The Doctor’s Room will examine between four and six NBA injuries to prominent players on a weekly basis, detailing their specific ailments, prognosis, and expected return dates. Here’s last week’s edition.
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Update on Latest NBA Injuries
Lauri Markkanen
Ailment: stress reaction on his right pelvis
Diagnosed: January 24
Expected return: Late February – early March
Fantasy benefactors: Thaddeus Young, Luke Kornet and Cristiano Felicio
It is no secret that Lauri Markkanen and the Chicago Bulls aren’t having a good season. The forward has produced a down season in scoring (15.0 PPG, from 18.7 last year) and rebounding (6.5 RPG, compared to 9.0 in 2018-2019) and now, he suffered an injury and will be on the shelf for the next 4-6 weeks. He is nursing a stress reaction on his right pelvis. Markkanen also dealt with an ankle issue in January, as the guy seems unable to catch a break. During his absence, the Bulls will give plenty of minutes to Thaddeus Young and he will be a hot add over the weekend. Luke Kornet and Cristiano Felicio will also see a boost in playing time but not necessarily production.
Malcolm Brogdon
Ailment: concussion
Diagnosed: January 24
Expected return: day-to-day
Fantasy benefactors: TJ McConnell, Aaron Holiday
After getting stitches above his eye on the Pacers’ last game on Wednesday, Brogdon was taken out because the team feared a concussion. As it turns out, they were right. He missed last night’s contest and figures to be out for a couple more as he needs to pass the protocol. TJ McConnell started on Friday and Aaron Holiday’s value will go up for as long Brogdon remains on the sidelines. The 27-year old point guard is one of the primary reasons behind the Indiana Pacers’ successful season so far. He is having a career-year, averaging 17.1 PPG, 1.4 3PM, 4.3 RPG, 7.3 APG, and 0.7 SPG. Here’s hoping that the injury goes away in just a couple of days.
Steven Adams
Ailment: left ankle sprain
Diagnosed: January 21
Expected return: day-to-day
Fantasy benefactors: Nerlens Noel, Mike Muscala
Adams’ ankle prevented him from playing on Wednesday and forced him to miss Friday’s game, as well. He is shaping up to be a game-time decision for Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the Thunder may elect to give him another game of rest and have him ready for Monday’s contest versus Dallas. If he doesn’t play tonight, Nerlens Noel gets a boost, with Mike Muscala also earning extra minutes. The big man from New Zealand is averaging 11.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 1.1 BPG.
Kendrick Nunn
Ailment: sore left Achilles
Diagnosed: January 23
Expected return: day-to-day
Fantasy benefactors: Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, James Johnson, Derrick Jones Jr.
The sharp-shooting point guard missed his first contest of the season last night. He has a sore left Achilles and the Miami Heat elected the cautious route of giving him four straight days without games. An Achilles injury can be tricky, so in the event that Nunn’s absence extends, get Tyler Herro in your lineup and consider other guys that will earn minutes bumps, such as Duncan Robinson and James Johnson. Nunn is currently averaging 16.2 PPG, 2.0 3PM, 2.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 0.9 SPG.
Joel Embiid
Ailment: torn radial collateral ligament in his left hand
Diagnosed: January 9
Expected return: Next week
Fantasy benefactors: Matisse Thybulle
Embiid, diagnosed back on January 9th with a torn radial collateral ligament in his left hand, practiced fully on Friday. That includes contact work, which is awfully encouraging news for the Sixers and, of course, fantasy owners. He has been ruled out for tonight’s clash versus the Lakers, but should return next week to a 23.4 PPG, 1.2 3 PM, 12.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, and 1.4 BPG line. He is slated to be re-evaluated on Monday. Matisse Thybulle has enjoyed the center’s absence.
Got more questions about recent NBA injuries? Leave a question for Andres in the comments below.
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