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It was a busy nine-game slate around the National Basketball Association. However, it wasn't a good night for many clubs, especially the ones that dealt with an injury.
This article will highlight some of the critical injuries that occurred on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. At the same time, we will cover some players who were ruled out with a pre-existing ailment while examining which players have benefited.
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LaMelo Ball Injury Update
LaMelo Ball exited Monday's meeting with the Rockets with a sprained left ankle. This is an all too familiar ailment, as the 21-year-old injured it twice already this season. He missed the first 13 games of the 2022-23 campaign because of it before making his season debut on November 12 against Miami.
Unfortunately, the 2020 No. 3 overall pick was incapacitated again after stepping on a fan's foot during a matchup with Indiana just a few days later, keeping him sidelined for an additional 11 games. Now, it appears fantasy managers will be without Ball for a while, considering he needed help getting to the locker room.
With Kelly Oubre Jr. out with a torn ligament in his left hand, it will be tough to replace Ball's 24 points per game. Of course, Terry Rozier should take over as the interim No. 1 option on the offensive end. P.J. Washington and Jalen McDaniels could also benefit. There is also Gordon Hayward, but he's rarely healthy.
With that said, Dennis Smith Jr. may be the guy to see the biggest uptick in production if Ball misses time. Although Smith had battled an ankle injury of his own this year, he still played well while filling in for Ball, averaging 10.0 points, 6.5 assists, and 1.9 steals in 11 starts. He's not a great shooter by any means, but at least he'll make up for it with his defensive contributions.
Mitchell Robinson Injury Update
Mitchell Robinson suffered a thumb injury in Wednesday's loss to the Washington Wizards, finishing with two rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in nine minutes. Early rumblings suggest that it's a sprain. However, the big man will undergo further testing on Thursday.
The 24-year-old missed two weeks in November because of a knee injury, so it wouldn't be an ideal situation for the Knicks, a club that's won seven of their last 10 games, if he were put on the shelf. Yet, judging Mitchell's history, he may be looking at a prolonged absence. If that's the case, Isaiah Hartenstein could work his way into the starting rotation.
The former Clipper averaged only 7.6 rebounds and 6.7 points in seven starts this year. Even worse, he logged just over 24 minutes in those games. At the same time, Jericho Sims, who was on the floor more than Hartenstein against the Wizards, may be the one getting the starting nod moving forward. Either way, neither play should be considered a reliable fantasy option.
Donovan Mitchell Injury Update
As expected, Donovan Mitchell didn't suit up against the Grizzlies because of a strained left groin. Naturally, Darius Garland did a lot of the heavy lifting on the scoring end versus Memphis, ending the night with a team-high 24 points while adding 14 assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
On the other hand, Caris LeVert scored 23 points, logging a game-high 42 minutes. The Cavs have a busy schedule on the horizon, beginning with Friday's showdown with the Golden State Warriors, the first of a back-to-back. Without question, Mitchell is playing the best basketball of his career, so the team will undoubtedly continue to play it safe.
As a result, fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked if he misses more time, which should mean good things for Garland, LeVert, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen from a production standpoint. Even Isaac Okoro, who had 17 points on Wednesday, could be useful for those in deeper formats.
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