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
Kevin Durant (ankle) — Out
Jusuf Nurkic (calf) — In
Michael Porter Jr. (illness) — Available
Monte Morris (back) — Available
Kevin Love (rib) — Available
Recent NBA News
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Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela
With coach Snyder directing rotations during the last four contests, Saddiq Bey has attempted 6.0 threes per game and averaged 29.5 minutes. While Collins has averaged just 21.4 minutes as Bey has been favored, Bogdan Bogdanovic's role has also been negatively affected. Bogdanovic averaged 23.3 minutes during that span after averaging 27.5 minutes during his previous 15 games.
Confirmed Lineup: Delon Wright, Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis, Daniel Gafford
Monte Morris (back) — Available
Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Cam Reddish, Jerami Grant, Jusuf Nurkic
Anfernee Simons (ankle) — Out
Jusuf Nurkic (calf) — In
Ryan Arcidiacono (back) — Out
Ibou Badji (knee) — Out
Justise Winslow (ankle) — Injured
Portland's defense has suffered as they've posted the worst defensive rating (123.4), second-worst rebound rate (46.1%), and allowed the third-most points in the paint per game (56.0) during Nurkic's absence. Drew Eubanks and Trendon Watford will play reduced time when Nurkic is cleared to return, albeit with a probable restriction.
Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford
Jayson Tatum (knee) — Not on injury report
Al Horford (back) — Not on injury report
Payton Pritchard (heel) — Out
Robert Williams (hamstring) — Injured
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured
Boston recorded the 15th-best offensive rating (115.7) league-wide as they went 5-5 during their last 10 games, but they'll have an opportunity to correct course against a Trail Blazers team that recorded the second-worst defensive rating (122.9) during their last 10 contests. The Celtics boast a 15-1 record against teams with bottom-ten defensive ratings this season, scoring the most points per 100 possessions (127.4) and allowing the fourth-fewest (110.3) during those games.
Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Mitchell has been on a tear lately, averaging 34.8 points while recording an increased 34.4% usage rate and a 58.7 eFG% during the last four matches. However, he's struggled against the Heat this season, averaging 14.5 points while logging 24.5% usage and a 46.6 eFG%.
Confirmed Lineup: Gabe Vincent, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, Bam Adebayo
Kevin Love (rib) — Available
Kyle Lowry (knee) — Injured
Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured
All five Heat-Cavs matchups during the last two seasons have finished with 212 points or less, and four featured 201 or fewer points. Max Strus started but played 22.4 minutes, and Caleb Martin played 27.7 minutes with Love sidelined Sunday. Strus, Martin, and Duncan Robinson could absorb Love's minutes again if he remains out.
Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, Dwight Powell
Reggie Bullock (quad) — Out
Maxi Kleber (injury recovery) — Out
JaVale McGee (ankle) — Out
Although rest has factored, it's notable how much Dallas has struggled during the second games of back-to-back sets this season. During those contests, they've posted a 2-8 record (1-7 on the road) and allowed the sixth-most points per 100 possessions (121.1).
Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas
Josh Richardson (personal) — Not on injury report
Larry Nance Jr. (ankle) — Injured
Jose Alvarado (leg) — Injured
Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured
Though Jones, Trey Murphy, and the reserve guards should play fewer minutes as Richardson returns, they can retain additional time if coach Green continues experimenting with lineups featuring Jones at center. Jones was deployed at the five for about 5.0 minutes as Valanciunas returned Monday. Those lineups could excel against a perimeter-centric Mavs team that posted the second-lowest offensive rebound rate (21.1%) and scored the fourth-fewest points in the paint per game (44.0) during their last 10 matches.
Confirmed Lineup: Patrick Beverley, Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic
Javonte Green (knee) — Injured
Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured
Though Beverley isn't a ball-dominant point guard, his 17.1% assist rate through six starts exceeds Ayo Dosunmu's 13.7% season-long rate. Additionally, Coby White has played more of a facilitating role since Beverley debuted, posting a 21.8% assist rate in 23.1 minutes per game. As a result, LaVine recorded a 14.2% assist rate during that span after posting a 17.6% clip during his first 55 games.
Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Michael Porter Jr. (illness) — Available
Vlatko Cancar (wrist) — Out
Zeke Nnaji (shoulder) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Josh Giddey, Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Jaylin Williams
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (injury management) — Out
Jalen Williams (wrist) — Out
Kenrich Williams (wrist) — Injured
Aleksej Pokusevski (leg) — Injured
Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured
Tre Mann, Ousmane Dieng, and Dario Saric are candidates to provide additional shot creation off the bench. Dort (27.3%), Mann (25.9%), and Giddey (25.9%) have posted the highest usage rates on the team while Giddey has led active Thunder players with a +5.1% assist rate differential with Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams off the court this season.
Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Josh Okogie, Torrey Craig, Deandre Ayton
Kevin Durant (ankle) — Out
Landry Shamet (foot) — Injured
Coach Williams said, "I just left him in there" when asked about Durant playing a team-leading, fully unrestricted 40.4 minutes during Sunday's win. Okogie shot three-for-13 from the field in 21.8 minutes during that contest as he acutely regressed, and Williams played five different reserve wings as he searched for answers.
Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl
Will Barton (illness) — Out
Otto Porter (toe) — Injured
The Clippers allowed the most points off turnovers per game (23.5) and the fourth-most fast break points per game (17.3) during their previous 10 matches. While Toronto has struggled in half-court sets, they have continued to excel at creating points off turnovers and in transition, ranking first and third, respectively, in those categories across the entire season.
Confirmed Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac
Norman Powell (shoulder) — Injured
Brandon Boston Jr. (tailbone) — Out
Leonard has uncharacteristically struggled in five games against the Raptors since joining the Clippers, averaging just 16.6 points on reduced 22.0% usage. Zubac secured at least 11 rebounds in five of his last six matchups against teams starting Jakob Poeltl, with the outlier caused by foul problems.