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 (knee) — Out
Giannis Antetokounmpo (illness) — Available
LeBron James (ankle) — In
Anthony Davis (Achilles) — Available
LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Out
Donovan Mitchell (groin) — In
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) — Out
Tyrese Maxey (ankle) — Out
Tobias Harris (illness) — In
Vince Williams (knee) — Out
Ben Simmons (back) — Available
Jusuf Nurkic (thumb) — Available
Evan Mobley (knee) — In
Mike Conley (hamstring) — Out
Markelle Fultz (injury maintenance) — Out
Malcolm Brogdon (knee) — In
Luke Kennard (knee) — Out
John Konchar (ankle) — Out
Derrick Jones Jr. (wrist) — Out
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Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Terance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Mason Plumlee
Ivica Zubac (calf) — Injured
Moussa Diabate (hand) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Donovan Mitchell (groin) — In
Evan Mobley (knee) — In
Tristan Thompson — Suspended
Darius Garland (jaw) — Injured
Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured
Mobley has been sidelined since December 8th, missing 22 consecutive games. The Cavs have gone 15-7 since he went down. Mobley is one of the best defensive players in the league, and his expected return should only help the Cavs on that end of the floor. It's worth noting, however, that since Mobley has been injured, Cleveland's 110.3 Defensive Rating has been the best of any team. Before his injury, the Cavs' 111.1 Defensive Rating ranked ninth league-wide. Cleveland is set to face the Clippers, who have the league's top Offensive Rating (125.5) in January and have won 16 of their last 20 contests.
Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Hartenstein
OG Anunoby (elbow) — Out
Evan Fournier (personal) — Out
Julius Randle (Shoulder) — Injured
Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured
Randle suffered a dislocated right shoulder in the previous outing. He has since had imaging done, but the Knicks have yet to release the results of his MRI. During his postgame press conference following that outing, coach Thibodeau mentioned that he was "very" concerned about Randle's injury. Randle has not missed a game this season and has a team-high 28.7% usage rate. The Knicks are in the midst of a six-game winning streak, and they'll now face Charlotte, whose -15.2 Net Rating over the last 10 games has been the worst of any team. Brunson is expected to garner increased usage, while Hart will likely have an elevated role on both ends of the floor.
Confirmed Lineup: Brandon Miller, Cody Martin, Miles Bridges, PJ Washington, Nick Richards
LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Out
Frank Ntilikina (hip) — Available
Kyle Lowry (acquired) — Out
Gordon Hayward (calf) — Injured
Mark Williams (back) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Matt Ryan (elbow) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) — Out
Al Horford (neck) — Available
Luke Kornet (hamstring) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic
Jusuf Nurkic (thumb) — Available
Bol Bol (foot) — Out
Damion Lee (knee) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith, Bam Adebayo
Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season
Confirmed Lineup: Kris Dunn, Collin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins
Confirmed Lineup: Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Thomas, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton
Ben Simmons (back) — Available
Cam Johnson (personal) — Not on injury report
Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) — Out
Day'Ron Sharpe (knee) — Injured
Dariq Whitehead (shin) — Out for season
Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Taurean Prince, LeBron James, Anthony Davis
LeBron James (ankle) — In
Anthony Davis (Achilles) — Available
Cam Reddish (ankle) — Injured
Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured
Since re-entering the starting lineup eight games ago, Russell has averaged 27.5 points and 6.4 assists per contest, and the Lakers have won five of those eight outings. Before the lineup adjustment, Los Angeles had the eighth-worst Offensive Rating (112.0) in the league. Since Russell rejoined the starting unit, their 120.8 Offensive Rating has been the fifth-best league-wide. Russell's 25.5% usage rate over that time has been the third-highest of any Lakers rotational player, trailing only James and Davis's respective rates of 30.4% and 25.7%.
Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) — Not on injury report
Tari Eason (leg) — Injured
Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert
Mike Conley (hamstring) — Out
Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren
Tre Mann (not with team) — Not on injury report
Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
Sasha Vezenkov (ankle) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Scotty Pippen Jr., David Roddy, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman
Vince Williams (knee) — Out
John Konchar (ankle) — Out
Ziaire Williams (hand) — Out
Luke Kennard (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
Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford
Isaiah Livers (hip) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama
Zach Collins (ankle) — Out
Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season
Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.
Jonathan Isaac (injury maintenance) — Not on injury report
Markelle Fultz (injury maintenance) — Out
Gary Harris (calf) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., Grant Williams, Dereck Lively II
Maxi Kleber (toe) — Available
Derrick Jones Jr. (wrist) — Out
Dante Exum (knee) — Out
Dwight Powell (eye) — Available
Kyrie Irving (thumb) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez
Khris Middleton (injury management) — Available
Giannis Antetokounmpo (illness) — Available
Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Julian Strawther (knee) — Injured
Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Patrick Beverley, Kelly Oubre, Tobias Harris, Nicolas Batum, Paul Reed
Mo Bamba (knee) — Not on injury report
Joel Embiid (knee) — Out
Tyrese Maxey (ankle) — Out
Tobias Harris (illness) — In
Kenneth Lofton Jr. (personal) — Out
De'Anthony Melton (back) — Injured
Robert Covington (knee) — Injured
Embiid was a late scratch in the previous outing in which the 76ers lost to the Nuggets. Philadelphia was also without Maxey and Harris in that contest. They'll hope to have all three players back against the Trail Blazers, who will be playing their second game in as many days. Portland has struggled against centers, as the position group has averaged 23.8 points per game against them, the seventh-most league-wide. In the Blazers' loss to the Bulls on Sunday night, Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond scored 14 and 15 points, respectively.
Confirmed Lineup: Malcolm Brogdon, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Jabari Walker, Deandre Ayton
Malcolm Brogdon (knee) — In
Shaedon Sharpe (abdominal) — Injured
Moses Brown (wrist) — Injured
Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season