NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/5

Jan 5th 2024Cooper Boni

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

  • Kevin Durant (hamstring) — Out

  • Luka Doncic (ankle) — Out

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (ankle) — Available

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — In

  • Nikola Vucevic (adductor) — In

  • Bruce Brown (knee) — Available

  • Dereck Lively II (ankle) — Out

  • Jonathan Kuminga (toe) — Available

  • Andrew Nembhard (back) — Out

  • Patrick Williams (ankle) — Out

  • Alex Caruso (neck) — Out

  • Caleb Martin (ankle) — Out

  • Dante Exum (heel) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Kris Dunn, Collin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis

  • Al Horford (rest) — Out

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela

  • De'Andre Hunter (knee) — Injured

  • Mouhamed Gueye (back) — Injured

  • Vit Krejci (shoulder) — Injured

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Bruce Brown, Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Smith, Myles Turner

  • Bruce Brown (knee) — Available

  • Andrew Nembhard (back) — Out

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton

  • Dennis Smith Jr. (back) — Available

  • Lonnie Walker (hamstring) — Available

  • Ben Simmons (back) — Injured

Washington Wizards News

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

  • Landry Shamet (hamstring) — Out

Cleveland Cavaliers News

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

  • Evan Mobley (knee) — Injured

  • Darius Garland (jaw) — Injured

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, Isaiah Hartenstein

  • Malachi Flynn (ankle) — Available

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre, Tobias Harris, Nicolas Batum, Joel Embiid

  • Robert Covington (knee) — Out

  • Furkan Korkmaz (illness) — Out

  • De'Anthony Melton (back) — Out

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Cody Martin, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Nick Richards

  • Mark Williams (back) — Out

  • Gordon Hayward (calf) — Injured

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Frank Ntilikina (leg) — Injured

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, DeMar DeRozan, Dalen Terry, Andre Drummond

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — In

  • Nikola Vucevic (adductor) — In

  • Alex Caruso (neck) — Out

  • Patrick Williams (ankle) — Out

  • Torrey Craig (foot) — Injured

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

The Bulls have been without LaVine for 17 consecutive games, while Vucevic has missed the previous five outings, but both could make their return against Charlotte. White has shown real promise sans LaVine, as he's averaged 22.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists since LaVine went down. Meanwhile, Drummond has seen an increased role in the absence of Vucevic, averaging 14.0 points and 19.4 rebounds per contest. Whoever starts at center for Chicago will have an enticing matchup against the Hornets, who give up the second most points (26.2) and rebounds per game (16.8) to centers.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

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

  • Luka Garza (back) — Available

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Jae'Sean Tate, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Out

  • Dillon Brooks (oblique) — Injured

  • Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Terance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac

  • Moussa Diabate (hand) — Out

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Trey Murphy III (knee) — Available

  • Matt Ryan (elbow) — Injured

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, Duop Reath

  • Jabari Walker (knee) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (knee) — Out

  • Moses Brown (wrist) — Out

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Kyrie Irving, Jaden Hardy, Josh Green, Derrick Jones Jr., Dwight Powell

  • Luka Doncic (ankle) — Out

  • Dereck Lively II (ankle) — Out

  • Grant Williams (ankle) — Out

  • Markieff Morris (illness) — Out

  • Dante Exum (heel) — Out

  • Richaun Holmes (personal) — Out

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — Injured

Lively II suffered his injury in the most recent game, and it was bad enough to force an early exit. However, coach Kidd mentioned after that contest that the ankle sprain was "mild," which ultimately contributed to Lively II having a chance to play in this upcoming outing. If he is sidelined, Dwight Powell could draw a spot start at center. Dallas has won 19 of 29 games with Lively II available, but just one of 6 when he's been sidelined.

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Anthony Black, Jalen Suggs, Chuma Okeke, Paolo Banchero, Moe Wagner

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (knee) — Out

  • Goga Bitadze (illness) — Out

  • Anthony Black (illness) — In

  • Franz Wagner (ankle) — Out

  • Markelle Fultz (knee) — Out

  • Jonathan Isaac (hamstring) — Out

  • Joe Ingles (ankle) — Out

  • Gary Harris (calf) — Out

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Reggie Jackson (calf) — Available

  • Julian Strawther (knee) — Out

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Bam Adebayo

  • Caleb Martin (ankle) — Out

  • Jimmy Butler (toe) — Out

  • Haywood Highsmith (concussion) — Out

  • Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Chimezie Metu, Jusuf Nurkic

  • Kevin Durant (hamstring) — Out

  • Eric Gordon (knee) — Out

  • Nassir Little (knee) — Out

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured

Durant has missed the last two games but managed to partially practice on Thursday. The Suns split those outings sans Durant, winning and losing one contest. They'll match up against the Heat, who will be without their best player in Butler. Miami has won six of their 10 outings this season in which Butler has been unavailable. If Durant is sidelined, Bradley Beal should garner more usage, as Beal has seen a +4.3% usage rate increase whenever he plays and Durant sits.

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Livers, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jalen Duren

  • Alec Burks (hamstring) — Available

  • Isaiah Stewart (toe) — Injured

  • Monte Morris (quad) — Injured

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney

  • Jonathan Kuminga (toe) — Available

  • Draymond Green (suspension) — Out

  • Gary Payton II (hamstring) — Injured

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Bismack Biyombo

  • Vince Williams (foot) — Out

  • Derrick Rose (hamstring) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: Austin Reaves, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, LeBron James, Anthony Davis

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (ankle) — Available

  • D'Angelo Russell (tailbone) — Out

  • Rui Hachimura (calf) — Out

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured

After the previous outing, a report was published by Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic that cited anonymous sources who spoke about the state of the Lakers' locker room. These sources noted a "deepening disconnect" between coach Ham and his players. "... the disjointedness between the coach and team has stemmed from the extreme rotation and starting lineup adjustments recently from Ham, leading to a fluctuating rhythm for several players across the roster," sources say. Ham recently stated that a specific lineup would be in place "for the foreseeable future," but that was quickly altered as the unit included Hachimura, who got injured in the subsequent game.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl

  • Gary Trent Jr. (quad) — Out

  • Otto Porter Jr. (knee) — Out

  • Christian Koloko (respiratory) — Injured

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Chris Duarte, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis