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
Larry Nance Jr. (ankle) — Out
Recent NBA News
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Confirmed Lineup: Patrick Beverley, Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic
Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured
DeRozan averaged 14.0 points on dramatically reduced 18.2% usage, while LaVine (28.3%) and Vucevic (25.1%) posted increased usage rates during Chicago's three games against Toronto this season. All three Bulls-Raptors matches finished with 217 or fewer points, and two totaled 208 points or less.
Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl
Jeff Dowtin (two-way) — Ineligible
Otto Porter (toe) — Injured
The Raptors scored the fourth-most points in the paint per game (57.9) and made the third-fewest threes per game (10.3) during their last 15 matches. The Bulls allowed the second-fewest points in the paint per game (44.9) and the sixth-most made threes per game (13.7) during their last 15 contests. VanVleet attempted 10.7 threes per game against the Bulls this season; his and Gary Trent Jr.'s shooting should be vital.
Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams
Aleksej Pokusevski (knee) — Out
Kenrich Williams (wrist) — Injured
Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.7 points on 35.1% usage in seven matchups with the Pelicans over the last two seasons, scoring below 31 points just twice in those contests. Additionally, New Orleans registered the second-best defensive rating (109.3) during their last 15 matches. Oklahoma City posted a 10-18 record against teams with top-ten defensive ratings this season (including 1-3 against the Pelicans), scoring the eighth-fewest points per 100 possessions (111.3) during those games.
Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas
Larry Nance Jr. (ankle) — Out
Jose Alvarado (leg) — Injured
Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured
Despite the potential for Valanciunas' size to be impactful against a smaller Oklahoma City frontline, he posted reduced usage (18.8%) and rebound rates (17.1%) while averaging 24.1 minutes when healthy for the first three matchups against the Thunder this season. Murphy averaged 17.5 points and 7.5 three-point attempts per game against the Thunder this year. Oklahoma City allowed the third-highest rate of corner three tries (10.8%) league-wide, and Murphy has led New Orleans in that category (1.8 per game).