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Fantasy Week 7 | NBA Week 7

Magic F Franz Wagner (torn oblique) out indefinitely

Sat Dec 7 6:18pm ET
Field Level Media

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner is out indefinitely after suffering a torn right oblique, the team announced Saturday.

He is the second star forward the Magic have lost to a torn oblique this season. Paolo Banchero has been out with the same injury since Oct. 30.

Wagner, whose injury occurred during Friday's 102-94 loss to the host Philadelphia 76ers, will be reevaluated in four weeks and "his return to play will depend on how he responds to treatment," the team said Saturday.

Wagner is averaging a career-high 24.4 points this season, and his scoring average has gone up every season since Orlando picked him eighth overall in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Michigan. After averaging 15.2 as a rookie, he increased it to 18.6 in 2022-23 and then 19.7 last season to help Orlando win 47 games.


Wagner goes down in the middle of an especially hot streak during his All-Star worthy season, having scored 30 or more in the past three games.

He's also averaging 5.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds, helping Orlando go 16-9 for third place in the East.

Player Notes
Jalen Brunson Sat Dec 7 6:30pm

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (back) will remain in the lineup on Saturday versus Detroit. He was initially regarded as questionable for the contest due to a back issue. With Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) on the shelf, Brunson is looking at extra offensive duties on Saturday. However, with the Pistons allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points in the league to opposing point guards, it might not be a very good night for Brunson, especially if he's not at 100 percent.

Cameron Payne Sat Dec 7 6:30pm

New York Knicks point guard Cameron Payne (elbow) is not ready to rejoin the lineup on Saturday against Detroit. A left elbow problem will keep Payne sidelined for a second consecutive game. Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek will get additional work off the bench on Saturday. The pair may also benefit from the fact that Jalen Brunson (back) is dealing with an injury and might not have a full workload. Kolek has yet to prove his worth as a rookie, but McBride has been performing well off the Knicks bench all year.

Karl-Anthony Towns Sat Dec 7 6:20pm

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's matchup against Detroit. He's dealing with a knee issue and is missing only his second game of the season. It's been a superb debut campaign for Towns in New York, and it will be difficult to replace him. Jericho Sims will start in his absence, while Precious Achiuwa and Ariel Hukporti should fill some of the minutes at the five position as well. Sims' only previous start this season resulted in a four-point, seven-rebound effort in 18 minutes.

Kelly Olynyk Sat Dec 7 6:10pm

Toronto Raptors center Kelly Olynyk (back) is set to make his 2024-25 regular-season debut on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks. This is exciting news for the 33-year-old, who has been sidelined since October due to a back strain. Last season, Olynyk appeared in 28 games for Toronto, contributing 12.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while playing a key role in the rotation. His minutes will likely be limited in his return, but his presence provides valuable depth to the Raptors' frontcourt. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and make an impact moving forward.

Derrick White Sat Dec 7 6:10pm

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (foot) will take the court on Saturday against Memphis. He has been upgraded from probable to available. White is dealing with a right foot sprain but is good to go as Boston closes out a back-to-back. He's likely delighted to quickly get a new opportunity to play, as White had a season-low six points on horrible 1-for-10 shooting in Friday's 111-105 win over Milwaukee. That's now two rough shooting nights on the bounce for White, who is typically quite efficient with his scoring and has been averaging a career-high 17.6 points this season.

Kristaps Porzingis Sat Dec 7 6:10pm

Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) will return to the lineup for Saturday's contest against Memphis. He was kept out of action on Friday versus Milwaukee as Porzingis continues to manage a leg injury. The Latvian big man will be a natural replacement for Al Horford (toe), who will exit the lineup on Saturday. Porzingis only recently made his season debut and has averaged 21.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in 27.3 minutes across four games. He faces a tough matchup on Saturday, as Memphis has shown strong defensive numbers against opposing big men this season.

Jakob Poeltl Sat Dec 7 6:00pm

Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (illness) is available for Saturday's game against the Dallas Mavericks, limiting his absence to just one game after missing Thursday's contest against the Thunder. This is great news for Toronto, as Poeltl has been a force in the paint, consistently delivering on both ends of the floor. The big man has recorded at least one block in six straight games and tallied double-doubles in eight of his last 10 outings, showcasing his invaluable presence for the Raptors.

Pelle Larsson Sat Dec 7 6:00pm

Miami Heat shooting guard Pelle Larsson (ankle) will not play against Phoenix on Saturday. He sprained his right ankle in Friday's practice and will come out of the lineup after enjoying a good stretch of games in the rotation. The rookie from Sweden has logged 15-plus minutes in six of the last seven contests. Jaime Jaquez Jr. figures to take care of most of Larsson's minutes on Saturday, although fantasy managers might still not get enough value out of him.

Jaden Hardy Sat Dec 7 5:50pm

Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Raptors. His next opportunity to return will be Tuesday against the Thunder. Hardy's playing time often fluctuates based on the health of the Mavericks' roster, but he's shown the ability to score in bursts, as evidenced by his 13 points in just six minutes during his last outing. With Hardy sidelined, Spencer Dinwiddie could see increased minutes in the backcourt.

Jimmy Butler Sat Dec 7 5:50pm

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) will be active against Phoenix on Saturday. He was listed as probable on the initial injury report. The Heat star recently missed one game with a sore knee but looked great last time out against the Lakers. He finished a blowout win on Wednesday with 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists, one block, and two steals in 29 minutes. Butler's presence in the lineup limits Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s fantasy appeal. He logged only 17 minutes off the bench on Wednesday.

Davion Mitchell Sat Dec 7 5:50pm

Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell (hip) is available for Saturday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. The 26-year-old has been dealing with right hip stiffness but will play through the issue. He's expected to continue logging 20-plus minutes off the bench. While Mitchell went scoreless in his last outing, the Raptors will count on his energy and defense to help contain the talented Dallas backcourt.

Maxi Kleber Sat Dec 7 5:40pm

Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (illness) will not suit up for Saturday's matchup against the Toronto Raptors. Kleber has been unproductive lately, failing to score in three of his past four games, so his absence shouldn't disrupt the Mavericks' rotation too much. In his stead, P.J. Washington and Quentin Grimes are expected to pick up additional minutes. Kleber's next opportunity to return comes Tuesday against the Thunder.

Aaron Gordon Sat Dec 7 5:30pm

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) will not be available for Saturday's clash against Washington. He was downgraded from probable to questionable earlier in the day, and Denver has now ruled Gordon out. The Nuggets begin a back-to-back with Saturday's outing, so it's possible Gordon can make a quick return on Sunday versus Atlanta. We should see Peyton Watson run with the starters against the Wizards with Gordon unavailable. The young forward has averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 11 previous starts this season.

Christian Braun Sat Dec 7 5:30pm

Denver Nuggets guard/forward Christian Braun (quadriceps) has been upgraded from probable to available ahead of tip-off against Washington on Saturday. A right quadriceps contusion isn't enough to keep Braun off the court. On Saturday, he also gets an opportunity to play a larger role, as two of Denver's starters -- Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Aaron Gordon (calf) -- will be missing from the lineup. Braun is enjoying a fine campaign with averages of 15.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.

Franz Wagner Sat Dec 7 5:20pm

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (oblique) has been ruled out indefinitely. He suffered a torn right oblique in Friday's 102-94 loss to Philadelphia. Wagner recorded his third consecutive 30-point outing on Friday and has carried the Magic offense during Paolo Banchero's (oblique) absence. Orlando also lost Banchero to a torn oblique at the end of October. The team plans to re-evaluate Wagner in four weeks. With the Magic's two best scorers now out of the lineup, the rest of the group will have to step it up big time. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tristan Da Silva have had limited offensive roles so far but may be asked to contribute more going forward.

Jamal Murray Sat Dec 7 5:20pm

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (hamstring) will not play in Saturday's matchup against Washington. He has been ruled out after landing on the initial injury report with a questionable tag. Murray's absence will be a big boost for Russell Westbrook's fantasy stock. He's set to move to the starting lineup, where Westbrook has recorded 18.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.0 steals this season. This is also a very favorable matchup for Westbrook, as Washington has given up the second-most fantasy points to opposing point guards throughout the season.

Karl-Anthony Towns Sat Dec 7 12:20pm

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) is questionable for Saturday's matchup against the Pistons. KAT has had an amazing first season with the Knicks, averaging 25.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and shooting 45.0% from deep. He's battling a knee issue, so if doesn't play versus Detroit, Precious Achiuwa, who made his 2024-25 campaign debut in Thursday's win over the Hornets, could enter the starting lineup. However, Achiuwa likely won't see much more than the 12 minutes he logged on Thursday night, meaning Jericho Sims may get more action, although not enough to justify his presence in fantasy lineups.

Jamal Murray Sat Dec 7 12:10pm

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (hamstring) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Washington Wizards. The veteran most recently logged 42 minutes in Thursday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, logging 42 minutes and finishing with 19 points. Murray wasn't at shootaround on Saturday, and with the Nuggets also playing the Hawks on Sunday, the team may give him a night off to rest his inflamed hamstring. If that happens, Russell Westbrook, who averaged 18 points, six assists, five boards, and two steals in three games without Murray this season, is a lock for any fantasy lineup. Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun, and Nikola Jokic could also see an uptick in production if Murray isn't out there.

Jalen Brunson Sat Dec 7 12:10pm

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (back) is questionable heading into Saturday's meeting with the Detroit Pistons. The former Maverick is coming off one of his best showings of the 2024-25 campaign, amassing 24 points and shooting 5-for-6 from behind the arc. But if the back contusion keeps him off the floor on Saturday night, Miles McBride will likely slide into the starting lineup and would be in line for a significant uptick in fantasy production, even more so if Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) doesn't suit up.

Draymond Green Sat Dec 7 11:50am

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green will continue to come off the bench. The 34-year-old missed two games before returning for Friday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, finishing with 10 points, nine boards, six assists, and two steals in 26 minutes in a reserve role. Head coach Steve Kerr indicated the move was made to keep Green healthy. At the same time, the team hopes to see more signs of life from Jonathan Kuminga, who has averaged 15.4 points in seven starts during the 2024-25 campaign. With that in mind, Green should continue to get minutes, so the move may actually work out in his favor, considering he has had issues staying healthy over the years.


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