We’ve got nine games on the schedule for Monday, April 19th, and there are plenty of big names on the injury report. Here we’ll be monitoring all the latest injury news with some analysis and how to approach the injury for DFS and fantasy basketball.
NBA Injury Report: Monday, April 19th
Los Angeles Lakers injury report
Andre Drummond (toe), Dennis Schroder (foot) and Markieff Morris (ankle) are all available to play Monday vs. the Jazz. Marc Gasol (finger) is available but not expected to play. Rudy Gobert should be back for the Jazz, so Drummond has what would be considered a tough matchup. No one of the Lakers really screams must-play on a 9-game slate. There are a ton of other injury spots (as you can see) to choose from on DraftKings.
Oklahoma City Thunder injury report
The Thunder are listing Lu Dort (hip) and Isaiah Roby (toe) as out vs. the Washington Wizards. Dort was the highest non-injured Thunder player at $7K. Darius Bazley ($6,400) becomes a decent GPP play in a very strong matchup vs. the Wizards, who lack front court depth. Rookie G Theo Maledon ($5,600) is a great all-around play with Dort out, since OKC will need a primary scorer at guard.
Miami Heat injury report
Update: Dragic and Iggy will play while Butler and Herro have been ruled out for the Heat.
The Heat injury report is long as well. Jimmy Butler (ankle), Goran Dragic (rest) and Andre Iguodala (hip) are all questionable to play. Bam Adebayo (knee) and Tyler Herro (foot) are being listed as out. Victor Oladipo is also already ruled out. Duncan Robinson ($4,900) and Kendrick Nunn ($4,300) are going to be great plays if Butler, Dragic and Iggy sit against the Houston Rockets on Monday. Dewayne Dedmon ($3,000) could end up starting at center for Adebayo and would end up being a very strong value. If Dragic and Butler are out, Gabe Vincent ($3,000) could also get some extended run.
Philadelphia 76ers injury report
Update: Simmons and Harris have been ruled out, but Curry and Hill are available to play.
Ben Simmons (illness) has been added to the injury report against the Warriors on Monday. Seth Curry, Dwight Howard, and Tobias Harris are also questionable to play. This is a tough game to gauge from both a DFS and betting perspective. If all four are out for the Sixers and the Dubs have Curry, the Warriors probably have a slight advantage. Joel Embiid ($10,700) is an elite play regardless of this report. Golden State lacks depth in the frontcourt and has nobody who can guard Embiid — even Draymond Green. I’d be interested in Shake Milton ($4,200) is Simmons and Curry sit. Furkan Korkmaz ($4,800) isn’t a bad play if Harris sits.
Boston Celtics injury report
Update: Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart have been ruled out vs. the Bulls.
The Celtics had both Jayson Tatum (ankle) and Jaylen Brown (illness) on the injury report. It appears they will be available to play on Monday vs. the Chicago Bulls. PG Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart remain questionable — you guessed it — due to illness. Robert Williams (knee) is also not playing vs. Chicago. If Walker is out, Payton Pritchard ($3,400) could see some more playing time at guard off the bench. It likely means more usage for both Brown and Smart, so keying in on Jaylen’s player props for assists may be a strong move.
Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors
Update: Curry and Oubre are active, but Oubre will come off the bench behind Kent Bazemore.
The Dubs have Steph listed as questionable to play in Monday’s game vs. the Philadelphia 76ers due to an ankle sprain. Kelly Oubre Jr. (wrist) is also questionable to play. Curry has been on an absolute tear lately, so if he ends up sitting, the Dubs could be in a bad spot overall against the top team in the East. Jordan Poole ($4,500) becomes an option as a value if Curry sits. If Oubre remains out, Kevon Looney ($4,000) and Kent Bazemore ($4,600) aren’t bad plays.
Memphis Grizzlies injury report
Update: Clarke, Melton and Winslow are all active for Monday vs. the Nuggets.
The Grizz are listing four players as questionable to play Monday vs. the Denver Nuggets: Dillon Brooks (thigh), Brandon Clarke (hip), De’Anthony Melton (leg) and Justise Winslow (thigh). Jonas Valanciunas (concussion) has already been ruled out. As a result, the Grizzlies could be very shorthanded. If that is the case, this is where we’ll get most of our value on DraftKings. Xavier Tillman ($3,400) is a great option at center. Ja Morant ($7,200) and Kyle Anderson ($6,200) are good tournament options. Grayson Allen ($4,800) and Desmond Bane ($4,000) would be the other names depending on who is in/out.
Detroit Pistons injury report
Seven Pistons have been ruled out ahead of Monday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Jerami Grant ($6,800) is the most notable name on the injury report. Grant suffered a quad contusion in his last game, and his teammates are inactive for several other reasons. Cory Joseph (bronchitis), Dennis Smith Jr. (knee), Mason Plumlee (rest), and Wayne Ellington (rest) are also sitting, so Detriot’s young core will get to run the show. The Pistons’ hefty injury report will likely benefit Isaiah Stewart ($5,200) the most, but Saddiq Bey ($5,300), Josh Jackson ($5,100), and Killian Hayes ($3,700) could also see bumps in production. If you want value plays, the Pistons have a wide array of viable options.
Indiana Pacers injury report
Update: An MRI revealed that Turner has a partial tear in his plantar plate on his right foot. He won’t play on Monday and is out indefinitely. Sabonis and Lamb are out vs. the Spurs. McDermott is available to play.
Indiana’s starting center and power forward are banged up. Myles Turner (toe) returned from a six-game hiatus caused by an ankle sprain before reinjuring himself against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. He’s listed as questionable alongside Domantas Sabonis, who is dealing with lower back soreness. If one or both bigs is ruled out, Goga Bitadze ($3,900) and JaKarr Sampson ($3,000) are cheap fill-ins worth considering. Either could return significant value as a starter, but Bitazde is the more versatile option of the two.
Cleveland Cavaliers injury report
The Cavs are relatively healthy but will be without Larry Nance Jr. (personal reasons) for Monday’s game against the Pistons. Kevin Love ($6,500) could see an extended run at power forward, while Dean Wade ($4,800) and Isaiah Hartenstein ($4,500) could get more time than usual off the bench.
Washington Wizards injury report
The Wizards could be a little short on big men with Rui Hachimura (knee) ruled out and Alex Len ($3,300) questionable with an ankle injury. Robin Lopez ($3,500) might be Washington’s starting center, but Daniel Gafford ($4,000) could pose more of a threat against an Oklahoma City Thunder team that tanks 30th against centers on DraftKings.