NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 11/1

Nov 1st 2023Cooper BoniJohn Raudebaugh

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

  • Trae Young (Achilles) — Available

  • Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) — Out

  • Kyrie Irving (foot) — Out

  • Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Paul George (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • James Harden (reconditioning) — Out

  • Zach LaVine (back) — Available

  • Jimmy Butler (knee) — In

  • Bam Adebayo (hip) — In

  • RJ Barrett (knee) — Out

  • Brandon Ingram (knee) — Out

  • Darius Garland (hamstring) — Out

  • Jalen Duren (ankle) — Out

  • Jarrett Allen (ankle) — Out

  • Bennedict Mathurin (elbow) — In

  • Klay Thompson (knee) — In

  • Jaden McDaniels (calf) — Available

  • Daniel Gafford (ankle) — Out

  • Spencer Dinwiddie (ankle) — Out

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Matisse Thybulle, Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton

  • Ish Wainright (calf) — Out

  • Anfernee Simons (thumb) — Injured

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley

  • Jalen Duren (ankle) — Out

  • Alec Burks (forearm) — Out

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (calf) — Injured

  • Monte Morris (quad) — Injured

  • Isaiah Livers (ankle) — Injured

Last October, Cunningham totaled 29 turnovers in eight games, tied for the most league-wide. Through four games this season, he's turned the ball over a league-high 21 times. Opponents have scored 23.5 points off turnovers per game against them - the second-most league-wide - with Cunningham accounting for 19.0 of those per game.

Milwaukee Bucks News

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

  • MarJon Beauchamp (illness) — Available

Lillard's pick-and-roll game was a big part of what the Bucks hoped would take their offense to the next level. Last season, Lillard led the league lead with 12.5 points per game as a pick-and-roll ball handler. Through three games, he's averaged 12.0 points per game in the pick-and-roll.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schröder, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl

  • Precious Achiuwa (groin) — Out

  • Christian Koloko (respiratory issues) — Out

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Mike Muscala

  • Daniel Gafford (ankle) — Out

Through three games, teams have converted 48.7% of their field goal attempts and 40.6% of their three-pointers against the Wizards. Both marks rank in the league's bottom five. The 125.0 points per game they've given up are the most league-wide. If Gafford sits, his rim protection will be missed, and Washington will likely play smaller lineups.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey, Clint Capela

  • Trae Young (Achilles) — Available

  • Wesley Matthews (calf) — Injured

It didn’t take long for Johnson to earn a spot in the starting lineup. He’s averaged 14.5 points per gamer game on 65.8% shooting, which is second-highest on the team. He’s started the last two games over Saddiq Bey, and the team has found success with both of them in the second unit. Through four games, the lineup of Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Bey, Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu has recorded the fourth-highest offensive rating (125.5) league-wide among lineups that have logged at least 20 minutes together.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Andrew Nembhard, Bruce Brown, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, Myles Turner

  • Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) — Out

  • Bennedict Mathurin (elbow) — In

  • Jalen Smith (knee) — Out

Boston Celtics News

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

  • Neemias Queta (foot) — Out

The Celtics began the season with a typically-sized starting unit rather than a double-big lineup that would've included Al Horford. Despite that decision, after grabbing 51 boards in the last contest, their 50.7 rebounds per game rank in the league's top five. Now, they'll match up against a Pacers team that allows the 10th-most rebounds per game (47.0).

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, Royce O'Neale, Mikal Bridges, Dorian Finney-Smith

  • Dennis Smith Jr. (hip) — Out

  • Spencer Dinwiddie (ankle) — Out

  • Nic Claxton (ankle) — Out

  • Cam Johnson (calf) — Injured

Thomas is the second-youngest player in NBA history to score 30 or more points in each of his first three games of a season. He's averaging 33.0 points, and his 31.9% usage rate is up from the 27.7% rate he posted a season ago. The main factor contributing to his jump has been playing time, as Thomas is averaging nearly double the amount of minutes this season (32.0) that he played last year (16.6).

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Jaquez Jr., Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo

  • Jimmy Butler (knee) — In

  • Bam Adebayo (hip) — In

  • Kevin Love — Out

  • Haywood Highsmith (knee) — Available

  • Caleb Martin (knee) — Out

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro, Georges Niang, Evan Mobley

  • Caris LeVert (hamstring) — In

  • Darius Garland (hamstring) — Out

  • Jarrett Allen (ankle) — Out

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Out

  • Isaiah Mobley (knee) — Available

  • Ricky Rubio (personal) — NWT

The Cavs have yet to play a game with their starting center available, and they've lost three straight outings. Last season, Cleveland won seven of 14 games with Allen sidelined. Conversely, they won 44 of 68 contests when he was available. They're giving up 113.8 points per game compared to the league-leading 106.9 they allowed last season.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, Josh Hart, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

  • RJ Barrett (knee) — Out

In the previous contest, five players scored in double figures, including two bench pieces as Immanuel Quickley and Isaiah Hartenstein combined for 31 points. The Knicks scored the fifth-fewest bench points last year but rank in the top half of the league this season with 27.8 bench points per game through four outings.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Jordan Hawkins, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Brandon Ingram (knee) — Out

  • Jose Alvarado (ankle) — Injured

  • Trey Murphy (knee) — Injured

  • Naji Marshall (knee) — Injured

With Ingram out last game, many expected Williamson or McCollum to step up offensively. However, neither player reached the 20-point mark, and they combined to convert just 38.9% of their field goal attempts en route to a 28-point loss. Last season, the two combined to average 51.0 points per game when Ingram was unavailable.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

  • Kenrich Williams (back) — Out

  • Jaylin Williams (hamstring) — Injured

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Mark Williams

  • Miles Bridges (suspension) — Out

  • Frank Ntilikina (leg) — Injured

  • James Bouknight (knee) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Injured

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Injured

  • Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Minnesota Timberwolves News

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

  • Jaden McDaniels (calf) — Available

  • Shake Milton (foot) — Available

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic

  • Zach LaVine (back) — Available

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Josh Green, Derrick Jones Jr., Grant Williams, Dereck Lively II

  • Kyrie Irving (foot) — Out

If Irving ultimately sits, Doncic could have another high-usage game after posting a 35.5% usage rate in the last contest. Doncic has led the team in points, rebounds, and assists in each of the first three games. His 39.0 points per game lead the league, but more impressive has been his efficiency as he's shooting 55.6% from the field and 48.6% from beyond the arc.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, Ziaire Williams, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman

  • Santi Aldama (ankle) — Out

  • Derrick Rose (knee) — Out

  • Ja Morant (suspension) — Out

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Talen Horton-Tucker, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Walker Kessler

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: Davion Mitchell, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis

  • De'Aaron Fox (ankle) — Out

  • Trey Lyles (calf) — Out

Mitchell was working with the starting unit in practice before coach Brown told the media that he'd do the same during Wednesday's contest. In nine games last season, Mitchell posted a 15.2% usage rate in 28.8 minutes per game. Malik Monk had the most significant usage increase (+4.21%) when Fox was unavailable last season.

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney

  • Klay Thompson (knee) — In

  • Jonathan Kuminga (knee) — Available

  • Dario Saric (hip) — Available

Even with Thompson unavailable last game, Chris Paul came off the bench as the Warriors started Moses Moody. They likely want to maintain continuity when it comes to Paul's role, and he seems to be okay with that. "I’ve never been on a team probably with this type of depth," Paul said after a recent win against Houston. "I’ve been on really good teams, don’t get it twisted ... And I think last year that (Warriors lineup) was the best starting five in the league.”

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Bones Hyland, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac

  • Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Paul George (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • James Harden (reconditioning) — Out

  • PJ Tucker (acquired) — Available

  • Terance Mann (ankle) — Out

  • Brandon Boston Jr. (quad) — Out

Harden and the new additions will likely remain unavailable as the trade that sent them to L.A. isn't expected to be official until Wednesday. The Clippers will have a four-day break after their matchup against the Lakers, so the thought is that they'll be ready to go by next Monday. However, Harden and Tucker joined their new teammates in the locker room Tuesday night when Harden was asked about his excitement. "You don't understand," Harden said.

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Taurean Prince, LeBron James, Anthony Davis

  • Cam Reddish (foot) — Available

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Out

  • Rui Hachimura (eye) — Out

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) — Injured

Through four contests, James is averaging 22.0 points on 16.5 field goal attempts per game. The scoring average is the lowest since his rookie year, while he's attempting 5.7 fewer shots per game than last season and the fewest per game of his career. It's still early, but James has also posted his worst three-point percentage (30.4%) since entering the league in 2003.