Oklahoma City Thunder DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

New York Knicks forward/center Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) will play on Thursday against the 76ers. The updates were positive over the last few days, so most had assumed Hartenstein would be back on the floor. However, head coach Tom Thibodeau indicated the 25-year-old would be under a "minutes guideline," meaning his fantasy ceiling could be significantly lower for at least a few games. It also means Precious Achiuwa, averaging 13.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in nine starts this season, is still worth considering for all fantasy lineups.

New York Knicks forward/center Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) practiced on Wednesday. He's been out with Achilles soreness, although head coach Tom Thibodeau stated he's "on track" to suit up for Thursday's meeting in Philadelphia. Thibodeau also reported that Bojan Bogdanovic (calf) and Donte DiVincenzo (hamstring) also participated in Wednesday's session, with both men trending in a favorable direction. Nonetheless, Hartenstein should be classified as questionable for the matchup versus the 76ers. With this in mind, his return could mean less work for Precious Achiuwa, who's averaged 13.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in nine starts this season. Achiuwa has also logged 40.6 minutes in his appearances with the first five, so Hartenstein's potential return will undoubtedly lower his fantasy ceiling.

New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) is expected to rejoin the lineup right after the All-Star break. The Knicks get their first post-break action on Thursday versus Philadelphia. Hartenstein has been unavailable for three games due to left Achilles tendinopathy. With the Knicks thin at the center position, Hartenstein's absence resulted in Precious Achiuwa logging huge minutes. His fantasy value takes a hit with Hartenstein's return, but Achiuwa should still play a prominent role in the rotation. Hartenstein has had an impressive campaign and averages 8.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.5 steals as a starter.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Western Conference starters in scoring in Sunday's All-Star game, shooting 7-for-10 from downtown en route to 31 points. He missed just four of his 16 efforts from the field all night and also did a bit of playmaking with six assists. This was the second consecutive All-Star appearance for Gilgeous-Alexander, who has developed into one of the league's best two-way players. The young Thunder star averages the third-most points in the league (31.3) and is first in steals (2.2). Gilgeous-Alexander is hitting nearly 55 percent of his shots, and he has also boosted his numbers in rebounding and assists in 2023-24 to become one of the elite assets in fantasy basketball and an MVP candidate in real life.

New York Knicks forward/center Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) won't play on Wednesday versus Orlando. He had carried a questionable tag throughout the day. However, the Achilles issue is still bothering him, so he'll miss a third consecutive contest. As a result, Precious Achiuwa will continue to see extra work, with the former Raptor coming off an impressive 17-rebound, three-block showing in Monday's loss to Houston. Without question, Achiuwa is a must-start in all fantasy formats, including those participating in DFS contests.