NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/15

Dec 15th 2022Connor Learn

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

  • Devin Booker (hamstring) — Available

  • Bam Adebayo (ankle) — Out

  • Jimmy Butler (injury management) — Available

  • Deandre Ayton (ankle) — Out

  • Kyle Lowry (rest) — Out

  • Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Out

  • Paul George (knee) — Out

  • Ivica Zubac (knee) — Out

  • Reggie Jackson (Achilles) — Out

  • Jabari Smith Jr. (illness) — Available

  • Tyler Herro (ankle) — Available

  • Caleb Martin (ankle) — In

  • Victor Oladipo (injury management) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (calf) — Out

Recent NBA News

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Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyler Herro, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Udonis Haslem

  • Bam Adebayo (ankle) — Out

  • Jimmy Butler (injury management) — Available

  • Kyle Lowry (rest) — Out

  • Tyler Herro (ankle) — Available

  • Caleb Martin (ankle) — In

  • Victor Oladipo (injury management) — Out

  • Max Strus (shoulder) — Available

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Out

  • Dewayne Dedmon (foot) — Out

  • Duncan Robinson (ankle) — Available

  • Nikola Jovic (back) — Available

  • Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Injured

Adebayo, Lowry, and Oladipo could rest against the Rockets, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. That report came on the heels of coach Spoelstra suggesting that he could rest players on the second game of the back-to-back. Butler has posted a +9.0% assist rate differential with Lowry and Adebayo off the floor this season. He and Herro could generate a majority of the offense against a Rockets team that ranks 26th in defensive rating (114.8) if Adebayo and Lowry are out.

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Eric Gordon, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Jabari Smith Jr. (illness) — Available

  • Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) — Injured

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jevon Carter, Grayson Allen, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

  • Jrue Holiday (illness) — Out

  • MarJon Beauchamp (nose) — Available

  • Serge Ibaka (illness) — Out

  • Joe Ingles (ACL) — Injured

Antetokounmpo registered a stratospheric 50.7% usage rate and led the Bucks with five assists in Holiday's absence Tuesday. Coach Budenholzer opted to play Bobby Portis for 32.0 minutes in larger lineups, which should again be an option against the Grizzlies.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Ja Morant, John Konchar, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams

  • Ja Morant (thigh) — Not on injury report

  • Steven Adams (ankle) — Not on injury report

  • Vince Williams Jr. (hip) — Out

  • Desmond Bane (toe) — Injured

  • Danny Green (ACL) — Injured

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Brandon Ingram (toe) — Injured

  • Jose Alvarado (rib) — Out

The Pelicans scored 60 points in the paint but shot 14.8% from three in their 121-100 road loss to Utah on Tuesday. Valanciunas (33.3%), Williamson (32.9%), and McCollum (25.9%) led the starting group in usage, but they didn't play in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, Kelly Olynyk

  • Simone Fontecchio (ankle) — Out

  • Collin Sexton (hamstring) — Injured

Utah has allowed opponents to score the third-most fast break points per game in the league (16.3) and has posted the lowest defensive rebounding rate (68.6%) this season. The Jazz secured 72.7% of defensive rebounds against the Pelicans and limited them to 10 points in transition in their 121-100 home win Tuesday.

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Bismack Biyombo

  • Devin Booker (hamstring) — Available

  • Deandre Ayton (ankle) — Out

  • Cam Payne (foot) — Out

  • Duane Washington Jr. (hip) — Out

  • Cam Johnson (knee) — Injured

Bismack Biyombo likely starts if Ayton is out, and his usage is 8.4% lower than Ayton's 22.1% clip. Bridges would figure to lead the Suns in usage with Paul, Damion Lee, and Landry Shamet creating a majority of the offense if Booker is ruled out.

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: John Wall, Terance Mann, Amir Coffey, Marcus Morris, Moses Brown

  • Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Out

  • Paul George (knee) — Out

  • Reggie Jackson (Achilles) — Out

  • Ivica Zubac (knee) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (calf) — Out

  • Norman Powell (groin) — Injured

George has recorded 33.9% usage in games Leonard has missed this season. Morris has scored 22 points or more in four of his last five games against the Suns, though George and Leonard were unavailable for three of those games.