As the close of week 10 of the fantasy basketball season draws near, the Orlando Magic are finally getting some missing players back in their lineup on Friday. Wendell Carter Jr and Gary Harris will very likely have their minutes monitored for a couple of basketball games, but Mo Wagner’s fantasy value is about to take a massive hit. New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson landed in the NBA health and safety protocols, so he’ll likely miss more time. Here are the latest NBA injuries but as always, keep an eye on the NBA injury news as we’ve seen players that are ruled out earlier in the day suddenly listed as active near game time. 

 

2022 NFL Injury Report Fantasy Basketball Week 10

NBA Point Guard Injury News

Tyrese Haliburton, PG Indiana Pacers (Wrist)

Haliburton let down the last time he played against Miami but we don’t know if he’ll be active for tonight’s matchup due to having a sore wrist. If he needs to sit, T.J. McConnell will run more of the offense, and we should expect to see both Buddy Hield and Bennedict Mathurin pick up more shots. 

Jamal Murray, PG Denver Nuggets (Knee)

Murray sat out the Nuggets last game with a knee injury and while the injury doesn’t seem serious, Murray could be potentially sidelined for another game or two. We’re waiting on news on whether he’ll be active on Friday, but if he needs another game to recover, Bones Hyland and Bruce Brown will benefit by getting more time on the ball running the floor. Nikola Jokic’s assists will increase as well if Murray doesn’t play. 

Dennis Smith Jr, PG Charlotte Hornets (Ankle)

The Hornets have multiple options that can run the point, but with LaMelo Ball back in action unrestricted, there are only so many minutes to go around. Smith has been out for a month with a badly sprained ankle, but new reports indicate that he’s closing in on returning to action. Once Smith is ready to return, it’s very unlikely that he receives 20 minutes consistently in the Hornets rotation. He could toggle between both guard positions and play a bit off the ball if Rozier’s hip is still causing problems, but he’s not returning to the same role he left behind when he got hurt.

Donte DiVincenzo, PG Golden State Warriors (Illness)

DiVincenzo has been sick and has missed the Warriors last couple of games and with Stephen Curry out with an injured shoulder, this is DiVincenzo’s time to show his versatility and ability to play multiple positions. If he needs to miss additional time, Jordan Poole will see his usage rise as he’ll spend more time on the ball and we’ve even seen Ty Jerome play 24-plus minutes in both games that DiVincenzo has been sidelined. The good news is that he’ll be coming off five days' rest when the Warriors take the court on Sunday against the Grizzlies.

Cameron Payne, PG Phoenix Suns (Foot)

With Payne starting to rack up inactive statuses, and Devin Booker still being out, the Suns have had to look down their bench and Landry Shamet and Duane Washington Jr will help Chris Paul run the point. Payne shouldn’t be out for an extended period, so consider him still day-to-day. Paul has been logging over 31 minutes per game but has hit the 35-minute mark in 4 of his last 5 outings. 

NBA Shooting Guard Injury News

Devin Booker, SG Phoenix Suns (Groin)

December hasn’t been the healthiest month for Booker and he continues to sit out with an injured groin. We haven’t been told about the severity of the injury indicating that it’s not a big-time groin strain that Booker is dealing with, but while he’s out Chris Paul will need to shoot more along with Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet and Damion Lee will benefit by getting more playing time. The Suns need all the offensive help that they can get especially with Booker, Cameron Payne, and Cameron Johnson all out. 

Terry Rozier, SG Charlotte Hornets (Hip)

There’s a chance that Rozier returns to action in his next game after missing a couple with an injured hip. LaMelo Ball will take more shots and he already is sporting a usage percentage over 33, but let’s not forget about Kelly Oubre Jr who sees a 5 percent usage bump with Rozier off the floor. Rozier shouldn’t miss much more time as he’s not being ruled out of games way in advance and has been given a couple of “questionable” designations heading into the night. 

Desmond Bane, SG Memphis Grizzlies (Toe)

Bane has been out since the middle of November, but there’s a chance he can finally make his return to the court in the Grizzlies next couple of games. Once he returns, Dillon Brooks shot attempts will likely drop and John Konchar will see his minutes drop a bit. Bane is the Grizzlies second prioritized scorer behind Ja Morant shooting nearly 18 shots per battle. 

Gary Trent Jr, SG Toronto Raptors (Quad)

Trent’s quad has been in pain and it’s caused him to miss time and Toronto, who runs a tight rotation, has been struggling because they’ve had players in and out of the lineup all season and some of their reserves have even been banged up. Trent shouldn’t be out much longer and the Raptors have shifted players down in the lineup while he’s been out and OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes will have more time with the ball and Anunoby should take a few more shots until he returns. 

Quentin Grimes, SG New York Knicks (Ankle)

The sprain isn’t severe but as the Knicks have played better, Grimes has been given more shot attempts and we were starting to see more production from him. He hurt his ankle but continued to play earlier in the week against the Warriors. The Knicks could have been looking to just be careful with Grimes, who they covet as a piece for the future, but if he needs to sit, Immanuel Quickley will toggle to shooting guard and help Jalen Brunson in the backcourt.

Gary Harris, SG Orlando Magic (Hamstring)

Harris hadn’t played all month, but we’ve been told that he’s returning to the floor on Friday and we’ll have to see how his body reacts to being on the court. Harris started the season hurt and the Magic have plenty of mid-court options and they will monitor his minutes for at least one game. Expect him to not get 20 minutes for the time being and it’ll be interesting to see how the minutes will be divided further once Jalen Suggs is ready to return to the court. 

Austin Reaves, SG Los Angeles Lakers (Ankle)

There’s a chance he can return in the Lakers next game and Los Angeles will need all the help they can get scoring the basketball with Anthony Davis out for at least a few more weeks. Reaves has scored around 11 points per game and has logged nearly 30 minutes per contest. Reaves has shot 52 percent from the field and once he comes back, he should be taking around 10 shots per game and if he’s on fire, the Lakers should just continue feeding him because their defense hasn’t been doing them any favors.

NBA Small Forward Injury News

Khris Middleton, SF Milwaukee Bucks (Knee)

Reports are telling us that Middleton isn’t ready to return to the floor. He’s been dealing with a sore knee and he missed a bunch of time earlier in the season recovering from wrist surgery. With Middleton out, Jrue Holiday will take more shots along with Brook Lopez who can help stretch the floor and Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton should see more action.

Justise Winslow, SF Portland Trail Blazers (Ankle)

With the Blazers a bit healthier, Winslow’s minutes have been up and down, but now he could be looking at a few games off with an ankle injury and Josh Hart and Shaedon Sharpe should see more shots and time with the rock if Winslow needs time to recover.

Caleb Martin, SF Miami Heat (Ankle)

Martin’s value holds water because the Heat have had no problem de-activating, Jimmy Butler, whenever they want as they continue to be cautious with him. Martin has been logging nearly 33 minutes per game and if he needs to sit out, Max Strus and Duncan Robinson should walk into additional shots. 

Eric Gordon, SG Houston Rockets (Thumb)

Gordon will need to sit for at least one game with a thumb injury meaning around 10 shots should open up for other Rockets midcourt players and while he sits (currently day-to-day), Tari Eason will see more playing time and we should see K.J. Martin could end up starting while Gordon recovers and he took 11 shots from the field last time out.

NBA Power Forward Injury News

Zion Williamson, PF New Orleans Pelicans (Health and Safety Protocols)

Williamson will likely need to sit out another couple of games before he clears the league’s health and safety protocols and with Brandon Ingram also hurt, there are a lot of shots to go around and CJ McCollum will lead the charge. Trey Murphy, Herbert Jones, and Naji Marshall will also pick up minutes and shots in the short term. We should have an update on Ingram in the next few days as he hasn’t played this month.

Kyle Anderson, PF Minnesota Timberwolves (Back)

The Timberwolves are dealing with an injured frontcourt as Karl-Anthony Towns is still out, and Anderson has been suffering from back pain and if he needs more time to recover, Jaden McDaniels will toggle between both forward positions and Austin Rivers can shift up to small forward and he’s logged 31 minutes or more in 3 of his last 4 battles and he’ll serve as a bailout option on offense taking shots from long-range.

Dorian Finney-Smith, PF Dallas Mavericks (Adductor)

Finney-Smith’s mid-section has been bothering him and he needs to sit for likely a few more games and while he’s out Reggie Bullock will certainly see more action and take more shots. Davis Bertans can also see an uptick in minutes, and he can help stretch the floor. Even if they sacrifice defensively (and they’ve been strong at containing opposing frontcourts), the Mavericks could opt to start Christian Wood at power forward and have JaVale McGee guard the middle. We don’t know when we’ll see Maxi Kleber return to action.

NBA Center Injury News

Kristaps Porzingis, C Washington Wizards (Illness)

Porzingis has been sick, and he’s missed a couple of games and if needs more time off the floor, Daniel Gafford will benefit by getting more minutes and Kyle Kuzma and Monte Morris’ shot attempts should rise. Rui Hachimura just returned to action, and he can help the Wizards guard the post-playing off the bench. 

Clint Capela, C Atlanta Hawks (Calf)

Capela could return to the Hawks lineup on Friday as he’s been recovering from a calf injury, but if he needs more time off the floor, Onyeka Okongwu will be the man in the middle once again for Atlanta and they can always shift up John Collins who just returned from the injured list.

Wendell Carter Jr, C Orlando Magic (Foot)

Carter missed over a month of action with a strained foot and he will return to the Magic’s lineup for Friday’s game but his minutes will be restricted and don’t be surprised if the Magic slow-play him for a few games because they have a lot of big men that can fill in but once those restrictions are off, Mo Wagner and Mo Bamba will see their minutes and usage drop. 

Kelly Olynyk, C Utah Jazz (Ankle)

Olynyk is recovering from a sprained ankle and has missed a few games and if he needs any more time off the floor, Walker Kessler will continue to be the main beneficiary. He’s received 27 minutes or more in both of his last 2 contests and reached double figures in scoring for both. Jarred Vanderbilt can shift up to center to help with the remaining minutes and Lauri Markkanen with his size could help fill in at power forward as well until Olynyk returns. 

Larry Nance Jr, C New Orleans Pelicans (Achilles)

Nance is nursing a sore Achilles and has had to sit for a couple of games. If he needs more time off the floor, Jonas Valanciunas, who has received spotty playing time throughout the year will see his playing time rise and Naji Marshall will be needed along with Herbert Jones to help the Pelicans guard the post. Zion Williamson has also been out of the lineup. 

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, C Oklahoma City Thunder (Ankle)

Robinson continues to sit with a sprained ankle and while he’s recovering, Aleksej Pokusevski and Mike Muscala will help guard the middle of the paint. Pokusevski will pick up more shots and since Robinson-Earl has been sidelined, Jalen Williams has hit the 30-minute mark in every game and he should continue to take 8 to 12 shots. 

 

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