Evan Fournier (health and safety protocols) won't travel on the Celtics' upcoming three-game road trip according to Chris Forsberg of NBCSBoston. (Source: Chris Forsberg on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Fournier missed Friday's home game, then he'll miss three more games before potentially returning against the Warriors on April 17th. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on updates concerning Fournier.
Los Angeles Clippers PG Patrick Beverley suffered a fracture of the fourth metacarpal bone in his left hand in a win over the Suns on Thursday. He underwent surgery on Friday and will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks. (Source: Ohm Youngmisuk on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Beverley injured his hand in the fourth quarter while trying to jab the ball out of Chris Paul's hands after a rebound. Pat Bev had just made his way back to the lineup after missing significant time with a knee injury. Reggie Jackson and the recently acquired Rajon Rondo will fill in while Beverley is out.
New Orleans Pelicans G Lonzo Ball has been ruled out of Friday's game vs. the Sixers with a left hip flexor injury. (Source: Andrew Lopez on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The Pelicans are playing it cautiously with Ball, who played the previous three-game while dealing with the hip issue. Kira Lewis Jr., who's returning to the lineup on Friday, and the recently signed Isaiah Thomas should shore up the backcourt in Ball's absence.
New Orleans Pelicans F Brandon Ingram, who's missed the previous five games with a toe issue, will play Friday vs. the 76ers. (Source: Andrew Lopez on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Ingram and Kira Lewis (calf) will both return on Friday as the Pelicans take on the Sixers. James Johnson, who stepped up in Ingram's absence over the last five games, will take a backseat in production now that the latter is back in action.
Clippers forward Paul George (rest) won't play on Friday against the Rockets. (Source: Marc Stein on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: PG-13 will receive a night off in the second leg of LA's back-to-back. Luke Kennard should see an uptick in action tonight.
Jrue Holiday has been ruled out with a left knee contusion ahead of the Bucks game Friday against Charlotte. (Source: Rick Bonnell on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) was also ruled out for this game. Holiday has been on fire as of late, scoring at least 22 points in five of his last six games. Jeff Teague should see more playing time Friday with Holiday sidelined.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out ahead of the Bucks game Friday against the Hornets. (Source: Rick Bonnell on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: This will be the fourth straight game Antetokounmpo has missed. He is also reportedly dealing with some soreness in his ankle, so Milwaukee is playing it very safe with him. The next chance for Antetokounmpo to return to the court will be Sunday against the Magic.
Jusuf Nurkic scored 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting with six rebounds, four assists, a steal, a block and a three-pointer over 22 minutes on Thursday as the Blazers lost to the Jazz by a 122-103 score.
Fantasy Impact: Nurkic returned from a one-game absence due to a knee injury and continues to be on a minutes restriction around 20 minutes. The veteran center should still be owned in most fantasy formats and hopefully will start to see his playing time start to ramp up.
Portland Trail Blazers SG/SF Norman Powell (toe) will be available to play against the Utah Jazz on Thursday after previously being questionable due to left big toe inflammation. (Source: Jay Allen on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Powell has been cleared to play against the Jazz on Thursday, making him a sure-fire plug into your lineups. The sixth-year guard who was traded from Toronto prior to the deadline has been a great acquisition for Portland, averaging 19.7 points across his last three starts.
Thu, Apr 8th 8:34pm EDT
By Matthew MacKay
Utah Jazz PG Mike Conley (rest) will be available to play against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. (Source: Sarah Todd on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Conley is no longer listed on the Jazz injury report after previously being a candidate for rest against the Blazers. Fantasy managers can continue rolling the All-Star point guard into lineups, as he is averaging 17.3 points and 5.3 assists across his last three starts and could see increased opportunities with Jordan Clarkson (ankle) ruled out.
Utah Jazz SG Jordan Clarkson (ankle) has been ruled out against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night due to a sprained right ankle. (Source: Eric Walden on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Clarkson won't be able to suit up against the Blazers on Thursday due to a sprained right ankle he suffered during Utah's previous game against the Suns on Wednesday. Fantasy managers in DFS formats can roster Matt Thomas for $3,500 on FanDuel, as he will have increased run at a great value during Thursday's late slate.
Thu, Apr 8th 6:52pm EDT
By Matthew MacKay
Detroit Pistons C Mason Plumlee (concussion) is listed as questionable against the Sacramento Kings due to being in the league's concussion protocol. (Source: NBA.com)
Fantasy Impact: Plumlee suffered a concussion against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday and is questionable to play in Sacramento Thursday night. Should the seven-footer fail to clear the concussion protocol, fantasy managers should roster and start Isaiah Stewart who has averaged 7.3 points, seven rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across his last four games played. Stewart is a great value add should he receive the start, as his salary is just $3,500 on FanDuel for Thursday's seven-game slate.
Thu, Apr 8th 6:26pm EDT
By Matthew MacKay
Memphis Grizzlies PF/C Brandon Clarke (calf) is listed as doubtful to play against the New York Knicks on Friday due to a sore left calf. (Source: NBA.com)
Fantasy Impact: Clarke is in jeopardy of missing his third consecutive game due to a sore left calf. In his absence, fantasy managers can opt to roster Xavier Tillman who is averaging 7.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and a block across his last four games. He isn't a thrilling option to add to your lineup but will save salary in DFS formats during Friday's slate if Clarke winds up being ruled out.
Lakers' F Kyle Kuzma has been ruled out of Thursday's matchup with the Heat. (Source: Ryan Ward on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Lakers' head coach Frank Vogel stated today that Kuzma suffered a calf strain last game that is causing him "significant soreness and tightness". As a result, Kuzma will be held out of tonight's action. Wesley Matthews, Ben McLemore, and others should likely see an uptick in playing time in the wake of Kuzma's absence.
Heat G Tyler Herro is available for Thursday's matchup against the Lakers. (Source: Anthony Chiang on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Herro is available tonight after being listed as probable on the Heat's earlier injury report, though, it never seemed as though his status was ever in serious jeopardy. Herro will look to continue his recent fantastic play, as he's averaged 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game over his last 10 contests.
Indiana Pacers PF/C Myles Turner (ankle) has been ruled out against the Orlando Magic on Friday due to a sprained left ankle. (Source: NBA.com)
Fantasy Impact: Turner will miss a second consecutive game due to a sprained left ankle he suffered against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. With Turner ruled out, fantasy managers can look to roster Pacers reserve C Goga Bitadze, who totaled 14 points and five assists across 25 minutes during the team's win against the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Thu, Apr 8th 6:00pm EDT
By Jack Mannis
Kristaps Porzingis is not listed on the Mavericks' injury report ahead of Thursday's game against the Bucks. (Source: Tim MacMahon on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: After missing two of the last three games due to a wrist injury, it looks like Porzingis will play on the second night of a back-to-back for the first time since early February. After posting a double-double in Wednesday's loss to the Rockets, fantasy managers should plug Porzingis right back into their lineups tonight. If he does sit, that would likely keep Nicolo Melli in the starting five for tonight's game.
Thu, Apr 8th 5:46pm EDT
By Matthew MacKay
Chicago Bulls PF Lauri Markkanen (leg) will be available to play against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday. (Source: NBA.com)
Fantasy Impact: Markkanen was previously probable to play after suffering a leg injury during the Bulls' previous win against the Pacers on Tuesday. The fourth-year power forward has lost some of his fantasy appeal due to the acquisition of All-Star C Nikola Vucevic, as Markkanen now comes off the bench averaging 22.7 minutes across his last three games played. Markkanen is still a good start in deeper leagues averaging 9.3 points and 4.3 assists per game.
Thu, Apr 8th 5:40pm EDT
By Matthew MacKay
Chicago Bulls SG Zach LaVine (ankle) will be available to play against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday. (Source: NBA.com)
Fantasy Impact: Fantasy managers can lock LaVine into lineups against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, as he is averaging 22.3 points and 4.7 assists across his last three games played. Nikola Vucevic has been eating into LaVine's shooting volume a bit but it's not enough to warrant panic or a pivot, as the All-Star shooting guard is talented enough to create his own shot.
Hawks' F John Collins will miss at least another week due to a sprained ankle. (Source: Marc Stein on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Although Collins has progressed quite slowly in rehabilitating a sprained ankle, he has progressed to dynamic foot contacts, lateral shuffling and individual court work. Meanwhile, as he continues down the path towards his long-awaited return, Danilo Gallinari should continue to see an increased role for the Hawks. Gallinari has averaged 17.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 19 games versus the Bulls in his career, so don't hesitate to take a flier on him when the Hawks face the Bulls on Friday.
