NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/18

Dec 18th 2023

Jay PerssonCooper 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

  • Joel Embiid (hamstring) — In

  • Luka Doncic (illness) — In

  • Tyrese Haliburton (knee) — In

  • De'Aaron Fox (shoulder) — Available

  • Anthony Edwards (hip) — Available

  • LeBron James (calf) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (adductor, hip) — Available

  • Clint Capela (knee) — Available

  • Jamal Murray (ankles) — Available

  • Myles Turner (hamstrings) — Out

  • D'Angelo Russell (illness) — Probable

  • John Collins (illness) — Available

  • De'Andre Hunter (knee) — Available

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) — Out

  • Gordon Hayward (illness) — Out

  • Terry Rozier (thumb) — Available

  • Aaron Gordon (heel) — Available

  • Mark Williams (back) — Out

  • Miles Bridges (legal) — Out

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (concussion protocol) — Available

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Jaden McDaniels (back) — Available

  • Bismack Biyombo (back) — Out

  • Killian Hayes (illness) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Amen Thompson (illness) — Out

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Available

  • Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen

  • Evan Mobley (knee) — Injured

  • Darius Garland (jaw) — Injured

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

  • Ricky Rubio — NWT

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Terance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac

  • Bones Hyland (knee) — Out

  • Moussa Diabate (hip) — Out

  • Mason Plumlee (knee) — Injured

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Bruce Brown, Buddy Hield, Obi Toppin, Isaiah Jackson

  • Tyrese Haliburton (knee) — In

  • Myles Turner (hamstrings) — Out

  • Jalen Smith (knee, heel) — Injured

  • Andrew Nembhard (knee) — Injured

The Pacers have lost two of their three games sans Haliburton this season, including the previous outing. Their 128.6 points per game with Haliburton available lead the league, but that average drops to 119.0 points per contest when he's sidelined. His 12.0 assists per game are the league's highest, and if he can suit up, he'll have a tough matchup against a Clippers team that allows the fifth-fewest assists per contest to point guards (7.6) league-wide.

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Torrey Craig (heel) — Out

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Injured

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, Nicolas Batum, Joel Embiid

  • Joel Embiid (hamstring) — In

  • Marcus Morris (illness) — Out

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Bojan Bogdanovic, Marvin Bagley

  • Isaiah Stewart (shoulder) — Out

  • Killian Hayes (illness) — Out

  • Jalen Duren (ankle) — Injured

  • Monte Morris (quad) — Injured

Atlanta Hawks News

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

  • Clint Capela (knee) — Available

  • De'Andre Hunter (knee) — Available

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) — Out

  • AJ Griffin (personal) — Out

  • Jalen Johnson (wrist) — Injured

  • Mouhamed Gueye (back) — Injured

  • Kobe Bufkin (thumb) — Injured

Minnesota Timberwolves News

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

  • Anthony Edwards (hip) — Available

  • Jaden McDaniels (back) — Available

  • Josh Minott (illness) — Available

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Edwards scored 37 points on 23 field goal attempts and played 34 minutes in the previous outing, but he appeared on the injury report with the same ailment that forced him to miss a few games recently. McDaniels' status is also uncertain after he exited the last game early. With multiple starters' availability in question, Towns could be in line for an increased role and more usage, particularly if Edwards gets ruled out. Towns sees a +3.6% usage rate increase in games without Edwards this season and averages 25.7 points compared to the 21.9 points per contest he scored with Edwards available.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Kevin Love, Bam Adebayo

  • Kyle Lowry (soreness) — Out

  • Bam Adebayo (hip) — Available

  • Tyler Herro (ankle) — Available

  • Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season

Adebayo and Herro have been cleared to return to the lineup Monday after extended absences. Herro has missed the last 18 games due to a sprained left ankle, and Adebayo has been sidelined seven straight. Duncan Robinson has primarily started in Herro's place, and Jimmy Butler has led the team with a 28.2% usage rate and 23.8% assist rate. Herro's absence has also allowed Jaime Jaquez Jr. to become a key cog in the second unit, but roles will likely change with Herro and Adebayo available. It's unclear what limitations the two players could face in their return to the lineup.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Bryce McGowens, Brandon Miller, PJ Washington, Nick Richards

  • Gordon Hayward (illness) — Out

  • Terry Rozier (thumb) — Available

  • Mark Williams (back) — Out

  • Miles Bridges (legal) — Out

  • PJ Washington (shoulder) — Available

  • Nathan Mensah (personal) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Frank Ntilikina (leg) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Injured

Toronto Raptors News

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

  • Christian Koloko (respiratory) — Injured

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Jacob Gilyard, Desmond Bane, Vince Williams, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman

  • Bismack Biyombo (back) — Out

  • Derrick Rose (hamstring) — Injured

  • Ja Morant — Suspended

  • Marcus Smart (foot) — Injured

  • Luke Kennard (knee) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr., Grant Williams, Dwight Powell

  • Luka Doncic (illness) — In

  • Dereck Lively II (ankle) — Out

  • Richaun Holmes (illness) — In

  • Kyrie Irving (heel) — Injured

  • Josh Green (elbow) — Injured

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — Injured

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Jamal Murray (ankles) — Available

  • Aaron Gordon (heel) — Available

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (concussion protocol) — Available

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Thomas, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (knee) — Available

  • Dennis Smith Jr. (back) — Injured

  • Lonnie Walker (hamstring) — Injured

  • Ben Simmons (back) — Injured

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Collin Sexton, Talen Horton-Tucker, Lauri Markkanen, Simone Fontecchio, Walker Kessler

  • Omer Yurtseven (illness) — Out

  • John Collins (illness) — Available

  • Luka Samanic (illness) — Available

  • Keyonte George (foot) — Injured

  • Jordan Clarkson (thigh) — Injured

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford

  • Landry Shamet (rib) — Out

  • Danilo Gallinari (rest) — Out

  • Johnny Davis (calf) — Injured

  • Delon Wright (knee) — Injured

  • Ryan Rollins (knee) — Injured

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis

  • De'Aaron Fox (shoulder) — Available

  • Alex Len (ankle) — Injured

With Fox sidelined in the last game, Murray shot 12-of-15 from beyond the arc, setting the Kings' franchise record for three-pointers made in a game. His 47 points were a career-high, and he didn't even get his full run due to the lopsided score of the outing. If Fox can return for this contest, he'll have an inviting matchup against the Wizards, who have the second-worst Defensive Rating (120.9) league-wide and allow the seventh most points per game to point guards (25.6).

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Jericho Sims

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, LeBron James, Anthony Davis

  • LeBron James (calf) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (adductor, hip) — Available

  • D'Angelo Russell (illness) — Available

  • Cam Reddish (knee) — Not on injury report

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (back) — Available

  • Christian Wood (illness) — Available

  • Jalen Hood-Schifino (back) — Out

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured

The Lakers' injury report is extensive again, as four of five regular starters have a listing. With so much uncertainty surrounding availability, it's unclear who will ultimately start and receive increased minutes and usage. However, based on his play style, it's safe to assume that Russell would likely absorb usage if James or Davis are sidelined. In one game without Davis this season, Russell had a +8.3% usage rate increase and scored 22 points in 28 minutes. It's a home game for the Lakers, which has benefited them so far, as they've won 10-of-12 at home and just five-of-14 on the road.