NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 12/8

Dec 8th 2023J.J. Calle

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

  • Trae Young (illness) — Out

  • Jamal Murray (ankle) — In

  • Kristaps Porzingis (calf) — Available

  • Chris Paul (illness) — Out

  • Evan Mobley (knee) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (knee) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (knee) — Out

  • Jordan Clarkson (thigh) — Available

  • Mark Williams (back) — Available

  • Jalen Suggs (ankle) — Out

  • Duncan Robinson (groin) — In

  • Daniel Gafford (ankle) — Available

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Toronto Raptors News

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

  • Christian Koloko (respiratory) — Injured

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Brandon Miller, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges, Mark Williams

  • Mark Williams (back) — Available

  • Nick Smith Jr. (ankle) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Frank Ntilikina (leg) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (knee) — Injured

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley

  • Joe Harris (shoulder) — Available

  • Jalen Duren (ankle) — Injured

  • Monte Morris (quad) — Injured

Coach Williams used 11 players in Wednesday’s loss, and he replaced Ivey with Bogdanovic in the starting lineup. Despite not playing in the first quarter, Ivey led the Pistons’ reserves with 24 minutes. Williams noted after the game that he wants to tighten the rotation. Alec Burks and Marvin Bagley each received a DNP-CD over the last two games, and Duren's upcoming absence does not bode well for the Pistons as their Defensive Rating plummets from 112.7 in Duren's minutes to 121.4 with Duren off the court.

Hayes spot in the starting lineup is likely cemented after Williams said:

“I think it’s helping Cade to not have to shoulder the load. My hope is to have Killian push it, Cade on the wing and Bojan on the wing."

Allowing Hayes to be the primary ballhandler has taken pressure off Cunningham, who still leads the league with 4.4 turnovers per game. Despite committing 13 cumulative turnovers since Hayes rejoined the starting lineup three games prior, seven have come in the 38 minutes he's played without Hayes as opposed to six in 69 minutes next to Hayes.

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Anthony Black, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Goga Bitadze

  • Jalen Suggs (ankle) — Out

  • Jonathan Isaac (ankle) — Out

  • Markelle Fultz (knee) — Injured

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (hand) — Injured

Suggs was carried to the locker room in the last game and never returned after tweaking his ankle for the second time. He’s missed one game this season, a six-point win over the Bulls. If Suggs is held out against a Pistons team on an 18-game losing streak, Gary Harris projects to start, and Caleb Houstan’s role should expand greatly.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey, Clint Capela

  • Trae Young (illness) — Out

  • Jalen Johnson (wrist) — Injured

  • Mouhamed Gueye (back) — Injured

  • Kobe Bufkin (thumb) — Injured

Young has missed one game this season, sitting for personal reasons. He’s averaged 38.0 minutes per game over the last three games and played at least 37 minutes in the Hawks’ last six games decided by no more than 10 points. Over that span, he’s ranked in the top six in points (31.3), assists (10.2), and three-point attempts (10.3) per game, and he's already pierced the Sixers for 22 points and 13 assists less than a month ago.

Young has been even more prolific over the last five games, coinciding with Johnson’s absence. Young has attempted at least 24 shots in four of those games and is tied for second in the NBA with a 32.9% usage rate. It should be no surprise Young leads the team with 34.6% usage with Johnson off the court for the season.

Philadelphia 76ers News

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

Washington Wizards News

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

  • Daniel Gafford (ankle) — Available

  • Landry Shamet (rib) — Out

  • Johnny Davis (calf) — Injured

  • Delon Wright (knee) — Injured

  • Ryan Rollins (knee) — Injured

The Wizards have yielded the two highest opponent rebound games this season, allowing 67 to the Hornets and 66 to Nets -- both in regulation. The Nets lead the league with 48.0 rebounds per game, and the Wizards have allowed a league-high 49.6 rebounds per game. In the two games Gafford missed, the Wizards allowed 51 and 57 rebounds.

Brooklyn Nets News

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

  • Dennis Smith Jr. (back) — Out

  • Lonnie Walker (hamstring) — Injured

  • Ben Simmons (back) — Injured

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis

  • Kristaps Porzingis (calf) — Available

Porzingis projects to rejoin the lineup after missing the past four games. Two of his five highest-scoring games occurred against the Knicks this season, including a season-high 30 points in the season opener. He feasted on the perimeter in those games, and starting centers have averaged 9.3 three-point attempts against the Knicks -- the second-highest mark league-wide.

Conversely, Mitchell Robinson grabbed six rebounds for the Knicks in both games, which comprises two of his four-lowest rebound efforts. He's recorded a 17.1% rebound rate, the seventh-highest among all starters. However, that number drops to 10.7% against the Celtics and 9.8% in games against teams in his division.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen

  • Evan Mobley (knee) — Out

  • Caris LeVert (injury management) — Out

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

  • Ricky Rubio (personal) — NWT

Miami Heat News

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

  • Bam Adebayo (hip) — Out

  • Haywood Highsmith (back) — Out

  • Duncan Robinson (groin) — In

  • Tyler Herro (ankle) — Injured

  • RJ Hampton (knee) — Injured

  • Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season

Minnesota Timberwolves News

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

  • Jordan McLaughlin (knee) — Available

  • Jaden McDaniels (ankle) — Injured

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Memphis Grizzlies News

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

  • Jake LaRavia (eye) — Doubtful

  • Ja Morant — Suspended

  • Marcus Smart (foot) — Injured

  • Luke Kennard (knee) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Golden State Warriors News

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

  • Chris Paul (illness) — Out

  • Gary Payton II (calf) — Injured

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

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

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Victor Wembanyama

Coach Popovich altered the starting lineup in the previous game, replacing Jeremy Sochan and Malaki Branham with Vassell and Osman. Popovich justified the move by saying, “It's what we wanted to do,” and he was non-committal in reusing the same five starters moving forward.

Vassell was the primary ballhandler, but Osman, who led the team with six assists, and Collins were the playmakers. Sochan was the second-unit power forward in lineups with Tre Jones, and his touches dropped from a team-high 66.6 per game to 37 in Wednesday’s loss.

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Jock Landale (illness) — Out

  • Amen Thompson (ankle) — Injured

  • Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Jamal Murray (ankle) — In

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • Chris Duarte (knee) — Available

  • Colby Jones (back) — Out

  • Alex Len (ankle) — Injured

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Devin Booker, Eric Gordon, Josh Okogie, Keita Bates-Diop, Jusuf Nurkic

  • Kevin Durant (ankle) — Out

  • Grayson Allen (groin) — Out

  • Bradley Beal (back) — Injured

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured

The Suns already won a game without Durant and Allen, and they’ve gone 2-0 in games sans Durant and Beal. Booker led the Suns with a 39.6% usage rate and 40.5% assist rate in the wins, and Gordon was the only other player to attempt at least 10 shots in both games.

Okogie and Bates-Diop could enter the starting lineup after neither played more than nine minutes in the previous game. They were the choices the last time Durant and Allen missed the same game, and Yuta Watanabe and Chimezie Metu received rotation minutes.

Los Angeles Clippers News

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

  • Daniel Theis (illness) — Out

  • Mason Plumlee (knee) — Injured

  • Brandon Boston Jr. (quad) — Injured

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson, Simone Fontecchio, John Collins, Walker Kessler

  • Jordan Clarkson (thigh) — Available

  • Kelly Olynyk (shoulder) — Available

  • Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) — Out

Dallas Mavericks News

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

  • Grant Williams (knee) — Out

  • Josh Green (elbow) — Injured

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — Injured

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Matisse Thybulle, Toumani Camara, Duop Reath

  • Malcolm Brogdon (knee) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (knee) — Out

  • Jerami Grant (concussion) — Out

  • Ish Wainright (knee) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

The Blazers could be without three starters after losing Brogdon for the second half of Wednesday’s loss. With Brogdon in the starting lineup the last seven games, the Blazers have ranked fifth with a 110.6 Defensive Rating while posting a respectable +0.5 Net Rating. Losing Grant and likely Ayton comes with additional challenges, namely that Reath and Jabari Walker are slated to consume most of the center minutes.