DFS Alerts
Maurice Harkless (ankle) will likely play tonight
Harkless is expected to play in tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers after being sidelined by a sprained left ankle in the Trail Blazers’ previous game. He will likely displace Evan Turner from the starting lineup in his return and appears to have no minutes restriction this evening. However, if Al-Farouq Aminu is unable to suit up, Turner should still play a substantial role in Portland’s rotation and has performed well recently for fantasy purposes. He is certainly a viable tournament option, pending the status of Aminu.
As reported by: Jason Quick
J.R. Smith (knee) will play tonight, confirmed in the starting lineup
Smith will play and start in tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets after being sidelined by a hyperextended left knee in the Cavaliers’ previous two games. Smith’s return to the lineup will send DeAndre Liggins back to the bench to resume a reserve role, as Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue pointed out that Liggins has carved out a larger role in the rotation due to his recent performance with the starting unit. However, both Smith and Liggins can be easily ignored in all formats this evening. The primary targets on Cleveland remain the big three of Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love, though Tristan Thompson could be a sneaky value center option given Charlotte’s recent struggles defending the center position.
As reported by: Jason Lloyd Bismack Biyombo WILL now play tonight, confirmed in the starting lineup
The Magic have now updated Biyombo’s status to active for tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets after their public relations department originally listed him as out. Biyombo doesn’t have the greatest matchup versus the Denver big men, as they are one of the better rebounding teams in The Association, but he certainly has the minute floor we like to see for cash games with Nikola Vucevic already ruled out. With Biyombo available, this is slight knock to projected fantasy value of Serge Ibaka and Aaron Gordon, as they will see less time at center and power forward respectively.
As reported by: Josh Robbins Nikola Vucevic (back) and Bismack Biyombo (shoulder) ruled out tonight; Jeff Green (ankle) will play
Vucevic and Biyombo will not play in tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets due to separate physical ailments. In addition, Jeff Green will be available to play after being listed as questionable on the Magic’s injury report due to an ankle injury. With Vucevic and Biyombo ruled out, Orlando is extremely shorthanded in the frontcourt and would likely be forced to slide Serge Ibaka over to center and Aaron Gordon over to power forward. This is a significant bump in value for both Ibaka and Gordon given their potential increase in rebounding numbers. Green will likely draw the start at small forward with Elfried Payton and Jodie Meeks soaking up the additional usage vacated by Vucevic and Green in the second unit.
As reported by: Orlando Magic PR Other tagged players: Bismack Biyombo, Jeff Green Nene (rest) will likely play tonight, not listed on Rockets injury report
Nene is fully expected to play in tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks after not appearing on the Rockets injury report due to rest like he did in their previous two back-to-back sets. His presence off the bench creates a log jam in the Houston frontcourt rotation, making the trio of Nene, Clint Capela, and Montrezl Harrell secondary options at best. Outside of Capela as tournament dart throw, they all can be safely ignored in all formats whenever this Rockets lineup is at full strength.
As reported by: Calvin Watkins Wilson Chandler (hip) ruled out tonight; Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle) and Nikola Jokic (wrist) will play
Chandler will not play in tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic due to a sore right hip. With Chandler off the court this season, Jamal Murray actually leads the Denver reserves with a 25.4% usage rate. However, the Nuggets backcourt rotation is currently in flux, as Mudiay has been in Mike Malone’s doghouse for his recent poor play. This means that Mudiay, Murray, and Jameer Nelson can only be utilized as long-shot tournament options until we get a clearer picture of the rotation and expected minute allotment. This Denver squad is as difficult to figure out as ever, and everyone outside of Will Barton and Danilo Gallinari need to be reserved as tournament-only options.
As reported by: Harrison Wind Isaiah Thomas (groin) ruled out for Sunday
Thomas will not play in tomorrow night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a pulled groin that has kept him sidelined for the Celtics previous two games as well. Marcus Smart will likely draw the start at point guard once again and has an amazing matchup with the Thunder, who have struggled against point guards all season. Terry Rozier will also continue to absorb the majority of the backup guard minutes in Thomas’ absence. In addition, Smart and Avery Bradley both lead the Celtics with usage rates north of 27% with Thomas off the court this season, though Smart sees the larger increase of 7.4% over his season average, as one might expect considering his change in roles. In other words, both players will be elite options in all formats on Sunday’s slates.
As reported by: Official Twitter Account of the Boston Celtics Reggie Williams will be available to make his Pelicans debut tonight
Williams was signed by the Pelicans earlier today and will be available to play in tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He most recently played for the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA Development League. It remains to be seen if Williams will actually see any playing time in his debut, but his presence on the active roster could eventually cut into the minutes of wing players like Solomon Hill, assuming he is able to carve out a role in the rotation, as the Pelicans are in desperate need of outside shooting.
As reported by: Pelicans PR Rodney Hood (hamstring) ruled out tonight; Gordon Hayward (finger) will play
Hood will not play in tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings due to a sore right hamstring that also kept him out of Thurday’s contest. As for Hayward, he will play after being listed as probable with a finger injury that also kept him sidelined in the Jazz’s previous game.With Hood ruled out, expect Joe Johnson or Joe Ingles to draw the start at shooting guard, though it’s not out of the realm possibility that Utah rolls with the two point guard lineup they trotted out on Thursday against Golden State. With George Hill and Derrick Favors also still sidelined with their respective ailments, this is certainly a situation to monitor as we approach lock, as the Jazz role players could be be an excellent source of value once again depending on the starting lineup. However, Hayward still remains an elite option whenever Hood, Hill, and Favors are sidelined, as he owns an elite 36.1% usage rate, a 4.7% increase from his season average, with the aforementioned trio off the court this season.
As reported by: Tony Jones Other tagged players: Gordon Hayward Nerlens Noel (knee) and Jahlil Okafor (illness) available to play Sunday
Noel and Okafor are available and expected to play in tomorrow night’s game against the Detroit Pistons. Noel will be making his season debut off the bench after rehabbing from elective knee surgery in the preseason. His return is likely to cut into the minutes of Richaun Holmes, and on nights that Embiid is active, Holmes will almost assuredly be a DNP-CD due to the emergence of Ersan Ilyasova at the power forward spot. As for Okafor, he will likely draw the start at center on Sunday, as Embiid has already been ruled out due to inflammation in his elbow. There has been no reported minutes restriction for either Okafor or Noel, though it would be logical for Sixers coach Brett Brown to ease Noel back into a consistent workload with the rotation.
As reported by: Jessica Camerato Other tagged players: Jahlil Okafor Joel Embiid (elbow, rest) and Jerryd Bayless (wrist) ruled out for Sunday
Embiid will not play in tomorrow night’s game against the Detroit Pistons due to some slight inflammation in his right elbow. The Sixers do not believe the injury to be serious and are likely sitting Embiid just as a precautionary measure. In his absence, Jahlil Okafor is fully expected to draw the start at center in his return from an illness that caused him to miss the previous two games. As for Bayless, he will be sidelined for the eighth consecutive game with a sore left wrist, and Sergio Rodriguez continue to start at point guard for the Sixers in his place.
As reported by: Tom Moore Other tagged players: Jerryd Bayless Andre Iguodala (rest) and Kevon Looney (ankle) ruled out tonight
Iguodala will not play in tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to scheduled rest. In his absence, there will be extra minutes to go around for the starters (assuming no blowout) and the likes of Ian Clark and Patrick McCaw. They both could be sneaky tournament options for their price tags around the industry in hopes of receiving blowout run in the fourth quarter, on top of the minutes already vacated by Iguodala. With Kevon Looney already ruled out, there could be a few more minutes to go around for James Michael McAdoo and JaVale Mcgee, though not nearly enough to make them fantasy viable. Looney is only averaging just under nine minutes per game.
As reported by: Warriors PR Other tagged players: Kevon Looney Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle) and Nikola Jokic (wrist) listed as probable for tonight
Mudiay and Jokic are listed as probable for tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic and are fully expected to play. The Nuggets backcourt rotation is currently in flux, as Mudiay has been in Mike Malone’s doghouse for his recent poor play. This means that Mudiay, Jameer Nelson, and Jamal Murray can only be utilized as long-shot tournament options until we get a clearer picture of the rotation and expected minute allotment. Jokic, Jusuf Nurkic, Darrell Arthur, and Wilson Chandler have been playing the lion’s share of the minutes in the Denver frontcourt at the expense of Kenneth Faried, who was a DNP-CD in the Nuggets’ previous game. This Denver squad is as difficult to figure out as ever, and everyone outside of Will Barton, Wilson Chandler, and maybe Danilo Gallinari need to be reserved as tournament-only options.
As reported by: Harrison Wind Other tagged players: Nikola Jokic Kevon Looney (ankle) listed as doubtful for tonight
Looney has officially been listed as doubtful for tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to an ankle injury. If Looney is ultimately ruled out, there could be a few more minutes to go around for James Michael McAdoo and JaVale Mcgee, though not nearly enough to make them fantasy viable. Looney is averaging just under nine minutes per game.
As reported by: Chris Haynes Nikola Vucevic (back), Bismack Biyombo (shoulder), and Jeff Green (ankle) listed as questionable tonight
Vucevic, Biyombo, and Green are all listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets due to a variety of physical ailments. There’s clearly a ton of ways this injury news could affect our potential targets from this Magic squad. Assuming all three players are ultimately ruled out, Orlando would be extremely shorthanded in the frontcourt and would likely be forced to slide Serge Ibaka over to center and Aaron Gordon over to power forward. This would be a significant bump in value for both Ibaka and Gordon given their potential increase in rebounding totals. This is certainly a situation to monitor throughout the day as we approach lock, since the elite and secondary options from this game depend solely on the availability of the aforementioned players.
As reported by: Josh Robbins Other tagged players: Bismack Biyombo, Jeff Green