3 days agoCleveland Cavaliers guard/forward
Max Strus (ankle) will play against Utah on Monday. He's off the injury report after sitting out Saturday's meeting with Philadelphia. Following an ankle injury, Strus made his season debut Friday night, so seeing him sit out Saturday's contest wasn't surprising. Strus posted nine points with two assists in 19 minutes against Milwaukee in Friday's matchup. His production will likely stay limited for a while, and Strus will continue to come off the bench on Monday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoDenver Nuggets guard
Jamal Murray (ankle) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against the Phoenix Suns. Murray is dealing with a right ankle sprain but hasn't missed a game in two weeks. Given the Nuggets are on the second leg of a back-to-back tonight, with a Christmas Day rematch against these same Suns on deck, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Nuggets rest their start point guard. Murray has been turning it up his last four games, averaging 24.8 PPG while shooting 39.3% from three. If he's unable to go tonight, expect
Russell Westbrook to slide into the starting lineup. Westbrook has been volatile as a starter, putting up 18 more points in three starts while failing to score 10 or more points in the other three. The veteran has put up 10 assists in three of those starts, though, and will be a viable fantasy options because of that if Murray is unable to go.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoAccording to Philip Rossman-Reich of OrlandoMagicDaily.com, Orlando Magic guard
Jalen Suggs (ankle) is available to suit up against the Celtics. Suggs is having a solid season, averaging career-highs in points (16.0), rebounds (4.2), assists (3.9), and steals (1.5). The 23-year-old suffered an ankle injury in Thursday's loss to the Thunder and didn't play on Saturday against the Heat. With
Franz Wagner (oblique),
Paolo Banchero (oblique), and
Moritz Wagner (knee) sidelined, the Magic are desperate to get Suggs back in the lineup. He will have plenty of scoring opportunities against the Celtics with so many of his teammates out of action.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Philip Rossman-Reich
3 days agoCleveland Cavaliers guard/forward
Sam Merrill (quadriceps) will play on Monday against Utah. A quadriceps injury limited Merrill to only eight minutes of action last time out against Philadelphia, but he's been cleared for action after carrying a questionable tag entering Monday. Merrill will make his second start of the campaign, filling in for
Dean Wade (knee). He's been logging 20 minutes regularly thus far but might have to settle for a lesser role once
Max Strus finds his feet.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Chris Fedor
3 days agoPhiladelphia 76ers guard
Tyrese Maxey (illness) is officially active for Monday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs. Maxey is dealing with an illness but will be able to fight through it. The 24-year-old has been fantastic for the Sixers this season, averaging 25.1 PPG and 5.0 APG while helping to keep Philadelphia somewhat afloat during
Joel Embiid's absences with his knee issues. He should have a decent matchup against San Antonio, who's averaging the third most three-pointers to point guards this season. Maxey has made at least four three pointers in each of his last three games with at least 10 attempts per game. Maxey is a must start in all fantasy formats.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia 76ers
3 days agoAccording to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Miami Heat forward
Jimmy Butler (illness) will miss Monday's game against the Brooklyn Nets due to a stomach illness. This illness also took him out of the Heat's last game on Saturday. With the 35-year-old sidelined, the starting five should stay the same as Saturday.
Dru Smith and
Duncan Robinson could be decent options in deeper fantasy leagues. Smith scored 14 points and four rebounds, while Robinson added 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists against the Magic.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Ira Winderman
3 days agoDallas Mavericks guard
Luka Doncic (heel) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Doncic is dealing with a left-heel contusion that's caused him to miss each of Dallas' last two games. The 25-year-old has played at an MVP level when healthy this season, but multiple health issues have caused him to miss eight games. The Mavericks have still performed valiantly without him, going 6-2. With Portland in town on Monday and with a Christmas Day matchup against Minnesota on deck, it wouldn't be surprising to see Dallas rest Doncic one more time. If he's out, expect
Spencer Dinwiddie to get another start. Dinwiddie has averaged 17.0 points and 6.5 assists in each of the last two games. He'd make a viable fantasy option against the Blazers.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoUtah Jazz guard
Keyonte George (ankle) has officially been ruled out for Monday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This will be his second straight game missed after spraining his ankle against the Detroit Pistons last week. George has been a solid offensive option for Utah this season, averaging 16.2 PPG and 5.7 APG. In his absence, expect
Jordan Clarkson to slide into the starting lineup and get more minutes against his former team. Clarkson is a viable option in all fantasy formats, including DFS.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Utah Jazz
3 days agoUtah Jazz forward
John Collins (hip) has officially been ruled out of Monday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Collins has a left hip contusion that's forcing him out of action. Collins has been a very effective offensive option for the Jazz this season, averaging 17.7 PPG and 8.2 RPG. In his absence, expect more minutes from
Brice Sensabaugh and
Svi Mykhailiuk. Of the two, Mykhailiuk is likely the better fantasy option. Though he's had very spotty availability this season, he's scored 13 and 18 points in his last two starts. In a game where Utah will likely be playing catch-up all game, the opportunity for points could be there.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Utah Jazz
3 days agoAccording to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, Boston Celtics forward
Sam Hauser (back) will play against the Orlando Magic on Monday. Hauser has been unavailable for the last two games due to lower back spasms. The 27-year-old has posted averages of 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists across 21 games this season. He's shooting a career-worst 37.3 percent from three-point range and will likely not impact fantasy much on Monday.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Gary Washburn
3 days agoWashington Wizards guard
Bilal Coulibaly (groin) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Coulibaly is dealing with left groin soreness. The 20-year-old hasn't missed a game in a month so both Wizards fans and fantasy managers should be hopeful he's able to gut it out. He's running hot over his last five games, averaging 19.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 5.0 APG in that time. If he's unable to go, expect
Corey Kispert to slide into the starting rotation. Kispert has scored 13 and 16 points in his last two games while going three-for-five from three in each game. He'd make an intriguing fantasy option if Coulibaly is unable to go.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoWashington Wizards forward
Alexandre Sarr (back) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Sarr is dealing with lower back soreness, an issue that's forced him out of only two games this season. The second overall pick of this year's draft has been putting up iffy offensive numbers for Washington with just 11.2 PPG but has been stronger on the boards, averaging 6.4 RPG this season. If he's forced to miss Monday night's game, expect
Jonas Valanciunas to get the start. The big man averaged 20 PPG and 13 RPG when he started in Sarr's place for the two games the rookie missed. The matchup against Oklahoma City isn't a favorable one for either Sarr or Valanciunas. DFS players may have more luck targeting either one of them as a low cost option but both will have a bit of volatility associated with them in this matchup.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoChicago Bulls forward
Torrey Craig (heel) is listed as questionable for Monday night's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. Craig is dealing with left Achilles soreness and has missed Chicago's last eight games because of the issue. Chicago has been able to perform without Craig's three-and-D performance off the bench, going 5-3 in those eight games. The 34-year-old's health has been unreliable for Chicago this season as he's played in just six games this season and none of them consecutively. If Craig is unable to go on Monday, expect more time for
Patrick Williams in the starting lineup while
Matas Buzelis gets more minutes off the bench. Of the two, fantasy managers should prioritize Williams as the more reliable option.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoChicago Bulls guard
Lonzo Ball (illness) is listed as questionable for Monday night. Ball is dealing with an illness per the NBA Injury Report. The 27-year-old has been able to play in eight of Chicago's last nine games, a good sign for his overall health after missing the past two seasons with a knee issue. During that nine game span Ball has averaged just 5.3 PPG but has put up 3.6 APG in just an average of 18.1 minutes. From a fantasy perspective the numbers aren't eye-popping but his assists could help those in category leagues. If he's unable to go, expect
Talen Horton-Tucker to get more minutes off the bench. Neither will make a reliable fantasy option on Monday against the Bucks and fantasy managers should look elsewhere for help.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoEric Nehm of The Athletic reports that Milwaukee Bucks forward
Khris Middleton (ankles) will play against the Chicago Bulls after he was listed as probable earlier on Monday. Since returning from offseason surgery on both ankles, Middleton has averaged just 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists across six games. However, the 35-year-old could have a productive evening in fantasy as
Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) and
Damian Lillard (calf, illness) will be sidelined.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Eric Nehm
RADIO
