Daily Fantasy Basketball Injury Report: Friday 12/9/16
An unusually light night of injuries is upon us for Friday, but there are some big question marks heading into roster lock.
Knowing and planning for them in advance can be the difference between winning and losing tonight.
Notable Injuries
Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
We'll start with what we know, and that is Isaiah Thomas will miss another game on Friday. The former 60th overall pick is dealing with a groin strain, so expect Al Horford and Jae Crowder to take on the heavy lifting on offense, while Marcus Smart should see another start at point guard.
Derrick Rose, New York Knicks
Also out tonight is Derrick Rose, who is dealing with some back soreness. The injury doesn't appear to be serious, but it will be another Brandon Jennings night for the New York Knicks, while Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony might deserve a slight bump too.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat's injury report looked like it was going to grow as Rodney McGruder sprained his ankle Wednesday. However, he looks good to go, meaning he, Wayne Ellington, and Tyler Johnson will continue playing big minutes as three of the only healthy wing players Miami has on this road trip.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the biggest question marks when it comes to injury tonight, as Kevin Love is dealing with back spasms. He and J.R. Smith are both listed as questionable for Friday. Another big problem is that Channing Frye is also out tonight for personal reasons. If Love is out too, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Tristan Thompson all deserve a big bump.
Dallas Mavericks
There are also no changes to the Dallas Mavericks' injury report, as Seth Curry was ruled out earlier in the afternoon. Expect more Harrison Barnes, Wesley Matthews, and Deron Williams leading the offense.
Los Angeles Lakers
Finally, the Los Angeles Lakers got some good news that D'Angelo Russell and Nick Young returned to practice yesterday. However, both of them, plus Tarik Black, and of course Jose Calderon will be out tonight. It's hard to tell who will have value, but Louis Williams seems to be the safest Laker, with the others as tournament options only.
