Zach LaVine, Deandre Ayton, Brandon Ingram headline NBA injury report for Monday, January 24

It’s a light NBA slate Monday with just four games on tap, but some of the league’s rising stars this season might be coming back after injury bouts. At the same time, some contenders might be feeling the pinch as key rotation players appear to have aggravated previous issues. Here’s a look at Monday’s injury report in the association.

NBA Injury Report: January 24

New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Kemba Walker (knee) expected to play
Mitchell Robinson (ankle) OUT

Update — Robinson has been ruled out vs. the Cavs tonight. Taj Time? Nerlens Noel ($4,200) isn’t a bad option since he likely starts for Robinson at center.

Walker missed Sunday’s game but is expected to suit up Monday. He’ll likely start, but look for Alec Burks to continue getting minutes at the point guard position for New York. Robinson’s status is unknown after he left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury and couldn’t return.

Lauri Markkanen (ankle) OUT
Rajon Rondo (hamstring) available
Jarrett Allen (illness) OUT

Update — Allen is out along with Markkanen, so the Cavs will be short a few front court bodies. Kevin Love ($5,500) is chalk at this price point. He should play 30-plus minutes you would think and has a good floor/ceiling combo. Cedi Osman ($3,300) might be an even better play but this game may be low scoring. Still, a lot of usage to go around with Allen and Mark out.

Markkanen is out, while Rondo is questionable. The former is a starter for Cleveland, so look for more minutes to go to Kevin Love in this game.

Indiana Pacers vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Caris LeVert (calf) will play
Domantas Sabonis (ankle) OUT

Update — The Pacers will have LeVert against the Pelicans tonight. Brogdon is still out, so we can roll out LeVert in GPPs.

LeVert is a game-time decision and will become a strong fantasy/DFS play if he suits up. Sabonis is out for at least this game, while the Pacers shut down Malcolm Brogdon so he can rehab his Achilles injury.

Brandon Ingram (ankle) OUT
DeVonte’ Graham (ankle) will play

Ingram has been ruled out, so look for the Pelicans to give Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Garrett Temple some additional run. Graham is questionable and if he doesn’t suit up, fantasy and DFS players can go for Josh Hart as the value add.

Chicago Bulls vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Zach LaVine (knee) will play
Nikola Vucevic (knee) will play
Javonte Greeen (groin) will play
DeMar DeRozan (rest) OUT

Update — Vuce is going to play and becomes a viable GPP option with DeRozan out.

Update — With that news, we also got DeRozan being out to rest. So that creates some problems. LaVine may be worth playing in GPPs. Coby White ($7,000), Ayo Dosunmu ($6,500) and Troy Brown ($3,300) are all viable plays in tournaments. Vucevic ($9,500) is also an option with DeRozan out if the big man is ruled in.

Update — LaVine is back and Green will also play, but both are on a minutes limit. Green is expected to play around 22-25 minutes and LaVine should see a bit more than that, so peg him at around 25-28? It’s hard to tell. Either way, LaVine is probably worth staying away from in DFS for the time being. He’ll be low-owned tonight but that’s maybe the only upside.

Update — Vuce and Green are also questionable to play. Vucevic haas been awful offensively over this rough patch for the Bulls. He could use a night off. If both Vuce and Green sit, expect more Tony Bradley out of necessity for size. Tyler Cook, Troy Brown Jr. and Matt Thomas should round out the rotation. We could see a lot of small ball from Chicago tonight.

Update — LaVine has been upgraded to questionable to play tonight vs. the Thunder. This is amazing news for the Bulls, who have lost seven of the past 10 games. Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball remain out. DeMar DeRozan needs some help. If LaVine can play, this puts the Bulls in a good spot to pick up a win. It would also hurt the DFS stock of Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White.

LaVine was not originally expected to play Monday, but there are reports he could return. There’s no official designation for him, but there’s a chance he does come back against the Thunder.

Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns

Rudy Gobert (calf) OUT
Bojan Bogdanovic (knee) OUT
Mike Conley (rest) OUT
Donovan Mitchell (concussion) OUT
Joe Ingles (ankle) OUT
Royce O’Neale (knee) OUT

Update — Everyone is out, well you know what we mean. There’s a ton of value riddled throughout this slate but Utah may have the best selection.

Update — Remember when we said to fade Utah before? Well, now there may be too much value to ignore. Gobert, Mitchell and Conley are already out. Ingles and O’Neale are now questionable and may sit. Hassan Whiteside ($6,300) is going to play, so he’s going to be chalky. Jordan Clarkson ($6,700) is also a strong tournament option with everyone else is out. Gay ($4,200), Azubuike ($3,000) and Paschall ($3,300) are all strong options.

Update — Gobert will be out for the Jazz tonight, so that means we could see some Udoka Azubuike off the bench. Chances are the Jazz will start Royce O’Neale at PF and go small with Eric Paschall at center. Rudy Gay is also a candidate for more playing time. It could be a spot to fade Utah in a tough matchup vs. the Suns. O’Neale is the strongest value.

The Jazz have some major injury issues. Gobert has played through an ankle injury but is now dealing with a calf strain. Bogdanovic originally had a finger problem which is now a knee contusion. Conley went to the locker room Sunday, but there’s no reason for why he went there and is expected to be back. Mitchell remains in the league’s concussion protocols.

Deandre Ayton (ankle) OUT
Cameron Payne (wrist) OUT
Jae Crowder (wrist) OUT

Update — Ayton remains sidelined against the Jazz tonight.

Ayton has been upgraded from out to doubtful, but that still likely means JaVale McGee and Jalen Smith take most of the center minutes. Payne and Crowder are out, so look for Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges to be heavily involved and will likely have inflated price points Monday.