DFS Alerts
Marc Gasol (rest), Tony Allen (rest), and Chandler Parsons (rest) ruled out tonight
Gasol, Allen, and Parsons will all be rested for a planned recovery day and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Grizzlies have yet to formally announce their expected starters, but James Ennis will almost assuredly draw the start at small forward, while Zach Randolph and Troy Daniels are the likeliest candidates to replace Gasol and Allen in the starting unit. Memphis could certainly opt to start Vince Carter over Daniels but Grizzlies head coach David Fizdales seems to prefer to bring Vinsanity off the bench whenever he has the option. Stayed tuned for further updates on the starting lineup and possible rotation, as it’s likely Memphis will be the primary source of value this evening with three starters unavailable.
As reported by: Grizzlies PR Other tagged players: Tony Allen, Chandler Parsons
Draymond Green (shoulder) will play tonight; Shaun Livingston (back) probable
Green will play in tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings after missing the previous game with a left shoulder contusion. His return will send Patrick McCaw back to the bench and back to irrelevance in daily fantasy formats. Additionally, the Warriors have officially listed Shaun Livingston as probable with a strained back that has forced him to miss two consecutive games. Golden State recently signed Briante Weber to a 10-day contract, just further muddying the backcourt rotation behind Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. All of the Warriors reserves are easy avoids in all formats barring any injuries to the starting five.
As reported by: Anthony Slater Other tagged players: Shaun Livingston Zach LaVine (knee) ruled out tonight; Kris Dunn (hand) questionable
LaVine will not play in tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a left knee contusion he sustained in Friday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons. Brandon Rush will likely start at shooting guard, as he started and performed relatively well in the two most recent games LaVine has missed. The other beneficiary from LaVine’s absence is Andrew Wiggins, who sees a positive 5.4% usage rate differential (34.7%) with him off the court this season. Wiggins is now an interesting tournament option despite the difficult matchup. Additionally, Kris Dunn has been listed as questionable with a sore right hand that kept him sidelined in the Timberwolves’ previous game. His backup point guard minutes should be absorbed by Tyus Jones, but Jones is highly unlikely to eclipse the 20-minute plateau off the bench. Dunn’s absence seemingly does more to raise the minute floor of Ricky Rubio, making him an intriguing tournament option in an exploitable individual matchup against Mike Conley.
As reported by: Timberwolves PR Other tagged players: Kris Dunn Kemba Walker (illness) will play tonight; Miles Plumlee will play if trade is finalized before tip-off
Walker will play in tonight’s game against the Utah Jazz after previously being listed as questionable on the Hornets’ injury report with an illness that forced him to miss Friday’s practice. Ramon Sessions was diagnosed with a torn lateral meniscus tear in his left knee and will miss tonight’s game. The Hornets have yet to set a timetable for his return, but he will likely miss more than just Saturday’s contest. Brian Roberts will enter the rotation as the backup point guard behind Kemba Walker. However, Roberts will likely just step into Sessions backup role and is not a viable option on a 10-game slate. Additionally, Hornets head coach Steve Clifford stated that he will play Miles Plumlee in Saturday’s tilt with Utah if the trade with Milwaukee is finalized by Spencer Hawes and Roy Hibbert passing their physicals. If Plumlee is inactive, Frank Kaminsky will draw the start and center and will have to see substantial minutes against Rudy Gobert and the Jazz frontcourt.
As reported by: Rick Bonnell Other tagged players: Miles Plumlee Thabo Sefolosha (groin) questionable tonight; Mike Dunleavy probable
Sefolosha remains questionable on the Hawks’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic with a left groin injury that has forced him to miss three consecutive games. Tim Hardaway Jr. will draw the start at the shooting guard spot in his place once again, sliding Kent Bazemore down to small forward. However, given Sefolosha’s low usage, none of the remaining starting five see a particularly substantial bump from his absence. Mike Dunleavy, who is probable and expected to play, and Malcolm Delaney should be expected to pick up additional minutes off the bench. Hardaway becomes a particularly intriguing option, as he has an exploitable matchup with the Magic backcourt defense and has performed extremely well in stretches with the starting unit.
As reported by: KL Chouinard Other tagged players: Mike Dunleavy Darrell Arthur (rest) and Danilo Gallinari (groin) ruled out tonight
Arthur will be rested and won’t play in tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. Other than Danilo Gallinari, who is still sidelined with a strained left groin, the remaining Nuggets regulars will all play Saturday, according to Nuggets head coach Mike Malone. The primary beneficiary of these absences will be Wilson Chandler since he spends time at both the small forward and power forward positions regularly. Chandler played a whopping 41 minutes Friday night and will make for an interesting tournament option despite the back-to-back and difficult matchup with Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs defensive unit.
As reported by: Chris Dempsey Other tagged players: Danilo Gallinari Robert Covington (hand) questionable tonight; Nerlens Noel (illness) probable; Joel Embiid (knee) remains out
Covington has officially been listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Miami Heat due to a right-hand contusion that has forced him to miss two consecutive games. Gerald Henderson will reportedly start at small forward this evening, regardless of Covington’s status, hinting at the likelihood that Philadelphia holds Covington out at least one more game. This move will also send Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot back to the bench to resume his reserve role. As for Nerlens Noel, he is listed as probable with an illness and expected to play, but Jahlil Okafor will remain in the starting lineup at center in place of the injured Joel Embiid. However, both big men have been basically splitting the center minutes in Embiid’s absence, limiting their ceilings, but Okafor could possibly be considered in cash games if Covington is ruled out since he sees a positive 5.0% usage rate differential (29.5%) with both Embiid and Covington off the court this season.
As reported by: Jessica Camerato Other tagged players: Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid Thaddeus Young (wrist) and Rodney Stuckey (ankle) questionable tonight
Young and Stuckey have officially been listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons due to their respective injuries. It remains to be seen whether Indiana would prefer to slide Paul George down to power forward and just insert Glenn Robinson at small forward, or if they prefer to start a traditional big man like Lavoy Allen or Kevin Seraphin in Young’s potential absence. If Young and Stuckey were both to be ruled out, C.J. Miles would become a particularly interesting tournament target, as he owns a positive 2.0% usage rate differential (21.7%) with the aforementioned duo off the court this season, while averaging roughly 32 fantasy points per 36 minutes. This would presumably allow him to easily exceed his salary-based expectations across the industry even if he only sees 30-33 minutes of action.
As reported by: Official Twitter Account of the Indiana Pacers Other tagged players: Rodney Stuckey Deron Williams (sprained toe) officially ruled out tonight
Williams will not play in tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers after previously being listed as doubtful on the Mavericks’ injury report with a sprained left big toe that has now forced him to miss five consecutive games. With Williams and Devin Harris now officially ruled out, Yogi Ferrell and Seth Curry will see basically all the minutes they can handle in the Dallas backcourt, making them both virtually must plays on the late slate in a pace up matchup with the inefficient Portland defensive unit. Additionally, Wesley Matthews should also see a slight uptick in minutes and is firmly in play as well. In fact, it could be optimal to play all three guards in one lineup on the late slate given their projected minute floors and then build fill out the rest of the roster from there.
As reported by: Mark Followill Devin Harris (illness) ruled out tonight
Harris will not play in tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers after previously being listed as questionable on the Mavericks’ injury report with an illness. With Harris and Deron Williams now officially ruled out, Yogi Ferrell and Seth Curry will see basically all the minutes they can handle in the Dallas backcourt, making them both virtually must plays on the late in a pace up matchup with the inefficient Portland defensive unit. Additionally, Wesley Matthews should also see a slight uptick in minutes and is firmly in play as well. In fact, it could be optimal to play all three guards in one lineup on the late slate given their projected minute floors and then build fill out the rest of the roster from there.
As reported by: Earl K. Sneed Ed Davis (sprained left wrist) available to play tonight
Davis has been cleared to play in tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks and will be available off the bench. Davis had missed five consecutive due to a sprained left wrist, but it remains unclear how Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts frontcourt rotation will shake out with everyone now healthy. Either Davis or Meyers Leonard will likely see the majority of backup minutes at center. Davis can be avoided in all formats.
As reported by: CSN Northwest Arron Afflalo (illness) ruled out tonight
Afflalo will not play in tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns after previously being downgraded to questionable on the Kings’ injury report earlier in the day due to an illness. His absence stretches Sacramento extremely thin at the wing positions with Garrett Temple, Rudy Gay, and Omri Casspi all already unavailable. Matt Barnes will almost assuredly be inserted into the starting lineup at small forward in place of Temple, while Afflalo’s replacement is much more difficult to predict, as the Kings could go several different directions with their starting lineup. Regardless of starters, Ben McLemore and Malachi Richardson will see a sizable boost in minutes with Afflalo and Temple inactive, making them both worthy of tournament consideration on the late slate. Additionally. Darren Collison and Ty Lawson should see some extended in more two-point guard sets.
As reported by: James Ham Michael Carter-Williams starting for Jimmy Butler (heel) tonight
Butler will not play in tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets due to a right heel contusion. Butler never appeared on the Bulls’ injury report with any sort of injury designation, so his scratch from the lineup certainly comes as a surprise. The Bulls have announced that Michael Carter-Williams will replace him in the starting lineup, but it’s difficult to accurately project just how many minutes Carter-Williams will actually see considering he had recently fallen out the rotation entirely. Paul Zipser has been consistently playing minutes in the mid-to-upper twenties and would be the preferred punt option over Carter-Williams. Not to bury the lead, but Dwyane Wade is the clear beneficiary of Butler’s absence, as he owns a positive 8.6% usage rate differential (40.9%) with Butler off the court this season.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen Kris Dunn (sore right hand) ruled out tonight
Dunn will not play in tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons due to a sore right hand. Dunn never appeared on the Timberwolves’ injury report with any sort of injury designation, so his scratch from the lineup certainly comes as a surprise. His backup point guard minutes should be absorbed by Tyus Jones, but Jones is highly unlikely to eclipse the 20-minute plateau off the bench. Dunn’s absence probably does more to raise the minute floor of Ricky Rubio, making him an intriguing tournament option in an exploitable individual matchup against Detroit point guards, Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith.
As reported by: Jerry Zgoda Jimmy Butler (right heel contusion) ruled out tonight
Butler will not play in tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets due to a right heel contusion. Butler never appeared on the Bulls’ injury report with any sort of injury designation, so his scratch from the lineup certainly comes as a surprise. The Bulls have announced that Michael Carter-Williams will replace him in the starting lineup, but it’s difficult to accurately project just how many minutes Carter-Williams will actually see considering he had recently fallen out the rotation entirely. Paul Zipser has been consistently playing minutes in the mid-to-upper twenties and would be the preferred punt option over Carter-Williams. Not to bury the lead, but Dwyane Wade is the clear beneficiary of Butler’s absence, as he owns a positive 8.6% usage rate differential (40.9%) with Butler off the court this season.
As reported by: Chuck Swirsky