NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/5

Jan 5th 2023Connor Learn

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

  • Paul George (hamstring) — In

  • Bol Bol (health protocols) — Out

  • Jalen Suggs (ankle) — Available

  • Eric Gordon (injury maintenance) — Not on injury report

  • Desmond Bane (injury management) — Out

  • John Wall (injury management) — Out

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Ja Morant, John Konchar, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams

  • Desmond Bane (injury management) — Out

  • Brandon Clarke (hip) — Out

  • Danny Green (ACL) — Injured

None of Memphis' starters exceeded 27.2 minutes in their 131-107 win over the Hornets on Wednesday. The Magic are 0-6 and have allowed the fourth-most points per 100 possessions (122.2) on zero days of rest this season.

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

  • Bol Bol (health protocols) — Out

  • Moe Wagner (suspension) — Out

  • Jalen Suggs (ankle) — Available

  • RJ Hampton (G League) — Out

  • Chuma Okeke (knee) — Injured

  • Jonathan Isaac (ACL) — Injured

Carter Jr. started at center and didn't play any time alongside Mo Bamba on Wednesday. However, coach Mosley could utilize both big men against a large Grizzlies frontline. If cleared to return, Suggs would likely assume a bench role for at least his first game back and reduce available time on the wing.

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford

  • Robert Williams (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Dallas has allowed opposing forwards to make the second-most field goals per game (30.2) this season and will remain without Dorian Finney-Smith (adductor) for their matchup with the Celtics. Tatum (37 points) and Brown (31 points) led Boston in scoring with Finney-Smith available in their 125-112 home win over the Mavs earlier in the season.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Reggie Bullock, Christian Wood

  • JaVale McGee (illness) — Not on injury report

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (adductor) — Injured

  • Josh Green (elbow) — Injured

  • Maxi Kleber (hamstring) — Injured

Doncic isolates on a league-high 7.7 possessions per game, and the Celtics have defended isolations at the seventh-worst percentile in the league this season. He has averaged 33.7 points in his last six matchups with Boston, including a 42-point performance earlier in the season.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, Kelly Olynyk

  • Collin Sexton (hamstring) — Injured

Malik Beasley played 30.8 minutes with Sexton sidelined Tuesday, and he has averaged 29.1 minutes with Sexton out this season compared to 26.4 minutes with Sexton available. Beasley's 8.6 three-point attempts per game lead Utah, and Houston has allowed opponents to make the most threes per game (14.2) this season.

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Eric Gordon, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Eric Gordon (injury maintenance) — Not on injury report

  • Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) — In

Green (+2.3%) and Smith Jr. (+2.1%) have recorded positive usage differentials in games that Gordon has missed this season, as they have absorbed a fair amount of his perimeter looks. Martin has averaged 29.4 minutes per game with Gordon sidelined, but his role could be reduced if Tate returns.

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac

  • Paul George (hamstring) — In

  • Kawhi Leonard (illness) — Not on injury report

  • John Wall (injury management) — Out

  • Nic Batum (ankle) — Out

Leonard has logged a +3.2% usage differential, and none of the other Clippers starters have recorded a positive usage differential with Leonard on the floor while George is off this season. However, that sample is still limited by Leonard having played just 14 games with George thus far. The remaining Clippers starters should play more significant offensive roles if George is sidelined against the Nuggets, but Leonard's role could expand most in that event.

Denver Nuggets News

Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic

  • Peyton Watson (adductor) — Out

  • Jeff Green (hand, finger) — Injured

Coach Lue has consistently allowed Gordon cleaner looks while the Clippers have tended to overload on Jokic during their matchups. As a result, Gordon has averaged 20.7 points on 22.7% usage in six games against the Clippers since being traded to Denver. Three of those contests came with Murray and Porter Jr. sidelined last season, but Gordon led the Nuggets with 29 points on 12-for-16 shooting with Murray available in Denver's 114-104 win over Los Angeles earlier this season.