With the holiday season behind us, the NBA schedule returns to a more typical format in Week 12, featuring numerous games spread across Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, with Thursday as a lighter day. Fantasy basketball managers face the challenge of navigating through numerous injuries, including key players like Denver’s Nikola Jokic and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama. Player availability and scheduling will be critical factors in roster decisions for a successful week. Here’s a breakdown of Week 12’s schedule and its key storylines.
Teams such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Golden State, Houston, LA Clippers, Minnesota, and New Orleans will play four games this week, while Brooklyn, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Indiana, LA Lakers, Milwaukee, and Sacramento have three games each.
Regarding back-to-back games in Week 12:
– Sunday to Monday: Teams like Toronto and Oklahoma City face consecutive games.
– Tuesday to Wednesday: Lakers, Memphis, New Orleans, Orlando, San Antonio, and Washington have back-to-backs.
– Wednesday to Thursday: Charlotte, Chicago, and Utah play consecutive nights.
– Friday to Saturday: Forest and LA Clippers.
– Saturday to Sunday: Miami, Minnesota, and San Antonio.
– Sunday to Monday (Week 13 start): Brooklyn, Sacramento, Toronto among others.
Injuries have shaken up rotations. Notable absences and concerns include Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Austin Reeves, and others, impacting fantasy values and lineup strategies.
Thursday is a notably light game day with only four matches. Charlotte, Chicago, and Utah face back-to-back games, with Charlotte’s frontcourt particularly hard-hit by injuries to Ryan Kalkbrenner, Moussa Diabate, and Mason Plumlee, who may be sidelined long term. Chicago struggles with perimeter injuries, missing Josh Giddy and Coby White, which raises the fantasy profiles of teammates like Three Jones, Ayo Dosunmu, and Kevin Harter. Utah frequently deals with player absences due to injury, affecting key players like Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic, making opportunities for players like Kyle Filipowski and Bryce Sensabaugh more critical.
The Lakers have only three games this week, with a break over the weekend, making bench decisions tricky for fantasy managers, especially with Austin Reeves and Rui Hachimura sidelined. Meanwhile, Miami, Minnesota, and San Antonio each have back-to-backs over the weekend, providing valuable fantasy opportunities, especially with players like Mike Conley, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, and Julian Champagnie stepping up.
San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama’s availability this week remains uncertain. Even if he plays, the back-to-back schedule might limit him to two games. He’s optimistic after avoiding major knee damage and is expected to travel with the team. The Spurs also rely on Luke Cornett and Kelly Olynyk to fill in during his absence.
Brooklyn’s season starts later in the week with no games until Wednesday, limiting early-week fantasy opportunities. The Nets also face injury and personal absences, which could influence player values as the week progresses.
Fan Take: This update highlights how injuries and scheduling complexities continue to shape NBA team dynamics and fantasy basketball strategies. For basketball fans, it underscores the unpredictability and strategic depth of the sport, enhancing the excitement around player performances and team adjustments.
