2 days agoDallas Mavericks forward/center Maxi Kleber (knee) will play on Tuesday versus Sacramento. Dallas needs a win on Tuesday night, so it's all hands on deck for this one. Luka Doncic (Achilles) is available, which is undoubtedly good news. And while Kleber provides depth for the Mavs, he's only averaged 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in the last 10 games, meaning he's not worth considering for DFS contests.Source: Dallas Mavericks
2 days agoDallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (Achilles) will play on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings. The 25-year-old logged 41 minutes in Monday's win over the Utah Jazz. However, he popped up on the injury report on Tuesday because of Achilles soreness. But Dallas is fighting to secure at least a sixth seed in the Western Conference, so it would have taken a lot to keep Doncic off the floor for this one. As usual, he is in the MVP conversation and remains a lock for all fantasy lineups. Yet, Doncic has averaged 26.5 points in two meetings with Sacramento this season, meaning he may not be as productive as usual.Source: Mark Stein
2 days agoBrooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (back) is questionable for Wednesday's game in Washington. Cameron Johnson (toe) and Dennis Smith Jr. (hip) were ruled out shortly before Monday's win over Toronto. Unfortunately, the Nets would lose another of their core players heading into that one, with Thomas suffering lower back tightness during pre-game warmups. As a result, Jalen Wilson moved into the starting lineup and finished with 11 points, five rebounds, one steal, and one block in 30 minutes. However, Dennis Schroder had a team-high 19 points and seven assists. Nonetheless, if Thomas is out against the Wizards, Schroder is a lock for any fantasy lineup, while guys like Wilson, Trendon Watford, and Dorian Finney-Smith will have DFS value potential.Source: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoSacramento Kings forward Sasha Vezenkov (ankle) will not play against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. The 28-year-old has been nursing an ankle injury for over a month. His next opportunity to return is on Friday in a rematch with the Mavericks. He hasn't really been missed since his exit from the lineup, as he has averaged just 5.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists across 35 games this season.Source: Breden Nunes
3 days agoLos Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (knee) is not currently traveling with the team ahead of Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. If Vincent continues to progress in his rehab following left knee surgery, however, he could join LA at some point during their six-game road trip that runs through April 3, which is about midway through the fantasy finals. While the 27-year-old volume scorer could be an option for the 39-32 Lakers during the postseason, he'll still most likely be a non-factor for the fantasy playoffs outside of the deepest of leagues with such little time remaining to overcome likely minutes restrictions. Vincent hasn't suited up since December and is producing a mere 5.4 points on 37.5% shooting from the floor, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals in 25.4 minutes per game over five appearances this year. Continue ignoring him for fantasy purposes.Source: Dave McMenamin - ESPN
3 days agoToronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (hand) is doing light on-court work in practice but is still not cleared for contact. Still not using his surgically-repaired left hand, Poeltl's return to the floor is not imminent. The 23-49 Raptors have dropped 11 games in a row, so managers stashing the 28-year-old Austrian big man shouldn't be planning to have him available later during the fantasy playoffs. Playmaking center Kelly Olynyk has started each of Toronto's latest 11 matchups, providing 13.7 points, 5.5 boards, 5.5 assists, 1.1 triples, and 2.2 combined steals plus blocks but is hurting nine-category players with 3.4 turnovers per game across this period. He'll be a much better bet in points leagues the rest of the way, but Olynyk will next face a vaunted New York Knicks defense that's permitting the fewest FanDuel points to enemy centers.Source: Josh Lewenberg - TSN.ca
3 days agoToronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (hand) has been doing some light on-court work but is still not cleared for contact. Barnes isn't using his surgically-repaired left hand in practice, which means he's not close to a return to the court for the 23-49 Raptors. At this stage of a lost season north of the border, managers should not be expecting the 22-year-old All-Star to contribute for them during the fantasy postseason. 2022 first-round pick Ochai Agbaji has started Toronto's last 12 games amid Barnes' absence, averaging a modest 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 28.1 minutes over this span. He won't be a reliable streamer on Wednesday against the New York Knicks, who rank first in the Eastern Conference with 107.6 points per game allowed during 2023-24.Source: Josh Lewenberg - TSN.ca
3 days agoToronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (personal) participated in practice on Tuesday, with head coach Darko Rajakovic deeming Quickley day-to-day as he ramps back up after being away from the team for Toronto's past four contests. The 24-year-old combo guard aims to return for Wednesday's tilt versus the New York Knicks, and the 23-49 Raptors will submit official injury designations later on Tuesday. Quickley was rolling before his absence began, averaging 20.3 points, 8.0 dimes, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 3.1 threes covering 12 post-All-Star break games. Bruce Brown and Javon Freeman-Liberty have split work in the starting backcourt in IQ's stead, but neither of the two have separated much in terms of becoming a worthwhile fantasy streamer.Source: Eric Koreen - The Athletic
3 days agoToronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (personal) participated in practice on Tuesday, and head coach Darko Rajakovic calls him day-to-day as Barrett gets his conditioning back after being away from the team for Toronto's last seven games. Wednesday's matchup against the New York Knicks marks the 23-year-old Canadian swingman's next chance to play, where Barrett should be considered questionable before the reeling Raptors release their official injury report. Gary Trent Jr. has steered the offense and been on a post-All-Star break surge, returning top-50 merit in nine-category fantasy leagues on averages of 19.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 3.0 three-pointers in 32.9 minutes through his last 13 showings but next contends with a Knicks group yielding the fewest DraftKings points to opposing point guards.Source: Josh Lewenberg - TSN.ca
3 days agoMiami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (illness) missed shootaround on Tuesday morning, but he's probable to play versus the Golden State Warriors. Dealing with a non-COVID illness, Butler is still expected to play in a good spot against a Warriors defense giving up the ninth-most DraftKings points to opposing small forwards. Across 13 appearances since the All-Star Break, the 34-year-old two-way superstar is pouring in 21.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.7 swipes, and 0.9 three-pointers per contest. With Tyler Herro (foot) still on the shelf, Butler will continue absorbing additional usage and playmaking responsibilities and remains a set-and-forget fantasy option across all formats.Source: Anthony Chiang - Miami Herald
3 days agoLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (ankle) has been downgraded from doubtful to out for Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Dealing with peroneal tendinopathy in his left ankle virtually all season long, James will sit on the front end of LA's back-to-back and hope to play in Wednesday's meeting with the Memphis Grizzlies for the second outing of a six-game road trip. Cam Reddish and Taurean Prince are candidates to join the Lakers' starting lineup at small forward on Tuesday, with Anthony Davis (Achilles), D'Angelo Russell, and Austin Reaves running the show offensively. Over nine games without James this season, Reaves is averaging 19.1 points, 5.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 2.5 three-pointers and gets a favorable matchup against a Bucks team allowing the eighth-most DraftKings points to opposing shooting guards.Source: Jovan Buha - The Athletic
3 days agoMiami Heat guard Tyler Herro (foot) will miss a 15th consecutive game on Tuesday versus the Warriors. Miami's young star has missed a month of action with a right foot injury and doesn't have a clear return date, but Herro is expected to undergo a re-evaluation soon. With Duncan Robinson also out, Patty Mills has landed a job as a starter in the Heat backcourt, averaging 8.0 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in the role. He hasn't done a lot but could be more productive on Tuesday in a pace-up spot for Miami.Source: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) is probable for Tuesday's matchup against the Lakers. He's only just returned from a lengthy absence, and the team wants to be careful with Middleton's workload. But Milwaukee had the day off on Monday, and there's no back-to-back in sight, clearing the way for Middleton to play. The three-time All-Star is fresh off his second career triple-double, having picked up 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against Oklahoma City on Sunday. Middleton is averaging 18.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in 28.3 minutes since his return.Source: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoMilwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) is expected to take the court in Tuesday's mouth-watering matchup against the Lakers. The team has listed him as probable ahead of the tilt. Antetokounmpo has played in two consecutive games since returning from a hamstring injury. He almost had a 30-20 game last time out against the Thunder, so it's safe to assume the former MVP is feeling 100 percent or at least close to it, and we should witness another spectacular performance from him on Tuesday. The Bucks superstar erupted for 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists in this season's first meeting with the Lakers earlier in the month.Source: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoMiami Heat guard/forward Caleb Martin (ankle) is in danger of missing his first game since Jan. 10, as the team considers him questionable for Tuesday's tilt against the Warriors. Martin has been a frequent guest on the injury report and is currently dealing with right ankle discomfort, but he's had an impressive ironman streak of 34 consecutive appearances. The 28-year-old leads the Heat bench mob on a nightly basis, averaging 10.8 points and 4.7 rebounds for the month. Patty Mills and Haywood Highsmith are in line to benefit from Martin's absence, although Miami's second unit might struggle on Tuesday because the Warriors allow the sixth-fewest bench points in the league.Source: NBA Injury Report