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Week 8 of the NBA season will be headlined by the returns of some prominent players. James Harden is expected to be back in action Monday night, while Clippers wings Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are questionable for a matchup with the Hornets. But with the returns comes the need to navigate back-to-backs, which will set up fantasy managers for some interesting decisions to make, especially those that require a weekly lineup to be set ahead of Monday’s action.
Week 8 Schedule: Games Played
4 Games: ATL, CHA, DAL, DET, IND, LAC, LAL, MIA, MIL, ORL, PHO, TOR
3 Games: BOS, BKN, CHI, CLE, DEN, GSW, HOU, MEM, MIN, NOP, NYK, OKC, PHI, SAC, UTA, WAS
2 Games: POR, SAS
-- The Beard is set to make his return in Houston
James Harden fully participated in Sunday’s practice, and while officially questionable for Monday’s game against the Rockets, the man himself said he’s “on pace” to return. Under normal circumstances, Philadelphia’s three-game week would be a bad deal for those who have Harden rostered. But it may be a positive here. After Monday, the 76ers don’t play again until Friday against the Lakers, and they cap the week with a Sunday matchup with the struggling Hornets. That should help Harden get back into the swing of things after missing a month with a foot injury. Clearly, his minutes and production will be watched closely, but the same can be said for De’Anthony Melton and Shake Milton.
With Harden and Tyrese Maxey (foot) sidelined, Melton and Milton have provided top-75 value in 9-cat formats over the last three weeks, with the latter being a top-50 player. Milton may be the player managers are more concerned with, as Melton’s defensive production makes it “easier” for him to maintain his fantasy value even with Harden and Maxey in the rotation. Harden alone doesn’t make Milton a player worth dropping, but it will be interesting to see how well he performs this week, likely in a bench role.
-- How much will the Clippers’ star duo play?
Paul George (hamstring) and Kawhi Leonard (ankle) could be available on Monday for the start of the Clippers’ four-game week, with both listed as questionable. However, the schedule may work against fantasy managers who have either (or both) of them rostered. The Clippers have a midweek back-to-back against the Magic and Heat before finishing their week in our nation’s capital. Leonard’s had one opportunity to play in both ends of a back-to-back this season (October 22-23), but he sat out the first game. As for George, he played in both ends of three back-to-backs, but the time on the sideline (seven games) due to his most recent injury may be enough to keep him on the bench for one of those two games in Florida.
With that being the case, we could be looking at a max of three games for Leonard and George. And with Norman Powell (groin) already ruled out for Monday, the alternatives aren’t all that appealing (Powell’s provided 10th-round value over the last three weeks). Terance Mann and Amir Coffey, who have been starting recently, are both ranked outside the top 200 over the last three weeks, as has regular starter Marcus Morris. The Clippers’ most reliable fantasy option has been Ivica Zubac, but you aren’t going to find him lurking on a waiver wire in many leagues (88% rostered, which is too low).
-- Should Portland’s Lillard be plugged into weekly lineups?
Damian Lillard returned from his second strained calf of the season on Sunday, playing 32 minutes and finishing the Blazers’ win over Indiana with 21 points (7-of-16 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), four rebounds, six assists, one steal, one blocked shot, and five 3-pointers. Obviously, this is a great development for those who have him rostered, but the Week 8 schedule isn’t a good one as far as fantasy is concerned. Portland only plays two games, the first being a home game against Denver on Thursday, followed by a matchup with the Timberwolves two days later. As far as Lillard working his way back, this is great. But from a fantasy standpoint, managers who have to set weekly lineups may be best served to sit him on the bench in favor of a player who will have three or four games to play.
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-- It’s “Nembhard Time” in Indiana...for now
Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton missed Sunday’s game with a sore groin, and he has also been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Warriors. With backup T.J. McConnell (illness) also sidelined, rookie Andrew Nembhard was the sole point guard available in Portland. And he had a good night, playing 37 minutes and recording a line of 16 points (7-of-12 FGs), six rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers. Clearly, the former Gonzaga standout is a must-stream for Monday’s game if you missed out on adding him Sunday. And he may be worth holding onto, even if Haliburton can play in the final game of the Pacers’ road trip on Wednesday (at Minnesota).
Indiana finishes the week with a home back-to-back against the Wizards (Friday) and Nets (Saturday). Maybe they’d play Haliburton in both ends if he’s available, but an injury management day wouldn’t be surprising, either. Nembhard’s rostered in 28% of Yahoo leagues, with his percentage increasing by 21% from Sunday to Monday. That figure will only increase ahead of Monday’s game, especially with there being no guarantee that Haliburton will be healthy enough to play Wednesday night. Haliburton’s absence also meant a return to the starting lineup for Aaron Nesmith, who didn’t offer much value beyond his three steals, but Nembhard is the priority add.
-- Dallas has a four-game week, but there is a catch
The Mavericks will play four games this week, and they’ve got two back-to-backs. Following games against the Suns (Monday) and Nuggets (Tuesday), Jason Kidd‘s team is off until a Friday matchup with the Bucks, followed by a game in Chicago the following night. That’s an interesting slate, especially with Christian Wood (illness) having missed Saturday’s win over the Knicks. Luka Dončić has only missed one game this season, the second half of a back-to-back on November 16, and he would have to be slotted into lineups, even if there’s concern gets a night off at some point this week.
Doncic, Wood, and Spencer Dinwiddie are essentially the only Mavericks who have to be rostered at this stage in the season, although Tim Hardaway Jr. has been on a bit of a heater recently (22 points or more in three straight games). And could we see Kemba Walker at some point? General manager Nico Harrison didn’t offer the most glowing assessment of the point guard’s health in an interview last week, but I guess we should give him credit for the honesty. Walker would not be worth adding once cleared to play, and this four-game week could easily be two for him due to the way the schedule’s set up.
-- How many Heat players will be available on Tuesday?
Tuesday’s home game against the Pistons is the second in as many nights for Miami, which visits Memphis on Monday. The injury report has been loaded with names for a few weeks now. While most of Miami’s key players were available Friday night in Boston (including Jimmy Butler), Tuesday could be viewed as an opportunity to get some guys a night off. Obviously, there will be some exceptions, as at least eight players have to be active. That said, Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro (who hasn’t had to deal with a back-to-back since returning from a sprained ankle that sidelined him for eight games last month), and Kyle Lowry (who hasn’t missed a game yet this season) are all players to keep an eye on to begin the week. If they’re available Monday night, fantasy managers should plan for the possibility that a few of those guys get to watch Tuesday’s game from the bench.
-- The Lakers may also have some availability questions to answer
Fresh off of a win over the Wizards on Sunday, the Lakers continue their road trip Tuesday night in Cleveland. And with a game against the Raptors in Toronto the following night, it’s fair to wonder if a four-game week could be three for LeBron James or Anthony Davis. The latter has been on an absolute tear recently, becoming the first Laker since Kobe Bryant to score 40 or more in consecutive games. Davis has only missed two games this season, the most recent being the second of a back-to-back against the Spurs (November 26), which has been great for managers who weren’t afraid to pick him in the first round of drafts. But Wednesday could be interesting, as the Lakers will have to deal with Joel Embiid two nights later. James missed time with a groin injury and has been nagged by foot and ankle soreness for much of this season, and it’s hard to see him sitting out his lone visit to Cleveland. Fantasy managers should go into the week expecting the two Lakers stars to be available, but a contingency plan may be in order.
-- How healthy is Trae Young?
Young did not play in Friday’s win over the Nuggets due to a sore right shoulder, and the circumstances surrounding his absence were interesting. It was reported by The Athletic that Young and Hawks coach Nate McMillan got into a disagreement during the pregame shootaround, with the point guard focusing on rehabbing his shoulder while the coach wanted him to participate in the practice. One thing led to another, and Young wasn’t even in the arena for Friday’s game. McMillan described it as a “miscommunication,” but all may not be right in Atlanta these days. The Hawks have a four-game week with no back-to-backs, beginning Monday against the Thunder, which is good as far as Young’s availability is concerned (he’s not on the injury report). Even with Young available, rookie A.J. Griffin is worth a look, especially with De’Andre Hunter (hip) and John Collins (ankle) both sidelined.
Light Game Days
Tuesday: 3 Games
LAL vs. CLE
DET vs. MIA
DAL vs. DEN
Thursday: 3 Games
LAC vs. MIA
HOU vs. SAS
DEN vs. POR
Week 8 Back-to-Backs
Monday-Tuesday: DAL, MIA
Tuesday-Wednesday: DET, LAL
Wednesday-Thursday: LAC
Thursday-Friday: None
Friday-Saturday: BKN, CLE, DAL, IND, MIN, UTA, WAS
Saturday-Sunday: CHI
