NBA Player News

Sheppard began filling in for Nesmith as a starter sporadically last season and both players appear to need significant recovery time before appearing in another game. Benedict Mathurin will continue enjoying his expanded role in a career year in the meantime.

When healthy, Garza and Nix aren’t in the Timberwolves’ rotation. Their absences will not impact fantasy basketball.

Ingles has a chance of appearing in a game for the first time since November 17. However, he was not guaranteed rotation minutes before the soleus strain, so fantasy managers should not expect too much from the veteran wing if he’s available on Friday.

Briefly considered questionable for Thursday’s game after initially being cleared to play, Larsson is officially set to play. He’ll be one of the wing options available to Erik Spoelstra, but the rookie should not be considered a “must-stream” player with Jimmy Butler sidelined.

Rozier will play after missing Monday’s game and initially being listed as questionable with a knee injury. It’s a positive development for the Heat as well as fantasy managers as they’ll be without superstar Jimmy Butler (conditioning) Thursday.

Williams’ availability does not impact fantasy basketball, as he is not in the rotation when healthy.

While Lively took a hard fall during Wednesday’s loss to the Timberwolves, that did not prevent him from playing 30 minutes as the starter. Daniel Gafford (13 minutes vs. Minnesota) will be in for more minutes if Lively cannot play, while Maxi Kleber’s playing time (23 MIN on Wednesday) will hold steady.

Initially listed as available for Thursday’s game, Larsson is now questionable. That doesn’t bode well for his availability, and the Heat are already without Jimmy Butler. Larsson’s absence alone doesn’t impact fantasy basketball, as Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are available.

Good news for the Pacers as well as fantasy managers as Turner was initially listed as questionable. Indiana avoids having its thin center depth tested with Turner available against the Thunder Thursday.

Butler was initially listed as doubtful for Thursday after missing the last two Heat games with a stomach illness. Haywood Highsmith started the last game in Butler’s place. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Duncan Robinson could also start and garner streaming consideration in Butler’s absence.

Porzingis injured his ankle during the first half of Wednesday’s loss to the 76ers and did not return after halftime. If he cannot play on Friday, who starts will also depend on the availability of Jrue Holiday (shoulder). Al Horford is the first man up to fill the void left by any of Boston’s usual starters. If both Porzingis and Holiday sit on Friday, Luke Kornet (who started the third quarter on Wednesday) would also be in the mix for a start.