2 days agoOklahoma City Thunder guard
Alex Caruso (hip) is not on the Thunder's injury report for their Tuesday matchup in Philadelphia, signaling that the 30-year-old is ready to return from a 10-game absence due to a left-hip strain. In his 20 games this year with the Thunder, Caruso has 5.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.9 steals in 19.9 minutes per game. Caruso's defensive presence and intensity will be a nice addition to an already thriving Thunder rotation, but he could siphon minutes from
Cason Wallace,
Aaron Wiggins, and
Isaiah Joe as he establishes himself off the bench.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoMemphis Grizzlies center
Jay Huff (knee) will be active on Monday against Houston. He has been upgraded from probable to available. Huff has impressed at times this season, but he currently lacks fantasy value, as the Grizzlies have all their big guys healthy. The 27-year-old will only see backup minutes on Monday and likely will not be a factor in the contest. In another matchup against the Rockets last week, Huff finished with eight points and three rebounds in 10 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Memphis Grizzlies PR
2 days agoDenver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic (illness) is probable for Tuesday's game against Dallas. The multi-time MVP has been under the weather, keeping him off the floor for recent meetings with the Celtics and Clippers. However, he's appeared in Denver's previous two contests, combining for 54 points, 30 rebounds, 24 assists, and seven steals, so it appears he's doing just fine. Jokic has dominated the Mavs this season, averaging 29.7 points, 17.7 boards, and 11.3 assists in three games against Dallas, making him a must-start in any format, including those participating in DFS contests.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoMemphis Grizzlies point guard
Ja Morant (illness) has been cleared to play on Monday against Houston. Morant has not been feeling well and was a late addition to the injury report. However, he has shaken off a questionable tag ahead of tip-off. The Grizzlies star struggled last time out against Minnesota, netting only 12 points, but he produced a memorable game-winning shot. He will face one of the best defenses in the league on Monday, but the Rockets have fallen short of answers against Morant in previous matchups this season. Morant has notched 25.5 points across two games against Houston.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Memphis Grizzlies PR
2 days agoNew York Knicks center
Mitchell Robinson (ankle) remains on track to return to practice this month after an extended recovery from surgery, according to coach Tom Thibodeau as reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. Robinson has yet to begin running full speed, but the expectation is that he'll be back to full practices sometime in January. The 26-year-old big man played 31 games for New York last season, averaging 5.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 24.8 minutes per game. His eventual return could make
Jericho Sims expendable, and Bondy reports that the team is exploring what value Sims has on the trade market.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: Stefan Bondy
2 days agoNew York Knicks guard
Jalen Brunson (shoulder) will be able to play on Monday night despite being listed as questionable against the Pistons. Brunson went off for 44 points in just 29 minutes on Sunday against the Bucks, but he left the game early to get treatment on his shoulder. He'll be able to play on the second game of the team's back-to-back after averaging 27.2 points, 6.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 34.2 minutes per game over his six most recent contests. If Brunson is limited at all, there could be more work for
Miles McBride and
Cameron Payne, but it looks like the rotation should be fairly typical with Brunson available.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: Ian Begley
2 days agoHouston Rockets forward
Tari Eason (lower leg) will remain absent on Monday against Memphis. He will sit out a 12th consecutive game for lower leg injury management purposes. Eason enjoyed a strong start to the season but has now missed a month of action. It's unclear when he will be available to return, as the team has kept him on the injury report with a doubtful tag for some time. Eason's absence opens up more playing opportunities for
Cam Whitmore and
Jae'Sean Tate, but the two lack consistency.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Danielle Lerner
2 days agoMiami Heat guard
Josh Richardson (heel) will be out for at least two more games. He won't play in Monday's matchup against the Clippers and has also been ruled out for Wednesday's clash with the Lakers. Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports that Richardson has returned to Miami to get an MRI on his injured right heel. Richardson has been out for nearly two months, but his absence does not significantly impact the team. Before landing on the shelf, Richardson averaged 4.0 points in 18.6 minutes across eight games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Chiang
2 days agoNew York Knicks center
Jericho Sims (back) will not play on Monday against Detroit. He was a late addition to the injury report and has been ruled out due to back spasms. Sims is way down in the pecking order at center, so his absence will not impact the Knicks, especially with
Karl-Anthony Towns healthy and good to go. Towns has been out only three times this season, limiting Sims' role on the team. He has averaged 1.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 11.6 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Ian Begley
2 days agoChicago Bulls forward
Torrey Craig (ankle) will miss at least two weeks before being re-evaluated. The Bulls have only had the versatile veteran forward for nine games this season, and he has been sidelined since December 30 with what was originally called a lower leg contusion. The team announced on Monday that he has been diagnosed with a right ankle sprain and will be out for at least two weeks. When available, Craig averaged just 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 12.3 minutes per contest. He has flashed some upside, including scoring 18 points in his most recent game. However, the Bulls will continue to make their rotation work without him, leaving more work for
Matas Buzelis,
Talen Horton-Tucker, and
Julian Phillips.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Bulls
2 days agoWashington Wizards guard
Malcolm Brogdon (foot) will miss a fifth straight game on Monday when the Wizards finish their back-to-back with a home game against the Timberwolves. Brogdon doesn't have a specific timetable to return, and while he has been absent, the Wizards have been able to give their younger options more work.
Jared Butler has been stepping up as a key contributor in the second unit, while
Jordan Poole and
Bub Carrington play plenty of minutes as the starters in the backcourt.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoPhiladelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (foot) won't play on Tuesday night versus OKC. The veteran is averaging 24.4 points and 7.9 rebounds this season, a significant decline from the 2023-24 campaign. Even worse, he's only appeared in 13 games. At this point, fantasy managers are starting to lose hope about his long-term ability to remain healthy. With
Andre Drummond (toe) also out versus the Thunder,
Guerschon Yabusele, averaging 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 16 starts this season, is worst starting in all fantasy formats.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoToronto Raptors guard
Immanuel Quickley (hip) was added to the injury report early in the day on Monday and was downgraded to out shortly before tip-off Monday night. The former Knick has been limited to just nine games this season due to multiple injuries, so any new injury is cause for concern. Without Quickley,
Scottie Barnes will likely spend more time at point guard with
Bruce Brown and
Jamal Shead could also get expanded roles. Brown and Shead are strong DFS and streaming options with more work against the Warriors, while Barnes has a better chance of reaching his always-high ceiling.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: Josh Lewenberg
2 days agoGolden State Warriors forward
Draymond Green (back, illness) has been downgraded to out for Monday's matchup with the Raptors. Green sat out Friday's game with a back injury and was originally expected to return on Monday along with
Stephen Curry and
Andrew Wiggins, who will be back. However, Green came down with an illness and missed shootaround before being ruled out. Without Draymond,
Trayce Jackson-Davis is in a great spot, starting at center while
Kyle Anderson and Andrew Wiggins will have to play most of the minutes at power forward with
Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) still sidelined.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoAccording to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Miami Heat center
Bam Adebayo (back) is questionable for Monday's matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers due to a lower back contusion. Chiang also reported that Adebayo plans on participating in warm ups with the intent to play. However, with the big man being added late to the injury report, there is a good chance he will be missing in action. Across 37 games, the 27-year-old is averaging 16.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 34.1 minutes per contest this season.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Chiang
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