NBA Cup Season and Christmas Day Schedule
As the NBA Cup season comes to a close, fantasy basketball aficionados are gearing up for the unique challenges presented by the Christmas Day schedule. This year, for fantasy managers, there’s a distinct focus on the five matchups slated for Thursday, while they also need to account for the ramifications of Christmas Eve’s inactivity. A whopping 28 teams are scheduled to hit the court on Tuesday, leading into busy nights with a robust nine games on both the following Friday and Saturday. One silver lining for fantasy enthusiasts is that Boxing Day will remain free of daytime games, alleviating the stress of potentially missing early afternoon starts. Let’s delve into the specifics of Week 10’s schedule and key narrative arcs.
Week 10 Teams Overview
- Playing Four Games: Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Indiana, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Portland, Utah
- Playing Three Games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Golden State, Houston, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York Knicks, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Washington
- Playing Two Games: Brooklyn
Week 10 Back-to-Backs
- Sunday to Monday (Week 10): N/A
- Monday to Tuesday: Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Indiana, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Portland, Utah
- Tuesday to Wednesday: N/A
- Wednesday to Thursday: N/A
- Thursday to Friday: N/A
- Friday to Saturday: Atlanta, Chicago, Indiana, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix
- Saturday to Sunday: Sacramento
- Sunday to Monday (Week 11): Golden State, Oklahoma City, Portland, Toronto, Washington
Key Storylines for Week 10
Targeting the Brooklyn Nets: The Nets stand out as the sole team with two games in Week 10, both falling on bustling days. While players like Michael Porter Jr. continue to show consistent production, fantasy managers may want to reconsider rostering Noah Clowney, especially if better options arise on the waiver wire. Brooklyn faces tough contenders, including the 76ers and Timberwolves.
Teams with Multiple Back-to-Backs: The Pacers, Thunder, Magic, and Jazz face a tighter schedule with two back-to-backs each. For Indiana and OKC, this isn’t expected to pose a major issue aside from concerns over Isaiah Hartenstein‘s visibility. Jalen Williams has shown promise, actively contributing since his delayed start. Conversely, the situation in Orlando is uncertain; Jalen Suggs’ hip injury and Franz Wagner‘s high ankle sprain have elevated Anthony Black’s fantasy potential. Utah, meanwhile, has already begun managing player minutes, with key players like Jusuf Nurkić and Lauri Markkanen being rested in recent games.
Midweek Lull: As is typical around Christmas, Wednesday and Thursday offer a calmer schedule for managers. The Christmas lineup kicks off with the Cavaliers facing the Knicks and wraps up with the Timberwolves going up against the Nuggets. Fantasy managers should use Thursday strategically, focusing on potentials from teams like Golden State and Oklahoma City that suit the last day of Week 10. With the Thunder nearing full strength, lesser-known players like Cason Wallace could become unexpectedly valuable as the week concludes.
Lakers’ Injury Watch: The health status of key Lakers players including Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and Rui Hachimura is uncertain heading into Week 10. Luka Dončić also has concern after leaving a game with a leg contusion. The Lakers have a three-game schedule starting with a trip to Phoenix; fantasy managers are hopeful that Dončić, Reaves, and Ayton will be back in action by then. Fortunately, they avoid the complexities of back-to-back matches this week, giving valuable recovery time.
Charlotte’s Struggles: The Hornets face the unenviable distinction of having the lightest schedule heading into the weekend, with no games on Saturday or Sunday. After an initial pair of contests against the Cavaliers and Wizards, they only play again on Friday in Orlando. Given injuries to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, it may mean a considerably reduced schedule for their fantasy value.
Zion Williamson’s Availability: The Pelicans will engage in two back-to-backs, starting with the Mavericks and Cavaliers. However, Williamson has yet to participate fully in both games of a back-to-back this season, so he might only bring fantasy managers two appearances at best. Meanwhile, others like Saddiq Bey are stepping up to fill gaps left by Williamson, while potential two-game outings loom for Atlanta’s Trae Young as the week advances.
