THURSDAY’S 7-GAME SLATE (5 ON MAIN SLATES)
UPDATE 7:35 pm: Coach Alvin Gentry said Lonzo Ball is unlikely to play, unless it’s a “certain situation.” Basically, he’s only out there in an emergency. The Pelicans will start Frank Jackson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart, Nicolo Melli and Jaxson Hayes. Fire up NAW and Frank-Jax.
UPDATE 7:15 pm ET: Not injuries here, but coach Jacque Vaughn said he will play the starters like a normal game. That’s different from what he said yesterday, so it’s still tough to 100% buy that quote. Still, the starters of Caris LeVert, Garrett Temple, Joe Harris, Rodions Kurucs and Jarrett Allen are all in play.
UPDATE 6:00 pm ET: Emmanuel Mudiay is out for Thursday, which was expected. It’s going to be a wild rotation for the Jazz with a mixture of Miye Oni, Justin Wright-Foreman and maybe even some Nigel Williams-Goss.
UPDATE 3:48 pm ET: D.J Wilson is starting next to Brook Lopez, Eric Bledsoe, Pat Connaughton and Khris Middleton. PF is a wasteland today, so Wilson is a player to consider in all formats.
UPDATE 3:34 pm ET: Boban Marjanovic is starting against the Suns. This isn’t the exact same spot as his smash game when everyone was sitting, so his ceiling isn’t quite as high. Still, he should have a good shot at 18 minutes, which makes him a solid option, just not a lock-button option.
UPDATE 2:45 pm ET: Kristaps Porzingis is officially ruled out, as expected. The Mavs look like they’ll have Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber, so Boban Marjanovic doesn’t have a clear runway for big minutes. He’s still in play, but you shouldn’t feel confident on playing him.
UPDATE 11:55 pm ET: Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma are out. LeBron James is not going to play in the second half here, so props for the Lakers for telling us. We’ll see a lot of Talen Horton-Tucker and some Quinn Cook too.
UPDATE 11:45 pm ET: Rui Hachimura is out for this one, so expect some two-center lineups here. Johnathan Williams is going to get the start and there will be some Admiral Schofield at the four.
UPDATE 10:45 am ET: Well, Shabazz Napier (ankle) is out after listing him as available on Thursday. Jerome Robinson will get another start with Troy Brown at PG against the Celtics G League guys.
Top Injuries to Watch
1. Anthony Davis (knee) is questionable. He hasn’t been rested yet, so he’s very risky. If he’s out, Kyle Kuzma would be the guy to target.
2. Kristaps Porzingis (heel) is doubtful and Maxi Kleber (knee) is probable. If KP doesn’t play, that should make Boban Marjanovic an option. Although, Dorian Finney-Smith (hip) being probable here doesn’t give Boban the safest floor because Kleber could be more of a straight five. If two of Maxi, KP and DFS sit, it’s Boban time.
3. Josh Hart (knee) is questionable for this one with Jrue Holiday, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram out again. Hart played 30 minutes on Tuesday, so him sitting out could up Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Frank Jackson, E’Twaun Moore, Sindarius Thornwell, Kenrich Williams and Nicolo Melli. NAW and Frank Jackson are the most attractive by far.
4. Ersan Ilyasova (elbow) is questionable, so the Bucks could be missing two PFs with Giannis Antetokounmpo suspended. Marvin Williams, Pat Connaughton and D.J. Wilson could be worth a look, but we may need more info on the Bucks before feeling good about it.
We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag in the last big slate of the season. We know the Celtics are sitting everyone, the Magic have a ton of guys out, the Pelicans have their main guys out again, no De’Aaron Fox, Giannis Antetokounmpo has a suspension, and the Jazz have some key players out. The good news is no back-to-back sets, so every team filed. Although, a lot of teams have changed course on guys, so always remember that you may have to late swap on something that is off the radar.
Washington Wizards vs. Boston Celtics, 12:00 pm ET
The Wizards have Shabazz Napier (ankle) available for this one. Coach Scott Brooks talked about wanting to start him next to Troy Brown Jr., so that makes sense here.
It’s mass rest for the Celtics with Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward and Daniel Theis all getting the afternoon off. Brad Wanamaker, Carsen Edwards, Romeo Langford and Robert Williams should be four of the five starters, and the fifth starter will likely be Grant Williams or Semi Ojeleye. Robert Williams is a really strong play while Carsen Edwards and Romeo Langford warrant consideration.
Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 1:30 pm ET
The Kings will not have De’Aaron Fox, Kent Bazemore and Richaun Holmes (hip) again. Coach Luke Walton did play his vets a lot in the last game, but that could change in their finale. There could be more run for DaQuan Jeffries, Yogi Ferrell (foul trouble in last one), and maybe even some Justin James or Kyle Guy.
Anthony Davis (knee) is listed as questionable with a new injury after getting probable tags for an ankle issue and his eye to start the seeding games. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (foot) and Alex Caruso (neck) are also out, and LeBron James (groin) is probable yet again for the same issue that’s put him on the injury report for every game. If AD doesn’t go, that should open up some upside for Kyle Kuzma while Markieff Morris, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard could also see some extra time.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 4:00 pm ET
Giannis Antetokounmpo (suspension) will not be available for this one due to head-butting Mo Wagner. Wesley Matthews (groin) is also out, and Ersan Ilyasova (elbow) is questionable. If Ersan sits, it will likely be Marvin Williams or Pat Connaughton starting. This rotation is a mess with coach Mike Budenholzer using all sorts of strategies on managing minutes.
The Grizzlies only have their usual guys out with no Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow and Jaren Jackson Jr. They’ll be going all out in a game they basically need (could still get in if the Suns and Spurs both lose).
Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns, 4:00 pm ET
The Mavs have four of their key rotation players on the injury report with Kristaps Porzingis (heel) questionable, Seth Curry (leg) questionable, Dorian Finney-Smith (hip) probable and Maxi Kleber (knee) probable. Coach Rick Carlisle said national TV games matter, but the problem is the Mavs have nothing to play for this time. If KP is out, you’ll want to consider Boban Marjanovic in all formats, but his floor isn’t totally safe unless one of Maxi or DFS are out. Trey Burke could benefit if Seth, Maxi and/or DFS sit.
The Suns have it all on the line here, but Cameron Johnson (knee) is probable. Kelly Oubre (knee) is doubtful. Expect huge minutes for Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges regardless, and Ricky Rubio may get the cap off his playing time, too. You’ll want to consider those guys as some of the safest plays of the day.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz, 6:30 pm ET
Usual Spurs injury report here with Bryn Forbes (quad) out again. We’ll see if Patty Mills is available, but you’d think he’s not with most of the players ready. The Spurs have to win this game regardless, but they could be eliminated if the Suns and Grizzlies both win. Those games will be ending right around when this one starts, so that’ll make for some stressful warmups.
The Jazz will not have Mike Conley (knee) or Rudy Gobert (back), and Emmanuel Mudiay (knee) is questionable. Tony Bradley becomes a very attractive punt play even if he comes off the bench. Ed Davis really doesn’t play enough. Without Conley, Jordan Clarkson is on the board here, but coach Quin Snyder has said he wants to get a look at his bench guys to see what other options he may have if things get messy in the playoffs. It’ll be tough to count on the Jazz guards.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Brooklyn Nets, 9:00 pm ET
Besides C.J. McCollum playing through a fracture to his lower back, the Blazers are locked and loaded with nobody on their injury report. Although, having the last game of the day could affect how they play it. If two of the Suns, Grizzlies and Spurs lose, the Blazers will have an eighth or ninth spot locked up. If all three lose, they’re locked for eighth and “home court” for the play-in game. Yay, visual fans!
Chris Chiozza (groin) is listed as questionable and Donta Hall (ankle) is also questionable. Coach Jacque Vaughn said that his starters will be available at the start of the game. There could be some limitations here.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Orlando Magic, 9:00 pm ET
The Pelicans are sitting Jrue Holiday (elbow), Zion Williamson (knee) and Brandon Ingram (knee) again. This time, they added Josh Hart to the report as questionable. If he can’t go, that should get a few more minutes to E’Twaun Moore, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Nicolo Melli, Kenrich Williams and Sindarius Thornwell. NAW would be worth a punt.
The Magic injury report looks the same again with the same guys out: Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Terrence Ross and Michael Carter-Williams. Nikola Vucevic may have a minutes cap on him, too. The starters will likely be D.J. Augustin, Wes Iwundu, James Ennis, Gary Clark and Nikola Vucevic. Markelle Fultz may still have to get his conditioning up, so he could be in play.
