NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/22

Mar 22nd 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

  • Luka Doncic (thigh) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (foot) — In

  • James Harden (Achilles) — Out

  • Anthony Edwards (ankle) — Out

  • Kyrie Irving (foot) — Out

  • Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) — Out

  • Bradley Beal (knee) — Out

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — In

  • Kyle Kuzma (ankle) — Out

  • Lauri Markkanen (back) — In

  • Dejounte Murray (illness) — Out

  • Keldon Johnson (neck) — Out

  • Scottie Barnes (wrist) — Out

  • Draymond Green (wrist) — In

  • Jeremy Sochan (knee) — Available

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

Caldwell-Pope has struggled with his shot this month, attempting 4.0 threes per game and connecting on just 30.6% of them. He's made one three-point shot or less in six of the nine contests in March.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, Kristaps Porzingis, Daniel Gafford

  • Bradley Beal (knee) — Out

  • Kyle Kuzma (ankle) — Out

Coach Unseld Jr. said Tuesday that Kuzma is dealing with a "pretty significant sprain" and expressed surprise Kuzma played through the issue Saturday. Morris continued a trend of his role expanding in Kuzma's absence Tuesday, finishing with 14 points on five-for-10 shooting, two rebounds, and eight assists. He finished with 20 points on seven-for-11 shooting and seven assists with Beal and Porzingis sidelined for his first matchup against his former team earlier in the season.

New York Knicks News

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

Randle could keep his hot streak going on the heels of scoring a career-high 57 points Monday. He scored 43 points on 16-for-25 shooting (eight-for-13 from three) during a road game against Miami earlier this month. However, Randle had averaged 15.8 points on 32.2% shooting in his previous five matchups with the Heat.

Miami Heat News

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

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Available

  • Caleb Martin (knee) — Available

  • Cody Zeller (nose) — Injured

The Knicks have registered the seventh-best point differential (+3.0) this season. The Heat have struggled against teams with top-ten point differentials, posting an 11-16 record (7-7 at home) while recording the 13th-best defensive rating (115.5) against those teams. That includes both Miami's two-point losses to New York this season.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Bennedict Mathurin, Oshae Brissett, Myles Turner

  • Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) — Out

  • Chris Duarte (ankle) — Out

Nembhard and TJ McConnell will handle fewer facilitating responsibilities while usage declines across most of the lineup if Haliburton returns. Though Oshae Brissett and one of Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith will likely be excluded from the rotation if Haliburton and Duarte rejoin the lineup, there will also be reduced time available for the guards and wings, except for Hield.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Will Barton, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl

  • Scottie Barnes (wrist) — Out

  • Gary Trent Jr. (elbow) — Out

  • Precious Achiuwa (hamstring) — Out

  • Dalano Banton (thumb) — Out

  • Otto Porter (toe) — Injured

If Barnes is ruled out, Gary Trent Jr. should start while Precious Achiuwa and Will Barton also play additional time. Since Poeltl made his team season debut, Anunoby (+2.9%) and VanVleet (+2.2%) have posted positive usage differentials, while VanVleet has led the team with a +8.0% assist rate differential with Barnes off the floor.

Golden State Warriors News

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

  • Draymond Green (wrist) — In

  • Kevon Looney (back) — Available

  • Andrew Wiggins (personal) — Out

  • Andre Iguodala (wrist) — Injured

  • Gary Payton II (adductor) — Injured

  • Ryan Rollins (foot) — Injured

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Josh Green, Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell

  • Luka Doncic (thigh) — Available

  • Kyrie Irving (foot) — Out

  • Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness) — Out

  • Markieff Morris (knee) — Available

Coach Kidd opting to start two big men while Doncic remained out for the last three games enabled Christian Wood to average 30.6 minutes off the bench and act as more of an offensive hub, recording 30.6% usage and a 31.5% assist rate. Wood could retain a more prominent role if Doncic or Irving are ruled out, though his facilitating opportunities should diminish if Doncic returns.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid

  • James Harden (Achilles) — Out

  • PJ Tucker (ankle) — Available

  • Jalen McDaniels (hip) — Out

De'Anthony Melton will likely start while Shake Milton plays an expanded sixth-man role if Harden is ruled out. Maxey (+6.2%), Harris (+4.6%), and Melton (+2.9%) have posted the highest usage differentials on the 76ers, while Maxey (+11.4%) and Embiid (+7.3%) have registered the highest assist rate differentials on the team with Harden off the court this season.

Chicago Bulls News

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

  • Alex Caruso (foot) — Out

  • Javonte Green (knee) — Available

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured

The Bulls and 76ers were tied at 91 at the end of regulation as both teams shot 27.8% from downtown or worse in Chicago's 109-105 road double-overtime win Monday. Vucevic and Beverley logged usage rates of 14.6% or lower as they exceeded 39.0 minutes, causing Chicago to become increasingly reliant on LaVine and DeRozan. LaVine led the team with 26 points and seven assists on 26.7% usage; DeRozan finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, and two assists on 26.3% usage.

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Alperen Sengun (illness) — Not on injury report

  • Jae'Sean Tate (knee) — Out

  • TyTy Washington (G League) — Out

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, David Roddy, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman

  • Ja Morant (conditioning) — Not on injury report

  • Dillon Brooks (suspension) — Out

  • Ziaire Williams (foot) — Out

  • Vince Williams Jr. (shoulder) — Out

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Injured

Morant didn't participate in basketball activities during his absence and should play limited minutes during his ramp-up process, potentially even coming off the bench. Tyus Jones, Bane, and Jackson Jr. will be tasked with generating even more offense in Brooks' absence if Morant comes off the bench.

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Malaki Branham, Devin Vassell, Keita Bates-Diop, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins

  • Keldon Johnson (neck) — Out

  • Jeremy Sochan (knee) — Available

  • Tre Jones (injury management) — Out

  • Devonte' Graham (injury management) — Out

  • Doug McDermott (injury management) — Out

  • Romeo Langford (injury management) — Out

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Injured

  • Khem Birch (knee) — Injured

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

  • Jae Crowder (calf) — Out

  • Meyers Leonard (calf) — Out

  • Goran Dragic (knee) — Out

  • Thanasis Antetokounmpo (not with team) — Available

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela

  • Dejounte Murray (illness) — Out

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (injury management) — Available

  • Jalen Johnson (hamstring, groin) — Injured

Bogdan Bogdanovic started and logged 13.8 first-half minutes with Murray sidelined for Tuesday's blowout win. Garrison Mathews and Aaron Holiday were both utilized as the rotation expanded to 10, preventing Saddiq Bey and AJ Griffin from playing increased time. Young was increasingly featured in the offense, finishing with 30 points and 12 assists on 34.5% usage in 30.3 minutes.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Taurean Prince, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert

  • Anthony Edwards (ankle) — Out

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — In

  • Jaylen Nowell (knee) — Available

  • Jordan McLaughlin (illness) — Out

Coach Finch said Tuesday he doesn't expect Edwards or Towns to return to face the Hawks before both players were given questionable tags. Finch added that Edwards is focused more on treatment than workouts, and Towns is deep into the workout phase of the return process. Prince will not shoot eight-for-eight from three again, but he, the remaining starters, and Nowell could again be pressed into more prominent roles if Edwards and Towns remain out.

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Shaedon Sharpe, Trendon Watford, Jusuf Nurkic

  • Anfernee Simons (foot) — Out

  • Jerami Grant (quad) — Out

  • Nassir Little (concussion) — Out

  • Ibou Badji (knee) — Injured

  • Justise Winslow (ankle) — Injured

The degree to which Shaedon Sharpe's role expands will be determined by Little's final status. Lillard (+6.6%), Nurkic (+5.5%), and Watford (+4.4%) have recorded the highest usage differentials on the team, while Lillard has led Portland with a +9.6% assist rate differential with Grant and Simons off the court this season.

Utah Jazz News

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

  • Lauri Markkanen (back) — In

  • Jordan Clarkson (finger) — Out

  • Collin Sexton (hamstring) — Injured

Olynyk recorded eight assists as he led the team with 89 touches Monday and could continue to act as more of an offensive hub if Markkanen remains out. Simone Fontecchio would continue to start while he, Agbaji, and the point guards also retain expanded roles in that event.

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Josh Okogie, Torrey Craig, Bismack Biyombo

  • Deandre Ayton (hip) — Out

  • Kevin Durant (ankle) — Injured

Coach Williams deployed four players at center with Ayton sidelined Sunday, preventing Biyombo and Landale from exceeding 20.1 minutes. None of the four center options exceeded 15.4% usage or project to match Ayton's typical offensive role against the Lakers. As a result, Paul and Booker should continue to shoulder more of the offense.

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Troy Brown Jr., Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis

  • Anthony Davis (foot) — In

  • Mo Bamba (ankle) — Injured

  • LeBron James (foot) — Injured

While Austin Reaves is highly unlikely to score 35 points or post 31.1% usage again, he has retained a significant role off the bench since Russell rejoined the lineup. He's ranked fourth on the team in usage (21.2%), second in assist rate (25.7%), fourth in touches per game (50.2), and third in minutes per game (29.3) during their last six contests.