NBA Injury Report & Waiver Wire Ahead of Week 4 Games: Ja Morant, Zion Williamson & Carlton Carrington
We’re heading into the fourth week of the fantasy basketball season and there have been some fantasy-shifting injuries that have taken place recently. Most notably Kevin Durant, Ja Morant, and Zion Williamson have all gotten hurt and will miss weeks, not days. It’s not all bad news, however, as Joel Embiid is slated to return and the fantasy basketball waiver wire has some enticing names available in a LOT of leagues. Players that could win you a fantasy basketball league.
Fantasy Basketball Week 4 Injury Report
Joel Embiid Injury Update - Knee
We are going to see the season debut of Joel Embiid on Tuesday as he returns from a knee injury – and suspension. Embiid and the 76ers have a back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday, so it’s likely he’s only in for two games this week and will be highly limited as well. If you have a viable replacement, you may bench him in Week 4 of your fantasy basketball season. I also understand if you didn’t draft him to bench him.
Kevin Durant Injury Update - Calf
The 36-year-old Kevin Durant played 37 minutes the last time out for Phoenix and at some point, suffered a calf strain that’s going to sideline him for at least two weeks. During that stretch, Royce O’Neale is the most viable fantasy add on the market.
Zion Williamson Injury Update - Hamstring
Another year chock full of Zion Williamson injuries and we’re only heading into the fourth week of the year. He has already missed four of 10 games and there is no telling when he’ll return from this hamstring strain, but it’s not going to be anytime soon.
Ja Morant Injury Update - Hip
We saw Ja Morant leave the Grizzlies’ game against the Lakers earlier in the week and with the game well in hand, we thought the Grizzlies were being cautious. Turns out this injury is very real as Morant is week-to-week with a hip subluxation. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Marcus Smart figure to handle all of the point-guard minutes while Morant is gone. Smart is nearing a return himself.
Tyrese Maxey Injury Update - Hamstring
Although the 76ers put a one-week timeline on when he’d be evaluated, the nature of a strained hamstring typically extends for multiple weeks. Maxey’s being replaced by Kyle Lowry in the starting lineup but there’s little interest in Lowry with Paul George and Joel Embiid back.
Jimmy Butler Injury Update - Ankle
At this time it’s not clear how much, if any, time Jimmy Butler will miss this upcoming week, but Butler missed Sunday’s game after rolling his ankle. Miami doesn’t play again until Tuesday and they have a three-game week, so if he misses at least one he’s a tough start in weekly roster locks.
Miles Bridges Injury Update - Knee
After hyperextending his knee in the Pistons game, an MRI revealed a bone bruise that will keep Bridges sidelined for a couple of weeks, if not longer. Tidjane Salaun started in his place, but Grant Williams played 30 minutes and would be the add you wanted from Charlotte.
Jalen Duren Injury Update - Ankle
Jalen Duran’s ankle sprain isn’t something that’s expected to keep him sidelined for too long, but he’s now missed two consecutive games with it. They have a back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday and a big four-game week overall, so Isaiah Stewart could be a very sneaky add if Duren is forced to miss any more time.
Fantasy Basketball Week 4 Waiver Wire
Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans - 34% rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy
After suggesting him last week, I’ll double down on adding Jose Alvarado again. I understand Trey Murphy is going to be returning on Monday, but Zion Williamson departed due to injury for the foreseeable future as well. While CJ McCollum is still likely a week or two away, the Pelicans will continue to deploy Jose Alvarado out there for BIG minutes and he’s been super productive in five categories since entering the starting lineup.
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets - 30% rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy
There’s a logjam of good players in Houston but over the last week we’ve seen a shift in their lineups and Tari Eason has been one of the biggest beneficiaries. He’s topped 22 minutes in four straight games and has played 25 in three of them. He’s an incredibly effective scorer and rebounder and is always productive on the defensive end as well he averages 1.9 steals and 1.0 blocks despite exclusively coming off the bench.
Royce O’Neale, Phoenix Suns - 27% rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy
Kevin Durant is going to miss a minimum of two weeks with a calf strain and Royce O’Neale is the likeliest candidate to fill the void in the Suns’ starting lineup while he’s out. O’Neale has been great off of the Suns bench as he’s been playing mid-20s minutes while being a 10.5 point, 6.5 rebound, 2.3 assist, and 1.6 stocks guy this year. There is 30-plus minute upside for O’Neale with Durant sidelined.
Carlton Carrington, Washington Wizards - 25% rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy
After a slow start to his campaign, one of the Wizards' three first-round picks, Carlton Carrington, has been very impressive over the last four games. Carrington’s stuffing the box score and has also been blowout-proof, staying on the floor in blowouts despite being a starter. If Carrington is going to continue to start, even when Kyle Kuzma returns from injury, he’s a great low-owned waiver wire target.
Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets - 21% rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy
With Aaron Gordon aggravating a calf injury that he entered the season with and was playing through, he’s slated to miss multiple weeks and Peyton Watson’s transition into the starting lineup has been seamless. He’s scoring the basketball better than anyone could have expected and we know the blocks and steals will be there. That’s what he’s known for. If he can continue to space the floor and grab some rebounds like he has been, he has a ton of fantasy value while Gordon’s out.
Player News
Aaron Gordon had a quiet night, finishing with 13 points (6-of-13 FGs, 0-of-1 FTs), five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one three-pointer in the Nuggets’ loss to the Thunder on Tuesday.
Gordon was mostly held in check on the offensive end, finishing with his fewest three-point makes of the series, the second-lowest scoring output, and no production from the free throw line. While Gordon has made several big plays down the stretch of games this postseason, he was notably quiet in Game 5, making his line feel even less spectacular. He’s performed well in Denver’s two home games this series and will need to empty the tank on Thursday in Game 6 to help the Nuggets keep their season alive.
Jamal Murray scored 28 points (10-of-27 FGs, 5-of-5 FTs), four rebounds, three assists, one block and three three-pointers in 42 minutes for the Nuggets in their loss to the Thunder on Tuesday.
Murray registered his third 20-plus-point game of the series on Tuesday, but did so on rather inefficient shooting. A monster 13-point third quarter is where much of his production came from, which gave Denver a decent lead going into the final quarter. However, Murray cooled off down the stretch, scoring five of Denver’s 19 points in the fourth quarter. Both he and the rest of the Nuggets will want a better close to Thursday’s Game 6 if they hope to extend their season.
Nikola Jokic was dominant in the Nuggets’ loss to the Thunder on Tuesday, posting 44 points (17-of-25 FGs, 5-of-5 FTs), 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and 5 three-pointers.
Jokic bounced back in a big way on Tuesday after a few inefficient shooting performances in Games 2, 3 and 4. The three-time MVP had his fingerprints all over the game on the offensive side, regaining his shooting touch and being particularly dangerous from beyond the arc. He made some contributions as a passer, but still hasn’t found a way to dominate in this series as a facilitator, not yet tallying more than six assists in any game. Even with the Nuggets receiving the inevitable bounce-back game for Jokic, it wasn’t enough for them to take control of the series. Denver will need everything it can get from Jokic in Thursday’s Game 6 if it wants to extend the season.
Luguentz Dort came up big for the Thunder in their win over the Nuggets on Tuesday, finishing with 12 points (4-of-8 FGs), three rebounds, one assist and four three-pointers.
Well-known for his prowess on the defensive end, Dort’s offensive eruption in the fourth quarter helped the Thunder climb from out of a big hole to secure a come-from-behind win and move Oklahoma City one win closer to a trip to the conference finals. His three triples in the final frame were huge, but a late assist on a Jalen Williams three might have been the play that delivered the Thunder the victory. Dort’s double-digit outing marked his third of the series, and Oklahoma City would welcome another as it tries to close out the series on Thursday in Game 6.
Jalen Williams was impressive for the Thunder on Tuesday, posting 18 points (5-of-14 FGs, 6-8 FTs), nine rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers in the win over the Nuggets.
Williams landed in double figures in scoring for the fifth time in as many games this series. And while he continued to struggle with shooting efficiency, he remained impactful as a facilitator. The fourth-year wing also delivered one of the biggest shots of Game 5 as he sank a corner three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to give Oklahoma City a lead it wouldn’t surrender the rest of the way. Williams will continue to be relied upon when the Thunder head to Denver for a chance to close out the Nuggets in Game 6 on Thursday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 31 points (12-of-23 FGs, 6-of-6 FTs), six rebounds, seven assists, two steals, two blocks and one three-pointer in the Thunder’s win over the Nuggets on Tuesday.
Gilgeous-Alexander did it all for the Thunder on Tuesday, taking on the roles of scorer and facilitator while remaining active on the defensive end along the way. Most importantly, he was key in the final handful of blows that Oklahoma City dealt Denver down the stretch in what ended up being a dominant 34-19 fourth quarter for the Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP finalist, delivered his third 30-point game of the series and will have a chance on Thursday to produce his fourth as the Thunder try to eliminate the Nuggets.