DFS Alerts

Kent Bazemore (ankle) will play with a 20-minute restriction Wednesday

Bazemore has officially been upgraded from questionable will play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings after missing 14 consecutive games due to a sprained right ankle, while Tyler Dorsey has been ruled out with a knee injury, though he’s only been allotted sporadic minutes in the rotation. Head coach Lloyd Pierce already confirmed that Bazemore will be subject to a 20-minute restriction in his first game back, which means he’ll likely start off in a reserve role following such a lengthy injury absence, at least until he’s physically able to handle more minutes. However, his mere presence in the rotation is not a positive sign for the minute floors of DeAndre Bembry and Kevin Huerter in the starting unit, while Vince Carter could find himself on the outside of the rotation with Taurean Prince playing at least 28 minutes off the bench in each of the last three games as well.

Jusuf Nurkic (knee) questionable Wednesday

Nurkic has been added to the Trail Blazers’ injury report and is questionable for Wednesday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz due to a sore right knee, while Nik Stauskas was previously ruled out with a left knee injury. Nurkichas popped up on the injury report several times this season, but he’s yet to miss a game, so that does make it a bit difficult to project who would replace him in the starting lineup. However, Zach Collins and Meyers Leonard would both almost certainly see an uptick in playing time regardless of whichever one ended up receiving the starting nod at center. If Nurkic is cleared to play, he’ll be in a position to be a tremendous option in tournaments, as he has recorded a 25.3% usage rate and averaged 1.36 DraftKings and 1.46 FanDuel points per minute in the Blazers three prior meetings with the Jazz this season.

Injuries Opening Up Opportunity On This Team

We’ll have to see what the injury news coming out for Miami is this evening, but with Tyler Johnson and Dwyane Wade both Questionable for the Heat and Derrick Jones going down with a knee injury, Dion Waiters could be an interesting play if he sees minutes tonight against Chicago. Waiters has put up 0.87 fantasy points per minute so far this season with just over 180 minutes for the team, and if his minutes creep up to the mid-20s or higher (he’s averaged 24 minutes over the past four games, with Johnson, Wade, and Jones all available) he could be a overlooked point-per-dollar bargain tonight.

Don't Overlook What Could Be The Highest-Scoring Game of the Night

With so much injury news and key players missing tonight creating point-per-dollar opportunity around the board, it can be easy to forget the fact that the Atlanta – Sacramento game has a 235.5 point total that is ten points higher than the next-highest game. Sacramento and Atlanta rank 26th and 30th in the league respectively in points allowed per game, and they meet in what could be a fast-paced and close (Sacramento favored by 5) game. On the Sacramento side De’Aaron Fox should be setting the pace at point guard, and put up an astounding 31-point, 15 assist, 10 rebound triple-double when these teams met in November, while I’m also interested in the value provided by key bench pieces Bogdan Bogdanovic (particularly on DraftKings) and Marvin Bagley III. For Atlanta, John Collins will be hitting the boards against a Sacramento team that ranks 25th in rebounding differential, while Jeremy Lin could put up some points at low ownership off the bench.

JaMychal Green (knee) expected to be available Wednesday

Green is still technically listed as questionable on the Grizzlies’ injury report, but head coach JB Bickerstaff expects him to be available to play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves after missing one game due to a sore left knee. Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr. missed shootaround because of an illness and is on track to be a game-time decision, which could elevate Green to the starting lineup at power forward, assuming he isn’t limited by his aforementioned knee injury. If Green isn’t healthy enough to start, there are a few different ways head coach JB Bickerstaff can go with his starting lineup, but either Bruno Caboclo or Jevon Carter would be the likeliest candidates to do so depending on Bickerstaff’s lineup combination preference with Garrett Temple still sidelined.

Zach LaVine (ankle) listed as questionable Wednesday

LaVine has been listed as questionable on the most recent version of the Bulls’ injury report for Wednesday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to a sprained right ankle, while Chandler Hutchison and Wendell Carter Jr. remain sidelined with their respective ailments. If LaVine is unable to suit up, Ryan Arcidiacano appears to be the likeliest candidate to enter the starting lineup alongside Kris Dunn in the backcourt since he’s typically started whenever LaVine or Dunn have been sidelined this season. Wayne Selden and Shaquille Harrison are both also likely to see increased playing time in the event LaVine becomes unavailable, but Dunn has been the clear beneficiary with LaVine off the court this season, as he owns a 28.0% usage rate and is averaging 1.31 DraftKings and 1.32 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.

Gary Harris (groin) questionable Wednesday

Harris has officially been listed as questionable on the Nuggets’ injury report for Wednesday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans due to a sore right groin, while Jamal Murray will miss a third straight contest with a sprained right ankle. In Murray’s absence, Torrey Craig has started each of the last two games at small forward, and he’s actually been productive from a fantasy standpoint in an average of 27.6 minutes over that span. This has allowed Will Barton to serve as the de facto point guard in the starting unit, and he finally eclipsed the 30-minute mark for the first time since returning from injury in Monday’s win. If Harris is ruled out closer to tipoff, Malik Beasley would likely replace him in the starting lineup, and he’d project to be a fine value option for all formats in this scenario, as he, Barton, and Nikola Jokic each own at least a +4.4% usage rate differential and experience a minimum +0.12 increase in their per minute production with Harris and Murray off the court this season.

Let's See How It Works Out

With the news coming out that the Pelicans will be down five guys again tonight, I’m going right back to the well on a lot of pieces for this team. I want to go back to the well on Darius Miller, and I want to take a shot on Kenrich Williams. Williams played a season high 29 minutes last night and was very active on the boards. We can’t expect him to have 16 rebounds again tonight, but I do like his chances to crush his value at this price. Miller played 40 minutes last night, and as I said yesterday, he played 38 minutes against the Thunder on Friday with Moore out. The minutes are solid for Miller, and they’re both extremely cheap across the industry.

Right Back To The Well

With the news coming out that the Pelicans will be down five guys again tonight, I’m going right back to the well on a lot of pieces for this team. I want to go back to the well on Darius Miller, and I want to take a shot on Kenrich Williams. Williams played a season high 29 minutes last night and was very active on the boards. We can’t expect him to have 16 rebounds again tonight, but I do like his chances to crush his value at this price. Miller played 40 minutes last night, and as I said yesterday, he played 38 minutes against the Thunder on Friday with Moore out. The minutes are solid for Miller, and they’re both extremely cheap across the industry.

Minutes Are Way Up

With Derrick Rose unlikely to play and Jeff Teague already ruled out, Jerryd Bayless becomes my favorite value play on this slate. Bayless has played 37 and 40 minutes over the last two games and has scored at least 30 fantasy points in four straight games. He’s averaging 15.7 minutes and 18.2 fantasy points over his season average in the last four games. He has at a 22.6% usage in three of the last four games.

Kyrie Irving (hip) officially out Wednesday

Irving has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets due to a strained left hip that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. When Irving was unavailable for Monday’s win, Terry Rozier drew his seventh start of the season at point guard and exceeded his salary-based expectations in 35 minutes of action. These types of performances have become a bit of a norm for Rozier when he’s called upon as a spot starter, but he’s had dramatic price increase across the industry, making him a far less appealing option. While Rozier is the clear primary beneficiary with Irving sidelined, Marcus Morris, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward all own at least a +2.5% usage rate differential and experience a minimum increase of +0.10 to their per minute fantasy production with Irving off the court this season.

Julius Randle (ankle), Elfrid Payton (ankle), and E'Twaun Moore (rest) remain out Wednesday

Randle, Payton, and Moore have all officially been ruled out and won’t play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets due to their respective ailments, and they’ll join Anthony Davis and Nikola Mirotic on the Pelicans’ inactive list for tonight’s contest. In their absences, Darius Miller, Frank Jackson, and Solomon Hill rounded out the starting lineup alongside Jrue Holiday and Jahlil Okafor, but Jackson and Hill were both limited to 23 minutes or fewer in Tuesday’s win, despite their starting roles. The defensive liabilities of Okafor hasn’t seemed to deter head coach Alvin Gentry from utilizing him as the team’s primary starting center since Okafor has averaged 33 minutes over the previous five games. In the limited sample size with the aforementioned players off the court this season, Jrue Holiday owns a 27.5% usage rate and is averaging of 1.65 DraftKings and 1.66 FanDuel points per minute, which could potentially make him an elite option on this slate if the Pelicans can keep this matchup with the Nuggets competitive for four quarters.

Derrick Rose (ankle) unlikely to play Wednesday

Rose is still technically listed as questionable on the Timberwolves’ injury report, but he is considered unlikely to play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a sore right ankle that has already forced him to miss two consecutive games. He’ll join Jeff Teague, Tyus Jones, and Robert Covington on the inactive list for tonight’s contest, which will allow Jerryd Bayless to draw a third straight start at point guard after exceeding his salary-based expectations and averaging 38.4 minutes as a starter over the previous two contests. Without Rose available for two and a half games, Jared Terrell and Andrew Wiggins have served as the backup point guards, though head coach Ryan Saunders does plan to have Isaiah Canaan take over Terrell’s spot in the rotation this evening. Still, this makes Wiggins an intriguing tournament target on tonight’s slate, as he owns a 33.0% usage rate (+6.6%) and is averaging 1.16 DraftKings and 1.15 FanDuel points per minute with Rose, Teague, Jones, and Covington off the court this season.

Jaren Jackson Jr. (illness) questionable Wednesday

Jackson Jr. has been added to the Grizzlies’ injury report and is questionable for Wednesday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to an illness, while JaMychal Green remains questionable with a sore left knee that’s already forced him to miss one game. Since Jackson Jr. and Green play a majority of their minutes at the same two positions, their availability for tonight’s contest will go a long way in determining the potential value options in the Grizzlies frontcourt. If both players are unable to suit up, there are a few different ways head coach JB Bickerstaff can go with his starting lineup, but either Bruno Caboclo or Jevon Carter would be the likeliest candidates to start depending on Bickerstaff’s lineup combination preference with Garrett Temple still sidelined.

NBA Injury Rundown - Wednesday, 1/30

New York Knicks – Frank Ntilikina (O), Emmanuel Mudiay (O), Luke Kornet (O), Kristaps Porzingis (O)

Boston Celtics – Kyrie Irving (D)

Miami Heat – Tyler Johnson (Q), Dwyane Wade (Q), Derrick Jones Jr. (O), Goran Dragic (O)

Memphis Grizzlies – JaMychal Green (Q), Garrett Temple (O), Omri Casspi (O), Dillon Brooks (O)

Minnesota Timberwolves – Derrick Rose (Q), Jeff Teague (O), Tyus Jones (O), Robert Covington (O)

Denver Nuggets – Jamal Murray (O), Isaiah Thomas (O), Michael Porter Jr. (O)

New Orleans Pelicans – Julius Randle (TBD), Elfrid Payton (TBD), Anthony Davis (O), Nikola Mirotic (O)

Indiana Pacers – Tyreke Evans (O), Victor Oladipo (O)

Atlanta Hawks – Kent Bazemore (Q), Miles Plumlee (O)

Portland Trail Blazers – Nik Stauskas (O)