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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NBA Injury Updates
Luka Doncic
Ailment: Moderate right ankle sprain
Diagnosed: January 30
Expected return: February 10 at the earliest
Fantasy benefactors: Jalen Brunson, Delon Wright, Seth Curry
Luka Doncic is one of the league’s hottest stars and he took his game to another level in 2019-2020. However, his troublesome right ankle is giving him fits this season. He was battling some minor soreness before he turned it on January 30 while practicing. When he first sprained his ankle earlier in the year, he ended up missing four games but this time, according to coach Rick Carlisle, he will be out for a minimum of six contests with the injury. The Mavericks will shut him down until at least February 10 and he could possibly miss a couple more games, effectively giving him the All-Star break to rest. The Slovenian phenom is averaging 28.8 PPG, 2.9 3PM, 9.5 RPG, 8.7 APG, and 1.0 SPG. Jalen Brunson has been hot in the last few games and his role will increase in Doncic’s absence.
Kawhi Leonard
Ailment: Lowe back tightness
Diagnosed: January 30
Expected return: Day to day
Fantasy benefactors: Landry Shamet, Moe Harkless
Leonard was ready to play on Thursday, but he was a late scratch because of lower back tightness. The star wing pulled his back on a shot while warming up that day. He is officially questionable for Saturday’s contest, but since it is a day game and there won’t be a shootaround, the Los Angeles Clippers could look to avoid any risks and let him rest for another day. If he rests, look for Landry Shamet to benefit the most. The Claw is averaging 27.4 PPG, 2.0 3PM, 7.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 0.6 BPG.
Clint Capela
Ailment: bruised right heel
Diagnosed: December 22
Expected return: Day to day
Fantasy benefactors: Isaiah Hartenstein, PJ Tucker.
Clint Capela has been held back by his bruised right heel since December 22. Here we are, more than five weeks later, and the injury is still causing him trouble. He played through the ailment but had to stop on January 31. The Houston Rockets’ coach Mike D’Antoni recently said he refuses to play his athletic big man until he shows that he is 100 percent recovered from the injury. He is averaging 13.9 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, and 1.8 BPG. Isaiah Hartenstein will benefit the most in his absence.
Enes Kanter
Ailment: right hip contusion
Diagnosed: January 23
Expected return: Day to day
Fantasy benefactors: Daniel Theis
The Turkish big man has missed the last four contests of the Boston Celtics. He is in danger of being held out of another one today, as he will be questionable to face the Philadelphia 76ers. He failed to demonstrate that he is over the injury on Thursday’s shootaround. Kanter’s absence has allowed Daniel Theis to thrive, and he will continue to do so while the 6’10” pivot is on the shelf. Kanter was averaging 9.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.1 APG, and 0.9 BPG in the 2019-2020 season.
Luke Kennard
Ailment: bilateral knee, patellar tendinitis
Diagnosed: December 22
Expected return: After the All-Star break
Fantasy benefactors: Svi Mykhailiuk
The Pistons’ shooting guard, who is now available via trade by the way, hasn’t played since December 21 because of patellar tendinitis. He is making progress but Detroit already said they will have him sidelined until after the All-Star break due to the injury. Kennard is having a breakout season, with averages of 15.8 PPG, 2.6 3PM, 3.5 RPG and 4.1 APG. While he has been out, Svi Mykhailiuk has been on the rise and that figures to be the case going forward as long as Kennard isn’t on the court.
Got more questions about recent NBA injuries? Leave a question for Andres in the comments below.
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