NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/21

Jan 21st 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

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — Out

  • Joel Embiid (injury recovery) — Out

  • James Harden (injury management) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle, wrist) — Out

  • Donovan Mitchell (groin) — Out

  • Anthony Edwards (hip) — Available

  • Fred VanVleet (rib) — Out

  • Chris Paul (hip) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (illness) — Out

  • Rudy Gobert (groin) — Out

  • Gordon Hayward (hamstring) — In

  • Andrew Nembhard (illness) — Available

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Robert Williams

  • Jayson Tatum (wrist) — Out

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Brown's time shouldn't be restricted after he returned to play 41.4 minutes in Thursday's overtime win. Grant Williams (+6.5%), Smart (+5.7%), and Brown (+2.7%) recorded the highest usage differentials on the Celtics in the two matches Tatum has missed this season, and Smart also logged a +6.3% assist rate differential during those contests.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Precious Achiuwa

  • Fred VanVleet (rib) — Out

  • Dalano Banton (hip) — Out

  • Christian Koloko (G League) — Out

  • Otto Porter (toe) — Injured

The Raptors have a 6-13 record against teams with top-ten point differentials, including a 3-8 record at home. Additionally, Toronto's offensive rating of 112.4 against those teams ranks 19th. The Celtics boast the highest point differential in the league (+7.5) and have allowed the third-fewest points per 100 possessions (112.4) on the road this season.

Orlando Magic News

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

  • RJ Hampton (illness) — Out

  • Jonathan Isaac (ACL, conditioning) — Injured

  • Chuma Okeke (knee) — Injured

Banchero has logged reduced 25.6% usage as he hasn't exceeded 19 points in five consecutive games. Conversely, Wagner has averaged 24.0 points on a 64.3 eFG% and 25.1% usage during the last five matches.

Washington Wizards News

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

  • Jordan Goodwin (G League) — Out

Beal's time was restricted slightly as he logged 28.7 minutes in his return Wednesday, but his activity was reduced en route to recording 20.9% usage. Kuzma and Porzingis could again lead Washington's offense if Beal doesn't ramp up his aggression against the Magic.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, Jalen McDaniels, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle, wrist) — Out

  • Gordon Hayward (hamstring) — In

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Out

  • Theo Maledon (G League) — Out

  • James Bouknight (G League) — Out

  • Kelly Oubre (hand) — Injured

If Maledon or Bouknight aren't recalled, Smith Jr. could be forced to play a sixth-man role as Rozier handles lead distributing opportunities with the starters. Rozier (32.5%) and Hayward (25.4%) have led the Hornets in usage, while Hayward (28.9%) and Smith Jr. (28.0%) have logged the highest assist rates on the team with Ball and Oubre off the court this season.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (injury management) — Out

Capela's time has remained restricted as he's returned for the las three matches. Collins and Onyeka Okongwu could play additional minutes if Capela sits for the second game of a back-to-back set. The Hornets have allowed the second-most made threes per game (14.6) during their last 15 matches.

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — Out

  • Khris Middleton (knee) — Out

  • Serge Ibaka (not with team) — Out

Antetokounmpo was limited to 16 points on six-for-18 shooting in his first game against the Cavs this season before averaging 41.5 points per game on 41.2% usage and a 66.0 eFG% in the last two matchups. Holiday averaged 9.0 points on reduced 22.2% usage and a lowly 32.0 eFG% in his two games against Cleveland this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

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

  • Donovan Mitchell (groin) — Out

  • Ricky Rubio (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Dean Wade (shoulder) — In

  • Dylan Windler (ankle) — Injured

Garland has played a more central offensive role as he's led the Cavs with 29.7% usage and a 41.1% assist rate with Mitchell sidelined for the previous two games. LeVert (26.9%) and Mobley (20.8%) also posted elevated usage rates, while Allen's role hasn't expanded.

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Green, Eric Gordon, KJ Martin, Tari Eason, Alperen Sengun

  • Kevin Porter Jr. (foot) — Injured

  • Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) — Out

Minutes should open up across the wing, but likely for Martin, Tate, and Tari Eason, in particular, with Smith Jr. joining Porter Jr. on the inactive list. Green (28.4%) and Sengun (21.6%) have led the Rockets in usage as they have averaged over 38.0 minutes during the last two games.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

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

  • Anthony Edwards (hip) — Available

  • Rudy Gobert (groin) — Out

  • Austin Rivers (knee) — Available

  • Wendell Moore Jr. (G League) — Out

  • Jordan McLaughlin (calf) — Injured

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — Injured

Gobert has played just 5.0 minutes during the last three games, and Minnesota's defensive rating of 124.7 from those matches would be the worst in the league across the entire season. In addition, Edwards has recorded a reduced 43.1 eFG% as he has continued to deal with a hip injury during the last three contests, and Russell's usage has declined to 20.9% as he's shared the floor with higher-usage big men.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner

  • Andrew Nembhard (illness) — Available

  • Trevelin Queen (G League) — Questionable

  • Tyrese Haliburton (elbow, knee) — Injured

  • Daniel Theis (knee) — Injured

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Damion Lee, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Dario Saric, Bismack Biyombo

  • Chris Paul (hip) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (illness) — Out

  • Cam Johnson (injury management) — Out

  • Landry Shamet (foot) — Out

  • Saben Lee (contract) — Available

  • Josh Okogie (nose) — Available

  • Cam Payne (foot) — Injured

  • Devin Booker (groin) — Injured

Saben Lee is expected to sign a second ten-day contract on the heels of posting 18.0% usage and a 28.1% assist rate while averaging 29.0 minutes in the last two games. He could continue to play a more prominent role along with Ayton, Bridges, and Damion Lee if Paul remains out.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Montrezl Harrell

  • Joel Embiid (injury recovery) — Out

  • James Harden (injury management) — Out

Harden was questionable before he sat out for injury management purposes on December 31st. Embiid (42.1%) and Maxey (27.9%) logged heightened usage rates, and both exceeded 30.0% assist rates when they were available for a five-game stretch with Harden sidelined in November.

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis