NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/20

Dec 20th 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

  • Nikola Jokic (knee) — Available

  • Devin Booker (groin) — Out

  • Jimmy Butler (illness) — Out

  • Kristaps Porzingis (illness) — Out

  • Jamal Murray (injury management) — Out

  • Klay Thompson (knee) — Available

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Out

  • Michael Porter Jr. (heel) — Out

  • Donte DiVincenzo (illness) — Out

  • Kelly Olynyk (ankle) — Out

  • Caleb Martin (ankle) — Out

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (leg) — In

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler

  • Kelly Olynyk (ankle) — Out

  • Collin Sexton (hamstring) — Out

Walker Kessler started and was trending for extended minutes due to Olynyk's absence in Utah's 122-99 blowout loss Monday. Kessler's usage is 5.8% below Olynyk's 17.7% rate.

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren

  • Isaiah Livers (shoulder) — Injured

  • Cade Cunningham (shin) — Injured

Bogdanovic has logged 30.3% usage in the last four games after posting 26.0% usage in the first 15 games he played during Cunningham's absence. He scored 23 points on 29.5% usage last month in his first matchup against Utah since being traded.

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic

  • Javonte Green (knee) — Out

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured

Vucevic has averaged 11.6 points on 20.9% usage in his last five matchups with the Heat. LaVine and DeRozan could need to shoulder more of the offensive load if Vucevic continues to struggle in this matchup.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo, Max Strus, Haywood Highsmith, Bam Adebayo

  • Jimmy Butler (illness) — Out

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Out

  • Caleb Martin (ankle) — Out

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Out

  • Dewayne Dedmon (foot) — Available

  • Udonis Haslem (Achilles) — Available

  • Jamal Cain (G League) — Available

  • Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Injured

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson, Moses Moody, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney

  • Klay Thompson (knee) — Available

  • Donte DiVincenzo (illness) — Out

  • Andrew Wiggins (adductor) — Out

  • Jonathan Kuminga (knee) — Available

  • JaMychal Green (health protocols) — Out

  • Andre Iguodala (injury management) — Out

  • Stephen Curry (shoulder) — Injured

Poole has averaged 36.0 points and 10.0 three-point attempts on 34.9% usage in the last two games. Opposing guards have shot the sixth most field goal attempts per game (54.5) and the fourth-most threes per game (23.1) this season.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

  • Obi Toppin (knee) — Injured

Randle has averaged 23.2 points and 10.8 rebounds in his last five matchups with Draymond Green. He attempted 9.2 threes per game in the previous ten matches after averaging 6.1 attempts in his first 20 games.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford

  • Kristaps Porzingis (illness) — Out

  • Rui Hachimura (ankle) — Injured

  • Delon Wright (hamstring) — Injured

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Damion Lee, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Deandre Ayton

  • Devin Booker (groin) — Out

  • Cam Payne (foot) — Out

  • Josh Okogie (hip) — Out

  • Jock Landale (concussion) — Out

  • Duane Washington Jr. (hip) — Not on injury report

  • Cam Johnson (knee) — Injured

The Wizards have allowed the most points in the paint per game (56.8) in their last five matchups after ranking sixth in their first 26 games. Ayton (13.4), Booker (9.4), and Bridges (6.5) score the most points in the paint per game on the Suns.

Memphis Grizzlies News

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

  • Desmond Bane (toe) — Injured

  • Danny Green (ACL) — Injured

Denver Nuggets News

Confirmed Lineup: Bruce Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic

  • Nikola Jokic (knee) — In

  • Jamal Murray (injury management) — Out

  • Michael Porter Jr. (heel) — Out

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (leg) — In

  • Jeff Green (back) — In

Gordon (+4.3%) and Caldwell-Pope (+3.5%) have the highest usage differentials on the Nuggets with Murray off the floor this season. Bones Hyland would likely start if Murray is ruled out, and Hyland has logged a -8.8% usage differential when sharing the floor with Jokic this season.