RADIO
Nikola Jokic Just Missed Triple-Double In 25 Minutes Of Action
1/18:Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic flirted with a triple-double on Thursday as he scored 18 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds in just 25 minutes in the blowout win over the Bulls. Jokic added a block with a steal while actually struggling from the floor as he made just six of 18 shots. The shooting was not great and with bodies returning in Denver, we may see a slight dip in production from the versatile big man, but not enough to warrant any worries for owners. We should see similar, elite production on Saturday when his club takes on the Cavs who allow 50.3 FanDuel points a night to opposing centers.Source: ESPN
Jamal Murray Nails Seven Threes In Thursday's Win
1/18:Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray stayed hot from behind the arc as he nailed seven triples to score 25 points in the win over the lowly Bulls on Thursday. Murray added two rebounds with five assists and just a single turnover, all in 29 minutes of action. He has made 11 of his last 18 attempts from three and has made at least half of his shots in four of the last five games. Murray will continue his bid for an All-Star selection on Saturday when his club takes on the favorable matchup in the Cavaliers.Source: ESPN
Zach LaVine Makes Just Four Of 15 Shots In Loss
1/18:Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine continued to struggle from the floor on Thursday when he nailed just four of his 15 shots to score eight points in the loss to the Nuggets. LaVine at least managed to add six assists with five rebounds while missing all of his three makes from three on the night. LaVine is connecting on just 37.8% of his shots in his last five games but is still managing to add 3.6 assists with 3.6 rebounds in that span. The Bulls finally have most of their bodies back, so it may take a couple of weeks for the team to find some sort of rhythm, that should only benefit LaVine.Source: ESPN
Bobby Portis Records Double-Double In Loss To The Nuggets
1/18:Chicago Bulls power forward/center Bobby Portis got the start in the middle with Wendell Carter Jr. (thumb) sidelined and he did record a double-double but struggled with his shot in the loss. Portis connected on just 4-for-13 shooting to score 10 points and grabbed 13 rebounds with four assists and added a make from three on the night. Portis is still available in many leagues and with Carter Jr. to possibly miss more time, Portis will be getting the minutes, so hopefully, he will produce some excellent lines going forward.Source: ESPN
Lauri Markkanen Leads Team With 27 Points In Loss
1/18:Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen did not get much support from his teammates in the blowout loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. Markkanen netted a team-high 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds with five makes from three-point land in just 25 minutes of action. The low minutes were due to this game being over quite early, but the production was still nice from the Finnish National player. He is still trying to find consistency this season, but owners can hope this is the start of improved value the rest of the way for the forward.Source: ESPN
Kyle Lowry's Shooting Woes Continue In Win Over The Suns
1/18:Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry connected on just four of 15 shooting to score 16 points in the 111-109 win over the young Suns club on Thursday. Lowry managed to salvage his line with nine rebounds and eight assists with two steals and two makes from three in 40 minutes of action. With Kawhi Leonard (rest) taking the night off, this was the optimal time for Lowry to get his groove back, but it was not the case where he even was not the man to take the final shot at the buzzer in this nail biter. Lowry was originally going to sit this one out, but felt better than expected and will have a day off as his club does not play until Saturday.Source: ESPN
Serge Ibaka Registers 22 Points On 19 Shots
1/18:Toronto Raptors power forward/center Serge Ibaka continued his much-improved season on Thursday when he scored a team-high 22 points on 11 of 19 shooting in the win. Ibaka added six rebounds with an assist and a block in 31 minutes of action against the Suns. Ibaka continued his steady play with his increased role with Jonas Valanciunas (thumb) still sidelined. Ibaka will continue to get 30-plus minutes until JV returns and he will look to continue his excellent play on Saturday when the Raps host the Grizzlies at Scotiabank Arena.Source: ESPN
Pascal Siakam Plays The Role Of Hero On Thursday In Win
1/18:Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam made the final the game-winning layup at the buzzer to get the win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. Siakam was remarkable throughout the night as he scored 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field and added 12 rebounds with five assists to go along with a steal and two blocks on the night. It was quite surprising to see the isolation play for the young forward with the time winding down and he took the ball aggressively to the hoop with confidence. Siakam continued his run for Most Improved Player this season and finishes like this will only add value to his case.Source: ESPN
Devin Booker's 30 Points Not Enough On Thursday
1/18:Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker put up 30 points and dished out eight assists in the nail-biting loss to the Raptors on Thursday in Toronto. Booker connected on 10 of 21 shooting to lead his squad in scoring and also added four makes from three on the night. Booker looked to be back to peak form after missing a stretch of games and the career-high 6.9 assists have only added value to his game. Booker will have a favorable matchup on Saturday when his club visits the Hornets in Charlotte.Source: ESPN
T.J. Warren Struggles On Offense In Loss Versus Raptors
1/18:Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren struggled offensively on Thursday when he managed just 11 points on 5-for-16 shooting in the two-point loss to the Raptors. It was not all bad for the rugged forward as Warren managed to grab six boards with two steals and two blocks while nailing a make from three. Warren has been pretty inefficient in the past five games where he is shooting just 39% from the floor, but his supporting stats are keeping him afloat with 1.2 steals, 5.0 rebounds and only 1.0 turnovers in that span.Source: ESPN
Cody Allen Expected To Sign With Angels
1/17:Free-agent relief pitcher Cody Allen is in serious discussions with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year deal, according to sources. The agreement is believed to be in place and is only pending a physical. With Blake Parker now in Minnesota, Allen could be the favorite to close in Anaheim over options like Ty Buttrey, Justin Anderson and Cam Bedrosian. Allen had a bloated 4.70 ERA (career high) with 11 home runs allowed in 67 innings. He also had a 1.36 WHIP, 10.7 K/9 and 27 saves as Cleveland's main ninth-inning man. Allen has 149 career saves, at least 30 saves in three of the last four years and an excellent 11.5 career K/9, so he'll be in the mix as a midrange fantasy closer if he's give the job for the Angels. Walks (4.4 per nine innings) and the long ball can give him problems, though, so he's certainly not an elite option.Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Dustin Pedroia Begins Running Program
1/17:Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) is "doing great" as he begins his running program this week, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Pedroia's left knee has been an issue since the start of the 2017 season, and he played in just three games in 2018. The veteran believes he'll be ready to go for the 2019 season, but the Red Sox are taking a wait-and-see approach as spring training nears. If he has a setback, Boston has infield depth in Brock Holt and Eduardo Nunez, who can both play the keystone. It'll be a plus if Boston is able to get anything out of Pedroia, who is now 35 years old, so fantasy owners shouldn't be looking to draft him in mixed leagues.Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Ben Bishop Draws Start Versus Kings
1/17:Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop will take the crease as his team faces off against the visiting Los Angeles Kings on Thursday evening. The 32-year-old dropped his last decision versus the Blues on Saturday - in which he allowed three goals on 28 shots against in the 3-1 defeat. However, Bishop has put together a superb season in Dallas thus far, posting 15 wins, a 2.39 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage in 28 starts. He's established himself as a top second goaltender in most fantasy formats and should likely be started on Tuesday against a Kings team currently ranked last in goals-per-game (2.26) this season.Source: Mark Stepneski
Luke Kornet Shines With Triples And Steals
1/17:New York Knicks power forward Luke Kornet had a very enjoyable afternoon in London on Thursday, scoring 16 points with four triples and picking up a career-high five steals. He also posted a new career-high with 34 minutes on the floor. Kornet shot 5-for-11 overall from the field and he finished 2-for-2 from the line. The 23-year-old has had many impressive performances this month after pushing Enes Kanter to the bench. He's combined 39 points in the last two games, although making it three good performances on the bounce will be very difficult as the Knicks play OKC next. The Thunder lead the league in defensive efficiency with a 103.6 rating.Source: ESPN
Joel Embiid Will Play Through Back Tightness Thursday Night
1/17:Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (back) will play Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers. Embiid was a game-time decision after dealing with back tightness all day, but has been cleared to play. Embiid will likely have some discomfort through the game and is up against one of the best defensive teams in the Pacers. Embiid could possibly be a fade in the DFS slate, but it's hard to look away after how well he has played this season.Source: Mark Zumoff
Wendell Carter Jr. Out Thursday But Eyeing Saturday Return
1/17:Chicago Bulls forward/center Wendell Carter Jr. (thumb) has been ruled out for Thursday night's game against the Denver Nuggets after suffering a left thumb sprain. It was looking like Carter would have a multi-week absence with the injury, but has now been ruled as day-to-day. Look for Carter to rehab the rest of the week and look towards a return to the court Saturday.Source: Chicago Bulls
Wilson Chandler Will Play Thursday Night
1/17:Philadelphia 76ers forward Wilson Chandler (illness) is good to go for Thursday night's showdown against the Indiana Pacers. Chandler was dealing with an upper respiratory issue earlier and was originally designated as a game-time decision. Chandler went through his pregame without any hiccups and will play in the contest. Chandler is not a recommended DFS play due to his low usage.Source: Tim Bontemps
Emmanuel Mudiay Scores 25 Points Against Washington
1/17:New York Knicks point guard Emmanuel Mudiay led the charge against Washington in London, but his 25-point performance wasn't enough in an eventual 101-100 loss. He committed five turnovers in 31 minutes, but had a very good shooting performance, going 11-for-18 from the field. Mudiay also matched his season high with seven rebounds. He's shooting just 37.5 percent from the field overall this month, so it was nice to see him nail over 60 percent of his shots. However, Mudiay will have to work very hard to repeat the performance on Monday, as he'll be battling Russell Westbrook in a very difficult matchup for him and the team as a whole.Source: ESPN
Kyle Lowry Will Now Play Thursday Night
1/17:Updating a previous report, Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (rest) will play Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns. Lowry was originally ruled out with teammate Kawhi Leonard for rest purposes, but coach Nick Nurse relayed that Lowry felt better after shootaround and is ready to go. Per Nurse, Lowry also has a chip on his shoulder to avenge their loss to the Boston Celtics. Looks like Lowry should be in store for a big game Thursday night against the questionable Phoenix defense.Source: Laura Armstrong
Thomas Bryant Scores Game-Winner In London
1/17:Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant had a nice 10-point, nine-rebound outing in London against the Knicks, which included the game-winning shot in the dying seconds. Washington trailed for most of the game, but they won the final quarter 24-11 and managed to sneak past the Knicks 101-100 after goaltending was called on Bryant's shot with 0.4 seconds left. Bryant had a very good shooting performance, missing only two of his seven attempts. The second-year center has done a great job this month, averaging 12.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and one block in 24.9 minutes on the floor. However, he'll have a tough time getting anywhere near these numbers on Monday when the Wizards take on Andre Drummond and the Pistons.Source: ESPN
Otto Porter Jr. Shines Again Off The Bench
1/17:Washington Wizards small forward Otto Porter Jr. had another strong performance off the bench on Thursday against the Knicks, recording a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double in 35 minutes. He ended up leading the team in rebounding while shooting 8-for-16 from the field with a 1-for-3 record from downtown. Porter Jr. also extended his run with multiple steals to five games. The sixth-year forward looked like a zombie out there earlier in the season, but he's certainly come to life now and has adjusted very well to his bench role. He's still getting a lot of minutes, so fantasy managers shouldn't be put off by the fact that Porter Jr. isn't a starter.Source: ESPN
Bradley Beal Scores 26 Points In London Versus Knicks
1/17:Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal had a slow start on Thursday in London against the Knicks, but he finished off strong and scored a game-high 26 points on 10-for-29 shooting. He was 2-for-9 from deep but made back-to-back triples at a key point in the fourth quarter to pull the Wizards back into the game. Beal also had nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals, although seven turnovers left an ugly mark on his stat line. With John Wall (heel surgery) out, Beal will post some sky-high usage numbers and scoring performances. His next opportunity to do so comes on Monday against the Pistons, who have been torched by opposing shooting guards multiple times this season.Source: ESPN
Terrence Ross Looks To Keep Shooting Well From Long Distance
1/17:Orlando Magic shooting guard/small forward Terrence Ross has been stroking the ball well from beyond the arc in January and will look to continue that trend on Friday at home against the Nets. The 27-year-old is coming off his third 20-point outing in the past five games as he pumped in 24 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field and 6-for-12 from beyond the arc in Wednesday's overtime loss to the Pistons. He has made five or more three-pointers in three of his last five contests and at least three triples in five of eight. Ross is producing 16.9 points, 3.5 three-pointers, and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 45.2 percent from the field as well as 41.8 percent from the three-point line overall this month.Source: Basketball-Reference
Spencer Ware Upgraded To Full Practice
1/17:Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (hamstring) practiced in full on Thursday after being limited in Wednesday's session. Ware sat out the divisional round after being limited in practice all week, but it looks like he's set to return for the AFC Championship against the Patriots on Sunday. He has been out since early December and will surely be the backup to Damien Williams if he's active, giving him limited fantasy upside this weekend.Source: Chiefs.com
Nikola Vucevic Picks Up Double-Double In Loss
1/17:Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic tallied 24 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and one steal for his 29th double-double in an overtime loss to the Pistons. The 28-year-old was 11-for-22 from the field and 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. He has produced five double-doubles this month and has scored at least 16 points in each of his eight January games. The 7-footer, who is also averaging 4.3 helpers this month, has made a three-pointer in eight of his last nine contests. Vucevic has a pretty strong matchup on Friday as the Magic host the Nets, who are allowing the 10th most points to opposing centers this season, although they have been much better in defending that position over the last 10 games.Source: NBA.com
J.J. Watt Undergoes Knee Cleanup
1/17:Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (knee) underwent a minor knee cleanup procedure right after the season, according to a source. Watt is fine for now, and the procedure was just a little maintenance for an injury that bothered him during the season. After playing in only eight games in 2016 and 2017 due to injuries, the pass-rusher was able to play a full season in 2018 and had a healthy 16 sacks and 61 tackles as the heart and soul of the Houston defense. He remains an injury risk in IDP leagues as one of the first defensive players off the board, but he's usually worth it when he's on the field.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Luke Kennard Scores In Double Figures For Fifth Time In Last Nine Games
1/17:Detroit Pistons shooting guard/small forward Luke Kennard scored 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field, including 1-for-3 from the three-point line, in Wednesday's overtime victory over the Magic. The 22-year-old grabbed four rebounds, dished out two assists and came up with a steal in 26 minutes. He scored nine of the team's 19 points in the fourth quarter as he knocked down four of five shots from the field and totaled one assist as well as two rebounds. Kennard has scored in double-figures in seven of his last 11 games and drained a three-pointer in 10 of those contests. While the second-year pro is not currently worth considering in most fantasy leagues at this point, he may be able to earn more playing time at the two spot as the Pistons need help there.Source: NBA.com
Yankees Closing In On Adam Ottavino
1/17:The New York Yankees are closing in on free-agent relief pitcher Adam Ottavino on Thursday, according to sources. If the agreement is completed, the deal is expected to be in the three-year, $25 million range. Ottavino had an excellent year in 2018 and was Colorado's best reliever, posting a 2.43 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, six saves and a career-high 13.0 K/9 in 77 2/3 innings. New York's bullpen was already one of the best in baseball, so they're about to get even better. Ottavino might be third or fourth in the pecking order for saves in the Bronx, though, limiting his fantasy value to deeper leagues for his excellent ratios.Source: The Athletic - Robert Murray
Will Barton Could Sit Out on Thursday
1/17:Denver Nuggets guard/forward Will Barton (personal) was excused from shootaround and is questionable for Thursday's game. It's unclear why Barton left shootaround, but there's a chance he's not ready by game time. That would likely mean more minutes for Torrey Craig. Fantasy owners should check back later in the day for an update.Source: Harrison Wind
Jamal Crawford is Questionable for Thursday
1/17:Phoenix Suns guard Jamal Crawford (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Toronto Raptors. De'Anthony Melton and Elie Okobo would play more if Crawford is forced to the sideline. Devin Booker is back in action, so Crawford is losing playing time anyway. The Suns are likely going to elect using younger players over Crawford. He won't be much help in fantasy basketball.Source: NBA Injury Report
