NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/6

Dec 6th 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

  • Anthony Edwards (hip) — In

  • Kyrie Irving (foot) — Available

  • Jamal Murray (ankle) — Available

  • Anfernee Simons (thumb) — In

  • Andrew Wiggins (finger) — Available

  • Jordan Poole (ankle) — Available

  • Chris Paul (leg) — Available

  • Deandre Ayton (knee) — Out

  • Aaron Gordon (heel) — Available

  • Zach Collins (thumb) — Available

  • Devin Vassell (injury management) — Available

  • Grant Williams (knee) — Out

  • Mark Williams (back) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Derrick Rose, Desmond Bane, David Roddy, Jaren Jackson Jr., Bismack Biyombo

  • Ja Morant — Suspended

  • Marcus Smart (foot) — Injured

  • Luke Kennard (knee) — Injured

  • Jake LaRavia (eye) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren

  • Joe Harris (shoulder) — Out

  • Marvin Bagley III (back) — Available

  • Monte Morris (quad) — Injured

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Anthony Black, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Goga Bitadze

  • Jonathan Isaac (ankle) — Out

  • Markelle Fultz (knee) — Injured

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (hand) — Injured

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

  • Caris LeVert (injury management) — Out

  • Dean Wade (ankle) — Available

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

  • Ricky Rubio (personal) — NWT

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, Nicolas Batum, Joel Embiid

  • De'Anthony Melton (illness) — In

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford

  • Jordan Poole (ankle) — Available

  • Landry Shamet (rib) — Out

  • Johnny Davis (calf) — Injured

  • Delon Wright (knee) — Injured

  • Ryan Rollins (knee) — Injured

Poole's 28.4% usage rate is the Wizards' second-highest, trailing only Kuzma's rate of 31.5%. When Poole is off the court, Kuzma (+3.5%) and Avdija (+5.0%) see the largest usage rate increases. If Poole is ruled out, Kuzma or Avdija could find success against the 76ers, who give up 42.7 points per game to forwards. Kuzma scored a team-high 28 points in the Wizards' loss to Philadelphia earlier in the season.

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Thomas, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton

  • Lonnie Walker (hamstring) — Injured

  • Ben Simmons (back) — Injured

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey, Clint Capela

  • Jalen Johnson (wrist) — Injured

  • Mouhamed Gueye (back) — Injured

  • Kobe Bufkin (thumb) — Injured

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Orlando Robinson

  • Bam Adebayo (hip) — Out

  • Haywood Highsmith (back) — Out

  • Tyler Herro (ankle) — Injured

  • RJ Hampton (knee) — Injured

  • Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl

  • Christian Koloko (respiratory) — Injured

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Cedi Osman, Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins

  • Devin Vassell (injury management) — Available

  • Zach Collins (thumb) — Available

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert

  • Anthony Edwards (hip) — In

  • Jaden McDaniels (ankle) — Injured

  • Jordan McLaughlin (knee) — Injured

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Edwards' final status hasn't been determined, but before he was listed on the injury report, coach Finch mentioned that he was trending towards being available. Edwards went through parts of practice on Monday and has been considered day-to-day after missing the previous two contests. Regardless of whether he plays or sits, the Timberwolves should be able to handle a Spurs team whose -12.1 Net Rating is the worst league-wide. Karl-Anthony Towns has seen the most substantial usage rate decrease (-4.3%) this season when Edwards has been on the court.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Brandon Miller, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges, Nick Richards

  • Mark Williams (back) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Frank Ntilikina (leg) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Injured

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic

  • Alex Caruso (toe) — Available

  • Torrey Craig (knee) — Available

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Injured

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Tari Eason (illness) — Available

  • Jeff Green (personal) — Out

  • Jock Landale (illness) — Out

  • Amen Thompson (ankle) — Injured

  • Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Keyonte George, Ochai Agbaji, Simone Fontecchio, John Collins, Omer Yurtseven

  • Jordan Clarkson (thigh) — Out

  • Kelly Olynyk (shoulder) — Out

  • Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) — Injured

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr., Dereck Lively II

  • Kyrie Irving (foot) — Available

  • Grant Williams (knee) — Out

  • Tim Hardaway Jr. (back) — Available

  • Josh Green (elbow) — Injured

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — Injured

The Mavs lost the last contest sans Irving despite a good performance from Doncic, who led the team in points (36) and assists (18). Doncic averages 5.1 more assists in 4.9 more minutes per game when Irving sits this season, while his scoring has typically decreased without Irving. If Irving is ultimately unavailable, Doncic could have the ball in his hands more often against a Jazz team that allows the sixth-most assists per game (27.6).

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Jamal Murray (ankle) — Available

  • Aaron Gordon (heel) — Available

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

The Nuggets have an 87.5% win percentage in eight games with Murray available. In 13 games without him, Denver's win percentage falls to 53.8%. Jokic has seen a +4.2% usage rate increase sans Murray, and he'd likely retain that increased role if Murray can't suit up against the Clippers. Murray's status will be critical against Los Angeles, as they're giving up the second-fewest points per game (19.2) to centers. However, the Nuggets beat the Clippers in their first two meetings this season, and Murray wasn't available for either outing.

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Terance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac

  • Mason Plumlee (knee) — Injured

  • Brandon Boston Jr. (quad) — Injured

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Malcolm Brogdon, Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, Duop Reath

  • Anfernee Simons (thumb) — In

  • Deandre Ayton (knee) — Out

  • Jerami Grant (concussion) — Out

  • Ish Wainright (knee) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

Simons participated in Monday's practice and now has a chance to play after missing the previous 18 outings. In his absence, Sharpe and Brogdon have started, with Scoot Henderson supplying backcourt minutes in the second unit. It's unclear what limitations Simons would face if he were to suit up, but he'll help regardless, as Portland has the worst Offensive Rating (105.4) league-wide. If available, he'll have a good matchup with the Warriors, who give up the fifth-most points per game (25.5) to point guards and the eleventh-most overall points per contest (114.5).

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney

  • Andrew Wiggins (finger) — Available

  • Chris Paul (leg) — Available

  • Gary Payton II (calf) — Injured

Paul and Wiggins are expected to play after missing the previous two outings. The Warriors split those games and managed to score 116.0 points per game. Golden State's defense has been middle-of-the-road, but they'll now get a great matchup with a Blazers team that scores the fewest points per game (105.2) league-wide. The Warriors have yet to face Portland after winning three of four against them last season.