Streaming becomes even more important as the week draws to a close, for many, the first week of their fantasy playoffs. There are 12 teams in action Saturday with only two teams on the second game of a back-to-back set. The Knicks will host the Kings in the early game, with plenty of potential value to be found. Allonzo Trier has been scoring the ball well over the past two weeks and if his playing time was assured, he would almost be a must-roster player. Owners who need points and threes should give him a look, although, he comes with no assurances based on the rotations in New York right now.
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Daily Fantasy Basketball Forecaster
Key Injuries
- Marvin Bagley – Kings (knee – out)
- Mario Hezonja – Knicks (knee – questionable)
- DeWayne Dedmon – Hawks (knee – doubtful)
- Robert Covington – Timberwolves (ankle – out)
- Kyrie Irving – Celtics (thigh – probable)
- Kyle Kuzma – Lakers (ankle – questionable)
- Brandon Ingram – Lakers (shoulder – questionable)
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Lakers (knee – doubtful)
- Bismack Biyombo – Hornets (knee – questionable)
- T.J. Warren – Suns (ankle – out)
Potential Pickups
- Tyler Johnson – Suns
- Moe Harkless – Trail Blazers
Potential Streamers
- Harry Giles – Kings (rebounds, FG%)
- Damyean Dotson – Knicks (points, three-pointers)
- Allonzo Trier – Knicks (points, three-pointers)
- DeMarre Carroll – Nets (points, three-pointers)
- Ed Davis – Nets (rebounds)
- Rodions Kurucs – Nets (points, rebounds)
- Kevin Huerter – Hawks (three-pointers)
- Alex Len – Hawks (Dedmon injury)
- Thomas Bryant – Wizards (blocks)
- Reggie Bullock – Lakers (three-pointers)
- Frank Kaminsky – Hornets (points, rebounds)
- Richaun Holmes – Suns (blocks)
- Rodney Hood – Trail Blazers (points, three-pointers)
Matchups for Saturday, March 9
Kings @ Knicks
The Kings have lost four of their past five games and are beginning to lose touch with the playoff teams. There is no word on when Marvin Bagley will return to the court and the timing will likely be dependant on their next few games. Harry Giles has been playing well and if the Kings are eliminated from playoff contention, there is a chance Giles begins to increase his production as his playing time rises. As of now, he is worth considering as a streaming option but longer term could be a pickup.
As always, the Knicks rotations are impossible to predict, however, Allonzo Trier has now scored in double-digits in six of his past seven games. Three of those games have been 20 points or more and he has been getting to the free-throw line with regularity. In a perfect world, Trier would be locked into 30 minutes per night but David Fizdale is far from a perfect coach. Trier is worth streaming in if you need points and threes but certainly is no guarantee to produce consistently.
Nets @ Hawks
After losing three straight games, the Nets have put together back-to-back victories, albeit against inferior opposition. Ed Davis failed to record double-digit rebounds in any of the three losses but has turned things around over the past two games. He does basically nothing else but if you need an injection of boards, Davis is your man.
DeWayne Dedmon was downgraded to doubtful for Saturday’s game, meaning Alex Len could still have value in 12-team formats. He has dropped at least 11 points in three of his past four games, adding a combined 30 rebounds and nine triples. Keep an eye on the Hawks injury report, and if Dedmon is indeed ruled out, Len could be worth scooping up.
Wizards @ Timberwolves
The Wizards are on the second game of a back-to-back set, losing in Charlotte by just one point only 24 hours ago. Thomas Bryant played just 15 minutes Friday and appears to have settled into a pure backup role. He has blocked at least one shot in 15 straight games but his other numbers have been far from consistent.
The Timberwolves have lost four of their past five games and their playoff aspirations appear to be slipping away. The absence of Robert Covington for an extended period has certainly impacted the team’s ability to defend opposition wings and with no clear timetable, owners may have to move on. Josh Okogie has had flashes of value during his time in the starting unit but typically provides very little outside of steals.
Celtics @ Lakers
The Celtics have gotten things back on track over their last two games, with victories over the Warriors and the Kings. Coming up against the dysfunctional Lakers should provide them with a third consecutive win but stranger things have certainly happened this season. Gordon Hayward has had a pair of strong performances and appears to be the key to the Celtics’ success this season. Owners and fans alike will be hoping he can continue this recent form in a favorable matchup Saturday.
The Lakers continue to disappoint and it has now been reported that LeBron James is going to be on a minutes restriction for the remainder of the season. He is also slated to miss back-to-backs in what is a bitter blow for his fantasy owners. The Lakers also have a number of injuries and therefore, any predictions relating to fantasy value are almost impossible to make at this stage.
Hornets @ Bucks
The Hornets held on for a one-point victory over the Wizards on Friday, another step in their journey to a possible playoff berth. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a knee injury during the second quarter and has to be considered doubtful for Saturday. In his absence, Frank Kaminsky could see more playing time, however, it was Dwayne Bacon who stepped into a larger role. He finished with 10 points in 25 minutes and was guarding Bradley Beal down the stretch. We would need to see this a few more times before making a move, so he can be left on the waivers for now.
The Bucks got back in the winners’ circle in their last game, comfortably defeating the Pacers. They sit atop the Eastern Conference standings and will be looking for their 50th win of the season against the Hornets. From a fantasy perspective, the Bucks continue to roll with their usual suspects. A group of six players, all rostered in at least 94 percent of leagues.
Suns @ Trail Blazers
The Suns have now won three games in a row, with their young core starting to work things out. Tyler Johnson continues to provide fringe standard league value, with solid contributions in points, assists, and steals. His ceiling is certainly not the highest but the Suns are going to roll with him moving forward, making him a player to consider adding in competitive leagues.
The Trail Blazers are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Thunder, a game in which Moe Harkless played just 21 minutes. Prior to this, he had been fantastic in his role as a starter and perhaps this was simply not his night. Guarding Paul George is by no means an easy feat and it is likely he picks things back up in a more favorable matchup against the Suns. Harkless can contribute in multiple categories and, much like Tyler Johnson, should be a viable asset in many 12-team leagues moving forward.
Got a question about today’s fantasy basketball fringe report? Hit Adam up on twitter @adamking91 or give a shout out to @Fantrax
Adam King is new to NBA writing for FantraxHQ. He also currently writes for Rotowire and has previously written for Locked on Fantasy Basketball and Locked on Timberwolves. He has played sports his entire life with fantasy basketball becoming a passion over the past six years. By day, Adam is the service coordinator at the Autism Centre in Canberra, Australia. Adam was born and raised in Queanbeyan, Australia and currently resides in Bungendore, Australia with his wife and two children.
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