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Welcome to RotoBaller's weekly injury room report. Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, but we have you covered when the injury bug bites.
We'll discuss who is on the mend and who will benefit from the player's absence. The next up-and-coming gem could be waiting on the waiver wire ready for your claim.
Let's look at some of the important injuries around the league right now as we head into Week 21 of the fantasy basketball season.
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Short-Term NBA Injuries
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks - sprained left knee
The Greek Freak was out Sunday and will be for Monday as well with a minor sprain to the joint capsule in his left knee. Guard Khris Middleton's usage rate should be through the roof as the lead option on offense with Antetokounmpo out. He had 39 points in Sunday's loss to the Phoenix Suns, and Donte DiVicenzo had 16 points and seven boards in 29 minutes off the bench. DiVicenzo is worth the short-term stream, and Middleton is a must-start with Antetokounmpo out. He should be day to day the rest of the week.
Zach LaVine, SG, Chicago Bulls - sore left quadriceps
LaVine will miss his fifth straight game Tuesday with sore left quadriceps. He has returned to practice, and it should just be a matter of time. Guard Denzel Valentine has averaged 12.5 points per game over the last four with LaVine out. Forward Lauri Markkanen will be the first option on offense, but Valentine should remain in the mix as a back-end streaming option.
Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers - broken left leg
Nurkic will make his season debut Sunday, but he's not expected to play a ton of minutes in the near future. Nurkic could be a good add in deeper leagues or in a scoring system that accounts for efficiency. He could post solid helpings of boards and rebounds, but he's very unlikely to play enough minutes to matter in most leagues.
Fred Vanvleet, PG, Toronto Raptors - sore left shoulder
VanVleet has been out for nearly two weeks with the shoulder ailment, and he was close to returning Sunday. Guard Norman Powell is averaging 29.5 points in the last four games, and he's a must-start while FVV is out. He's probably questionable to play Monday in Utah.
Mid-Term NBA Injuries
Deandre Ayton, C, Phoenix Suns - left ankle sprain
Ayton had an MRI on his sprained left ankle, which came back negative. He has had a few ankle issues this year, and it's likely that they'll be cautious with him this week. Center Aron Baynes had a career-high 37 points with 16 boards Friday night and followed it up with 24 points Sunday. He's a great streamer right now in most leagues.
Long-Term NBA Injuries
Malcolm Brogdon, PG, Indiana Pacers - torn left quadriceps muscle
Brogdon's season may very well be over after he suffered a tear to his rectus femoris muscle, which is a quad muscle attached to the hip. The scoring will be divvied up between starters like guard Victor Oladipo and center Myles Turner. However, guard T.J. McConnell had 12 points and five dimes in 16 minutes off the bench. He's a fringe add in deeper leagues for both categories.
