Tue Oct 22 4:53pm ET
Field Level Media
Injury concerns will be at the forefront when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Toronto Raptors in the season opener for both teams on Wednesday.
The Cavaliers will try to fill the void of Max Strus, who will be out at least six weeks due to a sprained ankle.
The Raptors listed RJ Barrett (shoulder) as out though he took part in non-contact practices on Monday and Tuesday. Barrett has been sidelined since the team's first preseason game on Oct. 6.
The absence of Strus removes a key player from Cleveland's starting lineup that includes Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The group played only 28 games together last season because of injuries.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson continues to work on a plan moving forward.
"We haven't decided yet," Atkinson said about how to make up for Strus' absence. "We'll just have to see and study Toronto a little more. See what fits that matchup best, I think is where we're at right now."
Dean Wade and Caris LeVert are options to fill the role.
"It's not necessarily just those two," Atkinson said. "It could be somebody else. We have to figure that out. That's what we're in the process of doing right now."
That other option could be Isaac Okoro.
"You always feel terrible for the player, especially Max, as hard as he works and what a vital cog he is to this team," Atkinson said. "You lose one of your top players, it's a blow. But we have great depth. A lot of teams could be affected by this. We've got some guys that can step in and will help us until he gets back."
Barrett said earlier this week that he wanted to play in the opener.
"I mean, it feels better than it did two weeks ago," Barrett said. "Sometimes I feel good. (Monday) it didn't feel so good, so it's a work in progress. My goal is to play, but if I go through it and it doesn't feel right, it's just going to have to be what it is."
Toronto has other injury issues. Kelly Olynyk (back) will also miss the game. He did not take part in practice Monday or Tuesday after missing the final three preseason games.
Ja'Kobe Walter (shoulder) missed the preseason, although he practiced Monday, with coach Darko Rajakovic saying that this year's 19th overall draft pick is considered week-to-week. Bruce Brown (arthroscopic knee surgery) has been working on shooting drills and Immanuel Quickley (sprained thumb) returned to play on Friday after missing the first four preseason games.
The Raptors have key players returning from injuries that cut short their 2023-24 seasons. Scottie Barnes had a fractured third metacarpal on left hand that forced him to miss the final 22 games of the season and Jakob Poeltl missed the final 21 games with a fractured left pinky finger.
Toronto used a franchise-record 30 players last season. Barnes, Barrett, Poeltl and Quickley played 14 games together with a 7-7 record .
"It's tough, especially for a team like us," Poeltl said. "We haven't played together for very long, like the starters played a little bit together last year. We've got so many new faces, the more practice and games we can get in together, the better."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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