NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/27

Dec 27th 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

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Domantas Sabonis (hand) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (shoulder) — Available

  • Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Jalen Brunson (hip) — Out

  • Keldon Johnson (back) — In

  • Aaron Gordon (shoulder) — Out

  • Draymond Green (foot) — Available

  • De'Andre Hunter (ankle) — Out

  • John Wall (injury management) — Out

  • Deni Avdija (back) — Available

  • Eric Gordon (injury maintenance) — Out

  • Dennis Schroder (foot) — Available

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (wrist) — Available

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Patrick Beverley, Lonnie Walker, LeBron James, Thomas Bryant

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Dennis Schroder (foot) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (foot) — Injured

  • Juan Toscano-Anderson (ankle) — Injured

Austin Reaves has posted 18.8% usage in 28.7 minutes during the last three games. Reaves logged 12.5% usage in 28 games before Davis' injury.

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Moe Wagner, Bol Bol

  • Jalen Suggs (ankle) — Out

  • Chuma Okeke (knee) — Injured

  • Jonathan Isaac (ACL) — Injured

The Lakers have allowed the most points per game (127.8) and the second-most made threes per game (16.2) with Anthony Davis (foot) sidelined for the last five games. Franz Wagner (4.4), Banchero (4.0), and Cole Anthony (3.9) lead Orlando's core rotation in three-point attempts per game.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid

  • Tyrese Maxey (foot) — Injured

Washington has recorded the third-worst rebounding rate (47.1%) in their previous six games. Five centers—Domantas Sabonis, Walker Kessler, Deandre Ayton, Thomas Bryant, and Nikola Jokic—secured ten or more rebounds against the Wizards during that time. Four of those five snared 13 or more rebounds.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis, Daniel Gafford

  • Deni Avdija (back) — Available

  • Will Barton (back) — Not on injury report

Rui Hachimura's return has coincided with Avdija missing the past two games. Hachimura averaged 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds on a 71.1 eFG% in 25.3 minutes since returning, and it isn't clear how much his role would be negatively affected if Avdija rejoins the lineup.

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, KJ Martin, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Eric Gordon (injury maintenance) — Out

  • Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) — Injured

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford

  • Robert Williams (illness) — Available

  • Payton Pritchard (thigh) — Out

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, John Collins, Onyeka Okongwu

  • Clint Capela (calf) — Out

  • De'Andre Hunter (ankle) — Out

  • Jarrett Culver (illness) — Out

  • Vit Krejci (ankle) — Available

The Hawks have recorded the third-worst offensive rebounding rate (21.3%) with Capela sidelined for most of the past four games. The Pacers have recorded the worst defensive rebounding rate (65.6%) league-wide during their last 15 games.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner

  • Chris Duarte (ankle) — Active

  • Daniel Theis (knee) — Injured

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac

  • Kawhi Leonard (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • John Wall (injury management) — Out

  • Jason Preston (G League) — Out

Leonard has averaged 17.0 points in four matchups against Toronto since joining the Clippers. Morris averaged 18.0 points in the last two games he played against the Raptors alongside Leonard and George.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Juancho Hernangomez, Pascal Siakam

  • Precious Achiuwa (ankle) — Out

  • Otto Porter (toe) — Injured

VanVleet has registered a 52.2 eFG% on 24.1% usage during the last five games and recently commented that he is finding his confidence playing off-ball more after a shooting slump.

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Jock Landale, Deandre Ayton

  • Devin Booker (groin) — Out

  • Landry Shamet (Achilles) — Out

  • Cam Payne (foot) — Out

  • Cam Johnson (knee) — Injured

Shamet averaged 22.5 points on 24.6% usage with Booker largely unavailable for the past four games. The remaining Suns' roles should be further elevated due to Shamet joining Booker on the inactive list. Duane Washington Jr. or Josh Okogie could be asked to generate offense on the second unit in a thinned rotation.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams

  • Danny Green (ACL) — Injured

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Jakob Poeltl

  • Keldon Johnson (back) — In

  • Doug McDermott (knee) — Out

  • Blake Wesley (G League) — Out

Vassell has led the Spurs with 26.5% usage during the past five games. He scored 25 points on a 65.4 eFG% in their first matchup with the Thunder, though his 20.5% usage ranked third on the team.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Aleksej Pokusevski

  • Eugene Omoruyi (G League) — Out

  • Lindy Waters (G League) — Out

  • Jaylin Williams (G League) — Out

  • Ousmane Dieng (wrist) — Injured

  • Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle) — Injured

  • Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured

Kenrich Williams has averaged 26.4 minutes in the last two games despite Giddey returning. The Thunder are 0-7 against teams playing on zero days of rest this season.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

  • Jalen Brunson (hip) — Out

  • Obi Toppin (knee) — Injured

Immanuel Quickley or Miles McBride will likely start if Brunson is ruled out. Barrett (+4.2%) and Randle (+3.6%) lead the Knicks in usage differential with Brunson off the floor this season. Both players have recorded assist rate differentials higher than 5.0% with Brunson off the floor.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Christian Wood, Dwight Powell

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (adductor) — Injured

  • Kemba Walker (injury recovery) — Available

  • Frank Ntilikina (back) — Available

  • Josh Green (elbow) — Injured

  • Maxi Kleber (hamstring) — Injured

The Mavs and Knicks are two of four teams that have averaged fewer than 97 possessions per game in December. However, their opening total of 220.5 is in line with Dallas' 120-100 victory over New York at the beginning of the month.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee

  • LaMelo Ball (shoulder) — Available

  • Kelly Oubre (hand) — Out

  • Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) — Out

  • Nick Richards (ankle) — Out

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Injured

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Poole, Donte DiVincenzo, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney

  • Andrew Wiggins (adductor) — Out

  • Draymond Green (foot) — Available

  • JaMychal Green (health protocols) — Out

  • Andre Iguodala (injury management) — Out

  • Stephen Curry (shoulder) — Injured

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Aaron Gordon (shoulder) — Out

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (wrist) — Available

  • Jeff Green (hand, finger) — Injured

Porter Jr. was on the floor for most of overtime and played 34.9 minutes in Sunday's win. He played just north of 30 minutes in regulation, and it isn't clear if his minutes will continue to be limited moving forward.

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Alex Len

  • Domantas Sabonis (thumb) — Out

Neemias Queta, Richaun Holmes, and Chimezie Metu could all play additional minutes if Sabonis is ruled out, though Alex Len was seen working with the starters during Tuesday's shootaround. Fox has posted a +11.5% assist rate differential with Sabonis off the floor this season.