Welcome to our weekly NBA fantasy basketball injury round-up, where we provide updates on the status of key players around the league. Injuries can greatly impact a team’s performance and can make or break a fantasy season. It’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest injury news to make informed decisions on who to start and sit in your lineup. This week, we’ll be covering the latest updates on some of the top players dealing with injuries and their potential return to action. So, stay tuned and stay ahead of the game with our injury round-up.
Fantasy Basketball Injury Round-Up
Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets
Injury: Right MCL strain
Projected Return Date: Mid-February
Probably the best player in basketball fantasy this season will need to skip at least a month’s worth of games with a knee injury. Replacing Durant’s production for the Nets will take a lot from the rest of the team and the first Durantless game against the Celtics gave us an idea of who will look to fill in. Joe Harris started in Durant’s place and scored 18 points with 4 threes and 2 steals. TJ Warren scored 20 points off the bench. Royce O’Neale had a solid all-around game. Essentially every player on the Nets roster should be expected to have at least a small boost to their stats.
Recommendation: In general, I’d go in the following order of preference: O’Neale, Warren, Harris, Curry, Watanabe.
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Injury: Sprained left elbow and left knee bone contusion
Projected Return Date: Late January
Haliburton will be re-evaluated in two weeks for his two injuries. For the season he ranks as a top-10 fantasy player mainly due to the accumulation of 10.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game. The next man off the bench is going to be fantasy legend T.J. McConnell, who will be playing next to the other beneficiary of the Haliburton injury – Andrew Nembhard. Both players should be rostered for the duration of Haliburton’s injury.
Recommendation: Get McConnell for steals and assists; Nembhard for points and threes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Injury: Left knee soreness
Projected Return Date: Day-to-day
Giannis has been listed in injury reports with a sore left knee since the start of the season and had to miss single games a couple of times and hopefully this is another one of those cases. In this single came against the Heat without Antetokounmpo, Jevon Carter filled in the stat line the best in an extended role – 18 points, 6 threes, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 4 rebounds in 31 minutes. If Giannis will have to skip more games, Carter is worthy of a pick-up.
Recommendation: Don’t worry.
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Injury: Left adductor tightness
Projected Return Date: In a week or two
With Boston without their 27-points-per-game scorer for a bit, the rest of the roster will have to make up the difference. This is good news for the Derrick Whites and Malcolm Brogdons of the roster who both should up their scoring for the duration of Brown’s injury. Another player to take a look at is Grant Williams who replaced Brown in the starting five and, in 43 minutes, delivered a pretty mediocre stat line with the exception of three blocks. Al Horford, who missed the game with an injury himself, could also see a more prominent role in the offense.
Recommendation: Brogdon, then White, then Horford, then Williams.
Kevin Porter Jr., Houston Rockets
Injury: Left foot contusion
Projected Return Date: Day-to-day
Porter Jr. left Wednesday’s game after 10 minutes with a foot contusion and will miss Friday’s game against the Kings. Contusion is a fancy word for a bruise so the injury shouldn’t take more than a couple of days. For the next game, Kenyon Martin Jr. could be filling in in the starting line-up with Jalen Green up for a bigger role in the offense.
Recommendation: Give Kenyon Martin Jr. a go for a game.