NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/30

Dec 30th 2023

Cooper 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) — In

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) — In

  • LeBron James (illness) — In

  • Anthony Davis (ankle) — In

  • Kyrie Irving (heel) — Out

  • Jimmy Butler (calf) — Available

  • OG Anunoby (traded) — Out

  • Kyle Lowry (head) — Out

  • RJ Barrett (traded) — Out

  • Cam Reddish (groin) — In

  • Duncan Robinson (ankle) — Available

  • Caleb Martin (ankle) — Out

  • Kevon Looney (illness) — Available

  • Patrick Williams (ankle) — Available

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyler Herro, RJ Hampton, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic, Bam Adebayo

  • Jimmy Butler (calf) — Available

  • Kyle Lowry (head) — Out

  • Duncan Robinson (ankle) — Available

  • Josh Richardson (back) — Out

  • Caleb Martin (ankle) — Out

  • Jaime Jaquez Jr. (illness) — Available

  • Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season

With so many players listed on the injury report, it's unclear exactly who will benefit from increased playing time or usage. However, in the previous four outings that Butler has missed, Herro has averaged 26.5 points per contest and shot 50.0% from beyond the arc. The Heat could look to Herro again versus the Jazz, who allow 14.3 made three-pointers per game, the second-most league-wide. Utah also allows the fifth-most three-point makes per game (3.7) to shooting guards.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Kris Dunn, Collin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl

  • Garrett Temple (ankle) — Out

  • OG Anunoby (traded) — Out

  • Precious Achiuwa (traded) — Out

  • Malachi Flynn (traded) — Out

  • Christian Koloko (respiratory) — Injured

Detroit Pistons News

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

  • Isaiah Stewart (toe) — Injured

  • Monte Morris (quad) — Injured

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Julius Randle, Isaiah Hartenstein

  • Quentin Grimes (illness) — Out

  • RJ Barrett (traded) — Out

  • Immanuel Quickley (traded) — Out

  • Jericho Sims (ankle) — Active

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

Indiana Pacers News

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

  • Isaiah Jackson (finger) — Available

  • Bruce Brown (knee) — Out

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, De'Anthony Melton, Kelly Oubre, Tobias Harris, Paul Reed

  • KJ Martin (illness) — Available

  • Nicolas Batum (hamstring) — In

  • Joel Embiid (ankle) — Out

  • Jaden Springer (illness) — Out

Chicago Bulls News

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

  • Patrick Williams (ankle) — Available

  • Jevon Carter (ankle) — Available

  • Onuralp Bitim (nose) — Out

  • Torrey Craig (foot) — Injured

  • Nikola Vucevic (groin) — Injured

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Injured

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: LeBron James, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis

  • LeBron James (illness) — In

  • Anthony Davis (ankle) — In

  • Cam Reddish (groin) — In

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured

James and Davis have been playing through injuries for a while now, and the ailments don't seem to be affecting their play, as they've combined to average 55.0 points and 17.4 rebounds per contest over the last three outings. If they're available, they'll likely be heavily relied upon against a Wolves team that gives up the fewest points (107.4) and second-fewest rebounds per game (40.7). James was sidelined for the previous game against Minnesota, and Davis posted 31 points and eight rebounds.

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

Despite being available in the previous two outings, Towns is uncertain to play against the Lakers. Last game, Towns shot 25.0% from the field and played just 27 minutes. With him possibly ailing, Edwards stepped up, scoring 44 points. Edwards will have a tougher matchup against Los Angeles, whose 112.8 Defensive Rating is the ninth-best league-wide. The Wolves, however, are even better defensively, as their 108.1 Defensive Rating is the league's best. Edwards scored a team-high 27 points in the previous meeting with the Lakers.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Jaden Hardy, Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr., Dereck Lively II

  • Luka Doncic (quad) — In

  • Kyrie Irving (heel) — Out

  • Seth Curry (illness) — Out

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — Injured

Irving's status has been upgraded after he missed 11 consecutive contests. While it's unlikely that he will suit up, the change is a good sign that he's progressing through his injury. The Mavs could be without Irving and Doncic against the Warriors, which would leave Tim Hardaway Jr. as the team's top offensive option. Hardaway Jr. has posted a 38.7% usage rate when on the floor sans Irving and Doncic this season, and he scored a team-high 32 points without them in the last game. Meanwhile, Golden State allows 23.3 points per game to shooting guards, the seventh-most league-wide.

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis

  • Kevon Looney (illness) — Available

  • Gary Payton II (calf) — Available

  • Draymond Green (suspension) — Out