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
LeBron James (ankle) — Available
Anthony Davis (Achilles) — Available
Tyrese Haliburton (injury management) — Out
Franz Wagner (ankle) — In
Jrue Holiday (elbow) — Out
Anfernee Simons (illness) — In
Tyler Herro (shoulder) — Available
Aaron Gordon (shoulder) — Available
Michael Porter Jr. (illness) — Available
Fred VanVleet (back) — Out
Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) — Out
Daniel Gafford (concussion protocol) — Not on injury report
Andrew Nembhard (back) — In
Al Horford (rest) — Out
Scoot Henderson (nose) — Available
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Confirmed Lineup: Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton
Dariq Whitehead (foot) — Injured
Ben Simmons (back) — Injured
Day'Ron Sharpe (knee) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Terance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Mason Plumlee
Ivica Zubac (calf) — Injured
Moussa Diabate (hand) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic, Bam Adebayo
Tyler Herro (shoulder) — Available
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (groin) — Out
Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season
Confirmed Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.
Franz Wagner (ankle) — In
Gary Harris (calf) — Out
Wagner has missed the last eight games, and the Magic have lost five of six -- four of those coming against teams in the top six of their conference. They’ve ranked 27th in Wagner’s absence with a 108.8 Offensive Rating, and it lines up with Okeke and Caleb Houstan getting the second and third most minutes over that span.
Injecting Wagner into the lineup will reset the rotation and remove a significant offensive burden off Banchero, whose effective field goal efficiency has dropped to 42.2% -- which ranks last among 44 players with a usage rate greater 26.0% over the last eight games. Banchero is seventh in usage (32.8%) with Wagner sidelined.
Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Aaron Gordon (shoulder) — Available
Michael Porter Jr. (illness) — Available
Julian Strawther (knee) — Injured
Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford
Daniel Gafford (concussion protocol) — Not on injury report
Confirmed Lineup: Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis
Jrue Holiday (elbow) — Out
Al Horford (rest) — Out
Holiday played less than 30 minutes in Friday's two-point loss, the first time he's done so in a contest decided by less than 17 points. Horford's presence was preferred in the matchup against Nikola Jokic. Horford could sit the front end of the upcoming back-to-back set against a Rockets team playing on zero days rest after an overtime victory.
Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Alperen Sengun
Fred VanVleet (back) — Out
Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) — Out
Jeff Green (calf) — Out
Reggie Bullock (back) — Out
Tari Eason (leg) — Injured
Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: TJ McConnell, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner
Tyrese Haliburton (injury management) — Out
Andrew Nembhard (back) — In
Isaiah Jackson (concussion) — Out
Haliburton didn’t have a minute restriction in his return to the lineup Friday after missing five games. He beat his original re-evaluation timeframe, but he looked to be laboring early in the contest.
There were only four minutes when Haliburton or Siakam weren’t on the court, and the Pacers had a 131.9 Offensive Rating in Siakam’s minutes. All but one of Siakam's baskets were assisted, and this is the first season since he won a championship with the Raptors that more of his shots have been assisted instead of unassisted.
Confirmed Lineup: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic
Jordan Goodwin (ankle) — Available
Bol Bol (foot) — Out
Damion Lee (knee) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Malcolm Brogdon, Anfernee Simons, Jabari Walker, Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton
Anfernee Simons (illness) — In
Scoot Henderson (nose) — Available
Shaedon Sharpe (abdomen) — Injured
Moses Brown (wrist) — Injured
Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season
Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Anthony Davis
LeBron James (ankle) — Available
Anthony Davis (Achilles) — Available
Taurean Prince (knee) — Out
Cam Reddish (knee) — Available
Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured
Davis is questionable for the first time since December 30th, and the last time he missed a game was December 15th. He’s missed two games all season, both spaced a month apart. The games he missed were double-digit losses to the Rockets and Spurs -- two teams at the bottom of the standings. He’s played in 17 straight games and ranked fifth over that span with 37.3 minutes per game.
Davis operating out of the post has been extremely effective. With D’Angelo Russell in the starting lineup for the past four games, Davis has led the Lakers with a 28.4% assist rate, and James’ assist rate has declined to 26.4% in the new alignment.