NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/31

Jan 31st 2023

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

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — Available

  • LeBron James (ankle) — In

  • Anthony Davis (foot) — In

  • Jimmy Butler (quad) — In

  • Jamal Murray (injury management) — In

  • Marcus Morris (rib) — Out

Recent NBA News

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Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Bam Adebayo

  • Jimmy Butler (quad) — In

  • Gabe Vincent (ankle) — Available

  • Duncan Robinson (finger) — Injured

  • Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured

  • Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Injured

Max Strus, Haywood Highsmith, and Vincent could absorb most of Butler's time if he's ruled out. Victor Oladipo (+3.0%) and Adebayo (+2.8%) have logged positive usage differentials, while Herro has led the team with a +5.8% assist rate differential in games Butler has missed this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

  • Kevin Love (back) — Available

  • Dylan Windler (ankle) — Injured

Mitchell played 11.7 first-half minutes while returning for Sunday's blowout win, potentially trending toward a restriction before the usual game flow was fully interrupted. The Cavs (96.13) and Heat (97.18) have played at two of the three slowest paces in the league this season, and three of their last four matchups have ended with 200 points or less.

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Troy Brown Jr., LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Anthony Davis

  • LeBron James (ankle) — In

  • Anthony Davis (foot) — In

  • Patrick Beverley (knee) — Out

  • Austin Reaves (hamstring) — Injured

Although coach Ham said Davis would play limited minutes off the bench for the next "week or so" last Wednesday, Davis started the second half of Saturday's overtime loss and played 33.9 minutes. James isn't assured of returning for the second game of the back-to-back set after Ham added Monday that James is dealing with some “some really significant soreness" and would be re-evaluated Tuesday morning.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Jericho Sims

  • Mitchell Robinson (thumb) — Injured

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: Terance Mann, Luke Kennard, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac

  • Paul George (knee) — Not on injury report

  • Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Marcus Morris (rib) — Out

  • Reggie Jackson (Achilles) — Available

  • Robert Covington (personal) — Available

  • Moses Brown (G League) — Available

  • Jason Preston (G League) — Available

  • Brandon Boston Jr. (G League) — Available

  • John Wall (abdominal) — Injured

The Clippers have scored the third-most points per 100 possessions (121.9) since Mann began starting at point guard on January 8th, allowing Leonard, George, and Norman Powell to control more of the offense. However, the Bulls are 9-7 and have registered the fourth-best defensive rating (114.1) against teams that have posted top-ten offensive ratings across the entire season.

Chicago Bulls News

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

  • Derrick Jones Jr. (ankle) — Available

  • Marko Simonovic (neck) — Available

  • Javonte Green (knee) — Injured

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured

Williams has scored double-digit points in six of the last seven games, recording a slightly elevated 16.4% usage rate and a 60.4 eFG%. Additionally, he connected on 40.6% of his threes during that period as his volume increased to 4.6 attempts per game. The Clippers have allowed the second-highest three-point percentage (42.0%) during their last ten contests.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Out

  • Kelly Oubre (hand) — Injured

Ball recorded reduced usage (28.6%) and assist rates (27.8%) while logging a 37.5 eFG% during the last two games. He hasn't appeared to be 100% as he recovers from wrist and ankle injuries and went to the locker room early before halftime of Sunday's game before returning.

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — Available

  • MarJon Beauchamp (knee) — Available

  • Bobby Portis (knee) — Injured

Khris Middleton played 17.5 minutes as his restriction increased just slightly in Sunday's comfortable win, but his 28.0% usage and 26.9% assist rate in a more involved role during the last two games have been encouraging. Connaughton has shot 41.1% from three on 7.0 attempts per game while recording a heightened 19.0% defensive rebound rate during the previous eight matches.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Brandon Ingram (injury recovery) — Not on injury report

  • CJ McCollum (thumb) — In

  • Dyson Daniels (ankle) — Injured

  • Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured

Ingram posted stratospheric 40.9% usage while returning for the last two games and played 28.9 minutes in his most recent match. McCollum (27.2%), Valanciunas (25.7%), and Ingram (25.3%) split usage fairly evenly in the other three contests they played sans Williamson.

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Jamal Murray (injury management) — In

  • Jack White (adductor) — Out

There haven't been reported setbacks regarding Murray's knee, and the Nuggets don't play a back-to-back set until this coming weekend. Bruce Brown has logged 21.4% usage and a 24.5% assist rate while starting at point guard in games Murray has missed this season.