability that Hezonja will go through pregame warmups and try to play in Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons after missing three games due to a sprained left ankle. There hasn’t been any specification on how many minutes Hezonja might play if he’s cleared by the training staff, but it appears more than likely that his potential presence in the rotation would only affect the playing time off ancillary pieces like Wenyen Gabriel and possibly Nassir Little this evening.
As reported by: Jamie Goldberg via Twitter Marquese Chriss (calf) out Sunday
Chriss has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans due to left calf soreness, while Draymond Green was already ruled out with a right pelvic contusion as well. In their absences, head coach Steve Kerr already confirmed with reporters at his pregame media availability that Kevon Looney and Eric Paschall will receive the starting nods at the center and power forward positions, respectively, though Looney hasn’t logged more than 19 minutes in a single game all season, so it would seem highly unlikely he’d step into a typical starters minute workload. The Warriors did sign Dragan Bender to a 10-day contract on Saturday afternoon and also recalled Alen Smailagic from the G-League to provide depth in the frontcourt, making them the likely playing time beneficiaries with Chriss and Green sidelined.
As reported by: Logan Murdock via Twitter Other tagged players: Kevon Looney