In daily fantasy basketball, every edge matters.
One of the easiest ways to find an edge is to understand what happens to a team when injuries occur. Who stands to benefit? Who might struggle as a result? That's all vital information during the lineup-building process.
What should you know about tonight's slate of games? Let's break it down.
As always, you should make sure to double-check our NBA Player News page before finalizing your lineup.
The Definites
Brandon Knight has been shut down for the rest of the season. With the Suns well out of the playoff race, it makes sense to be cautious with Knight. Plus, the Suns are in a tight battle with the Nets to see who gets the third pick in the NBA Draft.
Knight has missed the last two games, and his absence will continue to add minutes for Ronnie Price. Price is an interesting option tonight because he has played 33 minutes in each of the last two games. However, the games couldn't be more different as Price scored 22 fantasy points and then 6 fantasy points. He isn't the safest option tonight but he is the cheapest -- at just $3,500.
The To-Be-Determined List
Kyrie Irving sat out last contest and is questionable again for tonight's game. The Cavaliers have the 1 seed almost locked up, and we shouldn't be surprised if Irving and his teammates get some rest this week.
If Irving does in fact sit out, LeBron James becomes even more valuable than he already is. Another Cavalier to benefit from Irving's absence is Matthew Dellavedova, who will see a lot of minutes again.
Dwyane Wade will be a game-time decision tonight for the Heat. He has missed the last two games and could sit again to make sure he's healthy for the playoffs. Wade's missing time tonight will impact Gerald Green the most. In seven games without Wade this season, Green has seen 28 minutes a game. At just $3,800, Green is a sheer volume play.
Nicolas Batum has been given a questionable tag after exiting the last game early. The Hornets can finish anywhere from a 3 to an 8 seed, so we can expect Batum to try and give it a go tonight. Either way, it is a situation worth monitoring. If he is in street clothes tonight, Jeremy Lamb and Jeremy Lin will play more than usual tonight.
Taj Gibson is questionable for the Bulls, but he has basically been questionable for the last 15 games. Nikola Mirotic will benefit the most from his absence if he can't suit up. Mirotic has been very productive lately and will have a great opportunity to score more than five times his cost (points per $1,000).
Khris Middleton missed the Bucks' last game and remains questionable. Without much to play for, there's a good chance they play it safe and rest Middleton tonight. Last game, Tyler Ennis and Rashad Vaughn played 31 and 29 minutes, respectively, and we can probably expect that again tonight. Ennis is a little more proven than Vaughn, so if I have to choose between the two, that is where I am going. However, either option would be viable with their extremely inexpensive price tags.
As always, make sure to check our player news section for the latest notes and updates from around the league. Good luck tonight!