NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/29

Dec 29th 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

  • Tyrese Haliburton (knee) — Available

  • Jalen Brunson (hip) — Out

  • Fred VanVleet (back) — Out

  • Keldon Johnson (back) — Available

  • Devin Vassell (knee) — Out

  • Kelly Oubre (hand) — Available

  • Malcolm Brogdon (illness) — Out

  • Reggie Bullock (illness) — Out

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

  • Eugene Omoruyi (G League) — Available

  • Jaylin Williams (G League) — Available

  • Aleksej Pokusevski (leg) — Injured

  • Ousmane Dieng (wrist) — Injured

  • Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle) — Injured

  • Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured

Muscala, Darius Bazley, Jaylin Williams, and Omoruyi should man the center position until either Pokusevski or Robinson-Earl returns. Coach Daigneault likely continues to deploy his favored three-center rotations.

Charlotte Hornets News

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

  • Kelly Oubre (hand) — Available

  • Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) — Out

  • Nick Richards (ankle) — Available

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Injured

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Lamar Stevens, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

  • Cedi Osman (back) — Out

  • Robin Lopez (illness) — Out

  • Mamadi Diakite (G League) — Out

  • Dean Wade (shoulder) — Injured

  • Dylan Windler (ankle) — Injured

  • Ricky Rubio (ACL) — Injured

Mitchell scored 41 points on 34.6% usage and a 75.0 eFG% against Indiana on December 16th. The Pacers have allowed the most offensive rebounds per game (13.7) in December. However, the Cavs secured just six offensive boards in their 118-112 win over the Pacers earlier in the month.

Indiana Pacers News

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

  • Tyrese Haliburton (knee) — Available

  • Daniel Theis (knee) — Injured

Nembhard recorded 22.0% usage and a 41.2% assist rate with Haliburton and TJ McConnell out for two games earlier in the month. He could be vaulted into a similar role if Haliburton is ruled out, though McConnell could start in Haliburton's stead and split distributing responsibilities. Bennedict Mathurin (+5.8%) and Turner (+4.8%) have logged the highest usage differentials on the team with Haliburton off the floor this season.

Los Angeles Clippers News

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

Norman Powell's offensive role could decline in John Wall's return, but Powell has been on a tear since returning from his groin injury. He has averaged 15.3 points on 30.6% usage and a 63.8 eFG% in 21.9 minutes during the last four matches.

Boston Celtics News

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

  • Malcolm Brogdon (illness) — Out

  • Payton Pritchard (thigh) — Not on injury report

  • Blake Griffin (illness) — Out

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Brown and Tatum were limited to 21 and 20 points, respectively, in Boston's 113-93 road loss to the Clippers earlier in the month. Both players recorded an eFG% of 40.0% or less, and none of the other starters scored double-digit points in that game.

Memphis Grizzlies News

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

  • David Roddy (G League) — Out

  • Jake LaRavia (G League) — Out

  • Danny Green (ACL) — Injured

Memphis shot 24.6% from three, and none of the Grizzlies except Morant averaged over 11.5 points as Memphis lost their last two games. Toronto works to force the ball out of lead guards' hands: opposing guards attempted the fewest field goals per game (22.6) against the Raptors this season. Morant has averaged 17.5 points on 24.1% usage against Toronto in his career.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Juancho Hernangomez, Pascal Siakam, Christian Koloko

  • Fred VanVleet (back) — Out

  • Precious Achiuwa (ankle) — Out

  • Christian Koloko (knee) — Available

  • Dalano Banton (G League) — Out

  • Otto Porter (toe) — Injured

Malachi Flynn and Gary Trent Jr. absorbed much of VanVleet's minutes when he didn't return Tuesday, and they could benefit similarly if VanVleet is ruled out against the Grizzlies. Barnes' +5.4% assist rate differential with VanVleet off the floor this season leads the Raptors, and Anunoby's +2.3% usage differential with VanVleet off the court leads the team.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Miles McBride, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

  • Jalen Brunson (hip) — Out

  • RJ Barrett (finger) — Out

  • Obi Toppin (knee) — Injured

Quickley, Grimes, and Miles McBride exceeded 46 minutes with Brunson sidelined and Barrett playing 1.6 minutes in New York's overtime loss Tuesday. Brunson (+4.3%), Grimes (+2.7%), and Randle (+2.4%) have recorded positive usage differentials with Barrett off the floor this season.

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Romeo Langford, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Jakob Poeltl

  • Keldon Johnson (back) — Available

  • Devin Vassell (knee) — Out

  • Doug McDermott (knee) — Available

  • Blake Wesley (G League) — Out

The Spurs have scored the fourth-most points in the paint per game (55.8) during their last ten matches. Conversely, in their last ten contests, the Knicks have limited opponents to the fourth-least points in the paint per game (44.4).

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Eric Gordon, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Eric Gordon (injury maintenance) — Not on injury report

  • Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) — Injured

The Rockets have registered the second-best rebounding rate (54.3%), and the Mavs have posted the fourth-worst rebounding rate (47.8%) in December. Houston out-rebounded Dallas by a 45-34 margin in their 112-106 home loss last Friday.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Frank Ntilikina, Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Christian Wood

  • Reggie Bullock (illness) — Out

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (adductor) — Injured

  • Josh Green (elbow) — Injured

  • Maxi Kleber (hamstring) — Injured

Doncic scored 50 points to go with eight rebounds and 10 assists in Dallas' 112-106 road win against Houston last Friday. Wood scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds in 28 minutes, struggling against a Houston defense that has allowed the second-fewest points in the paint per game (43.5) over their last 15 matches.