Bam Adebayo Back for Heat Monday
Miami Heat forward/center Bam Adebayo (back) will return to the lineup on Monday against the Denver Nuggets, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports. The talented big man has been nursing a lower back injury lately, missing two games. Pelle Larsson filled in for Adebayo in the starting lineup and will likely drop back to the bench on Monday, despite a pair of quality performances. Adebayo had a two-point dud in his first meeting with Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets this season. His recent form isn't encouraging either, as Adebayo has finished two of his last four appearances with fewer than 10 points.
Source: Anthony Chiang
Source: Anthony Chiang
Jalen Suggs Remains Sidelined on Monday
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (hip) is unavailable for Monday's matchup with the Toronto Raptors. Suggs will miss his seventh straight game due to a left hip contusion. Tyus Jones should continue to start while Suggs is sidelined. Jones will continue to be a short-term fantasy assists streamer posting averages of 6.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists during his last six appearances. Jase Richardson should also still see an expanded role this evening with Suggs on the shelf.
Source: Orlando Magic PR
Source: Orlando Magic PR
Sion James Upgraded to Available
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Sion James (illness) will remain in the lineup on Monday against the Milwaukee Bucks. He was initially handed a questionable tag on the injury report due to illness. James had a multi-week spell as a starter last month and could return to the first unit on Monday due to Kon Knueppel's (ankle) absence. However, even in a starting role, James has not been an appealing fantasy option, averaging 7.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Gary Trent Jr. Available Versus Hornets
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Gary Trent Jr. (calf) will return from a two-game absence on Monday against the Charlotte Hornets. Trent Jr. recently sustained a calf contusion in a game against the Indiana Pacers, but the team has upgraded his status from questionable to available. During the season, the 26-year-old has been in and out of the starting lineup, averaging 9.6 points and 1.6 assists in 26.8 minutes. Unfortunately, Trent Jr. has not provided much fantasy production, and his performances against Charlotte have been even poorer, as he has notched 5.0 points per game across two contests.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun Could Return on Road Trip
Katy Winge of Altitude Sports reports that Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman said there's a chance we see forward Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and guard Christian Braun (ankle) on this roadtrip for Denver. "Hoping at the back end of this road trip we see them," said Adelman. The Nuggets are in the midst of a seven-game road trip that began on Saturday in Orlando. Gordon has been out since November 21 due to a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. Braun has been dealing with a left ankle sprain and has been sidelined since November 12. Both players are on the team's road trip and participated in a pregame workout before Saturday's 127-126 loss in Orlando. Fantasy managers should expect them to return likely during the first week of the new year.
Source: Katy Winge
Source: Katy Winge
Jay Huff Available Versus Rockets
Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (ankle) is available for Monday's matchup with the Houston Rockets. Huff was tagged as questionable on Sunday for tonight's tilt due to a left ankle sprain. The 28-year-old has appeared in all 32 Pacers games this season and will play once again this evening. Despite posting 11 points, one rebound, two assists, one steal and three blocks on Saturday against Miami, he will likely make a minimal impact in fantasy going up against a solid Rockets defense.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
T.J. McConnell Available on Monday
Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell (hamstring) is set to suit up against the Houston Rockets. McConnell will return to the floor on Monday after missing Saturday's matchup against Miami due to hamstring soreness. The 33-year-old veteran backup point guard is averaging 10.0 points, 4.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 16.8 minutes per contest across 20 games this season. He's finished with 16 points in two of his last three outings, going into this evening.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Al Horford Back on the Sidelines Monday Night
Golden State Warriors center Al Horford (toe) is back on the injury report and won't play on Monday night in Brooklyn. The 39-year-old has been in street clothes more often than his uniform in his first season with the Warriors. When he's active, he's playing about 20 minutes per game, while shooting a career-low 36% from the field. Quentin Post will continue to start at center for Golden State, with Trayce Jackson-Davis filling in the gaps.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Ryan Dunn to Miss Second Straight Game with Knee Injury
Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (knee) won't be a part of the rotation Monday night when the Suns visit the Washington Wizards. The second-year forward is managing soreness in his right knee, which caused him to miss Saturday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Dunn sees about 22 minutes of action per game, mostly off the bench, and averages 7.2 points, five rebounds, and 1.3 steals. The Phoenix rotation is ravaged by injuries, and the coaching staff used a committee approach to fill the gaps on Saturday. Starters Collin Gillespie and Royce O'Neale, along with sixth-man Jordan Goodwin, have seen increased roles recently.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jose Alvarado Serving Suspension on Monday Night
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (suspension) will serve the first game of his two-game suspension on Monday against the New York Knicks. The league handed down the suspension after Alvarado got into a fight with Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams on Saturday night. Alvarado will also sit out the matchup with the Chicago Bulls on New Year's Eve. The reserve guard is averaging 8.3 points, 3.2 assists, and one steal per game. Jordan Poole should see an uptick in minutes off the bench behind starting point guard Jeremiah Fears.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Achilles Injury Continues to Sideline Jerami Grant
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (Achilles) is slated to miss a sixth consecutive game with left Achilles tendonitis on Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran remains without a timetable to return, putting his status for Wednesday's matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder also in doubt. Forward Kris Murray (quad), who has started during Grant's absence, is questionable. Murray hasn't taken advantage of his increased minutes (7.2 points per game in his last five starts), and Sidy Cissoko likely won't either if he's forced into the lineup.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
Jakob Poeltl Continues to Miss Time with Back Issue
Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (back) will miss his fourth-straight game with a back injury when his team hosts the Orlando Magic on Monday night. Poeltl missed two games earlier this month and aggravated the injury after about seven minutes of playing time on December 21st. He's expected to be out at least another week. Toronto will also be without forward RJ Barrett (knee) on Monday, so Sandro Mamukelashvili is likely to pick up his fifth start in the last seven games. He's averaged 17.2 and 7.2 rebounds in those starts and is squarely on the fantasy basketball radar.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
RJ Barrett Sitting Out Second Night of a Back-to-Back
Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (knee) won't play in the second night of a back-to-back on Monday, following an extended absence with a knee sprain. The 25-year-old played just under 24 minutes on Sunday after missing the previous 15 games, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds. With fellow starter Jakob Poeltl (back) also sidelined, Ochai Agbaji and Sandro Mamukelashvili should pick up starts again when the Raptors host the Orlando Magic.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Mark Williams Suspended for One Game, Won't Face Washington
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (suspension) will miss Monday's meeting with the Washington Wizards. He'll get a night off without pay for his role in a physical altercation with Jose Alvarado during Saturday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Williams will likely be back on Wednesday in Cleveland. In the meantime, Oso Ighodaro, averaging 6.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in six starts this season, is expected to replace Williams in the rotation.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Mitchell Robinson Sidelined Against New Orleans
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) won't play on Monday against New Orleans. The 2018 No. 36 overall pick was on the court for Saturday's win over the Atlanta Hawks, finishing with six points, nine boards, two steals, and one block. He'll sit this one out to rest before presumably returning on Wednesday night versus the San Antonio Spurs. With Robinson out of the mix, Ariel Hukporti and Guerschon Yabusele might see more work, although neither player can be trusted from a fantasy standpoint despite the favorable matchup.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
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