Week 2 Fantasy Basketball Injury Report: Two Former MVPs DTD & More Updates Around the League
After the first week of NBA action, some big-name players have already suffered injuries. Thankfully, for the players and our fantasy aspirations, soft-tissue injuries sustained by LBJ (ankle) and Jokic (knee) will only keep them out for a few days or perhaps a week. Zach LaVine will continue to play through a sprained left thumb he sustained early this season. Elsewhere, James Wiseman and Pascal Siakam are within weeks of returning to NBA action after sustaining injuries that required season-ending surgery in 2020. Rookie Cade Cunningham, who sprained his ankle during training camp and missed the entire preseason, is expected to make his NBA debut on Friday. Here’s your injury report after 10 days of the NBA season.
SF LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (Ankle)
King James sustained an ankle injury after a mid-game collision with Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane. He has been out for the last two games. Fortunately for LBJ, the Lakers, and fantasy owners, James avoided a serious injury to his ankle and should return to action soon. Coach Frank Vogel compared the Lakers approach to dealing with LeBron's injuries as a “marathon,” suggesting that the Lakers are being cautious in keeping him out. James is currently day-to-day. While he is sidelined, look out for Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook, each of whom will have the chance to cover for LBJ’s role as point forward for the Lakers.
C James Wiseman, Golden State Warriors (Knee)
Towards the end of last season, rookie center James Wiseman tore the meniscus in his right knee, forcing him to undergo season-ending surgery in April. Wiseman’s recovery has gone fairly well, but in his absence, guys like Kevon Looney, Jordan Poole, and Otto Porter Jr. have had opportunities to showcase their skills in the Warriors’ early-season contests. However, Golden State has struggled out of the gate. Wiseman’s current status is week-to-week but he will be reevaluated on November 1. He already has been cleared to ramp up activities and assuming things go as expected when the doctors reevaluate the big man, Wiseman will make a brief appearance in the G League before entering the Warriors’ starting lineup. While he remains out, you might consider starting Draymond Green, who will continue to produce. He’s off to a solid start with 9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and even 1.2 steals per game.
SG Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls (Left Thumb Sprain)
Zach LaVine was questionable to start for Thursday’s game against the Knicks as a result of an MRI scan which revealed LaVine sustained a sprained left thumb. It seems that LaVine is keen on playing tonight’s game and coping with any pain and/or discomfort coming from his left hand. He will play through this injury, though it is important to note that he will not be at 100% and that could affect his performance.
PF P.J. Washington, Charlotte Hornets (Knee)
Washington has been dealing with discomfort in his knee and is hoping to return to the court shortly. He was ruled out ahead of Wednesday’s contest against the Magic. That game against Orlando, PF Cody Martin played 30 minutes and scored 12 points. PF Jalen McDaniels, who played less than 12 minutes in each of the first three games, played 22 minutes on both Monday and Wednesday, scoring 16 points and 13 points respectively. Washington has missed the last two games, suggesting that McDaniels and Martin will fill his role in the Hornets’ rotation while he is out. His injury is not too severe and his status is DTD.
SG Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (Ankle)
The No. 1 pick of the 2021 NBA Draft has yet to make his NBA regular season debut. Cade Cunningham sprained his ankle at the beginning of training camp and did not play in any preseason games.Reports suggest his status is day-to-day and his return to the court could be imminent. In fact, the Detroit Pistons are hoping to activate Cunningham on Saturday when they host the Orlando Magic. If all goes well, the promising rookie will play his first NBA game this weekend.
SF T.J. Warren, Indiana Pacers (Stress Fracture Foot)
Warren is hoping to make a return to the NBA hardcourt sooner rather than later. Since suffering a stress fracture that reduced his 2020-21 season to a bleak four games, Warren has yet to play an NBA game. This comes after Warren had a spectacular display in the Bubble during the Summer of 2020, where he averaged 31 PPG. Many are eager to see him return, specifically because of his performance in the Bubble. In early September, the Pacers ruled Warren out indefinitely. In general, a timetable for his return continues to be unclear. Rick Carlisle reported 12 days ago that Warren was making progress but there is still no official timetable. "T.J. had a scan this week, and the news was positive,” Carlisle said. “There's no determined timetable yet. We are still looking at weeks, not days, but his scan this week was positive."
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Prior to last night’s game at Toronto, the Pacers ruled Warren out, just as expected.
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1453489154298417153%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fnba%2Fpacers%2Fnews%2Fnba-news-indiana-pacers-announce-full-injury-report-for-game-with-toronto-raptorsWarren is expected to return sometime in mid-to-late November, however, it will take time for him to ramp up his conditioning. And there is a real possibility that the Pacers elect to sit him when the team has games on back-to-back nights.
SF Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies (Hand)
Brooks will be out until at least the first week of November, still recovering from a fracture suffered to his left hand in an offseason practice some time in September. Brooks generated more than 17 points of offense per game for the Grizzlies last season. At the young age of 25, he should recover well and return to the court very soon and return to his previous form. Until he returns to the court, expect De’Anthony Melton, Desmond Bane, and Zaire Williams to continue playing above-average minutes.
C Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (Knee)
Jokic injured his knee in the first half of Tuesday night’s game. Although he came out during the half for shootarounds hoping to start the third quarter, Nuggets head coach Micheal Malone didn’t give the reigning MVP a choice and forced him to sit the remainder of the game. The Nuggets were being cautious in keeping him out for the second half of yesterday’s game. Fortunately, MRI’s taken on his knee revealed that Jokic avoided structural or ligament damage. Jokic is suffering from soreness and will remain day-to-day in the meantime.
PF Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors (Shoulder)
Siakam injured his shoulder in May of last year and underwent surgery in June with a timetable of approximately five months for a return. The good news for Siakam fantasy owners is that he was medically cleared for no-limitations full practices on Tuesday. He could make his season debut this week or the next. While he will most likely be on a minutes restriction in his first few games back, Siakam is young, energetic, and has an incredible work ethic. It won’t take long for him to earn back a full workload in the Raptors’ rotation. This means that some of Toronto’s forwards such as Chris Boucher and Precious Achiuwa will lose the minutes they were given in Siakam’s absence.
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