NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/31

Jan 31st 2024Ryan 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

  • Nikola Jokic (back) — Out

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (illness) — Available

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Out

  • Paul George (groin) — Out

  • Zion Williamson (foot) — Out

  • Cade Cunningham (knee) — Available

  • Chet Holmgren (ankle) — Available

  • Darius Garland (jaw) — In

  • Miles Bridges (elbow) — Available

  • Jarrett Allen (illness) — In

  • Lu Dort (ankle) — Available

  • Herb Jones (adductor) — Out

  • Grayson Allen (ankle) — Out

  • Ben Simmons (knee) — Out

  • Keldon Johnson (elbow) — Out

  • Derrick Jones Jr. (wrist) — Out

  • Dante Exum (knee) — Out

  • Mike Conley (hamstring) — In

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic

  • Torrey Craig (foot) — Out

  • Dalen Terry (ankle) — Out

  • Patrick Williams (foot) — Injured

  • Zach LaVine (ankle) — Injured

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

The Bulls are the only team on the second leg of a back-to-back out of the 20 playing on Wednesday.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Bryce McGowens, Cody Martin, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Nick Richards

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Out

  • Miles Bridges (elbow) — Available

  • Kyle Lowry (acquired) — Out

  • Mark Williams (back) — Injured

  • Gordon Hayward (calf) — Injured

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Muscala, Jalen Duren

  • Cade Cunningham (knee) — In

  • Isaiah Stewart (ankle) — Out

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

  • Darius Garland (jaw) — In

  • Jarrett Allen (illness) — In

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

  • Tristan Thompson — Suspended

Garland is officially listed as questionable, but it's been reported that he is expected to make his return after missing 19 games with a fractured jaw. Mobley returned on Monday after a similarly lengthy absence and went right back into the starting lineup, playing a restricted 21 minutes. Garland could be on a limit as well in his first game back.

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Terance Mann, Amir Coffey, Kawhi Leonard, Mason Plumlee

  • Paul George (groin) — Out

  • Ivica Zubac (calf) — Injured

  • Moussa Diabate (hand) — Injured

While George is not listed on the injury report, he could still be managed from a minutes perspective as he nurses a groin ailment. He's played 22 and 27 minutes in each of the Clippers' past two games, well below his season average of 34.1.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Bilal Coulibaly, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford

  • Jordan Poole (illness) — Out

  • Landry Shamet (illness) — Out

  • Isaiah Livers (hip) — Out

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • Sasha Vezenkov (ankle) — Out

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith, Bam Adebayo

  • Duncan Robinson (concussion protocol) — Out

  • Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season

Rozier has averaged just 11.8 points on 38.3% shooting across four games as a member of the Heat, getting off to a slow start since his trade from Charlotte. His usage rate in Miami has been 20.8%, almost seven percentage points lower than the 27.3% he logged as a Hornet this year. Miami has also gone 0-4 with Rozier in the lineup, losing by an average of 17.8 points per game.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jaden Hardy, Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, Grant Williams, Richaun Holmes

  • Luka Doncic (ankle) — Out

  • Kyrie Irving (thumb) — Out

  • Dereck Lively II (nose) — Out

  • Derrick Jones Jr. (wrist) — Out

  • Dante Exum (knee) — Out

With Dallas' next game not until Saturday, the injured Mavericks will hope to benefit from having four consecutive days off. Hardaway Jr.'s usage rate in two games without Doncic and Irving this season is at 31.3%; meanwhile, Hardy's is 25.7%.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

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

  • Mike Conley (hamstring) — In

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Conley is hoping to avoid his third straight missed game, something he hasn't done since December 2-7, 2022. Nickeil Alexander-Walker should continue starting in Conley's place if he were to miss out against Dallas. Over Conley's four absences since January 22, Alexander-Walker has averaged 32.2 minutes per game, scoring 11.8 points with 4.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds.

Denver Nuggets News

Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Peyton Watson, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon

  • Nikola Jokic (back) — Out

  • Julian Strawther (knee) — Injured

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Denver is not on a back-to-back Wednesday and has an important matchup against fellow Western Conference contender Oklahoma City, which lends more credence to Jokic's new injury listing. If he can't play, DeAndre Jordan is the favorite to start in his place. Jordan tallied 21 points and 13 rebounds over 34 minutes in a spot start for Jokic in the two-time MVP's only absence this season, November 27 against the Clippers. Zeke Nnaji would likely serve as the backup center.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (illness) — Available

  • Chet Holmgren (ankle) — Available

  • Lu Dort (ankle) — Available

  • Jalen Williams (ankle) — Out

  • Isaiah Joe (chest) — Out

In January, the Thunder have had five back-to-backs, 11 road games, and 17 total games. All of those figures are the most for any team in any month this season. The difficult schedule could explain the influx of injuries on the Thunder's report for Wednesday. Oklahoma City's next game is Friday night. Wallace is likely to start for Jalen Williams after doing so in his three absences earlier this season. Jaylin Williams is the likely starter if Holmgren were to miss, while Aaron Wiggins or Kenrich Williams could then step into the starting lineup if Gilgeous-Alexander or Dort are out.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Zion Williamson (foot) — Out

  • Herb Jones (adductor) — Out

  • Matt Ryan (elbow) — Not on injury report

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Injured

  • Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

  • Gary Harris (calf) — Out

San Antonio Spurs News

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

  • Keldon Johnson (elbow) — Out

  • Zach Collins (ankle) — Out

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Eric Gordon, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic

  • Grayson Allen (ankle) — Out

  • Bol Bol (foot) — Out

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured

Eric Gordon would likely start if Allen cannot play against the Nets. Gordon played 34 minutes on Monday, receiving the bulk of Allen's playing time after he left the game early and did not return. Josh Okogie could pick up a few extra minutes off of the bench.

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Thomas, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton

  • Ben Simmons (knee) — Out

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) — Out

  • Day'Ron Sharpe (knee) — Injured

  • Dariq Whitehead (shin) — Out for season

Simmons tweaked his knee during his return on Monday, but it does not appear to be much of a concern. He was effective in limited minutes, scoring 10 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds. He came up two rebounds shy of setting a new record for the fewest-ever minutes in a triple-double. Russell Westbrook currently holds that honor with a 13-point, 14-assist, and 10-rebound performance over 20 minutes on March 4, 2014.

Milwaukee Bucks News

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

Portland Trail Blazers News

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

  • Shaedon Sharpe (abdomen) — Injured

  • Moses Brown (wrist) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season