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There are 10 NBA games for Saturday’s slate, and those games come with a loaded injury report. The league’s COVID regulations have seen fewer players in protocols, but there’s starting to be a comeback. There have also been larger non-COVID related injuries that could significantly impact the season. Here’s a preview of Saturday’s association injury report.
NBA Injury Report: January 15
Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Scottie Barnes (knee) OUT
Gary Trent Jr. (ankle) OUT
Update – Barnes was ruled out, which means Pascal Siakam and Precious Achiuwa will see additional value in fantasy and DFS lineups.
Update – Trent Jr. was ruled out, giving VanVleet some extra juice as a fantasy and DFS option.
Barnes has adapted despite this designation, so he is likely to play. Trent Jr. missed Friday’s game, so his status is worth watching. Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby will be better DFS games if Trent Jr. is ruled out.
Jrue Holiday (ankle) OUT
The holidays have already been ruled out, so Khris Middleton’s stock is exploding. Look for Jordan Nwora and Pat Connaughton to be good value underhand plays as well.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Washington Wizards
Norman Powell (protocols) TBD
Powell remains in the protocols, so Nassir Little is the main beneficiary here. Look for the Little in fantasy and DFS ranges at a lower price.
Bradley Beal (protocols) OUT
Davis Bertans (ankle) questionable
Beal is out due to league protocol. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Deni Avdija are suitable replacement options. Bertans is questionable, so managers who support Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell will be looking for updates on his status.
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
Kemba Walker (knee) OUT
Walker has already been ruled out and it looks like the knee continues to be an issue for the star keeper.
Kevin Knox (trade) available
Clint Capela (ankle) uncertain
Jalen Johnson (ankle) questionable
Danilo Gallinari (Achilles) questionable
Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) playing time decision
Update – Knox is available to make his team debut on Saturday and he might have to, given Atlanta’s long injury report at the wing positions.
Update – So much for Bogdanovic being a potential value play. The guard is questionable with a knee injury, which he suffered earlier in the season. If Bogdanovic is seated. Huerter becomes an even stronger DFS option.
Update – Capela has been downgraded to questionable, while Gallinari is a new addition to the injury report with an Achilles problem. Kevin Huerter and Bogdan Bogdanovic are great DFS plays if Gallinari and Johnson can’t speak.
Knox’s status is up in the air following the trade, while both Capela and Johnson are struggling with ankle injuries. De’Andre Hunter has looked good on his return, and John Collins is the natural beneficiary of Capela’s absence.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Brooklyn Nets
Kyrie Irving (home game) OUT
LaMarcus Aldridge (foot) OUT
Nic Claxton (hamstring) OUT
Cam Thomas (ankle) questionable
Update – Claxton has been ruled out, so look for Blake Griffin and Day’Ron Sharpe as DFS plays. Thomas is questionable, which means Patty Mills remains a great piece in both fantasy and DFS formats.
We’ll see if the Nets push the limits with Irving in the coming days. Patty Mills is a good guy to pick over Irving. Aldridge is out and Claxton has missed a few games, which means Blake Griffin will see an increase in production. Day’Ron Sharpe also got minutes, so that’s a value game too.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat
Shake Milton (back) OUT
Matisse Thybulle (shoulder) OUT
Danny Green (hip) OUT
Joel Embiid (elbow) questionable
Update – Embiid has been added to the injury report which means he is clearly showing elbow discomfort. He’s moot, so any value plays out in fantasy and DFS will have to wait for the final injury report. Andre Drummond is the best option in the center if Embiid sits.
Milton was ultimately ruled out indefinitely. Thybulle injured his shoulder on Friday, so updates on his status will likely come throughout the day.
Jimmy Butler (ankle) questionable
Butler played Friday, and there’s a chance the Heat will give him that night off. With Bam Adebayo returning on Monday, Miami wants to avoid serious injury with its other star.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
There are no notable daily injuries for either team.
Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics
Zach LaVine (knee) OUT
Alex Caruso (protocols) OUT
Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
Update – The ball has been ruled out, so players like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu will be popular DFS games on Saturday.
Update – LaVine is already out after leaving last night. Ball is on injury report, also with a knee issue. It’s not good for the Bulls, who have lost three of the last four games. If Ball is out, Coby White is your go-to man on the slate. He’ll be super chalky but should have no trouble returning value, especially if Smart is out again for Boston.
LaVine has already been ruled out after suffering a non-contact knee injury on Friday. The Bulls undergo an MRI to determine how long he will be out. Caruso remains on protocol and is out for at least a few more games.
Marcus Smart (thigh) questionable
Smart has been dealing with this thigh issue for some time. If he doesn’t fit, fantasy and DFS players can back Dennis Schroder and Payton Pritchard as value options.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Luke Kennard (protocols) TBD
Kennard needs to be cleared at some point. Managers can continue to roll with Terrace Mann and Reggie Jackson if Kennard stays within the protocols.
Derrick White (protocols) questionable
Jakob Poeltl (back) uncertain
Update – White and Poeltl are unlikely to play on Saturday, so look for Murray and Vassell to be good plays in the backcourt for Spurs while Thaddeus Young could be an intriguing play in the frontcourt with Poeltl likely to sit out.
It’s funny that White hasn’t signed off on the protocols yet, but Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson have. Expect Vassell and Dejounte Murray to be better plays if White can’t speak.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets
LeBron James (abs) likely
Carmelo Anthony (back) questionable
Dwight Howard (knee) questionable
James should dress for this match, as he has for a while now with his abdominal injury. Anthony could sit out another game, so Trevor Ariza and Malik Monk are the beneficiaries. If Howard can’t play, look for James to play more minutes at center.
Will Barton (neck) likely
Austin Rivers (disease) questionable
Update – Rivers, a rotation player, is questionable with an illness. The Nuggets have had some bad luck this season, so hopefully Rivers doesn’t miss the contest. If he’s out, Monte Morris and Bones Hyland are gaining value in fantasy and DFS formats.
This is the third different reason why Barton hit the injury report. It is likely that he is getting dressed.
Orlando Magic vs. Dallas Mavericks
Wendell Carter Jr. (hamstrings) OUT
Mo Bamba (toe) questionable
Update – Carter Jr. was ruled out for Saturday’s game, so it looks like Mo Wagner is going to start here.
Carter Jr. and Bamba missed a few games with their respective injuries. Mo Wagner remains a great DFS target if both are out on Saturday.
Kristaps Porzingis (conditioned) TBD
Update – Porzingis has approved league protocols and his status will now come down to conditioning. If he adapts, the Mavs big man is a solid game, especially with Orlando struggling with frontcourt injuries.
Porzingis should soon be close to removing protocols, although some players have been in the system for much longer than expected.
