NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 2/27

Feb 27th 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

  • Tyler Herro (rib) — Available

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (Achilles) — Out

  • Derrick White (ankle) — In

  • PJ Washington (foot) — Out

  • Isaiah Stewart (hip) — Out

  • Jaden Ivey (personal) — Out

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Out

  • Kevin Love (knee) — Available

Recent NBA News

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Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Killian Hayes, Alec Burks, Rodney McGruder, Isaiah Livers, James Wiseman

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (Achilles) — Out

  • Jaden Ivey (personal) — Out

  • Jalen Duren (ankles) — Out

  • Isaiah Stewart (hip) — Out

  • Nerlens Noel (not with team) — Out

  • Jared Rhoden (G League) — Out

  • Cade Cunningham (shin) — Injured

Alec Burks (29.6%), Hayes (24.1%), and Diallo (23.3%) have led the Pistons in usage, and Hayes has led the team with a 36.2% assist rate with Bogdanovic, Ivey, Cunningham, and Saddiq Bey off the floor this season. Wiseman and Bagley should assume additional offensive responsibilities as well.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, JT Thor, Mark Williams

  • PJ Washington (foot) — Out

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Out

  • Bryce McGowens (G League) — Available

Kelly Oubre remained limited to around 22.0 minutes off the bench Saturday, so Thor made a remarkably unproductive start in Washington's stead, finishing with zero points on zero-for-four shooting and one rebound in 25.6 minutes. Barring Oubre being inserted into the starting lineup, Ball, Rozier, Hayward, and Williams should continue to play expanded offensive roles.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Gabe Vincent, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, Bam Adebayo

  • Tyler Herro (rib) — Available

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Out

  • Kevin Love (knee) — Available

  • Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured

  • Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Injured

Lowry should play limited minutes if cleared to play, potentially enabling Gabe Vincent to continue playing a majority of the point guard time. Max Strus should be given the starting nod if Herro is sidelined, though Victor Oladipo could be more likely to close halves with the starters. Adebayo (27.8%), Oladipo (26.2%), and Butler (24.6%) have led the Heat in usage during games Herro has missed this season.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid

  • Dewayne Dedmon (hip) — Injured

Embiid has averaged 17.2 points on reduced 28.2% usage and 40.3% shooting from the field during his last five regular season games against the Heat, exceeding 22 points just once. Including their six-game playoff series last season, seven out of the last ten matchups between the 76ers and Heat ended with 207 points or less.

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams

  • Jaylen Brown (personal) — Out

  • Derrick White (ankle) — In

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

White (+6.8%), Tatum (+2.6%), and Malcolm Brogdon (+2.2%) have posted the highest usage differentials on the Celtics in games Brown has missed this season. New York's perimeter defense has improved lately, allowing the sixth-fewest made threes per game (10.9) during their last ten contests.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

Randle has caught fire during the last two games, averaging 37.0 points while shooting 12-for-24 (50.0%) from three and logging heightened 33.7% usage. He's similarly excelled in two matchups with the Celtics this season, averaging 33.0 points while shooting eight-for-20 (40.0%) from three and posting 30.0% usage.

Orlando Magic News

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

  • Jonathan Isaac (hamstring) — Out

  • Michael Carter-Williams (signee) — TBD

Banchero has officially hit the rookie wall, scoring 20 or more points in just two of his ten games this month. And while his 25.3% usage has remained fairly stable, his 35.6 eFG% ranks third-to-last among all players who have played at least seven games in February.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Josh Richardson, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Larry Nance Jr. (ankle) — Out

  • Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured

Valanciunas has averaged an additional 4.3 minutes per game with Nance Jr. sidelined this season. McCollum (21.4%), Richardson (17.1%), and Ingram (13.3%) have posted reduced assist rates with Richardson starting the last two games and assuming a more involved facilitating role than Jones or Trey Murphy previously played with the starters.