NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 4/5

Apr 5th 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

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — Out

  • LeBron James (foot) — In

  • Anthony Davis (foot) — In

  • Jayson Tatum (hip) — Out

  • Trae Young (illness) — Available

  • Ja Morant (hip) — Out

  • Jaylen Brown (back) — Not on injury report

  • Jalen Brunson (injury maintenance) — Out

  • Kyrie Irving (injury recovery) — Available

  • Bradley Beal (knee) — Out

  • Kyle Kuzma (ankle) — Out

  • Kristaps Porzingis (illness) — Out

  • Myles Turner (ankle) — Out

  • RJ Barrett (illness) — Out

  • D'Angelo Russell (foot) — In

  • Dillon Brooks (hip) — Not on injury report

  • De'Andre Hunter (knee) — Out

  • Marcus Smart (neck) — Out

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Royce O'Neale, Nic Claxton

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (wrist) — Out

  • Ben Simmons (back) — Injured

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Eugene Omoruyi, Jalen Duren, James Wiseman

  • Marvin Bagley (concussion) — Out

  • Isaiah Livers (ankle) — Out

  • Alec Burks (foot) — Out

  • Rodney McGruder (foot) — Out

  • Isaiah Stewart (shoulder) — Injured

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (Achilles) — Injured

  • Hamidou Diallo (ankle) — Injured

  • Cade Cunningham (shin) — Injured

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Josh Hart, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson

  • Jalen Brunson (injury maintenance) — Out

  • RJ Barrett (illness) — Out

  • Derrick Rose (illness) — Not on injury report

  • Duane Washington Jr. (hip) — Out

  • DaQuan Jeffries (calf) — Out

  • Julius Randle (ankle) — Injured

Immanuel Quickley, Toppin, and Grimes scored at least 21 points and attempted 15 or more field goals as their roles expanded most in Barrett's absence Sunday. Their scoring responsibilities will revert while Quickley and Toppin play fewer minutes if Barrett is cleared to return.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Jordan Nwora, Jalen Smith

  • Tyrese Haliburton (ankle, elbow) — Out

  • Myles Turner (ankle) — Out

  • Chris Duarte (ankle) — Out

TJ McConnell has been limited to backup point guard duties during two of the last three contests, and Buddy Hield averaged 23.4 minutes off the bench during the last two games. Nembhard led the Pacers with 23.7% usage and a 48.3% assist rate during the last three matches and stands to generate more of the offense with Mathurin, Nesmith, and Nwora if coach Carlisle continues limiting McConnell and Hield's time.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Goodwin, Johnny Davis, Corey Kispert, Anthony Gill, Daniel Gafford

  • Bradley Beal (knee) — Out

  • Kyle Kuzma (ankle) — Out

  • Kristaps Porzingis (illness) — Out

  • Deni Avdija (elbow) — Out

  • Monte Morris (ankle) — Out

  • Delon Wright (illness) — Out

Kendrick Nunn contributed 24 points on nine-for-17 shooting, seven rebounds, and six assists in just 22.5 minutes off the bench Tuesday. Jordan Goodwin led the team with nine assists, and Johnny Davis logged four assists in an expanded facilitating role. Goodwin, Davis, and Kispert each attempted at least 15 field goals. Porzingis remaining out would cause the offense to continue being centered around the guards, but Morris and Wright's statuses will determine who plays an expanded role in that event.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Saddiq Bey, John Collins, Clint Capela

  • Trae Young (illness) — Available

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (injury management) — Out

  • De'Andre Hunter (knee) — Out

None of Atlanta's starters exceeded 21.3% usage with Young and Hunter sidelined for their 123-105 win Tuesday. Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic played expanded facilitating roles, but their scoring responsibilities remained fairly static as five other Hawks attempted at least seven field goals. That could persist if Young remains out, especially if Hunter rejoins the lineup in that event.

Toronto Raptors News

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

  • Gary Trent Jr. (back) — Available

  • Otto Porter (toe) — Injured

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Mike Muscala, Robert Williams

  • Jayson Tatum (hip) — Out

  • Jaylen Brown (back) — Not on injury report

  • Marcus Smart (neck) — Out

  • Robert Williams (injury management) — In

  • Al Horford (back) — Out

  • Payton Pritchard (heel) — Out

  • Justin Champagnie (signee) — TBD

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Williams should continue playing limited minutes despite Horford's likely absence, creating the potential for a three-center rotation. Tatum, White, and Malcolm Brogdon will be asked to generate more offense if Brown or Smart are sidelined.

Chicago Bulls News

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

  • Alex Caruso (injury management) — Out

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured

The Bucks have filtered shots into the mid-range at the second-highest frequency (37.8%) league-wide. That played directly into DeRozan's hand during his two matchups with Milwaukee this season: he averaged 39.0 points on heightened 33.4% usage.

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Jevon Carter, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — Out

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

  • Jevon Carter (foot) — Not on injury report

  • Pat Connaughton (ankle) — Out

  • Grayson Allen (ankle) — Injured

Bobby Portis finished with 19 points on five-for-15 shooting and 20 rebounds in 31.1 minutes during Tuesday's comfortable win. Though Portis should be less featured in the offense as Middleton rejoins the lineup, coach Budenholzer could maintain a three-big rotation if Milwaukee's wing depth remains thin.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama

  • Ja Morant (hip) — Out

  • Dillon Brooks (hip) — Not on injury report

  • Xavier Tillman (ankle) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (ankle) — Out

  • Jake LaRavia (calf) — Out

  • Ziaire Williams (foot, ankle) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Injured

Luke Kennard was given the starting nod in Brooks' absence Tuesday and thrived, scoring 20 points on the strength of shooting six-for-10 from three in 34.2 minutes. Kennard has shot 55.4% from downtown during the last 10 games and should get a similar opportunity if Brooks remains out.

New Orleans Pelicans News

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

  • Jose Alvarado (leg) — Injured

  • Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured

Ingram could struggle to keep his momentum against the Grizzlies, especially if Dillon Brooks (hip) rejoins their lineup. Ingram didn't exceed 22 points in his last five matchups with Memphis, cumulatively recording 26.5% usage. He shot 42.9% from the field in his first two matchups with the Grizzlies this season, leaving the second game after 17.8 minutes due to injury.

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • Matthew Dellavedova (finger) — Injured

Fox averaged 34.5 points while recording elevated 33.0% usage and a 57.7 eFG% during two matchups against Dallas with Kyrie Irving active in February. Fox led the Kings with 17.0 points in the paint per game during those matches, and the Mavs have allowed the second-most points in the paint per game to guards (36.1) during their last 15 contests.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Reggie Bullock, Dwight Powell

  • Luka Doncic (injury recovery) — In

  • Kyrie Irving (injury recovery) — Available

Josh Green logged 39.9 minutes for defensive purposes, while Hardaway Jr. played just 18.2 minutes in Sunday's overtime loss to the Hawks. Irving and Doncic were increasingly featured in the offensive effort due to sharing the court more with Green than Hardaway Jr., a trend that could persist against Sacramento. Though both started, Green played 40.4 minutes while Hardaway Jr. played 15.8 minutes in the one match Irving and Doncic were previously available to face the Kings.

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis

  • LeBron James (foot) — In

  • Anthony Davis (foot) — In

  • D'Angelo Russell (foot) — In

  • Mo Bamba (ankle) — In

James and Davis haven't played on zero days of rest since suffering their respective foot injuries, but a win over the Clippers would position them to overtake the five seed in the Western Conference. Dennis Schroder, Reaves, and, if available, Russell's roles could expand most in the event James or Davis are ruled out despite the stakes.

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum, Ivica Zubac

  • Eric Gordon (hip) — In

  • Marcus Morris (back) — Out

  • Paul George (knee) — Injured

Leonard and Westbrook will remain featured in the scoring effort, especially if Gordon remains sidelined while Norman Powell continues struggling to regain his rhythm post-injury. Westbrook, in particular, could be positioned to succeed against the Lakers. He's scored 52.0% of his points in the paint during his Clippers tenure, and the Lakers have posted the eighth-best defensive rating (113.4) but allowed the ninth-most points in the paint per game (53.6) during their last 10 contests.