DFS Alerts
Omari Spellman (illness) out Saturday
Despite not being listed on the Warriors’ injury report, Spellman won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks due to an illness, while Eric Paschall will miss a second straight game with a right hip contusion. In their absences, Marquese Chriss and Alen Smailagic should be expected to handle a majority of the backup frontcourt minutes, which has become much more scarce of late with Draymond Green and Willie Cauley-Stein each taking on a higher minute workload in recent games. Additionally, Ky Bowman was recalled from the G-League once again and has logged at least 21 minutes off the bench in each of the Warriors’ previous three contests, which has cut into the playing time of Alec Burks and essentially relegated Jacob Evans to the fringe of head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation.
As reported by: Anthony Slater via Twitter
Darius Garland (ankle) available to play Saturday
Garland has officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves despite dealing with a right ankle sprain, while Kevin Love was already ruled out with a right hip contusion. Larry Nance Jr. made his return from a one-game absence in Friday’s loss and was able to record 18 minutes off the bench, which bodes well for his potential minute workload as the starting power forward this evening. In fact, the last two times Love was sidelined, Nance managed to log at least 33 minutes of action and has largely been a solid fantasy producer whenever given the opportunity for increased playing time. Kevin Porter Jr. didn’t have a drastic change in his role in the Cavaliers first game without Jordan Clarkson, but he did play 25 minutes and has actually been the main beneficiary with Love off the court, as he owns a 21.9% usage rate and is averaging 1.03 DraftKings and 1.02 FanDuel points per minute in a 133.3 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Chris Fedor via Twitter Jabari Parker (shoulder) out Saturday; Alex Len (ankle) and Evan Turner (hamstring) available
Parker has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls due to a right shoulder impingement that has now forced him to miss two games, while Len and Turner will be available to play off the bench. With Trae Young exiting late in the second quarter of Friday’s blowout loss, head coach Lloyd Pierce was forced to extend his bench as 12 players saw court time at one point or another, and Cam Reddish ended up receiving the start alongside Kevin Huerter to begin the second half. As one might expect, the absence of Young sends permutations throughout the Hawks starting lineup, and Reddish and De’Andre Hunter have capitalized the most with him off the court thus far, as they each see a minimum of a +3.8% increase in usage rate and average at least +0.13 more fantasy points per minute over their typical season-long numbers.
As reported by: Brad Rowland via Twitter Other tagged players: Alex Len, Evan Turner Bradley Beal (leg) out Saturday; Gary Payton II will start
Beal has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the New York Knicks due to lower right leg soreness. The Wizards will have Isaiah Thomas back following his two-game suspension, and head coach Scott Brooks already confirmed with reports that Payton II will receive the start alongside Thomas in the backcourt, likely keeping his streak of 30-minute outings as a member of the Wizards intact. Obviously there isn’t an actionable sample size with Beal and all of the other injured Washington players, but in that limited time, Troy Brown Jr. leads the way with a 29.6% usage rate and is averaging 1.28 DraftKings and 1.27 FanDuel points per minute, making him and Payton the top players to target since Thomas, Ish Smith, and the other ancillary rotation pieces have significantly lower minute floors this evening.
As reported by: the Washington Wizards via Twitter Other tagged players: Gary Payton II Andrew Wiggins (illness) unlikely to play Saturday; Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) remains out
Head coach Ryan Saunders admitted to reporters that Wiggins is unlikely to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to flu-like symptoms, while Karl-Anthony Towns will miss a sixth straight game and has shown no signs of returning anytime soon. This means Gorgui Dieng will almost certainly start at the center position once again, and he has finally seen a normal starters’ workload in three straight contests, recording at least 30 minutes on all three occasions. The recent emergence of Shabazz Napier as Minnesota’s starting point guard has really hindered the playing time of Jarrett Culver and Josh Okogie in the second unit, but with Wiggins seemingly unavailable, they both should see an increase in minutes and one of them should even draw the start on the wing, despite logging fewer than 18 minutes in Thursday’s double-overtime win
As reported by: Alan Horton via Twitter Other tagged players: Karl-Anthony Towns Lauri Markkanen (illness) expected to play Saturday
Head coach Jim Boylen confirmed with reporters that he expects Markkanen to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks despite battling an illness, while Zach LaVine and Wendell Carter Jr. continue to be listed as probable with their minor ailments. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Markkanen, so he presumably is healthy enough to handle his usual minute allotment in tonight’s contest. If for some reason he is limited, Thaddeus Young would likely see an increased role as the backup power forward and has already logged at least 20 minutes in each of the Bulls previous five games. Markkanen has largely had an inconsistent season for fantasy purposes, and he owns a mediocre a 21.5% usage rate while averaging an uninspiring 0.93 DraftKings and 0.90 FanDuel points per minute thus far on the year.
As reported by: Cody Westerlund via Twitter Eric Paschall (hip) listed out Saturday
Paschall has been listed out on the initial Warriors’ injury report and won’t play in Saturday’s second leg of a back-to-back set against the Dallas Mavericks due to a right hip contusion that has now forced him to miss two games. Paschall only managed to log seven minutes Wednesday’s win, so Marquese Chriss and Omari Spellman, who isn’t listed on the injury report, should be expected to handle a majority of the backup frontcourt minutes, which has become much more scarce of late with Draymond Green and Willie Cauley-Stein each taking on a higher minute workload in recent games. Additionally, Ky Bowman was recalled from the G-League once again and has logged at least 21 minutes off the bench in each of the Warriors’ previous three contests, which has cut into the playing time of Alec Burks and essentially relegated Jacob Evans to the fringe of head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) remains out Saturday
Brogdon has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Saturday’s second leg of a back-to-back set against the New Orleans Pelicans due to a sore left hamstring that has now forced him to miss three games. In his absence, Aaron Holiday will receive the start at point guard alongside Jeremy Lamb in the backcourt once again, and he has been phenomenal for fantasy purposes in an average of 30.3 minutes over the previous two contests. Other than Holiday’s increased playing time, Myles Turner has been an indirect beneficiary with Brogdon off the court this season, as he owns a 19.6% usage rate, a 12.2% rebound rate, and is averaging 1.05 DraftKings and 1.05 FanDuel points per minute in a 245.1 minutes sample size.
As reported by: the Indiana Pacers via Twitter Paul Millsap (quad) out Saturday
Millsap has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a left quad contusion. When Millsap has been sidelined in the past, Jerami Grant typically received the start at power forward in his place, but head coach Mike Malone has opted to go big by starting Mason Plumlee and Nikola Jokic together to match up with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jonas Valaciunas on the defensive end of the floor. Other than the likely increase in playing time for Plumlee and Grant, it’s unsurprisingly been Jokic that has benefitted the most with Millsap off the court, as he owns a 29.0% usage rate, a 37.4% assist rate, and is averaging 1.45 DraftKings and 1.40 FanDuel points per minute in 281.1 minutes sample size.
As reported by: the Denver Nuggets via Twitter Andrew Wiggins (illness) questionable Saturday
Wiggins has been added to the Timberwolves’ injury report and is questionable for Saturday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to flu-like symptoms, while Karl-Anthony Towns remains questionable with a sprained left knee that’s already forced him to miss five games and appears unlikely to suit up anytime soon at this point. If that’s the case, Gorgui Dieng should start at the center position once again, and he has finally seen a normal starters’ workload in three straight contests, recording at least 30 minutes on all three occasions. The recent emergence of Napier as Minnesota’s starting point guard has really hindered the playing time of Jarrett Culver and Josh Okogie in the second unit, so unless Wiggins is ruled out, they shouldn’t be expected to handle a significant minute workload, especially after both logged fewer than 18 minutes in Thursday’s double-overtime win
As reported by: Timberwolves PR via Twitter Kevin Love (hip) out Saturday; Darius Garland (ankle) questionable
Love has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a right hip contusion, while Garland is questionable for tonight’s second leg of a back-to-back set with a sprained right ankle. Larry Nance Jr. made his return from a one-game absence in Friday’s loss and was able to record 18 minutes off the bench, which bodes well for his potential minute workload as the likely starting power forward this evening. In fact, the last two times Love was sidelined, Nance managed to log at least 33 minutes of action and has largely been a solid fantasy producer whenever given the opportunity for increased playing time. Kevin Porter Jr. didn’t have a drastic change in his role in the Cavaliers first game without Jordan Clarkson, but he did play 25 minutes and has actually been the main beneficiary with Love off the court, as he owns a 21.9% usage rate and is averaging 1.03 DraftKings and 1.02 FanDuel points per minute in a 133.3 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Dane Moore via Twitter Other tagged players: Darius Garland Alex Len (ankle) and Jabari Parker (shoulder) listed questionable Saturday; Evan Turner (hamstring) probable
Len and Parker are listed as questionable on the Hawks’ injury report for Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls, while Turner is listed as probable with a strained hamstring. With Trae Young exiting late in the second quarter of Friday’s blowout loss, head coach Lloyd Pierce was forced to extend his bench as 12 players saw court time at one point or another, and Cam Reddish ended up receiving the start alongside Kevin Huerter to begin the second half, giving him the leg up on one of the starting guard positions this evening. As one might expect, the absence of Young sends permutations throughout the Hawks starting lineup, and Reddish and De’Andre Hunter have capitalized the most with him off the court thus far, as they each see a minimum of a +3.8% increase in usage rate and average at least +0.13 more fantasy points per minute over their typical season-long numbers.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Jabari Parker, Evan Turner Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) listed out Saturday
Antetokounmpo is listed out on the Bucks’ initial injury report and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic due to a sore back that has now forced him to miss two games. In his absence, Ersan Ilyasova received the starting nod at power forward, as expected, and was phenomenal for fantasy purposes in just 24 minutes of action in Friday’s blowout win. Ilyasova and the rest of the Bucks starters were pulled with over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of that contest, so it’s certainly conceivable he could eclipse the 30-minute mark in a more competitive game script. While Ilyasova, Brook Lopez, and Donte DiVincenzo all benefit with Antetokounmpo sidelined, Khris Middleton has been the largest beneficiary, by far, with Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe off the court, as he owns a 37.1% usage rate (+10.8%), a 31.9% assist rate (+12.3%), and is averaging 1.61 DraftKings and 1.51 FanDuel points per minute in a 172.1 minutes sample size.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Mohamed Bamba (ankle) questionable Saturday
Bamba a has been listed as questionable in the Magic’s injury report for Saturday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a sprained right ankle that has already forced him to miss one game. Bamba has continued to serve solely as the backup center behind Nikola Vucevic, and he’s only averaged 15.6 minutes per game to this point in the season. So, obviously, his potential absence won’t have much of an impact on the remaining members of the frontcourt rotation, but Khem Birch should at least assume Bamba’s vacated role he remains sidelined, but still leaves him out of consideration for daily fantasy formats on tonight’s 13-game main slate.
As reported by: John Denton via Twitter Chase The Minutes
Let me preface this by saying writing up Lonzo Ball is scary. We’ve seen his low floor when his shot isn’t falling, and there’s nothing on paper that’s good about this matchup. The Pacers are 22nd in pace (how ironic) and 8th in defensive rating. They also rank 19th in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards. But with that said, it’s possible the Pelicans catch the Pacers without Malcolm Brogdon, who missed Friday’s game with a groin injury. Additionally, the Pelicans are riding a modest two-game winning streak which started when Lonzo Ball was inserted into the starting lineup. Ball played just 18 minutes in that first start against the Blazers, but didn’t play the entire 4th quarter as the Pelicans were winning and rode the hot hands of E’twaun Moore and Kenrich Williams. In his last start, however, Ball played a team-high 36 minutes. If Ball can somehow get 30+ minutes and this game stays close, I can see upside here at his relatively affordable price tag, making him an option I’m looking at for all formats.
