The Layup Line: Friday March 7th

  • Injury Report

    To stay up-to-date on all of the injury news with up-to-the-minute updates, make sure to check out our LIVE Injury Report!

    Note that teams have until 1 p.m. local time on the day of a game to submit their report for the second leg of a back-to-back, so look out for updates throughout the day as appropriate.

    Teams that have a Thursday-Friday B2B: Knicks

    Cleveland Cavaliers @ Charlotte Hornets

    Game Time: 07:00 pm ET

    DraftKings Lines

    CLE -16 (-1200), CHA +16 (+750)
    Game Total: 234.5

    Key Storylines

    Jerome: Ty Jerome deserves some praise for a really strong season, which is going to get him paid this summer. Jerome is the 110th-ranked player in per-game value in 9-cat formats on the season despite only playing 19 minutes per contest. Jerome should be getting more love for the Sixth Man of the Year award in my opinion. Jerome remains a strong streaming option in standard formats for when the Cavs’ schedule is positive, or when either Darius Garland and/or Donovan Mitchell are sidelined.

    Keep Nurkic On The Waiver Wire: Head coach Charles Lee keeps using three centers during games which is severely limiting the streaming appeal of Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic should be left on waiver wires in standard formats and only be streamed in whenever starting center Mark Williams is unable to play.

    Stream of the Game

    Ty Jerome, Max Strus and De’Andre Hunter are solid streaming options for fantasy managers in standard formats.

    Alternatives: Nick Smith Jr. Jusuf Nurkic and Dean Wade (deeper formats).

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    Utah Jazz @ Toronto Raptors

    Game Time:  7:30 pm ET

    DraftKings Lines

    UTA +6 (+185), TOR -6 (-225)
    Game Total: 230.5

    Key Storylines

    Kessler Not On Injury Report: Walker Kessler is not listed on the injury report at time of writing. This is noteworthy because Kessler has been left out of games previously. It will be very interesting to monitor whether the Jazz play rookie Kyle Filipowski alongside Kessler at all this game. Filipowski has been putting up great numbers as a starter as of late, and could see his value take quite a big hit should he only play backup to Kessler.

    “Jazz-Like”: The Raptors have no incentive to win this game, and in “Jazz-like fashion”, are resting players in R.J. Barrett and Jakob Pöltl. Backup big Jonathan Mogbo is also unavailable, which will most likely result in a start for Orlando Robinson, who can be streamed in for a boost in big-man stats on Friday.

    Stream of the Game

    The previously mentioned Orlando Robinson is a solid option for a boost in rebounds and FG%. Fantasy managers could also consider Johnny Juzang, especially if Keyonte George (questionable) remains out.


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