Philadelphia 76ers DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Quentin Grimes (knee) has been ruled out against the Boston Celtics on Friday. Grimes is missing his fifth consecutive game with the right knee contusion limiting him. Detroit acquired the 23-year-old guard from the New York Knicks, but they have barely had a chance to see his potential. Grimes has played just six games for Detroit, with averages of 5.3 points, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game. Evan Fournier and Marcus Sasser have the best chances of extra value as the main reserve guards without Grimes. Malachi Flynn also has an opportunity for more playing time, but he has a lower fantasy ceiling.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reports that Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) returned to practice Sunday as he continues to recover from his meniscus injury. Charania is told the reigning MVP did a lot of non-contact, walkthrough workouts, but he won't be with the team on its four-game West Coast trip that starts Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns. The Sixers' hope at this point is that Embiid is able to ramp up at some point in April, though an exact return date is unclear. Embiid is running out of time be a factor for the fantasy playoffs, and Mo Bamba and Paul Reed have recently formed a value-canceling timeshare at the five in Philly. Although Reed has only started one of his last 10 outings, he's averaging 10.8 points while shooting 52.4% from the field, 7.6 rebounds, 0.7 three-pointers, and 2.6 combined steals plus blocks since March 1 and carries the higher upside of the two down the stretch.

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Quentin Grimes (knee) will remain sidelined for Wednesday's matchup against Indiana. The 23-year-old has played in only two of the past nine games as he continues to deal with a right knee issue. Grimes' absence has opened the door for Stanley Umude to start logging meaningful minutes. He even linked up with the starters last time out against Boston when Cade Cunningham (knee) and Simone Fontecchio (toe) were absent. Cunningham returns to action on Wednesday, but Fontecchio could remain out, giving Umude extra fantasy value for a very favorable fantasy matchup.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (back) and guard Paul George (knee) have been removed from the injury report ahead of Friday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. There was some uncertainty that the two superstars would sit given it's the second night of a back-to-back set. Despite that, both players are expected to suit up and play their normal roles on Friday. Fantasy managers should double check ahead of tip-off just in case there is a last second change to the lineup.

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Eric Gordon (knee) will return from a two-game absence on Friday versus Charlotte. The veteran sniper has recovered from a left knee contusion. Gordon's addition boosts the quality of Phoenix's second unit, which remains without Josh Okogie (abdomen). The 2017 NBA Sixth Man of the Year has been in a shooting slump lately, but a meeting with a team that gives up 117.0 points per game and allows the opposition to make 13.4 threes a night will put Gordon in a good spot for a bounce-back performance.