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
Tyrese Haliburton (knee, elbow) — Available
Rudy Gobert (groin) — Available
Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) — Out
Jerami Grant (concussion evaluation) — Available
Tre Jones (foot) — Out
Cam Johnson (injury management) — Out
Jabari Smith Jr. (hip) — Available
Recent NBA News
Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.
Confirmed Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee
Dennis Smith Jr. (wrist) — Available
Cody Martin (knee) — Out
Kelly Oubre (hand) — Injured
Charlotte's defense has performed remarkably better on the second game of a back-to-back set this season. The Hornets have posted the third-best defensive rating (108.7) on zero days of rest and registered the sixth-worst defensive rating (116.3) throughout the entire season.
Confirmed Lineup: Jaden Ivey, Alec Burks, Bojan Bogdanovic, Iasaih Stewart, Jalen Duren
Hamidou Diallo (illness) — Not on injury report
Cory Joseph (back) — Out
Marvin Bagley (hand) — Injured
Cade Cunningham (shin) — Injured
The Pistons have a 5-3 record against teams playing on zero days of rest and an 8-36 record against teams with at least one day of rest.
Confirmed Lineup: Davion Mitchell, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
De'Aaron Fox (personal) — Out
Malik Monk averaged 30.2 minutes, and Huerter averaged 20.1 minutes in the last two games as Huerter has begun slumping while Monk broke out of his. Monk (+6.6%), Barnes (+3.4%), and Huerter (+3.4%) have posted the highest usage differentials on the Kings in games Fox has missed this season.
Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner
Tyrese Haliburton (knee, elbow) — Available
Daniel Theis (knee) — Available
Haliburton returned from a ten-game absence Thursday to play 35.5 minutes, leading the Pacers with 26 points and 12 assists on 11-for-24 shooting as his activity wasn't restricted. He could be motivated to play the second game of the back-to-back set against his former team, but he's shot 29.6% from the floor in two games against Sacramento.
Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart, Jerami Grant, Drew Eubanks
Jerami Grant (concussion evaluation) — Available
Ibou Badji (knee) — Out
Jusuf Nurkic (calf) — Injured
Justise Winslow (ankle) — Injured
Gary Payton II (illness) — Out
Grant said he wasn't in concussion protocol following Wednesday's contest. In games Nurkic has missed this season, Grant (+2.6%) and Hart (+2.1%) have recorded the highest usage differentials amongst Portland's starters. Simons (+9.7%) and Lillard (+6.7%) have recorded the highest usage differentials on the Trail Blazers with Grant and Nurkic off the court this season.
Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis, Daniel Gafford
Anthony Gill (health protocols) — Out
The Wizards will have a significant rest advantage. Washington will play their second game in six days, while Portland will play their third match in five days.
Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Dario Saric, Deandre Ayton
Cam Johnson (injury management) — Out
Landry Shamet (foot) — Injured
Cam Payne (foot) — Injured
Devin Booker (groin) — Injured
Johnson's time was limited as he played in shorter spurts Wednesday, finishing with just 15.3 minutes after exceeding 25.0 minutes in the previous three games. Bridges has continued to play a more prominent offensive role despite Paul returning for the last six games, recording 23.4% usage and a 19.0% assist rate.
Confirmed Lineup: Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams
Marcus Smart (ankle) — Injured
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured
Malcolm Brogdon has played an expanded sixth-man role with Smart sidelined for the last five contests, registering 19.6% usage and a 21.5% assist rate in 31.8 minutes per game. Tatum (23.6%) and White (21.6%) have posted heightened assist rates in Smart's absence, splitting facilitating responsibilities with Brogdon nearly evenly.
Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Precious Achiuwa
OG Anunoby (wrist) — Injured
Otto Porter (toe) — Injured
Houston has scored the fewest points per 100 possessions (109.6) this season and will be without their two leading scorers. However, Toronto has struggled against teams with bottom-ten offensive ratings, posting an 8-9 record and allowing the second-most points per 100 possessions (114.6).
Confirmed Lineup: Daishen Nix, Eric Gordon, KJ Martin, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Jalen Green (calf) — Out
Jabari Smith Jr. (hip) — Available
Jae'Sean Tate (injury management) — Available
Kevin Porter Jr. (foot) — Injured
Tari Eason will likely get the starting nod if Smith Jr. is ruled out. Gordon (+10.1%), Eason (+5.5%), and Martin (+3.8%) have posted positive usage differentials, while Gordon has led the Rockets with a +7.2% assist rate differential in the three matches Green and Porter Jr. have missed this season.
Confirmed Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Mo Bamba
Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) — Out
Jonathan Isaac (injury management) — Not on injury report
Chuma Okeke (knee) — Injured
Cole Anthony averaged 17.0 minutes, and Jalen Suggs averaged 23.3 minutes in the last two games. Suggs could be progressively taking over the sixth-man role as his health improves.
Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert (groin) — Available
Taurean Prince (ankle) — Available
Bryn Forbes (ankle) — Available
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — Injured
Jordan McLaughlin (calf) — Injured
Naz Reid scored 25 points and secured 13 rebounds on 10-for-22 shooting in 35.3 minutes with Gobert sidelined Wednesday after coach Finch utilized a three-center rotation in the previous three matches Gobert missed. Edwards has scored 25 or more points in seven consecutive games while registering elevated 34.3% usage and could be more aggressive after not being named an All-Star.
Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid (foot) — In
Embiid could be more likely to sit against the Spurs, who have the second-worst record (14-38) in the league and are expected to be without three starters. Harden (27.8%), Montrezl Harrell (24.2%), Tyrese Maxey (24.1%), and Harris (22.3%) led the 76ers in usage in the three games Embiid missed with Harden available in January.
Confirmed Lineup: Josh Richardson, Malaki Branham, Keldon Johnson, Keita Bates-Diop, Jakob Poeltl
Tre Jones (foot) — Out
Jeremy Sochan (back) — Out
Romeo Langford (adductor) — Out
Blake Wesley (G League) — Available
Dominick Barlow (G League) — Available
Devin Vassell (knee) — Injured
Poeltl (32.4%), Richardson (26.7%), and Johnson (22.9%) led the Spurs in usage after Richardson and Branham started the second half for Jones and Sochan on Wednesday. Branham finished with career-highs of 22 points and five assists on nine-for-13 shooting.
Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela
Young posted a heightened 36.0% usage rate in the three games following the announcement that he wouldn't be an All-Star during the 2020-2021 season. However, Young could find the matchup with the Jazz challenging: Utah has allowed the third-fewest made threes per game (11.4) this season, and Young shot 10-for-28 from the floor at home against the Jazz in November.
Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Kelly Olynyk, Walker Kessler
Simone Fontecchio (foot) — Available
Olynyk's time has been restricted since returning, playing 15.0 minutes Saturday and 19.5 minutes Wednesday. As a result, Malik Beasley has played an inflated role off the bench, averaging 28.2 minutes during the previous two matches.