DFS Alerts
Jae Crowder (ankle) expected to miss a week, maybe more
Jae Crowder left Wednesday night’s game in the first half with an ankle injury and did not return. He is expected to be out for at least a week. This should mean more minutes for Marcus Smart and rookie Jaylen Brown moving forward.
As reported by: Chris Forsberg
Devin Booker (toe) will start tonight
Devin Booker was held out of Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a toe sprain on his right foot. He will return to the starting lineup tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers so that moves Brandon Knight back to the bench. Many people expected a breakout season from Booker but he has started off the first few games a bit rough. Sooner or later, he will get it going and it could be in this spot against the Blazers who rank in the bottom half in DVP vs Shooting Guards.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl Other tagged players: Brandon Knight Dirk Nowitzki (illness) and Wesley Matthews (foot) starting tonight
Mavs will go back to their normal starting five of Harrison Barnes, Dirk Nowitzki, Andrew Bogut, Wesley Matthews and Deron Williams as they square up against the Utah Jazz tonight. Dirk was a late scratch on Monday night due to an illness and is set to return this evening but is expected to have his minutes closely monitored according to Mavericks’ beat writer, Earl Snead. The matchup against the Jazz leaves more to be desired as the Jazz play at one of the slowest paces in the NBA and rank second in DVP vs the Power Forward position. Wesley Matthews should see a healthy amount of minutes against his former team as well.
As reported by: Kareem Copeland Other tagged players: Wesley Matthews, Harrison Barnes, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut Patrick McCaw (ankle) is doubtful for tomorrow night
Patrick McCaw has missed the last two games for the Golden State Warriors. He is doubtful for Thursday night’s contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. McCaw had a strong showing during the Preseason but he is yet to carve out a meaningful role in the Warriors star-studded rotation.
As reported by: Connor Letourneau Jarrell Martin and Wade Baldwin will both play tonight
Jarrell Martin (foot) and Wade Baldwin (quad) both saw minutes in the low to mid 20s during Tuesday night’s game against Minnesota. This was largely due to the fact that Mike Conley and Marc Gasol were both held out as it was the first leg of a back-to-back for Memphis. Both players will come off the bench tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans.
As reported by: Memphis Grizzlies official Twitter feed Other tagged players: Wade Baldwin Dante Cunningham confirmed as the starter
Cunningham will draw the start tonight against Memphis in place of Omer Asik for the second straight game. The Pelicans are most likely making this change to matchup with the Grizzlies’ length in their starting lineup, though Asik has been dreadful to begin the season, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see New Orleans continue to roll out starting lineups with Anthony Davis at the five on a more consistent basis, especially once Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans are able to return.
As reported by: Jim Eichenhofer
Doug McDermott (concussion) ruled out tonight
McDermott didn’t pass the concussion protocol and will not be available for the Bulls in tonight’s game against Boston. Look for Denzel Valentine to possibly get more run off the bench for Chicago, though it’s entirely possibly that Nikola Mirotic just receives more minutes at small forward rather than entrust the rookie with a heavier workload right away.
As reported by: KC Johnson Tony Allen (knee) starting; Marc Gasol and Mike Conley starting as expected
Allen made his season debut last night off the bench for the Grizzlies, but gets the nod as the starter this evening. This move was expected, as it was reported over the weekend that Allen was originally supposed to make his debut tonight against the Pelicans. Coach Dave Fizdale is already on record saying that all his players will receive their normal allotment of minutes against this exploitable defensive unit of the Pelicans. This is a great spot to jump on Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, as they burned a bunch of players after being scratched after lock on non-late swap sites.
As reported by: Phillip Dean Other tagged players: Marc Gasol, Mike Conley Marcus Smart (ankle) to play without a minutes restriction
Marcus Smart is set to make his season debut this evening with no expected minute limitations, which creates a really murky situation in the Celtics backcourt whether Bradley is able to suit up or not. We should expect Smart to cut into the minutes of Terry Rozier and will want to see how this rotation works itself out before firing up any Celtics’ guards other than Isaiah Thomas.
As reported by: Scott Souza Tyler Zeller to start in place of Al Horford; Avery Bradey (shoulder) to start as well
Bradley will indeed play tonight against Chicago, after being a game-time decision earlier in the day. The Celtics will start Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Amir Johnson, and Tyler Zeller in the absence of Al Horford.
Other tagged players: Avery Bradley Nene (rest) ruled out on the second night of a back-to-back
Nene will be rested for tonight’s game against New York. In his absence, Clint Capela should see some extended run at the end of the game, as the Rockets’ are less likely to go small with Nene and Ryan Anderson at the power forward and center positions. You could say that Capela makes a compelling tournament option this evening.
Lucas Nogueira (ankle) listed as available for tonight
Nogueira will be available tonight, but is not expected to play unless in the event of a blowout or foul trouble for Jonas Valanciunas. Coach Dwayne Casey has already stated that rookie Jakob Poeltl is the team’s new backup center. The Raptors backup center rotation seems to be a situation to avoid.
As reported by: @Raptors Ivica Zubac to start for Timofey Mozgov
Zubac will draw the start at center for tonight’s game against Atlanta, with Mozgov (eye) unavailable. It’s difficult to predict how the Lakers’ frontcourt minutes will breakdown with Tarik Black and Larry Nance also vying for additional playing time. This is also a difficult matchup against the Hawks’ frontcourt duo of Dwight Howard and Paul Millsap. There are better punt plays at center than Zubac.
Randy Foye (hamstring) ruled out tonight
Foye has officially been ruled out for tonight’s game against Detroit, after starting the day as questionable, though his status was bleak after being downgraded to doubtful earlier in the day. Bojan Bogdanovic and Sean Kilpatrick have played well in his absence, but aren’t on our fantasy radars this evening in a bad matchup with a solid Pistons defense. Outside of maybe Jeremy Lin, there isn’t much to like on this Nets squad.
As reported by: Anthony Puccio Richaun Holmes to start over Jahlil Okafor, in place of Joel Embiid (rest)
Holmes will draw the start tonight against Charlotte in place of Okafor, with Joel Embiid being rested on the second night of a back-to-back. Okafor will still be on a minutes restriction of 20-24 minutes this evening, so Holmes should be in line for an increased workload in an exploitable matchup with the Hornets frontcourt. Feel free to fire up Holmes as a punt play in all formats.