DFS Alerts
Myles Turner (ankle sprain) ruled out Saturday; Thaddeus Young (illness) will play
Turner has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards after previously being listed as questionable on the Indiana Pacers’ injury report with a sprained left ankle he sustained during Thursday’s loss. Meanwhile, Thaddeus Young will play and start following his earlier questionable designation on the injury report with an illness but, according to head coach Nate McMillan, will have his minutes closely monitored. Domantas Sabonis has already been ruled out for the second straight game because of a sprained left ankle, so the Pacers will be relatively shorthanded in the frontcourt with Turner also unable to suit up. Al Jefferson turned back the clock on Thursday and logged a season-high 25 minutes, putting him and Trevor Booker in position to benefit the most without Turner and Sabonis available. In the time both Turner and Sabonis have been off the court this season, Jefferson is second to only Victor Oladipo with a 23.5% usage rate and is averaging 1.10 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.13 on FanDuel as well.
As reported by: Clifton Brown via Twitter
Rajon Rondo (rest) ruled out Saturday
Rondo has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Saturday’s game against the Houston Rockets due to rest purposes on the front end of an upcoming back-to-back set. Rondo was never listed on the New Orleans Pelicans’ injury report at any point throughout the day, but his unavailability isn’t totally surprising given the fact that Pelicans are in the midst of a brutal four games in five nights stretch. DeAndre Liggins will slot into the starting shooting guard spot in his absence, according to head coach Alvin Gentry, a move that will slide Jrue Holiday over to point guard and into the role as the primary ballhandler in the starting unit. Holiday is by far the most direct beneficiary of Rondo’s absence, as he owns a substantial +6.3% usage rate differential with him and DeMarcus Cousins off the court this season and is averaging 1.35 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.37 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Daniel Sallerson via Twitter Jusuf Nurkic (sore ankle) probable Saturday
Nurkic has been added to the Portland Trail Blazers’ injury report and is probable for Saturday’s game against the Detroit Pistons due to a sore right ankle. His minutes have been extremely inconsistent of late with Ed Davis and Zach Collins vying for more playing at center in the second unit, but Nurkic has been allocated extra run by head coach Terry Stotts when he’s playing well, evidenced by two outings in his last five games where he’s logged at least 29 minutes and easily exceeded salary-based expectations on both occasions. The Trail Blazers rotation looked quite a bit different the last time they squared off with the Pistons, but in that matchup, Nurkic recorded a 21.3% usage rate in 25.8 minutes while averaging 0.96 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.05 on FanDuel, not instilling any extra confidence in his ability to pay off his price tag in daily fantasy formats this evening.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl via Twitter Tyler Zeller (sore back) ruled out Saturday
Zeller has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks after previously being listed as questionable on the Milwaukee Bucks’ injury report with back soreness that also forced him to miss two games last week. Meanwhile, Malcolm Brogdon and Matthew Dellavedova remain sidelined with their respective ailments, and interim head coach Joe Prunty already confirmed with reporters during his pregame media availability that he will stick with his normal starting lineup, which means that John Henson will start at center. In Zeller’s absence, Thon Maker could rejoin the frontcourt rotation in a limited capacity, while Giannis Antetokounmpo could also see additional minutes at center in small-ball lineup combinations.
As reported by: Matt Velazquez via Twitter Luke Kennard (hamstring) questionable Saturday
Kennard has officially been added to the Detroit Pistons’ injury report and is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a hamstring injury. Kennard saw his role in the rotation drastically affected by the return of Reggie Bullock to the starting lineup following a one-game absence because of a sore back and logged just 17 minutes off the bench in Thursday’s loss. With Bullock and James Ennis manning the wing positions in the starting unit, Stanley Johnson recorded just 16 minutes of action in his return to the bench, essentially eliminating him from consideration for daily fantasy formats moving forward. Bullock has become a semi-reliable option lately by exceeding salary based expectations in four of his last seven games, playing 32 minutes or more in five of those aforementioned contest.
As reported by: Rod Beard via Twitter Injuries Creating Major Opportunity for This Forward
Things could get awkward in Phoenix tonight, with Golden State needing a win to keep pace with Houston in the Western Conference, Phoenix having lost seven in a row and in a virtual tie with Memphis for lottery position, but the Warriors decimated by injury. Draymond Green is the last of the Warriors top-four scorers standing, and he should be looking at a major role in the offense tonight. Green will be a popular choice, particularly on FanDuel where he is inexplicably only $7,800 (compared to $8,800 on DraftKings) but it could be tough to get away from him even in GPPs with his potential to run the offense for the team in a fast-paced game tonight.
Back-Up Guard Should Get Big Minutes Tonight
The Point Guard position is full of value tonight, and most people will be eyeing Warriors guard Quinn Cook after he played 40 minutes and put up a career-high 25 points last night. Cook is a fine play, but for another value at Point Guard at a slightly higher price, Cameron Payne could be getting the start tonight for Chicago. Kris Dunn is listed as Out tonight, and Zach LaVine is Questionable as well. If both players are out, Payne should be looking at full starters minutes, and with Dunn and LaVine off the floor Payne averages over one fantasy point-per-minute on the season.
Ricky Rubio (knee contusion) will play Saturday
Rubio has officially been cleared to play and will suit up for Saturday’s game against the Sacramento Kings after previously being listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report with a left knee contusion he sustained during Friday’s win. Utah is still without Raul Neto for at least the next two weeks, which has led the team to sign David Stockton, son of former Jazz great John Stockton, to a 10-day contract. However, it remains unclear whether he’ll play in tonight’s contest or just how many minutes he could even be allotted with Dante Exum taking over the primary backup point guard role behind Rubio after logging 14 minutes off the bench in his season debut following preseason surgery to repair a separated shoulder.The Kings are typically a better matchup for big men, but Rubio has found some success in the two prior meetings with Sacramento this season, recording a 28.3% usage rate and averaging 1.01 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.04 on FanDuel.
As reported by: Tony Jones via Twitter Dante Cunningham (concussion) ruled out; Allen Crabbe (illness) doubtful
Cunningham has officially been ruled out of Saturday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks after being diagnosed with a concussion, while Allen Crabbe has been listed as doubtful on the Brooklyn Nets’ injury report due to an illness that already forced him to miss Friday’s loss. Cunningham has been serving as the Nets primary backup center behind Jarrett Allen of late, and now that he’s unavailable, Quincy Acy and Jahlil Okafor should see an uptick in minutes to help fill the void Cunningham leaves behind in the rotation. In Crabbe’s likely absence, Joe Harris will draw the start at the shooting guard spot once again after logging 35 minutes last night, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finally rejoined the starting lineup at power forward, sliding DeMarre Carroll over to small forward and relegating Spencer Dinwiddie to the bench to assume a reserve role. Given the inefficiency of Harris on a per minute basis, Caris LeVert could end up being the more intriguing target in tournament formats as he’s averaged approximately 28 minutes per game when Crabbe has been sidelined this season.
As reported by: Bryan Fonseca via Twitter Other tagged players: Allen Crabbe Inconsistent Guard Full of Upside Tonight
The Cavs are facing a myriad of injuries at a critical point in their season as they are battling for playoff seeding in an Eastern Conference where two games separate seeds 3 through 6. Tonight, they face a Bulls team that is only fighting for lottery position, and the games carries the second-highest Vegas point total at 225. LeBron James is clearly in play, but for another GPP option look no further than J.R. Smith. Smith has been coming off the bench with Kyle Korver starting, however Korver is out tonight, meaning J.R. could be moving back into the starting lineup. The Cavs guard is extremely inconsistent, and in his last nine games has posted less than 10 FanDuel points six times, mixed in with three games over 23 FanDuel points. For GPPs we’re looking for upside, and at $3,500 on FanDuel and $3,700 on DraftKings, J.R. Smith could be one of the top point-per-dollar producers tonight if his shot is falling.
Gary Harris (knee sprain) ruled out Saturday
Harris has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies after previously being listed as questionable on the Denver Nuggets’ injury report with a sprained right knee he sustained during Thursday’s win. In his absence, Will Barton appears to be the likeliest candidate to be inserted into the starting lineup at the shooting guard spot and already typically sees minutes in the upper-20s or low-30s on a nightly basis. The Nuggets did recently recall Torrey Craig from the G-League, and he could end up entering the rotation and possibly start to keep Barton in his customary sixth-man role off the bench. That said, the main beneficiary with Harris off the court this season has been Jamal Murray, as he owns a +4.8% usage rate differential and has averaged 1.10 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.04 on FanDuel in this scenario as well.
As reported by: Chris Dempsey via Twitter Harrison Barnes (rest) and Dorian Finney-Smith (rest) listed out Saturday; J.J. Barea (rib) listed doubtful
Barnes and Finney-Smith have both been listed out in the latest updated version of the Dallas Mavericks’ game notes for Saturday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets due to rest purposes on the second leg of a road back-to-back set, while J.J. Barea has been listed as doubtful with a strained left rib muscle. The Mavericks are also without Salah Mejri and Wesley Matthews, which should enable Yogi Ferrell to start at the shooting guard spot alongside Dennis Smith Jr. in the backcourt, while Doug McDermott is the leading candidate to start at small forward in place of Barnes and is currently listed as the probable starter in the game notes. When the aforementioned players have been off the court this season, Ferrell has recorded the most playing time and owns a +11.8% usage rate differential while averaging 1.29 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.22 on FanDuel in this scenario, making him one of the top players to target on the Mavericks for Saturday’s main slate.
As reported by: NBA.com Game Notes Other tagged players: Dorian Finney-Smith, J.J. Barea Thaddeus Young (illness) questionable Saturday
Young is a new addition to the Indiana Pacers’ injury report and has been listed as questionable for Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards due to an illness, while Myles Turner remains questionable with a high left ankle sprain he sustained during Thursday’s loss. Domantas Sabonis has already been ruled out for the second straight game because of a sprained left ankle, so the Pacers could end up being relatively shorthanded in the frontcourt if either Young or Turner are ruled out this evening. Al Jefferson turned back the clock on Thursday and logged a season-high 25 minutes, putting him and Trevor Booker in position to benefit the most if the aforementioned situation plays itself out. In the time both Turner and Sabonis have been off the court this season, Jefferson is second to only Victor Oladipo with a 23.5% usage rate and is averaging 1.10 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.13 on FanDuel as well.
As reported by: the Indiana Pacers via Twitter Kyle Kuzma (anke sprain) will play Friday; Brook Lopez (back) probable
Kuzma confirmed to reporters following pregame warmups that he has been cleared to play and will suit up for Friday’s game against the Miami Heat after previously being listed as questionable on the Los Angeles Lakers’ injury report with a sprained right ankle that had forced him to miss one game.Meanwhile, Brook Lopez had his back tighten up on him earlier in the day and is officially considered probable but hopeful to play, though he is expected to be a game-time decision. As long as Lopez is cleared to play, Kuzma will more than likely displace Isaiah Thomas from the starting lineup as he continues to start at small forward in the absence of Brandon Ingram, who still remains without a timetable for return due to a strained left groin. Lopez has actually logged at least 32 minutes in all but one of the last five games, so if he’s unavailable, there will be a plethora of playing time that will need to be absorbed by the other starters, Ivica Zubac, and Travis Wear, to name a few.
As reported by: Bill Oram via Twitter Other tagged players: Brook Lopez Josh Richardson (sore foot) will play Friday
Richardson is going through pregame warmups with the intention of playing and will start in Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers after previously being upgraded from doubtful to questionable on the Miami Heat’s injury report with a sore left foot that had forced him to miss one game. Meanwhile, Hassan Whiteside and Dwyane Wade have already been ruled out, with Whiteside missing his fourth straight game due to a left hip issue and Wade missing his third straight because of a strained left hamstring, which will allow Bam Adebayo to start at center for the fourth time in as many contests and has averaged 23 minutes per game over that span. Luke Babbitt started at small forward in the last game sans Richardson but logged just 13 minutes as has been the case most times he’s cracked head coach Erik Spoelstra’s starting five, but he’ll head back to the bench and likely out of the rotation with Richardson back in action. Goran Dragic, Kelly Olynyk, and James Johnson all own at least a +2.1% usage rate differential with Whiteside and Wade off the court this season, while Dragic leads the way with rates of 1.12 fantasy point per minute on DraftKings and 1.09 on FanDuel in this scenario as well.
As reported by: Ira Winderman via Twitter