RJ Barrett played 33 minutes vs. the Cavaliers on Friday, finishing with 20 points (7-of-12 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, two triples and four turnovers.
Coach Tom Thibodeau is known for giving his key players a ton of minutes, so it's no surprise that Barrett came into tonight averaging an NBA-high 37.9 minutes. Fantasy managers will have to accept that he's going to be a drain on FG% (38.5) and FT% (72.1) with limited triples (0.9), steals (0.8) and blocks (0.3), but he's getting the job done in points (16.6), rebounds (7.1) and dimes (3.4).
James Ennis (hamstring) finished Friday's game vs. Boston with two points and one rebound in 15 minutes.
Ennis had as many personal fouls (three) as combined stats in every other category. Evan Fournier remains sidelined by back spasms and we've yet to see him in practice, so Ennis and Dwayne Bacon (15 points, eight boards) could both start in the second half of this back-to-back in Brooklyn on Saturday. Bacon has more fantasy appeal than Ennis, but that's not saying much.
Cole Anthony shot 7-of-18 for 15 points on Friday, adding six rebounds and three assists while committing five turnovers in 27 minutes.
The Magic have yet to win since Markelle Fultz's season ended with a torn left ACL. Michael Carter-Williams (foot) remains sidelined and Orlando can't get him back soon enough, to give the rookie Anthony some support at the point guard spot. Anthony is also struggling to capitalize for fantasy purposes, averaging 11.7 points on 34.3% shooting, 2.3 boards, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.7 turnovers as a starter. Those numbers are nowhere near standard-league value, so it was a relief to see him open this game 4-of-4 from the field -- until he proceeded to shoot 3-of-14 the rest of the way. There are better days ahead, but managers may need to bench him until he scores with any degree of efficiency.
Jordan Bone played 27 minutes off Orlando's bench on Friday, making 4-of-8 shots for nine points with three rebounds, one steal and one 3-pointer.
The Magic have lost four straight games and they're staring at four consecutive road games, beginning with Saturday's tilt vs. the Nets. They came into this game without seven players who might normally be in their rotation, including season-ending injuries to two franchise pillars (Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac), with Fultz's injury opening a window of opportunity for Bone. With minutes in the teens most nights, though, nothing suggests he'll be of use in typical fantasy leagues.
Nikola Vucevic finished Friday's lopsided loss with 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and one 3-pointer, making 6-of-13 FGs and 2-of-2 FTs in 26 minutes.
Vuc has a huge workload for the Magic, who don't get more than one day off between games until Feb. 2. "We're going to try to save [players'] legs and as much energy as possible for the games," said coach Steve Clifford. "It's a different season, and the longer we go through it there's just more challenges. I think the way you handle these off days are critical." The Magic have already dealt with a heap of injuries, but hopefully Clifford's light touch in practices and shootarounds will preserve the health of Vuc and other rotation pillars.
Buddy Hield (right ankle) is in the starting lineup on Friday vs. the Clippers.
It's standard procedure for the Kings to list their players as probable after recently returning from an injury. Hield should be a full go this evening.
Eric Bledsoe (right eye irritation) is a game-time decision vs. the Lakers on Friday.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker will start for the Pelicans regardless of Bledsoe's status, according to coach Stan Van Gundy, which makes sense since NAW is coming off a 37-point gem.
CJ Elleby (left foot strain) is out for Saturday's game vs. the Hawks.
The Blazers' second-round pick hasn't earned more than garbage-time minutes this season, so his absence won't impact fantasy rosters.
Garrett Temple (ankle) is active for Friday vs. the Thunder.
The Bulls haven't said if he's "available," and Temple said this afternoon that he wasn't sure if he was healthy enough to play. Temple has been sneaky good for the last four games for Chicago, but they finally have some reinforcements back tonight.
Wesley Matthews (right Achilles soreness) will play vs. the Pelicans on Friday.
He should slot into his usual 20-minute role for the Lakers, but doesn't do nearly enough to entice most fantasy managers.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (left ankle) is good to go for Friday vs. the Pelicans.
The Lakers have been listing him as probable but he's all systems go once again. KCP has been a surprise 8th-round value in 9-cat this season despite a reduced role.
Taurean Prince has been ruled out on Friday vs the Knicks as all players involved in the James Harden trade must their physicals before one can play.
Prince and center Jarrett Allen are out for Friday's game as they wait for all players in the Harden trade to pass their physicals. Though it's not clear which player everyone is waiting on at this point.
Taurean Prince is doubtful to play on Friday vs the Knicks as all players involved in the James Harden trade must their physicals before one can play.
Prince and center Jarrett Allen are listed as doubtful for Friday's game as they wait for all players in the Harden trade to pass their physicals. Though it's not clear which player everyone is waiting on at this point.
Avery Bradley (health and safety protocols) will not play vs. Detroit on Saturday.
Bradley hasn't played since Jan. 9 but he's getting ruled out a day in advance, so he may be subject to the longer self-isolation period of players who tested positive for COVID-19. His absence leaves a few extra minutes on the table for Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro (neck; questionable), Goran Dragic (protocols; questionable) and Gabe Vincent (knee; questionable).
Gabe Vincent (knee) is questionable for Saturday's game vs. Detroit.
Vincent has been playing huge minutes for Miami's gutted roster recently, but reinforcements could be coming with over a half-dozen players considered 'questionable' for Saturday.
Goran Dragic (health and safety protocols) is questionable for Saturday's game.
Miami has six players questionable and two players out due to protocols, in addition to two players questionable and one player out due to injuries. It's a mess. Hopefully we'll get some clarity after Saturday's shootaround.
Reggie Bullock (right hip soreness) is starting vs. the Cavaliers on Friday.
Alec Burks (left ankle) has been ruled out on Friday vs the Cavs.
Tom Thibodeau says Burks is "day-to-day" and adds that, "He's coming along very well. He's getting closer and closer. We've got to re-condition him. He's doing quite a bit in practice right now." Burks hasn't played since Dec. 27 and prior to that, he was averaging 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in three games for the Knicks. Rookie Immanuel Quickley is a solid streaming option, as he's coming off a 19-point, three-assist game against the Nets on Wednesday.
Kristaps Porzingis (left ankle sprain) will play vs. the Bucks on Friday.
Porzingis tweaked his ankle during his return on Wednesday, but it's not enough to hold him out in a marquee showdown vs. the Bucks. He played 21 minutes on Wednesday and that number should slowly creep up as the Mavs work him back from right knee surgery. Keep him in your active lineups.
Danuel House (health and safety protocols) is out for Saturday's game vs. the Spurs.
House isn't with the Rockets as he self-isolates. He was already dealing with a prolonged back injury that was so bad he struggled walking, so whenever he's cleared he'll need some time to regain his conditioning. The opportunity is there for House on the Rockets' post-Harden roster, but he's yet to provide an iota of fantasy value in 2020-21.