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
Damian Lillard (calf) — Out
Jimmy Butler (personal) — Out
Markelle Fultz (knee) — Out
Recent NBA News
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Confirmed Lineup: Cam Payne, Malik Beasley, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez
Damian Lillard (calf) — Out
Lillard missed the previous contest, resulting in a 54-point effort from Antetokounmpo on 43.8% usage. When Lillard and Antetokounmpo have shared the floor, Antetokounmpo has posted a team-high 36.1% usage rate and Lillard, who is averaging a career-low 4.7 assists per game, has led the Bucks with a 19.8% assist rate.
The Magic possess one of the stingiest defenses, but their 21.6 fouls per game could result in a free-throw-heavy contest for Antetokounmpo, who has drawn a league-high 8.0 fouls per game.
Confirmed Lineup: Anthony Black, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Goga Bitadze
Markelle Fultz (knee) — Out
Gary Harris (groin) — Out
Wendell Carter Jr. (hand) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl
Gary Trent Jr. (foot) — Questionable
Christian Koloko (respiratory issues) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis
Neemias Queta (foot) — Injured
Horford sat the first game of the back-to-back set, and Kristaps Porzingis, who played 25 minutes in Friday’s blowout win, plans to play in both games. It’s also the Celtics’ third game in four days. The Raptors have the rest advantage after having two days off.
The Celtics have faced three teams in the top five in Defensive Rating this season, and they’ve gone 1-2 with a 105.3 Offensive Rating in those contests -- down from their season mark of 119.1. The Raptors’ 108.2 Defensive Rating ranks seventh.
Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez, Haywood Highsmith, Bam Adebayo
Josh Richardson (back) — Available
Jimmy Butler (personal) — Out
Nikola Jovic (illness) — Available
Caleb Martin (knee) — Out
Tyler Herro (ankle) — Injured
The Heat will be without Herro for several weeks after he suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain. Coach Spoelstra said after Friday’s practice that he wants Butler’s usage to go up in the interim. Butler ranks third on the team with a 22.2 % usage rate, and that has increased to 26.8% with Herro off the court.
Spoelstra also namechecked Lowry as one of the players who need to step up in Herro's absence:
”Kyle is going to have to be really aggressive and give us some other options to be able to play some pick-and-rolls for him to create and get into the paint and do what he does.”
Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela
Wesley Matthews (calf) — Available
Mouhamed Gueye (back) — Out
Kobe Bufkin (thumb) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Isaac Okoro (knee) — Out
Sam Merrill (illness) — Out
Ty Jerome (ankle) — Out
Ricky Rubio (personal) — NWT
The Cavs recorded season-highs of 54 rebounds and 26 fastbreak points against the Warriors earlier this week with both teams at full strength. The Warriors have allowed at least 52 points in the paint in three of their last four games as coach Kerr tinkers with rotations, and Mitchell (13.1) and Mobley (12.8) rank 10th and 11th, respectively, in points in the paint per game.
Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney
Draymond Green (personal) — Available
Gary Payton II (illness) — Available