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
3 weeks agoBrooklyn Nets forward
Cameron Johnson (toe) won't suit up for Friday's encounter with the New York Knicks. The former Sun has been in and out of the lineup over the last few games. However, his injury woes have been the norm all year, so he may not be on the floor for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign. Fortunately,
Noah Clowney, coming off a 10-point, seven-block showing on Wednesday, will be a popular DFS option. Johnson's absence will also open the door for
Jalen Wilson and
Trendon Watford to get involved enough to enter the DFS value conversation.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 weeks agoBoston Celtics forward
Jayson Tatum (knee) will not play against Charlotte on Friday. The team has ruled him out with a right knee contusion. Boston will have all of its top six guys out on Friday, meaning a boatload of open minutes for the rest of the crew.
Sam Hauser and
Oshae Brissett will be the players directly benefiting from Tatum's absence.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
3 weeks agoBrooklyn Nets guard
Dennis Schroder (Achilles) won't play on Friday against the Knicks. The veteran has played well since getting moved to Brooklyn. However, the team has nothing left to play for, so Schroder may be done for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign. With
Dennis Smith Jr. (hip) also out,
Jacob Gilyard (hip) could slide into the starting lineup if he's cleared to play. But the offense should continue to run through
Cam Thomas and
Mikal Bridges regardless of who's at the one.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: C.J. Holmes
3 weeks agoChicago Bulls guard/forward
DeMar DeRozan (rest) will get the night off on Friday versus Washington. The Bulls have nothing left to play for and complete a back-to-back set, so it's completely understandable that the team gives DeRozan some time off.
Coby White is set to be the only regular starter in the lineup and should get heavy usage in a good matchup against a struggling team. Meanwhile, Chicago's bench mob led by
Dalen Terry will get an opportunity to show what they are capable of in larger roles.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: K.C. Johnson
3 weeks agoOrlando Magic forward
Franz Wagner (ankle) will suit up for Friday's game in Philly. He's missed the last two games because of a sprained right ankle and was riding a questionable tag heading into this one. But Orlando is looking to clinch the Southeast division, which is incentive enough for Wagner to return. Nonetheless, with F. Wagner back in the mix,
Moritz Wagner and
Jonathan Isaac will likely see fewer than 20 minutes each, lowering their ceilings for DFS purposes.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Orlando Magic
3 weeks agoChicago Bulls center
Nikola Vucevic (rest) won't feature against the Wizards on Friday. He sits out the second leg of a back-to-back for rest purposes. With
Andre Drummond (ankle) already on the shelf, it looks like we'll get to know
Adama Sanogo a lot better on Friday. Smaller lineups could also give extra playing time to
Dalen Terry,
Torrey Craig, and
Javonte Green.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: K.C. Johnson
RADIO
