2017-18 Fantasy Basketball Injury Report: Playoffs (Round 1)
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Published: Apr 13, 2018
NBA INJURIES
| NAME | TEAM | INJURY | TIMETABLE TO RETURN | ANALYSIS |
| Kawhi Leonard | SAS | Quad | No Timetable | Leonard has been cleared but the NBA Universe has no idea whether or not we will see Leonard in the Playoffs. Kyle Anderson and Rudy Gay will continue to pick up more playing time. |
| Gordon Hayward | BOS | Ankle/Tibia | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | It's over! Brad Stevens has said that Hayward won't be returning at all. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum benefit by getting more shots. |
| Kyrie Irving | BOS | Knee | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Irving will miss the entire 2018 Playoffs. Terry Rozier, Shane Larkin and Marcus Smart (when healthy) will fill in. |
| DeMarcus Cousins | NO | Achilles | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Cousins will not return for the Playoffs. Anthony Davis has shifted to Center and Cheick Diallo and Emeka Okafor get more playing time. |
| Joel Embiid | PHI | Face | DAY TO DAY | Embiid has indicated that he could be ready to go for game 1 but other reports still say that there's a good chance he misses that game. He will be wearing a mask over his face. Richaun Holmes fills in for him. |
| Stephen Curry | GSW | Ankle | 2-4 Weeks | Curry is not expected to play at all in the Warriors first round match up. He could make it back for the second round. Quinn Cook continues to be the primary fill-in option. Shaun Livingston grabs minutes. |
| Otto Porter Jr. | WSH | Calf | DAY TO DAY | Porter is dealing with a minor Calf strain and there is a chance he could miss game 1. Current signs are pointing to him being active, but it is possible. Kelly Oubre Jr. picks up minutes and usage if he can't go. |
| Eric Gordon | HOU | Ankle | DAY TO DAY | Gordon has been a bit banged up and is dealing with an Ankle injury. He should be fine for game 1, but if he can't go, Gerald Green picks up minutes and usage. |
| Marcus Smart | BOS | Thumb | 2 Weeks | The Celtics have targeted April 27th as the date to expect Smart to return. Terry Rozier and Shane Larkin will see a lot of minutes in the first round of the playoffs. |
| Dion Waiters | MIA | Ankle | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Waiters had Ankle surgery and will miss the playoffs. Tyler Johnson, and Wayne Ellington pick up minutes and usage. |
| Andre Roberson | OKC | Patellar Tendon | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | With Roberson out, Corey Brewer (when healthy), Alex Abrines (when healthy) and Terrance Ferguson will see more minutes and usage in the playoffs. |
| Fred VanVleet | TOR | Shoulder | DAY TO DAY | VanVleet is dealing with Shoulder issues and may need to miss game 1. If he can't go, Delon Wright picks up more minutes and usage. |
| Daniel Theis | BOS | Knee | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | With Theis out for the Playoffs, Marcus Morris will see a ton of minutes and usage. |
| Ryan Anderson | HOU | Ankle | DAY TO DAY | Anderson injured his Ankle on Wednesday and while he thinks he'll be ok, his status for game 1 is currently up in the air. |
| Corey Brewer | OKC | Knee | DAY TO DAY | Brewer is getting treatment on his Knee but thinks he should be ready to go for full minutes for game 1 on Sunday. There's still a chance he can sit out though and Alex Abrines and Terrance Ferguson will benefit. |
| Thabo Sefolosha | UT | Knee | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Sefolosha had surgery on his Knee and will miss the playoffs. Jae Crowder and Jonas Jerebko will see more playing time. |
| Kyle Korver | CLE | Foot | DAY TO DAY | Korver is dealing with pain in his Foot and there's a chance he either will miss game 1 or get very limited playing time in the first few games of the first round. J.R. Smith will pick up minutes. |
| Luc Mbah a Moute | HOU | Shoulder | No Timetable | He'll miss at least the first round of the playoffs and it's not a lock that he's ready in time for the second round. P.J. Tucker will benefit most. Gerald Green should grab a few more minutes as well. |
| Mike Scott | WSH | Concussion | DAY TO DAY | Scott suffered a Concussion Wednesday night and his status for game 1 is currently up in the air. If he misses time, Markieff Morris usage goes up and Kelly Oubre Jr. picks up time. |
| Maurice Harkless | POR | Knee | 1-2 Weeks | Harkless could return next week, but needs to be feeling 100 percent. The Blazers won't rush him back. Evan Turner will see more minutes and usage until he returns |
| Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot | PHI | Knee | No Timetable | If TLC returns, he will be on the outside looking into the Sixers rotation. There has been zero indication that we'll see him in the Playoffs. |
| Alexis Ajinca | NO | Knee | OUT FOR PLAYOFFS | Ajinca will NOT play in the Playoffs. Cheick Diallo and Emeka Okafor will see playing time. |
| Alex Abrines | OKC | Concussion | DAY TO DAY | Abrines is dealing with a Concussion, but there's still a chance he can be active for game 1. If he doesn’t play, Terrance Ferguson will pick up minutes. |
| Patrick McCaw | GSW | Back | 3-4 Weeks | If the Warriors make it deep into the Playoffs, we may be able to see McCaw back by the end of the second round. His re-evaluation is in about three weeks. Shaun Livingston will pick up minutes. |
Player News
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) said after Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to the Knicks that his current stamina issues may be related to the problem that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season.
After an illness limited him to 13 first-half minutes in Boston’s series-opening defeat on Monday, Porzingis came off the bench in Game 2. Unfortunately, he could only give the Celtics 14 minutes. Following the game, Porzingis said his current problem may be related to the upper respiratory ailment that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season. “Probably, probably,” Porzingis said. “I’ve had like ups and downs throughout until this point. Just now, had a big crash. Now, my energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares? Have to move forward and it will get better from this point.” While Boston’s shot selection was the focus following its two home defeats, Porzingis’ limited availability has also been a factor. He’ll hope to return to full health in time for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points (6-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 2 against the Thunder on Wednesday.
This was Jokic’s worst performance of the postseason, and it came to an end in the third quarter. He fouled out with 1:17 left in the third, which brought his night to a close after he played 32 minutes. OKC was up 41 points when Jokic fouled out, so his night may have been close to over anyway. Jokic dominated Game 1, and the Thunder adjusted. Denver will need other players to step up if they want to have a chance of winning this series, but Jokic will also need to be better than he was in this game.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled on Wednesday and finished with just eight points (2-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Thunder.
MPJ was slightly better in the second half, as all eight of his points came in the third quarter. However, the game was already out of hand at that point after a terrible first half for both Porter Jr. and the Nuggets. MPJ shot 1-of-8 in Game 1, and they’ll need him to be much better moving forward. The series will now shift back to Denver, and MPJ will look to get back on track during the two home games before the series heads back to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook provided a boost off the bench with 19 points (5-of-11 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), one rebound, five assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Despite an ugly first half for Denver, Westbrook was productive and entered the break with 15 points. He didn’t add much in the second half, though he sat the entire fourth quarter, still it was enough to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Russ has been awesome over Denver’s last five games, and his continued success will be key to the Nuggets winning this series. Though this game was ugly, they still have homecourt advantage in this series. They’ll look to keep it in Game 3 on Friday.
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday.
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder’s Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC’s blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he’ll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday.