NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/18

Jan 18th 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

  • Domantas Sabonis (illness) — Out

  • Luka Doncic (ankle) — Available

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Donovan Mitchell (groin) — Out

  • Anthony Edwards (hip) — Available

  • Bradley Beal (hamstring) — Available

  • Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Out

  • Lauri Markkanen (hip) — In

  • Rudy Gobert (groin) — Out

  • Jamal Murray (foot, ankle) — Available

  • Kevin Porter Jr. (foot) — Out

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Available

  • Ivica Zubac (knee) — Available

  • Gordon Hayward (hamstring) — Out

Recent NBA News

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Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis, Daniel Gafford

  • Bradley Beal (hamstring) — Available

Kuzma scored 40 points on 35.5% usage and led the Wizards with seven assists in their 112-108 home loss to the Knicks last Friday. Although his offensive role likely diminishes if Beal rejoins the lineup, Kuzma could again excel against New York.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

Brunson shined in New York's 112-108 road win over the Wizards last Friday, scoring 34 points with eight rebounds and eight assists on 30.1% usage. Randle led the Knicks with 30.9% usage and 16 rebounds, while Barrett was less aggressive and shot seven-for-13 from the field in 32.1 minutes.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins, Onyeka Okongwu

The Mavericks have recorded the second-lowest defensive rating (121.5) as they have allowed the seventh-most points in the paint per game (52.2) and the second-most second-chance points per game (17.4) during their last ten matches.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, Christian Wood, Dwight Powell

  • Luka Doncic (ankle) — Available

  • Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle) — Out

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (adductor) — Available

  • Josh Green (elbow) — Available

  • McKinley Wright (foot) — Out

  • Maxi Kleber (hamstring) — Injured

Finney-Smith and Green should face minute restrictions for at least Wednesday's game if confirmed available. Dinwiddie (+4.2%), Wood (+2.8%), and Doncic (+2.6%) have recorded positive usage differentials with Hardaway Jr. off the court this season.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Jalen McDaniels, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee

  • Gordon Hayward (hamstring) — Out

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Out

  • James Bouknight (G League) — Out

  • Kelly Oubre (hand) — Injured

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Green, Eric Gordon, KJ Martin, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Kevin Porter Jr. (foot) — Out

There will be reduced offensive opportunities available across the lineup if Porter Jr. returns, but Sengun's role would diminish most. The Rockets have a 2-13 record and have scored the fewest points per 100 possessions (108.4) against teams with bottom-ten defensive ratings. Charlotte has posted the fourth-lowest defensive rating (117.1) this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

  • Donovan Mitchell (groin) — Out

  • Dean Wade (shoulder) — Injured

  • Dylan Windler (ankle) — Injured

In games Mitchell has missed this season, Allen (+5.2%), Garland (+4.3%), and LeVert (+4.1%) have recorded the highest usage differentials on the Cavs, while LeVert (+7.3%) and Garland (+2.4%) have logged positive assist rate differentials.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams

  • John Konchar (illness) — Not on injury report

  • Danny Green (ACL) — Injured

The Grizzlies have registered the third-highest offensive rating (119.9) in the league as they have gone 10-0 in their last ten matches, but the Cavs could present a challenge. Memphis has scored the most points in the paint per game (65.0) by a wide margin during their winning streak, and Cleveland has allowed the third-fewest points in the paint per game (45.8) this season.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Bam Adebayo

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Available

  • Caleb Martin (quad) — Available

  • Udonis Haslem (Achilles) — Available

  • Duncan Robinson (finger) — Injured

  • Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured

  • Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Injured

Although coach Spoelstra likely still utilizes a nine-man rotation if Lowry is available, opportunities will be reduced in a deeper rotation. Gabe Vincent, Victor Oladipo, and Max Strus will primarily lose minutes, and the facilitating roles of Herro, Butler, and Adebayo should diminish if Lowry returns.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Naji Marshall, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Herb Jones (back) — Out

  • Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured

  • Brandon Ingram (toe) — Injured

Jose Alvarado has logged 18.7% usage and a 20.3% assist rate as he's averaged 28.6 minutes with Jones sidelined for the last three games. His usage could rise against a Heat defense that remains vulnerable from three but likely limits Valanciunas' production in the paint.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner

  • Tyrese Haliburton (elbow, knee) — Injured

  • Daniel Theis (knee) — Injured

Turner scored 30 points on 11-for-17 shooting against the Bucks on Monday in the first game he played since Haliburton was injured. He leads the Pacers with a +6.3% usage differential in the two games he has played without Haliburton. Additionally, he faces a favorable matchup against the Thunder, who have allowed the eighth-most points in the paint per game (51.5) this season.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams

  • Eugene Omoruyi (G League) — Out

  • Aleksej Pokusevski (leg) — Injured

  • Ousmane Dieng (wrist) — Injured

  • Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle) — Injured

  • Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured

The Thunder have limited opponents to the fewest fast break points per game (11.1) this season. However, their transition defense will get their biggest test against the Pacers, who lead the league with 19.1 fast break points per game.

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: Terance Mann, Norman Powell, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac

  • Paul George (hamstring) — Out

  • Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Out

  • Ivica Zubac (knee) — Available

  • Luke Kennard (calf) — Out

  • Moses Brown (G League) — Out

  • Moussa Diabate (G League) — Available

  • Brandon Boston (G League) — Available

  • Jason Preston (G League) — Available

  • John Wall (abdominal) — Injured

Leonard has yet to play both sides of a back-to-back set this season. Norman Powell (32.3%), Reggie Jackson (26.0%), and Morris (23.2%) have recorded elevated usage rates with Leonard, George, and Wall off the court this season.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Malik Beasley, Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler

  • Lauri Markkanen (hip) — In

  • Kelly Olynyk (ankle) — Injured

Clarkson, Beasley, and Collin Sexton could be charged with generating more offense if Markkanen remains sidelined. Ochai Agbaji could again lead Utah's reserves in minutes in that event.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Naz Reid

  • Anthony Edwards (hip) — Available

  • Rudy Gobert (groin) — Out

  • Taurean Prince (ankle) — Available

  • Austin Rivers (knee) — Out

  • Wendell Moore Jr. (G League) — Available

  • Jordan McLaughlin (calf) — Injured

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — Injured

Naz Reid has recorded 26.8% usage and a 15.1% rebound rate in four starts with Gobert and Towns sidelined this season. Russell logged a -3.2% usage differential in those matches as Reid assumed a more prominent offensive role than Gobert.

Denver Nuggets News

Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic

  • Jamal Murray (foot, ankle) — Available

  • Bones Hyland (ankle) — Available

  • Jeff Green (hand, finger) — Out

  • Peyton Watson (adductor) — Injured

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Richaun Holmes

  • Domantas Sabonis (illness) — Out

  • Matthew Dellavedova (illness) — Out

  • Alex Len (illness) — Out

Barnes has been shooting extremely well lately. He's averaged 18.7 points on 18.6% usage and a 62.8 eFG% in the last seven games, including 28.0 points on an 82.0 eFG% in the previous two matches. In addition, Barnes has averaged 17.0 points on a 58.1 eFG% in three games against the Lakers this season.

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Patrick Beverley, Troy Brown Jr., LeBron James, Thomas Bryant

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Austin Reaves (hamstring) — Injured

  • Lonnie Walker (knee) — Injured

  • Anthony Davis (foot) — Injured

The Lakers (102.54) and Kings (101.97) have played at two of the five fastest paces in the league this season. That has influenced all three of their matchups ending with at least 234 points, and at least 254 points were scored with Davis sidelined for their two most recent matchups.