Thanksgiving week is here, which means an awesome schedule for the NBA. Turkey Day was handed over to the NFL as usual, with no NBA teams in action. At least nine games will be played on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with the Tuesday and Saturday schedules including five games. Between the schedule, the Emirates NBA Cup chase, and some significant injuries, fantasy managers will have a lot to look at as they develop their Week 6 plans.
Week 6 Games played
4 games: ATL, BKN, CHA, DAL, DET, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, NOR, NYK, OKC, ENT, POR, SAC, TOR, UTA
3 games: BOS, CHI, CLE, DEN, GSW, HOU, MIN, PHO, SAS, WAS
2 games: MIL, PHI
Week 6 Scenarios
– How long will the Clippers be without Norman Powell (hamstring)?
With Paul George no longer with the franchise and Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined, Powell has flourished as the Clippers’ leading scorer. Unfortunately, he suffered a strained hamstring on Monday and missed the team’s last two games, most recently a win against the Kings on Friday. Powell was also ruled out for Sunday’s game in Philadelphia, the first of four the Clippers will play on the road (three in Week 6). Amir Coffey has filled the void in the starting lineup and is worth playing while Powell sits. Jordan Miller has been racking up rotation minutes recently, but isn’t worth the risk in most leagues, and managers can also afford to leave Kevin Porter Jr. alone.
– Will Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal return from calf injuries?
While Durant has been out since November 8, missing seven games, Beal has missed Phoenix’s last five games. It would be an understatement to say that their absences have left huge holes in the Suns’ rotation, with Ryan Dunn, Royce O’Neale and Josh Okogie all getting opportunities to start. But the calendar
Wednesday’s loss to the Knicks was their final game of Week 5. Durant and Beal participated in Friday’s practice, which included 3-on-3, and are expected to play 5-on-5 . on Sunday. If their bodies respond well, Tuesday’s game against the Lakers could be when Durant and Beal return to the lineup. Phoenix plays three games in Week 6, which includes a Tuesday/Wednesday back-to-back. If they are allowed to play the Lakers, Week 6 could be a two-game week for Durant and Beal.
– What’s going on with Paul George (knee) and Joel Embiid (knee)?
The former, who hyperextended his knee for the second time this season, will be re-evaluated on Monday, so there should be more clarity. As for Embiid, he is suffering from swelling in his knee, and no one knows what will happen to him in the short term. Rookie Jared McCain is the man of the moment in Fantasy, as he has scored 20 or more points in seven straight games and is building chemistry with Tyrese Maxey. Embiid’s absence puts Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele in the spotlight, with the latter the pick to start Friday’s win over the Nets. Caleb Martin had the minutes, but the production was not there. He’s unlikely to be on the radar in most leagues unless George is out for an extended period of time.
– Milwaukee and Philadelphia are the teams with two-game slates
While the 76ers only playing twice in Week 6 may be good for the team due to injuries to George and Embiid, it’s not the best for managers looking for streaming options. Philadelphia plays two games in Week 6, but the second (Saturday vs. Detroit) will be worth the watch because it’s one of the lighter game days of the week. Although the Bucks also play two games, they are active on the lighter days (Tuesday and Saturday). Gary Trent Jr. has been disappointing most nights, but the show might make it worth streaming one of these days, and the same can be said for Taurean Prince. Andre Jackson Jr. has been the fifth starter recently, but hasn’t done enough to merit entry into fantasy leagues.
– Luka Doncic (wrist) will be re-evaluated in Week 6
At the time of his injury, the Mavericks announced that Doncic would be out for at least a week. If that schedule is met, it will keep him on the bench for at least the first two games, at Atlanta on Monday and at home against the Knicks on Wednesday. If Quentin Grimes was the replacement in the starting lineup, Naji Marshall should not be overlooked. He finished Friday’s win over the Nuggets with 26 points, shooting 11 of 15 from the field. Another beneficiary has been PJ Washington, who is already signed up in most Yahoo leagues. No Doncic means more shots and playmaking opportunities, so players like Washington, Marshall and Grimes will have added value during a four-game Week 6.
– Brooklyn, Boston, Dallas, Lakers, Miami and Utah follow one another from the end of week 5 to the start of week 7.
The Mavericks are one of six teams that will have to sail back-to-back times during the period from the last day of Week 5 to the first day of Week 7. Brooklyn (Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton) and Boston (Al Horford) have players who are at risk of missing a match or who are guaranteed not to play both consecutive ends. And although the Heat have improved recently, Utah is still without Walker Kessler (hip) and Kyle Filipowski (ankle) missed Saturday’s game against the Knicks. The back-to-back games will make for an interesting lineup shakeup in Week 6.
– Will there be more clarity regarding the statuses of Mark Williams (foot) and Nick Richards (ribs)?
On Friday, the Hornets announced that both of their injured centers had progressed toward on-field work, which is undoubtedly a positive. However, neither Williams (who has not played this season) nor Richards had a concrete timetable for returning to play. As a result, Grant Williams and Moussa Diabaté will be in the mix in a four-game Week 6 that begins Monday against the Magic. The Hornets finish the week with a Friday/Saturday back-to-back against the Knicks and Hawks, with the first game being part of the Emirates NBA Cup. Also bolstering Williams and Diabate’s streaming values is the fact that the Hornets are also without Miles Bridges, who aggravated a knee injury suffered earlier in November. Both started in Thursday’s win over the Pistons, with Williams playing 40 minutes and Diabate 32.
Light play days
Tuesday: 5 games
CHI vs. WAS
MIL vs. MIA
HOU versus MIN
SAS versus UTA
LAL vs. PHO
THURSDAY: 0 games
SATURDAY: 5 games
ATL vs. CHA
PHI vs. DET
WAS against MIL
GSW vs. PHO
DAL vs. UTA
Week 6 back to back
Sunday-Monday (week 6): BKN, BOS, DAL, IND, LAC, SAC, TOR
Monday-Tuesday: None
Tuesday-Wednesday: CHI, HOU, LAL, MIA, MIN, PHO, SAS, UTA
Wednesday-Thursday: None
Thursday-Friday: None
Friday-Saturday: ATL, CHA, DET
Saturday-Sunday: DAL, UTA
Sunday-Monday (week 7): BKN, BOS, LAL, MIA, NOR
