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Fantasy Week 7 | NBA Week 7

Paul George (knee) to make 76ers debut vs. Suns

Sun Nov 3 7:29pm ET
Field Level Media

Paul George is expected to make his season and team debut Monday night when his new club, the Philadelphia 76ers, visit the Phoenix Suns, ESPN reported Sunday.

George, 34, suffered a bone bruise in his left knee during the preseason and sat out the first five games of the regular season, along with fellow Sixers star Joel Embiid, who is recovering from a knee injury of his own.

Without them, the Sixers have tumbled to a 1-4 start. They absorbed a 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Saturday and Embiid shoved a columnist who had been critical of his lack of availability.

As for George, the nine-time All-Star forward signed a four-year, $212 million contract to join the 76ers in free agency, following five seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.


George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals over 74 starts last season. In 14 NBA seasons with the Indiana Pacers (2010-17), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-19) and Clippers, George has put up 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 867 appearances (819 starts).

The 76ers had not yet published the official injury report for Monday's game, the start of a three-game road swing that also includes Wednesday's game at the Clippers, George's return to his former team. Embiid's readiness to return was not yet known.

Player Notes
Gradey Dick Thu Dec 5 5:30pm

Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick (calf) is available ahead of Thursday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dick is set to return to the court after missing each of the last five games due to a left calf contusion. He's back for Thursday and fantasy managers should expect him to have a full workload considering there was no mention of Dick being limited. Ja'Kobe Walker should head back to the bench and Davion Mitchell should lose minutes with Dick ready to play again.

Aaron Gordon Thu Dec 5 5:30pm

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) will suit up ahead of Thursday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. As expected, Gordon will suit up after being listed as probable ahead of this game. Gordon played 33 minutes during their last game. He appears to be basically back up to speed after missing nearly the entire month of November. Fantasy managers can feel safe getting Gordon back in their lineups on Thursday. Peyton Watson should see a reduced role going forward with Gordon healthy again.

Draymond Green Thu Dec 5 5:20pm

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (calf) will not be able to play in Thursday's matchup with the Houston Rockets due to left calf tightness. He joins Stephen Curry (ankle), who will also be sidelined for rest purposes with the Warriors in the first half of back-to-back games. Until Green is able to suit up again,Jonathan Kumingawill likely continue to receive increased playing time. Against the Nuggets on Tuesday, Kuminga posted19 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in 29 minutes.

Jakob Poeltl Thu Dec 5 5:20pm

Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (illness) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The big man was tagged as questionable coming into this game, but has now been downgraded to out. His absence should free up playing time for Chris Boucher and Jonathan Mogbo in the rotation. Neither player has ideal streaming option but Mogbo has been the better fantasy option over the last few games. Both players could be possible low-end streaming options with Poeltl unavailable.

Andre Drummond Thu Dec 5 5:10pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (ankle) is questionable for Friday's game against Orlando. The 31-year-old has missed the last few games because of a sprained ankle, which is not ideal for a team that has been missing Joel Embiid (knee). If Drummond returns, he's worth starting in most fantasy setups. However, if he doesn't, Guerschon Yabusele, who had 15 points, seven rebounds, and one steal on Wednesday, should continue to benefit significantly.

Jayson Tatum Thu Dec 5 5:10pm

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (knee) is questionable for Friday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The former Duke Blue Devil has had arguably the best year of his career, averaging 28.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.3 steals. He wasn't available for Wednesday's matchup versus the Pistons. Of course, Jaylen Brown picked up most of the slack, scoring 28 points. If Tatum misses another game, Brown should be in line for another productive outing, even more so if Kristaps Porzingis (leg) doesn't suit up. The same can be said for Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Derrick White.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Thu Dec 5 5:10pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is listed as probable for Friday's game against the Boston Celtics. Despite dealing with right patella tendinopathy, the former MVP is expected to suit up for his fourth consecutive game. As usual, Antetokounmpo has been filling up the stat sheet, including a recent 42-point triple-double against the Washington Wizards. With Friday's game against the Celtics being a significant test for the Bucks, they'll rely on their superstar to perform at his best.

Kyshawn George Thu Dec 5 5:00pm

Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. The 20-year-old rookie sustained a left ankle sprain during Tuesday's loss to Cleveland, sidelining him for at least one game. His next chance to return will be Saturday against Denver. George has been a key piece in the Wizards' development plans, averaging 26.2 minutes and 7.5 points per game this season. In his absence, Jared Butler could step into a larger role for the young and rebuilding Washington squad.

Khris Middleton Thu Dec 5 5:00pm

Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Khris Middleton (ankles) is expected to make his 2024-25 debut in Friday's game versus the Boston Celtics. The veteran had surgery on both ankles during the offseason and has been working his way back since. Of course, he'll likely see limited action in his first game since May, so fantasy managers should wait and see how things play out before getting him back in the starting lineup. It's also unknown if he'll come off the bench. Still, Middleton's presence will be enough to significantly cap Andre Jackson Jr. and Gary Trent Jr.'s fantasy potential.

Herbert Jones Thu Dec 5 5:00pm

According to Jim Eichenhofer of the New Orleans Pelicans official site, forwardHerbert Jones (shoulder) will play Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. The 26-year-old hasn't suited up since October 29, missing 18 consecutive contests with a right shoulder strain. Being out of action for a while, Jones's minutes will most definitely be restricted until he can get back into game shape. At this time, he will not be a fantasy factor.

Joel Embiid Thu Dec 5 4:50pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) won't play in Friday's matchup versus the Orlando Magic. Head coach Nick Nurse indicated Embiid will be ready to return once he's healthy enough. However, that won't be on Friday night, which isn't surprising to most. With Andre Drummond (ankle) questionable and Adem Bona (knee) out, Guerschon Yabusele, who is coming off a 15-point, seven-rebound effort on Wednesday, is worth being included in any fantasy lineup. However, Yabusele's outlook will change if Drummond can get on the floor.

Brandon Ingram Thu Dec 5 4:50pm

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (calf) is available for Thursday's game against the Phoenix Suns. Ingram will return to action after missing the team's last five contests due to right calf soreness. The 27-year-old is a key offensive weapon for the Pelicans, averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 33.6 minutes per game this season. His return provides a much-needed boost to a New Orleans squad looking to gain some momentum, and fantasy managers will be glad to have him back in their lineups.

Malcolm Brogdon Thu Dec 5 4:40pm

The Washington Wizards announced that guardMalcolm Brogdon(knee) will play against Dallas on Thursday. Brogdon was listed as questionable earlier, but he's since been upgraded to available despite suffering from soreness in his right knee. The 31-year-old has struggled with injuries these last few seasons. However, he has played reasonably well when healthy, posting averages of 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 24.4 minutes across his last five appearances.

Stephen Curry Thu Dec 5 4:40pm

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (injury management) will not play Thursday against the Houston Rockets as he takes a rest day. In his absence, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody are likely to see expanded roles. The star guard is expected to return Friday for the team's matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his most recent game, Curry posted 24 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists in 34 minutes, reminding everyone why fantasy managers will be thrilled to have him back in action.

Naji Marshall Thu Dec 5 4:20pm

Dallas Mavericks forwardNaji Marshall(illness) will miss his third consecutive game due to an illness on Thursdays versus the Washington Wizards. Before being sidelined, Marshall had made the most of his opportunity as a starter while Klay Thompson was on the shelf, averaging 13.1 points and 4.0 rebounds. Once he's able to get back on the floor, his fantasy value will drop, as Thompson has since returned from his injury.

Ty Jerome Thu Dec 5 4:00pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guardTy Jerome(illness) is in danger of missing his second straight game due to an illness for Thursday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets. Darius Garland may see additional playing time if Jerome cannot suit up. Craig Porter Jr. and Caris LeVert will likely also see an uptick in minutes. LeVert, who is already averaging 24.1 minutes per game, could see a significant increase in his fantasy value on Thursday.

Josh Giddey Thu Dec 5 3:50pm

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (ankle) is questionable ahead of Thursday's matchup with the San Antonio Spurs due to a sprained right ankle. If the 23-year-old cannot play, the Bulls backcourt will be significantly depleted, with Coby White(ankle) andLonzo Ball(knee) already announced as sidelined. Players like Talen Horton-Tucker and rookie Matas Buzelis will likely see more minutes than usual. Fantasy managers will want to monitor Giddey's status closer to tip-off.

Corey Kispert Thu Dec 5 9:10am

Washington Wizards guard/forward Corey Kispert (ankle) will miss his first game of the season on Thursday against Dallas. He has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain, joining Kyle Kuzma (ribs) and Kyshawn George (ankle) on the shelf. These three have all averaged at least 26 minutes of action per game this season. This leaves a lot of minutes to be filled for the rest of the gang. Carlton Carrington and Jared Butler should getter a bigger workload on Thursday, with Johnny Davis also in the mix for an expanded role.

Coby White Thu Dec 5 9:00am

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against San Antonio. A left ankle sprain will keep him out for a second consecutive game. Lonzo Ball (knee) is also out on Thursday, and Josh Giddey (ankle) is regarded as questionable, meaning there might be a lot of minutes available for Chicago's reserves. Talen Horton-Tucker has done well lately and could be in line for a larger role in the rotation. He has reached double figures in scoring in five consecutive outings. Jevon Carter should get a decent amount of action as well, as the Bulls will be short of playmakers if Giddey doesn't make it.

Jusuf Nurkic Thu Dec 5 8:40am

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (thigh) will miss a third straight game on Thursday against New Orleans. The Bosnian big man is nursing a thigh contusion and is expected to be re-evaluated on Monday, meaning he will also sit out the weekend's back-to-back against Miami and Orlando. Oso Ighodaro and Mason Plumlee have shared starts during Nurkic's absence. Both players have had quiet outings, although Plumlee averaged double-double numbers as a starter earlier in the campaign. Centers have typically feasted against the Pelicans this season, with only six teams allowing more fantasy points to opposing fives.


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