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Fantasy Week 13 | NBA Week 13

Spurs, Heat both trying to snap losing streaks

Sat Jan 18 12:21pm ET
Field Level Media

The Miami Heat, still in the middle of a Jimmy Butler controversy, are set to host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday afternoon.

On the surface, the Spurs, at two games below .500, and the .500 Heat are similar.

Both teams entered this weekend just outside playoff position. And both teams are on losing streaks -- three games for Miami and two for San Antonio.

But while the Spurs are led by 21-year-old superstar Victor Wembanyama, the Heat -- from a spiritual standpoint -- are getting dragged down by the 35-year-old Butler, who has asked to be traded.


The Heat suspended Butler for seven games for what they termed "conduct detrimental to the team."

On Friday, Butler returned and produced 18 points, three rebounds and two assists in a 133-113 loss to the visiting Denver Nuggets.

It was hardly a vintage performance for a six-time All-Star, who just last season averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Was Butler's low stat line on Friday due to rust from not having played since Jan. 2?

Was it a lack of effort for a player who has said he has lost his "joy" for the game?

Or is Butler declining due to his age and the 956 regular-season and playoff games he has played during his 14-year NBA career?

Butler offered few clues on Friday as he answered "no comment" when asked if the situation could be fixed.

He did say it felt good to play with his teammates again.

"These guys are cool -- they're my friends," Butler said. "My beef was never with them."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, usually very friendly with the media, was a bit terse with some of his answers on Friday.

"I know what storylines you're looking for," Spoelstra said to a reporter. "I'm not feeding into that. We got our asses kicked (by Denver). From a defensive standpoint, it wasn't good enough, and that's three straight games."

Spoelstra also said that his "methods are none of your business."

Meanwhile, the Spurs are coming off two straight home losses to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Mitch Johnson, who is San Antonio's interim coach, is preaching patience.

"I think our guys are trying to make plays," said Johnson, who has stepped in for Gregg Popovich, who is out for the season due to health reasons.

Wembanyama has faced the Heat twice so far, and Miami won both times. In those two games, he averaged 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

But after winning NBA Rookie of the Year last season, Wembanyama is even better in the current campaign. He is averaging 24.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a league-leading 4.1 blocks per game.

At point guard, the Spurs are led by Chris Paul, who is nearly twice as old as Wembanyama. Paul, who turns 40 in May, is averaging 9.6 points and leads the team in assists (8.2) and steals (1.4).

The presence of Paul helps explain why the Spurs are so improved after finishing 22-60 in each of the past two seasons.

"He's seen everything on a basketball court," Johnson said of Paul. "To have someone like Chris, who probably has a better solution than I do ... is worth its weight in gold."

Player Notes
James Harden Sat Jan 18 8:20pm

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (illness) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Harden only missed two games this season, so it seems unlikely that he'll sit out due to an illness. Although, the severity of the illness is unknown at the moment, so fantasy managers will have to check back for another update. Terance Mann could be asked to move into the starting five if Harden is unable to go. Also, Bones Hyland and Kevin Porter Jr. would likely be asked to play more on Sunday. None of them have really brought much to the table this season in terms of fantasy value.

Norman Powell Sat Jan 18 8:20pm

Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (back) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. This is not good news considering the Clippers already have a handful of players on the injury report. Powell has really stepped up this season with Kawhi Leonard (knee) being unavailable for most of the season. It's worth noting that Leonard has been removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's game. That being said, Powell is likely to take a backseat in terms of scoring with Leonard on the court. Fantasy managers should still be able to get positive results from Powell, but his value might take a dip with Leonard back in the mix.

Amen Thompson Sat Jan 18 8:10pm

Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Thompson was questionable coming into this game, but has been downgraded to out due to a calf issue. The loss of Thompson leaves a significant hole in the rotation given the fact Thompson has been playing almost 40 minutes regularly in the month of January. The assumption is that Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, and Dillon Brooks will all see more playing time with Thompson unavailable. Eason probably isn't the best fantasy option right now given he'll likely be limited on Saturday. That being said, Brooks and Whitmore are probably the safer streaming options for Saturday's slate.

Deni Avdija Sat Jan 18 7:40pm

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Houston Rockets. This now marks the third game in a row that Avdija will be forced to miss due to an ankle injury. When healthy, Avdija has been a solid contributor, especially in this month, but he'll miss at least one more game due to an ankle sprain. Scoot Henderson has been playing increased minutes lately with the Blazers banged up. Fellow forward Jerami Grant (face) is a game-time decision for this game. If active, Grant is likely to absorb more playing time which would give Henderson less streaming appeal. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update before tip-off.

Isaac Okoro Sat Jan 18 7:40pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (shoulder) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Cavs are likely going to be shorthanded here with Evan Mobley (calf) unavailable as well. That means, Georges Niang, Dean Wade, and Max Strus should all see increased roles in the rotation. None of these players are great fantasy options, but Strus is probably the best streaming choice of the three. He probably offers the most upside as the shooter between the bunch.

Evan Mobley Sat Jan 18 7:30pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mobley was questionable coming into this game after suffering a left calf injury. As a result, Mobley will sit out on Saturday, but will hopefully be back in the mix for Monday's game against the Phoenix Suns. The expectation is that Dean Wade and Max Strus will be impacted the most by the absence of Mobley. Strus hasn't been a great fantasy option this season, but figures to see significant minutes with the Cavs shorthanded for this game. He could be worth a look as a low-end streaming choice.

Draymond Green Sat Jan 18 7:30pm

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (illness) has been cleared to play ahead of Saturday's game against the Washington Wizards. Green will make his return to the lineup after missing the last three games due to an illness. There is no word on Green being limited, so the expectation is that he'll have his full workload on Saturday. Gui Santos figures to head back to the bench where he's going to have little fantasy appeal. Fantasy managers can go ahead and get Green back in their lineups ahead of tip-off.

Kyle Anderson Sat Jan 18 4:00pm

Golden State Warriors small forward Kyle Anderson (hamstring) won't play on Saturday versus the Washington Wizards. The veteran forward will be out of action for the second consecutive contest. Anderson has played 33 games this season averaging 5.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Warriors, shooting 44.3% from the floor and 37.3% from beyond the arc. Anderson's next chance to play will be on Monday against the Boston Celtics. The good news for the Warriors is that Draymond Green, who has been dealing with illness, is expected to return against the Wizards.

Donte DiVincenzo Sat Jan 18 3:50pm

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (toe) won't play on Saturday versus Cleveland. The former Knick got off to a slow start to his tenure in Minnesota. However, he's played well of late, most recently amassing a season-high 28 points with nine assists and six boards in a recent game against the Warriors. Unfortunately, DiVincenzo will now miss his second consecutive contest because of a great toe sprain. Mike Conley, who filled the hole in the lineup in Friday's win over New York and ended the night with 13 points, will likely re-enter the starting lineup. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid should also see more work from off the bench.

Guerschon Yabusele Sat Jan 18 3:40pm

Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (knee) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the Indiana Pacers. The veteran is dealing with right knee swelling ahead of the game. It was reported by Keith Pompey that Yabusele along with Paul George, Kyle Lowry and KJ Martin didn't practice for the Sixers on Friday. Appearing in all 39 games for the Philadelphia 76ers so far, Yabusele has averaged 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. In games where Yabusele has played, the Philadelphia 76ers averages 107.2 points per game compared to 121 points when he is absent.

Caleb Martin Sat Jan 18 3:10pm

Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Caleb Martin (groin) will remain out on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. Martin is still dealing with a strained right groin injury and will miss his fourth consecutive contest. It was reported yesterday that Martin was a partial participant at practice while Andre Drummond was a full participant. Martin has played in 31 games this season, contributing an average of 9.1 points per game, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. He will have the next chance to return on Sunday when Philadelphia faces the Milwaukee Bucks.

Deandre Ayton Sat Jan 18 3:10pm

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (back) has been added to the injury report ahead of Saturday's matchup with the Houston Rockets. He recently recorded 14 points and seven rebounds against the Los Angeles Clippers. But the 26-year-old is now in danger of missing this one because of low back soreness. With Donovan Clingan (ankle) already ruled out, Robert Williams III may find himself in the starting lineup if Ayton isn't available. If that's the case, Williams must be included in all fantasy lineups.

Bradley Beal Sat Jan 18 3:00pm

Phoenix Suns forward Bradley Beal (ankle) won't play on Saturday against the Pistons. The veteran was listed as doubtful, so fantasy managers already had a feeling this was coming. With Beal out again, Ryan Dunn will remain in the starting lineup, with the 22-year-old recently amassing 18 points, 11 rebounds, and one block versus the Washington Wizards.

Kyle Lowry Sat Jan 18 2:50pm

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Kyle Lowry (hip) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Indiana Pacers. Lowry will miss his seventh game due to a hip injury he is battling through. Alongside Lowry, the 76ers have several players sidelined, including Joel Embid (foot), Kenyon Martin Jr. (foot), and Caleb Martin (groin). The hip injury has been affecting Lowry since late December. His stats this season include an average of 4.4 points per game and 2.9 assists per game. Lowry's next chance to suit up will be on Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Andre Drummond Sat Jan 18 2:20pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (toe) will likely return to the lineup on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers, as the team lists him as probable for the contest. Drummond has missed the last six games due to his toe injury but was able to practice in full on Friday. This season, Andre Drummond has averaged 7.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He has played in 25 games, starting in 13 of them. With Joel Embiid out again, there is a chance Drummond could land back in the starting five.

Evan Mobley Sat Jan 18 9:50am

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (calf) is questionable for Saturday's game against Minnesota. After missing 32 games last season, the 23-year-old has been sidelined for just two contests during the 2024-25 campaign. Not only that, he's also had the best year of his career, averaging 18.6 points with 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 42.1% from deep. If Mobley doesn't suit up, Max Strus could find himself back in the starting lineup, with Dean Wade sliding over to the four spot. Georges Niang would presumably also see more action, giving all three players a bump in fantasy potential on Saturday. However, Mobley's absence will likely benefit Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Jarrett Allen the most.

Zaccharie Risacher Sat Jan 18 9:40am

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (adductor) remains out heading into Saturday's meeting with the Celtics. The 19-year-old, who wasn't available in the win over the Bulls because of an adductor strain, has been inconsistent for fantasy managers this season, averaging 10.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. He's also shot just 28.1% from behind the arc. Until he's back on the floor, De'Andre Hunter (foot), who is probable, will likely fill the void in the lineup. Hunter played well in two starts this season, averaging 18.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals, giving him plenty of upside for fantasy managers. That will still apply even if he comes off the bench.

Paul George Sat Jan 18 9:40am

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (groin) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Indiana Pacers. Fantasy managers are used to seeing him on the injury report. However, there's a chance his current ailment, groin tightness, keeps him off the floor versus the Pacers. Without question, Philly needs George out there, considering Joel Embiid (knee) will miss more time. In addition, Caleb Martin (hip) won't suit up, and Guerschon Yabusele (knee) is questionable. With that said, if George doesn't play, Tyrese Maxey should get as many scoring opportunities as he can handle, with players like Kelly Oubre Jr., Jeff Dowtin Jr., Justin Edwards, and Eric Gordon on tap for a bump in fantasy production.

De'Andre Hunter Sat Jan 18 9:30am

Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter (foot) is probable for Saturday's game in Boston. The 27-year-old was sidelined for recent meetings with Phoenix and Chicago due to foot soreness. Fortunately, it appears a two-game stint on the shelf is all that is needed for him to get back out there for the matchup with the Celtics. Jalen Johnson (shoulder) has a chance to return for this one. However, Hunter will still likely draw the start in place of Zaccharie Risacher (adductor), who remains out with an adductor strain. With that in mind, the Celtics have allowed 108.4 points per game this season, the sixth-best mark in the National Basketball Association, meaning anyone on the offensive end for the Hawks may not be as productive as usual. Still, Hunter is a capable fantasy starter for redraft managers, although his DFS value is limited because of the tough matchup on the horizon.

Nikola Vucevic Sat Jan 18 1:30am

Bulls' C Nikola Vucevic recorded a double-double, scoring 40 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in a 123-125 loss to the Hornets on Friday, Jan. 17.


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