DFS Alerts
LeBron James (groin), Kyle Kuzma (hip), and Josh Hart (knee) will play Thursday
Despite being listed as doubtful on the Lakers’ injury report, James has officially had his status upgraded and will play in Thursday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers after missing 17 consecutive games due to a strained left groin. Head coach Luke Walton already confirmed that James won’t be subject to a specific minute restriction, but the team and medical staff will monitor his progress closely throughout the game. Now that Kuzma and Hart are cleared to play, Kuzma will reclaim his spot in the starting lineup from Michael Beasley, who was inconsistent from a fantasy perspective in an average of 18.3 minutes over the previous two contests. However, it’ll be difficult to target any of the Lakers at their elevated price points with James back in the fold and reportedly in line to see a full minute workload this evening.
As reported by: Tania Ganguli via Twitter Other tagged players: Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart
LeBron James (groin) plans to play Thursday
Despite being listed as doubtful on the Lakers’ injury report, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports is reporting that James is planning to play in Thursday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers after missing 17 consecutive games due to a strained left groin. There’s been no word if James will be to a minute restriction in his first game back, but given the length of his absence, a limitation of some kind appears to be a foregone conclusion. If Kuzma is cleared to play, he’ll likely reclaim his spot in the starting lineup from Michael Beasley, who was inconsistent from a fantasy perspective in an average of 18.3 minutes over the previous two contests. However, should Kuzma remain sidelined, it’ll be difficult to target any of the Lakers at their elevated price points with James back in the fold.
As reported by: Chris Haynes via Twitter Reggie Bullock (ankle) will start Thursday
Bullock has officially been upgraded from questionable and will start in Thursday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks after missing one game due to a sprained left ankle. His return will send Glenn Robinson III back to the bench to resume a reserve following his irrelevant fantasy outing in just 12 minutes of action in Tuesday’s loss, while Bruce Brown will also reclaim his typical starting shooting guard position from Langston Galloway, who was also ineffective in 20 minutes in his spot start. The Pistons are in a generally great spot versus a shorthanded Mavericks squad on zero days rest, which makes Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, and Reggie Jackson all great tournament targets on tonight’s slate. However, it was Griffin that led the team with a 39.4% usage rate and an average of 1.27 DraftKings and 1.19 FanDuel points per minute in the prior meeting with Dallas this season.
As reported by: James Edwards III via Twitter DeMar DeRozan (knee) will play Thursday
DeRozan has officially been upgraded from probable and will play in Thursday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets after missing three consecutive games due to a sore left knee. There’s been no indication DeRozan will be subject to a minute restriction in his first game back, but either way, he’ll likely supplant Davis Bertans from the starting lineup following his phenomenal fantasy performance in 36 minutes of action in Tuesday’s win. It’s also entirely possible that either Pau Gasol or Jakob Poeltl find themselves outside of the rotation with the Spurs now back at full strength, and they’ve each played nine minutes or fewer in two of the previous three games. The Nets have struggled at times to defend centers this season, which makes LaMarcus Aldridge is an intriguing tournament option on tonight’s slate, as he owns a 29.0% usage rate with an average 1.19 DraftKings and 1.21 FanDuel points per minute on the year.
As reported by: Michael C. Wright via Twitter Luka Doncic (ankle) officially out Thursday
Doncic has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a sore left ankle. In Doncic’s absence, Maxi Kleber will likely enter the starting lineup at power forward after logging 17 minutes or fewer off the bench in four of the last five games. Kleber isn’t a high-usage player by any means, but he will still be worth a look as a flyer in tournaments with an average of 0.84 DraftKings and 0.86 FanDuel points per minute on the year. Dallas is poised to be extremely shorthanded in tonight’s contest following the blockbuster trade for Kristaps Porzingis, as Rick Carlisle says the team will have just 10 players available, one of which being Daryl Macon, who is on two-way contract, and another is Dirk Nowitzki, who has logged more than 11 minutes just once in the previous eight games and has failed to play in both legs of a back-to-back set at any point this season.
As reported by: Chuck Cooperstein via Twitter Jonathon Simmons (abdominal) out Thursday
Simmons has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers due to a strained right abdominal, while Isaiah Briscoe was no longer listed on the Magic’s injury report but was a DNP-CD in Tuesday’s loss despite being available after a two-game injury hiatus. Because of this, Jerian Grant remained in the backup point guard role for a third straight contest and logged 16 minutes of action. If that trend holds true once again, either Briscoe or Wes Iwundu will likely step into Simmons’ vacated role in the rotation, which has typically equated to around 17-22 minutes on a nightly basis.
As reported by: Orlando Magic PR via Twitter Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, and Wesley Matthews to be traded to the Knicks
Smith Jr., Jordan, and Matthews will be included in a trade package to the New York Knicks in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Yahoo’s Shams Charania, essentially ruling them out of the matchup against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. Obviously, Dallas is poised to be extremely shorthanded in tonight’s contest with just 11 players projected to be available, two of which are Ray Spaulding and Daryl Macon, who are on two-way contracts, and another is Dirk Nowitzki, who has logged more than 11 minutes just once in the previous eight games. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic remains listed as doubtful due to a sore left ankle, so the Mavericks are likely to start Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Harrison Barnes, Maxi Kleber, and Dwight Powell this evening.
As reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski via Twitter Other tagged players: DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews Jonah Bolden (Achilles) available Thursday; Amir Johnson (personal) ruled out
Bolden has officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Thursday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors after missing one game due to a sore right Achilles tendon, while Johnson is currently away from the team and won’t be available as he deals with a personal matter. Johnson has been limited to mostly garbage time minutes in recent weeks, so his absence won’t have any impact on the remaining members of the frontcourt rotation. Prior to his brief injury hiatus, Bolden had played between 11-13 minutes in each of the previous five games, and he’ll likely resume that exact role in tonight’s contest considering the Sixers are currently projected to be at full strength this evening.
As reported by: Serena Winters via Twitter Other tagged players: Amir Johnson LeBron James (groin) now doubtful Thursday
James has officially been upgraded from out to doubtful on the Lakers’ injury report for Thursday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a strained left groin that has already forced him to miss 17 consecutive games. James will reportedly go through pregame warmups, but head coach Luke Walton did confirm that the team is preparing as if he’ll be unavailable this evening. Meanwhile, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart managed to participate in shootaround but remain questionable with their respective ailments. If Kuzma is cleared to play, he’ll likely reclaim his spot in the starting lineup from Michael Beasley, who was inconsistent from a fantasy perspective in an average of 18.3 minutes over the previous two contests. However, should Kuzma remain sidelined, Brandon Ingram would be in a tremendous position to provide value, as he owns a 28.0% usage rate (+3.8%) and is averaging 1.11 fantasy points per minute with Kuzma, James, and Lonzo Ball off the court this season.
As reported by: Kyle Goon via Twitter Malcolm Brogdon (sternum), Sterling Brown (wrist), and Eric Bledsoe (thumb) listed as available Thursday
Brogdon and Brown have both been listed as available on the most recent version of the Bucks’ injury report for Thursday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors after missing one game due to their respective ailments, while Bledsoe has also been upgraded to available despite dealing with a sprained right thumb. Tony Snell ended up drawing the start alongside Khris Middleton on the wing in Brogdon’s absence, but he’ll almost certainly head back to the bench to resume a reserve following a serviceable fantasy outing in 24 minutes of action in Tuesday’s win.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Sterling Brown, Eric Bledsoe Tyreke Evans (back) listed out Thursday
Evans has been listed out on the most recent version of the Pacers’ injury report and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic due to a sore lower back that has now forced him to miss three consecutive games. With Victor Oladipo out for the remainder of the season with a ruptured quad tendon, the Pacers will continue to be without their two highest-usage players. This will enable Edmond Sumner to continue starting alongside Darren Collison in the backcourt, and he’s been mostly serviceable from a fantasy perspective in an average of 25 minutes over the previous two contests. While Aaron Holiday and Cory Joseph will still benefit from additional playing time off the bench without Evans and Oladipo, it’s actually Collison that owns a 21.9% usage rate (+4.4%) and averages 1.00 DraftKings and 0.98 FanDuel points per minute them off the court this season.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Luka Doncic (ankle) listed as doubtful Thursday; DeAndre Jordan (illness) listed as questionable
Doncic has been added to the most recent version of the Mavericks’ injury report and is doubtful for Thursday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a sore left ankle, while DeAndre Jordan is listed questionable because of an illness. In Doncic’s likely absence, Maxi Kleber will likely enter the starting lineup at power forward after logging 17 minutes or fewer off the bench in four of the last five games. Kleber isn’t a high-usage player by any means, but he will still be worth a look as a flyer in tournaments with an average of 0.84 DraftKings and 0.86 FanDuel points per minute on the year. The other players that stand to benefit with Doncic likely unavailable are Dennis Smith Jr. and Wesley Matthews, as they both own at least a +4.2% usage rate differential and experience a minimum of a +0.30 increase in their per minute production with Doncic and J.J. Barea off the court this season.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: DeAndre Jordan Matchup-Proof Superstar Priced at a Discount
There are a handful of players in the NBA that are matchup-proof. When it comes to these players, we should be more concerned about their minute projection than the team that they are facing. With tonight’s Bucks/Raptors game featuring such a low spread, it’s hard not to like Kawhi Leonard. He has averaged 1.35 FP/min and should push for 36-38 minutes in this one. You can even pair him with Giannis Antetokounmpo, as you can make the exact same argument for both players.
Prime Bounce Back Matchup
Rajon Rondo was one of my favorite plays on Tuesday night and he didn’t exactly pan out. The Lakers were blown out by the Sixers, yet Rondo was still able to muster up 30 fantasy points. His numbers with Lonzo Ball and LeBron James out of the lineup are off the charts and we’ve seen that he’s capable of playing 40 minutes. Tonight’s game against the Clippers should be competitive and one of the fastest-paced games on the schedule. That should benefit Rondo, who is at his best in transition. I like his chances to post a triple-double in this one.
The Battle We've All Been Waiting For
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to watch Joel Embiid and DeMarcus Cousins square off tonight. The fantasy gods just need to keep this game competitive in order to get a full complement of minutes from both. Center is typically one of the deepest positions in DFS, but that’s not the case tonight. Embiid is not only the highest projected player at the position, but he also stands out as the best point-per-dollar target. He has averaged 1.57 FP/min this season and should push for around 35 minutes tonight against the Warriors.