NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/6

Mar 6th 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

  • Donovan Mitchell (finger) — Available

  • Jayson Tatum (knee) — Out

  • De'Aaron Fox (hamstring) — Out

  • Tyrese Haliburton (calf) — In

  • Jonas Valanciunas (calf) — Available

  • Anfernee Simons (ankle) — Out

  • Myles Turner (back) — Available

  • Michael Porter Jr. (illness) — Available

  • Tobias Harris (calf) — Out

  • James Wiseman (knee) — Available

  • Malcolm Brogdon (ankle) — Not on injury report

  • Killian Hayes (hand) — Out

  • Al Horford (back) — Out

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Mike Muscala, Blake Griffin

  • Jayson Tatum (knee) — Out

  • Al Horford (back) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (ankle) — Not on injury report

  • Robert Williams (hamstring) — Injured

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Grant Williams (+7.0%), Marcus Smart (+3.1%), and Derrick White (+2.8%) have logged the highest usage differentials on the team while Smart has posted a +9.4% assist rate differential in games Tatum has missed this season. Jaylen Brown and Brogdon should also be tasked with generating additional offense.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

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

  • Donovan Mitchell (finger) — Available

Caris LeVert, Ricky Rubio, Mobley, and Garland have logged usage differentials between +3.0% and +4.0% while Rubio (+8.9%), Garland (+6.4%), and LeVert (+5.0%) have posted the highest assist rate differentials among current Cavs in games Mitchell has missed this season.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, De'Anthony Melton, Jalen McDaniels, Joel Embiid

  • Tobias Harris (calf) — Out

  • PJ Tucker (back) — Out

De'Anthony Melton figures to start if Harris or Tucker are sidelined, though Georges Niang and Jalen McDaniels would absorb most of the available minutes in that event. Harden (+5.2%) and Maxey (+4.0%) have posted the highest usage differentials on the team with Harris off the floor by a significant margin.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Jordan Nwora, Myles Turner

  • Tyrese Haliburton (calf) — In

  • Myles Turner (back) — Available

  • Aaron Nesmith (hip) — Out

Nembhard has recorded a 38.8 eFG% as he's averaged 22.9 minutes during the last eight games, playing less time as he's struggled. Bennedict Mathurin and Chris Duarte could continue to pick up some of Nembhard's minutes, but they would lose time with Oshae Brissett if Nesmith returns.

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Cam Reddish, Jerami Grant, Drew Eubanks

  • Anfernee Simons (ankle) — Out

  • Ryan Arcidiacono (back) — Out

  • Ibou Badji (knee) — Out

  • Jusuf Nurkic (calf) — Injured

  • Justise Winslow (ankle) — Injured

Trendon Watford averaged 24.4 minutes, and Eubanks averaged 22.8 during the last five games. However, Eubanks might get more time against the Pistons because his superior interior defense could be valued.

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Jaden Ivey, Alec Burks, Isaiah Livers, Marvin Bagley, James Wiseman

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (Achilles) — Out

  • Jalen Duren (ankles) — Out

  • Isaiah Stewart (hip) — Out

  • Killian Hayes (hand) — Out

  • James Wiseman (knee) — Available

  • Alec Burks (foot) — Not on injury report

  • Rodney McGruder (ankle) — Out

  • Cade Cunningham (shin) — Injured

Bagley scored at least 20 points in three of the four games he's played post-injury, recording 25.9% usage and a 21.6% rebound rate during that time. He and Ivey figure to be central to Detroit's offensive efforts, and they will assume even more responsibilities if Wiseman or Hayes are ruled out. Hamidou Diallo could near 30 minutes, and Eugene Omoruyi might clear 20 minutes in an extremely thin frontcourt rotation if Wiseman is sidelined.

Atlanta Hawks News

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

Though foul troubles influenced Collins playing just 16.2 minutes in Atlanta's 117-109 road loss to Miami on Saturday, Collins playing fewer minutes continued a trend since coach Snyder took over. Saddiq Bey averaged 28.7 minutes, and Collins averaged 21.9 during the last three contests. Additionally, Murray has exceeded 13 points just twice in seven games against the Heat during the last four seasons.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Gabe Vincent, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Max Strus, Bam Adebayo

  • Kevin Love (rib) — Out

  • Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Available

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Injured

  • Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured

Adebayo delivered big in Miami's 117-109 home win over Atlanta on Saturday, finishing with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists while shooting 10-for-12 from both the floor and the field. Herro scored just 20 points on 21 field goal attempts while Butler contributed 15 points on five-for-eight shooting in addition to 11 rebounds and a team-leading seven assists.

Toronto Raptors News

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

  • Otto Porter (toe) — Injured

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Michael Porter Jr. (illness) — Available

  • Thomas Bryant (ankle, hip) — Available

  • Vlatko Cancar (wrist) — Out

  • Zeke Nnaji (shoulder) — Injured

The Nuggets haven't played since Friday and have excelled when playing on two days of rest this season, scoring the second-most points per 100 possessions (122.9) and posting the fourth-best defensive rating (108.9) during those contests.

New Orleans Pelicans News

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

  • Jonas Valanciunas (calf) — Available

  • Josh Richardson (personal) — Out

  • Larry Nance Jr. (ankle) — Injured

  • Jose Alvarado (leg) — Injured

  • Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured

Although Jones, Murphy, and Naji Marshall should continue to play increased minutes in Richardson's continued absence, they will likely lose time if Valanciunas returns because of how much coach Green was willing to deploy smaller lineups during the last two games.

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: Davion Mitchell, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis

  • De'Aaron Fox (hamstring) — Out

  • Richaun Holmes (illness) — Available

Though Davion Mitchell averaged 28.0 minutes as Barnes logged 20.2% usage, Huerter's role arguably vaulted most as he recorded 22.0% usage and a 21.4% assist rate during the three contests Fox missed during the last five weeks. Much of Fox's offensive production ended up going to Sacramento's reserves: Terence Davis (27.0%), Trey Lyles (25.1%), and Malik Monk (23.7%) led the team in usage during those matches.