NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/7
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 (ankle) — Available
LeBron James (ankle) — In
CJ McCollum (rest) — Out
Russell Westbrook (foot) — Available
Jonas Valanciunas (hand) — Available
Keldon Johnson (hamstring) — Out
Andrew Wiggins (illness) — In
Jakob Poeltl (Achilles) — Out
Recent NBA News
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Boston Celtics News
Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured
The Celtics have a 7-2 record and have scored the most points per 100 possessions (124.5) against teams with bottom-ten defensive ratings. Additionally, Boston is 6-0 against teams playing on zero days of rest and has recorded the best road win percentage (63.2%) league-wide. The Spurs have allowed opponents to score the most points per 100 possessions (120.5) and will be playing at home for the second game of a back-to-back set.
San Antonio Spurs News
Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Romeo Langford, Keita Bates-Diop, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins
Keldon Johnson (hamstring) — Out
Jakob Poeltl (Achilles) — Out
Charles Bassey (G League) — Available
Blake Wesley (G League) — Available
Devin Vassell (knee) — Injured
Langford, Malaki Branham, and Josh Richardson could absorb most of Johnson's minutes if he is ruled out against the Celtics. With Johnson and Vassell off the floor this season, Jones (26.1%), Doug McDermott (22.8%), and Richardson (22.2%) have led Spurs rotation players in usage.
Utah Jazz News
Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, Kelly Olynyk
Collin Sexton (hamstring) — Injured
Markkanen has averaged 32.8 points and 10.3 three-point attempts in his last eight games. The Bulls have allowed the second-most made threes per game (14.7) in their previous 15 matches. Markkanen has averaged 22.0 points against his former team, including a 32-point performance on seven-for-11 shooting from three earlier in the season.
Chicago Bulls News
Confirmed Lineup: Ayo Dosunmu, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic
Alex Caruso (ankle) — Out
Derrick Jones Jr. (wrist) — Available
Tony Bradley (health protocols) — Out
Javonte Green (knee) — Injured
Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured
The Bulls have recorded the fourth-best offensive rating (118.5) league-wide in their last ten contests, due in part to shooting the third-best three-point percentage (40.5%) during that time. Utah has allowed opponents to shoot the sixth-highest three-point percentage (38.0%) on the fifth-least attempts (31.6) during their last six matches.
New Orleans Pelicans News
Confirmed Lineup: Jose Alvarado, Herb Jones, Naji Marshall, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas
CJ McCollum (rest) — Out
Jonas Valanciunas (hand) — Available
Larry Nance Jr. (shoulder) — Out
Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured
Brandon Ingram (toe) — Injured
With McCollum, Williamson, and Ingram off the floor this season, Alvarado (27.3%), Willy Hernangomez (25.7%), and Marshall (25.3%) have led the Pelicans in usage, while Dyson Daniels (26.8%) and Alvarado (24.0%) have logged the highest assist rates on the team.
Dallas Mavericks News
Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Christian Wood, Dwight Powell
Luka Doncic (ankle) — Available
Dorian Finney-Smith (adductor) — Injured
Josh Green (elbow) — Injured
Maxi Kleber (hamstring) — Injured
Dinwiddie has logged a decreased 16.7% usage rate and a reduced 17.6% assist rate since Wood became a full-time starter nine games ago. He posted 22.1% usage and a 27.8% assist rate before that change.
Orlando Magic News
Confirmed Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.
Bol Bol (health protocols) — Out
RJ Hampton (G League) — Out
Admiral Schofield (coach's decision) — Out
Chuma Okeke (knee) — Injured
Jonathan Isaac (ACL) — Injured
The Magic have a 4-13 record and have scored the second-fewest points per 100 possessions (106.9) on the road this season. The Warriors are 17-3 and have recorded the second-best defensive rating (106.6) at home. Additionally, Orlando has allowed opponents to make the third-most threes per game (14.1) while Golden State has made the most threes per game (15.2) during their last ten matches.
Golden State Warriors News
Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Poole, Donte DiVincenzo, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney
Andrew Wiggins (illness) — In
Andre Iguodala (injury management) — In
Jonathan Kuminga (foot) — Injured
James Wiseman (ankle) — Injured
JaMychal Green (leg) — Injured
Stephen Curry (shoulder) — Injured
Looney has averaged 28.0 minutes and recorded a heightened 22.9% rebound rate with Golden State shorthanded during the last four games. His rebounding might not be sustainable against a Magic team that ranks eighth in the league with a 50.6% rebound rate, but he could play even more minutes against a large Orlando frontline.
Los Angeles Lakers News
Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Patrick Beverley, LeBron James, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Thomas Bryant
LeBron James (ankle) — In
Russell Westbrook (foot) — Available
Troy Brown Jr. (quad) — Out
Damian Jones (toe) — Available
Austin Reaves (hamstring) — Injured
Lonnie Walker (knee) — Injured
Anthony Davis (foot) — Injured
Kendrick Nunn scored 23 points on nine-for-16 shooting in 26.9 minutes during the Lakers' 130-114 win over the Hawks on Friday. Nunn could lose some time if his shot isn't falling, but he could be given a similar opportunity if Brown Jr. remains out against the Kings.
Sacramento Kings News
Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
Malik Monk (leg) — Out
Sabonis logged a 34.0% assist rate in two games against the Lakers this season. He also snared 21 rebounds with Anthony Davis (foot) out for Sacramento's 134-120 win over Los Angeles 16 days ago.