The Charlotte Hornets have upgraded center Nick Richards (ankle) from questionable to available for Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons. A sprained right ankle cost Richards Charlotte's past three matchups, but he will return on Wednesday to help man the middle. Richards' interior presence was sorely missed when Karl-Anthony Towns destroyed the Hornets for 62 points in Monday's upset win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 26-year-old Kentucky product remains on the fantasy map for boards and rejections in the extended absence of starting big man Mark Williams (back), averaging 8.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 19 games without Williams in 2023-24.

Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams says the team decided that guard Cade Cunningham (knee) won't play on Wednesday versus the Charlotte Hornets because they feel he needs a bit more time to work on his conditioning and get more practice reps. Detroit listed Cunningham as probable with a strained left knee on Tuesday but downgraded him to questionable on Wednesday morning before ruling him out altogether, and the 2021 No. 1 overall pick targets a return on Saturday against the Washington Wizards. Monte Morris (quadriceps) will make his debut for the Pistons and reportedly face a minutes restriction against Charlotte, so he won't be a fantasy option right off the bat. Jaden Ivey has averaged 21.4 points, 6.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 threes covering seven games without Cunningham this year.

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch says guard Mike Conley (illness) is out on Wednesday versus the Washington Wizards. Downgraded from questionable to out while under the weather on Wednesday, Conley sets his sights toward returning on Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets for the second outing of Minnesota's four-game road trip after missing Monday's loss to the Charlotte Hornets for rest purposes. Nickeil Alexander-Walker would figure to stay in the T-Wolves' starting lineup at the point, logging a season-high 18 points with four treys in 30 minutes during Monday's spot start. Anthony Edwards matched a season high by dishing out 11 assists against the Hornets and should function as Minny's primary facilitator on Wednesday.

The Philadelphia 76ers have announced that forward Robert Covington (knee) will be re-evaluated in approximately three-to-four weeks after receiving treatment over the past three weeks to address inflammation and bone bruising in his left knee. Covington last appeared for the Sixers on Dec. 30 but hasn't been a regular member of their rotation since landing in Philly from the Los Angeles Clippers via the James Harden trade on Halloween. RoCo is barely managing top-150 value in nine-category fantasy leagues on mere averages of 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.8 three-pointers, and 1.3 steals and doesn't need to be stashed. Nicolas Batum will continue to play considerable minutes and chip in as a small-ball five, and he is worth a look in deep category formats as a stabilizing presence.

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.