• I have not mentioned it in a while, but I’ve been dealing with injuries to both of my wrists (left one is worse) since the offseason but I have been improving. I do have to try to manage my workload a bit more than I have been though and since I’ve done a bit of typing on Sunday, I am going to try to keep this short and sweet.

    Seven seconds or less? Let’s see how informative I can be in two sentences or less for each storyline.

    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 Sunday-Monday B2B:

    Pistons, Grizzlies, Bucks

    The only things to note are that Bobby Portis (personal) was still out on Sunday and Ja Morant (shoulder) also missed a second game in a row.

    The Bucks had six guys listed as probable on Sunday (Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton, Lopez, Trent and Prince) so we might get some sits on Monday.

    Atlanta Hawks @ Detroit Pistons

    Game Time: 7:00 pm ET

    DraftKings Lines

    ATL +3.5 (+136), DET -3.5 (-162)
    Game Total: 235.5

    Key Storylines

    Can’t Tank, Can’t Win: The Hawks first-rounder is owed unprotected to the Spurs (they didn’t move it in the Fox trade) this season, so you can be sure they won’t tank. We are monitoring the growth of Zaccharie Risacher and who the fifth starter will be moving forward as it has been Mouhamed Gueye and then Dominick Barlow in the past week, not Vit Krejci. 

    Solid: Tobas Harris looks solid again, so add him if he was dropped. His poor runs are longer this season, but overall he should likely still be on 12-team rosters. 

    Stream of the Game

    Zaccharie Risacher: A couple of better games lately. 

    Alternatives:

    De’Andre Hunter
    Ausar Thompson
    Malik Beasley (more than a stream, but roster % remains too low)
    Isaiah Stewart (rebounds, blocks and flagrant fouls)
    Tim Hardaway Jr.

    –deep league line–
    Larry Nance Jr.
    Garrison Mathews
    Simone Fontecchio
    Vit Krejci (12-team if he starts)
    Keaton Wallace

    Monitor Dominick Barlow and Mouhamed Gueye but they could be DNP-CDs as much as they can be in the rotation, so I don’t trust a stream unless you get word of one of them “starting” as a 15-to-20-minute player.

    Washington Wizards @ Charlotte Hornets

    Game Time: 7:00 pm ET

    DraftKings Lines

    WAS +4 (+160), CHA -4 (-192)
    Game Total: 217.5

    Key Storylines

    No Sarr: Alex Sarr remains out with a left ankle sprain and generally, we are just looking at the young guys to see what they are doing. 

    Micic questionable: The Hornets could be without a PG as KJ Simpson and Isaiah Wong are the only natural PGs left on the team if Micic is out. If it isn’t one of them, I could see one of Seth Curry or perhaps DaQuan Jeffries starting and allowing Nick Smith Jr. to try running the offense, or Miles Bridges. 

    Stream of the Game

    Nick Smith Jr.: He had a better game last time and maybe if he has to play some PG (he is supposed to be a combo guard anyway), some assists could help. 

    Alternatives:

    Vasilije Micic if he plays – questionable
    Bilal Coulibaly
    Malcolm Brogdon
    Bub Carrington
    Corey Kispert
    Josh Green

    –deep league line–
    Kyshawn George
    Moussa Diabate
    Seth Curry
    DaQuan Jeffries

    Houston Rockets @ New York Knicks

    Game Time: 7:30 pm ET

    DraftKings Lines

    HOU +5 (+170), NYK -5 (-205)
    Game Total: 222.5

    Key Storylines

    Sengun questionable, no FVV: Steven Adams and Tari Eason have benefitted from Sengun’s absence. If Sengun joins FVV, Aaron Holiday could start and benefit, but if Sengun is available, Eason won’t have to play as much small-ball five and he could start on the wing instead. 

    Anunoby (and Hart) questionable: Josh Hart should play, but Anunoby’s injury (right foot sprain) looked like it should be a multi-week issue and the sports doctors I follow (who are almost always right) indicated the same. Precious Achiuwa had 15 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and a steal in 30 minutes on Saturday, so he looks like the add if Anunoby is out. 

    Stream of the Game

    Tari Eason and Precious Achiuwa: I am assuming Eason might be rostered as he should be and that Anunoby might be ruled out, because he probably should be if the Knicks are smart. 

    Alternatives:

    Dillon Brooks
    Steven Adams if Sengun is out, deep-league if Sengun plays.

    –deep league line–
    Miles McBride (borderline 12-team, especially if Anunoby is out)
    Cam Whitmore
    Cam Payne
    Aaron Holiday

    Note that Jock Landale is doubtful.

    Milwaukee Bucks @ Oklahoma City Thunder

    Game Time: 8:00 pm ET

    DraftKings Lines

    MIL +9 (+295), OKC -9 (-375)
    Game Total: 233.5

    Key Storylines

    B2B Watch: Khris Middeton played both legs of the last b2b but was severely limited on the second night, so he might sit but if he does not, I may not expect much out of him. 

    Aaron Wiggins Saved Basketball (again): That is still my favorite player reference and with Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace all questionable, Wiggins could save basketball again on Monday after he had 41 points, 14 rebounds, six triples and three assists on Saturday. 

    Stream of the Game


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