2 weeks agoCleveland Cavaliers guard/forward
Sam Merrill (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's matchup against Dallas. He hurt his right ankle against the Lakers on Tuesday, and Merrill was unlikely to be available for Friday's contest when the team listed him as doubtful on the initial injury report. His absence shouldn't be a big loss for the Cavaliers, as Merrill has averaged only 7.0 points in 19.2 minutes this season.
Max Strus and
Caris LeVert will likely share the available minutes on Friday. Strus appears to be getting closer to working at full capacity. He logged a season-high 26 minutes on Tuesday against the Lakers, notching 15 points with three rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoHouston Rockets forward
Tari Eason (lower leg) has been ruled out for Friday's contest against Boston. His absence will extend to an eighth consecutive game. Eason was listed as doubtful on the initial injury report, suggesting it might take a bit more time until he's ready to play. With Eason out,
Cam Whitmore and
Jae'Sean Tate have entered the rotation. Both players also benefit from the absences of
Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) and
Amen Thompson (suspension). However, they will remain in the second unit on Friday, with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka deciding to insert
Jeff Green into the starting five as Smith Jr.'s replacement.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoNew York Knicks guard
Miles McBride (hamstring) won't play on Friday against OKC. Deuce has been battling hamstring tightness, so he'll miss his second consecutive game on Friday night. Had
Jalen Brunson (calf) remained out, McBride could have benefited if he were active. However, with Brunson available on Friday, McBride's upside would have been limited. Still,
Cameron Payne should see more minutes and could be more productive than usual.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoMilwaukee Bucks guard
AJ Green (back) appears to be on track to return to the lineup on Saturday against Portland, with the team listing him as probable for the contest. A back problem took Green out of the lineup for the second time this season when Milwaukee played Brooklyn on Thursday. Green has averaged 7.7 points this season as a three-point specialist. He's nailed 44.2 percent of his attempts from behind the arc. Portland allows the opposition to hit 37.9 percent of shots from outside, the third-highest mark in the league. Thus, this will be a favorable matchup for Green, though his role in the rotation is relatively limited.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoNew York Knicks guard
Jalen Brunson (calf) will play on Friday versus OKC. Brunson hasn't been as productive on the scoring end this season compared to the 2023-24 campaign. However, he's still a potent fantasy provider, averaging 25.2 points, 7.7 assists, and 40.3% shooting from behind the arc. Brunson has mostly been playing through calf tightness of late. However, it finally kept him off the floor for Wednesday's matchup against Utah. But with Brunson back in the mix, he should be featured in all fantasy lineups, although his presence will likely mean fewer scoring opportunities for
OG Anunoby,
Josh Hart, and
Mikal Bridges.
Cameron Payne, who got the start on Wednesday, will head back to the bench, limiting his fantasy upside.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Tommy Beer
2 weeks agoMilwaukee Bucks small forward
Khris Middleton (ankle) is considered probable for Saturday's matchup against Portland. The Bucks continue to list him on the injury report, but Middleton has been a regular in the lineup for nearly a month now, and nothing suggests that he will sit out on Saturday. Middleton has been a starter for the last six games, recording 18.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists across 26.0 minutes. If Middleton doesn't play on Saturday,
Taurean Prince will likely move back to the starting unit and receive an uptick in minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoMilwaukee Bucks forward/center
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is probable for Saturday's contest against Portland. After recovering from an illness, Antetokounmpo is back on the injury report with a knee problem, but he is expected to make his third consecutive appearance. However, if Antetokounmpo suffers a setback and has to sit out Saturday's action,
Bobby Portis would be in line to rejoin the starting unit. He has been fantastic in five previous starts this season, averaging 21.2 points with 11.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoMiami Heat forward
Jimmy Butler has been suspended seven games by the organization on Friday. The Heat have suspended Butler for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team. Butler has not been shy about airing out his disappointment with the team and his desire to play elsewhere. This is not the first time that Butler has talked his way out of an organization. The superstar forward has a player option for next season, which he's obviously not going to accept if Miami doesn't trade him. That being said, Butler is expected to be traded this season and possibly has already played his last game with the Heat.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
2 weeks agoSan Antonio Spurs forward
Jeremy Sochan (back) will not play against Denver on Friday. An issue with his lower back limited Sochan to 15 minutes on Tuesday against the Clippers, and he will miss at least one full game because of the injury.
Keldon Johnson and
Julian Champagnie could receive an uptick in minutes with Sochan out. Johnson has been more productive of the two recently, notching 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in 21.0 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoPortland Trail Blazers forward
Jerami Grant (face) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. This marks the third game in a row that Grant has been forced to miss due to a facial contusion. His next chance to play will be against the Detroit Pistons on Monday. In the meantime,
Deni Avdija will continue seeing an increased role. Avdija has been playing well lately and is worth rostering in most fantasy formats right now. He should continue seeing a bigger role until Grant is able to play again.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Portland Trail Blazers
2 weeks agoDallas Mavericks forward/center
Maxi Kleber (oblique) will play against Cleveland on Friday. He has been upgraded from questionable to available. Kleber has been carrying a heavier workload lately, as the team has missed several frontcourt pieces. However, his output has been underwhelming, to say the least. Despite averaging nearly 30 minutes a night over the last four games, Kleber has scored only 5.3 points while notching 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Grant Afseth
2 weeks agoDallas Mavericks power forward
P.J. Washington (knee) will be active against Cleveland on Friday. Washington has shaken off a knee sprain to remain in the lineup. The 26-year-old makes his presence felt all over the court, averaging 12.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.2 steals for the campaign. However, on Friday, Washington faces a difficult matchup against Cleveland's twin towers,
Jarrett Allen and
Evan Mobley. Washington was limited to 11 points and two rebounds the last time he went up against the two.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Grant Afseth
2 weeks agoBoston Celtics guard
Jaylen Brown (shoulder) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Houston Rockets. The superstar guard is set to miss his second straight game due to a right shoulder strain. The absence of Brown should mean more minutes for
Sam Hauser and
Payton Pritchard in the rotation. Hauser has scored double digits in each of the last two games, but Pritchard has higher upside as a whole. Both players are worth a look as a streaming option with Brown unavailable on Friday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoBoston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) is available ahead of Friday's game against the Houston Rockets. Porzingis will return to the court after missing each of the last four games due to a sprained ankle. Porzingis should resume his normal role in the starting five on Friday. His return should mean less playing time for
Luke Kornet and
Neemias Queta in the rotation. When healthy, Porzingis has been solid with 18.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 27 minutes per game this season. Fantasy managers can safely get him back in their lineups on Friday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 weeks agoHouston Rockets forward/center
Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) is expected to miss 4-8 weeks with a fractured left hand, the team announced on Friday, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. Smith Jr. was injured during shootaround ahead of Friday's game against Boston. The third-year player averages 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across 30.9 minutes this season. With
Tari Eason (lower leg) also nursing an injury and
Amen Thompson suspended, the door is open for
Cam Whitmore and
Jae'Sean Tate to make a big impact. The former has already had a few impressive outings lately.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
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