NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/11

Mar 11th 2023Connor 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 (hand) — Out

  • Kyrie Irving (foot) — Out

  • Tyrese Haliburton (knee) — Out

  • Brandon Ingram (ankle) — Out

  • Jordan Clarkson (finger) — Out

  • Klay Thompson (knee) — In

  • Terry Rozier (calf) — Available

  • Kevin Porter Jr. (thigh) — In

  • Myles Turner (back) — Out

  • De'Andre Hunter (ankle) — Available

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — In

  • Marvin Bagley (ankle) — Available

  • Mark Williams (thumb) — Out

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

  • Jalen Brunson (foot) — Out

  • Isaiah Hartenstein (ankle) — In

Grimes, Barrett, and Josh Hart should play increased minutes on the wing as Quickley mans the point guard position. Barrett (30.0%), Randle (29.9%), and Quickley (24.8%) led the Knicks in usage by a wide margin while Quickley led the team with a 23.3% assist rate in the two games Brunson recently missed.

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac

  • Brandon Boston Jr. (tailbone) — Out

  • Norman Powell (shoulder) — Injured

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Talen Horton-Tucker, Ochai Agbaji, Lauri Markkanen, Kelly Olynyk, Walker Kessler

  • Jordan Clarkson (finger) — Out

  • Collin Sexton (hamstring) — Injured

Though Markkanen, Horton-Tucker, and Kris Dunn's roles could remain most elevated if Clarkson is ruled out, Agbaji and Simone Fontecchio would also be more involved on the wing. In the four contests Clarkson recently missed, Agbaji logged 19.0% usage while Fontecchio posted 19.7%. Agbaji averaged 28.6 minutes during the three games he completed in that sample, and Fontecchio averaged 25.5 in those matches.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Kelly Oubre, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Nick Richards

  • Terry Rozier (calf) — Available

  • Mark Williams (thumb) — Out

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Out

  • Theo Maledon (G League) — Available

  • James Bouknight (G League) — Available

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

Nick Richards started the second half in Williams' stead Thursday, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 29.3 minutes. If Williams is ruled out, Richards could see a similar opportunity as Kai Jones serves as the backup center. Washington has led the Hornets with a +3.4% rebound rate differential with Williams and Mason Plumlee off the court this season.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Andrew Nembhard, Chris Duarte, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson

  • Tyrese Haliburton (knee) — Out

  • Myles Turner (back) — Out

  • Bennedict Mathurin (ankle) — Out

  • TJ McConnell (back) — Out

  • Trevelin Queen (G League) — Out

Nesmith and Chris Duarte absorbed a majority of Mathurin's minutes after he was injured Thursday. Nembhard has led the Pacers with a +7.0% usage differential and a +21.7% assist rate differential with Haliburton and McConnell off the court this season.

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Killian Hayes, Rodney McGruder, Isaiah Livers, Marvin Bagley, James Wiseman

  • Jaden Ivey (health protocols) — Out

  • Marvin Bagley (ankle) — Available

  • Alec Burks (foot) — Out

  • Jared Rhoden (G League) — Available

  • Buddy Boeheim (G League) — Available

  • Isaiah Stewart (shoulder) — Injured

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (Achilles) — Injured

  • Hamidou Diallo (ankle) — Injured

  • Cade Cunningham (shin) — Injured

In minutes when he isn't sharing the floor with Cory Joseph or RJ Hampton, Hayes should handle most of the facilitating responsibilities. Bagley figures to lead the Pistons in usage with their limited shot creation options, though Hayes and Wiseman also appear likely for double-digit field goal attempts.

Miami Heat News

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

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — In

  • Caleb Martin (knee) — Out

  • Duncan Robinson (health protocols) — Out

  • Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured

Though the Heat have scored the fifth-fewest points per 100 possessions (110.6) when playing on zero days of rest this season, the Magic haven't performed well defensively against opponents playing the second game of a back-to-back set. Improbably, Orlando has allowed those opponents to score 120.2 points per 100 possessions, 5.4 points more than their season-long defensive rating.

Orlando Magic News

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

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (hip) — Not on injury report

  • Jonathan Isaac (adductor) — Injured

Orlando's offensive rating of 102.5 through their two losses to the Heat this season would be the lowest in the league over the entire season by a significant margin. Banchero led the Magic by averaging 17.5 points during those contests, but he registered a lowly 35.0 eFG% in the process.

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford

  • Payton Pritchard (heel) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (hamstring) — Injured

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Brown, an Atlanta metropolitan native, led the Celtics with 22 points on 10-for-17 shooting in just 23.2 minutes in their first game against the Hawks this season, a 126-101 road blowout win. He finished with 26 points on nine-for-22 shooting (two-for-nine from three) and 12 rebounds in his previous road game against the Hawks.

Atlanta Hawks News

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

  • De'Andre Hunter (ankle) — Available

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (back) — Out

The Hawks will play their fourth game in six days and the second game of a back-to-back set. They have struggled mightily when playing on zero days of rest this season, posting a 2-7 record while scoring the second-fewest points per 100 possessions (107.8) during those matches.

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Patrick Beverley, Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic

  • Javonte Green (knee) — Injured

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, KJ Martin, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Kevin Porter Jr. (thigh) — In

Daishen Nix will primarily see reduced opportunities in Porter Jr.'s expected return, though Green and Smith Jr. should also be less central to the offensive effort. In addition, Chicago's perimeter defense has regressed after a run of strong play, allowing the fourth-most made threes per game (14.2) during their last 10 contests.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jaden Hardy, Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, Reggie Bullock, Dwight Powell

  • Luka Doncic (thigh) — Out

  • Kyrie Irving (foot) — Out

  • Reggie Bullock (quad) — Available

  • Maxi Kleber (injury recovery) — Not on injury report

  • JaVale McGee (ankle) — Available

Christian Wood (31.3%), Irving (28.5%), Jaden Hardy (25.0%), and Hardaway Jr. (22.6%) led the Mavs in usage while Irving led the team with a 30.0% assist rate in the two games Irving played for Dallas with Doncic sidelined. McKinley Wright, Frank Ntilikina, and Hardy could handle lead facilitating duties if Irving is ruled out. Wright started and logged a 40.0% assist rate the last time Doncic and Irving were unavailable, but he logged 19.8 minutes while Hardy played 25.6 off the bench.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman

  • Jake LaRavia (G League) — Out

  • Vince Williams Jr. (shoulder) — Out

  • Ja Morant (not with team) — Out

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Injured

Tillman played 22.3 minutes Thursday, and Santi Aldama played 29.6. But that change was more related to Tillman's three first-half fouls more so than coach Jenkins favoring Aldama in a matchup with the perimeter-centric Warriors.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (injury management) — In

  • Jalen Williams (wrist) — In

  • Kenrich Williams (wrist) — Injured

  • Aleksej Pokusevski (leg) — Injured

  • Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured

Opportunities will decline across the lineup as two of Oklahoma City's four leading scorers return. Gilgeous-Alexander should be well-rested following three days off. However, it remains to be seen how Jalen Williams' shooting could be negatively affected by an injury to his shooting wrist.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Naji Marshall, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Brandon Ingram (ankle) — Out

  • Larry Nance Jr. (ankle) — Injured

  • Jose Alvarado (leg) — Injured

  • Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured

Ingram did on-court work Friday, but his cardio work was in the pool, which could point toward him being sidelined for this match. McCollum (32.4%), Valanciunas (27.0%), Josh Richardson (20.8%), and Naji Marshall (20.4%) have posted elevated usage rates while McCollum has led the team with a +3.9% assist rate differential with Ingram and Williamson off the court this season.

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (hand) — Out

  • Goran Dragic (knee) — Available but unlikely to play

  • Wesley Matthews (calf) — Injured

Bobby Portis will continue to start if Antetokounmpo remains out. Holiday (28.2%), Middleton (28.0%), Portis (24.3%), and Lopez (23.6%) have led the Bucks in usage while Middleton (+12.1%) and Holiday (+11.6%) have logged the highest assist rate differentials on the team in games Antetokounmpo has missed this season.

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Donte DiVincenzo, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney

  • Klay Thompson (knee) — In

  • Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) — Out

  • Andre Iguodala (hip) — Probable

  • Anthony Lamb (two-way) — Ineligible

  • Andrew Wiggins (personal) — Out

  • Gary Payton II (adductor) — Injured

  • Ryan Rollins (foot) — Injured

It feels likely that Looney will start and play increased minutes with Kuminga unavailable for a matchup with a larger Bucks frontline. Curry and Thompson's offensive roles could diminish slightly if Poole remains in the starting lineup.

Sacramento Kings News

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

Fox's time appeared limited as he returned from injury to play 30.7 minutes Thursday. He played in shorter stretches, logging only 20.3 minutes before playing the final 10.4 minutes of a competitive game. Coach Brown didn't comment about Fox's restriction and if it will persist while he continues to manage a hamstring ailment.

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Josh Okogie, Torrey Craig, Deandre Ayton

  • Kevin Durant (ankle) — Injured

  • Landry Shamet (foot) — Injured

Coach Williams might fluctuate between playing Okogie, Craig, Ish Wainright, Damion Lee, and TJ Warren for increased minutes on the wing until Durant or Shamet rejoin the lineup; Cam Payne could even play additional time when the team needs a spark. Craig (12.9), Okogie (12.3), and Ross (11.1) were the wings other than Booker to exceed 6.8 first-half minutes with Durant sidelined for Phoenix's 132-101 blowout win Wednesday.