Tim

Hardaway Jr.

Hardaway will remain sidelined for a third consecutive game. As a result, Malik Beasley will stay in the starting lineup and will add value in category leagues. Simone Fontecchio (toe) has been cleared to play and may sneak into the back end of the rotation, but Beasley is the player fantasy managers should target.

Injured during Tuesday’s win over the Heat, Hardaway has missed Detroit’s last two games. Malik Beasley’s minutes will likely take a hit if Hardaway can play on Sunday. As for Fontecchio, he’s been out of the rotation most nights, so his availability will not impact fantasy basketball.

Hardaway and Fontecchio were initially doubtful for Friday’s game, so the status downgrades were expected. The former’s absence is far more impactful, opening up a spot in the starting lineup. With Hardaway out, Malik Beasley and Ron Holland II will play more minutes, with the former the likely choice to start. Beasley is worth streaming while Hardaway sits, especially for managers needing 3-pointers.

Given the doubtful tags, it appears unlikely that Hardaway or Fontecchio will play on Friday. The good news for the former is that the Pistons list his injury as a laceration without mentioning a potential concussion after his scary fall on Tuesday. Malik Beasley and Ron Holland will play more minutes, with the former being a worthwhile streamer in deep leagues.

Hardaway will be getting stitches after taking elbow to face and then slamming back of his head against the hardwood. Haynes notes that it’s great news considering how scary it looked as Hardaway was down on the floor for more than a couple minutes and headed to the locker room on a wheelchair. There’s still no clear timetable for his return.

Hardaway Jr. (head) collided with Jalen Duren as the two Pistons defended a drive by Miami’s Tyler Herro in the third quarter for Tuesday’s game against the Heat. Hardaway Jr. appeared to be on the receiving end of a knee to back of the head from Duren. He was down on the floor for several minutes before heading to the locker room on a wheelchair. We’ll have another update once more is known about Hardaway Jr.'s condition.

Thompson has been sidelined since March while dealing with blood clots, but he’ll be available to start ramping up in anticipation of a return in the near future. Thompson’s eventual return could mean fewer minutes for the likes of Tim Hardaway Jr., Malik Beasley and Simone Fontecchio, though it’s likely Thompson is eased back into action after such a long layoff.

Cade Cunningham only had 17 points as he started the game with more of a facilitator role in mind and Hardaway Jr. seemed to benefit from that. He took eight 3-pointers and knocked down four of them. Hardaway Jr. will be inconsistent and won’t provide much else, but he can certainly provide some 3-pointers. The Pistons play the Hornets on Wednesday as well as matchups with the Hawks and Rockets this weekend.

He may not do much, but THJ will absolutely shoot some 3-pointers. When they don’t go in, things don’t go well. However, that wasn’t the case in this one, even if it wasn’t enough to help his team secure their first win of the season. He’s only rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues, but he has played 30.6 minutes per game so far and provided top-150 value in 9-cat leagues thus far. He’ll be inconsistent, but if you’re in need of a 3-point boost in a deeper league, THJ could be your answer.

Hardaway has been upgraded from questionable to available for Detroit’s season opener. The veteran wing will start alongside Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren, giving him a boost for fantasy managers needing points and 3-pointers. However, as in Dallas, managers should not expect too much from Hardaway.