NBA Injury Report & Waiver Wire Ahead of Week 10 Games: Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard, Ben Simmons
How are we already in the tenth week of the fantasy basketball and NBA seasons? HOW? Someone answer that! It’s going by too fast. We’re really locked in on the fantasy basketball waiver wire and who some of the targets are, and everything could change in an instant as teams that are selling trade pieces off and different players are asked to step into different roles. We’re also checking out all the top injuries across the league from Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, Zion Williamson and Kawhi Leonard. Let’s dive into this week's injury report and waiver wire column!
Fantasy Basketball Week 10 Injury Report
Luka Doncic Injury Update - Heel
There’s nothing new to report other than the fact that Luka Doncic has missed the past two games with a heel injury. Dallas has a very hefty schedule this week playing four times over a six-day span. We’ll see if Doncic is able to return this week.
Devin Booker Injury Update - Groin
This isn’t Devin Booker’s first groin injury so this is something he’s familiar with. His last one, coming in 2022, left him sidelined for a month, so it’ll be interesting to see how fast he’s able to return. This injury has been deemed pretty minor as it’s said to be two games out and then a reevaluation. He’s already missed one, so it’s possible Booker’s back for Christmas. It’s hard to use him in weekly roster locks, however, just simply not knowing when he’ll actually be back and already being confirmed out for Monday.
Damian Lillard Injury Update - Calf
Head coach Doc Rivers was asked if there was a timeline for Damian Lillard’s return and he said no, but also said it could be Monday or soon after that. The Bucks play next on Thursday and Lillard would have just two games this week.
Zion Williamson Injury Update - Hamstring
So from this clip, it looks as if Zion Williamson is, in some capacity, back at Pelicans practice. He’s missed a LOT of time with a hamstring injury and there really hasn’t been any update on when he’d return. That said, this is obviously somewhat of a step. He wasn’t moving much, but just to be on the court is an improvement.
Kawhi Leonard Injury Update - Knee
Oh man. We’re on the cusp of a Kawhi Leonard return. He’s with the Clippers, traveling with the team and won’t play on this road trip, which takes him out for Monday’s game. But the Clippers don’t play again until Thursday and it’s at home. Could THAT be the return of Kawhi Leonard? It’s possible.
Onyeka Okongwu Injury Update - Knee
He’s already missed two of the four games he’s reportedly going to miss due to knee inflammation, so based on that timeline, we should see Onyeka Okongwu return this weekend. The Hawks play on both Saturday and Sunday, so even if he does return then, he likely plays only one game this week.
Moritz Wagner Injury Update - Knee
It’s incredibly unfortunate, but Moritz Wagner has a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season for the Orlando Magic.
Fantasy Basketball Week 10 Waiver Wire
Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets - 28% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy
Look, for the time being, let’s embrace Ben Simmons’ fantasy value with open arms, OK? OK. Good talk. Since Dennis Schroder has been traded, Simmons has played 29+ minutes and has 23+ fantasy points in each, with a 15-point double-double in one of them. Over his last three games, he’s FIFTH in the entire league with 17 potential assists per game and if he’s going to actually score the ball, he has real standalone value. We know he can rebound, we know he’ll contribute defensively. Simmons is one of, if not my top, waiver wire pickup of the day as he continues to run the show for the Brooklyn Nets.
Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz - 30% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy
Jordan Clarkson is a high-usage player that is peripherally very solid. He’s scored 16+ actual points in three of four games and has scored north of 30 fantasy points in two of them. One of them, Clarkson was ejected after just 14 minutes, so it could’ve been three of four. Clarkson’s a hot commodity on the trade market, but his opportunity with the Utah Jazz currently is elite despite coming off the bench. He’s a 28% USG player on the year and should be rostered.
Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons - 31% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy
Jaden Ivey returned to the Pistons lineup last game and Malik Beasley’s minutes took a slight hit, but he still played 27 minutes and poured in 27 fantasy points. He’s the Pistons’ sixth man and if he continues to outplay Tim Hardaway, he’s going to continue to play him out of his minutes and possibly his starting role. Beasley’s been an elite floor-spacer and is playing with one of the league-leaders in assists per game has helped him and his 41% three-point percentage. Beasley is good enough peripherally to be rostered in more than just formats prioritizing scoring and field goal percentage.
De'Andre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks - 40% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy
If you need scoring and elite ratios offensively, look no further. De’Andre Hunter is averaging 20.1 points per game and has poured in 20+ points in seven of his last eight games. He’s shooting a career-best 49% from the field and 44% from three. He’s not really going to help you in many other categories, but he profiles best in shooting category formats and points. He’s a nice add that’s available in nearly two of every three fantasy leagues on Yahoo! Fantasy.
Goga Bitadze, Orlando Magic - 40% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy
Why in the world are 60% of Yahoo! Fantasy basketball owners ignoring this man?! This is the second straight week I’ve written him up and until he’s north of 50% that won’t change. It was only a three-percent change from last week! He’s a must-own right now and moving forward. Not only are Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner out, but Moritz Wagner also went down with a bad injury on Saturday. The front court depth for Orlando is depleted and Goga Bitadze is making the most of it. He has back-to-back double-doubles and four in his last five games. He’s grabbed 10+ rebounds in each of those five. He’s also helping in the blocks category averaging 1.6 per game on the year.
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.