Welcome to The Playlist: my weekly column that tells you who and what to play — when it comes to music or other things in my rotation — for the week ahead in fantasy basketball.
Each week you’ll see a compilation of the pickups you need to make, a quick look at the schedule, and lineup notes (who’s in and out of the rotations).
Press play and browse the latest fantasy basketball information.
🏀 Completion week 5:
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LaMelo Ball dropped a 50-ball on the Bucks
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Franz Wagner hit a game-winner plus and was the second-highest scorer in points competitions
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Brandon Miller averaged 33.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals with 56/56/100 shooting splits to finish second in 9-cat leagues
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Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) beat his timeline to return and is likely for Monday!
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The Terror Twins have arrived (Tari Eason and Amen Thompson)
🏆 Top performers:
🎧 Who’s in my rotation: Waiver Pickups
Note: I would add pretty much every player currently 40% to 50% drafted in Yahoo leagues other than Mike Conley.
▶️ GNX – Kendrick Lamar
Rui Hachimura – PF, Los Angeles Lakers (46% on list)
The Lakers play five games over the next eight days, so check your waiver pool to see if Hachimura ended up there after missing four games with an ankle injury. He returned Saturday and saw fewer minutes than popular waiver wire pickup Dalton Knecht in a blowout loss to the Nuggets. However, Hachimura started and played 33 minutes per night when healthy, so I would expect him to return to that role this week.
Hachimura isn’t a must-pick, but given LA’s schedule from Week 6 to Week 7, fantasy managers could use his points, 3s and rebounds. Of course, this assumes Knecht hasn’t passed him on the depth chart.
TJ McConnell – PG, Indiana Pacers (23% selected)
I should have been more optimistic about McConnell last week, but he remains a good asset with Andrew Nembhard out and Tyrese Haliburton struggling. McConnell delivers when you’re looking for assists or steals from the guard spot.
Over his previous five games, he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 57% from the field. It works in just 20 minutes per night.
Malcolm Brogdon – PG/SG, Washington Wizards (28% on list)
For whatever reason, the Wizards benched Bub Carrington in favor of Brogdon – a nine-year veteran despite being in the middle of a rebuild. Brogdon poses a significant injury risk, but when he’s active he’s also productive. In his last three games, he averaged thirteen points, four rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes.
This is a short-term play, as Washington is likely auditioning Brogdon (along with Kyle Kuzma) as a potential trade piece. The Wizards play four games, two of which are on lighter slates, so Brogdon has some streaming appeal in Week 6.
Nick Richards – C, Charlotte Hornets (27% on list)
Okay, I might get busted because the Hornets’ injury report is highly suspect, but Richards (ribs) was cleared for contact and has participated in practice. He’s already been ruled out for Monday, but one would assume he’s nearing a return to the lineup. Moussa Diabaté (17%) has been a reliable rebounder and shot blocker in Richards’ absence, but he can’t match Richards’ offensive output when healthy. For those who forgot, Richards averaged over 31 fantasy points per game before hitting the IL. Grant Williams (knee) is out for the season, so we could see Richards back in action this week. If you pick up Richards now, he automatically goes to an open IL spot. The Hornets have four games this week and I have more confidence in Richards’ suitability than Mark Williams.
Royce O’Neale – SF/PF, Phoenix Suns (15% selected)
The Suns have one of the best schedules in Week 6 after playing just two games in Week 5. O’Neale’s roster is down 10% since Sunday, but fantasy managers will want to use him if the Suns play four games this week, including a Tuesday. -Wednesday back-to-back where we’ll likely see one of their stars resting. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal (calves) are the trend for Tuesday. However, O’Neale will still consider the rotation. He is averaging 23 fantasy points per game this season and even though he is an inefficient shooter, he is hitting 3s, rebounding well for his position and can generate shares. He’s a guy I picked up just this week.
🗓️Plan highlights:
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No games on Thursday (Thanksgiving)
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Best streaming days: Tuesday (5 games) and Saturday (5 games)
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Teams playing on Tuesday and Saturday: Bucks, Jazz, Suns and Wizards
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Four games: Blazers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Jazz, Kings, Knicks, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Pacers, Pelicans, Pistons, Raptors, Thunder
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Three games: Bulls, Cavaliers, Celtics, Nuggets, Rockets, Spurs, Suns, Timberwolves, Warriors, Wizards
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Two games: 76ers, Bucks
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Notable back-to-backs:
🚑 Injury news:
Notable injuries in week 4
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Pistons G Cade Cunningham (sacroiliac joint sprain) is day to day
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Sixers C Joel Embiid (knee) is day-to-day
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Pelicans F Zion Williamson (hamstring) out indefinitely
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Blazers C Donovan Clingan (knee) is an everyday player
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Hornets F/C Grant Williams (knee) is out for the season
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Warriors G De’Anthony Melton (knee) is out for the season
Latest injury reports for all NBA teams
NBA Injury Report – Monday, November 25
🔁 Rotation Notes:
Cleveland Cavaliers: The play: Ty Jerome (20%) was one of the most efficient bench players in the league through the first month of the season. His re-emergence is nothing short of shocking. He has the highest true shooting percentage in the NBA and has a 21% usage rate in a reserve role. Week 6 isn’t that great scheduling-wise, as the Cavs are off until Wednesday and play on bigger slates all week (Wed/Fri/Sun). However, if you can afford to pick him up, do so because he’s in the zone.
Detroit pistons: The play: Add Isaiah Stewart (21%) if you need a big man who can efficiently rebound and block shots. He is the Pistons’ best defensive player and has a timeshare with Jalen Duren. Also keep Ausar Thompson (46%). He logged a DNP-CD on Saturday, but he will get minutes soon. He’s a threat defensively and his refined jump shot should help him stay on the floor once he gets back into the rotation.
Los Angeles Clippers: The play: Clippers’ leading scorer Norman Powell (hamstring) is traveling with the team on their five-game road trip and while he was unfit on Sunday, there is a chance he could play sometime in Week 6. Until that happens, Derrick Jones Jr. (12%) is worth streaming. Over his last four games with Powell out, DJJ is averaging 12.5 points, four boards and 1.8 steals on 56/37/92 shooting splits.
Portland Trail Blazers: The play: Donovan Clingan (knee) is out and Deandre Ayton (finger) is unlikely to play Monday, meaning Robert Williams III (27%) faces a (potentially) big game with no competition for center minutes. Williams rested on Sunday, so he looks like a great streaming option in points or 9-cat leagues.
Sacramento Kings: The play: The Kings aren’t getting consistent play from Kevin Huerter or Keon Ellis, so if Malik Monk (29%) is available, now might be the time to pick him up. His injury designation changed a few times on Sunday, but he’s getting closer to his return, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back in Week 6. He’s a bucket and will be a much-needed offensive spark for the Kings and fantasy managers.
Utah jazz: The play: I like the Jazz schedule this week. The problem is that your streaming options aren’t ideal. Check if anyone panicked Keyonte George and if not: Johnny Juzang and Jordan Clarkson are streamable guys because they play on all the lighter days in Week 6.
