NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 2/5

Feb 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

  • Nikola Jokic (hamstring) — Out

  • Joel Embiid (foot) — Available

  • Ja Morant (wrist) — Out

  • Brandon Ingram (toe) — Out

  • Jamal Murray (injury management) — Out

  • Rudy Gobert (groin) — Available

  • RJ Barrett (illness) — Doubtful

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) — In

  • Jonas Valanciunas (quad) — Out

  • Aaron Gordon (ankle) — Out

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (thigh) — In

  • Kyle Anderson (back) — Available

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) — In

  • Mo Bamba (suspension) — Out

  • Jalen Suggs (suspension) — Out

  • Chuma Okeke (knee) — Injured

Cole Anthony reclaimed a sixth-man role Friday, contributing 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists on six-for-eight shooting from the floor and free throw line in 26.6 minutes. His chances of continuing to play a similar minute load increased when Suggs' suspension was announced.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Out

  • Kelly Oubre (hand) — Injured

Hayward has remained restricted to around 26.0 minutes despite recording a 60.7 eFG% in his last seven games, allowing Jaden McDaniels and Dennis Smith Jr. to play more significant roles off the bench.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

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

  • Caris LeVert (hamstring) — Out

  • Dylan Windler (ankle) — Injured

Cedi Osman's role expanded most with LeVert sidelined Thursday, scoring 21 points on seven-for-11 shooting in 31.8 minutes. Cleveland has posted a 12-5 record against teams with bottom-ten defensive ratings, and Indiana's defensive rating (115.8) ranks 24th.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner

  • Chris Duarte (ankle) — Out

  • Daniel Theis (injury management) — Available

Hield has averaged 18.2 points on 46.3% shooting and 22.0% usage in games Haliburton has played this season. He's averaged 14.9 points on 40.7% shooting and 18.5% usage with Haliburton sidelined. Bennedict Mathurin has averaged 30.2 minutes and 22.5 points on 28.7% usage in two career games against the Cavs.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid

  • Joel Embiid (foot) — Available

Embiid was questionable for the last five games before playing, continuing to suit up despite playing the Spurs and the Magic twice during that stretch. The Knicks have allowed the fourth-least points in the paint per game (45.5) and the most made threes per game (14.8) as they've posted the fourth-worst defensive rating (122.5) with Mitchell Robinson (thumb) sidelined for their last eight games.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Julius Randle, Jericho Sims

  • RJ Barrett (illness) — Doubtful

  • Mitchell Robinson (thumb) — Injured

The Knicks have struggled against teams that have registered top-ten point differentials this season, posting a 6-10 record and scoring the eighth fewest points per 100 possessions (110.8). The 76ers' point differential (+3.7) ranks fifth league-wide.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Precious Achiuwa

  • OG Anunoby (wrist) — Injured

  • Otto Porter (toe) — Injured

The Grizzlies have allowed the fourth-fewest points in the paint per game (47.2) this season, but the Cavs scored 64 points in the paint when Jaren Jackson Jr. (thigh, questionable) joined Steven Adams (knee, injured) on the inactive list Thursday. Siakam (13.2), Achiuwa (10.4), and Barnes (9.4) have led the Raptors at points in the paint per game in the last ten matches.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman

  • Ja Morant (wrist) — Out

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (thigh) — In

  • Dillon Brooks (suspension) — Out

  • Danny Green (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Kennedy Chandler (G League) — Available

  • Jake LaRavia (G League) — Available

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Injured

Tyus Jones (+3.9%) and Morant (+3.1%) have recorded positive usage differentials in games Brooks has missed this season. Jackson Jr. (+4.1%), Bane (+3.5%), and Williams (+3.5%) have posted the highest usage differentials on the Grizzlies with Morant and Brooks off the floor thus far.

Denver Nuggets News

Confirmed Lineup: Bruce Brown, Christian Braun, Michael Porter Jr., Vlatko Cancar, DeAndre Jordan

  • Nikola Jokic (hamstring) — Out

  • Jamal Murray (injury management) — Out

  • Aaron Gordon (ankle) — Out

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) — Out

  • Jack White (adductor) — Available

Bruce Brown has posted 21.4% usage and a 24.5% assist rate, while Gordon has led Denver's remaining starters with a +3.7% usage differential in games Murray has missed this season. Bones Hyland was again excluded from the rotation amidst trade rumors Friday, and Ish Smith could be more likely to generate offense on the second unit if Murray is ruled out.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert

  • Rudy Gobert (groin) — Available

  • Kyle Anderson (back) — Available

  • Austin Rivers (suspension) — Out

  • Jordan McLaughlin (calf) — Available

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — Injured

Gobert returned to play a restricted 26.3 minutes Friday and could continue to be limited in the near future because his groin has recovered relatively slowly. With Rivers out and Taurean Prince's minutes potentially remaining restricted, Nathan Knight and Matt Ryan could get extended run at forward if Anderson is ruled out.

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • De'Aaron Fox (personal) — Out

Malik Monk played 16.2 second-half minutes in Fox's absence Friday, primarily at point guard, after Mitchell and Matthew Dellavedova proved ineffective early in the game. Sabonis could have an edge on a thinner New Orleans frontcourt if Jonas Valanciunas (knee) is ruled out.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Naji Marshall, Trey Murphy, Larry Nance Jr.

  • Brandon Ingram (toe) — Out

  • Jonas Valanciunas (quad) — Out

  • Dyson Daniels (ankle) — Injured

  • Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured

McCollum (36.0%), Willy Hernangomez (23.4%), Marshall (23.2%), and Jose Alvarado (23.2%) have led the Pelicans in usage, while McCollum has led the team with a +6.8% assist rate differential with Ingram, Valanciunas, and Williamson off the court this season.