2 weeks agoNew York Knicks forward/center
Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist) is questionable for Friday's contest against the Detroit Pistons. KAT was decent in his first three games as a Knick. Yet, he came to life in Wednesday's win over the Miami Heat, ending the night with 44 points and 13 rebounds while going 4-for-5 from behind the arc. The Knicks are thin as it is underneath the basket, so the team can't afford any more absences. If Towns can't get on the floor,
Jericho Sims and
Ariel Hukporti could split time underneath the rim, although neither player is worth adding to any redraft roster.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoPhoenix Suns guard
Bradley Beal (elbow) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. This marks the second game this season that Beal has missed and we're barely a week into the regular season. As a result,
Ryan Dunn figures to draw another start with Beal unable to play. Dunn finished with 13 points in 21 minutes when Beal sat out against the Dallas Mavericks. Fantasy managers should expect a similar performance from him on Thursday. There is some low-end streaming appeal from the rookie guard with Beal unable to go.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Duane Rankin
2 weeks agoOrlando Magic forward
Paolo Banchero (oblique) is out indefinitely after suffering a torn right oblique muscle. Wow, this sucks for both fantasy managers and basketball fans in general. Banchero was off to an excellent start to the season, including a 50-point effort on Monday. The All-Star forward is set to be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks. It's going to be nearly impossible for the Magic to fill the void left by Banchero. The assumption is that
Jonathan Isaac and
Moritz Wagner see increased roles for the next month or so. Between the two, Wagner is the better fantasy option given Isaac's injury history. However, both players should see a boost in playing time with the Magic shorthanded at the forward spot.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
2 weeks agoMemphis Grizzlies forward/center
Santi Aldama and small forward
Jaylen Wells will join the starting lineup for Thursday's game against Milwaukee. The duo replaces
Marcus Smart (ankle) and
Desmond Bane (oblique), who were injured in Wednesday's 119-106 loss to Brooklyn. Aldama will make his fourth start of the campaign, while Wells joins the first unit for the first time in his young career. In his previous three starts, Aldama has averaged 13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks. The injuries to Smart and Bane will likely also result in increased usage for
Ja Morant and
Jaren Jackson Jr.--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Memphis Grizzlies
2 weeks agoHouston Rockets center
Steven Adams (knee, calf) will be in the lineup on Thursday versus Dallas. He has shaken off a questionable designation ahead of the game. Adams made his Houston debut earlier in the week with a six-point, three-rebound effort across 14 minutes against San Antonio. He will struggle to put up meaningful fantasy production as
Alperen Sengun's backup. As a result of Adams' return,
Jock Landale is in danger of dropping out of the rotation.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jonathan Feigen
2 weeks agoMemphis Grizzlies guard/forward
John Konchar (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against Milwaukee. He was back from a two-game absence on Wednesday versus Brooklyn, but Kochar is battling a quadriceps contusion and will step aside once again. The 28-year-old has averaged 5.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.0 minutes this season. His absence is another blow for the team after
Marcus Smart (ankle) and
Desmond Bane (oblique) were already ruled out earlier. Memphis' bench mob appears set to play a large role in Thursday's contest, with so many regulars out.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Memphis Grizzlies PR
2 weeks agoUtah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen (back) has been ruled out for Thursday's tilt against San Antonio. Back spasms limited Markkanen to only 17 minutes last time out against Sacramento, and the team will keep him out of action on Thursday after initially listing him as questionable for the game. Utah's frontcourt has also lost
Taylor Hendricks (lower leg) this week, leaving
Kyle Filipowski and
John Collins in a position to benefit. Filipowski flirted with a double-double on Tuesday versus the Kings when he finally received a good chunk of minutes. Collins has been limited to a bench role this season but has been productive with 14.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 21.0 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Utah Jazz
2 weeks agoMemphis Grizzlies guard/forward
Desmond Bane (oblique) will sit out Thursday's action against Milwaukee. Bane has landed on the shelf after suffering an oblique strain against Brooklyn on Wednesday. The 26-year-old has shot an impressive 40.6 percent from deep through the first few games of the season to average 18.8 points with 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Memphis also lost
Marcus Smart (ankle) on Wednesday, meaning it's again time for fantasy managers to put their trust in
Jake LaRavia and
Scotty Pippen Jr. The two performed well last season when the Grizzlies were troubled by injuries. Rookie
Jaylen Wells is also a player to keep an eye on.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jessica Benson
2 weeks agoMemphis Grizzlies guard
Marcus Smart (ankle) will not play against Milwaukee on Thursday. Smart injured his right ankle on Wednesday versus Brooklyn, exiting the contest after logging only six minutes. The team is awaiting imaging results to determine the severity of Smart's injury. The veteran guard has had an awful time on the offensive end early in the season, shooting only 23.5 percent from the field, but his defensive ability will be a massive miss for the team.
Scotty Pippen Jr. and
Jaylen Wells are in line to see additional playing time on Thursday, with the Grizzlies lineup thin because of injuries.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jessica Benson
2 weeks agoMilwaukee Bucks forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) will play against Memphis on Thursday. The former MVP has been a regular on the injury report with right patella tendinitis, but the team has upgraded him from probable to available. The injury hasn't really limited Antetokounmpo, who has kicked off the 2024-25 campaign with four consecutive double-doubles. He has averaged 28.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. With
Khris Middleton (ankle) out of the lineup, Antetokounmpo is expected to have another big night, as he needs to do extra to help the team get back on track following a 1-3 start.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Eric Nehm
2 weeks agoPhiladelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee) is set to have "periodic" spells on the sidelines this season. Speaking during an appearance on SportsCenter, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Philadelphia plans to keep Embiid healthy for the playoffs by giving him "periodic time off at different points during the season." The former MVP is set to have routine check-ups on his knee, and this is going to be the "new normal" for Embiid. The 76ers superstar has yet to play this season but has completed multiple five-on-five scrimmages during a ramp-up process and could be available as soon as this weekend.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
2 weeks agoPhoenix Suns guard
Bradley Beal (elbow) has landed back on the injury report ahead of Thursday's clash with the Clippers. After missing one game with a sore elbow, the veteran star returned to action against the Lakers on Monday. But he could be back on the shelf again on Thursday with the elbow issue, with the team tagging him as questionable for the game.
Ryan Dunn was filling in for Beal in the starting unit and produced a 13-point effort on Saturday versus Dallas.
Royce O'Neale and
Damion Lee are also in a position to benefit if Beal is out on Thursday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoMemphis Grizzlies guard
Marcus Smart (ankle) saw only six minutes of action in Wednesday's loss to Brooklyn. Smart rolled his right ankle and exited the contest without scoring any points. Memphis also lost
Desmond Bane (oblique) in the contest, which opened up tons of minutes for the reserves.
Scotty Pippen Jr. and
Jake LaRavia have led the second unit for Memphis this season. There could also be additional minutes available for
Jaylen Wells and
John Konchar if Smart and Bane sit out Thursday's matchup against Milwaukee.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Memphis Grizzlies PR
2 weeks agoMemphis Grizzlies guard/forward
Desmond Bane sustained an oblique injury in Wednesday's 119-106 loss to Brooklyn. The 26-year-old played only 17 minutes, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds. Memphis is scheduled to finish off a back-to-back against Milwaukee on Thursday, and fantasy managers will need to monitor Bane's status closely.
Scotty Pippen Jr.,
John Konchar, and
Jaylen Wells could see more action without Bane. Pippen Jr. has proven himself as the best fantasy option of the three.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Damichael Cole
2 weeks agoChicago Bulls guard/forward
Zach LaVine injured his left shoulder in Wednesday's 102-99 victory over Orlando. Speaking after the game, LaVine told reporters that he suffered a "subluxation" in his shoulder. He added that he had X-rays done, and everything was "OK." LaVine played through the injury on Wednesday but finished with only 11 points in 36 minutes. He shot 2-for-9 from the field. On the positive side, LaVine was able to tally his first double-double of the season by grabbing 10 rebounds. The Bulls star also recorded three assists. LaVine didn't seem too concerned about his shoulder injury on Wednesday, but the games are coming thick and fast, and it remains to be seen if he's available for Friday's contest against Brooklyn.
Ayo Dosunmu and
Dalen Terry should see additional playing time if LaVine lands on the shelf.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Cody Westerlund
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