NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/30

Mar 30th 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

  • Nikola Jokic (calf) — Out

  • Robert Williams (injury management) — In

Recent NBA News

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Boston Celtics News

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

  • Robert Williams (injury management) — In

  • Grant Williams (illness) — Available

  • Payton Pritchard (heel) — Out

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Brown has led the Celtics with a heightened 33.1% usage rate during the last eight matches, and that development has influenced Boston's guards to contribute less to the scoring effort. White scored 10 or fewer points in five of those contests, posting reduced 15.3% usage. Similarly, Smart scored single-digit points in three of the seven matches he played, registering a diminished 16.3% usage rate.

Milwaukee Bucks News

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

  • Joe Ingles (injury management) — Expected to be available

  • Meyers Leonard (calf) — Out

Once locally renowned for his ability to step up against the Celtics, Middleton has struggled in four matchups with Boston during the last two seasons, posting reduced 23.8% usage while shooting 41.8% from the field. Instead, Holiday was sharp during those contests, averaging 26.5 points on 55.7% shooting and 24.3% usage.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Jose Alvarado (leg) — Injured

  • Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured

While Ingram and Murphy have played more prominent roles since Ingram rejoined the lineup eight games ago, McCollum has struggled. He's posted reduced usage (22.0%) and assist rates (21.9%) while scoring 20 or fewer points in six of those contests. McCollum isn't likely to get on track against Denver: he posted a 38.5 eFG% in his first three matchups with the Nuggets this season.

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Nikola Jokic (calf) — Out

  • Vlatko Cancar (ankle) — Available

  • Peyton Watson (illness) — Available

  • Jack White (health protocols) — Out

Zeke Nnaji and Thomas Bryant will man the center position if Jokic is sidelined. Nnaji has served as the backup five during the last four matches, but Bryant's size could make him better equipped to match up with Jonas Valanciunas. Murray (+7.1%), Bruce Brown (+4.7%), Caldwell-Pope (+4.3%), and Gordon (+4.1%) have posted positive usage differentials, while Murray has led the team with a +8.6% assist rate differential with Jokic and Bones Hyland off the court this season.