DFS Alerts
Kyle Lowry (ankle) available to play Sunday
Lowry has officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Sunday’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets after missing two consecutive games due to a sprained right ankle. There’s yet to be any reports of a potential minute restriction for Lowry, so he’ll almost certainly reclaim his customary starting point guard position from Fred VanVleet, who was inconsistent from a fantasy perspective in Lowry’s most recent absence despite logging at least 36 minutes in both of the aforementioned contests. The return of Lowry will also siphon away usage from Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam, but unsurprisingly, Leonard still leads the Raptors with a 32.8% usage rate since the NBA trade deadline and is averaging 1.31 DraftKings and 1.28 FanDuel points per minute over that same time period.
As reported by: Blake Murphy via Twitter
Kevon Looney (arm) questionable Sunday
Looney has been added to the Warriors’ injury report and is questionable for Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a right forearm contusion, while DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala have already been ruled out for rest purposes on the second leg of a back-to-back set. In Cousins’ absence, Andrew Bogut will more than likely receive the starting nod at center, as he has done so in the two most recent games Cousins has been sidelined but averaged just 16 minutes as a member of the starting unit in those contests. The remaining vacated frontcourt minutes could be absorbed by a number of reserve players, and Looney still hasn’t seen an uptick in playing time even with Cousins unavailable of late. Ever since Cousins made his Warriors debut, Stephen Curry has been a clear beneficiary with him off the court, as he owns a 35.2% usage rate (+5.8%) and is averaging 1.46 DraftKings and 1.37 FanDuel points per minute in a solid 502.3 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Warriors PR via Twitter Harry Giles III (thigh) remains out Sunday
Giles has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a left thigh contusion that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. Prior to Saturday’s win, head coach Dave Joerger already confirmed during his pregame media availability that tests revealed that there is no structural damage to Giles’ leg, so it appears that he won’t be sidelined for a significant period of time. However, in his absence, Willie Cauley-Stein and Nemanja Bjelica figure to continue being the main beneficiaries in terms of playing time, while Marvin Bagley III could also see a few extra minutes but has already logged at least 28 minutes in each of the Kings previous three games, leaving little room for a substantial increase considering he’s just six games removed from an extended injury hiatus because of a sprained left knee.
As reported by: Jason Anderson via Twitter Darren Collison (quad) out Sunday
Collison has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets due to a right quad contusion that has now forced him to miss three consecutive games. In his absence, Cory Joseph will receive the starting nod at point guard once again, but he has been relatively underwhelming from a fantasy perspective in an average of 24.3 minutes in his two most recent starts. Considering the diminished role Tyreke Evans has had since the NBA trade deadline and All-Star break prior to Collison’s injury, it should be expected for Aaron Holiday to remain in the rotation following a stretch of three consecutive DNP-CDs and absorb a substantial portion of the available backup point guard minutes in the second unit. Somewhat surprisingly, Domantas Sabonis has been the largest beneficiary with Collison off the court over the past 17 games, as he owns a 26.6% usage rate and is averaging 1.38 DraftKings and 1.33 FanDuel points per minute in a 199.9 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Pat Boylan via Twitter DeMarcus Cousins (rest) and Andre Iguodala (rest) out Sunday
Cousins and Iguodala have both been included on the Warriors’ injury report and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to rest purposes on the second leg of a back-to-back set, while Stephen Curry, Andrew Bogut, and Shaun Livingston are all slated to return from a one-game hiatus for load management as well. In Cousins’ absence, Andrew Bogut will more than likely receive the starting nod at center, as he has done so in the two most recent games Cousins has been sidelined but averaged just 16 minutes as a member of the starting unit in those contests. The remaining vacated frontcourt minutes could be absorbed by a number of reserve players, and Kevon Looney still hasn’t seen an uptick in playing time even with Cousins unavailable of late. Ever since Cousins made his Warriors debut, Stephen Curry has been a clear beneficiary with him off the court, as he owns a 35.2% usage rate (+5.8%) and is averaging 1.46 DraftKings and 1.37 FanDuel points per minute in a solid 502.3 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Rod Beard via Twitter Other tagged players: Andre Iguodala Giannis Antetokounmpo (ankle) expected to play Sunday
Antetokounmpo still technically remains listed as questionable on the Bucks’ injury report, but head coach Mike Budenholzer did confirm with reporters that he expects Antetokounmpo to play in Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers despite dealing with a sprained right ankle, while Malcolm Brogdon, Donte DiVincenzo, and Pau Gasol all remain sidelined with their respective ailments. In Brogdon’s absence, Tony Snell has started the three previous games alongside Khris Middleton on the wing, and he’s surprisingly been mostly serviceable from a fantasy perspective in an average of 21.7 minutes of action over that span, though Ersan Ilyasova has also benefitted from a depleted Bucks roster and has logged at least 25 minutes in each of last two contests. Unsurprisingly, Antetokounmpo has been the primary beneficiary with Brogdon and Nikola Mirotic off the court since the NBA trade deadline, as he owns a 37.2% usage rate (+4.1%) and is averaging 1.96 DraftKings and 1.90 FanDuel points per minute in a 157.5 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Matt Velazquez via Twitter Anthony Davis (back) listed as probable Sunday
Davis has been added to the Pelicans’ injury report and is probable for Sunday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets due to lower back spasms, while Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore continue to be sidelined with their respective ailments. The Pelicans’ front office has stayed true to their word in regards to limiting Davis’ playing time, and he’s consistently been limited to 20-22 minutes per game when active. This does minimalize the impact of his potential absence, but if he is unable to suit, Jahlil Okafor has typically started and been the main beneficiary in terms of minutes when Davis is sidelined. Since his price tag has been depressed across the industry, Davis still remains in consideration as tournament target on a nightly basis, as he still leads the Pelicans with a 29.2% usage rate and is averaging 1.81 DraftKings and 1.87 FanDuel points per minute since the conclusion of the All-Star break.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Roller-Coaster
It’s been a roller-coaster of a season for JaVale McGee who is once again trending up as he posted monster numbers (33/20/6) in the Lakers last game against the Nets. McGee’s minutes have been difficult to project on a daily basis but the Lakers big man has logged 30+ minutes of court time in three of his last four games and should be in line for at least mid-20’s minutes in a favorable matchup against the Kings. The Kings not only have trouble defending opposing bigs but they play at the second fastest pace in the league which leads to inflated fantasy totals for the opposition.
Soak Up Minutes
Al Horford – OUT. Jayson Tatum – Doubtful. Gordon Hayward – Questionable. Aaron Baynes – Questionable. Robert Williams – OUT. It’s not an exaggeration to say that all of the Celtics front court is on the injury report except for Marcus Morris. Morris will be relied upon heavily to soak up minutes for the Celtics and is a strong point-per-dollar option despite a difficult matchup against the Spurs.
Jayson Tatum (back) doubtful Sunday
Tatum has officially been listed as doubtful for Sunday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs due to a bruised right lower back he sustained during Saturday’s loss, while Gordon Hayward and Aron Baynes have been upgraded to questionable as they recover from their respective ailments. The Celtics will also be without Al Horford and Robert Williams III, so Jaylen Brown will likely draw the start alongside Marcus Smart on the wing regardless of Hayward’s availability, and he’s already managed to log at least 30 minutes in three of the Celtics previous six games, giving him a substantial minutes floor with Tatum unlikely to suit up. On the other hand, if Baynes is cleared, he’ll likely draw the start at center in Horford’s place, but he shouldn’t be expected to see extended run considering the aforementioned injury and the fact he’s failed to eclipse the 16-minute mark in six of his last nine contests, which means Daniel Theis and Guerschon Yabusele could absorb meaningful minutes with the second unit this evening.
As reported by: Adam Himmelsbach via Twitter Al Horford (knee) out Sunday; Gordon Hayward (concussion) and Aron Baynes (ankle) questionable
Horford has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs due to a sore left knee that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Hayward and Baynes have been upgraded to questionable as they recover from their respective ailments. Jayson Tatum is also listed as doubtful with a bruised right lower back, so Jaylen Brown will likely draw the start alongside Marcus Smart on the wing regardless of Hayward’s availability, and he’s already managed to log at least 30 minutes in three of the Celtics previous six games, giving him a substantial minutes floor with Tatum unlikely to suit up. On the other hand, if Baynes is cleared, he’ll likely draw the start at center in Horford’s place, but he shouldn’t be expected to see extended run considering the aforementioned injury and the fact he’s failed to eclipse the 16-minute mark in six of his last nine contests, which means Daniel Theis and Guerschon Yabusele could absorb meaningful minutes with the second unit this evening.
As reported by: Adam Himmelsbach via Twitter Other tagged players: Gordon Hayward, Aron Baynes Braver Than I
You are a braver person than I am if you’re interested in fading the highest ceiling player by a wide margin on a 4-game slate. Mike D’Antoni had mentioned wanting to rein Harden in to the 32-34 minute mark but that hasn’t held true over the last couple of games as Harden has topped 37 regulation minutes in each of his last two monster performances. Even if Harden’s minutes are reduced, he still has the best floor + ceiling combination of the main slate’s high-priced players in a matchup against a Pelicans team that plays at the third fastest pace in the league.
Nicolas Batum (illness), Cody Zeller (knee), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (concussion), and Tony Parker (personal) out Sunday
Batum has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors due to an illness that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Parker is currently away from the team and Zeller and Kidd-Gilchrist remain sidelined with their respective ailments. Batum was moved to the bench in favor of Dwayne Bacon in Thursday’s win, but head coach James Borrego has been noncommittal when asked by reporters about his plans for the rotation moving forward, and even though Bacon will likely start once again, it makes it difficult trust most Hornets players in any daily fantasy formats for the time being. However, Miles Bridges appears to be locked into a solid minute floor with Charlotte turning their attention to player development in the final stretch of the season, and he’s logged at least 29 minutes in each of the previous three contests while averaging 1.13 DraftKings and 1.14 FanDuel points per minute over this span, which makes him an appealing target on tonight’s slate, but especially on DraftKings where his price has yet to adjust at all.
As reported by: Charlotte Hornets PR via Twitter Other tagged players: Cody Zeller, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Tony Parker The Top Spend Up Option
There are question marks with the other high-end studs tonight (outside of Irving). We don’t know how much LeBron James will play. Andre Drummond feels overpriced. The safety lies with Harden, and there will be enough value out there to where we can fit Harden into our lineups with relative ease. Outside of one poor game, he’s been rolling for a few weeks, and nobody can touch his floor on this slate. Harden has attempted a laughable SEVENTY-THREE shot attempts over the last two games for Houston, cracking 75+ fantasy points on FD and 80+ on DK/FDRAFT in each of those games. The good vibes aren’t likely to slow down against a tanking Pelicans squad that is playing at a fast tempo these days and doesn’t offer much defensive resistance.
Late Season Surge
Okay then, JaVale McGee. The big man is coming off what was by far the best game of his NBA career the other night, where he played 35 minutes and messed around for 35 points, 20 rebounds, and six blocks. Again, that’s 35 points, 20 rebounds, and six blocks. Where did THAT come from? Even though they really don’t care about winning these days, the Lakers surprisingly still ran just an eight man rotation in the last game, and McGee has played 30+ minutes in three of the last four games. Until we see otherwise, we can expect McGee to log around 30 minutes. The matchup tonight is also a good one against a Kings team that will push the pace and doesn’t offer much in the way of defense. We certainly can’t bank on another 35/20 game, but McGee remains surprisingly affordable on all of the DFS sites. It’s uncomfortable to say this, but he’s a core play at this salary, and it actually feels pretty safe. Cue up the dud now…