NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/24

Jan 24th 2024

Ryan Schwepfinger

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

  • Luka Doncic (back) — Available

  • Kyrie Irving (thumb) — Out

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (shoulder) — Available

  • Cade Cunningham (knee) — Out

  • Terry Rozier (acquired) — Available

  • Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) — Out

  • Jalen Green (illness) — Available

  • Jaime Jaquez Jr. (groin) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (thigh) — Out

  • Dante Exum (foot) — Available

  • Tre Jones (ankle) — Out

  • Mike Conley (illness) — Out

  • Nick Richards (ankle) — Available

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Available

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Cody Martin, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Nick Richards

  • Nick Richards (ankle) — Available

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Available

  • Kyle Lowry (acquired) — Out

  • Gordon Hayward (calf) — Injured

  • Mark Williams (back) — Injured

Lowry is unlikely to appear in a game for the Hornets until the February 8 trade deadline passes "out of respect for him," according to Charlotte general manager Mitch Kupchak. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Hornets would attempt to flip Lowry in a second trade after acquiring him from Miami in exchange for Terry Rozier on Tuesday. A buyout is also an option if the Hornets can't find a taker in a trade, which seems likely given his cap hit of just under $30 million. If bought out, he would be ineligible to sign with teams over the first or second cap apron. Those teams include the Warriors, Clippers, Suns, Bucks, Celtics, and Nuggets.

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren

  • Cade Cunningham (knee) — Out

  • Monte Morris (quad) — Available

Kevin Knox started Detroit's last game ahead of a returning Stewart, but only played nine minutes. Stewart has a good chance to reclaim his starting lineup spot at the four. If able to return, Cunningham would presumably push Killian Hayes to the bench. With Morris also likely back, Detroit has six guards that could reasonably see rotation time.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert

  • Mike Conley (illness) — Out

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — injured

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Jacob Gilyard, John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr., David Roddy, Jaren Jackson Jr.

  • Luke Kennard (thigh) — Out

  • Santi Aldama (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

After starting Memphis' last two games, Aldama joins seven of his teammates as out on Wednesday. Without him, Xavier Tillman could return to the starting lineup at center, sliding Jaren Jackson Jr. over to the four. Memphis could also start David Roddy or GG Jackson.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyler Herro, Josh Richardson, Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith, Bam Adebayo

  • Terry Rozier (acquired) — Available

  • Jaime Jaquez Jr. (groin) — Out

  • Haywood Highsmith (foot) — Available

  • Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Malcolm Brogdon, Anfernee Simons, Jeremi Grant, Jabari Walker, Deandre Ayton

  • Shaedon Sharpe (abdomen) — Injured

  • Moses Brown (wrist) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Cam Whitmore, Alperen Sengun

  • Fred VanVleet (back) — Not on injury report

  • Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) — Out

  • Jalen Green (illness) — Available

  • Jae’Sean Tate (wrist) — Out

  • Jeff Green (calf) — Not on injury report

  • Reggie Bullock (back) — Out

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Injured

  • Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured

VanVleet and Smith Jr. will return to the lineup after missing one game. Jalen Green did not practice Tuesday and appears to be in danger of missing out against Portland. Amen Thompson or Cam Whitmore could draw the start if he were to miss, with Aaron Holiday as an outside candidate. All three players saw expanded roles on Sunday with VanVleet and Smith Jr. sitting out.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

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

  • Caris LeVert (wrist) — In

  • Tristan Thompson — Suspended

  • Darius Garland (jaw) — Injured

  • Evan Mobley (knee) — Injured

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

Milwaukee Bucks News

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

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (shoulder) — Available

While rumors are swirling about Doc Rivers, Joe Prunty is set to begin his second stint as Milwaukee's interim head coach following the dismissal of Adrian Griffin. He was previously the Bucks' interim leader in 2018, going 21-16. He was also Atlanta's interim head coach for two games last season, both wins.

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic

  • Eric Gordon (wrist) — Out

  • Bol Bol (foot) — Out

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured

With Gordon out Monday, Frank Vogel tightened his rotation, playing only three reserves for more than six minutes. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each logged 41 minutes, while Bradley Beal (38) and Grayson Allen (36) had heavy workloads as well.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Josh Green, Derrick Jones Jr., Grant Williams, Dereck Lively II

  • Luka Doncic (back) — Available

  • Kyrie Irving (thumb) — Out

  • Dante Exum (foot) — Available

  • Seth Curry (ankle) — Available

  • Dwight Powell (eye) — Out

Dallas has Wednesday's most consequential injury report, with Doncic and Irving joining Exum and Curry as questionable. Tim Hardaway Jr., Green, and Jaden Hardy all stand to see their roles and minutes increase if any or all of the Mavericks' questionable players miss. If Exum were available, he may come off the bench or have a minutes restriction due to his extended absence.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

  • Olivier Sarr (hip) — Out

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Blake Wesley, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama

  • Tre Jones (ankle) — Out

  • Sidy Cissoko (ankle) — Out

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

If Jones were to miss with his sprained left ankle, there are many ways Gregg Popovich could go to replace him in the starting lineup. Blake Wesley or Malaki Branham could start at point guard. Wesley has been Popovich's rotation choice over Branham in recent games. San Antonio could also return to the Point Sochan experiment, sliding Jeremy Sochan to the one while starting Keldon Johnson, Cedi Osman, or Doug McDermott. In that arrangement, Wembanyama could also start at the four, alongside Zach Collins.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela

  • Trae Young (concussion protocol) — Out

  • Wesley Matthews (calf) — Out

  • Bruno Fernando (back) — Out

  • De'Andre Hunter (knee) — Injured

  • Vit Krejci (shoulder) — Injured

  • Mouhamed Gueye (back) — Injured

Murray has averaged 39.9 minutes per game across Young's two absences in January, averaging 28.5 points, 8.5 assists, and 6.5 rebounds. He's also logged a 29.4% usage rate in those two games, significantly increased from his 24.6% rate with Young in this season.

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Dario Saric, Kevon Looney

  • Brandin Podziemski (illness) — Available

  • Chris Paul (hand) — Injured

  • Gary Payton II (hamstring) — Injured

  • Moses Moody (calf) — Injured

After two postponements, the Warriors will be taking the court for the first time since the passing of assistant coach Dejan Milojević. Their last game was on January 15 at Memphis. That was Draymond Green's first contest back after a 16-game league suspension. The extended layoff likely decreases his chances of returning to the starting lineup Wednesday.