NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/22

Dec 22nd 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

  • Kristaps Porzingis (illness) — Out

  • Keldon Johnson (back) — Out

  • Jakob Poeltl (knee) — Available

  • Romeo Langford (elbow) — Available

  • Larry Nance Jr. (Achilles) — Out

  • Collin Sexton (hamstring) — Available

  • Deni Avdija (back) — Out

Recent NBA News

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San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Romeo Langford, Jeremy Sochan, Jakob Poeltl

  • Keldon Johnson (hamstring) — Out

  • Jakob Poeltl (knee) — Available

  • Josh Richardson (personal) — Not on injury report

  • Romeo Langford (elbow) — Available

  • Charles Bassey (G League) — Available

  • Blake Wesley (G League) — Out

Vassell (26.9%), Richardson (24.0%), and Jones (22.4%) lead active Spurs in usage with Johnson off the floor this season. Poeltl was limited to 21 minutes in his first game back and played 14.3 first-half minutes in San Antonio's blowout win over the Rockets on Monday.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Naji Marshall, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Zion Williamson (health protocols) — Out

  • Larry Nance Jr. (Achilles) — Out

  • Brandon Ingram (toe) — Injured

McCollum (+5.2%), Jose Alvarado (+3.9%), Valanciunas (+3.5%), and Marshall (+3.5%) have the highest usage differentials on the Pelicans with Williamson and Ingram off the floor this season. Murphy (34.5), Marshall (34.2), and Alvarado (27.7) averaged over 27.0 minutes in the two games Williamson and Ingram both missed this season, but Dyson Daniels hadn't yet cracked the rotation at that point.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, Corey Kispert, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford

  • Kristaps Porzingis (illness) — Out

  • Deni Avdija (back) — Out

  • Rui Hachimura (ankle) — Available

  • Delon Wright (hamstring) — Injured

Gafford started and posted 14.3% usage and a 13.2% rebounding rate in 29.4 minutes with Porzingis out Tuesday. Beal (33.3%) and Kuzma (27.3%) led the team in usage, while Avdija secured 10 rebounds.

Utah Jazz News

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

  • Kelly Olynyk (ankle) — Out

  • Collin Sexton (hamstring) — Available

Markkanen scored 38 points on the strength of shooting 9-13 from three Tuesday, but Clarkson's 30.8% usage has led the Jazz with Olynyk out for the last two games. Opponents have shot the third-highest percentage from three (39.3%) against the Wizards in their previous ten games.