DFS Alerts
Andrew Harrison (wrist) available to play Saturday; Chandler Parsons (knee) ruled out
Tyreke Evans returned to the Memphis Grizzlies starting lineup for Thursday’s humiliating loss, but he’ll miss his third game in the last four contests due to personal reasons. Andrew Harrison has been cleared to play and will more than likely draw the start at point guard after logging 30 minutes in a spot start earlier in the week. Marc Gasol is set to return to the starting lineup following a one-game hiatus due to rest purposes, and he and Evans haven’t been available for the same game since last Saturday with the Grizzlies in full tank mode. His presence will send Deyonta Davis back to the bench to serve as the primary backup center since Ivan Rabb has already been deemed unable to play this evening. As for Harrison, he has the potential for a noteworthy increase in fantasy value, as he owns a +4.2% usage rate differential with Evans and Chandler Parsons off the court this season and is averaging 0.90 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 0.86 on FanDuel in this scenario as well.
As reported by: Grizzlies PR via Twitter
Chris Paul (hamstring) officially ruled out Saturday
Paul will miss his second consecutive game, as expected, despite previously being listed as questionable on the Houston Rockets’ injury report. Eric Gordon has typically started at the shooting guard spot when Paul has been sidelined and will for the second time in as many games, which will slide James Harden over to the point and allow him to assume the role as the primary ballhandler and initiator of the offense. Gerald Green logged 22 minutes off the bench in Thursday’s overtime win, but it’s more likely that head coach Mike D’Antoni disperses any minutes Luc Mbah a Moute would have played to Joe Johnson, Trevor Ariza, and P.J. Tucker than extend Green’s role in the rotation any further. Johnson has surprisingly been the main usage beneficiary with Paul and Mbah a Moute off the court this season, as he owns a +3.0% usage rate differential, but Clint Capela actually sees the biggest bump in production and is averaging 1.41 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.44 on FanDuel, making him an intriguing tournament target in a likely eight-man Rockets rotation this evening.
As reported by: Craig Ackerman via Twitter Devin Booker (hand sprain) officially ruled out Saturday
Booker will miss his fourth consecutive game due to a sprained right hand, which should allow Troy Daniels to remain in the Phoenix Suns starting lineup for Saturday’s matchup with the Orlando Magic and has averaged 31 minutes per game over that span. For the most part. Josh Jackson has been stellar with Booker and T.J. Warren sidelined, who remains out for the third straight game, and was averaging 37 minutes per game over his first two starts before logging just 27 minutes in Friday’s blowout loss. Marquese Chriss replaced Dragan Bender at power forward in yesterday’s contest, recording 35 minutes, but it remains to be seen if that’s a lineup change that interim head coach Jay Triano continues to utilize moving forward. Jackson also sports a +6.0% usage rate differential with Booker, Warren, and Tyson Chandler off the court this season and is averaging 1.09 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.08 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Scott Bordow via Twitter Jonathon Simmons (wrist) and Jonathan Isaac (foot) officially ruled out Saturday
This is the second consecutive game that both Simmons and Isaac have jointly been unable to play, and with Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross still sidelined due to their respective ailments, Wesley Iwundu and Mario Hezonja will continue to start at shooting guard and small forward, respectively. Iwundu was tasked with guarding Ben Simmons in Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, and he was relatively effective from a daily fantasy standpoint in 29 minutes of action. Hezonja, on the other hand, was a bit of a disappointment and only logged 24 minutes in the forward and wing rotations. This is only the second full game the Orlando Magic have played with all four players sidelined, so there is not a huge sample size with them off the court this season. That said, Nikola Vucevic has still recorded a massive 36.9% usage rate and averaged 1.24 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and FanDuel in 55.9 minutes in this scenario, indicating the likelihood that he continues to be the main beneficiary of their absences, though the aforementioned usage increase (+10.3%) makes him an interesting candidate for a bounce-back performance this evening.
As reported by: Orlando Magic PR via Twitter Other tagged players: Jonathan Isaac Stephen Curry (MCL sprain) to miss at least three weeks
Curry has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee and won’t be re-evaluated for a for another three weeks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, however, he’ll likely be sidelined for longer than that as the typical recovery time for a Grade 2 sprain is anywhere between four-to-six weeks. Head coach Steve Kerr has already confirmed that Quinn Cook will start at point guard for Sunday’s matchup with the Utah Jazz, and given his recent performances, Cook should more than likely continue starting for the duration of Curry’s absence. The Golden State Warriors are poised to receive some reinforcements in the coming days since Draymond Green will make his return Sunday following a one-game absence due to a pelvic contusion and Kevin Durant is targeting a return later in the week, possibly for Tuesday or Thursday’s contests. Outside of Cook, both Nick Young and Andre Iguodala have been the main beneficiaries with Curry, Durant, and Thompson off the court, as each own at least a +6.6% usage rate differential and experience a minimum of a +0.14 increase to their per minute production as well.
As reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski via Twitter Tyreke Evans (personal) ruled out Saturday
Evans returned to the Memphis Grizzlies starting lineup for Thursday’s humiliating loss, but he’ll miss his third game in the last four contests due to personal reasons. Andrew Harrison remains questionable, but if he’s cleared to play, he will more than likely draw the start at point guard and logged 30 minutes in a spot start earlier in the week. However, if he’s unable to give it go, Mario Chalmers or Briante Weber would be the leading candidates to start in his place. Marc Gasol is set to return to the starting lineup following a one-game hiatus due to rest purposes, and he and Evans haven’t been available for the same game since last Saturday with the Grizzlies in full tank mode. His presence will send Deyonta Davis back to the bench to serve as the primary backup center since Ivan Rabb has already been deemed unable to play this evening. If cleared, Harrison will have the potential for a noteworthy increase in fantasy value, as he owns a +4.0% usage rate differential with Evans off the court this season and is averaging 0.91 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 0.88 on FanDuel in this scenario as well.
As reported by: Chris Herrington via Twitter Devin Booker (hand sprain) doubtful Saturday
Booker appears to be on track to miss his fourth consecutive game due to a sprained right hand, which should allow Troy Daniels to remain in the Phoenix Suns starting lineup for Saturday’s matchup with the Orlando Magic and has averaged 31 minutes per game over that span. For the most part. Josh Jackson has been stellar with Booker and T.J. Warren sidelined and was averaging 37 minutes per game over his first two starts before logging just 27 minutes in Friday’s blowout loss. Marquese Chriss replaced Dragan Bender at power forward in yesterday’s contest, recording 35 minutes, but it remains to be seen if that’s a lineup change that interim head coach Jay Triano continues to utilize moving forward. Jackson also sports a +6.0% usage rate differential with Booker, Warren, and Tyson Chandler off the court this season and is averaging 1.09 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.08 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Scott Bordow via Twitter Paul Zipser (foot pain) listed questionable Saturday
Zipser missed Friday’s loss due to left foot pain but has been listed as questionable in the Chicago Bulls’ game notes for Saturday’s second leg of a back-to-back set. The replacement for Lauri Markkanen in the starting lineup will likely depend on the availability of Zipser, and Noah Vonleh would almost certainly slot in at power forward if Zipser is ruled out for a second straight contest. Robin Lopez has continued to rack up DNP-CDs, but head coach Fred Hoiberg hinted that he could return to the rotation, which means he’d possibly start and play only the first quarter as he’s done in each of the last four games he’s played. Denzel Valentine has been fantastic in the starting lineup when Chicago manages to keep games competitive, and he owns a +4.9 usage rate differential with LaVine, Dunn, Markkanen, Zipser, and Antonio Blakeney off the court this season and is averaging 1.01 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.00 on FanDuel in this scenario as well.
As reported by: NBA.com Game Notes Isaiah Thomas (stiff hip) ruled out at least two games
Thomas reportedly woke up with a stiff right hip and has been ruled out for the final two games of the Los Angeles Lakers upcoming road trip. The Lakers are still without Brandon Ingram, who will miss his 11th consecutive games, which will allow Kyle Kuzma to continue starting at small forward, but with Thomas sidelined, there will be a sizable void to fill in the backcourt since he’s averaged just over 29 minutes per game without Ingram available. Tyler Ennis will likely step into a sizable portion of that role, but the remaining minutes should be dispersed amongst Alex Caruso and the starting guards. Ennis could be worth a flier in tournament formats at his price tag, but the uncertainty surrounding his projected minutes makes him an extremely volatile option. That said, Julius Randle may be the top Laker to target, as he owns a +3.3% usage rate differential with Thomas and Ingram off the court this season and leads the team with rates of 1.18 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.17 on FanDuel in this scenario as well.
As reported by: Tania Ganguli via Twitter Chris Paul (hamstring) questionable Saturday; Luc Mbah a Moute (knee) ruled out
The Houston Rockets have listed Paul as questionable on their injury report, but head coach Mike D’Antoni stated during one of his media availabilities on Friday that he considered Paul as doubtful to play. Eric Gordon has typically started at the shooting guard spot when Paul has been sidelined and will once again if he’s unavailable, which will slide James Harden over to the point and allow him to assume the role as the primary ballhandler and initiator of the offense. Gerald Green logged 22 minutes off the bench in Thursday’s overtime win, but it’s more likely that D’Antoni disperses any minutes Mbah a Moute would have played to Joe Johnson, Trevor Ariza, and P.J. Tucker than extend Green’s role in the rotation any further. Johnson has surprisingly been the main usage beneficiary with Paul and Mbah a Moute off the court this season, as he owns a +3.0% usage rate differential, but Clint Capela actually sees the biggest bump in production and is averaging 1.41 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.44 on FanDuel, making him an intriguing tournament target in a likely eight-man Rockets rotation this evening.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Other tagged players: Luc Mbah a Moute Dirk Nowitzki (knee tendinitis) listed questionable Saturday
There hasn’t been an official update on Nowitzki from the Dallas Mavericks or head coach Rick Carlisle, but he has been listed as questionable in the game notes, putting his status in at least some doubt for Saturday’s matchup. Nowitzki has surprisingly only missed one game this season and Doug McDermott replaced him in the starting lineup at small forward in that contest, a lineup change that would slide Harrison Barnes down to power forward. However, since Dorian Finney-Smith healthy and back in the rotation, Carlisle now has several different options for his starting lineup with Dennis Smith Jr. making his return from a two-game absence due to a sprained left ankle. Nerlens Noel is coming off of a DNP-CD in the Mavericks last game, while Salah Mejri logged 18 minutes off the bench, and this may become the norm when Dallas is at full strength as Carlisle has hinted that he may alternate who receives the backup center minutes. That said, if Nowitzki is ruled out closer to tipoff, both big men will likely be in the rotation, while Barnes and Yogi Ferrell could be two of the biggest beneficiaries, as each own at least a +3.5% usage rate differential with Nowitzki off the court this season.
As reported by: NBA.com Game Notes Rajon Rondo (wrist) ruled out Saturday; Nikola Mirotic (hip) questionable
The last time Rondo was unavailable, DeAndre Liggins drew the start alongside E’Twaun Moore on the wing and logged 20 minutes, though he’ll have some competition for that role with Solomon Hill starting at small forward when Jrue Holiday was rested earlier in the week. Hill has played just three games since returning from a torn hamstring, so he’s yet to play more than 12 minutes in any contest he’s been active, which likely keeps Liggins in the rotation even if he doesn’t start. With the status of Mirotic in question, Cheick Diallo, Darius Miller, and Emeka Okafor would all likely benefit from a playing time standpoint in his potential absence. Unsurprisingly, Jrue Holiday has been the main beneficiary with Rondo and Mirotic off the court this season, as he owns a +8.7% usage rate differential and is averaging 1.35 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.36 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Daniel Sallerson via Twitter Other tagged players: Nikola Mirotic Injuries Creating Major Opportunity for this Guard
Chris Paul is listed as Doubtful for tonight, and James Harden left last night’s game briefly with an ankle issue, so there should be plenty of minutes tonight for Eric Gordon as he faces his old team New Orleans. Gordon excelled in his start last night, putting up 22 points and 5 assists in 41 minutes in Houston’s overtime win. Gordon’s price is up to $5200 on FanDuel and $6800 on DraftKings, but if he is getting the start tonight he could still put up a big number, making him an ideal GPP play.
Veteran PG Gets Excellent Match-up Tonight
Orlando rolls into Phoenix tonight which gives D.J. Augustin the opportunity to match up against the defense of former teammate Elfrid Payton at Point Guard. Augustin has averaged 11.5 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds since moving into the starter’s role, and I would expect him to exceed those averages tonight in a fast-paced game against a Phoenix team that ranks last in the NBA in points allowed per game. Augustin costs only $5300 on both FanDuel and DraftKings, making him an excellent value for his match-up.
Young Big Man Looks to Continue Recent Success
The Bulls have finally seen some consistency out of Cristiano Felicio this season, the big man that they signed to a 4 year, $32 million contract over the off-season. Felicio has made four straight starts, playing at least 28 minutes in each game and averaging 25.6 FanDuel points and 27 DraftKings points over the span. Lauri Markkanen is expected to miss tonight’s game after returning from injury last night, which should ensure Felicio has minutes available in the front court. At only $4000 on FanDuel and $4300 on DraftKings, Felicio should be one of the best point-per-dollar plays on the slate if he can just continue his recent success.