1 day agoChicago Bulls guard
Zach LaVine (shoulder) is currently dealing with an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder and has officially received a questionable tag for Friday night. The star guard has yet to miss a game this year and has played a huge part in guiding the Bulls to a 3-2 record so far. He's averaging 23.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3.4 threes, and 4.0 turnovers per game. If LaVine can't suit up,
Ayo Dosunmu would see the biggest increase in opportunities while
Coby White would take on more of a scoring responsibility.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
1 day agoOrlando Magic forward
Franz Wagner (illness) is officially listed as questionable heading into their Friday night matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The good news is that head coach Jamahl Mosley expects Wagner to play and said that he's "feeling better." The 23-year-old has been dealing with the illness all week and has been able to suit up but his performances have suffered. The Magic will need him more than ever with
Paolo Banchero (oblique) out indefinitely.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Mason Williams
1 day agoCharlotte Hornets forward
Brandon Miller (glute) has a chance to return on Friday after suffering a glute strain during their first game of the season. The second-year wing is a big part of the team's future, so the Hornets are always going to err on the cautious side. This is the first time he's received a questionable tag since the injury though, so it looks like he's trending in the right direction. If he suits up,
Josh Green will likely head back to the bench.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoNew Orleans Pelicans guard
CJ McCollum (adductor) won't play in Friday's game versus the Pacers. The veteran wasn't available for Wednesday's loss to the Warriors because of adductor soreness. As a result,
Jose Alvarado got the start and finished with 16 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. He also shot 4-for-8 from deep. With that in mind, Alvarado should remain starting in all fantasy lineups. He'll also be a perfect value option for DFS managers.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoAtlanta Hawks guard
Dyson Daniels (hip) won't play in Friday's game versus the Kings. The former Pelican has played well in his first four games with the Hawks, averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks. However, he's now dealing with a hip flexor strain, so he'll miss his second consecutive contest of the 2024-25 campaign. With De'Andre Hunter (knee) also out for this one,
David Roddy and
Zaccharie Risacher could continue to benefit, with the duo combining for 34 points in Wednesday's loss to the Washington Wizards.
Garrison Mathews could also see some extra minutes, although he's not a dependable fantasy option.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoIndiana Pacers center
Myles Turner (ankle) is questionable for Friday's matchup versus the New Orleans Pelicans. The 28-year-old averaged 15.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals in the Pacers' first four games this season. Unfortunately, he missed Wednesday's overtime win over the Boston Celtics because of a sprained ankle.
Isaiah Jackson got the start in that one, finishing with 10 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
Obi Toppin also had his best game of the 2024-25 campaign by amassing 18 points, seven boards, one block, and one steal. If Turner misses another contest, Jackson will likely remain with the first five, with Toppin getting some extra minutes off the bench. Both players would be worth adding to fantasy rosters. However, Turner must be ruled out first.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days 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 days 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 days 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 days 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 days 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 days 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 days 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 days 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 days 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
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