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! 

Here are your Fri-Sat B2Bs: CHA, CLE, MEM, NOP, PHI

Indiana Pacers @ San Antonio Spurs (Paris Game)

Game Time: 12:00 pm ET

DraftKings Lines

IND -2 (-130), SAS +2 (+110)
Game Total: 234.5

Key Storylines

Fully Healthy: Aaron Nesmith is still working his way up the minutes ladder after such a long absence. I am curious to see if that is the only reason why Bennedict Mathurin is still starting or if Nesmith will eventually take back the role, since Nesmith does offer some defense for the starting lineup.

Wemby Slowing Down?: There was a moment last season when Victor Wembanyama (aside from his slow starts in both years) had a dip in efficiency a little. That’s pretty normal due to the fatigue of a long season. He has not been hitting his FGs or FTs lately but you can expect that to correct course. Also, after the All-Star Break, expect a big push to finish the season as well from a rejuvenated Wemby, but I’m not saying he will struggle until the ASB. 

Stream of the Game

Andrew Nembhard: He is the safest option. 

Alternatives:

Jeremy Sochan
Keldon Johnson
Julian Champagnie
T.J. McConnell
Harrison Barnes
Stephon Castle
Obi Toppin

–deep league line–
Aaron Nesmith (right now he’s barely relevant to be honest)
Stephon Castle
Tre Jones

Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Game Time: 3:00 pm ET

DraftKings Lines

DEN -3.5 (-166), MIN +3.5 (+140)
Game Total: 229.5

Key Storylines

Blowout Central: The Nuggets are cooking lately as they have been involved in many blowouts, one being on the wrong side, but many on the favorable side. I still believe Aaron Gordon will make the starting lineup better (because of the extra defense and lob threat) but that is also likely why there is no rush to push Gordon’s minutes up yet either, because they are winning. Also, we only get the best out of Russell Westbrook playing alongside Nikola Jokic though, so maybe that could be an incentive to keep things the way they have been…maybe. I just can’t see how you don’t eventually start an important defender like Gordon when he is ready to handle 30-plus MPG again though, but of course, we don’t want that calf to be re-aggravated again. 

Winter Wolves: One of the most positive stories of the 2023-24 season has become sour and cold. Are the Wolves going to try to trade Julius Randle before his extension/re-signing becomes an issue in the summer? Do they want to retain him? What can they get? Also, I do have to wonder if rookie Rob Dillingham could get a bigger chance if things keep going south since Donte DiVincenzeo is injured and Mike Conley has clearly lost a couple more steps…but that is major speculation, so don’t count on it. Plus, Dillingham is still a small, raw guard of course so it isn’t like he will for sure be the better option at this point of his young career. 

Stream of the Game

Jaden McDaniels: Honestly? He is even more than a streamer at the moment, so you could consider just rostering him for a week or two to see where things go. 

Alternatives:

Mike Conley
Peyton Watson

–deep league line–
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (up to 12-team is Anthony Edwards – questionable – is ruled out)
Julian Strawther
Rob Dillingham (especially if Ant is out)

Boston Celtics @ Dallas Mavericks

Game Time: 5:30 pm ET

DraftKings Lines

BOS -7.5 (-310), DAL +7.5 (+250)
Game Total: 220.5

Key Storylines

Pritchard and Friends: We are still monitoring the up-and-down nature of Pritchard in recent weeks. He seems to be alternating good games recently but if the downward trend continues some tough decisions may have to be made. 

Lively out 2-3 months: The official outlook is a re-evaluation in four weeks, per the Mavs PR, but you can expect them to say he’ll be out for X amount of time after that or give us a second re-evaluation date. A right ankle stress fracture isn’t going to heal in four weeks. You should feel safe dropping him as it isn’t worth it to hold someone who may not be back for the fantasy playoffs. Daniel Gafford’s managers winning chances just skyrocketed and I am pretty upset about the Gafford-Claxton trade I made a couple months ago now. Eh, you win some, you lose some. I’m still second in that league, hehe. 

Stream of the Game

Spencer Dinwiddie: The Mavs are doing weird things, but he is the most reliable player who might be available. 

Alternatives:

Quentin Grimes
Al Horford

–deep league line–
Jaden Hardy (questionable)
Sam Hauser (if you only need 3s, he can be a 12-teamer)
Maxi Kleber

Miami Heat @ Brooklyn Nets

Game Time: 6:00 pm ET

DraftKings Lines

MIA -9 (-425), BKN +9 (+330)
Game Total: 210.5

Key Storylines

The Butler and the Ware: The Butler saga seems to be a day-to-day thing. By the time you’re reading this, maybe he is already traded as well. The two-game suspension includes this game so no Jimmy on Saturday.

More importantly, we continue to be on Kel’el Ware watch. I mentioned that he was impressive in Summer League (in the offseason Summer League Notes article) and honestly, he was also good in preseason. I don’t know why it’s taken this long for him to be unleashed with a poor big-man rotation outside of Bam Adebayo.

Who is in? Who is out?: We don’t have a timeline for Cam Thomas, who was meant to be re-evaluated after the road trip which ended on January 19. Bojan Bogdanovic doesn’t seem close and maybe he just won’t play this season. Then…it’s just who is on the injury report each game really. Ziaire Williams, Cam Johnson, Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell are the key names to watch on the injury report at the moment. 

Stream of the Game

Kel’el Ware: This guy is more than a streamer so please ensure that he is on a roster. 

Alternatives:

Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Nikola Jovic
Ben Simmons (questionable)
Noah Clowney
Keon Johnson
Duncan Robinson
Ziaire Williams (probable)
Tyrese Martin
Jalen WIlson
Terry Rozier

–deep league line–
Day’Ron Sharpe
Tosan Evbuomwan
Haywood Highsmith (unclear role)

New Orleans Pelicans @ Charlotte Hornets

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET

DraftKings Lines

NOP -2 (-130), CHA  +2 (+110)
Game Total: 226.5

Key Storylines

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