NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/9

Jan 9th 2024

J.J. Calle

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) — In

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (ankle) — Available

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (knee) — Out

  • Rui Hachimura (calf) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • Trey Lyles (ankle) — Available

Detroit Pistons News

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

  • Cade Cunningham (knee) — Injured

  • Isaiah Stewart (toe) — Injured

  • Monte Morris (quad) — Injured

The Pistons have registered a -20.0 Net Rating without Cunningham. When Cunningham and Stewart have been off the court, usage for Ivey (+4.1%), Bogdanovic (+4.1%), and Duren (+6.9%) has elevated. Two areas where the Pistons have improved sans Cunningham have been a faster pace and lower turnover rate, but the rest of the output is bleak.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

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

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Suggs, Caleb Houstan, Chuma Okeke, Paolo Banchero, Goga Bitadze

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (knee) — Out

  • Franz Wagner (ankle) — Out

  • Jonathan Isaac (hamstring) — Out

  • Joe Ingles (ankle) — Out

  • Gary Harris (calf) — Out

  • Admiral Schofield (illness) — Out

Portland Trail Blazers News

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

  • Jabari Walker (knee) — Out

  • Matisse Thybulle (foot) — Available

  • Deandre Ayton (knee) — Out

  • Moses Brown (wrist) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

New York Knicks News

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

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

The Knicks have recorded a league-best +20.6 Net Rating while ranking second with a 103.8 Defensive Rating since Anunoby debuted. Over that span, Randle has ranked seventh league-wide with a 33.2% usage rate, Brunson has ranked 11th with a 38.1% assist rate, and Isaiah Hartenstein has ranked ninth in the league with 37.6 minutes per game.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard, Vince Williams, Bismack Biyombo

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) — Out

  • Santi Aldama (knee) — Out

  • Derrick Rose (hamstring) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Ja Morant (shoulder) — Out for season

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Morant will miss the rest of the season after suffering a labral tear in his right shoulder. The Grizzlies have gone 7-20 without Morant, and they’ve recorded a -8.1 Net Rating and a putrid 107.3 Offensive Rating in his absence.

When Morant has been off the court since his season debut, Jackson Jr. and Smart have led the team with a +5.0% usage rate differential, and Smart has posted a team-high +14.4% assist rate differential. Kennard started the previous game sans Morant, but Vince Williams played 37 minutes off the bench and may warrant a significant role to help defend Luke Doncic or Kyrie Irving.

The Grizzlies were without Morant for the first three games against the Mavericks this season, and they averaged 110.3 points. Bane has averaged a team-high 29.3 points in those games, and Jackson Jr. scored 41 points, 30 points, and four points in the contests. Jackson Jr. rolled his ankle in Sunday's win, and if he can't play, David Roddy could rejoin the rotation.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Derrick Jones Jr., Dwight Powell

  • Luka Doncic (ankle) — In

  • Dereck Lively II (ankle) — Out

  • Grant Williams (ankle) — Available

  • Dante Exum (foot) — Out

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — Injured

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Thaddeus Young

  • Otto Porter Jr. (knee) — Out

  • Jakob Poeltl (ankle) — Out

  • Christian Koloko (respiratory) — Injured

The Raptors’ offense has been supercharged with the additions of Quickley and Barrett, ranking fifth with a 126.1 Offensive Rating and 62.8% true shooting mark with both in the lineup the past four games. Quickley, Barrett, Barnes, and Siakam have posted usage rates between 22.2% and 24.2%, and Barnes and Quickley have dominated touches.

Poeltl will sit for the first time this season, leaving Boucher and Jontay Porter as replacements. Siakam will get minutes at center as well.

Los Angeles Lakers News

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

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (ankle) — Available

  • Rui Hachimura (calf) — Out

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured