NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/28

Dec 28th 2023Cooper 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

  • Luka Doncic (quad) — Out

  • Ja Morant (illness) — Out

  • LeBron James (knee) — Available

  • Jayson Tatum (injury management) — Available

  • Tyrese Haliburton (back) — In

  • Anthony Davis (ankle) — Available

  • Jaylen Brown (back) — Out

  • Jimmy Butler (calf) — Out

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) — In

  • Anfernee Simons (illness) — Out

  • Kyle Lowry (soreness) — Out

  • Cam Reddish (groin) — Out

  • Brandon Miller (ankle) — Available

  • Mark Williams (back) — Out

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) — Available

  • Caleb Martin (ankle) — Out

  • Killian Hayes (illness) — Available

  • Ausar Thompson (illness) — Available

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Kevin Knox, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jalen Duren

  • Killian Hayes (illness) — Available

  • Ausar Thompson (illness) — Available

  • Isaiah Stewart (toe) — Out

  • Monte Morris (quad) — Injured

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis

  • Jayson Tatum (injury management) — Available

  • Jaylen Brown (back) — Out

  • Oshae Brissett (illness) — Available

  • Lamar Stevens (illness) — Available

  • Svi Mykhailiuk (heel) — Available

The Celtics could be without their two top players against the Pistons, who just set an NBA record by losing their 27th consecutive outing. Regardless of Tatum and Brown's final statuses, Boston should be able to find success. Porzingis would be one of their top offensive options, and he matches up well against Detroit, who allows the fifth-most points per contest (23.8) to centers. White has a team-high 46.9% usage rate when he's been on the floor without Tatum and Brown.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Smith, Myles Turner

  • Tyrese Haliburton (back) — In

  • Bruce Brown (knee) — Out

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Andre Drummond

  • Henri Drell (thumb) — Out

  • Onuralp Bitim (nose) — Out

  • Torrey Craig (foot) — Injured

  • Nikola Vucevic (groin) — Injured

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Injured

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jaden Hardy, Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr., Grant Williams, Dereck Lively II

  • Luka Doncic (quad) — Out

  • Kyrie Irving (heel) — Injured

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — Injured

Minnesota Timberwolves News

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

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) — In

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

In Minnesota's most recent game sans Towns, Anthony Edwards saw a team-high 39.9% usage rate, posting 34 points and 10 assists. If Towns is sidelined again, Edwards will be looked to for consistent offense against the Mavericks, whose 116.5 Defensive Rating is the league's ninth-worst. Dallas is also playing the second leg of a back-to-back set, and it's unclear if Luka Doncic will be available based on some of coach Kidd's recent comments.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Kris Dunn, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Walker Kessler

  • Simone Fontecchio (illness) — Available

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Larry Nance Jr. (rib) — In

  • Matt Ryan (elbow) — Injured

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, Vince Williams Jr., Jaren Jackson Jr., Bismack Biyombo

  • Ja Morant (illness) — Out

  • Santi Aldama (illness) — Out

  • Derrick Rose (hamstring) — Injured

  • Luke Kennard (knee) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

The Grizzles lost 19 of their 25 games during Morant's suspension, but they've won all four games since his return to the lineup. With Morant uncertain to play, Memphis will need production from their other core pieces. Jackson Jr. has had his productive moments this season, but he'll have a tough matchup against a Nuggets team that allows the fourth-fewest points per game (21.4) to power forwards. In the Grizzlies' first meeting with Denver, Jackson Jr. posted 21 points and nine rebounds on 75.0% from the field.

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Reggie Jackson (skin lesion) — Available

  • Aaron Gordon (lacerations) — Injured

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: RJ Hampton, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez, Haywood Highsmith, Bam Adebayo

  • Jimmy Butler (calf) — Out

  • Kyle Lowry (soreness) — Out

  • Duncan Robinson (ankle) — Available

  • Josh Richardson (back) — Out

  • Caleb Martin (ankle) — Out

  • Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season

When healthy, the Heat have an advantage in the paint against the Warriors. Miami has allowed 48.0 points in the paint per game, while Golden State's 42.7 paint points per contest are the fewest league-wide. While the Heat's defense could likely take a hit in the potential absence of Butler, Adebayo should be able to lead the way on both ends of the floor if needed. The Warriors allow the ninth-most points per game to centers (23.5), and Adebayo has seen increases in points, rebounds, and minutes per game when he's played without Butler this season.

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Klay Thompson, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney

  • Draymond Green (suspension) — Out

  • Gary Payton II (calf) — Injured

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Malaki Branham, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama

  • Devonte' Graham (illness) — Out

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Scoot Henderson, Malcolm Brogdon, Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, Moses Brown

  • Anfernee Simons (illness) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (knee) — Out

  • Shaedon Sharpe (adductor) — Out

  • Duop Reath (back) — Out

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Bryce McGowens, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Nick Richards

  • Brandon Miller (ankle) — Available

  • Mark Williams (back) — Out

  • Gordon Hayward (calf) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Frank Ntilikina (leg) — Injured

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: LeBron James, Taurean Prince, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis

  • LeBron James (knee) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (ankle) — Available

  • Cam Reddish (groin) — Out

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) — Available

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured