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Fantasy Week 13 | NBA Week 13

Inconsistent squads collide when Lakers battle Heat

Tue Dec 3 7:25pm ET
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Wednesday's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the host Miami Heat appears to be a marquee matchup, but the NBA standings suggest otherwise.

Both teams have struggled to sustain momentum in the season's early weeks, with the Lakers entering at 12-9 and the Heat coming in at 9-10. Each squad sits in a fringe playoff position: Los Angeles is eighth in the Western Conference, and Miami is seventh in the East.

"We've been good at times, and we've been poor at times," Lakers star LeBron James said. "But that's what to expect with a new system, new coaching staff, new players. ... We're trying to work in new things.

"I wouldn't say, ‘I'll take it.' I never want to say that. But that's our record, and we have to continue to get better on both sides of the floor."


James leads Los Angeles in assists per game (9.1) and ranks second in scoring (22.0) and rebounding (8.0). He turns 40 on Dec. 30 but is determined to play in all 82 regular-season games. The 22nd-year veteran last accomplished the feat during the 2017-18 season, when he finished up his second stint with Cleveland.

Anthony Davis has shined for the Lakers, leading the team in scoring (27.8), rebounding (11.5), blocks (2.0) and steals (1.2). Austin Reaves chips in 16.7 points and 4.8 assists per game, while D'Angelo Russell has added 12.5 points, 4.9 assists.

Russell returned to the starting lineup and led Los Angeles with 20 points in Monday's 109-80 loss at Minnesota.

The Lakers' top 3-point shooters include Rui Hachimura (43.1 percent) and rookie first-round pick Dalton Knecht (41.0 percent).

Los Angeles has lost five of its last seven games, while Miami has dropped two straight and three of its last five. The Heat have never been more than two games below or one game above .500 this season.

Miami, which is just 4-4 at home, may be without star forward Jimmy Butler, who missed Monday's 109-89 loss at Boston due to a knee injury. Butler, who is questionable for Wednesday with right knee soreness, has missed five of the Heat's 19 games this season. He ranks second on the team in scoring (18.9) and third in assists (4.8).

Tyler Herro paces Miami with 23.7 points per game and shares the team lead in assists with Bam Adebayo (4.9).

Adebayo leads the Heat in rebounding (9.8) but is averaging just 15.6 points per game as his scoring continues to regress. He tallied 19.3 points per game last season after averaging 20.4 the year before.

Miami remains confident in its captain, however.

"I don't think he's struggling," Herro said of Adebayo. "He is playing a great brand of basketball. He is impacting the game on the defensive end.

"Bam gets his looks, and he's going to make shots. We know what he's capable of."

Added Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.: "We're not going to be who we need to be without Bam."

Los Angeles and Miami have an intriguing history together. The Lakers defeated the Heat in the COVID-affected 2020 NBA Finals, and Heat president Pat Riley is a former Lakers player and coach.

Meanwhile, Miami has not won an NBA title since James left in the summer of 2014 after he led the Heat to two championships in four years.

Player Notes
Malcolm Brogdon Thu Jan 16 8:40am

Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon (foot) has been ruled out for a sixth consecutive game ahead of Thursday's matchup against Phoenix. He has landed on the shelf with a plantar fascia contusion on his right foot. Jared Butler had an impressive spell during the first few games Brogdon missed but has logged just 15 minutes over the past two contests. Corey Kispert, Kyshawn George, and Justin Champagnie have shared most of the available minutes among Washington's bench players. However, none of the trio appears to be good fantasy options due to inconsistency.

Ty Jerome Thu Jan 16 8:30am

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (illness) is questionable for Thursday's game against Oklahoma City. An illness has kept him sidelined for a pair of games, and Jerome might also be forced to miss a meeting with his former team. Caris LeVert and Max Strus have carried the bench with Jerome out. However, they have been inconsistent and face a tricky matchup on Thursday as the Cavaliers go up against the league's top defense.

Malik Monk Thu Jan 16 8:20am

Sacramento Kings guard/forward Malik Monk (groin) will likely return to the lineup on Thursday against Houston, as the team lists him as probable for the contest. Monk missed Tuesday's action against Milwaukee due to groin soreness. Keon Ellis took over his spot in the starting lineup and had a fine night with 18 points. He will lose a significant amount of fantasy value by returning to the bench. Monk has provided 18.6 points with 4.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists since being promoted to the first unit. One of his first games in the new role was against the Rockets, and Monk had a fun night in a 120-111 win with 17 points and a career-high 12 assists.

Bradley Beal Thu Jan 16 8:10am

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (ankle) will likely miss Thursday's return to his old stomping ground, as the team has labeled him doubtful ahead of the game against Washington. Beal injured his left ankle against Atlanta on Tuesday. Phoenix sent the former Wizards leader to the second unit earlier this month, but Beal has coped fairly well with his new role. He has averaged 16.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists coming off the bench. Other bench pieces, like Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, should feature more in the rotation if Beal can't play in Thursday's game. Allen has more fantasy upside, particularly in a matchup against a team that gives up the most three-point attempts in the league.

Aaron Nesmith Thu Jan 16 8:00am

Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (ankle) might be ready to return to the lineup on Thursday against Detroit, with the team listing him as questionable on the injury report. He has picked up the questionable tag after missing nearly 11 weeks due to a left ankle sprain. Nesmith was a starter for the Pacers early in the campaign over Bennedict Mathurin, so it will be interesting to see how the rotation works out with everybody healthy. Indiana has played well with its current lineup, going 12-4 since Dec. 8. Even if Mathurin gets bumped to the bench, he should still have a major role to play, with Nesmith's return having a much bigger impact on Ben Sheppard's playing time.

Tyrese Haliburton Thu Jan 16 7:50am

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (groin) is questionable to play in Thursday's matchup against Detroit. He's nursing a "mild" groin strain, which has already kept Haliburton out of one game. Ben Sheppard replaced Haliburton in the starting lineup against Cleveland on Tuesday, but he didn't do much in 32 minutes. T.J. McConnell also picked up a few extra minutes and came close to a double-double off the bench. Bennedict Mathurin (suspension) is already out for Thursday's game, so several players must step up offensively if Haliburton also can't play.

Bennedict Mathurin Thu Jan 16 7:40am

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin has been handed a one-game suspension, meaning he will not be available for Thursday's contest against Detroit. Mathurin was given the suspension for inappropriate contact and verbal abuse of a game official. The incident occurred in Tuesday's 127-117 loss to Cleveland. Jarace Walker could feature more in the rotation with Mathurin out. However, Indiana might have Aaron Nesmith (ankle) back in the lineup, which would bump Walker down on the depth chart.

Josh Hart Thu Jan 16 1:30am

Knicks' F Josh Hart recorded a triple-double, finishing with 10 points, 12 assists and 17 rebounds in a 125-119 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Derrick Jones Jr. Wed Jan 15 8:40pm

Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. will move into the starting five ahead of Wednesday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. Head coach Ty Lue has decided to tweak his starting unit and move Jones into the starting unit on Wednesday. Kris Dunn will head to the bench after posting a dud during his 25 minutes of action on Monday. Jones has been decent this season, but he isn't someone worth starting in most fantasy formats right now. So far, Jones is averaging 9.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 24 minutes per game this season.

D'Angelo Russell Wed Jan 15 8:30pm

Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (shin) has been ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Russell played 21 minutes off the bench during Tuesday's game after missing the previous four games. That being said, it appears the Nets are going to play it safe and rest Russell in the second leg of the back-to-back set. Keon Johnson and Ziaire Williams should both see increased roles on Wednesday. Also, Ben Simmons will likely do most of the ball handling which should increase his fantasy value.

Jerami Grant Wed Jan 15 8:10pm

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (face) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. This doesn't come as much of a shock as Grant will now miss nine games in a row due to a facial contusion. Head coach Chauncey Billups has said that Grant is getting closer to a return, so maybe Grant can return this weekend. The Blazers play both Saturday and Sunday, so possibly Grant can return for one of those games. Deni Avdija (ankle) has been playing big minutes lately, but he's listed as doubtful for Thursday. That being said, Toumani Camara and Scoot Henderson are likely to see heavy minutes with the Blazers shorthanded right now.

Deni Avdija Wed Jan 15 8:10pm

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (ankle) is listed as doubtful ahead of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Avdija now appears to be in serious danger of missing two games in a row due to an ankle issue. His injury comes at a bad time with the Blazers already extremely shorthanded. That being said, Toumani Camara and Scoot Henderson are expected to both play heavy minutes on Thursday. Henderson dropped 39 points during his last outing, so he could be worth a look as a streaming choice while he's hot.

Bam Adebayo Wed Jan 15 8:00pm

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (back) is available ahead of Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Adebayo took a hard fall during Saturday's contest and as a result he sat out of Monday's game. Luckily, Adebayo is back in the mix after missing only one game due to a lower back contusion. His return to the court means less playing time for both Kevin Love and Kel'el Ware. Neither player is an ideal streaming option with Adebayo likely getting his full workload on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should feel safe getting Adebayo back in their lineups here.

Aaron Gordon Wed Jan 15 7:50pm

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets. Gordon will sit out the second game of the back-to-back set for what is likely rest purposes. Gordon played 17 minutes on Tuesday and is still working his way back after missing nine games in a row due to a calf issue. The absence of Gordon should mean more playing time for Peyton Watson in the rotation. Watson has done enough lately to be worth a look as a possible streaming option until Gordon is able to get back to 100 percent.

Nikola Jokic Wed Jan 15 7:40pm

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (elbow) won't play on Wednesday versus the Rockets. The multi-time MVP missed a few games last week because of an illness. However, right elbow inflammation will keep him off the floor against the Rockets. Without Jokic, DeAndre Jordan might draw the start. The veteran had 12 points, nine rebounds, and two steals in his only start this season. But that type of production is good enough to land him a spot in most fantasy lineups while making him an appealing value option for DFS managers. That will still apply even if he comes off the bench.

Jamal Murray Wed Jan 15 7:40pm

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (knee) will play against the Rockets on Wednesday. The veteran is coming off a stellar performance, scoring 45 points in Tuesday's win over the Dallas Mavericks. With Nikola Jokic (elbow) and Aaron Gordon (calf) both sidelined, Murray has an excellent chance to keep it going on the offensive end versus Houston, giving him a higher ceiling for fantasy managers.

Karl-Anthony Towns Wed Jan 15 7:20pm

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (thumb) was ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game against the 76ers. It is already known that KAT has a sprained thumb. However, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post provided an additional update, reporting that tests also revealed a bone chip. Fortunately, "surgery isn't necessary," added Bagley. The "plan is for Towns to play with the chip." The 29-year-old is having an excellent first season in New York, averaging 25.4 points and 13.9 rebounds while shooting a career-high 44.9% from behind the arc. He also missed just three games leading up to his absence on Wednesday night. It sounds as if Towns will be back once the swelling in his thumb subsides, so he's considered day-to-day. But until he's back on the floor, Jericho Sims may continue to start, although Precious Achiuwa will benefit the most.

Kyle Anderson Wed Jan 15 7:10pm

Golden State Warriors forward Kyle Anderson (hamstring) has been ruled out for Wednesday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Anderson is dealing with left hamstring soreness that hasn't caused him to miss any recent games until tonight. The 31-year-old hasn't been a great fantasy option this season and his absence will likely go unnoticed for most fantasy managers. In his absence expect Trayce Jackson-Davis to get more minutes at forward.

Trayce Jackson-Davis Wed Jan 15 7:10pm

Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (thumb) has been listed as active for Wednesday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jackson-Davis hasn't missed any time due to the injury and should be in line for extended minutes tonight with the Warriors' depth nearly depleted at forward. The matchup against the Timberwolves will be tough but the 24-year-old has been better as a starter than he has in a bench role. He shouldn't be considered a must start in all formats but there will be a chance for an extended role for him given the Warriors' injury issues.

Gary Trent Jr. Wed Jan 15 7:00pm

Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Gary Trent Jr. (hip) will be inactive against Orlando on Wednesday. This will mark his third consecutive absence. Trent Jr.'s next chance to return will come on Friday night against Toronto. AJ Green benefits from Trent Jr.'s absence and reached the 30-minute plateau for the fourth time this season in Tuesday's victory over Sacramento. Milwaukee's injury woes have also helped Pat Connaughton re-enter the rotation, though he has not made a significant impact. However, with Khris Middleton (ankle) back in the mix on Wednesday, there will be fewer minutes available for the rest of the bench.


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