Brooklyn Nets DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (personal) won't play on Saturday against Houston. He will be unavailable for the ninth time this season. The trio of Cam Thomas, Lonnie Walker IV, and Royce O'Neale looks set to benefit from Johnson's absence. Thomas is by far the most attractive option for fantasy managers, and he'll head into Saturday's clash with some newly found momentum, having posted 20-plus points in three of his last four appearances.

Brooklyn Nets center/forward Day'Ron Sharpe (knee) hasn't played since January 7 against the Portland Trail Blazers after hyperextending his left knee. In a conversation with Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Sharpe said he was still a long way away from returning to the court. There was still some pain and he was working on strengthening his knee. He has yet to get much on-court work in practice and likely won't until the strengthening routine is fully finished. While Sharpe has been sidelined, Nicolas Claxton, Royce O'Neale, and Dorian Finney-Smith have been splitting up the extra minutes.

The Brooklyn Nets have upgraded forward Cameron Johnson (shoulder) to available for Thursday's tilt versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. A left shoulder contusion threatened Johnson's status, but he'll suit up for the struggling Nets as they continue a five-game homestand on Thursday. The two-way wing has taken a step back during his first full year in Brooklyn, putting up a modest 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.5 threes per game. Expect no minutes restrictions for Johnson, but it's a tough matchup against Minnesota.

Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (shoulder) is on the injury report as questionable ahead of Thursday's matchup against Minnesota. He's in danger of missing his first game since Dec. 27 after hurting his left shoulder versus the Knicks on Tuesday. Lonnie Walker IV and Cam Thomas should share most of the available minutes if Johnson can't play through his shoulder issue. The latter is the more attractive fantasy option, with Thomas having proven himself as a microwave scorer this season.

The Philadelphia 76ers have announced that guard De'Anthony Melton (spine) will be re-evaluated in approximately one week after completing an offloading period, and he will now begin ramping up to return to play. Melton will travel with the team on their upcoming six-game road trip, but he is listed as out for Thursday's clash with the Indiana Pacers and is unlikely to return before the end of January based on this timeline. Notching top-75 numbers in nine-category fantasy leagues, the 25-year-old shutdown defender should remain stashed in those formats while nursing a lumbar spine stress response. Swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. has filled in as a starter for the Sixers in Melton's absence, averaging a modest 12.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 three-pointers, and 1.3 steals in nine games without Melton overall this season.