Thursday’s nine-game slate has far less injury news to monitor and react to then Wednesday’s wild four-game slate had. Of course, that could all change this time of year so still be on the lookout for any late scratches.
This article will attempt to list all of the relevant injury situations to monitor for the day’s NBA slate and provide guidance on which players will benefit with either an increase in minutes or usage or both if that player is ruled out. I will also place an asterisk (*) by players that I think are worth DFS consideration if that player is ruled out. Players that have been out for at least five consecutive games I will not list as general playing time and usage patterns should be established.
This will NOT be an interactive article that is continually updated throughout the day as I hope to capture all of the potential relevant injury situations that could impact DFS lineups for the night and pre-determine what players benefit. Ideally, you monitor late-breaking news leading up to tipoff, find out a player is ruled out and come check the matrix below to see who the players are you should consider for your DFS lineups based on that news.
NBA What If – Thursday, March 15
| Team | Player | Status | If OUT |
| Bulls | Lauri Markkanen | Out | Bobby Portis (minutes/usage)* Noah Vonleh (minutes) Denzel Valentine (usage) |
| Bulls | Paul Zipser | Probable | Denzel Valentine (minutes) David Nwaba (minutes) |
| Cavaliers | Cedi Osman | Out | Jeff Green (minutes)* Ante Zizic (usage) |
| Cavaliers | Larry Nance Jr. | Questionable | Ante Zizic (minutes) Jeff Green (minutes)* George Hill (usage) |
| Cavaliers | Rodney Hood | Questionable | Kyle Korver (minutes)* Jordan Clarkson (usage) |
| Clippers | None | ||
| Grizzlies | None | ||
| Hawks | Kent Bazemore | Out | Tyler Dorsey (minutes/usage) Damion Lee (minutes) Dennis Schroder (usage)* Taurean Prince (usage)* |
| Hawks | Malcolm Delaney | Out | Isaiah Taylor (minutes/usage) |
| Hornets | Cody Zeller | Doubtful | Frank Kaminsky (minutes) |
| Hornets | Michael Carter-Williams | Out | Malik Monk (minutes/usage) |
| Hornets | Jeremy Lamb | Questionable | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (minutes)* Malik Monk (minutes/usage) Treveon Graham (minutes/usage) Kemba Walker (usage)* |
| Jazz | Raul Neto | Out | Alec Burks (minutes) |
| Knicks | Lance Thomas | Questionable | Michael Beasley (minutes) |
| Knicks | Tim Hardaway Jr. | Questionable | Courtney Lee (minutes/usage)* Frank Ntilikina (minutes) Michael Beasley (usage) Enes Kanter (usage) |
| Nuggets | None | ||
| Pacers | Domantas Sabonis | Out | Thaddeus Young (minutes/usage)* Trevor Booker (minutes) |
| Pacers | Trevor Booker | Questionable | Thaddeus Young (minutes)* |
| Pelicans | None | ||
| Pistons | Reggie Bullock | Questionable | Stanley Johnson (minutes)* Luke Kennard (minutes)* Blake Griffin (usage)* James Ennis (usage) |
| Pistons | Dwight Buycks | Questionable | Jameer Nelson (minutes) |
| Raptors | Norman Powell | Out | Delon Wright (minutes) CJ Miles (minutes) OG Anunoby (minutes) |
| Raptors | OG Anunoby | Probable | Delon Wright (minutes) CJ Miles (minutes) Malcolm Miller (minutes) |
| Rockets | None | ||
| Sixers | None | ||
| Spurs | None | ||
| Suns | Devin Booker | Questionable | Troy Daniels (minutes/usage) Josh Jackson (minutes/usage)* Davon Reed (minutes) TJ Warren (usage)* |
| Trail Blazers | None |
