We’ve got a busy 12 game slate set for Wednesday, April 14th, and there are plenty of big names on the injury report. Here we’ll be monitoring all the latest injury news with some analysis and how to approach the injury for DFS and fantasy basketball.
NBA Injury Report: Wednesday, April 14th
Darius Garland, PG/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
Half of Cleveland’s starting backcourt will be active for Wednesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. Garland (ankle) is available to play and starting, while Collin Sexton (groin) is out again after missing the Cavs’ last matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. Cleveland is thin on guards, so expect Matthew Dellavedova ($4,000) to play significant minutes.
Luguentz Dort, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
Dort will be rested for shoulder soreness just one day after dropping a career-high 42 points against the Utah Jazz. The defensive stopper is actually one of the Thunder’s more solid offensive talents when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t playing, and Aleksej Pokusevski (arm) will join him on the sidelines for Wednesday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors.
Dort and Pokusevski primarily play on the wings, so Svi Mykhailiuk ($5,300) and Kenrich Williams ($5,900) could experience a boost in fantasy value. OKC is extremely short on wings with length, and Ty Jerome ($4,200) can only do so much against Andrew Wiggins and Kent Bazemore.
Jimmy Butler, SF, Miami Heat
Butler ($9,400) tweaked his ankle during Tuesday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns and is questionable to play against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. Goran Dragic ($4,700) has also been ruled out for rest, so the Heat reserve guards could be in for a major fantasy boost. Butler is Miami’s top playmaker and perimeter defender. While his peskiness on defense can’t be replaced, a couple of players could help fill in for him as a collective on offese.
It’s unclear whether Miami will insert Kendrick Nunn ($4,400) or Tyler Herro ($5,500) in the starting lineup, but both scoring guards are capable of being quality fantasy options when given enough playing time to make a big-time impact. Andre Iguodala ($3,300) should see a bump in production on the wing.
Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, Minnesota Timberwolves
Towns will be out for the second straight game due to personal reasons as Minnesota gets prepared to play the Milwaukee Bucks at 4:30 p.m. ET. Before Tuesday’s game against the Nets, head coach Chris Finch told reporters that Towns is with his family in observance of his mom passing away a year ago. With Towns still out, both Naz Reid ($4,200) and Jaden McDaniels ($4,700) should receive a ton of playing time. In their last five games, Reid is averaging 10.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while McDaniels is recording 6.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Kyle Lowry, PG, Toronto Raptors
The Raptors injury report vs. the San Antonio Spurs is lengthy. Lowry is sidelined again to get some rest. Gary Trent Jr. is a new addition to the report with an ankle injury and he’s out. DeAndre’ Bembry has a hamstring issue and is out. Fred VanVleet will serve his one-game suspension. So that’s the entire back court. Malachi Flynn ($5,500) is chalk again and may have to play north of 35 minutes, closer to 40 if we know Nick Nurse. Rodney Hood ($3,100) should be an excellent value play given he could start for Trent and play upwards of 30 minutes. Pascal Siakam ($8,500), OG Anunoby ($7,300) and Chris Boucher ($7,100) are all good tournament plays. You’d think that rotation and Flynn would end up playing a ton of minutes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks
Update: Giannis has been ruled out again and Tucker is available to play vs. the T-Wolves this afternoon. Tucker will be on a minutes limit.
The Bucks have held Giannis out since April 2 due to a knee injury. The big man is listed as questionable for today’s game vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves, which was moved to the afternoon. PJ Tucker (calf) is also listed as questionable to play. This game is off the main 11-game slate on DraftKings. So if you’re playing Showdown, if Giannis is sidelined, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Bobby Portis are decent Captain options on Milwaukee.
Kyrie Irving, PG, Brooklyn Nets
Update: Irving is available to play vs. the Sixers.
Update: Irving is not on the injury report and should be back in the lineup vs. Philly. Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin will all get the night off to rest.
This is a pretty big game for the standings with the Nets and Sixers tied at 37-17 at the top of the East. Irving ($9,800) will be a popular play on DraftKings once the team confirms he’s back in the lineup. Joe Harris ($5,600) is also a strong mid-range option given the Nets should ride the two shooters if the game is close. Jeff Green ($4,600) and DeAndre Jordan ($4,000) should make up the bulk of the front court minutes with LMA and Griffin sidelined.
Irving isn’t dealing with an injury, rather he is away from the team due to personal reasons. Kyrie did not play Tuesday afternoon vs. the T-Wolves and is his status is up in the air. Kevin Durant could also rest on the second of a back-to-back, so the Nets could be without their Big 3 in a big matchup vs. the Philadelphia 76ers. Chris Chiozza injured his hand on Tuesday and will undergo surgery for a fracture.
Kawhi Leonard, SF, Los Angeles Clippers
Update: Leonard and Paul George (rest) have been ruled out vs. the Pistons. So the Clippers will be without both stars against Detroit. Reggie Jackson ($5,600) and Marcus Morris ($5,500) will be popular plays on the loaded Wednesday slate on DraftKings. Ivica Zubac ($5,400) and Terance Mann ($4,900) round out the plethora of solid plays around $5K from the Clips.
The Clippers held Kawhi out of Tuesday’s win over the Indiana Pacers due to a foot injury. Leonard could return to the lineup for tonight’s game vs. the Detroit Pistons. This would send Luke Kennard back to the bench and leech some value away from Marcus Morris. Patrick Beverley (hand) and Serge Ibaka (back) remain out.