LA Clippers DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (shoulder) has received another questionable tag for their Friday night matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. The former MVP was forced to miss the first half of their back-to-back on Thursday with a shoulder strain and he may be forced to miss a second consecutive contest. Since Russell Westbrook (hand) is also out, Terance Mann and Bones Hyland both joined the starting five against the Chicago Bulls. Hyland put together a double-double with 17 points and 11 assists while Mann couldn't find much of a shooting rhythm. If Harden has to miss another game, both Hyland and Mann can serve as solid streaming options.

Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn (rest) is unavailable for Friday's tilt against the Atlanta Hawks. He will have the game off for rest. Dunn is averaging 18.5 minutes on the court, 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists across 57 contests this season. Keyonte George is returning from his illness, but the 29-year-old Dunn filled in against Chicago on Wednesday, scoring 11 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 3Pt) with five assists, two rebounds, and one steal in 29 minutes.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (back) will suit up on Thursday against Chicago. He exited Tuesday's loss to Minnesota, leaving the arena before the end of the first half. As a result, many had assumed he wouldn't be available on Thursday and possibly Friday's game in New Orleans. However, Leonard is good to go and can be added to all fantasy lineups. Unfortunately, his availability could mean less work for Amir Coffey, who was in line to get more involved on the scoring end.

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (shoulder) won't play on Thursday against the Bulls. He's been dealing with a shoulder strain for the last few games but has played through it. However, there's been talk of lightening his workload heading toward the postseason, so he'll finally get the night off. Fortunately for the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard (back) is active. Bones Hyland will also move into the starting lineup, making him an attractive streaming option in all fantasy setups. Hyland will also see plenty of attention in DFS contests.

Brooklyn Nets utility man Ben Simmons (back) recently underwent a microscopic partial discectomy, the team announced on Thursday. He's already out for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign, and while there isn't a timetable for his return, those within the organization believe he will be ready by training camp. Simmons' latest procedure isn't as complex as the one he had in May 2022. However, it's still not an ideal situation for the 2016 No. 1 overall pick, considering he's played just 59 games in the last three seasons. He finished the season with averages of 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. His 1.8 turnovers per game was the lowest of his career. With this in mind, managers will likely avoid adding Simmons to fantasy rosters heading into next season, although he's worth selecting later than anticipated if he's available.