The end of this week marks Christmas Eve, which means there is zero NBA basketball on yet another Sunday.
So consider this a six-day week and plan accordingly.
Let's get to the notes, because we have risers, fallers, injury pivots and a ton more to navigate what would be another week loaded with "game-time decisions" and last-second contingency plans.
Fantasy Friendly Team of the Week: Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers have taken a slight hit to their historical offensive output this season, but could be back to their high-powered ways this week — mainly if Tyrese Haliburton plays, which this hinges on.
Haliburton missed Saturday's game with a knee bruise and is a gametime decision for Monday, but even so, you have plenty of streamable options on this team who'll be active this week.
Here's what you have to look forward to for Indy.
- Monday: Home vs. Los Angeles Clippers
- Wednesday: Home vs. Charlotte Hornets
- Thursday: In Memphis against the Grizzlies
- Saturday: Home vs. Orlando Magic
So up first, you have the suddenly surging Clippers, who've won seven straight, but in that time, they've won one road game, and that was against the Utah Jazz. The one road game is on the second of a back-to-back, but at the very least, it's in Memphis. And you have the defensively stout Orlando Magic, who beat the Pacers 128-116 earlier this year in Indy.
But the Pacers three-game losing streak was all road games, and two against contenders in the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Expect them to push pace all week long — again, especially with Haliburton. But this is a volume play, and the Pacers are deep with fantasy options who are about to have four games in six nights.
Must Plays: Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner
Mostly Good Options: Bruce Brown, Buddy Hield
Waive Wire Candidates: Bennedict Mathurin, TJ McConnell
Struggling But Can Rebound Streamers: Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith
Other Deep League Stream Options: Isaiah Jackson
Fantasy Unfriendly Team of the Week: Washington Wizards
The Wizards have three road games — one in particular has the potential to be very worrisome.
Their three games this week are as follows:
- Monday: In Sacramento against the Kings
- Thursday: In Portland against the Trail Blazers
- Friday: In Golden State against the Warriors
The Kings are good, the Blazers aren't as bad and… Ok — let's talk about Friday night.
That's Jordan Poole's return to Golden State. Draymond Green won't be active, so there's that. But doesn't that atmosphere feel like Poole is going to do too much? Sure, it sounds silly, and I don't have the data to back that up — oh yes I do! The entire damn 2023-24 NBA season!
Poole is averaging 16.9 points on about 41/30/86 splits — we expected inefficiency play, but it's been even worse considering he's not even hovering around 20 points per game.
His offensive rating is 97 — that's with a 27.5 usage. He's averaging a field every other minute. And if you drafted him, that's on you.
Will he try to go for 40 against the Warriors? Of course — doesn't he always?
It's gonna be a maddening week to have damn near anyone on this team — Bilal Coulibaly could be a keeper, though.
Absolute Keepers: Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford
Frustrating Starts: Tyus Jones, Deni Advija
Waiver Wire Candidate: Bilal Coulibaly
Depends On The Day: Jordan Poole
INJURY PIVOTS
G Darius Garland
Cleveland Cavaliers
Garland has a broken jaw, suffered on Friday, and is expected to be out for multiple weeks, likely putting him out until the New Year.
Team Pivots: Caris LeVert, Craig Porter Jr., Isaac Okoro
Waiver Wire Pivots: Tim Hardaway Jr., Malaki Branham, Grayson Allen
G Bradley Beal
Phoenix Suns
We finally saw Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker together… aaaaand it's gone. Beal will be out "a few weeks" due to an ankle injury, so attack your waiver wire accordingly.
Team Pivots: Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon
Waiver Wire Pivots: Tim Hardaway Jr., Caris LeVert
F/C Evan Mobley
Cleveland Cavaliers
Mobley will be out for several weeks following arthroscopic knee surgery, which typically puts players out for about two months.
Team Pivots: Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Georges Niang
Waiver Wire Pivots: Tari Eason, James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, Dario Saric
RISERS
G Collin Sexton
Utah Jazz
Here's your Jordan Clarkson injury pivot.
Clarkson is gone for at least another week, but likely longer. Sexton has played three games since Clarkson's absence, averaging 27.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game on 59/37/92 shooting. No, he won't keep that up, but he'll be a key contributor and could do so on efficient shooting. Less we forget, Sexton once recorded 24-4-3 on 48/37/82 shooting for an entire season. He's capable of some big numbers on efficient shooting, which will help your fantasy prospects on a nowhere Jazz team.
G/F Caris LeVert
Cleveland Cavaliers
Mobley out, Garland out, and suddenly, LeVert may be your second best scoring option on many nights.
He's fourth in team scoring at 15.2 points per game behind those two and Donovan Mitchell. LeVert is also near four rebounds and four assists per game on the season.
He's typically the team's sixth man and has the third highest-usage on the club behind their dynamic backcourt. He's averaged 17-3-3-1-1 over his last three while shooting 48/36/75 shooting. He won't always get it done efficiently, but expect a production surge with the short-handed Cavs for at least the next couple weeks.
FALLERS
G Kevin Huerter
Sacramento Kings
Now this could be a drop candidate if you're not in a deep league.
Kevin Huerter is still starting for the Kings but is down to 11.2 points per game on 43/36/79 shooting from last season, where he was giving you 15.2 points on 49/40/73 shooting. His rebounds are up to 4.3 from 3.3, and the assists still hover around 2.9, so there's that.
He's at 5 points per game over his last five on 28/26/67 shooting in 19 minutes per. If you have him, he's likely on thin ice.
Miami Heat players except for Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo(?)
Possibly next in the running for unfriendly team of the week.
The Heat have three games this week:
- Monday: Home vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
- Wednesday: In Orlando against the Magic
- Friday: Home vs. Atlanta Hawks
This is not a call to drop your Heat players, depending on who you have, but proceed with caution. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro both return Monday, and regarding the latter especially, we don't know how it'll affect the Jaime Jaquez's, Duncan Robinson's and Caleb Martin's of the world.
Kevin Love should take a hit, Orlando Robinson will be useless in fantasy, and Kyle Lowry is out to begin the week.
Jaquez, to me, should be a keeper no matter what, but we'll have to see how Martin and Robinson, in particular, are affected. If Herro is immediately back to his starting role, then Robinson comes off the bench. If Herro begins his return off the bench, he'll share the second unit with Martin. We'll have to see how it works.
