3 weeks agoGolden State Warriors guard/forward
Klay Thompson (knee) won't play against Portland on Thursday. He's dealing with right knee tendonitis, and the team has downgraded Thompson from questionable to out. The five-time All-Star will get his first chance to return to the lineup on Friday against New Orleans.
Brandin Podziemski will likely start in Thompson's place on Thursday. The 21-year-old rookie has notched 9.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 28 previous starts this season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Slater
3 weeks agoGolden State Warriors forward/center
Draymond Green (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's meeting with the Trail Blazers. The team has downgraded him from questionable to out as Green is dealing with a right knee contusion. He shouldn't miss a lot of time and could be back on Friday as Golden State completes a back-to-back against New Orleans. With Green out on Thursday,
Jonathan Kuminga has a chance to go berserk against a weak frontcourt, with extra minutes also available for
Trayce Jackson-Davis and
Andrew Wiggins.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Slater
3 weeks agoMilwaukee Bucks guard
Damian Lillard (groin) is listed as doubtful for Friday's tilt against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lillard missed three games due to a strained right groin last week, and he's now dealing with soreness in his left adductor. With
Giannis Antetokounmpo's (calf) regular season finished, the Bucks should have a ton of vacated usage on Friday.
Patrick Beverley figures to steer the offense in the starting lineup against the Thunder, with
Khris Middleton (ankle), who is off the injury report, likely handling more ball-handling responsibilities. Beverley is averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.3 three-pointers in six games as a starter for Milwaukee in 2023-24, and Middleton is averaging an efficient 17.2 points, 5.3 dimes, 3.8 boards, 1.0 swipes, and 2.3 threes in 24.8 minutes through six games without Lillard this year.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Clemente Almanza - USA Today
3 weeks agoPortland Trail Blazers guard
Dalano Banton (ankle) has been downgraded to questionable for Thursday's game versus the Golden State Warriors. A late addition to the injury report, Banton may need to sit out the front end of Portland's back-to-back on Thursday with a sprained left ankle. The 24-year-old point forward has taken on an expanded role for the 21-58 Blazers down the stretch, averaging 18.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.4 three-pointers over his latest 20 games (seven starts).
Scoot Henderson could be relied on for playmaking duties against Golden State, averaging 18.4 points, 8.1 dimes, 3.5 boards, 1.3 swipes, and 2.1 threes across his last 10 outings, and his matchup outlook would also improve significantly if
Klay Thompson (knee) sits out on Thursday.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Portland Trail Blazers Public Relations
3 weeks agoBoston Celtics center
Al Horford (toe) is available to play in Thursday's game against the New York Knicks. The first-place Celtics tend to list Horford with a sprained left big toe on back-to-back sets, so look for the veteran big man to be unavailable for Friday's tilt against the dismal Charlotte Hornets. With
Kristaps Porzingis' (hamstring) status remaining uncertain for Thursday's contest, Horford could be in for start at center in Boston's first unit and a considerable bump in DFS rostership if KP is inactive. In 19 games without Porzingis this season, Horford is logging 11.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.4 three-pointers, and 1.8 combined steals plus blocks per contest. With that said, the Knicks are giving up the second-fewest DraftKings points to opposing centers this year.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
3 weeks agoBoston Celtics forwards
Jayson Tatum (knee) and
Jaylen Brown (hand) have been upgraded to available to play in Thursday's matchup with the New York Knicks. Thursday is the first leg of Boston's back-to-back, so expect the first-place Celtics to hand out some maintenance days for Friday's game against the lowly Charlotte Hornets. Tatum is piling up 27.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 3.2 three-pointers per game over his last 14 appearances, while Brown is racking up 26.1 points, 6.2 boards, 3.1 dimes, and 2.3 threes per contest across his latest 13 showings. The two-way superstars have a tough test against a Knicks defense allowing the second-fewest points per game (108.1) in the Association this season, but they could be in for more usage if
Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) sits out on Thursday.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Boston Celtics on X
3 weeks agoOrlando Magic forward
Franz Wagner (ankle) remains listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Wagner has missed two consecutive games due to a right ankle sprain, and his status remains uncertain for Friday's crucial matchup in helping decide Eastern Conference playoff seeding. Head coach Jamahl Mosley has turned to
Markelle Fultz in his starting backcourt in the last two contests Wagner has missed. Over his past four games that Wagner has been sidelined dating back to January, Fultz is averaging a modest 10.3 points on 51.3% shooting from the floor, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 27.5 minutes and isn't the most attractive option from a DFS perspective.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Jason Beede - Orlando Sentinel
3 weeks agoThe Atlanta Hawks say forward
Jalen Johnson (ankle) has a Grade 2 lateral right ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated in three weeks, while center
Onyeka Okongwu (toe) has undergone a non-surgical procedure to address ongoing inflammation in his left big toe and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. Unless the Hawks go on an unlikely deep playoff run, the timetables effectively rule out the two players for the remainder of the season. Their absences leave significant voids in Atlanta's frontcourt going forward, with
Clint Capela having to dominate minutes down low and
Bruno Fernando playing the backup center role in Okongwu's stead. Over 18 games without Johnson this season,
De'Andre Hunter is putting up 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.3 three-pointers per contest and has hit double digits in scoring during each outing.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Marc J. Spears - ESPN.com
3 weeks agoDetroit Pistons forward
Simone Fontecchio (toe) has been ruled out for a 13th straight game on Thursday versus Chicago. He's been knocked out of the lineup by a toe contusion, and it's beginning to look like we have seen the last of the Italian in 2023-24. Detroit has two more games scheduled following Thursday.
Chimezie Metu has received a big workload on the Pistons frontcourt lately, while the team is also giving extended looks to
Troy Brown Jr.,
Jared Rhoden, and
Tosan Evbuomwan. The rotation has been very unpredictable, with
Evan Fournier even popping up against Philadelphia on Tuesday to produce 21 points in 26 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoDetroit Pistons guard
Cade Cunningham (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against Chicago. He's been out for the past four games, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him miss the rest of the campaign. The team has zero reasons to play its best player in a situation where Detroit is set to finish with the worst record in the league for the second year in a row.
Jaden Ivey gets to lead the offense without Cunningham, with
Marcus Sasser and
Malachi Flynn in a position to see extended minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoChicago Bulls center
Andre Drummond (ankle) is considered doubtful to play against the Pistons on Thursday. He hurt his left ankle on Tuesday in a matchup against the Knicks and might be done for the rest of the regular season, with only three games remaining on the Bulls' calendar.
Adama Sanogo grabbed a few extra minutes following Drummond's exit on Tuesday, but he's not somebody fantasy managers should target.
Nikola Vucevic will likely get a busy night without a proper backup. This is a favorable matchup for him against an inexperienced squad that gives up the 10th-most rebounds in the league to centers and allows opposing fives to shoot nearly 60 percent from the field.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoChicago Bulls guard/forward
Ayo Dosunmu (quadriceps) is in danger of missing a second consecutive contest on Thursday against Detroit. He's suffered a right quadriceps contusion as the 2023-24 regular season is getting close to the finish line.
Javonte Green filled in for Dosunmu in the starting unit on Tuesday versus the Knicks and could play a bigger role again in Thursday's matchup. He was the team's leading rebounder on Tuesday with 12 boards and scored nine points. The 30-year-old has averaged 10.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in six games with the Bulls since joining the team late last month.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoChicago Bulls guard
Alex Caruso (ankle) is probable for Thursday's game against Detroit. Chicago's jack of all trades recently missed a game due to an ankle contusion but is expected to be in the lineup as the Bulls begin a back-to-back against the Pistons. Caruso logged 37 minutes against the Knicks on Tuesday when he returned to the lineup, so his injury doesn't appear to be serious, and fantasy managers can count on him to produce his usual numbers. The 30-year-old has tallied 10.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists,1.0 blocks, and 1.6 steals across the campaign.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoGolden State Warriors guard/forward
Klay Thompson (knee) is on the injury report as questionable ahead of Thursday's encounter with the Trail Blazers. The veteran has played in 29 of the last 30 games but could come out of the lineup for the first leg of a back-to-back due to right knee tendonitis. If that's the case,
Chris Paul and
Brandin Podziemski will be counted on to make a bigger contribution on Thursday. The rest of the Warriors bench might get extended playing time as well, as the matchup is projected to be a very one-sided affair. Vegas has Golden State as a 14-point favorite on the road.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoGolden State Warriors forward/center
Draymond Green (knee) has been listed as questionable for Thursday's matchup against Portland. The four-time All-Star made an early exit on Sunday against Utah due to an apparent back problem, and he's now on the injury report with a knee contusion.
Jonathan Kuminga and
Trayce Jackson-Davis have the most to gain from a fantasy perspective if Green can't play on Thursday. This is a favorable matchup for Golden State's big men against a bad rebounding team that struggles on the defensive end.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
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