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 (hamstring) — In
LeBron James (ankle) — Available
Jaylen Brown (injury management) — Out
LaMelo Ball (ankle, wrist) — Out
Jimmy Butler (back) — Out
Donovan Mitchell (groin) — In
Brandon Ingram (toe) — Out
Deandre Ayton (illness) — Out
Marcus Smart (ankle) — Injured
Andrew Nembhard (illness) — Out
Michael Porter Jr. (personal) — Out
Robert Williams (injury management) — Available
Gordon Hayward (hamstring) — Out
Naji Marshall (toe) — Out
Al Horford (back) — Out
Recent NBA News
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Confirmed Lineup: Ayo Dosunmu, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic
Goran Dragic (illness) — Out
Javonte Green (knee) — Injured
Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured
The Pacers have registered the lowest offensive rating (106.1) in the league as they have gone 0-6 with Tyrese Haliburton (elbow, knee) sidelined for the last six games. Chicago has a 10-4 record and allowed the sixth-fewest points per 100 possessions (109.2) against teams that have registered bottom-ten offensive ratings across the entire season.
Confirmed Lineup: TJ McConnell, Chris Duarte, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner
Andrew Nembhard (illness) — Out
Trevelin Queen (G League) — Available
Tyrese Haliburton (elbow, knee) — Injured
Daniel Theis (knee) — Injured
With Haliburton and Nembhard off the court this season, McConnell has led the Pacers with a 46.6% assist rate, while Bennedict Mathurin (+5.0%) and Chris Duarte (+2.9%) have registered positive usage differentials.
Confirmed Lineup: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Robert Williams
Jaylen Brown (injury management) — Out
Robert Williams (injury management) — Available
Malcolm Brogdon (personal) — Out
Al Horford (back) — Out
Marcus Smart (ankle) — Injured
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured
With Smart, Brogdon, and Williams sidelined Monday, Brown (34.1%) and Tatum (30.0%) dominated usage for the Celtics as Tatum led the team with seven assists in their 113-98 road loss to the Magic. Payton Pritchard played 30.8 minutes off the bench but shot two-for-six from the field in a supporting role.
Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Bam Adebayo
Jimmy Butler (back) — Out
Duncan Robinson (finger) — Injured
Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured
Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Injured
Herro has averaged 24.3 points on 26.1% usage and a 59.6 eFG% in three matchups with the Celtics this season, though Butler did miss one of those contests. Boston is coming to Miami for the second game of a back-to-back set, and the Heat have a 6-1 record against teams playing on zero days of rest this season.
Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Donovan Mitchell (groin) — In
Dylan Windler (ankle) — Injured
Mitchell's time could be restricted in his expected return from injury. As a result, Garland, Mobley, and Caris LeVert might continue to play heightened roles, albeit to a lesser degree.
Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Jericho Sims
Immanuel Quickley (knee) — Available
Evan Fournier (personal) — Out
Mitchell Robinson (thumb) — Injured
Brunson (28.4%), Randle (27.1%), and Barrett (26.1%) have led the Knicks in usage by a wide margin during the previous four matches. Obi Toppin's 16.4% usage rate leads the other Knicks who have played more than one of those contests.
Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic (hamstring) — In
Michael Porter Jr. (personal) — Out
Bones Hyland (finger) — Out
Peyton Watson (adductor) — Available
Jack White (adductor) — Out
In the three matches Jokic has missed this month, Murray has led the Nuggets with a 38.6% assist rate. In addition, Gordon (+5.1%) and Murray (+4.1%) logged positive usage differentials with Porter Jr. and Jokic sidelined Sunday.
Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Jaxson Hayes, Jonas Valanciunas
Brandon Ingram (toe) — Out
Naji Marshall (toe) — Out
Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured
While the Nuggets have tightened their perimeter defense and allowed the fewest made threes per game (9.9) during their previous 15 matches, that has come at the expense of their interior defense: Denver has allowed the fifth-most points in the paint per game (54.1) during that span.
Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, Corey Kispert, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford
Jordan Goodwin (G League) — Available
Kendrick Nunn (traded) — Available
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) — Injured
Beal (36.1%) and Kuzma (29.6%) led the Wizards in usage in the one game they played without Porzingis and Rui Hachimura. Beal and Kuzma should similarly play more central offensive roles until Porzingis rejoins the lineup.
Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell
Christian Wood (thumb) — Injured
Maxi Kleber (hamstring) — Injured
Due to coach Kidd utilizing a tighter rotation with Wood unavailable for the last two matches, Josh Green and Reggie Bullock have averaged over 28.0 minutes per game off the bench. Kidd could again opt for smaller lineups featuring Finney-Smith at center against a Wizards team without Kristaps Porzingis (ankle).
Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Bryce McGowens, Jalen McDaniels, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee
LaMelo Ball (ankle, wrist) — Out
Cody Martin (knee) — Out
Gordon Hayward (hamstring) — Out
Kelly Oubre (hand) — Injured
Rozier (30.9%), Plumlee (20.6%), and Dennis Smith Jr. (19.7%) have led the Hornets in usage with Ball sidelined for the last two games. Smith Jr. has also led the team with a 50.0% assist rate while averaging 28.0 minutes off the bench.
Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Cam Johnson, Bismack Biyombo
Deandre Ayton (illness) — Out
Landry Shamet (foot) — Out
Cam Payne (foot) — Injured
Devin Booker (groin) — Injured
Paul (27.0%) and Bridges (24.2%) led Phoenix's starters in usage, while Paul led the team with 11 assists in his return Sunday. Johnson recorded 14.9% usage in 29.5 minutes as his restriction was loosened, and he could assume a more significant offensive role to alleviate Paul and Bridges' workloads.
Confirmed Lineup: Terance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac
Luke Kennard (calf) — Out
Moses Brown (G League) — Out
John Wall (abdominal) — Injured
Mann has averaged just 21.6 minutes despite starting the previous three games. Norman Powell has averaged 29.0 minutes during those matches and frequently closed halves with the starting group instead.
Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Patrick Beverley, Troy Brown Jr., LeBron James, Thomas Bryant
LeBron James (ankle) — Available
Rui Hachimura (coach's decision) — Out
Austin Reaves (hamstring) — Injured
Lonnie Walker (knee) — Injured
Anthony Davis (foot) — Injured
James has been questionable for the last four matches before playing but could sit the front end of a back-to-back set. He's been limited to averaging 23.7 points on 42.6% shooting in six matchups against the Clippers since Tyronn Lue accepted their head coaching position. The Lakers posted an 0-6 record in those contests.