Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (illness) has been downgraded from questionable to out for Saturday's meeting with the Miami Heat. A late addition to the injury report, Clarkson won't be able to overcome an illness in time to suit up. Over Clarkson's last seven showings, the veteran combo guard is gathering 14.3 points, 6.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 treys in 32.6 minutes per game, and his next chance to return arrives in Monday's tilt versus the Washington Wizards. With Walker Kessler (foot) also out, Kris Dunn has a chance at extended run as Utah's clear sixth man off the bench. Dunn is facing a tough assignment and is only averaging 6.7 points, 2.3 dimes, 2.3 boards, and 1.6 steals in 20.1 minutes across his latest seven games, though. Miami runs the third-slowest offense in terms of pace (99.1) and ranks seventh in defensive efficiency (110.3), so this isn't the most appealing setup from a fantasy perspective.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (foot) is considered questionable for Saturday's matchup against the Heat. He was out of the lineup for the ninth time this season on Thursday against Orlando, having sustained a right foot sprain. Luka Samanic broke into the rotation without Kessler on Thursday, posting eight points and four rebounds in 12 minutes, but he's far from a good fantasy option. Saturday's matchup, in general, is an ugly one for the Jazz bigs, as Miami has Bam Adebayo, a four-time All-Defensive Second Team member, roaming around. With him guarding the paint, the Heat have limited centers to a league-low 19.0 points per 48 minutes this season.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (foot) is out for Thursday's matchup against the Orlando Magic. Kessler hasn't been inactive since Dec. 11, but a sprained right foot will keep him out on Thursday. The 22-year-old paint presence's role in head coach Will Hardy's rotation and an oversized Jazz frontcourt has fluctuated all season long, and over his last 13 contests (four starts), he's logging only 21.6 minutes per game but averaging 8.8 points on 66.2% shooting from the field, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.8 swats. His next chance to return arrives on Saturday against the Miami Heat. The stifling Magic defense ranks sixth in the NBA in opponent points per game (110.3), so while there's added fantasy value on the table for Jordan Clarkson as Utah's clear-cut sixth man on Thursday, it's an imposing matchup that could shy away DFS rostership on the eight-game slate.

The Atlanta Hawks have waived veteran guard Patty Mills. The 35-year-old leaves the team after averaging just 10.6 minutes of action across 19 games in 2023-24. The team made the move to covert Trent Forrest's two-way contract into a standard deal. Forrest, who's playing his fourth year in the league, has had a similar role to Mills, featuring in 20 games and averaging 10.5 minutes, but he's a much younger player and could offer a lot more to the team going forward. However, Forrest has yet to make an impact in the NBA, with his career averages standing at 2.8 points and 1.7 assists.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (foot) finds himself with a questionable tag ahead of Thursday's matchup against Orlando. The Atlanta-born giant has been ever-present for Utah since Dec. 11 but might have to come out of the lineup on Thursday due to a right foot sprain. The Jazz have a pretty crowded frontcourt, but Kessler has been getting consistent work as a backup center. He's posted 8.4 points and 7.3 rebounds with 2.7 blocks in 23.2 minutes this season. Kessler's absence could help Omer Yurtseven back into the rotation, but starting bigs Taylor Hendricks, John Collins, and Lauri Markkanen should soak in most of the available minutes.