NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/4

Mar 4th 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

  • Jimmy Butler (knee) — Available

  • Keldon Johnson (foot) — Out

  • Malaki Branham (back) — Out

  • Isaiah Livers (ankle) — Available

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Toronto Raptors News

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

  • Otto Porter (toe) — Injured

Anunoby and Poeltl led the Raptors with 26 and 23 points, respectively, as both players logged effective field goal percentages of 68.8% or higher in Toronto's 119-108 road loss to Washington on Thursday. The Raptors' offense was remarkably balanced as eight players posted usage rates between 15.9% and 22.9%. Gary Trent Jr. played just 17.7 minutes off the bench, and VanVleet shot two-for-11 from three as Toronto shot nine-for-33 (27.3%) from downtown.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Delon Wright, Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis, Daniel Gafford

  • Monte Morris (back) — Injured

Wright led the Wizards with 11 assists in their 119-108 home win over the Raptors on Thursday after Beal acted as the lead facilitator with Morris sidelined for the previous two games. Kuzma led the Wizards with 30 points on 37.3% usage; Porzingis was second on the team with 25 points on a 22.9% clip. Washington's forwards could repeat their success against a Raptors team that has allowed the second-most made field goals per game (31.0) to opposing forwards.

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Livers, Marvin Bagley, James Wiseman

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (Achilles) — Out

  • Jalen Duren (ankles) — Out

  • Isaiah Stewart (hip) — Out

  • Alec Burks (foot) — Out

  • Isaiah Livers (ankle) — Available

  • RJ Hampton (illness) — Available

  • Cade Cunningham (shin) — Injured

  • Eugene Omoruyi (signed) — TBD

Hamidou Diallo projects to serve as the sixth man, and Marvin Bagley's offense could take on increased importance if coach Casey is more willing to play Bagley and Wiseman concurrently. Ivey (31.0%), Bagley (26.8%), Hayes (23.3%), and Diallo (23.2%) have led current Pistons in usage with Bogdanovic, Burks, and Cunningham off the floor this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

  • Donovan Mitchell (groin) — Not on injury report

  • Sam Merrill (signed) — TBD

Atlanta Hawks News

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

The Hawks have been one of the worst teams in the league during the second games of back-to-back sets this season, posting the second-worst offensive rating (107.3) and a 2-6 record during those contests. Additionally, the Hawks have logged a 2-4 record as Young has averaged 24.7 points on 34.0% usage but shot 41.1% from the floor against Miami during the last two regular seasons.

Miami Heat News

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

  • Jimmy Butler (knee) — Available

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Injured

  • Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured

  • Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Injured

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Jae'Sean Tate (injury maintenance) — Out

  • TyTy Washington (illness) — Available

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Devonte' Graham, Keita Bates-Diop, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins

  • Keldon Johnson (foot) — Out

  • Devin Vassell (injury management) — Out

  • Malaki Branham (back) — Out

  • Romeo Langford (adductor) — Available

  • Doug McDermott (thumb) — Out

  • Sandro Mamukelashvili (claimed) — Available

  • Julian Champagnie (G League) — Available

  • Khem Birch (knee) — Injured

  • Isaiah Roby (waived) — Out

Sochan was featured offensively with Johnson sidelined and Vassell coming off the bench Thursday, finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists on 11-for-26 shooting. Sochan could continue to play a similar role as Graham, Branham, and Collins assume even more responsibilities with Vassell unavailable. Tre Jones could remain limited after being restricted to 20.9 minutes off the bench and shooting one-for-six in his return Thursday.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid

  • Dewayne Dedmon (hip) — Available

Maxey remained in the starting lineup despite Embiid returning Thursday, causing De'Anthony Melton to be demoted to the bench. However, Melton played a more active role on the second unit, finishing with 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists on 13.0% usage in 30.6 minutes. Melton averaged 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 24.4 minutes while starting and recording 12.8% usage in February.

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

  • Khris Middleton (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Goran Dragic (signee) — Plans to sign

  • Wesley Matthews (calf) — Injured

Antetokounmpo has averaged 14.1 rebounds as the Bucks have posted a 6-2 record in eight games against Philadelphia during the last three seasons. He averaged 11.5 rebounds against all opponents during that time.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert

  • Jaylen Nowell (knee) — Out

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — Injured

Minnesota's season-long offensive rating (113.6) ranks 21st in the league, and they have performed better during the second game of back-to-back sets. The Kings (122.7) and Timberwolves (120.0) have scored the most, and fifth-most points per 100 possessions, respectively, as both teams have posted 6-4 records on zero days of rest this season.

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • Richaun Holmes (illness) — Out