NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 11/18

Nov 18th 2023

Cooper 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

  • Stephen Curry (knee) — Available

  • RJ Barrett (migraine) — In

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (injury recovery) — Available

  • Zion Williamson (rest) — Out

  • Devin Vassell (adductor) — Out

  • Terry Rozier (groin) — Out

  • Khris Middleton (injury management) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

  • RJ Barrett (migraine) — In

  • Quentin Grimes (wrist) — Out

  • Evan Fournier (ankle) — Out

In five games without Barrett, the Knicks have scored 105.6 points per game, which would be the second-lowest scoring average league-wide. In their seven games with Barrett available, they've scored 113.1 points per game. Barrett's status is unclear for the second leg of a back-to-back set, but the last time he faced Charlotte, he scored a team-high 24 points in a win.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Mark Williams

  • Terry Rozier (groin) — Out

  • Nick Richards (concussion) — Out

  • Frank Ntilikina (leg) — Injured

  • James Bouknight (knee) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Injured

When Rozier is available, Ball's averaging 14.6 points on 14.8 field goal attempts per game. In the six games without Rozier, Ball has averaged 31.0 points on 23.0 field goal attempts per contest. Ball will attempt to maintain his recent success, but it will be a challenge as the Hornets face a Knicks team that allows the sixth-fewest points per game to point guards (21.3).

Minnesota Timberwolves News

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

  • Jordan McLaughlin (knee) — Injured

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: Dyson Daniels, Jordan Hawkins, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Jose Alvarado (ankle) — Out

  • Zion Williamson (rest) — Out

  • Larry Nance Jr. (rib) — Injured

  • CJ McCollum (lung) — Injured

  • Trey Murphy (knee) — Injured

After winning four of their first six games with McCollum available, the Pelicans have now lost four of their last six since McCollum was sidelined. It won't get easier against the Timberwolves, whose opponents score the second-fewest points per game (105.6). New Orleans faced Minnesota five games ago and scored 101 points in a 21-point loss.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith, Bam Adebayo

  • Tyler Herro (ankle) — Injured

  • RJ Hampton (knee) — Injured

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, Nikola Vucevic

  • Alex Caruso (toe) — Available

  • Dalen Terry (knee) — Out

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., Grant Williams, Dereck Lively II

  • Kyrie Irving (foot) — Available

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — Injured

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Andre Jackson Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (injury management) — Available

  • Khris Middleton (injury management) — Out

  • MarJon Beauchamp (ankle) — Out

  • Chris Livingston (ankle) — Out

  • Jae Crowder (adductor, abdomen) — Injured

The Bucks got Antetokounmpo back last game and won in blowout fashion. Despite his teammates' return, Lillard led the team in scoring for the second consecutive contest. He converted 50.0% of his field goal attempts in those two games after converting 37.0% over the first eight contests. Lillard could have another high-scoring outing against the Mavs, who yield the seventh-most points per game (18.3) to pick-and-roll ball handlers.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Jacob Gilyard, John Konchar, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Bismack Biyombo

  • Derrick Rose (injury recovery) — Available

  • Jake LaRavia (eye) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (knee) — Out

  • Xavier Tillman (injury recovery) — Out

  • Marcus Smart (foot) — Injured

  • Ja Morant (suspension) — Out

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Smart was diagnosed with a sprained left foot on Friday night and is expected to miss three to five weeks. With Smart, Morant, and other guards already sidelined, the Grizzlies will need Rose and their young players to step up in the short term. Jacob Gilyard started in the last contest, while David Roddy played 31 minutes off the bench.

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, Justin Champagnie, Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins

  • Devin Vassell (adductor) — Out

  • Tre Jones (hamstring) — Not on injury report

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

  • Cason Wallace (shoulder) — Available

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney

  • Stephen Curry (knee) — Available

  • Trayce Jackson-Davis (leg) — Out

  • Gary Payton II (ankle) — Out

  • Draymond Green (suspension) — Out

The Warriors' 106.5 Offensive Rating over the last two games sans Curry has been the league's seventh-worst. When Curry is available, that rating increases to 115.2. His final status will be critical against a Thunder team with a 109.2 Defensive Rating, the seventh-best of any team league-wide. Coach Kerr mentioned on Friday that he believes there's "a decent chance" that Curry plays in this outing.