NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/20

Jan 20th 2024

Cooper Boni

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

  • Joel Embiid (injury recovery) — Available

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (shoulder) — In

  • Trae Young (illness) — Available

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Out

  • Lu Dort (illness) — Available

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) — Available

  • Daniel Gafford (concussion protocol) — Out

  • Zach Collins (ankle) — Available

  • Nick Richards (ankle) — Out

  • Xavier Tillman (knee) — Out

  • Patrick Williams (ankle) — Available

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (shoulder) — In

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Kevin Knox, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jalen Duren

  • Isaiah Stewart (ankle) — Out

  • Cade Cunningham (knee) — Injured

  • Monte Morris (quad) — Injured

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre, Tobias Harris, Nicolas Batum, Joel Embiid

  • Joel Embiid (injury recovery) — Available

  • Patrick Beverley (illness) — Out

  • Mo Bamba (knee) — Out

  • Jaden Springer (ankle) — Out

  • Robert Covington (knee) — Injured

  • De'Anthony Melton (back) — Injured

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Brandon Miller, Cody Martin, Miles Bridges, PJ Washington

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Out

  • Nick Richards (ankle) — Out

  • Bryce McGowens (hip) — Available

  • Gordon Hayward (calf) — Injured

  • Mark Williams (back) — Injured

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama

  • Victor Wembanyama (rest) — In

  • Zach Collins (ankle) — Available

  • Sidy Cissoko (ankle) — Out

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Marvin Bagley

  • Daniel Gafford (concussion protocol) — Out

The Wizards played their most recent game sans Gafford, and they could be without him again. Bagley was recently traded from Detroit to Washington and received a start at center in the previous outing. Bagley was impressive as he scored 20 points in 39 minutes of action. He could be called upon to start again if Gafford is ultimately ruled out. Washington is facing the Spurs, who allow the fourth-most points (24.4) and third-most rebounds per game (16.2) to centers this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen

  • Caris LeVert (wrist) — Out

  • Evan Mobley (knee) — Injured

  • Darius Garland (jaw) — Injured

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela

  • Trae Young (illness) — Available

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) — Available

  • Wesley Matthews (calf) — Out

  • De'Andre Hunter (knee) — Injured

  • Vit Krejci (shoulder) — Injured

  • Mouhamed Gueye (back) — Injured

Without Young in the previous game, the Hawks upset the Heat. They were led by Murray, who led the team in scoring and posted a double-double. It's unclear if Young will suit up for the second leg of a back-to-back set so Murray could be the go-to guy again. Murray has a 24.5% usage rate when Young is available this season but a 27.2% when Young doesn't play. The Hawks will face Cleveland, who have won six straight contests and have a league-best +22.3 Net Rating over that span.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Immanuel Quickley, Gary Trent Jr., RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Jontay Porter

  • Otto Porter Jr. (knee) — Available

  • Jakob Poeltl (ankle) — Injured

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, Isaiah Hartenstein

  • Josh Hart (knee) — Available

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Luke Kennard, John Konchar, Vince Williams, Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama

  • Xavier Tillman (knee) — Out

  • Desmond Bane (ankle) — Injured

  • Jake LaRavia (ankle) — Injured

  • Marcus Smart (finger) — Injured

  • Derrick Rose (hamstring) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Ja Morant (shoulder) — Out for season

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic

  • Patrick Williams (ankle) — Available

  • Ayo Dosunmu (shoulder) — Available

  • Andre Drummond (back) — Available

  • Zach LaVine (ankle) — Injured

  • Torrey Craig (foot) — Injured

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

LaVine recently returned from an extended absence that saw him miss 17 consecutive games. After playing in the last seven outings, it was reported Friday that he's expected to miss at least one to two weeks with a sprained right ankle. LaVine has been at the center of trade rumors and dealt with injuries for a large portion of this season. In his absence, White will likely receive more usage. When LaVine sits this year, White sees a +3.4% usage rate increase, and his scoring average jumps from 15.9 to 22.4 points per game.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

  • Lu Dort (illness) — Available

Cason Wallace got the start for Dort in the last game and scored a career-high 16 points in the win. With Dort uncertain to play, Wallace could receive another spot start. The Thunder could use their full complement of weapons as they're facing Minnesota, whose 108.6 Defensive Rating is the league's best. Despite that defensive prowess, Gilgeous-Alexander has had his way with the Timberwolves, averaging 33.0 points per contest in two games against them. The teams have faced each other twice this season, with both squads winning a game.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Kris Dunn, Collin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Dillon Brooks — Not on injury report

  • Reggie Bullock (back) — Out

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Injured

  • Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured