3 weeks agoPhiladelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee) will play on Friday versus the Magic. He was listed as questionable for this contest. But with the Sixers looking to bolster their chances of avoiding the Play-In, the reigning MVP will be on the floor. With that said, although Embiid is still working his way back from his lengthy layoff, he could still finish as one of the highest-scoring DFS options on Friday night.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia 76ers
3 weeks agoAtlanta Hawks center
Clint Capela will be in the lineup on Friday against Minnesota. He was initially listed as questionable for the game, as Atlanta considered resting Capela, but the Swiss big man has been upgraded to available. However, the Hawks have nothing left to play for, so Capela's role could be limited in Friday's contest. It's a tough matchup for him as well against a team that boasts a strong frontcourt.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Atlanta Hawks
3 weeks agoOklahoma City Thunder guard
Josh Giddey (hip) won't play on Friday versus the Bucks. The 21-year-old nearly had a triple-double in Wednesday's blowout over the San Antonio Spurs. But he'll sit this one out because of a bruised hip, meaning his next chance to suit up will be in Sunday's regular-season finale. With that said, Giddey's absence will open up minutes for
Isaiah Joe and
Cason Wallace. However, both men are still hard to trust from a DFS standpoint.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Rylan Stiles
3 weeks agoMilwaukee Bucks center
Brook Lopez (rest) will be available to play in Friday's contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 36-year-old appeared as questionable on the injury report earlier but has now been cleared to take the court. He has scored in double figures in five straight games and will likely have more opportunities to score in this match-up since the Bucks will be without
Damian Lillard (adductor) and
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf). Lopez has also been busy on the defensive end, recording at least two blocks in each of his previous four games.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoMiami Heat guard
Terry Rozier (neck) won't play on Friday against the Raptors. He's battling a neck injury, so he'll miss his third straight contest. Rozier has played well since joining the Heat. But now that he's officially ruled out,
Tyler Herro, coming close to a triple-double in Wednesday's loss to Dallas, could continue to surpass his usual DFS expectations. At the same time,
Patty Mills might also get more work, although not enough to be a trustworthy fantasy option.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Miami Heat
3 weeks agoPhiladelphia 76ers forward
Kenyon Martin Jr. (toe) will miss a second consecutive game on Friday versus the Magic. He's dealing with a buried toe that could also keep him out for the final regular-season game on Sunday against Brooklyn.
Buddy Hield and
De'Anthony Melton could get a chance to see extra time on the court without Martin Jr., with the former being the better fantasy option. However, relying on Hield always tends to be risky business, and Friday's matchup is an awful one for the Sixers players fantasy-wise.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Kyle Neubeck
3 weeks agoPhiladelphia 76ers point guard
Kyle Lowry (knee) will return from a two-game absence on Friday versus Orlando. He's set to link up with
Tyrese Maxey (hip) on the backcourt, pushing
Cameron Payne to the bench.
De'Anthony Melton could also lose playing time with Lowry's return. This is a bad fantasy matchup for Philadelphia against a slow-paced team, and Lowry hasn't been a great asset for managers. The veteran is averaging only 6.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists for the month.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Kyle Neubeck
3 weeks agoCharlotte Hornets center
Nick Richards (foot) won't play on Friday against the Celtics. The 26-year-old hasn't been as productive as he was a few months ago, so his absence isn't much of a blow for fantasy managers. However, with Richards and
Grant Williams (ankle) both ruled out,
Aleksej Pokusevski should draw serious value consideration for any DFS contest.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoMilwaukee Bucks forward
Khris Middleton (ankle) will be available to play in Friday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The sharpshooter sat out Wednesday's game versus the Orlando Magic due to left ankle injury management, but he will be able to suit up for this next contest against one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Both
Damian Lillard (adductor) and
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) are not playing, which will likely put a lot of playmaking responsibility into the hands of Middleton.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoCharlotte Hornets forward
Grant Williams (ankle) won't play in Friday's matchup with the Celtics. He's battling a sprained right ankle. But with the Hornets having nothing left to play for, Williams likely won't see the floor again this season. With
Nick Richards (foot) also out, Williams could have handled things at the five. But with both men out,
Aleksej Pokusevski is nearly a lock for all DFS contests.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Charlotte Hornets
3 weeks agoBoston Celtics forward/center
Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) and forward/center
Al Horford (toe) will step out of the lineup on Friday against Charlotte. After losing to New York 118-109 on Thursday, Boston gives all of its key guys rest on Friday, with
Xavier Tillman Sr. and
Luke Kornet direct beneficiaries from the frontcourt absentees. The stage is set for the two to perform well against a team that gives up the third-most points and the second-most rebounds in the league to opposing centers.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
3 weeks agoBrooklyn Nets center
Day'Ron Sharpe (wrist) won't play on Friday versus the Knicks. He has a wrist injury, although there's no sense in putting him on the floor for a meaningless game for Brooklyn. With
Dorian Finney-Smith (knee) also out,
Noah Clowney, coming off a 10-point, seven-rebound, seven-block performance, has an even higher ceiling for DFS managers.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoNew York Knicks forward/center
Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) won't play on Friday against the Nets. He had a double-double with six assists and two blocks in Thursday's win over the Boston Celtics. But the 25-year-old will sit this one out to rest before presumably suiting up for New York's final regular season game on Sunday. Nonetheless, without Hartenstein in the equation,
Precious Achiuwa and
Mitchell Robinson should split time in the middle, although the former is a much safer DFS option.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Fred Katz
3 weeks agoBoston Celtics guards
Jrue Holiday (knee) and
Derrick White (ankle) won't be in the lineup on Friday versus Charlotte. Boston will run with its bench mob against the Hornets, as the entire starting five plus
Al Horford (toe) has been ruled out.
Payton Pritchard will get the keys to the backcourt, with
Jaden Springer and
Svi Mykhailiuk also in a position to benefit from the absences of Holiday and White.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
3 weeks agoBoston Celtics guard/forward
Jaylen Brown (hand) will come out of the lineup as the team finishes a back-to-back on Friday against Charlotte. Brown is dealing with a hand sprain, but this is more of a rest day for him, with the C's having already secured the best record in the league and playing for a second consecutive night.
Sam Hauser and
Svi Mykhailiuk look set for a nice boost in minutes on Friday without Brown.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
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