X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

NBA Injuries and Who Can Benefit Instead (Week 12)

Just how frustrated are we with injuries in the NBA this season? It seems as if Player X returns, Player B gets injured. The injury bug has been real this season, and it's like a plague that continues to spread across the league. Understanding the injury landscape is key in all forms of fantasy basketball.

Unfortunately, injuries will happen more often than not. It is just the nature of the game. However, in order to stay ahead of your opponents, you need to stay a top of these injury-related news. One significant add to the waiver wire could potentially make or break your season.

Consider this your one-stop overview of fantasy-relevant injuries around the NBA. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @RotoBaller @RotoBallerNBA and @fungo24!

Upgrade To VIP: Save 50% on any NBA Premium Pass using discount code SMASH. Win more with our NBA and DFS Premium Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! Jamie Calandro and Dan Palyo lead the RotoBaller team in 2024-25 with exclusive DFS picks, Prop picks and more. Gain VIP access to our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, DFS Cheat Sheets and VIP Chat Rooms. Go Premium, Win More!

 

Notable Injury Updates Around The NBA

Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden (hamstring) will miss at least the next two weeks on the sidelines due to a sprained hammy. It comes at one of the worst possible times, as the Rockets have only gone 5-5 in their last ten games. Luckily, Chris Paul is healthy and is capable of holding down the fort. There is a chance that Harden misses more time because hamstring has to be healed fully to avoid risking re-aggravating the muscle. Gerald Green, who scored a game-high 27 points in 28 minutes on Wednesday, is a good pick up in most leagues. Just don't expect much outside of points and 3-pointers.

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love (ankle) struggled with his shot Wednesday, missing 10-of-11 shots from the field for only two points. He tried to play through the injury in the second-half, but was ultimately ruled out by the Cavs training staff. He should be considered day-to-day, where Jae Crowder and Jeff Green are lukewarm pickups if he's to miss Saturday's contest.

Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (rib contusion) could not suit up Wednesday and center Boban Marjanovic started in his place and had himself a great game. Boban finished with 15 points and nine boards on 5-of-8 shooting, including 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Drummond's injury isn't considered serious, as coach Stan Van Gundy pointed out it's a matter of tolerating the pain, so he shouldn't be out too long. But anytime Drummond is out, Marjanovic deserves a long look in most leagues, especially daily fantasy leagues.

Indiana Pacers shooting guard Victor Oladipo (knee) hasn't played in over a week and continues to be sidelined with a sore knee. The Pacers are being cautious, and rightfully so because Oladipo has been dynamite this season. Lance Stephenson is a decent option in standard leagues, as he will continue to start and take more of the ball-handling duties, where Cory Joseph can be used in deeper leagues.

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball (shoulder) could not suit up Wednesday, as he's still battling a sore shoulder. He doesn't look like he'll be out for much longer, as back up point guard Tyler Ennis has played well as the fill-in starter. Unless Ball suffers a setback, Ennis is only suited for deeper leagues. Jordan Clarkson is probably owned in most leagues, but if he isn't, go pick him up. He may get traded before the February trading deadline anyway. A trade could be good for his value.

Detroit Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson (ankle) will not return until at least after the All-Star break, and Ish Smith is a must-start, must-own player until further notice. Smith has demonstrated in the past that he can really help boost those assists numbers, and he's almost a lock to see 28+ minutes until Jackson returns. Avery Bradley will also benefit from extra touches.

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Jeff Teague (knee) could miss two-to-four weeks due to a MCL sprain in his left knee, and Tyus Jones has been a popular pick up in most leagues. In his last four starts, Jones averages 7.0 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.0 steals in 31.6 minutes. The points are a bit disappointing, but the steals are not a fluke and they're absolutely elite. Don't be discouraged as Jones is dealing with a dislocated finger. The minutes are there and so will the steals.

San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (groin) couldn't do much in Tuesday's contest against the Knicks and the Spurs are looking to shut him down until he's right. Kyle Anderson will benefit. Anderson was playing very well and flirted with mid-round value before he got injured, so he's worth a look in most leagues with Green expected to miss time.

Los Angles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (Achilles) is listed day-to-day with a sore Achilles, as C.J. Williams is only worth a look in deeper leagues if Rivers miss more time. There's no obvious winner, but Lou Williams has been fantastic and will have the chance to take on more shots.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (Achilles) is very close to a return, and he's being listed as "doubtful" ahead for Friday. Conley put in an "extensive" post-practice workout last weekend and has been ramping up his activity lately, so owners should be excited about a return in the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Tyreke Evans will continue to run the point for Memphis.

 New York Knicks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (lower leg stress injury) is still a couple weeks away. He continues to be a cheer leader for the Knicks during games so it's at least a positive sign he's with the team. Frank Ntilikina has played well lately and deserves a look again. I'd pick him up now before he blows up. He's a very intriguing assists and steals guy, with the upside to average a 3-pointer per game. If the Knicks were to unleash him for 30 minutes per night, look out. He could be a sneaky difference maker towards the second-half of the season.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (knee) continues to progress well and owners should see him sometime this month. He's been working out with the G-League affiliate team and it's only a matter of time before he reclaims the scoring duties for the Bulls. His return will likely send either Justin Holiday or Denzel Valentine to the bench. I suspect the Bulls to roll out a lineup of Robin Lopez, Lauri Markkanen, Justin Holiday , Zach LaVine, and Kris Dunn in 2018. Holiday will not be this good with LaVine back in the lineup. If you want to sell high on Justin Holiday, go for it.

Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (knee) continues to be sidelined after an arthroscopic surgery last month to remove loose bodies. There is still currently no timetable for his return, but Spencer Dinwiddie continues to fill the void nicely as he's become a mid-round player on the year. Guys like Allen Crabbe, Rondae Hollis Jefferson will continue to have increased usage.

Sacramento Kings forward Harry Giles (knee) is not expected to play for the Kings until January 2018 at the earliest, but he has tremendous upside in fantasy. The Kings are going to be super careful with him, as he's recovering from surgically repaired knees that caused teams to pass on him during draft night. He's not likely to be much of a factor for standard league owners once he returns, but the Kings are an absolute mess and it wouldn't be surprising if they chose to use the second-half of the season developing their young core. The Kings has not updated his recovery status, but he was last seen warming up and taking shots with the team prior to a game on Dec. 10th. If you're in a deep league and is comfortable stashing a player, it wouldn't be a terrible idea especially if you have an IR spot. He's a low-risk, high reward stash. Just my opinion.

 

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis

 

NBA DFS Premium Subscription

Get a free trial of our powerful NBA Premium Tools. Our famous DFS Cheat Sheets, and NBA Lineup Optimizer & Generator with daily matchup projections.

Win more. Try the most advanced lineup optimizer in daily fantasy basketball.

Sign Up Now!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

CFB

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt Probable For Saturday
Jake Walman

to Remain Out Thursday
Dmitry Kulikov

to Miss Five Months Following Surgery
Darcy Kuemper

Day-to-Day With Lower-Body Injury
Anze Kopitar

Listed as Day-to-Day
Jacob Markstrom

Out for "Couple of Weeks"
Kevon Looney

Slated to be Sidelined With Knee Injury
Nick Foligno

Out on Wednesday
Lucas Raymond

Misses Wednesday's Game
Malcolm Brogdon

Calling it a Career After Nine NBA Seasons
Sacramento Kings

Russell Westbrook Inks Deal With Kings
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Open 21-Day Practice Window for Khalik Mack
Quentin Johnston

Will Practice Wednesday
Travis Hunter

Jaguars Plan to Expand Travis Hunter's Role on Offense
Anthony Volpe

Undergoes Left-Shoulder Surgery
Deshaun Watson

"a Good Month Away" From Practicing
CFB

Jayden Gibson No Longer with Oklahoma Program
David Njoku

Not Practicing Wednesday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs "Allocating a Heavy Workload" for Rashee Rice Right Away
Puka Nacua

a "Long Shot" to Play in Week 7
Emeka Egbuka

is Expected to Miss Week 7
Jalen Suggs

Participates in Contact Drills
Mark Williams

Progresses to Five-on-Five Work
Gary Harris

to Miss 1-2 Weeks
De'Andre Hunter

Sustains Knee Contusion Tuesday
Karlo Matković

Karlo Matkovic Hurts Elbow in Loss to Houston
Jalen Duren

Returns to Action Against Cavaliers
Stuart Skinner

Records Eighth Career Shutout
Matthew Knies

Dishes Out Three Assists in Tuesday's Win
Maxwell Crozier

Likely Out on Friday
Brett Howden

Dealing With Lower-Body Injury
Adin Hill

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Versus Flames
Matt Duchene

Injured in Tuesday's Win
Emmanuel Clase

to be Banished for Life After Gambling Allegations?
Alex Bregman

Plans to Opt Out of Contract With Red Sox
Jalen Green

Reinjures Hamstring, Will be Reevaluated in 10 Days
Trey Murphy III

Set to Suit Up Tuesday
Joel Embiid

Could Play in Friday's Preseason Finale
Alexey Toropchenko

to Remain Out Wednesday
Jake Walman

Targeting Season Debut for Thursday
Zach Benson

Expected to Make Season Debut Wednesday
Paul George

Participates in Team Activities During Practice on Tuesday
Steven Lorentz

Misses Tuesday's Action
Jaccob Slavin

Unavailable Versus Sharks
Pierre-Luc Dubois

Out on Tuesday
Kris Letang

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Brady Tkachuk

Expected to Miss at Least One Month
CeeDee Lamb

"Looking Good" for Week 7
Kevin Huerter

Could Be an Option Thursday
Tre Jones

Nursing a Foot Problem
Marcus Smart

Set for Lakers Debut Tuesday
Jimmy Butler III

Sits Out Tuesday's Preseason Game
Lauri Markkanen

Logs 18 Minutes in Preseason Debut
Bam Adebayo

Exits Preseason Game With Knee Contusion
D'Andre Swift

Breaks Out for 175 Total Yards and Touchdown in Win
Drake London

Explodes for 158 Yards and Touchdown in Win Over Bills
Bijan Robinson

Erupts for 238 Total Yards and Touchdown Against Bills
Christopher Bell

Sits Third in Points After Quiet Third-Place Finish
Chase Briscoe

Passes Denny Hamlin at the Start, but Hamlin Gets Him in the End
Joey Logano

Falling Out of Playoff Picture Despite Other Contenders' Crashes
Ryan Blaney

Stage 1 Crash Puts Ryan Blaney in Severe Playoff Trouble
Denny Hamlin

Wins at Las Vegas and Will Compete for the 2025 Cup Series Title
Kyle Larson

Dominates at Las Vegas but Ends Up Second
Chase Elliott

Struggles to Gain A Solid Finish at Las Vegas After Pit-Road Penalty
William Byron

Strong Run Ends In A Wreck at Las Vegas
Stephon Castle

Set to Suit Up for Monday's Preseason Matchup With Indiana
Garrett Wilson

Expected to Miss "a Couple of Weeks" With Hyperextended Knee
Dalton Kincaid

Ruled Out for Monday Night
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Set to Make Preseason Debut on Tuesday
CFB

Sam Leavitt Viewed as Day-to-Day with Undisclosed Injury
Anthony Santander

Scratched From Game 2 of ALCS With Back Tightness
Deebo Samuel Sr.

Expected to Play on Monday Night
Brock Bowers

Could Sit for the "Long Haul"
CeeDee Lamb

has a Chance to Play in Week 7
San Diego Padres

Mike Shildt Retires as a Manager
Tennessee Titans

Titans Fire Head Coach Brian Callahan
Mateusz Gamrot

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Charles Oliveira

Gets Back In The Win Column
Montel Jackson

Drops Decision
Deiveson Figueiredo

Gets Split-Decision Victory
Vicente Luque

Outclassed
Vicente Luque

Joel Alvarez Outclasses Vicente Luque
Jhonata Diniz

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Mario Pinto

Remains Undefeated
CFB

Matt Rhule Denying Interest in Penn State Head Coaching Job
CFB

Le'Veon Moss Not Believed to Have Suffered Season-Ending Injury
Ricardo Ramos

Suffers First-Round Submission Loss
Chris Godwin

Not Expected to Return in Week 7
Bucky Irving

Not Expected to Return in Week 7
Puka Nacua

Rams Think Puka Nacua has Avoided a Long-Term Injury
Kaan Ofli

Scores Comeback Win
CFB

Bill Belichick Says he's Committed to North Carolina
Tiger Woods

Undergoes Back Surgery
CFB

UAB Fires Head Coach Trent Dilfer After 2.5 Seasons In Birmingham
CFB

Penn State Fires Head Coach James Franklin After 10.5 Seasons
CFB

Penn State QB Drew Allar Will Miss The Rest Of 2025 Season With Ankle Injury
Brandon Woodruff

Will Not be on NLCS Roster
Max Scherzer

Added to ALCS Roster
Bryan Woo

Makes ALCS Roster
Bo Bichette

Won't Make ALCS Roster
Christopher Bell

the Favorite to Win at Las Vegas
Denny Hamlin

on the Pole at Las Vegas
Joey Logano

Can Joey Logano Get Lucky in Las Vegas Again?
William Byron

has the Fastest Car in Practice at Las Vegas
Ty Gibbs

Speed of Ty Gibbs a Good Sign for Toyota at Las Vegas
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Should Contend at Las Vegas
Ross Chastain

Scrapes Wall in Practice But Qualifies 15th at Las Vegas
Chris Buescher

Looking for Improvement at Las Vegas
Austin Cindric

It Has Been Hit or Miss for Austin Cindric at Las Vegas
Chase Elliott

Should Run Well at Las Vegas
Kyle Larson

Conservatism May Keep him from Replicating Previous Las Vegas Drive
Josh Berry

After Josh Berry's Las Vegas Win, Ryan Blaney Should be a Top Contender
Chase Briscoe

has Definitely Improved on Intermediate Tracks
Gleyber Torres

Will Undergo Surgery to Repair Sports Hernia
Bryan Woo

Expected to be on Mariners' ALCS Roster
CFB

CJ Baxter to Miss Saturday's Game Against No. 6 Oklahoma
CFB

Syracuse QB Steve Angeli Will Miss Significant Time
Cody Bellinger

Plans to Opt Out of Contract
MLB

Munetaka Murakami Will be Posted This Winter
Nathan Eovaldi

has Hernia Surgery, Should be Ready for Spring Training
Mateusz Gamrot

Set For UFC Rio Main Event
Charles Oliveira

Returns At UFC Rio
Montel Jackson

Set For UFC Rio Co-Main Event
Deiveson Figueiredo

Returns At UFC Rio
Joel Álvarez

Joel Alvarez Set for his Welterweight Debut
Vicente Luque

A Huge Underdog
Mario Pinto

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Jhonata Diniz

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Kaan Ofli

Looks To Secure His First Octagon Win
Ricardo Ramos

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Michael Aswell

Looks For His First UFC Win
CFB

North Carolina's Caleb Hood Retiring from College Football
CFB

Jeff Sims Likely to Start Against Utah