NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/18

Mar 18th 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

  • Anthony Edwards (ankle) — Out

  • Jalen Brunson (foot) — Available

  • James Harden (injury recovery) — Out

  • Kristaps Porzingis (illness) — Out

  • Jordan Clarkson (finger) — Out

  • Rudy Gobert (ankle) — Available

  • Marcus Smart (hip) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) — Not on injury report

  • Kevin Huerter (knee) — Out

  • Al Horford (back) — Out

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Zeke Nnaji (shoulder) — Available

Murray struggled offensively while regularly appearing on the injury report during the last five games, averaging 16.8 points while recording a 40.3 eFG%. Additionally, he's struggled when playing in Madison Square Garden, averaging 15.3 points on 21.6% usage in four career starts.

New York Knicks News

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

  • Jalen Brunson (foot) — Available

Brunson isn't likely to face a minute restriction if cleared to return. While Immanuel Quickley's role would diminish most as he's demoted to the bench, Randle and Barrett would also be featured less in the offensive effort in that event.

Orlando Magic News

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

  • Jalen Suggs (concussion) — Out

  • Jonathan Isaac (adductor) — Injured

Caleb Houstan or Kevon Harris will likely absorb most of Suggs' time and play a less-involved role than Suggs. As a result, Franz Wagner and ColeAnthony will likely assume additional responsibilities on the second unit. Anthony (+5.4%) and Franz Wagner (+4.6%) have posted the highest usage differentials on the team while registering assist rate differentials of +6.4% or higher with Suggs and Banchero off the court this season.

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, Paul George, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac

  • Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Out

  • Brandon Boston Jr. (tailbone) — Out

  • Norman Powell (shoulder) — Injured

Leonard has missed one game since Westbrook, Gordon, Mason Plumlee, and Bones Hyland were acquired. Westbrook led the team with 27 points on 12-for-16 shooting and 10 assists as his role expanded most during that match; George's 28.3% usage remained stable as he dished out eight assists. Gordon scored 21 points on eight-for-13 shooting as an efficient third scoring option.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, De'Anthony Melton, Danuel House, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid

  • James Harden (injury recovery) — Out

  • PJ Tucker (ankle) — Out

  • Jalen McDaniels (hip) — Available

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Jordan Nwora, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner

  • Chris Duarte (ankle) — Out

  • Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) — Injured

  • Bennedict Mathurin (ankle) — Injured

Nwora, Nesmith, and TJ McConnell exceeded 29.0 minutes with Haliburton and Duarte sidelined in a 139-121 road win over the Bucks on Thursday. Indiana's offensive effort was remarkably balanced: though Nembhard led them with 24 points on 10-for-21 shooting, six Pacers attempted between nine and 12 field goals. Both trends could persist until Duarte or Haliburton return.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Taurean Prince, Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert

  • Anthony Edwards (ankle) — Injured

  • Rudy Gobert (ankle) — Available

  • Naz Reid (calf) — Available

  • Jaylen Nowell (knee) — Out

  • Austin Rivers (back) — Available

  • Matt Ryan (G League) — Available

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — Injured

Nickeil Alexander-Walker logged 26.9 minutes after Edwards was injured in the Timberwolves' 139-131 double-overtime loss Friday, scoring 12 points on four-for-10 shooting. His shot creation ability will be increasingly valued if Nowell and Edwards aren't available to face the Raptors. Minnesota's projected starters should continue to play balanced offense: among them, Prince (21.0%), Conley (18.4%), and Gobert (17.6%) have posted the highest usage rates with Edwards, Towns, and D'Angelo Russell off the floor this season.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl

  • Christian Koloko (nose) — Available

  • Dalano Banton (thumb) — Out

  • Otto Porter (toe) — Injured

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kessler Edwards, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis

  • Kevin Huerter (knee) — Out

  • Trey Lyles (shoulder) — Out

  • Richaun Holmes (illness) — Available

Terence Davis was given the second-half start after Huerter left Thursday's game in the first quarter but logged 8.7 minutes as Malik Monk and Kessler Edwards both cleared 23.5 minutes. Davis has started the three games Huerter has missed this season, averaging 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 24.1% usage in 26.0 minutes per game.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, Corey Kispert, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford

  • Kristaps Porzingis (illness) — Out

  • Xavier Cooks (signed) — Available

Despite a 7-6 record, Washington has been one of the best teams in the league when playing on zero days of rest. They've recorded the third-best point differential (+6.0), best spread differential (+7.7), sixth-best offensive rating (118.9), and eighth-best defensive rating (112.8) during the second games of back-to-back sets this season.

Miami Heat News

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

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Out

  • Cody Zeller (nose) — Injured

  • Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured

Victor Oladipo will likely re-enter the rotation if Lowry is ruled out for the first game of a back-to-back set, though Max Strus and Caleb Martin seem poised to lead Miami's bench unit in minutes following recent developments. Herro (9.5) and Strus (7.0) attempted a higher volume of three-point shots in two matchups with Chicago earlier this season, a trend that could persist against a Bulls team that remains vulnerable to shooting.

Chicago Bulls News

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

  • Alex Caruso (illness) — In

  • Javonte Green (knee) — Out

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured

The Bulls have scored the second-fewest points per 100 possessions (107.8) when playing on zero days of rest this season, and the Heat have posted the sixth-best defensive rating (109.8) against teams playing the second game of a back-to-back set. While Jimmy Butler was notably sidelined for the second matchup, the Bulls limited the Heat to 105.5 points per game in two road wins earlier this season.

Golden State Warriors News

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

  • Draymond Green (suspension) — Available

  • Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) — Available

  • Andrew Wiggins (personal) — Out

  • Andre Iguodala (wrist) — Injured

  • Gary Payton II (adductor) — Injured

  • Ryan Rollins (foot) — Injured

Memphis Grizzlies News

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

  • Vince Williams Jr. (shoulder) — Out

  • Ja Morant (suspension) — Out

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Injured

Jones excelled in Memphis' 131-110 home win over Golden State nine days ago, leading the team with 22 points on eight-for-17 shooting (three-for-nine from three) and 11 assists. Jackson Jr. and Bane both finished with 21 points while recording effective field goal percentages of 57.7% or higher.

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Blake Griffin

  • Al Horford (back) — Out

  • Marcus Smart (hip) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) — Not on injury report

  • Payton Pritchard (heel) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (hamstring) — Injured

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Griffin, Mike Muscala, Luke Kornet, and Grant Williams could all absorb Horford's time if he continues to not play on zero days of rest this season. Williams and Sam Hauser will play increased minutes while the starters are tasked with generating more of the offense if Brogdon misses a second straight game.

Utah Jazz News

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

  • Jordan Clarkson (finger) — Out

  • Jarrell Brantley (signed) — TBD

  • Collin Sexton (hamstring) — Injured

Horton-Tucker's role will diminish most as the volume of his on-ball reps decline if Clarkson rejoins the lineup. However, Ochai Agbaji and Simone Fontecchio stand to play reduced time as Markkanen shoulders less of the offensive burden in that event.