DFS Alerts
Amir Johnson will start in place of Joel Embiid (rest) on Friday
Embiid was ruled out in advance of Friday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to rest purposes. Embiid has struggled of late, and with two days off before their next game, head coach Brett Brown expressed that it became clear the time was now to rest him for the first time this season. In his absence, Amir Johnson will replace him in the starting lineup at center, but Mike Muscala has logged at least 23 minutes off the bench in five of the last six games, making him the preferred target of the two in daily fantasy formats regardless of role. Given how much usage Embiid absorbs on the offensive end of the floor, there’s obviously a ton of opportunity available for additional fantasy production from the remaining Sixers starters. However, Jimmy Butler has been the primary beneficiary with Embiid off the court thus far, as he leads the team with a 34.8% usage rate (+10.7%) and is averaging 1.45 DraftKings and 1.46 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.
As reported by: Keith Pompey via Twitter
Domantas Sabonis (illness) out Friday
Sabonis has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic due to an illness, while Victor Oladipo remains without a timetable for his return from a sore right knee that’s already kept him sidelined for eight consecutive games. With Sabonis unable to suit up, both Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young should see an uptick in playing time and Kyle O’Quinn may reenter the rotation following a DNP-CD in four straight games, though it’s possible T.J. Leaf eats into some of the reserve frontcourt minutes as well. The main beneficiary from a usage standpoint with both Sabonis and Oladipo off the floor has been Young, as he owns a +3.3% usage rate differential, but Turner has actually been the most productive in this scenario and is averaging 1.22 DraftKings and 1.30 FanFuel points per minute.
As reported by: J. Michael via Twitter Trevor Ariza (knee) and T.J. Warren (ankle) questionable Friday
Ariza has officially been added to the Suns’ injury report and is questionable for Friday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to a sore left knee, while Warren is also considered questionable with a sore right ankle that’s already forced him to miss four consecutive games If either are ruled out closer to tipoff, Josh Jackson would likely remain in the starting lineup and has averaged 30.2 minutes in his starts without Warren available. Even though head coach Igor Kokoskov opted to start Richaun Holmes over Deandre Ayton at center in Thursday’s loss, neither big man saw a change in playing time and Ayton still recorded more minutes off the bench. Speaking of lineup changes, De’Anthony Melton continues to outproduce Ellie Okobo off the bench, so it just seems like a matter of time until Kokoskov begins to give Melton more run with the starting unit before the game gets out of hand early as it has in the previous two contests.
As reported by: Kellan Olson via Twitter Other tagged players: TJ Warren Multiple Beneficiaries from Rest Situation Tonight
The news that 76ers Center Joel Embiid will be out for tonight’s game has drawn attention to Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons, who should see increased usage, and Mike Muscala, who will likely start in Embiid’s place. One other potentially overlooked beneficiary, however, is Pistons center Andre Drummond, who will no longer have to contend with facing off against Embiid in the paint. Drummond notoriously only scored 8 points and pulled down 9 rebounds in his last matchup with Embiid while racking up 5 fouls, and he should have a much easier time against Muscala and/or Amir Johnson in the middle.
Trickle Down
The absence of Joel Embiid from Friday’s contest against the Pistons is going to have a trickle down effect. Mike Muscala and Amir Johnson are likely to be the direct beneficiaries in terms of minutes but Embiid’s 33.2% usage rate is a void that is going to have to be filled by handful of players. On paper Muscala makes for the top value option out of Philadelphia but I like taking a stab at the secondary 76ers value players in GPPs.
More Hart
No Ingram means more Josh Hart for the Lakers. Hart isn’t going to be a high usage player alongside LeBron James but the minutes should be there as long as Hart is able to stay out of foul trouble – Hart racked up three fouls in just two minutes when he came in for an injured Ingram against these same Spurs on Wednesday. The best thing that Hart has going for him is his positional eligibility as he helps fill in a relatively weak SG position behind the likes of Jimmy Butler.
Don't Overlook The Big Names In This Big Matchup
On a ten-game slate there will always be some injury news that draws our attention as value opens up, but we shouldn’t lose sight of what is expected to be the highest-scoring game of the night, Golden State visiting Milwaukee. This game has a Vegas point total of 239.5, by far the highest on the slate, and with Milwaukee favored by just 1.5 points, it is expected to be a close game as well, alleviating some of the blowout concerns common with the Warriors. My attention is drawn immediately to the two big men in this game, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant. Durant gets a 2.2% usage bump with Draymond Green off the court this season and is just a bit too cheap across DFS sites. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, averaging almost 29 points and 13 rebounds over his last ten games.
Other tagged players: Kevin Durant Ersan Ilyasova (concussion) listed available Friday
Ilyasova has officially been upgraded from probable and will be available to play in Friday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors after missing three consecutive games due to a concussion, while Khris Middleton is back with the team following the resolution of a personal matter and is fully expected to play in tonight’s contest. The return of Ilyasova and Middleton should enable head coach Mike Budenholzer to lighten Giannis Antetokounmpo’s massive minute workload of late, as he’s logged at least 38 minutes in three of the Bucks last five games. Additionally, Thon Maker should continue serving as the nominal backup center depending on the matchup, as Ilyasova and Antetokounmpo are both more than capable of absorbing time there in certain lineup combinations while John Henson is sidelined with a torn wrist ligament.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Bobby Portis (knee) officially out Friday
Portis has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a sprained right MCL, while Kris Dunn also remains sidelined with the same ailment. Both players managed to participate in Thursday’s practice, so interim head coach Jim Boylen believes they are close to returning to game action. In his second game back from a sprained right elbow, Lauri Markkanen saw his playing time increase to 32 minutes as the starting power forward and backup center, and he attempted a whopping 24 field goals, just furthering indicating how much of a focal point in the offense he will be moving forward. In fact, Markkanen trails only Zach LaVine for the team lead with 33.2% usage rate and is averaging a respectable 1.08 fantasy points per minute through 57.7 minutes this season.
As reported by: Kelly Crull via Twitter Draymond Green (toe) remains questionable but unlikely to play Friday
Green is still listed as questionable on the Warriors’ injury report for Friday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a sprained right toe, but head coach Steve Kerr confirmed with reporters that the plan is still for Green to return next week, even despite Green’s pleas to play in tonight’s contest. Green participated in shootaround this morning, so it’s certainly possible that Kerr or the Warriors medical staff could have a change of heart, but in all likelihood, Andre Iguodala will draw another start alongside Kevin Durant in the frontcourt, while Kevon Looney hopes to maintain his current stranglehold on the starting center role with Damian Jones now expected to miss at least the remainder of the regular season. In fact, Looney has logged at least 25 minutes in three of the last four games, but he could see that minute floor diminish to some extent once Green is available and up to normal game speed again.
As reported by: Anthony Slater via Twitter Domantas Sabonis (illness) questionable Friday
Sabonis is a new addition to the Pacers’ injury report and is officially listed as questionable for Friday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic due to an illness, while Victor Oladipo remains without a timetable for his return from a sore right knee that’s already kept him sidelined for eight consecutive games. Sabonis has exhibited an uncanny ability to play through these midday status downgrades, but if he’s unable to suit up, both Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young could see an uptick in playing time and Kyle O’Quinn may reenter the rotation following a DNP-CD in four straight games. In fact, the main beneficiary from a usage standpoint with both Sabonis and Oladipo off the floor has been Young, as he owns a +3.3% usage rate differential, but Turner has been the most productive in this scenario and is averaging 1.22 DraftKings and 1.30 FanFuel points per minute.
As reported by: Jeremiah Johnson via Twitter Marvin Bagley III (back) now probable Friday
Bagley has officially been upgraded from questionable to probable for Friday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers after missing two consecutive games due to a sore lower back. In his absence, Kosta Koufos had been serving as the primary backup center behind Willie Cauley-Stein and averaged 17 minutes per game off the bench, while Harry Giles was limited to garbage time minutes and was even a DNP-CD in Saturday’s win. Prior to the injury, Bagley had played at least 27 minutes in five of his last six games, so if there’s confirmation he won’t be confined a minutes restriction, he’ll be an intriguing tournament target on tonight’s slate, especially on DraftKings where he checks in at just a $5.3K price tag. In those aforementioned contests, Bagley recorded a 22.9% usage rate and averaged 1.19 DraftKings and 1.23 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: Jason Anderson via Twitter BAM! BAM! BAM!
BAM! Adebayo is in line for additional run on Friday night as Hassan Whiteside won’t play for personal reasons. Bam couldn’t have asked for a better matchup as Phoenix has struggled mightily defending the rim this season – the Suns allow the opposition to take 42.1% of their shots at the rim, the highest rate in the league, and are allowing the sixth highest field goal percentage at the rim (65.8%). Phoenix has also struggled to keep the opposition off the offensive glass as they allow the seventh highest offensive rebounding rate in the league (27.6%). This is a smash spot for Bam who is cheap and represents the top value play of the night across the industry.
Joel Embiid (rest) out Friday
Embiid has been added to the Sixers’ injury report and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to rest purposes. Embiid has struggled of late, and with two days off before their next game, head coach Brett Brown expressed that it became clear the time was now to rest him for the first time this season. In his absence, either Mike Muscala or Amir Johnson will likely replace him in the starting lineup at center, though Muscala has logged at least 23 minutes off the bench in five of the last six games, making him the preferred target in daily fantasy formats regardless of role. Given how much usage Embiid absorbs on the offensive end of the floor, there’s obviously a ton of opportunity available for additional fantasy production from the remaining Sixers starters. However, Jimmy Butler has been the primary beneficiary with Embiid off the court thus far, as he leads the team with a 34.8% usage rate (+10.7%) and is averaging 1.45 DraftKings and 1.46 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.
As reported by: Serena Winters via Twitter NBA Injury Rundown - Friday, 12/7
Detroit Pistons – Andre Drummond (Probable), Ish Smith (Out), Reggie Bullock (Out)
Denver Nuggets – Gary Harris (Out), Will Barton (Out)
Charlotte Hornets – Marvin Williams (Out)
Sacramento Kings – Marvin Bagley III (Questionable)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Ante Zizic (Questionable), David Nwaba (Out), Sam Dekker (Out), Kevin Love (Out)
Toronto Raptors – Malachi Richardson (Questionable), Norman Powell (Out)
Chicago Bulls – Bobby Portis (Doubtful), Kris Dunn (Out), Denzel Valentine (Out)
Los Angeles Lakers – Brandon Ingram (Out), Rajon Rondo (Out)
Miami Heat – Goran Dragic (Probable), Hassan Whiteside (Out), Wayne Ellington (Out), Dion Waiters (Out)
Phoenix Suns – T.J. Warren (TBD), Devin Booker (Out)
Golden State Warriors – Draymond Green (Questionable), Damian Jones (Out), DeMarcus Cousins (Out)
Milwaukee Bucks – Ersan Ilyasova (Probable), John Henson (Out)