2 weeks agoThe Athletic's Shams Charania reports the Minnesota Timberwolves are optimistic that center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) will play before the playoffs start. Towns participated in his first team scrimmage on Sunday since undergoing surgery to repair a torn left meniscus on March 12, and the West-leading T-Wolves hope the 28-year-old All-Star big man can ramp up his minutes ahead of the postseason. While Towns is set to be officially re-evaluated ahead of Tuesday's contest versus the Washington Wizards, he should still be considered doubtful for that one. Naz Reid is averaging 18.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 3.2 three-pointers, and 2.5 combined steals plus blocks over his last 11 games (all starts) and will continue starting alongside Rudy Gobert in Minnesota's frontcourt until Towns is ready to go. The Wizards are allowing more DraftKings points to opposing power forwards than any other this season.Source: Shams Charania - The Athletic
2 weeks agoOklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey put his talents on full display on Sunday versus Charlotte, leading his squad to a 121-118 victory by recording his eighth career triple-double. Giddey scored 20 points on 7-for-15 shooting and picked up 13 rebounds and 13 assists, both of which were game-high marks. Two of Giddey's eight triple-doubles have come across the last five games. The versatile Australian has had his strongest stretch of the season lately, benefiting from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's (quadriceps) absence. The Thunder leader has missed six of the past seven games. Giddey has posted 19.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in seven games without Gilgeous-Alexander this season.Source: ESPN
2 weeks agoPhiladelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey had a career night with 52 points in Sunday's 133-126 double-overtime win against San Antonio. With Joel Embiid (knee) and Tobias Harris (knee) out of the lineup, Maxey took full charge of the offense and finished the game with a whopping 41 shot attempts. He had 19 makes with a 2-for-10 record from downtown. Across 54 minutes of playing time, Maxey also tallied five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals while committing only one turnover. The young Sixers star is now tied for most 50-point games in the league this season, with this having been his third such effort. Embiid will likely be back on Tuesday versus Detroit, but Maxey should have a very strong finish to the regular season as Philadelphia desperately tries to lock down a top-six seed in the East.Source: ESPN
2 weeks agoToronto Raptors guard/forward Gradey Dick suffered a groin contusion in Sunday's meeting with Washington, exiting the game after logging 25 minutes of action. Dick was back on the bench Sunday but still performed well, posting 13 points and four rebounds with 3-for-5 shooting from deep. The 20-year-old rookie has been ever-present for Toronto since Jan. 20 but might now need to have some time off to recover. Bruce Brown and Ochai Agbaji should share most of Dick's minutes if he isn't in the lineup on Tuesday against Indiana. This will be a juicy fantasy matchup, as two up-tempo teams go head-to-head.Source: Eric Koreen
2 weeks agoOrlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac logged only five minutes of action on Sunday against Chicago due to a sore back. The injury-prone forward picked up a couple of rebounds in the limited playing time before getting ruled out for the rest of the game. Health issues tend to accompany Isaac wherever he goes, but the 28-year-old has been effective when on the court. Despite seeing just 17.5 minutes per game last month, Isaac averaged 9.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. Orlando also lost Franz Wagner (ankle) on Sunday, meaning head coach Jamahl Mosley could be forced to make multiple changes to his rotation on Tuesday versus Houston.Source: Orlando Magic PR
2 weeks agoOrlando Magic guard/forward Franz Wagner sprained his left ankle on Sunday versus Chicago and had to make an early exit. He was limited to 20 minutes, scoring 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting and notching four rebounds with three assists and one steal. X-rays on Wagner's ankle were negative, but he might still have to spend some time on the sidelines. Orlando gets back to work on Tuesday against Houston, with Joe Ingles possibly getting a bigger role in Wagner's absence. The Australian veteran has struggled to put up fantasy value in 2023-24. Cole Anthony and Anthony Black could also get extra action, with the former the more attractive fantasy option.Source: Orlando Magic
2 weeks agoMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton played only 13 minutes against the Knicks on Sunday, exiting the contest after getting hit in the mouth. The Bucks star took an inadvertent hit to the mouth area from New York's Donte DiVincenzo in the second quarter. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said postgame that Middleton got a tooth knocked out in the incident. While this wasn't a serious trauma, fantasy managers will still need to monitor Middleton's status closely ahead of Tuesday's matchup against Boston. Bobby Portis would be a guy to target if Middleton can't play, with Jae Crowder his likeliest replacement in the starting unit.Source: ESPN
2 weeks agoGolden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green didn't finish Sunday's contest against Utah due to an apparent back injury. He spent only 21 minutes on the court, contributing three points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. Golden State returns to action on Tuesday against the Lakers, and it's unclear if Green will be in the lineup. Jonathan Kuminga, who returned to action with a nice 21-point, 10-rebound double-double on Sunday, would benefit from Green's absence. There might be a few extra minutes of playing time coming in Trayce Jackson-Davis' direction as well.Source: Anthony Slater
2 weeks agoAccording to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, there is "optimism" that Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (eye) can play on Tuesday versus Golden State. The Lakers star aggravated a left eye injury in Sunday's matchup against Minnesota, exiting after logging only 12 minutes. He was inadvertently hit in the face by Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson near the end of the first quarter. Jaxson Hayes had a good game with 19 points and 10 rebounds as Davis' fill-in in the center position, but he will have to settle for a bench role again on Tuesday if Davis is cleared to play.Source: ESPN
2 weeks agoGolden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (ankle) won't play on Sunday versus Utah. He didn't suit up for Friday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Fortunately, Jonathan Kuminga (knee) will return after missing the last six games, which should help lessen the blow caused by Wiggins' absence, even more so with Stephen Curry (rest) getting the night off. Guys like Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski could also surpass their DFS expectations.Source: Anthony Slater
2 weeks agoGolden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (knee) will play on Sunday against Utah. He's missed the previous six games because of knee tendinitis, so he could see fewer minutes than usual. However, with Andrew Wiggins (ankle) and Stephen Curry (rest) out, Kuminga should be on the floor enough to warrant DFS consideration.Source: Anthony Slater
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (illness) won't play on Sunday versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was questionable heading into this one. However, he has Flu-like symptoms, so he'll sit out on Sunday evening. But the Lakers are a lock to at least make the Play-In, meaning the team can afford to give James a night off to rest. Without him, Anthony Davis (knee) could see an uptick in production. But if Davis doesn't suit up, D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Spencer Dinwiddie should all lead the way on the scoring end.Source: Fox 5 San Diego
2 weeks agoUtah Jazz guard Kris Dunn (foot) is out for Sunday's matchup against the Warriors. He has a sore left foot, so he'll get the night off. The Jazz also won't have Jordan Clarkson (pelvis), so Collin Sexton, Keyonte George, and Talen Horton-Tucker should see plenty of minutes, raising all of their DFS potential.Source: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoUtah Jazz forward/center John Collins (back) won't play on Sunday against Golden State. The Jazz are limping to the end of the regular season, and, likely, Collins may not see the floor for the rest of the 2023-24 campaign. With Walker Kessler (nose) also out, Omer Yurtseven, coming off a 12-point, seven-rebound effort in Utah's previous game against the Clippers, will remain an enticing DFS option.Source: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoUtah Jazz center Walker Kessler (nose) won't play on Sunday against Golden State. He fractured his nose during Utah's previous game versus the Cavaliers and didn't suit up for Friday's meeting with the Los Angeles Clippers. Omer Yurtseven got the start in that one, finishing with 12 points, seven boards, and one steal, making him an ideal DFS value option on Sunday night.Source: NBA Injury Report