Over the last few days, we learned that Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis actually has a stress fracture in his foot and we don’t know when we’ll see him back on the floor again. At first, it seemed like Davis would miss just a month of action, but a further examination of his foot showed otherwise. He could be looking at multiple months on the shelf crushing fantasy basketball players who invested in him. Additionally, after coming back from a groin injury, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker re-injured his groin, and backup guard Landry Shamet hurt his Achilles. The Suns have had players out all throughout the season and Booker may need to miss a few weeks the Suns will be more cautious when bringing him back onto the basketball court this time. Here are some of the other injuries from around the NBA.

 

2022 NFL Injury Report Fantasy Basketball Week 11

NBA Point Guard Injury News

Tyrese Maxey, PG Philadelphia 76ers (Foot)

New reports indicate that Maxey could return to action by the end of the week and upon returning he’ll share the backcourt with James Harden and both will run the point. Maxey hasn’t played in over a month and will likely get his minutes monitored for a couple of games once he comes back. Expect Shake Milton and De’Anthony Melton’s fantasy value to drop further. We already saw their production get cut into once Harden returned to the 76ers lineup. 

Update: 12/30 3 PM ET

All signs point to Maxey returning to the Sixers for Friday’s game. He’s been out of the lineup since the middle of November and he’ll help James Harden bring up the ball lowering the fantasy basketball production ceiling and likely minutes for De’Anthony Melton and Shake Milton. Maxey’s minutes may be monitored for a couple of games so the Sixers can make sure his body responds well to being back on the court.

Jalen Brunson, PG New York Knicks (Hip)

We’re unsure whether he’ll have to miss a few games, but Brunson is dealing with a sore hip and if he has to miss Tuesday’s game, Immanuel Quickley will run the point and pick up more shots. Derrick Rose is also on the Knicks bench and he can see reserve run. If Brunson has to sit, it should only be for a couple of games but hip injuries can be a little tricky and if the soreness doesn’t subside, he may be re-evaluated and have to miss more time. There’s still a chance he can end up suiting up versus his former team, the Mavericks.

Update: 12/30 3 PM ET

Brunson is still day-to-day, but his hip is clearly in pain and he’s missed a few games. Immanuel Quickley will run the point and pick up more shots. Derrick Rose is also on the Knicks bench and he can see reserve run.

Dennis Smith Jr., PG Charlotte Hornets (Ankle)

Smith has missed over a month of action with a badly sprained ankle, but he has drawn a few “questionable” statuses lately showing that he’s getting closer to returning to the court. Both LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier can run the point and Rozier will rotate to point guard a bit. Smith will back them both up and he was a solid contributor when Ball was hurt and he had to run the point. He could make it back to action in the next few weeks. 

Jrue Holiday, PG Milwaukee Bucks (Illness)

Holiday is sick and coincidently his backup George Hill is also under the weather. Holiday has missed a couple of games as he continues to recover. The Bucks are also without Khris Middleton and until Holiday returns, they’ll need Jevon Carter and Grayson Allen to help run the point. Giannis Antetokounmpo will bring up the ball more as well. We’re hearing Holiday doesn’t have COVID.

Fred VanVleet, PG Toronto Raptors (Back)

VanVleet has sat a game already because of his sore back and there’s a chance that he’ll have to miss more time and the Raptors will need Gary Trent Jr to help run the offense if he needs to sit more. OG Anunoby will take more shots with VanVleet hurt and Malachi Flynn should pick up extra minutes and time with the ball. It doesn’t seem to be a serious back injury for VanVleet.

Jordan McLaughlin PG, Minnesota Timberwolves (Calf)

We won’t see McLaughlin return to the Timberwolves lineup for at least another few games and while he’s out, Jaylen Nowell will help D’Angelo Russell run the point. The Timberwolves have also been without Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyle Anderson and Nowell’s usage should be bumped up further because of all of these injuries. 

NBA Shooting Guard Injury News

Devin Booker, SG Phoenix Suns (Groin)

Booker will have to miss at least a game or two after re-aggravating his groin injury he suffered recently. Unfortunately for the Suns, with Cameron Payne still out and Landry Shamet just getting hurt, the Suns are down to Damion Lee to help fill the shooting guard void. Duane Washington Jr will back them both up. Chris Paul will have to take on a bigger role in scoring the basketball. Josh Okogie can also shift down to shooting guard if needed as well. 

Update: 12/30 3 PM ET

Booker will miss at least the next four weeks with a strained groin. Unfortunately for the Suns, with Cameron Payne still out and Landry Shamet just getting hurt, the Suns are down to Damion Lee to help fill the shooting guard void. Duane Washington Jr will back them both up. Chris Paul will have to take on a bigger role scoring the basketball. Josh Okogie can also shift down to shooting guard if needed as well. 

Landry Shamet, SG Phoenix Suns (Achilles)

As mentioned, Shamet hurt his achilles and we don’t know if he’ll have to miss extended time, but he’ll need to miss at least one game and while he’s out, along with Devin Booker, Damion Lee will see more playing time, Chris Paul will take more shots and Josh Okogie will see some reserve run as well. 

Kelly Oubre Jr SG, Charlotte Hornets (Hand)

We don’t know whether or not Oubre will have to miss extended time but he sprained his hand in the Hornets last game and Gordon Hayward will need to take more shots and with Cody Martin still out, Jalen McDaniels will see more minutes and shots. McDaniels should easily play more than 20 minutes until Oubre is cleared to return and he’ll be fed 7-10 shots. The Hornets have had guards and mid-court players out all year.

Alex Caruso SG, Chicago Bulls (Concussion)

After missing the Bulls last few games, Caruso should return to the lineup in their next game and that’ll further divide the remaining point guard minutes between Ayo Dosunmu and Goran Dragic. The Bulls need the defensive upgrade badly and with Caruso back in action, they’ll get his aggressive play on the perimeter. If he and Lonzo Ball were both active, the Bulls would have one of the best defensive backcourts in the league.

NBA Small Forward Injury News

Jimmy Butler, SF Miami Heat (Ankle)

Butler continues to miss time due to rest and sometimes because of actual injuries as well his ankle has been sore and has had to sit for a couple of games because of it and his status for the Heat’s next game is uncertain. If Butler needs to sit, Tyler Herro will take more shots and Caleb Martin will draw starts and Max Strus’s production ceiling will rise as well. The Heat are one of the hardest teams to track when it comes to player health and it seems that most of the team has an injury designation on a nightly basis. His stats lately have been up and down a bit, but Victor Oladipo has fantasy basketball appeal as an end-of-the-bench option.

Herbert Jones, SF New Orleans Pelicans (Health and Safety Protocols)

With Herbert Jones replacing Zion Williamson in the league’s health and safety protocols, Naji Marshall will have to assist Williamson and Trey Murphy in the post. Larry Nance Jr can shift down to power forward if needed, but the Pelicans like to keep him backing up Jonas Valanciunas. Marshall will take more shots and has hit double figures in scoring in seven of his last 10 games.

Justise Winslow, SF Portland Trail Blazers (Ankle)

Winslow will be shelved for the next couple of weeks with an ankle injury and Josh Hart should take more shots and Shaedon Sharpe will indirectly benefit, but he’s instant offense and that’s about it. We could see Trendon Watford’s minutes rise a bit with Winslow out and he can help back up Jerami Grant at power forward. He could miss additional time beyond the two weeks but the Blazers doctors will re-check him in a couple of weeks. 

Joe Harris SF, Brooklyn nets (Knee)

Harris’ knee continues to swell, and he can’t shake the pain and he’s missed a couple of games and is looking like he will miss more time. T.J. Warren recently returned to the court and he’ll see more playing time until Harris is ready. Seth Curry could indirectly benefit by seeing more shots. Harris is still considered day-to-day, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he needed to sit for the next couple of weeks. The Nets, now a lot healthier, have a good amount of depth.

Jae’Sean Tate, SF Houston Rockets (Ankle)

Tate should be ready to play again in the Rockets next few games according to their coaches and once he returns because he hasn’t been healthy most of the year, the Rockets will likely ease him back into their rotation for the first couple of weeks until he proves that his body can hold up and he doesn’t experience any kind of setbacks. Once Tate returns, K.J. Martin’s fantasy value will take a bit of a hit. The Rockets should look to have Tate play primarily at small forward joining Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr in the Rockets frontcourt. 

Update: 12/30 3 PM ET

It seemed that Tate was close to returning to the court, but the pain in his ankle hasn’t subsided and we don’t know when we’ll see him back on the floor. With Tate out, KJ Martin and Tari Eason’s minutes are safe and secure. Tate can play effectively at both forward spots and can even help out at shooting guard if needed, but with ongoing ankle issues, it would be shocking to see him back on the floor before the end of January.

RJ Barrett SF, New York Knicks (Finger)

Barrett will miss a few games due to a finger injury and Quentin Grimes will need to take more shots until he’s ready to return. Expect Grimes to take 10-15 field goals per game until Barrett is healthier. Immanuel Quickley will see even more usage and Evan Fournier and Miles McBride will see more playing time. Evan Fournier provides instant offense and does nothing else and is worthless if his shots aren’t falling. Julius Randle will get more time with the ball as well.

NBA Power Forward Injury News

Kyle Anderson, PF Minnesota Timberwolves (Back/Illness)

Anderson has been dealing with a sore back and he’s sick and if he needs to miss any more time, Jaden McDaniels will see more minutes at power forward and Jaylen Nowell and Austin Rivers will help out with long-range scoring from the arc. The Timberwolves are still without starting power forward Karl-Anthony Towns. The Timberwolves could opt to bring Naz Reid in to add extra size but he lacks mobility and any power forward with moves will beat him to the basket. 

Jeff Green, PF Denver Nuggets (Hand)

Green fractured his hand and he’ll miss the next month for the Nuggets. He backs up Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon and if Jokic needs any kind of relief, Zeke Nnaji will see more reserve run. Green had been playing 15-20 minutes per game for the most part and hopefully, we see him return to action before the end of January. His fantasy basketball impact is limited because of Jokic though. 

Aaron Gordon, PF Denver Nuggets (Shoulder)

Gordon has been drawing questionable tags but does have a sprained shoulder. His teammate Bruce Brown has been dealing with an ankle tweak and the Nuggets are down a few forwards Michael Porter Jr will take advantage by taking more shots. The Nuggets have also been without Jeff Green and they’ll need Zeke Nnaji and potentially Vlatko Cancar to play some reserve minutes if the Nuggets need to go with a bigger lineup.

Aleksej Pokusevski, PF Oklahoma City Thunder (Leg)

Pokusevski is dealing with a fractured leg and we won’t see him return to the floor until February at the earliest and Darius Bazley will be looking at more minutes because he and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl are out for the Thunder in the post. They’ve been without Chet Holmgren all season and they’re down to Bazley, Jalen Williams, and Mike Muscala in the post. Bazley is the most dynamic of the three, but all three will definitely see a minutes boost. Luguentz Dort will get some more time with the ball and shots from the elbow and arc.

Dorian Finney-Smith, PF Dallas Mavericks (Adductor)

Finney-Smith will not return to the floor until mid-January at the earliest with a strained adductor and while he’s out (along with Maxi Kleber), Christian Wood may have to play some power forward at times because of his size, but Reggie Bullock will walk into more shots from the arc and certainly more playing time. The Mavs play strong post defense, but with Finney-Smith out, it leaves them a bit vulnerable defensively and opposing teams with skilled forwards will take advantage.

Santi Aldama, PF Memphis Grizzlies (Ankle)

Aldama’s ankle is injured and we’re waiting to see whether he’ll have to miss a certain amount of time but for now he’s day-to-day and with his floor-stretching ability off the floor, Jaren Jackson Jr will look to take more shots from the arc and Brandon Clarke will play more minutes at both power forward and center. Aldama plays 23 minutes per game and blocks nearly a shot per outing. 

NBA Center Injury News

Anthony Davis, C Los Angeles Lakers (Foot)

We learned a few days ago that Davis doesn’t have a timetable to return to action and with him out, Thomas Bryant and Damian Jones will have to use their size to clog up the middle. Bryant will help a bit offensively, but it will be up to other guards and swingmen like Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook to help LeBron James score the basketball. Davis is no stranger to injury and the Lakers may look to acquire a big man over the next month before the NBA trade deadline passes. 

Domantas Sabonis, C Sacramento Kings (Thumb)

Will Sabonis play through a fractured thumb? At first, the Kings seemed all about it, but Sabonis missing shootaround on Tuesday indicates that the Kings coaches might be getting cold feet and he could potentially be held out. They may choose to take it game-by-game with Sabonis, but they are gambling on him staying healthy and not further injuring his hand. We’ll have to see if Sabonis (who doesn’t want to sit) will have to miss games. He can easily damage it more playing at the rim with his hand getting hit by opposing defenders all game.

Update: 12/30 3 PM ET

Sabonis is back on the court playing through the thumb injury.

Clint Capela, C Atlanta Hawks (Calf)

Capela has been dealing with lower-body soreness and apparently, his calf is strained. He’ll need to sit for at least one game and while he’s out Onyeka Okongwu will start and help John Collins guard the post. Collins will shift to center at times. We’re unsure if Capela will have to miss extended time, but for now, consider him day-to-day. The Hawks have appealing matchups over the next few days against weak frontcourts such as the Warriors, Lakers, and Pacers.

Nick Richards C Charlotte Hornets (Ankle)

Richards is dealing with a sprained ankle and while he’s out, Kai Jones will likely back up Mason Plumlee at center. They could shift P.J. Washington to center for a few minutes as well. Richards ankle isn’t badly sprained, but it’s in enough pain to keep him out for a game or two. 

Precious Achiuwa, C Toronto Raptors (Ankle)

We haven’t seen Achiuwa play for a month and a half and his return to the court is getting closer and he’s starting to draw “questionable” tags. Upon returning, he’ll back up Pascal Siakam and the Raptors play their starters a ton of minutes and Achiuwa is walking back into a limited role competing against Chris Boucher for reserve minutes. If Scottie Barnes has to play more on the arc running the point if Fred VanVleet needs more time to return, they could shift Siakam down to power forward and let Achiuwa play center. He’ll likely have his minutes restricted for a few games upon returning.

JaMychal Green, C Golden State Warriors (Leg)

Green has an infected leg and hasn’t suited up in six straight games and the Warriors will need James Wiseman and Anthony Lamb to back up Kevon Looney in the post. We don’t know at this point if his infection will keep Green off the floor for an extended period of time. 

 

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