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January 31, 2025, 10:50 pm
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 Friday-Saturday B2B:
Hornets, Nuggets, Suns, Spurs
Orlando Magic @ Utah Jazz
Game Time: 5:00 pm ET
DraftKings Lines
ORL -6 (-238), UTA +6 (+195)
Game Total: 216Key Storylines
Blown Out by Who?: The Magic were blown out handily by the Blazers on Thursday night (119-90) so they will be looking to bounce back. Jalen Suggs is questionable for this game and his return would help the cause as you don’t want to drop games against the tanking teams.
Who Remains?: This question is one for next week’s trade deadline since Collin Sexton, John Collins and perhaps even Jordan Clarkson should be candidates to be moved. It is also one for silly season in March. Isaiah Collier is already starting and rosterable for assists but his value should skyrocket when they pack it in completely. Kyle Filipowski and Drew Eubanks are also names to monitor…as well as Brice Sensabaugh.Stream of the Game
Isaiah Collier: The rookie is more than a streamer, but remains extremely under-rostered.
Alternatives:
Jordan Clarkson
Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze
Jonathan Isaac (for defensive stats only)–deep league line–
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Anthony Black or Cole Anthony if Suggs (questionable) is out
Kyle Filipowski
Brice Sensabaugh
Drew EubanksAtlanta Hawks @ Indiana Pacers
Game Time: 5:00 pm ET
DraftKings Lines
ATL +7 (+235), IND -7.5 (-290)
Game Total: 239.5Key Storylines
Risacher Sighting: The No. 1 pick scored 30 points on 78.6% from the field in 25 minutes on Thursday. The efficiency and minutes should indicate that the performance was a massive outlier; however, with Jalen Johnson (shoulder) done for the season I am not against giving Risacher a few games to see if he can establish 12-team value. He only just returned from an adductor strain, so maybe the minutes may need time to rise. He also just isn’t much of an on-ball creator so he needs to be a prolific off-ball scorer to give us consistent points. Ideally, we want 3-and-D stats with a few rebounds.
Mouhamed Gueye also started over Vit Krejci vs. the Cavs on Thursday, but that could have been matchup-related (Mobley and Allen), so let’s see if Krejci regains his starting role.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (personal) and Clint Capela (back spasms) are not on the road trip with the team, so we may not see them until next week…if they are still on the team by that point.
Same Old: Myles Turner is somehow still involved in trade rumors, but personally, I don’t think they have as much oomph as years past. Turner is an important part of how this team functions with his pick-and-pop ability and rim protection.Stream of the Game
Zaccharie Risacher: This is a bit of chasing, which I don’t typically recommend, but it is also a “see where it goes” type of stream as well.
Alternatives:
Bennedict Mathurin (if he plays – questionable)
De’Andre Hunter
Vit Krejci
Andrew Nembhard (if he plays – questionable)
T.J. McConnell–deep league line–
Aaron Nesmith
Larry Nance Jr.
Garrison Mathews
Ben Sheppard
Mouhamed GueyeDenver Nuggets @ Charlotte Hornets
Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
DraftKings Lines
DEN -14 (-1100), CHA +14 (+700)
Game Total: 222Key Storylines
Gordon starting, Braun benched: This seems like the best solution for the team since Russell Westbrook is significantly better playing in tandem in Nikola Jokic but Gordon is also the team’s most versatile defender…and he also has a great connection with Jokic. Braun still got 29 minutes off the bench when he came off the bench, so he is fine to hold in 12-teamers for now; however, don’t be committed to him if the minutes and performances begin to fluctuate.
Westbrook exited with a hamstring issue on Friday though, which could catapult Braun back into the starting five.
Mark Williams: He sat in the tank-off on Wednesday and is sitting the first leg of the back-to-back on Friday, so I’d expect him back on Saturday. I don’t expect the 30-point explosions without LaMelo Ball to set him up in pick-and-roll, but Williams should still be a very strong double-double threat.
Also, it seems Tre Mann (back) will be out for the season according to a couple of reports.
Stream of the Game
Vasilije Micic: Those assists are nice.
Alternatives:
Aaron Gordon (if he plays the b2b) or Christian Braun (very likely rostered)
Peyton Watson (specifically for defensive stats)–deep league line–
Nick Smith Jr.
Julian Strawther (12-team if both Gordon & Russ are out)
Josh Green
Josh Okogie (exited with a hamstring issue on Friday, so he could miss out)
Moussa DiabateSacramento Kings @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Game Time: 8:00 pm ET
DraftKings Lines
SAC +9 (+350), OKC -9 (-455)
Game Total: 234.5Key Storylines
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