Injury Report

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New Orleans Pelicans @ Indiana Pacers

Game Time: 05:00 pm ET

DraftKings Lines

NOP +7 (+230), IND -7 (-285)
Game Total 231

Key Storylines

Why is Missi so under-rostered?: Mark C mentioned that Missi was under 10% rostered on Yahoo as of Thursday night when he was doing the Pickups piece. It was a bit flabbergasting to me because he’s been 12-team worthy for a couple of weeks now, specializing in the typical big-man stats. I have him on one of my teams for the very same reason so please, correct that. His 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in his last seven warrant him being rostered. 

Welcome Thomas Bryant: Bryant becomes trade eligible on Sunday, so on Friday, the Pacers agreed to acquire him from the Heat for a second-round pick swap. The Moses Brown experiment was not successful, so Bryant will be the next in line to get the backup center minutes. I don’t expect big numbers, but anyone needing “anything” in a 20-plus team league can take a flier on him. He might even sneak some value in slightly smaller leagues than than that too, but there’s no need to think about him in standard formats for now. 

Stream of the Game

Get Yves Missi on a roster for big-man stats. He’s more than a streamer.

Alternatives:

T.J. McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin (probably still rostered), Obi Toppin

Brandon Boston Jr.,

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Boston Celtics @ Washington Wizards

Game Time: 06:00 pm ET

DraftKings Lines

BOS -17.5 (-1650), WAS +17.5 (+950)
Game Total 233

Key Storylines

Super Celtics: It’s a full cast minus Al Horford, who was listed out with rest instead of “copy and paste this toe injury” for once. Payton Pritchard has produced regardless and with a -17.5 spread, he should still get a lot of run if that projection is correct and it’s an easy blowout. 

No updates: Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon, Kyshawn George and Corey Kispert get listed as out from game to game with no updates on timelines or returns. Just view them as sidelined until we see an actual upgrade. Justin Champagnie has benefitted and even Marvin Bagley III, though Jonas Valanciunas finds himself squeezed once again with Alex Sarr back. 

Stream of the Game

Bilal Coulibaly seems to be breaking out of his slump and should be added and held onto for a while as he does have top-100 upside if he can shoot above 40% from the field. Not a high bar to cross, right?

Alternatives: Sam Hauser, Bub Carrington, Justin Champagnie, Jared Butler, Marvin Bagley III

New York Knicks @ Orlando Magic

Game Time: 06:00 pm ET

DraftKings Lines

NYK -4.5 (-185), ORL +4.5 (+154)
Game Total 214

Key Storylines

No NBA Cup: The Knicks lost in a bad NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup featuring Dyson Daniels to make Jalen Brunson’s life uncomfortable, plus a Hawks team proficient in ballscreen offense, as the Knicks have struggled to defend in the pick-and-roll consistently. For fantasy, it doesn’t mean much. However, Miles McBride does have some mettle as a point-of-attack defender and if these issues persist, they may have to find a way to get him on the floor more to help. 

Next up, Suggs: Jalen Suggs almost got the Magic to the NBA Cup semis and at the moment, he has to be the lead offensive option. We might see good nights from Cole Anthony, Anthony Black and perhaps even a couple rogue Jett Howard performances, but you can’t trust them to score well consistently. Jonathan Isaac is probable to return from his hamstring issue and while he has 12-team upside, I don’t see the Magic giving one of the league’s most injury-prone players even more minutes. Especially since he just suffered a hamstring injury, come on. 

Stream of the Game

Miles McBride or if he is available, Goga Bitadze. 

Alternatives: I don’t actually like most of these options, they are mostly lottery streams. 

Precious Achiuwa, Cam Payne, Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Moritz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Jonathan Isaac, Anthony Black, Tristan da Silva, Gary Harris (questionable), Jett Howard

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