Fantasy Basketball Injury Updates for Week 15 - Kristaps Porzingis, Kyrie Irving, Julius Randle

January 30, 2024

Max Kulish's NBA injuries report for fantasy basketball in Week 15. He recommends NBA injury replacements to set optimal lineups for seasonal and DFS formats.

Welcome back, RotoBallers! I hope everyone is staying warm! I'm here to help you stay up to date on injury news, and how it impacts your teams.

We're back to regularly scheduled programming this week; information is accurate as of Monday 1/29 at night. I'll just cover what has changed since last week.

Drop me a follow on Twitter/X (@Maxadelphia) for all things fantasy basketball and nightly NBA plays.

Short-Term Injuries for Fantasy Basketball

Kristaps Porzingis, C, Boston Celtics - Ankle

Porzingis has missed the Celtics' last two games and should be considered unlikely to play tonight in the second game of a back-to-back, due to an ankle injury. After tonight, the Celtics still have two more games this week, but they opted for a tight rotation on Monday night against the Pelicans - only six players played more than 14 minutes.

Kyrie Irving, PG/SG, Dallas Mavericks - Finger

Irving messed up his thumb at some point during last Monday's (1/22) game in Boston and has missed four straight games as a result. He's being listed as game-to-game, but this was an injury he's already dealt with this year. With Irving out, everyone else in Dallas is a 4th option behind Luka Doncic's right hand, Luka's left hand, and then Tim Hardaway Jr, but if you're digging deep both Josh Green and Jaden Hardy have seen extra minutes as a result.

Jalen Williams, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder - Ankle

It seems like every week there's someone of significance that tweaks something late in the game on Monday night, and the severity of the injury is unknown, but I feel obligated to note it because it could be meaningful. JDub (as he's known to Thunder faithful) is that guy this week. He rolled his right ankle late in the fourth quarter, and was seen not putting any weight on that foot as he left the court. If Williams does miss time, Kenrich Williams is my best guess to see an increase in opportunity.

RJ Barrett, PG/SG - Knee and Immanuel Quickley, PG/SG - Quad, Toronto Raptors

Both former Knicks were ruled out well in advance of tonight's game in Chicago due to their respective injuries. This will be Barrett's second straight missed game, while Quickley will miss his third straight game. The Raptors don't play again until Friday after tonight, but if either are still shelved by that point, I'd say the level of concern about the severity should rise. While they're out, Gary Trent is available in around 60-65% of leagues, and their 2023 1st round draft pick, Gradey Dick, has impressed in the last two games as well.

Zach LaVine, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls - Ankle

LaVine is expected to miss up to two weeks with an ankle sprain he suffered on 1/19. If you need a replacement, Patrick Williams was starting in LaVine's place, but he suffered a foot injury that will keep him out for a minimum of two weeks. Rookie 2nd rounder Julian Phillips stepped in for Williams and had a solid game against the Blazers this past Sunday, and I'd consider him a solid streaming option until one of LaVine or Williams returns.

Week 2: The Bulls announced on 1/25 that LaVine will miss at least another week.

Ivica Zubac, C, LA Clippers - Calf

The Clippers announced on 1/16 that Zubac is expected to miss about four weeks with a right calf strain. The Clippers will likely look for more production from their stars, but someone will need to fill Zubac's role as the big man. Both Daniel Theis and Mason Plumlee should get extra opportunities, but I'd lean Theis when picking one or the other.

Long-Term Injuries for Fantasy Basketball

Julius Randle, PF, New York Knicks - Shoulder

Randle suffered a dislocated shoulder against the Heat on Sunday, and while the Knicks are hopeful the injury severity is "measured in weeks, not months", there's nothing more than hope until his MRI happens this week. If Josh Hart is still available in your league, he's pegged as the most likely candidate to join the starting lineup according to NY media, but Precious Achiuwa will probably see a little bump in minutes as well.

Desmond Bane, SG/SF - Ankle and Marcus Smart, PG/SG - Finger, Memphis Grizzlies

If the season-ending injury to Ja Morant didn't end the Grizzlies' season, surely this pair of injuries will. Bane and Smart suffered their injuries in back-to-back games, and both are expected to be reevaluated in six weeks, which puts their timeline at the end of February. I'd be shocked if the Grizzlies aren't thinking more about their lottery odds at that point, and am considering both of these essentially season-ending injuries in their own right.

Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies - Shoulder

This season came and went for Morant, who will only end up playing nine games this year. Morant tore a labral muscle in his right shoulder and is undergoing season-ending surgery. This season looks lost for the 13-23 Grizzlies, who are now officially on tank watch.

Chris Paul, PG, Golden State Warriors - Hand

The Warriors announced over the weekend that Paul will undergo surgery on his injured hand and miss 4-6 weeks. If I had to guess, he'll probably return after All-Star Weekend (Feb 16-18). Coach Steve Kerr has indicated Moses Moody will see additional minutes off the Warriors bench and is worth looking at for fantasy purposes.

Mitchell Robinson, C, New York Knicks - Ankle

One week after undergoing surgery, Robinson's recovery timeline has drastically changed. Initially only slated to miss around two months, an update on December 20 announced Robinson's 2023-24 campaign has ended due to this injury. Isaiah Hartenstein has taken over the starting role and with Jericho Sims scheduled to return at the beginning of 2024, Tom Thibodeau favorite Taj Gibson will be in the Knicks' rotation.

Gabe Vincent, PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers - Knee

After missing nearly two months with a knee issue, Vincent returned to the Lakers' lineup for one whole game. He hurt the same left knee that's been bothering him all year, and the team announced he'll undergo surgery this week. He's expected to miss six to eight weeks minimum, but due to the recurring nature of this injury, I wouldn't be surprised if his absence is longer than that. It seems most likely that rookie Max Christie will rejoin the rotation in his wake.

Evan Mobley, C, Cleveland Cavaliers - Knee

Mobley was initially ruled day-by-day but on one of those days, the decision was made that arthroscopic surgery was the best course of action. Mobley underwent surgery on December 15 and is out for six to eight weeks as a result. The Cavs don't really have anyone else to replicate their twin towers lineup, but Dean Wade and Isaac Okoro are likely candidates to see increased minutes.

Update 1/16: Mobley is still on track for his 6-8 week timeline, which should see him return in early February.

The Tank Corner 

OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

The Grizzlies may not have the worst record in the league (would you believe they only have one less loss than the Warriors?), but the plug being pulled feels inevitable. For last night's game in Sacramento, they had 11 players ruled out, which does include guys who have been lost for the season and injured for a long time, but that doesn't change the fact they're working with scraps. If Jaren Jackson Jr should pick up any sort of significant injury (real or fake), the floodgates will undoubtedly open for the Grizzlies to have the least recognizable roster in the NBA. For the time being, consider them a one-stop shop for all fantasy and DFS dart throws.

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