Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) goes in for a dunk against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Jeff Haynes)
Welcome to the daily updates and injury news article. We'll try and update it right up to line-up locks with as much information as comes across our desks. Let's get to it!
Last night's picks can be found here, so you can wrap your mind around what you need to be looking at before lineups lock tonight.
By the way - we keep our projection system updated with all of the changes as they occur throughout the day right up until lineup lock. Every day. If you want access to that system so you can cut out a lot of the research element, click the button below!
Nelson will miss his fourth game in the last 5 as he tries to recover from a strained calf. Jamal Murray should draw another start in his place. Faried is suffering from a lower back issue and has been ruled out as well. Barton and Mudiay, who were both uncertain will play tonight. While this may limit Murrays upside, he still is an excellent play across the board.
The Mavs will hold Barnes out for rest purposes today against Phoenix having already been eliminated from the postseason. Dorian Finney-Smith and Nicolas Brussino should both see added minutes, but are really only considerable in a large tournament if at all.
The Kings will continue to rest players, allowing Collison, Koufos, Afflalo, and Evans to all sit out tonight as they continue to evaluate their younger players. Expect Ty Lawson and Ben McLemore to start and be in play as viable options for lineups.
ZBo will be rested for tonight's game against the Pistons, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol could both see increased usage as long as they remain in the starting five.
Roberson was ruled out of Fridays tilt with the Suns with a sore knee, the first game he missed all season. If he needs another day to recover, Doug McDermott should be called on to start in his place again.
The Kings are sitting their veterans down the stretch to see what they have in their young future. They have to like what they've been seeing from Skal Labissiere. In the last four games he's averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. In his last 5 games he's seen 33 minutes or more 4 times and in each of those he has eclipsed 5X points per dollar. The Suns front court is a mess and they're among the best possible match up for opposing power forwards this season. Skal will be in play across all formats.
Another young guy with plenty of opportunity is Jamal Murray. Murray was outstanding last night against the Pelicans, dropping thirty points, while snagging 4 boards and dishing out 5 assists in 38 minutes of action. I've made mention above to the fact that Murray is coming in at such a good spot, and dependent on the status of Will Barton and Emmanuel Mudiay he could be in line for a huge run tonight. The Thunder present a significantly tougher match up than the Pelicans do, but you have to think with Russ focusing on his own offensive game as he drives towards number 42 Murray could be see plenty of opportunity as he's given all the run he can handle.
I'm just adding Russ here because it's worth noting, he actually appears in each of the top ten lineups whereas Murray appears in nine of ten. Russ, even at his 13K price tag is such an obvious play, particularly on a day with so much value opening up, it kind of goes without saying to play him against the leagues most generous match up to opposing point guards. Instead, I just wanted to highlight some of the younger value guys who were appearing in the top line ups.
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