DFS Alerts
Luka Doncic (wrist, back) will play Tuesday
As expected, head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed with reporters that Doncic will play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder despite dealing with a sprained left wrist and back contusion, while Ryan Broekhoff and Tim Hardaway Jr. were already ruled out with their respective ailments. Hardaway exited midway through the first quarter of Sunday’s loss, and he was surprisingly replaced by J.J. Barea in the starting lineup to begin the second half of that contest, though Barea has rarely been in the rotation this season and Seth Curry or Jalen Brunson, appear to be the likelier candidate to start alongside Doncic in the backcourt this evening. The absence of Hardaway doesn’t send too many permutations throughout the Mavericks starting lineup, but whoever draws the start, particularly Brunson since he is a better fantasy producer on a per-minute basis and is averaging 0.99 DraftKings and 0.95 FanDuel points per minute thus far on the year.
As reported by: Erik Horne via Twitter
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will start ahead of OG Anunoby on Tuesday
Head coach Nick Nurse hinted to reporters during his pregame media availability that he was considering changing up his starting lineup for Tuesday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he has ultimately decided to do so by giving Hollis-Jefferson the nod over Anunoby at power forward. Anunoby’s minutes have been trending downward over the last three games, so it’s not a surprise that he is the odd man out of the first unit, but it is a bit strange that Hollis-Jefferson is starting after logging just three minutes in Sunday’s loss. This could be a signal that Nurse is attempting to keep his rotations largely intact and makes Hollis-Jefferson a risky fantasy option on tonight’s four-game main slate if he’s solely used as a false starter this evening.
As reported by: Blake Murphy via Twitter Other tagged players: OG Anunoby Danilo Gallinari (ankle), Dennis Schroder (ankle), and Hamiou Diallo (elbow) available to play Tuesday
Gallinari and Schroder have been upgraded from questionable and are available to play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, while Diallo will be available to make his return from over a month-long absence due to a sprained right elbow hyperextension. In Diallo’s absence, Abdel Nader and Luguentz Dort have absorbed larger minute allotments off the bench with the second unit at the guard and wing positions, but it remains to be seen if Diallo resumes a prominent reserve role rotation tonight and moving forward. Diallo does average a solid 0.85 DraftKings and 0.89 FanDuel points per minute on the season, but even when he was healthy, he would rarely eclipse the 20-minute mark when the Thunder are at full strength, making his a player that can be safely avoided on tonight’s four-game slate.
As reported by: Brady Trantham via Twitter Other tagged players: Dennis Schroder, Hamidou Diallo Gary Harris (shin) out Tuesday; Paul Millsap (knee) available to play
Harris has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets due to a left shin contusion that has now forced him to miss two games, while Millsap will make his return from a one-game absence because of a left knee contusion. In Harris’ absence, Michael Porter Jr. ended up receiving the start at small forward, and he was phenomenal from a fantasy perspective in Sunday’s win. However, head coach Michael Malone has opted to start Torrey Craig alongside Jamal Murray in the backcourt in tonight’s contest, likely in an effort to try and slow down James Harden on the defensive end of the floor
As reported by: the Denver Nuggets via Twitter Other tagged players: Paul Millsap James Harden (toe) and Clint Capela (heel) will play Tuesday
As expected, Harden and Capela will play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets after previously being questionable due to their respective ailments. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook will also return from a one-game absence for rest purposes, which will send Austin Rivers and Eric Gordon back to the bench to resume with reserves roles, and Gordon will likely still be subject to a restriction of 25 minutes following a serviceable fantasy outing in just over 22 minutes of action in Sunday’s loss. There haven’t been any reports of potential minute restrictions for Harden and Capela though, so Harden figures to be a great option at his depressed price tag as he continues to have a 38.0% usage rate, a 36.5% assist rate, and average 1.63 DraftKings and 1.56 FanDuel points per minute thus far on the year.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Other tagged players: Clint Capela Hamidou Diallo (elbow) listed questionable Tuesday
Diallo has been upgraded to questionable on the latest Thunder injury report for Tuesday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks due to a sprained right elbow hyperextension that’s already forced him to miss over a month, while Danilo Gallinari and Dennis Schroder remain questionable with their respective ailments. In his absence, Abdel Nader and Luguentz Dort have absorbed larger minute allotments off the bench with the second unit at the guard and wing positions, but it remains to be seen if Diallo resumes a prominent reserve role if he’s cleared to play this evening. Diallo does average a solid 0.85 DraftKings and 0.89 FanDuel points per minute on the season, but even when he was healthy, he would rarely eclipse the 20-minute mark when the Thunder are at full strength, making his a player that can be safely avoided on tonight’s four-game slate.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Tim Hardaway Jr. (hamstring) listed out Tuesday; Luka Doncic (back, wrist) probable
Hardaway Jr. has been downgraded from questionable on the latest Mavericks’ injury report and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a strained left hamstring, while Luka Doncic is now probable with a back contusion and a sprained left wrist. Hardaway exited midway through the first quarter of Sunday’s loss, and he was surprisingly replaced by J.J. Barea in the starting lineup to begin the second half of that contest, though Barea has rarely been in the rotation this season and Seth Curry appears to be the likelier candidate to start alongside Doncic in the backcourt this evening.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Joel Embiid (knee) out Tuesday
Embiid is a surprise late addition to the Sixers’ injury report and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers due to a sore left knee, while Matisse Thybulle remains sidelined with a sprained left knee and bone bruise. In Embiid’s absence, Mike Scott will likely receive the starting nod alongside Al Horford in the frontcourt, but he was rather disappointing from a fantasy perspective in 21 minutes of action in his most recent spot start for Embiid just two weeks ago. Norvelle Pelle has recently been ahead of Kyle O’Quinn in the pecking order at the center position when either Embiid or Horford is unavailable, but their minutes are typically capped if Horford spends most of his playing time at the five-spot. Unsurprisingly, Horford and Tobias Harris have benefitted the most with Embiid off the court, as they each own a minimum of a +2.2% increase in usage rate and average at least +0.22 more fantasy points per minute over their usual season-long numbers.
As reported by: Serena Winters via Twitter Lou Williams (personal) out Tuesday
Williams is a late addition to the Clippers’ injury report and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings due to personal reasons, while Patrick Beverley was already ruled out with a sprained right wrist. Additionally, as of last night, Terrance Mann was on a G-League assignment with the Clippers affiliate, so they could be extremely shorthanded at the point guard position since Mann typically starts as pseudo point guard whenever Williams and Beverley are sidelined. This may allow Landry Shamet to draw the start as a secondary ballhandler to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in the starting unit, but Geroge has clearly benefitted the most thus far with Williams and Beverley off the court, as he owns a gaudy 43.1% usage rate, a 41.1% assist rate, and is averaging 1.88 DraftKings and 1.79 FanDuel points per minute in 118.0 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Andrew Greif via Twitter James Harden (toe) and Clint Capela (heel) plan to play Tuesday
Harden and Capela were listed as questionable on the Rockets’ injury report, but according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, both Harden and Capela plan to play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets after missing the previous game due to their respective ailments. Russell Westbrook will also return from a one-game absence for rest purposes, which will send Austin Rivers and Eric Gordon back to the bench to resume with reserves roles, and Gordon will likely still be subject to a restriction of 25 minutes following a serviceable fantasy outing in just over 22 minutes of action in Sunday’s loss. There haven’t been any reports of potential minute restrictions for Harden and Capela, so Harden figures to be a great option at his depressed price tag as he continues to have a 38.0% usage rate, a 36.5% assist rate, and average 1.63 DraftKings and 1.56 FanDuel points per minute thus far on the year.
As reported by: Chris Haynes via Twitter Other tagged players: Clint Capela Big Man Rounding into Shape
Over the last two weeks, Nikola Jokic has returned to his elite status and put up big numbers. It appears he needed to burn off some offseason extra weight and is now humming along. Over those two weeks, he has averaged 22.7 points per game to go along with 8 assists, 10 rebounds and 1.6 stocks, and he is also hitting two 3-pointers per contest.
Increased Minutes Because Of Injuries
With Russell and Cauley-Stein out tonight, Ky Bowman should see an increase in minutes. The rookie guard has been back and forth from the NBA and G-League but has produced when given the opportunity. He is extremely cheap across the industry and should have no problem paying off this price point. I really hope he doesn’t end up in the starting lineup because I could see him having a much higher usage with the second unit.
Deandre Ayton (ankle) will play Monday
Ayton was originally ruled out, but he participated fully in shootaround and will now play in Monday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers after missing five games due to a sprained right ankle. Even if Ayton is limited to the 24 minutes he recorded in his first game back from a 25-game suspension, his mere presence in the frontcourt rotation is enough to remove Aron Baynes from consideration in daily fantasy formats, even though he’s logged at least 26 minutes as the starting center in all five games Ayton has been sidelined. Ayton likely won’t see a full complement of minutes, but he has been great for fantasy purposes when he’s actually played this season, as he owns a 23.8% usage rate, a 20.4% rebound rate, and is averaging 1.42 DraftKings and 1.46 FanDuel points per minute in his 57.6 minutes thus far on the year.
As reported by: Duane Rankin via Twitter Blake Griffin (knee) officially out Monday
As expected, Griffin won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz due to a sore left knee, while Luke Kennard and Markieff Morris were already ruled out with their respective ailments. This leaves the Pistons starting lineup a bit influx since head coach Dwane Casey usually prefers to bring Christian Wood off the bench as the backup at power forward and center when the team is this shorthanded. This means that Bruce Brown appears to be the likeliest candidate to start alongside time Frazier in the backcourt, coincidentally sliding Svi Mykhailiuk and Tony Snell over to the two forward positions.
As reported by: Aaron Falk via Twitter Kelan Martin will start for Treveon Graham (illness) on Monday
With Andrew Wiggins and Treveon Graham already ruled out for Monday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets due to their respective ailments, head coach Ryan Saunders has opted to start rookie Kelan Martin at small forward following his impressive fantasy performance in 30 minutes of action in Saturday’s loss. Graham recently replaced Josh Okogie in the starting lineup, and now that he’s unavailable, Okogie could become a viable pivot option for tournaments away from Martin since he and Jeff Teague each see a minimum of a +5.3% increase in usage rate and average at least +0.10 more fantasy points per minute with Wiggins and Towns off the court this season.