NBA News
RJ Barrett Returns To Action Monday
Toronto Raptors guard/forward RJ Barrett (illness) will rejoin the action on Monday against the Knicks. He's missed two games because of an illness and was initially considered questionable for Monday's contest. However, Barrett has been upgraded to available and will start against his former team. Barrett only recently cooked up a 30-point game against the Knicks and should be eager to repeat the performance on Monday night. Ja'Kobe Walter, Jamison Battle, and Jamal Shead will likely lose minutes with Barrett's return.
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Alexandre Sarr Ruled Out On Monday
Washington Wizards forward/center Alexandre Sarr (back) has been ruled out ahead of Monday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The rookie big man was listed as questionable coming into this contest, but will ultimately sit out due to a back issue. It's worth noting that Sarr missed time earlier in the month due to the same issue. His absence should mean increased playing time for Jonas Valanciunas on Monday. The veteran big man has been quiet lately, but is worth a look as a streaming choice with additional playing time. Last time he played over 20 minutes, Valanciunas finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
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Bilal Coulibaly Won't Play Monday
Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (groin) has been ruled out ahead of Monday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. His absence shouldn't come as a huge surprise considering Coulibaly was listed as doubtful heading into this game. The absence of Coulibaly will open up significant playing time considering he's averaging 34 minutes per game this season. Justin Champagnie, Corey Kispert, and Johnny Davis should all see bigger roles on Monday. Champagnie posted a dud his last time out, but remains the best streaming option between the three ahead of Monday's game.
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Terry Rozier Ruled Out For Monday
Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier (knee) will not play against Brooklyn on Monday. He was initially expected to feature in the contest, as the team gave Rozier a probable designation on the injury report, but knee inflammation will keep Rozier sidelined. Miami also won't have Jimmy Butler (illness), so Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo will be expected to carry the offense, with Duncan Robinson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. also chipping in. Additionally, Dru Smith also becomes an interesting fantasy target with Rozier out. He's already had a handful of strong performances lately, going for 10-plus points in four of the last five games.
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Luka Doncic Returning On Monday
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (heel) is available ahead of Monday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Doncic will make his return to the court after missing each of the last two games due to a left heel contusion. There is no word on Doncic being limited, so fantasy managers should expect him to have a full workload on Monday. The return of Doncic should shift Spencer Dinwiddie back to the bench. The move back to the bench will probably mean the end to most of Dinwiddie's streaming appeal.
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Bogdan Bogdanovic Will Not Play On Monday
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovic (lower leg) will not suit up for Monday's matchup against Minnesota. Entering Monday, he was already listed as questionable for the contest, so it's not unexpected that Bogdanovic exits the lineup once again. The Serbian veteran has been limited to only 14 appearances this season, averaging 11.3 points in 25.4 minutes. De'Andre Hunter should get extra scoring opportunities off the bench on Monday, with Vit Krejci and Garrison Mathews potentially soaking in some of Bogdanovic's minutes.
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Dillon Brooks Late Scratch On Monday Versus Hornets
According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (ankle) won't play against the Hornets due to right ankle soreness. Brooks is a late scratch, as he wasn't listed on Monday's team injury report earlier. Amen Thompson could be a serviceable fantasy option with Brooks sidelined, as he will likely see more opportunities. The 21-year-old is averaging 11.8 points and 6.8 rebounds across 28 outings this season.
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Trae Young Cleared For Action
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (heel) will be active against Minnesota on Monday. He returns from a one-game absence after missing Saturday's matchup against Memphis with a heel problem. The Hawks star has been a double-double machine throughout the season, averaging 21.6 points and a league-high 12.2 assists. However, Monday's game could be one of the most challenging matchups of the season for Young, as the Timberwolves give up the third-fewest fantasy points in the league to point guards.
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Torrey Craig Available On Monday
Chicago Bulls forward Torrey Craig (Achilles) is available ahead of Monday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Craig will make his way back to the court after missing each of the last eight games. His return is good timing with the Bulls being shorthanded for Monday's game. Both Josh Giddey (ankle) and Lonzo Ball (illness) are out, so Craig might see additional run. The veteran forward is only averaging 11 minutes per game this season. He might see a few more minutes on Monday, but he's not a recommended streaming option on Monday's busy slate.
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Josh Giddey Remains Out On Monday
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Monday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. This marks the third game in a row that Giddey has been forced to miss due to a right ankle sprain. Fellow guard Lonzo Ball (illness) is also sidelined which means the Bulls are going to be shorthanded at the guard spot. Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, and Talen Horton-Tucker should all see increased run with Giddey on the sideline. Both Dosunmu and White should be solid fantasy options for Monday's slate.
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Tari Eason Remains On The Shelf Monday
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (leg) will not be available for a third straight contest on Monday against Charlotte. He's out for lower leg injury management purposes. Eason has offered valuable bench production for the Rockets throughout the season, averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals in 22.8 minutes. Jae'Sean Tate and Cam Whitmore have entered the rotation during Eason's absence, though they provide very little from a fantasy perspective.
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Dean Wade Out On Monday
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (knee) will not be available for Monday's contest against Utah. He's troubled by a sore right knee and has been downgraded from questionable to out. Wade's absence will open a spot in the starting unit for Sam Merrill (quadriceps), who has been upgraded from questionable to available. However, Merrill has posted unspectacular numbers throughout the campaign, even during his previous lone start, so he's not somebody fantasy managers should rush to grab.
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Lonzo Ball Won't Play On Monday
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (illness) has been ruled out ahead of Monday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Ball is feeling under the weather so he'll sit this one out, but hopefully this will only be a one-game absence. The Bulls are going to be shorthanded at the guard spot with Josh Giddey (ankle) also sidelined for this game. That means, Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, and Talen Horton-Tucker will all see additional run on Monday. The next chance for Ball to play will be Thursday versus the Atlanta Hawks. Fantasy managers should consider Dosunmu and White as strong fantasy options for Monday's slate.
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Max Strus Available Monday
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus (ankle) will play against Utah on Monday. He's off the injury report after sitting out Saturday's meeting with Philadelphia. Following an ankle injury, Strus made his season debut Friday night, so seeing him sit out Saturday's contest wasn't surprising. Strus posted nine points with two assists in 19 minutes against Milwaukee in Friday's matchup. His production will likely stay limited for a while, and Strus will continue to come off the bench on Monday.
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Jamal Murray Questionable For Monday Night Against Phoenix
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (ankle) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against the Phoenix Suns. Murray is dealing with a right ankle sprain but hasn't missed a game in two weeks. Given the Nuggets are on the second leg of a back-to-back tonight, with a Christmas Day rematch against these same Suns on deck, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Nuggets rest their start point guard. Murray has been turning it up his last four games, averaging 24.8 PPG while shooting 39.3% from three. If he's unable to go tonight, expect Russell Westbrook to slide into the starting lineup. Westbrook has been volatile as a starter, putting up 18 more points in three starts while failing to score 10 or more points in the other three. The veteran has put up 10 assists in three of those starts, though, and will be a viable fantasy options because of that if Murray is unable to go.
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Jalen Suggs Playing Monday
According to Celtics, Philip Rossman-Reich of OrlandoMagicDaily.com, Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (ankle) is available to suit up against the Celtics. Suggs is having a solid season, averaging career-high averages in points (16.0), rebounds (4.2), assists (3.9), and steals (1.5). The 23-year-old suffered an ankle injury in Thursday's loss to the Thunder and didn't play on Saturday against the Heat. With Franz Wagner (oblique), Paolo Banchero (oblique), and Moritz Wagner (knee) sidelined, the Magic are desperate to get Suggs back in the lineup. He will have plenty of scoring opportunities against the Celtics with so many of his teammates out of action.
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Sam Merrill Active Versus Jazz
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Sam Merrill (quadriceps) will play on Monday against Utah. A quadriceps injury limited Merrill to only eight minutes of action last time out against Philadelphia, but he's been cleared for action after carrying a questionable tag entering Monday. Merrill will make his second start of the campaign, filling in for Dean Wade (knee). He's been logging 20 minutes regularly thus far but might have to settle for a lesser role once Max Strus finds his feet.
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Tyrese Maxey Officially Available For Monday Night Against Spurs
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (illness) is officially active for Monday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs. Maxey is dealing with an illness but will be able to fight through it. The 24-year-old has been fantastic for the Sixers this season, averaging 25.1 PPG and 5.0 APG while helping to keep Philadelphia somewhat afloat during Joel Embiid's absences with his knee issues. He should have a decent matchup against San Antonio, who's averaging the third most three-pointers to point guards this season. Maxey has made at least four three pointers in each of his last three games with at least 10 attempts per game. Maxey is a must start in all fantasy formats.
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Jimmy Butler Unavailable Against Nets
According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (illness) will miss Monday's game against the Brooklyn Nets due to a stomach illness. This illness also took him out of the Heat's last game on Saturday. With the 35-year-old sidelined, the starting five should stay the same as Saturday. Dru Smith and Duncan Robinson could be decent options in deeper fantasy leagues. Smith scored 14 points and four rebounds, while Robinson added 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists against the Magic.
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Luka Doncic Questionable On Monday, In Danger Of Missing Third Straight Game
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (heel) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Doncic is dealing with a left-heel contusion that's caused him to miss each of Dallas' last two games. The 25-year-old has played at an MVP level when healthy this season, but multiple health issues have caused him to miss eight games. The Mavericks have still performed valiantly without him, going 6-2. With Portland in town on Monday and with a Christmas Day matchup against Minnesota on deck, it wouldn't be surprising to see Dallas rest Doncic one more time. If he's out, expect Spencer Dinwiddie to get another start. Dinwiddie has averaged 17.0 points and 6.5 assists in each of the last two games. He'd make a viable fantasy option against the Blazers.
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RJ Barrett
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Raptors
