This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
Harrison Barnes
The Warriors have appeared invincible through the first 18 games of the season but an ankle injury to Barnes may serve as a minor chink in the armor. Barnes sprained his left ankle in a win over the Suns and did not play the following night against the Kings. The team has already ruled him out for the next three games as they embark on a seven-game road trip. A detailed exam did not reveal any bone damage and Barnes will be reevaluated early next week. The Warriors medical staff has taken a conservative approach with injuries over the last few seasons, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Barnes miss more than just the next three games. The team's unblemished record buys them ample time to ensure Barnes is near 100 percent when he returns. Brandon Rush started against the Kings on Sunday, with Andre Iguodala remaining in his reserve role. Rush scored 16 points in 19 minutes, including four three-pointers, and he is an intriguing roster option until Barnes is back.
DeMarcus Cousins
Cousins has been a spectator for Sacramento's last three outings as he remains limited by a lower back strain. Lower back injuries can be difficult to manage as the individual is often subjected to the troublesome pain-spasm cycle. A strain to one of the muscles of the back results in the athlete experiencing pain. The body's natural response to the pain is to tighten and increase the tension in the surrounding musculature. Tension
Harrison Barnes
The Warriors have appeared invincible through the first 18 games of the season but an ankle injury to Barnes may serve as a minor chink in the armor. Barnes sprained his left ankle in a win over the Suns and did not play the following night against the Kings. The team has already ruled him out for the next three games as they embark on a seven-game road trip. A detailed exam did not reveal any bone damage and Barnes will be reevaluated early next week. The Warriors medical staff has taken a conservative approach with injuries over the last few seasons, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Barnes miss more than just the next three games. The team's unblemished record buys them ample time to ensure Barnes is near 100 percent when he returns. Brandon Rush started against the Kings on Sunday, with Andre Iguodala remaining in his reserve role. Rush scored 16 points in 19 minutes, including four three-pointers, and he is an intriguing roster option until Barnes is back.
DeMarcus Cousins
Cousins has been a spectator for Sacramento's last three outings as he remains limited by a lower back strain. Lower back injuries can be difficult to manage as the individual is often subjected to the troublesome pain-spasm cycle. A strain to one of the muscles of the back results in the athlete experiencing pain. The body's natural response to the pain is to tighten and increase the tension in the surrounding musculature. Tension leads to reoccurring sudden contractions better known as spasms. Spasms result in more pain, which produces more tension, which leads to more pain. The vicious cycle continues until the underlying problem is treated and the cycle is broken.
Fortunately, the Kings highly ranked medical staff appears to have pinpointed the problem and have begun treating the injured muscle. Furthermore, this is only the second time in Cousins' career that he has dealt with back issues, despite the fact that big men seem to be particularly prone to lower back problems. Hopefully this plays in the Kings' favor and he can be back on the court soon.
Cousins does remain questionable for Monday's game against the Mavericks, so playing him in weekly formats is a bit of a risk, though the team's four-game schedule could help ease the loss of an additional game or two.
Ricky Rubio
The Timberwolves point guard looks to be nearing a return following a brief two-game absence for ankle-related issues. Rubio rolled his left ankle in a win over the Hawks last week and the team has wisely managed the injury. Remember, Rubio missed over 50 games last season after spraining the same ankle in early November and aggravating it in March. Surgery was ultimately needed to remove debris in the joint. After a strong start to the season, Rubio's shooting numbers have come back down to Earth and currently hover around his career averages. In fact, his entire stat line looks remarkably similar to each of his previous four seasons, providing fantasy owners a good measuring stick on what to expect from him. Plug him back into your lineups and hope he avoids another aggravation.
Fast Breaks
Kobe Bryant
Injuries and inefficiency have rendered Bryant a non-factor in fantasy this year. However, following the announcement that this will be his final season, it is worth pointing out that the 2008 MVP was notorious for playing with and through injury for a majority of his career. I catalogued over 100 injuries and illnesses for Kobe during the 16+ seasons before he ruptured his Achilles tendon. Bryant may not have been everyone's favorite player but he was a major fantasy force throughout his career and his retirement marks the end of an era.
Anthony Davis:
The Pelicans big man filled the box score on Saturday, just one night after suffering a right knee contusion in a loss to the Clippers. The injury is not considered serious, though it is once again worth pointing out that Davis has yet to play 70 games during a season at any point in his brief career. The majority of Davis' injuries have been minor, including a broken hand, a stress reaction in his ankle and back spasms, but they can be a headache for those who invested heavily in the All-Star. Davis has already missed three games this season with hip and shoulder contusions. He remains a must start in all formats but cannot be counted on for a full 82 games.
Al Jefferson
Jefferson's availability for the immediate future will be determined Monday when the team receives the results of a MRI performed on his left calf. The Hornets big man sustained a strained left calf on Sunday and did not return for the second half. Jefferson has a lengthy history of lower extremity problems but most have occurred on the opposite leg. Still, he missed nine games last year with a left groin strain and has battled hamstring and Achilles problems on this side as well. Fortunately, a break in the schedule could help minimize his time lost, as the Hornets are one of two teams to play just two games in the upcoming week. Those in weekly formats should consider other options for the time being.
Cold Season
Amar'e Stoudemire remains sidelined by an unspecified illness that serves as a precautionary reminder that NBA players are not immune to the cold and flu season. Locker rooms can serve as a breeding ground for germs and pathogens and it is not uncommon for teammates to share illnesses. As a result, it may not be a coincidence that two of Stoudemire's teammates, Luol Deng and Hassan Whiteside, have battled illness within the last week. Early reports out Monday indicate Chris Bosh is also dealing with an illness and did not participate in shootaround.
It's not just the Heat either. Both members of the Dallas starting backcourt were slowed by sinus infections late last week, though Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews played through the associated symptoms. Phoenix center Tyson Chandler missed a game last week with an upper respiratory infection and Bulls forward Doug McDermott made a quick exit from Chicago's recent win over the Pacers due to an undisclosed illness. Most illnesses don't last more than a few days but can be an annoyance to those in daily formats. For that reason, keep a closer eye on the injury reports over the next few weeks to help avoid any minor setbacks due to illness.
