NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/7

Dec 7th 2022

Connor 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) — Out

  • Anthony Davis (illness) — Out

  • Tyrese Haliburton (groin) — Available

  • Chris Paul (heel) — In

  • Myles Turner (hamstring) — Available

  • Al Horford (health protocols) — Out

  • Lauri Markkanen (illness) — Out

  • Mike Conley (knee) — Out

  • Lu Dort (knee) — Out

  • Jalen Smith (knee) — Out

  • Torrey Craig (groin) — In

  • Malcolm Brogdon (illness) — Available

  • Herb Jones (ankle) — Out

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Javonte Green (knee) — Out

  • Patrick Beverley (knee) — Out

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Nic Batum, Ivica Zubac

  • John Wall (injury management) — Out

  • Marcus Morris (illness) — Out

  • Norman Powell (groin) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (injury management) — Out

  • Moussa Diabate (G-League) — Out

  • Jason Preston (G-League) — Out

Leonard posted 26.6% usage Monday, the highest rate he's registered since the season opener. He also played a season-high 28 minutes.

Orlando Magic News

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

  • Jalen Suggs (ankle) — Out

  • Mo Bamba (back) — Not on injury report

  • Gary Harris (hamstring) — Out

  • Chuma Okeke (knee) — Out

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) — Injured

  • Jonathan Isaac (ACL) — Injured

Fultz has played 26.8 minutes and logged 22.8% usage and a 24.5% assist rate in the last three games. Wagner's usage in the previous three games has been 2.9% below his season-long rate, and his assist rate has been 7.9% below his season-long clip.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Kelly Oubre, Jalen McDaniels, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee

  • Mark Williams (ankle) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Gordon Hayward (shoulder) — Injured

  • Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Injured

Oubre has scored 20 or more points in five straight games, and 41.9% of his field goal attempts have been threes this season. Opponents are shooting the third-best three-point percentage (37.5%) against the Nets.

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Kyrie Irving, Joe Harris, Royce O'Neale, Kevin Durant, Nic Claxton

  • Edmond Sumner (glute) — Available

  • Ben Simmons (calf) — Out

  • Yuta Watanabe (hamstring) — Out

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, AJ Griffin, Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela

  • Trent Forrest (concussion protocols) — Out

  • John Collins (ankle) — Injured

  • De'Andre Hunter (hip) — Injured

Young's 46.6% assist rate in his last four games is 6.1% higher than his season-long assist rate. Murray's 20.0% assist rate in the last five games is 6.4% lower than his season-long rate, and that sample includes when he logged a 34.8% clip with Young out last Friday.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

  • Ryan Arcidiacono (ankle) — Out

The Knicks score the second-highest percentage of their points (49.9) in the league. The Hawks allow the fifth-most points in the paint per game (53.3).

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Austin Reaves, Lonnie Walker, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Thomas Bryant

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Out

  • Anthony Davis (illness) — Out

  • Patrick Beverley (knee) — Out

  • Wenyen Gabriel (shoulder) — Injured

Listed "Probable" or "Questionable" before playing:

LeBron: 17-for-22 AD: 21-for-23

Schroder, Russell Westbrook, and Walker should be featured prominently in the offense in the absences of James and Davis.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Christian Koloko

  • Juan Hernangomez (ankle) — Out

  • Otto Porter (toe) — Out

  • Precious Achiuwa (ankle) — Injured

The Raptors' 18.5 fast break points per game lead the league. The Lakers allow opponents to score the second-most fast break points per game (17.3).

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis

  • Bradley Beal (hamstring) — Injured

  • Rui Hachimura (ankle) — Injured

  • Delon Wright (hamstring) — Injured

Kuzma's +3.8% usage differential and Avdija's +4.7% assist rate differential lead the Wizards with Beal off the floor this season.

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Javonte Green (knee) — Out

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured

Oklahoma City Thunder News

Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Aleksej Pokusevski Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

  • Lu Dort (knee) — Out

  • Kenrich Williams (knee) — Out

  • Ousmane Dieng (G-League) — Out

  • Lindy Waters (G-League) — Out

  • Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured

Robinson-Earl has averaged 28.1 minutes in the last five games after averaging 19.5 minutes in the first 18 games. He played 27.5 minutes off of the bench in the first matchup with the Grizzlies.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Ja Morant, John Konchar, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams

  • Ja Morant (ankle) — Not on injury report

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • John Konchar (toe) — Not on injury report

  • Ziaire Williams (knee) — Available

  • Jake LaRavia (foot) — Out

  • Kennedy Chandler (G-League) — Out

  • Desmond Bane (toe) — Injured

  • Danny Green (ACL) — Injured

Memphis' 33.7% offensive rebounding rate is the second-highest in the league. Oklahoma City's 68.6% defensive rebounding rate is the third-worst.

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis

  • Terence Davis (back) — Out

The Kings have the league's fourth-best defensive rating (106.5) over each team's last five games. They ranked 25th after their first 17 games, allowing an additional 7.2 points per 100 possessions.

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

  • Brook Lopez (rest) — Not on injury report

  • Grayson Allen (foot) — Not on injury report

  • Wesley Matthews (health protocols) — Out

  • MarJon Beauchamp (illness) — Available

  • Serge Ibaka (illness) — Available

  • Joe Ingles (ACL) — Injured

Milwaukee's 7.6% post-up frequency leads the league. Sacramento has defended post-ups at the fourth-worst percentile this season.

Indiana Pacers News

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

  • Tyrese Haliburton (groin) — Questionable

  • Myles Turner (hamstring) — Questionable

  • Jalen Smith (knee) — Questionable

  • TJ McConnell (illness) — Questionable

  • James Johnson (elbow) — Questionable

  • Daniel Theis (knee) — Injured

  • Chris Duarte (ankle) — Injured

Nembhard has registered 20.9% usage and a 41.2% assist rate with Haliburton and McConnell sidelined for the last two games. Oshae Brissett played 31.5 minutes as he was the surprise biggest beneficiary of Turner being ruled out Monday.

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert

  • Bryn Forbes (illness) — Not on injury report

  • Matt Ryan (signed) — TBD

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — Injured

  • Taurean Prince (shoulder) — Injured

Detroit Pistons News

Projected Lineup: Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley

  • Isaiah Livers (shoulder) — Injured

  • Cade Cunningham (shin) — Injured

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Brandon Ingram (toe) — Out

  • Herb Jones (ankle) — Out

  • Devonte' Graham (toe) — Available

  • Kira Lewis Jr. (G-League) — Out

Since returning from health and safety protocols for the last two games, McCollum has recorded reduced usage (16.2%) and assist rates (18.9%). Williamson's 27.9% assist rate has led the Pelicans during the last two games, but McCollum figures to direct more of the offense as his conditioning levels increase.

Golden State Warriors News

Projected Lineup: Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson, Anthony Lamb, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney

  • Stephen Curry (ankle) — Out

  • Andrew Wiggins (adductor) — Out

  • Draymond Green (hip) — Out

  • Andre Iguodala (injury management) — Out

Thompson and Poole figure to lead the offensive effort. Poole has recorded a +5.2% usage differential and a +7.9% assist rate differential with Wiggins, Green, and Curry off the floor this season.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Malik Beasley, Kelly Olynyk, Walker Kessler

  • Lauri Markkanen (illness) — Out

  • Mike Conley (knee) — Out

  • Rudy Gay (hand) — Not on injury report

  • Johnny Juzang (wrist) — Out

Conley will likely face a minute restriction if he returns, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Blake Griffin

  • Al Horford (health protocols) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (illness) — Available

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Injured

  • Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Deandre Ayton

  • Chris Paul (heel) — In

  • Torrey Craig (groin) — In

  • Duane Washington Jr. (hip) — Out

  • Cam Johnson (knee) — Injured

President of Basketball Operations and General Manager James Jones stated last Tuesday that the organization doesn't want players to return until they don't need to be restricted. Booker has posted a 27.3% assist rate in the last 14 games after logging a 22.0% clip before Paul was injured.