NBA Injury Roundup: 3-15-15

1:00 PM ET

Bulls @ Thunder

CHI

Injured: Derrick Rose (Out), Jimmy Butler (Out), Taj Gibson (Out)

Beneficiaries: PG Aaron Brooks (DK: $5,700, FD: $6,100), PF Nikola Mirotic (DK: $6,900, FD: $6,500), C Joakim Noah (DK: $6,400, FD: $6,700)

Aaron Brooks is in play in day only contests at DraftKings since the number of options are so limited, but I'll be pass on him in FanDuel all day contests where the player pool is larger. Nikola Mirotic hasn't been the most efficient shooter in the month of March, but he's been a box score stuffer averaging 31.3 minutes, 1.4 threes, 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 07 steals, 1.1 blocks, and 18.2 points per game, according to ESPN. He has double-doubles in two of his last three games and missed making it three in a row by one rebound on Friday, which enhances his appeal in DraftKings games. Mirotic is a strong play at both sites in all games. Joakim Noah is averaging 0.95 points per minute in DraftKings games this year and 0.91 in FanDuel contests, according to NBAwowy. With Rose, Butler and Gibson out his scoring increases to 1.06 points and 1.01 points per minute at DraftKings and FanDuel, respectively.

OKC

Injured: Kevin Durant (Out), Serge Ibaka (DTD)

Beneficiaries: PG Russell Westbrook (DK: $12,600, FD: $13,000), PF Mitch McGary (DK: $3,800, FD: $3,700)

Russell Westrbook has played like a man worthy of the MVP Award in Kevin Durant's absence. His high price tag comes with a high floor and high ceiling of scoring unmatched by any other player. Mitch McGary will probably start in his second straight game if Serge Ibaka is once again unable to go due to a knee injury. McGary scored 12 points with 2 rebounds and 2 assists in his start on Friday. His ceiling is limited, but his small price tag and the low point threshold he'll need to clear in order to provide a positive return on investment places him firmly in the cash games mix.

3:30 PM ET

Rockets @ Clippers

LAC

Injured: Blake Griffin (Questionable), Jamal Crawford (Out)

Beneficiaries: C DeAndre Jordan (DK: $9,000, FD: $9,400), SG J.J. Redick (DK: $6,400, FD: $6,400)

DeAndre Jordan has been force fed minutes in the absence of Blake Griffin. His points per minute actually drop with Griffin and Crawford out, but with him receiving more than 35 minutes per game in all but one this month, the negligible dip can be forgiven. His favorable matchup against a Dwight Howard-less Rockets frontcourt makes him a strong play in all daily contests.

J.J. Redick will continue to be leaned on more heavily as a scorer with Jamal Crawford missing another game. Over his last five games he's averaging 36.4 minutes, 2.8 threes, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 22.4 points per game, according to ESPN. Another 20-plus point scoring effort might be asking a lot, but he's chipping in enough elsewhere to be a solid play in daily games.

6:00 PM ET

Nuggets @ Pelicans, Cavaliers @ Magic

DEN

Injured: Ty Lawson (Probable)

Beneficiary: PG Jameer Nelson (DK: $4,000, FD: $3,800)

If the illness that kept Ty Lawson out Friday sidelines him once again tonight, Jameer Nelson becomes a great play who will be rostered heavily thanks to his upside for production and low cost. In his start he scored 17 points with 3 threes, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal.

NO

Injured: Tyreke Evans (Probable)

Beneficiary: PG Norris Cole (DK: $4,800, FD: $4,200)

Tyreke Evans is likely to play tonight. If, however, he is held out then Norris Cole would draw another start. Cole delivered 16 points, 4 threes, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in Tuesday's start.

ORL

Injured: Willie Green (Questionable), Evan Fournier (Out), Devyn Marble (Out)

Beneficiaries: PG Elfred Payton (DK: $6,100, FD: $6,400), SG Victor Oladipo (DK: $7,800, FD: $7,600)

It's a good thing Elfred Payton and Victor Oladipo are young, because their spry legs can handle having extra minutes piled on them in the absence of three reserve guards. Over the last 10 days (6 games) Payon has averaged 36.2 fantasy points per game and Oladipo has averaged 40.9 fantasy points per game at DraftKings. In that same time frame Payton has scored more than 33 points in four of six games at FanDuel with a low of 24.9 fantasy points. The blowout factor looms large and investing in either is risky.

7:00 PM ET

Timberwolves @ Spurs, Trail Blazers @ Raptors

MIN

Injured: Ricky Rubio (Probable), Nikola Pekovic (Questionable), Kevin Garnett (Questionable)

Beneficiaries: PG Zach LaVine (DK: $3,300, FD: $3,600), PF Adrien Payne (DK: $4,200, FD: $4,200), C Justin Hamilton (DK: $4,000, FD: $4,100), C Gorgui Dieng (DK: $5,700, FD: $6,200)

Ricky Rubio should play, and even if he doesn't, the Slam Dunk Contest Champion Zach LaVine doesn't warrant usage. A battered frontcourt, however, yields a couple of interesting options at center in Gorgui Dieng and Justin Hamilton. As a starter, Dieng has averaged 32.7 minutes, 10.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game. He'd be a great choice to play the five position on daily squads if Pekovic is out.

Hamilton exploded playing 34 minutes and scoring 17 points with 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks off the bench Friday. That followed up a 15 point, 3 rebound, and 2 block effort in 28 minutes Wednesday. He's a high risk GPP choice and appears to be settling in nicely with his new club.

9:00 PM ET

Knicks @ Suns

NY

Injured: Jose Calderon (Out)

Beneficiary: PG Alexey Shved (DK: $5,800, FD: $5,800)

Alexey Shved has thrived as a starter for the Knicks. In three starts he's averaging 33.7 minutes, 18.0 points, 2.7 threes, 7.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. His price hasn't caught up to his production, and even with blowout potential quite high, Shved makes for a good gamble in all game types and at both sites.

PHO

Injured: Brandon Knight (Out), Alex Len (Out)

Beneficiaries: All Suns starters

The beneficiaries listed above probably look silly, however, all starters -- with the exception of injured Alex Len -- played 35 or more minutes in their last game. Suns coach Jeff Hornacek tightened up his rotation and force fed his starting five minutes. His bench minutes have varied too wildly to confidently endorse any of Marcus Thornton, T.J. Warren and Archie Goodwin. One thing is clear, I was wrong touting Gerald Green in the last NBA Injury Roundup column. He's clearly in the doghouse and not coming out.

9:30 PM ET

Hawks @ Lakers

LAL

Injured: Nick Young (Out)

Beneficiaries: PG Jeremy Lin (DK: $5,000, FD: $5,400), SG Wayne Ellington (DK: $5,200, FD: $5,300), SF Wesley Johnson (DK: $4,300, FD: $4,000)

Jeremy Lin's run of strong play following the All-Star break hit the skids for a stretch of a few games, but he's played solid in back-to-back contests in his customary 25 minutes or so off the bench. He's fairly priced but his erratic play makes him best used in GPPs. Wayne Ellington is slightly overpriced based on his recent play, and Wesley Johnson looks like a cheap cash games option with a low ceiling.