Fantasy Basketball Week 13: Low-Rostered Lakers Like Jake LaRavia Gain Popularity

The upcoming Week 13 in fantasy basketball brings a full slate of games, highlighted by several key storylines worth noting. Most notably, the Los Angeles Lakers will compete in five games, while other teams will have notably fewer opportunities on the court.

Week 13 Game Schedule Overview

The breakdown for games played during Week 13 is as follows:

• 5 Games: Los Angeles Lakers (LAL)
• 4 Games: Brooklyn Nets (BKN), Charlotte Hornets (CHA), Chicago Bulls (CHI), Dallas Mavericks (DAL), Denver Nuggets (DEN), Houston Rockets (HOU), Indiana Pacers (IND), New Orleans Pelicans (NOR), Portland Trail Blazers (POR), Sacramento Kings (SAC), Toronto Raptors (TOR), Utah Jazz (UTA)
• 3 Games: Atlanta Hawks (ATL), Boston Celtics (BOS), Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE), Golden State Warriors (GSW), Los Angeles Clippers (LAC), Miami Heat (MIA), Minnesota Timberwolves (MIN), New York Knicks (NYK), Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC), Philadelphia 76ers (PHI), Phoenix Suns (PHX), San Antonio Spurs (SAS), Washington Wizards (WAS)
• 2 Games: Detroit Pistons (DET), Memphis Grizzlies (MEM), Milwaukee Bucks (MIL), Orlando Magic (ORL)

Lakers: A Fantasy Goldmine

The Lakers’ five-game schedule presents a prime opportunity for fantasy managers. Despite a quiet Week 12, they return with back-to-back matchups on both Monday/Tuesday and Saturday/Sunday.

Low-rostered players like Jake LaRavia could see increased value. The return of Rui Hachimura from an injury would also influence fantasy strategies. Both LeBron James and Luka Dončić face scrutiny regarding their playing time throughout the week.

Teams with Limited Opportunities

In contrast, the Milwaukee Bucks are set to play only twice this week. They compete on Tuesday and Thursday, a scenario that may prompt managers to consider trading away players like Myles Turner who have seen their value diminish recently.

Giannis Antetokounmpo remains essential to hold onto, along with Kevin Porter Jr. Others might warrant a drop or a trade before the week concludes.

Injury Reports and Streaming Options

Detroit, Memphis, and Orlando won’t play until Thursday. This means fantasy managers should keep an eye on team updates for streaming options, especially for Detroit players who are currently facing injury issues.

Memphis is riddled with trade rumors surrounding Ja Morant, which complicates their roster management moving forward. Orlando is set to welcome back Moritz Wagner, who will make his season debut after an injury.

Nuggets and Nets’ Back-to-Backs

The Denver Nuggets also face a challenging Week 13 with two back-to-backs. Key players Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon may have limited playing time as the team continues to manage injuries.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets will navigate similar hurdles, with players like Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas needing careful consideration due to potential minute restrictions.

Dallas Mavericks’ Challenges

The Mavericks are preparing for an interesting week with injuries sidelining key players Anthony Davis and P.J. Washington. This could significantly impact their rotation during their four-game stretch.

With the Mavericks only a few games out of the playoff contention, the decisions made during this week will likely shape their strategy moving forward.

In conclusion, Week 13 in fantasy basketball offers ample opportunities but also complexities that require astute management. Tracking injuries and evaluating player schedules will be crucial for success.