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
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — In
Joel Embiid (illness) — In
LeBron James (foot) — Out
Trae Young (shin) — Out
Damian Lillard (calf) — In
Anthony Davis (back) — Available
Bradley Beal (health protocols) — Out
Anfernee Simons (foot) — Available
Zach LaVine (injury management) — In
Tyler Herro (ankle) — Out
Ben Simmons (knee) — In
Jalen Green (knee) — Available
Kevin Porter Jr. (illness) — Available
Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) — Available
Josh Hart (ankle) — Available
Jabari Smith Jr. (illness) — In
Jarred Vanderbilt (adductor) — Out
Steven Adams (ankle) — Out
Lonnie Walker (illness) — Out
Reggie Jackson (knee) — In
Aaron Nesmith (foot) — Out
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Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis
Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) — Available
Bradley Beal (health protocols) — Out
Johnny Davis (G-League) — Available
Delon Wright (hamstring) — Injured
Five rotation players cleared 20.0% usage in the first game without Beal on Sunday. Four also reached a 20.0% assist rate in an extremely balanced offensive effort.
Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Dennis Smith Jr., Kelly Oubre, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee
Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) — Available
Cody Martin (quad) — Out
Gordon Hayward (shoulder) — Out
LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Out
Smith Jr. started alongside Rozier before getting injured Saturday. His absence helped James Bouknight play 29 minutes and record a 26.3% assist rate, with Rozier's 32.9% usage leading Charlotte as he played more of an off-guard role.
Confirmed Lineup: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Eric Gordon, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Jabari Smith Jr. (illness) — In
Kevin Porter Jr. (illness) — Available
Jalen Green (knee) — Available
TyTy Washington (knee) — Available
Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) — Out
Bruno Fernando (knee) — Injured
Smith Jr.'s expected return should reduce minutes for KJ Martin, Tari Eason, and Usman Garuba.
Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., Bol Bol
Cole Anthony (oblique) — Injured
Moe Wagner (ankle) — Injured
Markelle Fultz (toe) — Injured
Gary Harris (knee) — Injured
Jonathan Isaac (ACL) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Aleksej Pokusevski (shoulder) — Out
Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured
The Thunder draw a matchup against a Pistons team that is last in defensive rating, allowing 118.1 points per 100 possessions.
Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Saddiq Bey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart
Jalen Duren (ankle) — Available
Alec Burks (foot) — Injured
Marvin Bagley (knee) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Garrett Temple (personal) — Out
Kira Lewis (ACL) — Injured
This game will be decided in the paint: the Pelicans are second in the league in scoring in the paint (57.3 points per game), while the Pacers have the stingiest paint defense (41.3 points per game).
Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Jalen Smith, Myles Turner
Andrew Nembhard (knee) — Available
Aaron Nesmith (foot) — Out
Daniel Theis (knee) — Out
Chris Duarte (ankle) — Injured
Nesmith's likely absence shortens the wing rotation and should allow Mathurin to receive extended run in what could be his first career start.
Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Deandre Ayton
Cam Payne (foot) — Available
Duane Washington Jr. (personal) — Out
Cam Johnson (knee) — Injured
Payne's absence has caused Booker, Damion Lee, and Landry Shamet to play larger on-ball roles.
Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid (illness) — In
Danuel House (illness) — Out
James Harden (foot) — Injured
Tyrese Maxey starred without Embiid and Harden on Friday, recording 35.0% usage and a 30.4% assist rate. Melton's usage (25.9%) and assist rate (42.9%) also jumped sharply as Harris was fifth in both categories.
Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Jevon Carter, Grayson Allen, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — In
Khris Middleton (wrist) — Injured
Pat Connaughton (calf) — Injured
Joe Ingles (ACL) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Aaron Holiday, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela
Trae Young (shin) — Out
Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) — Injured
Murray should pace the Hawks in usage and assist rate by a wide margin if Young is ruled out, with Collins' and Hunter's usage also increasing.
Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart, Jerami Grant, Jusuf Nurkic
Justise Winslow (ankle) — Available
Josh Hart (ankle) — Available
Damian Lillard (calf) — In
Anfernee Simons (foot) — Available
Gary Payton II (core) — Injured
The average time missed for a player with a calf strain last season was 16 days, according to Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes. Lillard had been out for 12 days.
Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Bam Adebayo
Jimmy Butler (hip) — Not on injury report
Nikola Jovic (nose) — Not on injury report
Tyler Herro (ankle) — Out
Udonis Haslem (personal) — Out
Victor Oladipo (knee) — Out
Omar Yurtseven (ankle) — Out
Herro claimed a team-leading 29.5% usage rate during Butler's two-game absence. Butler could see similar usage in his return if Herro is ruled out, with Adebayo's assist rate sure to decline alongside Butler.
Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Christian Koloko
Khem Birch (knee) — Out
Pascal Siakam (adductor) — Injured
Six Raptors claimed at least 20.0% usage in the first game without Siakam. VanVleet led in both usage (26.0%) and assist rate (36.7%).
Confirmed Lineup: Ayo Dosunmu, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic
Derrick Jones Jr. (thumb) — Available
Zach LaVine (injury management) — In
Andre Drummond (shoulder) — Out
Coby White (quad) — Out
Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Al Horford
Al Horford (back) — Not on injury report
Luke Kornet (personal) — Out
Robert Williams (knee) — Injured
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Santi Aldama, Brandon Clarke
Jake LaRavia (hip) — Available
Steven Adams (ankle) — Out
Ziaire Williams (knee) — Injured
Jaren Jackson Jr. (foot) — Injured
Danny Green (ACL) — Injured
Despite employing the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and playing at a pace below 100 possessions per game, no team has allowed more field goals made per game to guards this season than the Celtics.
Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Cam Reddish, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Jericho Sims
Quentin Grimes (foot) — Out
Mitchell Robinson (knee) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Karl-Anthony Towns
Rudy Gobert (health protocols) — Out
Kyle Anderson and Taurean Prince both exceeded 30 minutes in the first game Gobert was forced to miss, claiming most of his time in the process.
Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Jeff Green (finger) — Available
Ish Smith (calf) — Out
Zeke Nnaji (ankle) — Out
The Nuggets led the Spurs by 19 points at halftime over the weekend. Nine players shot 50% from the field or better, with Jokic shooting 90% and posting 21 points, six rebounds, and ten assists in 26.6 minutes.
Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Jakob Poeltl
Jordan Hall (foot) — Available
Zach Collins (leg) — Out
Romeo Langford (toe) — Out
Blake Wesley (knee) — Injured
Vassell was on fire in his return to play over the weekend, posting an 82.3% true shooting rate in two games. Coach Popovich limited him to 25.0 minutes per game off of the bench and he could be off of a restriction if he re-joins the starting lineup.
Confirmed Lineup: Edmond Sumner, Joe Harris, Royce O'Neale, Kevin Durant, Nic Claxton
Ben Simmons (knee) — In
Kyrie Irving (suspension) — Out
TJ Warren (foot) — Injured
Claxton and Yuta Watanabe have seen the sharpest jumps in playing time during Simmons' absence, respectively averaging 29.8 and 24.4 minutes per game. Claxton can retain extra minutes in Simmons' potential return if their projected starting lineup logs heavy minutes together.
Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Reggie Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith, JaVale McGee
Frank Ntilikina (ankle) — Available
Davis Bertans (knee) — Injured
Doncic had 41 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists against the Nets earlier in the season; he seemingly had an answer for everything they threw at him.
Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney
Stephen Curry (elbow) — Not on injury report
Andrew Wiggins (foot) — Not on injury report
Klay Thompson (injury management) — Not on injury report
Draymond Green (injury management) — Not on injury report
Andre Iguodala (injury management) — Out
Donte DiVincenzo (hamstring) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Kendrick Nunn, Austin Reaves, Troy Brown Jr., Wenyen Gabriel, Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis (back) — Available
Lonnie Walker (illness) — Out
LeBron James (foot) — Out
Patrick Beverley (illness) — Out
Dennis Schroder (thumb) — Injured
Thomas Bryant (thumb) — Injured
On injury report before playing:
LeBron: 9-for-10 AD: 8-for-9
The Lakers' 102.7 offensive rating is currently last in the league.
Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Malik Beasley Lauri Markkanen, Kelly Olynyk
Jarred Vanderbilt (adductor) — Questionable
Leandro Bolmaro (conditioning) — Not on injury report
Vanderbilt was key in limiting LeBron James to 36.8% shooting last Friday. Malik Beasley started in Vanderbilt's absence Sunday and received his minutes along with Rudy Gay and Walker Kessler.
Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Caris LeVert, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Dylan Windler (ankle) — Out
Ricky Rubio (ACL) — Injured
Mitchell's usage and assist rates declined to respective 26.7% and 18.6% rates in his first two full games with Garland. Garland's usage has been similar, at 26.2%, but his 39.6% assist rate vastly exceeded Mitchell's.
Confirmed Lineup: Reggie Jackson, Terance Mann, Paul George, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac
Luke Kennard (chest) — In
Reggie Jackson (knee) — In
John Wall (injury management) — Out
Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Out
Jason Preston (G-League assignment) — TBD
George's 22.4% assist rate would increase as a lead facilitator if Jackson is out. Mann and Norman Powell would need to take additional on-ball responsibilities in that event as well.