NBA News
Donte DiVincenzo Available Thursday
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Donte DiVincenzo (back) will be in action on Thursday against Toronto. He was initially listed as questionable for the game. Coming off the bench, DiVincenzo has been hit-and-miss in fantasy basketball this season, averaging 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. He had 15 points with five triples last time out against Phoenix but faces a tough task in keeping the threes coming, as the Raptors have limited opponents to 33.9 percent shooting from behind the arc this season.
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Mike Conley Will Not Play Thursday
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley (toe) will miss Thursday's game against Toronto. The veteran was already regarded as questionable for the contest and has now been ruled out with a toe sprain. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will slot into the starting unit as Conley's replacement. The 26-year-old had a decent performance in his only previous start this season when he also filled in for Conley, recording 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block in a 106-98 loss to Portland on Nov. 13.
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Jordan Clarkson Sits Out Thursday's Game
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (foot) will not play against San Antonio on Thursday. He's battling a foot problem and will miss his third game of the season. Clarkson is a high-volume shooter, meaning there will be a lot of shots available for the rest of the team in Thursday's game, while his absence gives Isaiah Collier a chance to log extended minutes. Collier hasn't been very productive in his first seven career games and isn't a recommended fantasy option.
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Ausar Thompson Won't Play On Thursday
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (conditioning) remains out for Thursday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. As expected, Thompson will take a seat after being listed as doubtful on the injury report. Thompson has yet to make his season debut but appears to be headed in the right direction. The 21-year-old still needs to get up his conditioning, but there's a chance he does suit up against the Orlando Magic on Saturday. The expectation is that Thompson would be limited right away and eased back into the rotation. His return will cut into the playing time of Tim Hardaway Jr. who has been playing nearly 30 minutes per game this season.
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Zach Collins Cleared To Play Thursday
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Zach Collins (knee) has been upgraded from questionable to available for Thursday's matchup against Utah. Collins should continue to fill in as the starting center for Victor Wembanyama (knee). He's averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in the first unit lately. The Jazz allow the most fantasy points in the league to opposing centers, making this a dream matchup for Collins. Charles Bassey might get some joy behind him as well.
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Domantas Sabonis Gets Through Full Practice
Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (back) is expected to suit up for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Sabonis was able to get through a full practice session on Thursday for the second day in a row. He has missed each of the last two games due to lower back tightness, but he's trending in the right direction now. The Kings are likely going to wait until closer to tip-off before making a final decision on Sabonis. If active, Trey Lyles should see a reduced role in the rotation after playing over 30 minutes in each of the last three games.
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Chris Paul Good To Go Thursday
San Antonio Spurs point guard Chris Paul (thumb) will suit up against Utah on Thursday. He's dealing with a left thumb injury but will be ready to play through it, with the team upgrading him from probable to available. After initially struggling in his new surroundings, Paul has performed well lately and is nicely set up for success on Thursday. San Antonio remains without Victor Wembanyama (knee) and Devin Vassell (knee), giving Paul more offensive responsibilities, while the Jazz tend to have a tough time against opposing point guards.
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Malik Monk Making Progress
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (ankle) was able to get through the non-contact portions of practice on Thursday. Head coach Mike Brown expects Monk to sit out during Friday's game, but it looks like Monk is making progress. The 26-year-old has missed each of the last five games due to a right ankle sprain. Keon Ellis played 33 minutes on Monday and scored 33 points with six rebounds. He figures to continue seeing increased playing time until Monk returns. However, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Ellis to continue producing like that as his 33-point performance was more of a fluke than anything else.
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Tre Mann Good To Go On Thursday
Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) is available ahead of Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons. Mann is dealing with lower back soreness, but it doesn't appear to be severe enough to hold him out of the lineup. He finished with 19 points and six assists through 25 minutes on Tuesday. He'll continue to be the primary backup point guard which limits his ceiling in fantasy leagues.
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Miles Bridges Won't Play On Thursday
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons. Bridges has been dealing with a nagging right knee issue and he appears to be in too much to pain to play on Thursday. His absence should result in more playing time for Tidjane Salaun and Cody Martin in the rotation. Between the two, Martin is the better streaming option for Thursday's slate. Martin has recorded four steals and four blocks over the last two games, so his defensive ability makes him a more appealing option for this contest.
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Vince Williams Jr. Out At Least A Month
Memphis Grizzlies forward Vince Williams Jr. (ankle) has only managed to play in three games this season as the injuries continue to pile up on him. Williams suffered a Grade 3 right ankle sprain during Tuesday's game against the Denver Nuggets. As a result, Williams will be shut down for four weeks and will be re-evaluated after that. The Grizzlies are likely going to use a committee approach to fill the void left by Williams. Jake LaRavia, John Konchar, and Luke Kennard should all see increased roles going forward. Out of the trio, LaRavia is the best fantasy option out of the bunch. He's worth a look as a streaming option with the Grizzlies shorthanded right now.
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Scottie Barnes Returning On Thursday
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (eye) will make his return to the court for Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Barnes is back after missing 11 games due to a right orbital fracture. The expectation is that Barnes is going to be under a minutes limit during his first game back. Ochai Agbaji has been playing heavy minutes lately, but will probably take a backseat with Barnes back in the mix. RJ Barrett might see his usage take a hit, but he should still be able to offer strong fantasy value. Fantasy managers in season-long formats can get Barnes back in their lineups on Thursday.
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Paul George Out At Least Two Games
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (knee) will miss at least the next two games. The veteran suffered a bone bruise in Wednesday's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, ending his night after only 17 minutes of work. He will be re-evaluated on Monday. Luckily, an MRI on Thursday revealed no structural damage. With that in mind, fantasy managers could see him out longer than two games, considering he injured the same knee during the preseason. But as long as George is on the shelf, Kelly Oubre Jr., averaging 14.6 points and 4.7 boards in 11 starts this season, should continue to benefit from a fantasy standpoint.
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Aaron Gordon's Availability In Question For Friday
According to Kathy Winge of AltitudeTV, Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon's (calf) status for Friday's game with the Dallas Mavericks is still to be determined. Gordon hopes to return after suffering a right-calf strain after missing multiple weeks of action. The 29-year-old's potential return could be a big boost for fantasy managers, as he averaged 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 0.7 steals in 30.3 minutes per game over his first seven outings.
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Dorian Finney-Smith Uncertain To Face The Sixers
Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) is questionable for Friday's matchup with the 76ers. The 31-year-old had a solid showing in Tuesday's win over the Charlotte Hornets, amassing 15 points and shooting 80% from behind the arc. But if the ankle sprain keeps him off the court on Friday night, Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson could see more work. However, neither player has been a consistent fantasy producer this season.
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Nicolas Claxton Questionable Versus Philly
Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (back) is questionable heading into Friday's game against the 76ers. Claxton has been banged up all year, entering the season working his way back from a hamstring injury. However, a back ailment has kept him off the floor for the Nets' previous three contests. If the 25-year-old is back on the floor versus Philadelphia, he could see limited action. Yet, Claxton's presence should be enough to negatively impact Ben Simmons, who has been filling in at the five.
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Nikola Jokic Absent From Practice On Thursday
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (personal) was absent from practice on Thursday, as reported by Katy Winge of AltitudeTV. This leaves his availability for Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks uncertain. The 29-year-old has been sidelined for three straight games due to personal matters. In his absence, veteran center Dario Saric is expected to keep getting additional playing time, as he's averaged 28.0 minutes over the last three outings.
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Cam Thomas Probable On Friday Night
Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (back) is probable for Friday's matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 2021 No. 27 overall pick is having the best year of his career, averaging 24.6 points and 39.2% shooting from deep. Unfortunately, he experienced back tightness before Tuesday's NBA Cup win over the Charlotte Hornets. With Thomas sidelined for that one, Cameron Johnson had a fantastic showing, finishing with 34 points, two blocks, and one steal while going 6-for-12 from behind the arc. Fantasy managers should expect to have Thomas back in the lineup against the struggling 76ers, although his presence will have a negative impact on Jalen Wilson's potential.
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Out On Thursday Night
Orlando Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (personal) is out for Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 31-year-old has struggled in his first 16 games with the Magic, averaging only 6.9 points and shooting 22.9% from deep. Still, he should break out of his funk at some point. With that in mind, KCP's next chance to play will be on Saturday versus the visiting Pistons. In the meantime, Gary Harris or Anthony Black may slide into the starting lineup. However, Black is a safer fantasy option on Thursday night, regardless of his role.
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DeMar DeRozan Intends To Make His Return Friday Versus Clippers
According to NBA Insider Chris Haynes, Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (back) intends to make his return on Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The 35-year-old is dealing with a back injury and has missed three consecutive contests. If DeRozan is sidelined again on Friday, Trey Lyles, Keegan Murray, and Kevin Huerter will likely see more minutes on the floor than usual.
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Donte DiVincenzo
• SG
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Timberwolves
