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
Luka Doncic (heel) — Out
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — In
Joel Embiid (foot) — Available
Jayson Tatum (illness) — Available
Devin Booker (injury management) — Not on injury report
Keldon Johnson (ankle) — Out
Rudy Gobert (groin) — Available
Jordan Clarkson (illness) — Out
Jakob Poeltl (trade pending) — Available
Tre Jones (foot) — Out
Mike Conley (pending trade) — Available
Lu Dort (hamstring) — In
Kyle Anderson (back) — Available
Robert Williams (ankle) — In
Jeremy Sochan (back) — Out
Al Horford (knee) — Out
Recent NBA News
Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.
Confirmed Lineup: Blake Wesley, Malaki Branham, Keita Bates-Diop, Isaiah Roby, Zach Collins
Keldon Johnson (ankle) — Out
Tre Jones (foot) — Out
Jeremy Sochan (back) — Out
Romeo Langford (adductor) — Out
Devonte' Graham (trade pending) — Available
Khem Birch (coach's decision) — Out
Charles Bassey (G League) — Out
Gorgui Dieng (signed) — Available
Dominick Barlow (G League) — Available
Devin Vassell (knee) — Injured
Josh Richardson (traded) — Out
Collins posted 18.0% usage, a 16.2% rebound rate, and a 16.1% assist rate while averaging 30.0 minutes during the last four contests Poeltl missed. Malaki Branham should remain in the starting lineup if Jones remains out. Keita Bates-Diop likely continues to start if Langford, Johnson, or Sochan are sidelined.
Confirmed Lineup: Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren
James Wiseman (trade pending) — Out
Nerlens Noel (not with team) — Out
Stanley Umude (signed) — TBD
Marvin Bagley (hand) — Injured
Cade Cunningham (shin) — Injured
Saddiq Bey (traded) — Out
Kevin Knox (traded) — Out
Alec Burks, Isaiah Livers, and Hamidou Diallo should play additional time off the bench with Bey and Knox employed elsewhere. Bey posted the third-highest usage rate (22.5%) on the team as he averaged 30.2 minutes during the last ten games, so additional offensive opportunities will be available across the lineup.
Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Josh Okogie, Torrey Craig, Deandre Ayton
Devin Booker (injury management) — Not on injury report
TJ Warren (acquired) — Out
Darius Bazley (trade pending) — Out
Kevin Durant (knee) — Injured
Cam Payne (foot) — Injured
Landry Shamet (foot) — Injured
Booker played 25.6 minutes Tuesday and could remain similarly restricted, but he should add balance to the lineup and reduce available offensive opportunities in his return. Ish Wainright (32.0), Josh Okogie (32.0), and Landale (19.3) played increased minutes Thursday, but Warren will cut into their time if made available.
Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner
Jalen Smith (illness) — Not on injury report
George Hill (trade pending) — Out
Jordan Nwora (trade pending) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Jericho Sims
Josh Hart (trade pending) — Out
Mitchell Robinson (thumb) — Injured
Cam Reddish (traded) — Out
Svi Mykhailiuk (traded) — Out
Ryan Arcidiacono (traded) — Out
It isn't clear how coach Thibodeau intends to utilize Hart when available. However, he has typically avoided smaller lineups, so Hart figures to cut most directly into Immanuel Quickley, Miles McBride, and Grimes's minutes.
Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid (foot) — Available
Jalen McDaniels (trade pending) — Available
Matisse Thybulle (traded) — Out
Embiid could sit on either side of the upcoming back-to-back set, setting up Montrezl Harrell for an opportunity to start and play an elevated offensive role along with Tyrese Maxey and the remaining starters. Seven of Philadelphia's ten matchups with New York during the last three seasons ended with 210 points or less.
Confirmed Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Mark Williams
Cody Martin (knee) — Out
Reggie Jackson (trade pending) — Unlikely to play
Svi Mykhailiuk (trade pending) — Unlikely to play
James Bouknight (G League) — Out
Kelly Oubre (hand) — Injured
Mason Plumlee (traded) — Out
Jalen McDaniels (traded) — Out
Williams has logged 17.7% usage and a 16.4% rebound rate this season. He typically served as the backup center for the last six weeks but could split minutes somewhat evenly with Nick Richards.
Confirmed Lineup: Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Robert Williams
Jayson Tatum (illness) — Available
Al Horford (knee) — Out
Robert Williams (ankle) — In
Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) — In
Mike Muscala (trade pending) — Active
Jaylen Brown (face) — Injured
Marcus Smart (ankle) — Injured
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured
Justin Jackson (traded) — Out
Malcolm Brogdon (36.2%), White (28.9%), and Payton Pritchard (24.6%) have led the Celtics in usage while posting the highest assist rates on the team with Tatum, Brown, and Smart off the court this season.
Confirmed Lineup: Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, Lauri Markkanen, Kelly Olynyk, Walker Kessler
Jordan Clarkson (illness) — Out
Russell Westbrook (trade pending) — Unlikely to play
Juan Toscano-Anderson (trade pending) — Out
Damian Jones (trade pending) — Out
Sexton has recorded 21.9% usage and a 22.0% assist rate in 29.7 minutes per game without Mike Conley this season. Markkanen (+1.7%) and Clarkson (+1.6%) have logged positive assist rates differentials while their usage remained relatively stable sans Conley.
Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Precious Achiuwa
Jakob Poeltl (trade pending) — Available
OG Anunoby (wrist) — Injured
Otto Porter (toe) — Injured
If Poeltl is cleared to play, Achiuwa could be demoted to the bench and play reduced time along with Chris Boucher and Thaddeus Young. Poeltl (84.9%) has scored a higher amount of his points in the paint than Achiuwa (64.6%) this season, so additional pick-and-roll actions and a higher volume of outside shots for the remaining starters could be a possibility in that event.
Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Green, Jae'Sean Tate, KJ Martin, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Danny Green (trade pending) — Out
Frank Kaminsky (trade pending) — Available but unlikely to play
Justin Holiday (trade pending) — Available but unlikely to play
Kevin Porter Jr. (foot) — Injured
Eric Gordon (traded) — Out
Garrison Mathews (traded) — Out
Bruno Fernando (traded) — Out
Nix, Josh Christopher, and TyTy Washington should absorb most of Gordon and Mathews' minutes until Porter Jr. is cleared to return. Tari Eason (27.6%), Green (25.2%), Sengun (25.0%), and Smith Jr. (24.8%) led the Rockets in usage during the two matches Gordon and Porter Jr. missed this season.
Confirmed Lineup: Gabe Vincent, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Bam Adebayo
Victor Oladipo (ankle) — Out
Gabe Vincent (ankle) — Available
Udonis Haslem (personal) — Out
Kyle Lowry (knee) — Injured
Duncan Robinson (finger) — Injured
Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured
Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Injured
Max Strus has averaged just 20.5 minutes despite coach Spoelstra opting for an eight-man rotation for the last two games, but his, Vincent, and Herro's shooting should factor more against a Rockets team that has allowed the most made threes per game (14.5) this season. Herro scored 41 points and shot 10-for-15 from three in a shorthanded Heat lineup during the first game against the Rockets this season; Strus shot two-for-11 from downtown in that match.
Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert (groin) — Available
Mike Conley (pending trade) — Available
Kyle Anderson (back) — Available
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (pending trade) — Available
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — Injured
Alexander-Walker and Conley are expected to be present at shootaround Friday morning. Conley has registered an assist rate 6.9% higher than Russell's 27.4% clip and a usage 6.6% lower than Russell's 22.5% rate this season. As a result, Edwards and Anderson could play diminished facilitating roles while additional shots are available across the lineup after Conley debuts.
Confirmed Lineup: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman
Luke Kennard (acquired) — Unlikely to play
Steven Adams (knee) — Injured
Danny Green (traded) — Out
Memphis has gone 1-2 against Minnesota this season, and their offensive rating (105.0) during those matches would be the lowest in the league over the entire season. The Grizzlies shot 26.1% from three against a Timberwolves team that has allowed the sixth-highest three-point percentage (36.8%) this season. Bane leads the Grizzlies with 3.1 made threes per game and a 43.5% three-point percentage and could make a difference after being sidelined for the two losses.
Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Donovan Mitchell (groin) — Not on injury report
Darius Garland (thumb) — Not on injury report
Ricky Rubio (injury management) — Out
Dylan Windler (ankle) — Injured
Mitchell struggled to find his rhythm offensively in five matches after returning from a strained groin, posting reduced 25.7% usage and a 45.8 eFG%. He's also struggled in the four games he's completed against the Pelicans since they acquired Herb Jones, averaging 20.0 points on 41.3% shooting.
Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas
Josh Richardson (pending trade) — Out
Dyson Daniels (ankle) — Injured
Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured
Devonte' Graham (traded) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams
Lu Dort (hamstring) — In
Dario Saric (pending trade) — Out
Justin Jackson (pending trade) — Expected to be waived
Eugene Omoruyi (G League) — Available
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (G League) — Out
Ousmane Dieng (G League) — Out
Aleksej Pokusevski (leg) — Injured
Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured
Mike Muscala (traded) — Out
Darius Bazley (traded) — Out
Dort's potential return is vital ahead of a matchup with a Trail Blazers team that generates much of its offense through its starting guards. Kenrich Williams (+2.1%), Gilgeous-Alexander (+1.8%), and Giddey (+1.6%) have posted positive usage differentials in Dort's absence.
Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Cam Reddish, Jerami Grant, Drew Eubanks
Cam Reddish (trade pending) — Available
Matisse Thybulle (trade pending) — Out
Keon Johnson (ankle) — Available
Ryan Arcidiacono (trade pending) — Available
Kevin Knox (trade pending) — Out
Ibou Badji (knee) — Out
Jusuf Nurkic (calf) — Injured
Justise Winslow (ankle) — Injured
Gary Payton II (traded) — Out
Little contributed eight points, three rebounds, and two assists on three-for-six shooting in 29.5 minutes in his lone start this season. Shaedon Sharpe could play a significant sixth-man role If Reddish and Thybulle aren't available to debut.
Confirmed Lineup: Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, Reggie Bullock, Dwight Powell
Luka Doncic (heel) — Out
Davis Bertans (calf) — Injured
Maxi Kleber (hamstring) — Injured
Doncic could return to assume slightly reduced offensive responsibilities due to sharing the floor with Irving, though their minutes will likely be staggered. Bullock, Hardaway Jr., and Josh Green will play diminished offensive roles if Doncic is cleared to play.
Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — In
Khris Middleton (injury management) — Out
Jae Crowder (trade pending) — Unlikely to play
Joe Ingles (injury management) — Not on injury report
Bobby Portis (knee) — Injured
Antetokounmpo finished with 54 points and 19 rebounds on 21-for-39 from the field and 10-for-15 from the line in Milwaukee's 106-105 home win over the Clippers last Thursday. Holiday struggled to find his shot in that match, scoring 12 points on four-for-15 shooting.
Confirmed Lineup: Terance Mann, Paul George, Brandon Boston, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac
Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Out
Eric Gordon (trade pending) — Unlikely to play
Mason Plumlee (trade pending) — Unlikely to play
Bones Hyland (trade pending) — Unlikely to play
Luke Kennard (traded) — Out
Reggie Jackson (traded) — Out
John Wall (traded) — Out
Nicolas Batum (back) — Available
George (39.7%), Norman Powell (28.8%), and Morris (25.4%) have posted increased usage rates, while George (+22.6%), Mann (+6.9%), and Powell (+6.7%) have logged the highest assist rate differentials on the team with Leonard, Wall, and Jackson off the court this season.