Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker headline NBA injury report for Wednesday, March 9

We’ve got a fully packed NBA slate Wednesday with 12 games on the docket, featuring a doubleheader on ESPN with Suns-Heat and Trail Blazers-Jazz. Here’s a look at the day’s injury report, along with the relevant fantasy and betting implications.

NBA Injury Report: March 9

Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets

Aaron Nesmith (ankle) OUT

With Nesmith out, look for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to continue taking most of the forward minutes for the Boston. The Celtics have been hot of late, so both Tatum and Brown are strong anchors for DFS lineups.

Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons

Nikola Vucevic (hamstring) available

Update - After missing Monday’s game, Vucevic is available Wednesday. He should have a solid game against Pistons frontcourt missing its top defensive player.

Vucevic’s status will impact Tristan Thompson, who likely tops out as a mid-level utility play in fantasy/DFS formats.

Isaiah Stewart (knee) OUT
Killian Hayes (groin) OUT

Update - Hayes is out, so Cunningham and Bey are in line for big minutes against the Bulls Wednesday.

Stewart is out, which opens up more minutes for Jerami Grant in the frontcourt. If Hayes is out, Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey would see more minutes.

Phoenix Suns vs. Miami Heat

Devin Booker (protocols) available
Cameron Johnson (quad) OUT

Update - Johnson has been ruled out, opening up more minutes for Jae Crowder and Mikal Bridges on the perimeter in this game.

Update - There’s big news for the Suns; Booker will be back for Wednesday’s game. The guard automatically becomes a fantasy/DFS star, while elevating some of the rotation players around him.

There’s still no official word on either player, but the Suns did play a game Tuesday and could add more personnel to this report if players need to be rested.

Jimmy Butler (illness) OUT
Caleb Martin (Achilles) available

Update - Butler is out, while Martin is available. This likely swings the lines towards the Suns, as Butler is the heartbeat of this Miami team. We’ll see what the rotation looks like, but Herro and Robinson stand to benefit from a fantasy/DFS perspective.

Butler was downgraded to questionable, so there’s a chance he misses this game. Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson would be expected to pick up the slack, and Victor Oladipo would also be a nice option even if he’s on a minutes limit.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Kevin Huerter (shoulder) available

Update - As expected, Huerter will play Wednesday against the Bucks.

Huerter is likely to go, which caps Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari on the perimeter. All three are still decent plays for the Hawks, who will look to launch from deep against Milwaukee.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

LeBron James (knee) available
Malik Monk (calf) available
Talen Horton-Tucker (ankle) OUT

Update - James is back after missing a game with the knee issue. He’s been on a tear of late and should be able to propel the Lakers past Houston singlehandedly.

James was ruled out of the team’s last game, so he should be good to go here. Monk and Horton-Tucker are nice rotation players with some upside in fantasy/DFS contests.

Christian Wood (illness) OUT

Update - Wood has been ruled out, and Jae’Sean Tate is also out for Houston. Green and Kevin Porter Jr. are the primary scorers now for this Rockets team, with Eric Gordon being a value option as well.

Wood is the primary scorer for Houston, so Jalen Green would likely take on a bigger offensive workload if the forward is out.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Patrick Beverley (ankle) OUT
Anthony Edwards (knee) available
Taurean Prince (back) available
D’Angelo Russell (hamstring) available

Update - Both Edwards and Russell are in, while Beverley is out. This won’t mean much for the game itself as Portland is in shambles as a team, but both Edwards and Russell will be solid fantasy/DFS plays tonight. Nowall could see more action with Beverley out.

The Timberwolves could be without Beverley, Edwards and Russell again. Jaden McDaniels and Jaylen Nowall could be excellent options tonight depending on how these injuries play out.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Orlando Magic

Brandon Ingram (hamstring) out 7-10 days

Update - Ingram has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game, which likely gives CJ McCollum additional offensive opportunities. Herbert Jones will also likely get extended minutes with Ingram out.

Ingram was ruled out of New Orleans’ Tuesday game, so we’ll see if he can suit up Wednesday in an important game for the Pelicans.

Jalen Suggs (ankle) available

Update - Suggs is set to play Wednesday and will likely get the start. He’s unlikely to be a high-end fantasy/DFS option, but will get decent minutes as the Magic try to balance out the rotation on the second night of a back-to-back set.

The Magic are coming off a game Tuesday, so Suggs might be rested in this one. Cole Anthony would be the natural fantasy/DFS play if Suggs is ruled out.

Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson (foot) available

Update - Brunson will play and start against the Knicks. Luka Doncic is still the top fantasy/DFS player on Dallas, but Brunson is a nice complementary option in what is a heavy slate.

Brunson has been upgraded to probable, so he’s likely good to go and becomes a value option against a porous Knicks defense.

Cam Reddish (shoulder) OUT
Obi Toppin (hamstring) OUT
Nerlens Noel (foot) OUT
Mitchell Robinson (illness) available

Update - Robinson is playing and should get heavy minutes with Noel out. He’s a nice value add in fantasy/DFS lineups.

Update - Robinson is officially a game-time decision with an illness, so the Knicks might roll with Taj Gibson at center more in this contest.

With Reddish and Toppin out, RJ Barrett is the star option here for the Knicks. The forward has been playing well of late, and now has little competition for minutes at his position.

Toronto Raptors vs. San Antonio Spurs

Fred VanVleet (knee) available

VanVleet will play. Even with some Raptors reporting shenanigans, the point guard ultimately only missed a handful of games. Gary Trent Jr. remains a nice value add since OG Anunoby is still out.

Devin Vassell (illness) available
Lonnie Walker (illness) available
Josh Primo (illness) OUT

Update - Both guys are good to play.

Both Spurs rotation players look to be in, although Vassell has more upside as a creator and perimeter scorer.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz

Anfernee Simons (knee) OUT

Update - Simons is out, so maybe Keon Johnson represents a nice value option because someone has to score for Portland. However, it’s hard to trust anyone on Portland at the moment.

Simons is the lone Blazers player worth rostering in fantasy/DFS contests, so there might not be any good options if he gets ruled out.

Denver Nuggets vs. Sacramento Kings

Will Barton (ankle) OUT
Bones Hyland (ankle) OUT
Jeff Green (unknown) OUT

Update - Barton, Hyland and Green are all out. This means Rivers and Morris will be the primary rotation players assisting Nikola Jokic in this Wednesday contest.

Barton is getting good minutes for Denver, so look for Bones Hyland, Austin Rivers and Monte Morris to absorb those if the starter gets ruled out with this injury.

Domantas Sabonis (suspension) OUT

Sabonis has been suspended for a game due to contact with an official. The league takes these incidents seriously, so the big man is out Wednesday against the Nuggets.

Washington Wizards vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Robert Covington (personal) OUT

The Clippers wing has been ruled out with a personal matter. This elevates Terance Mann and Nicolas Batum in fantasy/DFS contests.