NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 11/28

Nov 28th 2022

Connor 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

  • Joel Embiid (foot) — In

  • LeBron James (adductor) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (calf) — Available

  • Jayson Tatum (ankle) — Available

  • Pascal Siakam (adductor) — Available

  • Jaylen Brown (neck) — Out

  • Brandon Ingram (toe) — Out

  • Lauri Markkanen (knee) — In

  • Terry Rozier (illness) — Out

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) — Out

  • Kyle Kuzma (back) — Available

  • Scottie Barnes (knee) — Available

  • Jarrett Allen (back) — Out

  • Clint Capela (dental) — Available

  • Jalen Suggs (ankle) — Out

  • Michael Porter Jr. (heel) — Out

  • Mo Bamba (back) — Out

  • Jaden McDaniels (illness) — Out

  • De'Andre Hunter (foot) — Available

  • Caris LeVert (ankle) — In

  • Rui Hachimura (ankle) — Out

  • Seth Curry (injury management) — Available

  • Lamar Stevens (illness) — Out

  • Andrew Nembhard (knee) — Available

  • PJ Tucker (ankle) — In

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela

  • Clint Capela (dental) — Available

  • De'Andre Hunter (foot) — Available

  • Jalen Johnson (ankle) — Out

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) — Injured

The Hawks have allowed 56.0 points in the paint per game with Capela sidelined for the last two games, which would be the second-worst average in the league across the entire season.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Shake Milton, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid

  • Joel Embiid (foot) — In

  • PJ Tucker (ankle) — In

  • Matisse Thybulle (ankle) — Available

  • Tyrese Maxey (foot) — Injured

  • James Harden (foot) — Injured

Milton has averaged 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 7.8 assists with a 67.9 eFG% in 37.8 minutes with Embiid out for the last four games.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Rivers, Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert

  • Jaden McDaniels (illness) — Out

  • Jordan McLaughlin (calf) — Out

  • Taurean Prince (shoulder) — Injured

Minnesota's defense cratered with McDaniels out Sunday, as the Warriors scored 76 points in the first half and shot 42.6% from three in their 137-114 victory. Bradley Beal and the Wizards stand to similarly benefit if Austin Rivers and Bryn Forbes need to absorb a majority of McDaniels' minutes again.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis

  • Kyle Kuzma (back) — Not on injury report

  • Rui Hachimura (ankle) — Questionable

  • Johnny Davis (groin) — Not on injury report

  • Delon Wright (hamstring) — Injured

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Theo Maledon, Kelly Oubre, Jalen McDaniels, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee

  • Terry Rozier (illness) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Gordon Hayward (shoulder) — Injured

  • Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Injured

Washington (32.1%), Rozier (31.3%), and Oubre (26.4%) reclaimed larger usage with Hayward and Ball both sidelined Friday. Rozier's assist rate jumped to 38.1% as he absorbed most of Hayward's facilitating role as well.

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Blake Griffin

  • Jayson Tatum (ankle) — Available

  • Jaylen Brown (neck) — Out

  • Al Horford (back) — Out

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Injured

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Brown (35.4%), Malcolm Brogdon (28.8%), and Smart (21.3%) received increased usage with Tatum out Sunday. A similar dynamic could play out if Brown is ruled out.

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Franz Wagner, Gary Harris, Caleb Houstan, Paolo Banchero, Bol Bol

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) — Out

  • Jalen Suggs (ankle) — Out

  • Mo Bamba (back) — Out

  • Markelle Fultz (toe) — Out

  • Chuma Okeke (knee) — Out

  • Terrence Ross (illness) — Out

  • Cole Anthony (oblique) — Injured

  • Jonathan Isaac (ACL) — Injured

Gary Harris led Orlando with a 23.8% assist rate when starting for Suggs on Sunday. Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero were expected to lead the distributing efforts in Suggs' absence but combined for just three assists in their 30-point loss.

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, Royce O'Neale, Kevin Durant, Nic Claxton

  • Seth Curry (injury management) — Available

  • Yuta Watanabe (hamstring) — Out

  • David Duke Jr. (illness) — Out

  • TJ Warren (foot) — Injured

There were concerns about Claxton and Simmons co-existing but they have played heavy minutes together of late. This has caused Claxton's minutes to increase to 30.0 minutes per game in the last three matches.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley

  • Jarrett Allen (back) — Out

  • Lamar Stevens (illness) — Out

  • Caris LeVert (ankle) — In

  • Kevin Love (thumb) — Out

  • Dylan Windler (ankle) — Injured

  • Ricky Rubio (ACL) — Injured

Mitchell's usage (34.8%) and Garland's assist rate (37.0%) have increased as they have been asked to generate more offense with LeVert out for the previous four games.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Juancho Hernangomez, Pascal Siakam, Thaddeus Young

  • Pascal Siakam (adductor) — Available

  • Scottie Barnes (knee) — Available

  • Dalano Banton (ankle) — Available

  • Otto Porter (foot) — Out

  • Justin Champagnie (back) — Available

  • Precious Achiuwa (ankle) — Injured

The last time the Raptors starting unit was complete was October 28th. Siakam led the team in usage (29.8%) and assist rate (36.5%) when they played five of the first six games together. VanVleet received 15.5% usage during that time.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, Aleksej Pokusevski, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

  • Mike Muscala (finger) — Injured

  • Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: Jose Alvarado, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Brandon Ingram (toe) — Out

  • CJ McCollum (health protocols) — Out

  • Larry Nance Jr. (shoulder) — Out

  • Naji Marshall (illness) — Out

  • Kira Lewis (knee) — Available

Alvarado and Williamson figure to lead facilitating efforts with McCollum out and Ingram expected to be out. Williamson is set for a big performance: his offense is vital ahead of a matchup against a Thunder team that allows the fourth-most points in the paint per game (53.3).

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Bruno Fernando (injury maintenance) — Not on injury report

  • Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) — Injured

Denver Nuggets News

Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic

  • Michael Porter Jr. (heel) — Out

  • Bones Hyland (illness) — Out

  • Jeff Green (knee) — Injured

Gordon has averaged 30.0 points per game with a 78.1 eFG% on 25.8% usage with Porter Jr. sidelined for the last two games. That shooting could be somewhat sustainable, as Gordon's season-long 65.9 eFG% leads all starting forwards.

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Ayo Dosunmu, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured

Dosunmu (58.8) and Vucevic (48.8) lead Bulls starters in the percentage of points scored in the paint. Utah has the worst paint defense in the league by 3.0 points per game.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, Kelly Olynyk

  • Lauri Markkanen (knee) — In

  • Leandro Bolmaro (concussion) — Out

  • Mike Conley (knee) — Injured

  • Rudy Gay (hand) — Injured

Malik Beasley figures to join the starting lineup with Talen Horton-Tucker and Nickeil Alexander-Walker's reserve roles becoming more important if Markkanen is ruled out.

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Cam Payne, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Deandre Ayton

  • Chris Paul (heel) — Out

  • Cam Johnson (knee) — Injured

Boosted by two matchups against the Jazz, Ayton has averaged 20.2 points and 13.8 rebounds in the last five games. He receives another prime matchup against a Kings squad that allows the sixth-most points in the paint per game.

Sacramento Kings News

Confimed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis

  • Trey Lyles (illness) — Out

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Smith, Myles Turner

  • Andrew Nembhard (knee) — Available

  • Daniel Theis (knee) — Injured

  • Chris Duarte (ankle) — Injured

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: LeBron James, Dennis Schroder, Troy Brown Jr., Lonnie Walker, Anthony Davis

  • LeBron James (adductor) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (calf) — Available

  • Patrick Beverley (suspension) — Out

Listed "Probable" or "Questionable" before playing:

LeBron: 12-for-17 AD: 16-for-18

Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported that Davis is expected to return against the Pacers. Davis' usage declined to 22.4% as James returned Friday.