NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/25

Mar 25th 2024

Ryan Schwepfinger

Each day, this column will provide live updates for all NBA news. Enjoy up-to-the-minute alerts for injuries and lineup confirmations. The Key News to Watch section will highlight notable injuries to monitor for the current NBA slate.

Key NBA News to Watch

  • Nikola Jokic (back, hip) — Available

  • Victor Wembanyama (ankle) — Out

  • Jamal Murray (ankle) — Out

  • Michael Porter Jr. (illness) — Available

  • Aaron Gordon (foot) — Out

  • Coby White (hip) — In

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Out

  • Lauri Markkanen (quad) — Available

  • Desmond Bane (back) — Available

  • Deandre Ayton (elbow) — Out

  • Anfernee Simons (knee) — Out

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Derrick White (hand) — Out

  • Cam Thomas (back) — Out

  • Jalen Duren (back) — Out

  • Jordan Poole (ankle) — Available

  • Deni Avdija (illness) — Out

  • Kelly Oubre (shoulder) — Out

  • Aaron Nesmith (knee) — Out

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Simone Fontecchio (toe) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Nick Richards

  • JT Thor (shoulder) — Available

  • Bryce McGowens (knee) — Available

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Mark Williams (back) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (ankle) — Injured

  • Seth Curry (ankle) — Injured

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

  • Donovan Mitchell (nose) — Injured

  • Max Strus (knee) — Injured

  • Dean Wade (knee) — Injured

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

Mobley started against Miami on Sunday, making his return to the lineup after missing nine games with a sprained left ankle. He was on a minutes limit of around 20-25 minutes. His status is worth monitoring on the second end of a back-to-back. If Cleveland holds him out Monday, expect Georges Niang to start at the four against Charlotte.

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Wilson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton

  • Cam Thomas (back) — Out

  • Cam Johnson (toe) — Out

  • Dennis Smith Jr. (hip) — Out

  • Keita Bates-Diop (shin) — Out

  • Ben Simmons (back) — Out for season

  • Dariq Whitehead (shin) — Out for season

On Saturday, Johnson was hurt while taking a charge and was seen limping after the game. Now, he'll miss out against Toronto. It should open a spot for Finney-Smith to return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench behind Johnson against the Knicks. Lonnie Walker and Jalen Wilson could both pick up extra minutes with Johnson, Smith Jr., and Bates-Diop out.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Javon Freeman-Liberty, Gary Trent Jr., Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk

  • Immanuel Quickley (personal) — Out

  • RJ Barrett (personal) — Out

  • Jontay Porter (personal) — Out

  • DJ Carton (ankle) — Out

  • Scottie Barnes (hand) — Injured

  • Jakob Poeltl (finger) — Injured

  • Chris Boucher (knee) — Injured

Jahmi'us Ramsey started last game for the Raptors, but his second 10-day contract has expired and Toronto has brought in Kobi Simmons on a 10-day in his place. Brown could return to the starting lineup after playing 33 minutes off the bench on Saturday, or the team could return to Javon Freeman-Liberty, who started two games ago, playing a career-high 29 minutes against Oklahoma City in that outing.

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis

  • Derrick White (hand) — Out

  • Xavier Tillman (knee) — Out

  • Jrue Holiday (shoulder) — Out

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Vit Krejci, De'Andre Hunter, Clint Capela

  • Onyeka Okongwu (toe) — Out

  • Trae Young (finger) — Injured

  • Jalen Johnson (ankle) — Injured

  • Kobe Bufkin (toe) — Injured

  • AJ Griffin (ankle) — Injured

  • Mouhamed Gueye (knee) — Injured

  • Saddiq Bey (knee) — Out for season

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Sasser, Jaden Ivey, Troy Brown Jr., Tosan Evbuomwan, James Wiseman

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Out

  • Jalen Duren (back) — Out

  • Simone Fontecchio (toe) — Out

  • Quentin Grimes (knee) — Out

  • Taj Gibson (hamstring) — Out

  • Ausar Thompson (blood clot) — Out for season

  • Isaiah Stewart (hamstring) — Out for season

  • Stanley Umude (ankle) — Out for season

The Pistons have one of the most volatile lineups on Monday, taking the court on the second end of a back-to-back. Cade Cunningham was a late scratch on Sunday due to injury management, which would seemingly imply that he could be ok to go on Monday. It's not as clear for Duren, Fontecchio, Grimes, or Gibson, who have all missed at least two games running due to their various injuries.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Isaiah Hartenstein

  • Alec Burks (shoulder) — Out

  • Julius Randle (shoulder) — Injured

  • OG Anunoby (injury management) — Injured

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

McBride started for the third consecutive game on Saturday, playing all 48 minutes in a win over Brooklyn. He now averages 43.0 minutes per game when in the starting lineup (eight appearances), by far the most in the league. His teammate Hart is second in that category at 39.7 minutes per game as a starter.

McBride and Hart are also the only players this season to play all 48 minutes in a game that did not go to overtime, with both occurrences happening in the past week. Hart played all 48 on March 18 at Golden State.

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins

  • Victor Wembanyama (ankle) — Out

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Scoot Henderson, Rayan Rupert, Kris Murray, Toumani Camara, Duop Reath

  • Anfernee Simons (knee) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (elbow) — Out

  • Matisse Thybulle (ankle) — Out

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) — Injured

  • Shaedon Sharpe (core) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale

  • Jabari Smith Jr. — Suspended

  • Alperen Sengun (ankle, knee) — Injured

  • Cam Whitmore (knee) — Injured

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Out for season

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Poole, Johnny Davis, Corey Kispert, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Richaun Holmes

  • Jordan Poole (ankle) — Available

  • Deni Avdija (illness) — Out

  • Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) — Out

  • Tyus Jones (back) — Out

  • Landry Shamet (calf) — Out

  • Eugene Omoruyi (ankle) — Out

  • Bilal Coulibaly (wrist) — Out for season

  • Isaiah Livers (hip) — Out for season

Kuzma's scratch gives interim coach Keefe several ways he can go for Monday's lineup. Davis earned a start on March 19 (in a game that Kuzma also missed), but the Wizards were thinner overall in that contest. Jared Butler is another option to start as he's played consistent bench minutes over the last seven games. Keefe could also roll out a double big lineup with Marvin Bagley or Patrick Baldwin Jr. at the four and Richaun Holmes at center.

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, DeMar DeRozan, Torrey Craig, Nikola Vucevic

  • Coby White (hip) — In

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Dalen Terry (calf) — Available

  • Julian Phillips (foot) — Injured

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Out for season

  • Patrick Williams (foot) — Out for season

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford

  • Maxi Kleber (knee) — Available

  • Josh Green (ankle) — Injured

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Taylor Hendricks, John Collins

  • Lauri Markkanen (quad) — Available

  • Jordan Clarkson (groin) — Available

  • Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Available

  • Kris Dunn — Suspended

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Scotty Pippen Jr., Desmond Bane, GG Jackson, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr.

  • Desmond Bane (back) — Available

  • Jake LaRavia (illness) — Available

  • Lamar Stevens (adductor) — Available

  • Vince Williams (knee) — Out

  • John Konchar (heel) — Out

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (personal) — Out

  • Yuta Watanabe (personal) — Out

  • Marcus Smart (finger) — Injured

  • Derrick Rose (back, groin) — Injured

  • Ziaire Williams (hip, back) — Injured

  • Ja Morant (shoulder) — Out for season

The Grizzlies have once again filed an initial injury report with 12 players listed. If all of the questionable- and doubtful-tagged players miss, Memphis would be down to eight available against Denver, three of whom are conventional centers (Jackson Jr., Trey Jemison, and Maozinha Pereira).

Denver Nuggets News

Confirmed Lineup: Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Nikola Jokic

  • Nikola Jokic (back, hip) — Available

  • Jamal Murray (ankle) — Out

  • Michael Porter Jr. (illness) — Available

  • Aaron Gordon (foot) — Out

  • Zeke Nnaji (adductor) — Out

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Given Memphis' dire injury situation, it would not be surprising if Denver elected to hold Jokic and Murray out for one more game. Both players missed out on Saturday; for Jokic, it was just his third absence of the season. Reggie Jackson started for Murray and DeAndre Jordan started for Jokic, but Aaron Gordon was the biggest beneficiary with plenty of minutes at the five in smaller lineups. He amassed 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in 37 minutes against Portland. Christian Braun also played a season-high 36 minutes off the bench.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Tobias Harris, Nicolas Batum, Mo Bamba

  • Kelly Oubre (shoulder) — Out

  • Joel Embiid (knee) — Injured

  • Robert Covington (knee) — Injured

  • De'Anthony Melton (back) — Injured

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Keon Ellis, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis

  • Sasha Vezenkov (ankle) — Out

  • Kevin Huerter (shoulder) — Injured

  • Trey Lyles (knee) — Injured

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner

  • Aaron Nesmith (knee) — Out

  • Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) — Out for season

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Terance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac

  • Russell Westbrook (hand) — In

  • PJ Tucker (calf) — Available

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Westbrook could return as soon as this game after recovering from a fractured hand, so his initial listing on the injury report will be worth monitoring. It will also be worth monitoring the statuses of Harden, George, and Leonard on the second end of a back-to-back after each has missed at least one game in March due to injury.