• 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!

    Phoenix Suns @ Detroit Pistons

    Game Time: 5:00 pm ET

    DraftKings Lines

    PHO -1 (-115), DET +1 (-105)
    Game Total: 226.5 

    Key Storylines

    Nick Richards: The Richards experience in Phoenix could go either way. Some think he is a surefire thing who always deserved a starting job, some thing he is only just a very good backup. I think the truth likely lies somewhere in the middle (as it often does), but if the Suns are not enamored with Jusuf Nurkic (who frankly, should still be their best center), the competition isn’t great. Mason Plumlee is a career backup past his prime and while Oso Ighodaro has promising pieces, he is still a raw and undersized rookie. If Richards can carve out 28-plus minutes, he could be a double-double threat with a block or two. If he is playing more 22-to-24 minutes then he may just be a streamer-level play in standard formats. 

    Remember, his competition is not just the other centers. The Suns also like to go small with Kevin Durant, Royce O’Neale or Ryan Dunn at times.

    Tim’s fingertips: Hardaway seems to starting one of those runs again, so while his aim is pure, he is worth a stream for points and treys. 

    Stream of the Game

    Nick Richards is a general speculative add for today and beyond.

    Grayson Allen is also worth rostering outright at the moment but I’ve found him on a couple of my own waiver wires.

    Alternatives:

    Ausar Thompson
    Royce O’Neale
    Ryan Dunn
    Isaiah Stewart
    Tim Hardaway Jr.

    –deep league line–
    Oso Ighodaro or Mason Plumlee – but one of them may become a DNP.
    Simone Fontecchio

    Atlanta Hawks @ Boston Celtics

    Game Time: 7:00 pm ET

    DraftKings Lines

    ATL +9 (+320), BOS -9 (-410)
    Game Total: 235

    Key Storylines

    Jalen Johnson questionable: The young forward has been out for the past week or so, therefore, a questionable tag is a positive sign. I would assume he is leaning towards playing but just has to pass a final test during his pregame routine. Zaccharie Risacher is out for the next two games as well, so Vit Krejci remains a streamer. 

    “Uncertain for Saturday”: Joe Mazzulla never likes to give anything away. However, we know Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis are on a rest routine. I would expect them to sit on Saturday after playing on Friday. Meaning your Neemias Quetas and Luke Kornets (yes, yes, pluralized) of the world can get a chance for at least low-end streaming appeal…hopefully. Xavier Tillman Sr. exists too. 

    Stream of the Game

    Vit Krejci has been lowkey doing the business as a 12-team streamer thanks to his across-the-board potential for numbers.

    Alternatives:

    Payton Pritchard might start becoming available in some leagues…
    De’Andre Hunter (same as above)
    Sam Hauser (specifically for threes)

    –deep league line–
    Garrison Mathews
    Luke Kornet
    Neemias Queta

    Philadelphia 76ers @ Indiana Pacers

    Game Time: 7:00 pm ET

    DraftKings Lines

    PHI +9.5 (+310), IND -9.5 (-395)
    Game Total: 225

    Key Storylines

    Left Knee Swelling: Having resources is helpful for getting an edge in fantasy basketball. I’ve quoted Dr. Brian Sutterer a couple of times on X (Twitter) and in our Discord since he is rarely wrong about things.

    This video about Embiid’s left knee is something I’ve referred to before.

    In case you don’t know, I am also a Sixers fan. So I’ve been hyperaware of the knee injuries Embiid has had in the past, and played through in the playoffs (a.k.a. me saying how can he perform in the playoffs playing injured? ha!). He did so against Atlanta in that infamous series. He also played through an LCL sprain in another playoff run. I am not confident that knee will ever be healthy again, so it will constantly need to be managed. This is why I’ve said, don’t trade for Embiid unless the circumstance is so favorable that you can find a way to manage his absences. Stack the (needed) rest days on B2Bs and minor nagging injuries he picks up alongside managing his left knee and it isn’t a recipe for success. At least we have seen that he can still be effective when he does play, even if he has lost a little mobility (comparatively to his younger self) due to that knee issue.

    I guess Hali is okay: The injury bowl? Well, Haliburton isn’t nearly that bad. I actually traded for him in one league earlier this season and I am doing well. Let’s see how everything shapes out for Haliburton moving forward as he seems to have avoided the worst. 

    Stream of the Game


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