2024-25 Fantasy Basketball Week 13 Schedule Breakdown

Week 13 of the fantasy basketball season includes an international trip as the Pacers and Spurs play two games in Paris. Both teams’ schedules put them out of the picture in terms of fantasy broadcast value, as those are the only games Indiana and San Antonio will play. Monday’s schedule includes several matinees in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. in what has become an annual tradition for the NBA. Tuesday (five games), Friday (three) and Sunday (one) are the broadcast days of Week 13, while Saturday features a robust 14-game slate.

Week 13 games played

4 Games: ATL, BOS, CHA, CLE, DAL, GSW, LAC, MEM, NOR, POR

3 Games: BKN, CHI, DEN, DET, HOU, LAL, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYK, OKC, OR, PHI, PHO, SAC, TOR, UTA, WAS

2 Games: IND, SAS

Stories of the week 13

– Avoid Indiana and San Antonio to start Week 13

Not only do the Pacers and Spurs play twice in Week 13, but their first game isn’t until Thursday. Indiana and San Antonio head to Paris, where they will play two games (Thursday and Saturday) before returning to the United States. Even worse for fantasy managers who may be looking for value is that these are two of the busiest days on the schedule in Week 13. There will be nine games on Thursday and Saturday 14. Outside of the established fantasy stalwarts on these teams, there is no need to think about passing it on to anyone unless there is a serious injury.

– Seven teams play on a Wednesday/Thursday back to back, and another five have a Friday/Saturday

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the days to watch for potential players sitting out due to injury management. The Clippers are among seven teams playing on a back-to-back Wednesday/Thursday as they host the Celtics and Wizards. With Kawhi Leonard’s minutes still managed, he’s a prime candidate to sit out Game 2. The Celtics are another team to watch as they will visit the Lakers one night after playing the Clippers, and the rivalry game is a nationally televised game. Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Jrue Holiday are three players whose status could be in question for any of these matchups in Southern California.

As for the teams scheduled to play on a Friday/Saturday back-to-back, New Orleans and Philadelphia draw attention due to their season-long injury struggles. While Joel Embiid (foot) is unlikely to be available for Week 13, Zion Williamson could be limited to a three-game week (rather than four) for injury management reasons. Charlotte, Cleveland and Memphis will also have a Friday/Saturday back to navigate, and the Hornets are without Brandon Miller indefinitely with a wrist injury.

– Portland has the best schedule to end Week 13

If there’s one team fantasy managers should consider targeting at the end of Week 13, it’s Portland. The Trail Blazers play three of their four Week 13 games over the last four days, starting with back-to-back road games against Orlando (Thursday) and Charlotte (Friday). Injuries and rest have cleared the gridlock at center, with Donovan Clingan (ankle) sidelined, but Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams have also dealt with health issues. Also of note is the wing rotation, with Jerami Grant and Deni Avdija missing time recently. Scoot Henderson and Toumani Camara are two players worthy of consideration for Week 13, especially if Portland continues to be as thin as it has been recently.

– There is only one match on the last day of week 13

Another important note about Portland’s Week 13 schedule is that their final game, Sunday at home against Oklahoma City, is the only matchup on the slate that day. The aforementioned short-listed Portland players (Henderson and Camara) will be worth targeting, and Oklahoma City also has a few players worth rolling the dice on. Cason Wallace, Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins will be in the mix for Sunday’s game among coaches who may need a boost and have a trade (or more) to record before the end of the week.

– How many games will Miami get from Jimmy Butler?

Butler returned from his seven-game suspension Friday, but the desire to be traded hasn’t gone away. He started and played 33 minutes in Miami’s loss to the Nuggets, with his activity level appearing to pick up after halftime. The Heat play three games in Week 13; will butler play smoothly? Or will something happen? Their availability affects the entire rotation; when Butler starts, so does Duncan Robinson for spacing reasons, and Haywood Highsmith’s value takes a hit despite being a starter. Given the current situation in Miami, fantasy managers who added Nikola Jovic or Jaime Jaquez Jr. during Butler’s suspension should hold onto them until there is clarity on the future of this roster. Until Butler is traded, this will be an essential subplot in fantasy basketball.

Days of play of light

tuesday: 5 games

NYK vs. BKN

FOR vs. MIA

ORL vs. TOR

PHI vs. DAN

WAS vs. LAL

friday: 3 games

FOR vs. CHA

CLE vs. PHI

NOR vs. MEM

sunday: 1 game

OKC vs. LIEUTENANT

Week 13 Back to back

Sunday (week 12)-Monday: No

monday-tuesday: NOW

Tuesday-Wednesday: BKN

Wednesday-Thursday: BOS, DAL, GSW, LAC, MIL, OKC, SAC

thursday-friday: FOR

friday-saturday: CHA, CLE, MEM, NOR, PHI

Saturday-Sunday: No

Sunday-Monday (week 14): No