Last Updated on February 27, 2026 5:34 pm by Keston Paul | Published: February 27, 2026

The fantasy playoffs await many of us, and I will go into great detail in the streaming section to make sure you are prepared. We have two teams with only two games this upcoming week and one team that plays on all of the low-volume days. All of that will be discussed as we go.

Remember, since fantasy leagues combine the All-Star weeks (Feb. 9 to Feb. 22), this may be “Week 19” or “Matchup 19” of the season for most of you, so don’t be confused by the article title indicating Week 20 of the actual NBA regular season.

Injuries to Watch

This is for March 2 to March 8.

Impending Evaluations

Jalen Smith (calf) & Patrick Williams (quad) are expected to begin their ramp-up process next week, likely signaling a potential return in the week after. Jaden Ivey (knee) might be in a similar boat.

Aaron Gordon (hamstring) did “everything except contact” in practice earlier this week and it sounded like Peyton Watson (hamstring) was around a similar stage in recovery too. We might see them soon, but it may be in the March 9 to March 15 week and I would expect minutes restrictions.

Stephen Curry (knee) should be evaluated and could frankly return immediately, but we know evaluations can also push players out further for another week or two as well.

We should get a Zach Edey (left ankle stress reaction) update any day now and a Ja Morant (elbow) update next week, but I have doubts that we see either of them this season.

Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (abdomen, ankle) should be due evaluations and knowing how the Thunder do things, they will just remove them from the injury report on a random night the day before a game. That could be within the next week or the week after.

Jordan Goodwin (calf) should be due for an evaluation at some point during the week. I think he will be out a little longer, though.

Timelines Getting Close

Isaiah Stewart should return from suspension on Tuesday, March 3.

Devin Booker (hip) is expected to return next Tuesday or Thursday, per John Gambadoro.

Cooper Flagg (foot) has been “day-to-day” for the past week, so hopefully he is back soon.

Trey Murphy (shoulder) has also been out game to game with his injury and had not been practicing earlier this week, but I think we can hope to see him in the upcoming week.

Aaron Nesmith (right ankle sprain) was mostly only expected to be out for around one week, but the door was left open for that to be longer.

Brandon Clarke (right calf) should be returning any day now, but again, there are “natural doubts” about that actually happening, so I wouldn’t be stashing him and he might be on a restriction anyway.

Other Injury Notes

Jayson Tatum (Achilles) is a “full go” in 5-on-5 scrimmages, but the reports are that the Celtics will not rush or pressure him and he will only return if he thinks he feels like himself (aside from medical clearance, of course). I think a Tatum return might come in mid-March if he does actually come back.

Anfernee Simons (wrist) doesn’t have a timeline and it’s supposed to be a “pain issue.”

Max Strus (foot surgery) was taking contact in practice this week but he might still be a few weeks away.

Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain) still has an unclear timeline.

Cedric Coward has a knee capsule sprain, while Santi Aldama has a right knee issue and we haven’t gotten any word on timelines from the Grizzlies.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) seems to be ramping up for a potential return, but how much he plays remains to be seen. I do not think Taurean Prince (neck surgery) will play this season since he was talking about the injury being career threatening if he didn’t have the surgery when he did.

Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) should be due for an update at the beginning of the March 9 to March 15 week. Hopefully the Magic handle his injury properly this time, but that might mean he is restricted if he returns that week or he might be out longer.

It seems like Alex Sarr (hamstring), Trae Young (quad, MCL) and Anthony Davis (left hand) could get an update in the March 9 to March 15 week, but do we really think we are going to see Young and Davis? And if we do, will it be with enough frequency for value? Probably not.

Schedule Breakdown

Weekly Info

Games played:

16 teams play FOUR games: PHO, UTA, HOU, ORL, WAS, NOR, MIL, BOS, DET, LAL, LAC, MIA, CHA, NYK, SAS, DAL
12 teams play THREE games: PHI, DEN, SAC, IND, OKC, MEM, POR, BKN, MIN, CHI, TOR, GSW
TWO teams play TWO games: ATL, CLE

Back-to-Backs (B2Bs) This Week:

10 teams with ZERO back-to-backs: SAC, IND, POR, BKN, MIN, CHI, TOR, GSW, ATL, CLE
17 teams with ONE back-to-back: PHO, UTA, HOU, ORL, WAS, NOR, BOS, DET, LAL, MIA, CHA, NYK, SAS, DAL, PHI, OKC, MEM
THREE teams with TWO back-to-backs: MIL, LAC, DEN

Start/Sit Decisions for Weekly Lineup Leagues:

If you only play in leagues with Daily Lineup Changes, this does not apply to you, so you can move along to the next section.

So obviously, we have to talk about the two-game Hawks and two-game Cavs. In Cleveland, I think you might only be able to start Jarrett Allen in a league with weekly changes. Why? Donovan Mitchell has a groin strain that we have heard little news on. James Harden is going to attempt to play through the finger fracture but there are obviously scenarios where that doesn’t work. Also, Evan Mobley has been on a minutes restriction and since the Cavs end the week with a Sunday-Monday back-to-back into Week 21, if the banged-up guys sit out on Sunday, you suddenly have a one-game week. Now, even Allen could be viewed as shaky and if you have a good 50-50 option, I would opt for the player with more games. For the Hawks, you also need to monitor the injury statuses of Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. I would start Onyeka Okongwu if you have to and Dyson Daniels can work as a specialist for what he is good at. Still, if your team is deep enough to start a “comparable” or “slightly worse” player with three or four games, that seems like the better choice.

Now, are there three-game or four-game teams with players who could be at risk of a two-game week because of back-to-back rest? 

So, the Bucks, Clippers and Nuggets have two back-to-backs, but all of those teams have a Sunday (Week 19) into Monday (Week 20) back-to-back so you should have an idea of who may or may not be out before your lineups lock on Monday. The Clippers and Bucks have four games, so you can assess the health of a Kawhi Leonard for example, as he is playing back-to-backs when healhy enough to do so, but he is dealing with an ankle issue right npw.

Nikola Jokic is not sitting back-to-backs, so he is an easy start regardless. However, the Nuggets only have three games, so you may want to assess a Jamal Murray, who doesn’t sit every back-to-back but “could be at risk” of a two-game week if he sits on the Monday and then in the next back-to-back set. I would like start Murray if he looks healthy on Sunday and sits on Monday anyway, but if he sits on Sunday and plays on Monday, I would definitely start him. Again, this also depends on your league depth and alternative avenues.

The Sixers, Thunder and Grizzlies all have three games and one back-to-back (Tuesday-Wednesday) as well. Joel Embiid will have a two-game week at best. Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. will likely have two-game weeks. Isaiah Hartenstein should have a two-game week. I don’t think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren are guaranteed to sit a leg of the back-to-back, but there is a chance. I would likely start those two regardless. You should know whether or not you have good alternatives to these players.

Daily Info

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• About the Author
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Keston Paul

Keston majored in Biology and minored in Literatures in English at the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.), St. Augustine. Hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, Kes grew up loving cricket, then football (soccer, not NFL) & never missed a Barça game in the 2010s. Later on, he grew obsessed with basketball/fantasy basketball & unfortunately claims to be a Sixers fan for some reason.

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