Fantasy Basketball Injuries From Monday: Donovan Mitchell, Josh Okogie, Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gobert

As we celebrate the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the NBA had a loaded schedule throughout Monday. Unfortunately, there were some injuries throughout the day, which may create issues for teams moving ahead.

This article will highlight some of the critical injuries that occurred on Saturday, January 16, 2023. At the same time, we will cover some players who were ruled out with a pre-existing ailment while examining which players have benefited.

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Donovan Mitchell Injury Update

Donovan Mitchell has been on a tear in his first season as a Cavalier, averaging a career-high 28.8 points per game. The 26-year-old has certainly made an impact, so there is naturally some concern surrounding his most recent injury, a groin strain, suffered during Monday's win over the Pelicans.

Mitchell exited in the third quarter and did not return to the contest, finishing with 11 points in 22 minutes. The former Louisville Cardinal has stayed relatively healthy in 2022-23, missing only five games. However, with the Cavs looking to make a deep run into the postseason, Mitchell may miss some games, beginning with Wednesday's meeting in Memphis.

Without him in the lineup, others will have to step up. Of course, the first name to come to mind is Darius Garland, who's averaged 25.8 points, 7.0 assists, and shot an impressive 46.9% from deep in four games without Mitchell this season. It's also likely Caris LeVert will enter the starting lineup. LeVert has logged 15.1 points and shot 41.3% from downtown in 20 appearances in the first five this year.

Lastly, for those who are desperate, Ricky Rubio recently returned after working his way back from knee surgery. He's not 100%, and his workload is limited. Yet, he recorded 17 minutes versus New Orleans, which will likely increase little by little over the next few weeks.

Josh Okogie Injury Update

Phoenix has been plagued by injuries all season. Cameron Johnson tore the meniscus in his right knee in early November, Chris Paul sat out over a month with a heel issue, Cameron Payne has an injured foot, and Devin Booker has been bothered by a groin strain. Even worse, Paul has missed more time of late because of a sore hip, while Deandre Ayton sat out a few games with a sprained ankle.

As a result, guys like Landry Shamet, Torrey Craig, Damion Lee, Duane Washington Jr., and Dario Saric have supported Mikal Bridges, the interim No. 1 scoring option in Phoenix. With that said, losing more players isn't ideal for the Suns, although the team could be without Josh Okogie moving ahead.

The 24-year-old didn't make it back to Monday's meeting with the Grizzlies, leaving with a nose injury in the second quarter. Under normal circumstances, being without Okogie wouldn't be a big deal for the Suns (or fantasy managers). Yet, he's had a role for the shorthanded Suns, averaging 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in December, which isn't bad for a guy who hasn't impressed anyone since being drafted 20th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.

He was also one rebound shy of a double-double a few nights ago versus the Denver Nuggets, so there is some streaming potential there while Booker and Paul remain sidelined. Nevertheless, depending on the severity of Okogie's injury, he could be back for the matchup against the visiting Nets on Thursday. Looking at the best case scenario, he may be wearing a protective face covering, although that could impact his shooting percentages.

Rudy Gobert Injury Update

Rudy Gobert was injured during Saturday's win over the Cavaliers, sitting out the second half because of a sore groin. Injuries like these always take time to heal. However, he managed to suit up for Monday's showdown with the Utah Jazz. Unfortunately, he didn't last long against his former team, exiting after only five minutes.

Head coach Chris Finch couldn't provide an update on Gobert's condition while speaking after the game, but there's a good chance the multi-time Defensive Player of the Year won't be out there for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets. It's plausible to believe he may be unavailable even longer.

Naz Reid should take Gobert's spot in the rotation, with the 23-year-old finishing with seven points, seven rebounds, and two blocks versus Utah. Reid is more than capable of playing better as long as he stays out of foul trouble, so fantasy managers should pick him up off waivers before it's too late. At the same time, Kyle Anderson, who had a triple-double on Monday, is still available in plenty of leagues.

Kyle Lowry Injury Update

Kyle Lowry remained out for Monday's meeting in Atlanta due to left knee soreness, marking his third consecutive absence. There's a chance he could be back for the final two contests of Miami's three-game road trip. However, while the veteran works his way back, Gabe Vincent should remain in the starting lineup.

The four-year pro scored a game-high 28 points against Milwaukee on Thursday before leading all scorers with 27 points during the rematch with the Bucks on Saturday. He did cool off a bit versus the Hawks, notching only 10 points.

However, Vincent's decline in production was expected, considering Tyler Herro returned from a three-game layoff because of a sore Achilles. In any event, Vincent should continue to get plenty of minutes while Lowry is out, so the upside is there for fantasy managers looking to fill a void in the lineup.

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