Week 23 Fantasy Basketball Injury Report: Paul George Returns
Paul George made a great late-season return, scoring 34 points in a big win over the Utah Jazz. As we wrap up the NBA regular season, many losing teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are deciding to shut down their best players. Let's take a look at what the NBA looks like with less than two weeks of play remaining before the playoffs.
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Week 23 NBA Injuries & Updates
Robert Williams III, Boston Celtics (Knee)
The Celtics' big man who has dominated this season and been one of my personal favorites to see improve over the last few years will be out until at least May. If the Celtics are rolling through the playoffs, his return will certainly be a nice late addition to help guarantee their success in the playoffs. What a lucky and great signing it was by Boston to bring Daniel Theis back. The German vet is reunited with his new team where he and Al Horford are the team’s two best available bigs at the moment. I also expect an uptick in minutes from Grant Williams, who brings defensive energy to the floor and some relief scoring.
SG/SF Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers (Elbow)
Paul George made his well-anticipated return for the Clippers after having been out since Dec. 22 and scored an impressive 34 points (10-20 FG) in a decisive 121-115 victory over the Utah Jazz Tuesday night. The 31-year-old star tore a ligament in his elbow (UCL), which has limited his 2021-22 regular season to 27 games. Clearly, it seems his elbow has recovered and PG-13 seems to be playoff ready, to say the least.
PG Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (Foot)
Stephen Curry is expected to make a return soon and is currently listed as DTD. While he’s been out, Jordan Poole has stepped in and has played superbly. Poole has been knocking down 20-25+ in each of his last 10 games, plus he's converted over 50% of his field-goal attempts in six of those contests. He’s just a stud, and it’s great seeing him perform at this level when given the minutes. This should be terrifying for Phoenix Suns fans by playoff time, as Golden State simply has unbelievable depth at the wing position. Still, the Suns beat the Warriors by four points in a great nationally televised game yesterday.
PG Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets (Back)
According to the New York Post, Doc Rivers was “Praying” for the 76ers front office to trade the whiny Ben Simmons away. He got his wish, and Simmons has yet to make a debut for the Nets. That’s because he was diagnosed with a herniated back last week, and therefore remains weeks away from suiting up for Brooklyn.
Brooklyn is an unpredictable team in that players such as Bruce Brown and Seth Curry can play anywhere between 20-35 minutes per night. The unpredictability of their minutes on any given night makes it difficult to suggest one player or the other. Nonetheless, they are equally seeing more time on the floor with Simmons sidelined. Once Simmons returns, Bruce Brown and Seth Curry will see their roles decrease.
SF Tim Hardaway Jr., Dallas Mavericks (Foot)
Hardaway Jr. underwent surgery on his foot on Jan. 22 and according to recent reports, he hasn’t been able to recover enough for an early to mid-April return. I think there is a good chance the Mavericks decide to shut him down for the season. Dorian Finney-Smith’s role hasn’t increased as much as I had expected. Dallas is playing a lot of small ball with Jalen Brunson, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Luka Doncic doing the vast majority of the team’s scoring. In 18 games played for Dallas this season, Dinwiddie is averaging 17.2 PPG on 49.8% shooting from the field.
PG Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (Knee)
Ja Morant will be out at least another week after tweaking his knee in mid-March. That’s okay though because the Grizzlies keep rolling without him. Desmond Bane has scored 20.4 PPG while shooting 49.3% over his last 10 games. In comparison, he’s averaging 18.2 PPG through 73 games played this regular season. His minutes however are not increasing. Bane has seen his offensive role increase since Ja hurt his knee.
Players Shut Down For the Season
PF Jerami Grant, Detroit Pistons (Calf)
Jerami Grant has been shut down for the rest of the season due to a calf injury, making it the second consecutive year that Detroit’s star forward cannot finish the regular season healthy. Marvin Bagley III has been playing great for the Pistons since being traded from Sacramento. Isaiah Stewart could also see some added minutes in the last few games of the regular season.
C James Wiseman, Golden State Warriors (Knee)
The Warriors have shut down James Wiseman for the season. It’s too bad hearing this news, as he was sent to the Warriors' G-League affiliates within weeks of when Klay Thompson was sent to Santa Cruz to get in the groove again. Unfortunately, Wiseman will not be returning this season nor for the playoffs.
This immediately guarantees a spot for Kevon Looney to backup Draymond Green. Green hasn’t scored in double-figures once since returning to action but has also been limited to approximately 25 minutes per contest. Looney is playing fewer minutes and producing similar numbers on offense and off the glass. Green is a more versatile big, capable of dishing out plenty of assists and providing steals and blocks. Draymond had 10 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks in the Warriors' win over the Suns last night.
[lastten="Kevon Looney]
Teams With 3+ Players Out For The Season
Houston Rockets
- C Christian Wood
- SG Eric Gordon
- PG Denis Schroeder
Indiana Pacers
- C Myles Turner
- SF TJ Warren
- PG Ricky Rubio
Oklahoma City Thunder
- PG Josh Giddey
- SG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SF Luguentz Dort
- PF Darius Bazley
- SG Ty Jerome
- PF Mike Muscala
Portland Trail Blazers
- SG Anfernee Simmons
- PG Damian Lillard
- C Jusuf Nurkic
- PG Eric Bledsoe
- SG Joe Ingles
- SF Nasir Little
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