Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic out Thursday vs. Bucks [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Aug. 6, 2:38 p.m. — So Butler and Dragic will both be out vs. the Bucks on Thursday.

This creates a ton of value on Miami, so let’s go over some plays. Kendrick Nunn ($4,100) will be popular with Dragic sidelined. Personally, I think he’ll be chalky and hasn’t been playing well. Duncan Robinson ($5,000) is a bit more expensive but has been shooting the ball well. Tyler Herro ($3,600) would be the other pivot, along with Jae Crowder ($4,400) and Andre Iguodala ($3,300). Honestly, Iggy played a ton with Jimmy sidelined vs. the Celtics and is dirt cheap.

Bam Adebayo ($7,700) is one of my favorite plays on the slate. He should get a ton of usage and more offensive touches. Bam also might even handle the ball a bit and get to pass more. He seems like a great mid-range tourney play.

Miami Heat SG Jimmy Butler is being listed as out for Thursday’s game vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. PG Goran Dragic is listed as questionable to play. Butler is dealing with a foot injury and will get some rest. This must have been the reasoning behind Butler being away from the team on Sunday. A lot of people were speculating it could be Covid-19, so it’s at least good to see Jimmy is just dealing with a nagging foot ailment.

Dragic played 28 minutes on Tuesday against the Boston Celtics and scored 20 points with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of steals. He’s dealing with an ankle injury, so if Dragic is unable to go, that’s two back court bodies the Heat won’t have in a big matchup vs. the Bucks. Let’s break it down.

Fantasy basketball and betting impact

The fact that Butler has already been ruled out helps us at least get ahead in terms of DFS. With no Jimmy the other game, We saw Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson in the back court with Jae Crowder. All three should see more minutes and usage, particularly Crowder and Robinson. If Dragic is out, Nunn becomes a more appealing option. Even Andre Iguodala should see a ton of minutes. The Heat don’t have a deep rotation.

This line could be pretty steep in favor of the Bucks when it opens Thursday morning. If that’s the case — looking at how the Bucks performed in their last game — you can look at it two ways. One, is that the Heat are being underrated and should hang in the game even without Butler. The other is Milwaukee will be pissed after the embarrassment of losing to the Nets and come out and smash Miami. I’d give the Heat the benefit of the doubt here. If the line is close to double digits, give me Miami to cover. Of course, things can change.

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