This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
The All-Star Break and trade deadline have come and gone and at long last fantasy owners will get a chance to experience a routine week's worth of games. Nearly 30 players have returned from preexisting injuries in the four days since play resumed, setting the stage for a competitive few weeks before the fantasy playoffs arrive.
The Knicks big man did not play Sunday after suffering an ankle sprain on Thursday. Porzingis suffered the injury after stepping on an opponent's foot and later he left the arena in a walking boot. Unfortunately, befuddling descriptions of the injury surfaced on social media in the few days following the incident, leading to confusion amongst fantasy owners and Knicks fan.
During Thursday's game, Porzingis was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain. Afterward reports began to surface that New York was afraid he had suffered ligament damage, and Knicks fans grew anxious. However, there's little reason to panic. Those two reports are basically saying the same thing. By definition, a sprain is an injury accrued to the ligaments of a joint. By calling the ankle injury a sprain, the Knicks were conceding Porzingis' ankle ligaments were involved. What matters in these situations is the degree or severity of the damage.
Ligaments have inherent characteristics that allow them to be both viscous and elastic, meaning they can provide stability in a fluid fashion. Unfortunately, the limits of these traits can be overloaded if enough stress is applied. This is called a sprain. If
The All-Star Break and trade deadline have come and gone and at long last fantasy owners will get a chance to experience a routine week's worth of games. Nearly 30 players have returned from preexisting injuries in the four days since play resumed, setting the stage for a competitive few weeks before the fantasy playoffs arrive.
The Knicks big man did not play Sunday after suffering an ankle sprain on Thursday. Porzingis suffered the injury after stepping on an opponent's foot and later he left the arena in a walking boot. Unfortunately, befuddling descriptions of the injury surfaced on social media in the few days following the incident, leading to confusion amongst fantasy owners and Knicks fan.
During Thursday's game, Porzingis was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain. Afterward reports began to surface that New York was afraid he had suffered ligament damage, and Knicks fans grew anxious. However, there's little reason to panic. Those two reports are basically saying the same thing. By definition, a sprain is an injury accrued to the ligaments of a joint. By calling the ankle injury a sprain, the Knicks were conceding Porzingis' ankle ligaments were involved. What matters in these situations is the degree or severity of the damage.
Ligaments have inherent characteristics that allow them to be both viscous and elastic, meaning they can provide stability in a fluid fashion. Unfortunately, the limits of these traits can be overloaded if enough stress is applied. This is called a sprain. If the resulting damage occurs on a microscopic level to the individual fibers that make up the ligament than the sprain is considered mild and given a Grade I classification. Simply put, the ligament has been overstretched but remains intact. Players with Grade I sprains often miss minimal time.
A more moderate Grade 2 sprain occurs when entire fibers of the ligament fail resulting in a partial tear. Grade 2 sprains tend to involve more problematic symptoms, like significant swelling, and often result in a greater functional limitation. A Grade 3 or higher classifications are assigned when the ligament damage is severe and is often considered a complete tear or rupture. These injuries result in a total loss of function and stability, and in some extreme cases require surgical intervention.
Considering the above information, it's likely the Knicks were aware Porzingis had suffered some degree of ligament damage but feared it would be a Grade 2 or higher injury. Fortunately, an MRI on the area didn't reveal significant damage, and it's likely Porzingis' injury is nothing more than a Grade 1 sprain. He's been ruled out for a "few days." Luckily, the Knicks have a four-game slate on tap, meaning Porzingis should retain most of his overall value if he's able to return by Wednesday. Still, utilizing him in weekly formats is a calculated gamble and all options should be weighed. The Knicks are suddenly thin in the frontcourt with center Joakim Noah out for the season following a debridement on his knee. Willy Hernangomez is the most likely to benefit and is worth adding as he has averaged 10.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals in 24 minutes over the last five games.
The Sixers will have to wait until next season for their top pick to make his professional debut. A recent scan of Simmons' fractured right foot showed the fracture site is not fully healed, preventing him from returning this year. A setback like this isn't unheard of with Jones fractures, even when surgery is performed. Plenty of NBA players including Kevin Durant, Jodie Meeks and Brook Lopez have needed multiple surgeries to address such issues and gone on to have productive careers. As a result, this shouldn't drastically impact Simmons' value in keeper or dynasty leagues. He's clearly waiver wire fodder in one-year formats.
Simmons' injury woes and the decision to trade Nerlens Noel to Dallas derailed "The Process," and Embiid's ongoing knee problems only compound things. The Sixers officially ruled their star center out indefinitely as he continues to battle swelling in his problematic left knee. He's dealing with a bone contusion and a small meniscus tear that has limited him to just one game since January 21. He is slated for another MRI, which could determine his fate for the remainder of the year. Given his problem with recurring swelling, don't be surprised if he's shut down for the season and surgery eventually becomes an option. Jahlil Okafor suddenly finds himself in fantasy relevancy with big man Richaun Holmes also worth a look in most formats.
Fast Breaks
LeBron James and Kevin Durant: Two former league MVPs missed their first games to injury over the weekend as both James and Durant were in street clothes on Saturday. James did not suit up for the Cavaliers' primetime matchup with the Bulls due to a case of strep throat, while Durant was a no-go for the Warriors contest against the Nets due to a minor pinkie injury on his nonshooting hand. Neither injury appears to be a longer term issue though favorable matchups on Monday could force each team to treat their superstars conservatively. The Cavaliers host the Bucks, though James did not participate in morning shootaround and is likely a game-time decision. Durant is currently listed as questionable as the Warriors travel to Philadelphia to face the struggling Sixers.
Kyle Lowry: The Raptors point guard made an odd decision not to self-report lingering pain in his wrist and participated in multiple All-Star festivities including the three-point contest and the All-Star game. The pain and swelling continued following the break and Lowry didn't play in either of Toronto's first two games back. The team said an MRI didn't uncover any substantial problem and continue to list the injury as wrist soreness. He could be back in uniform at some point this week. However, given that the injury involves his shooting hand, fantasy owners should scale back their expectations for the immediate future.
