NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 2/23
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 (foot) — In
Joel Embiid (illness) — In
Anthony Davis (foot) — In
Damian Lillard (rest) — Out
Jerami Grant (rest) — Out
OG Anunoby (wrist) — Available
Fred VanVleet (personal) — Out
Tre Jones (foot) — Out
Jeremy Sochan (quad) — Out
Recent NBA News
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Denver Nuggets News
Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Vlatko Cancar, Nikola Jokic
Jamal Murray (knee) — Said he'll play
Aaron Gordon (rib) — Out
Reggie Jackson (signed) — Expected to be available
Zeke Nnaji (shoulder) — Out
Cancar recorded 15.4% usage, a 9.3% rebound rate, and a 14.0% assist rate while averaging 27.7 minutes during the five starts he made in Gordon's stead this month. Murray (+3.0%), Caldwell-Pope (+2.4%), and Jokic (+1.9%) have registered the highest usage differentials among active Nuggets with Gordon off the court this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers News
Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Cedi Osman (neck) — Not on injury report
Ricky Rubio (injury management) — Out
Caris LeVert has averaged just 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 23.3 minutes in the two games he's played off the bench with Rubio available in February. He's averaged 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 28.5 minutes in the three games he's played without Rubio this month.
Boston Celtics News
Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams
Jaylen Brown (face) — Not on injury report
Robert Williams (ankle) — Not on injury report
Mike Muscala (injury management) — Not on injury report
Mfiondu Kabengele (personal) — Not on injury report
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured
It could be difficult to demote Derrick White to the bench following a career-best stretch of play, but Boston's big lineup still projects to be their go-to look for most matchups. Brown isn't guaranteed to play restricted minutes in his return after thriving in the All-Star game and avoiding the injury report entirely.
Indiana Pacers News
Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner
Daniel Theis (thumb) — Not on injury report
Isaiah Jackson (illness) — Not on injury report
Detroit Pistons News
Confirmed Lineup: Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren
Marvin Bagley (hand) — Out
Jalen Duren (ankle) — Not on injury report
Nerlens Noel (not with team) — Out
Cade Cunningham (shin) — Injured
The game script was thrown off in Detroit's 127-109 loss to Boston before the break, but it was notable that Duren played 15.0 first-half minutes while James Wiseman played 9.0. Alec Burks and Isaiah Livers cleared 10.0 first-half minutes and figure to lead reserves in time unless Duren and Wiseman progressively split minutes more evenly in typical game situations.
Orlando Magic News
Confirmed Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.
Cole Anthony (wrist) — Not on injury report
Goga Bitadze (signed) — Expected to be available
Jonathan Isaac (injury management) — Not on injury report
Orlando's offensive rating (104.5) and three-point percentage (30.8%) from their two losses to the Pistons would be the worst league-wide over the entire season. Wagner (27.6%) and Banchero (27.1%) posted elevated usage rates in those contests and respectively averaged 19.5 and 21.0 points per game. However, outside of Jalen Suggs scoring 21 points on eight-for-11 shooting in the season opener, the rest of the Magic have fallen flat in this matchup.
Memphis Grizzlies News
Confirmed Lineup: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Brandon Clarke, Jaren Jackson Jr.
Luke Kennard (illness) — Out
Steven Adams (knee) — Injured
Though Brooks missed one of the contests and Bane missed the other, it's notable that Morant logged 39.7% usage in his two games against the 76ers during the last two seasons. Matching up with the 76ers makes Tillman, the burlier of the two center options, more likely to start.
Philadelphia 76ers News
Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, De'Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid (illness) — In
Dewayne Dedmon (hip) — Out
Furkan Korkmaz (personal) — Not on injury report
The Grizzlies (110.4) and 76ers (112.9) boast two of the top seven defensive ratings league-wide. Philadelphia has struggled against teams with top-ten defensive ratings, posting a 5-8 record and the 20th-ranked point differential (-3.8). Conversely, Memphis has logged an 11-8 record but the best point differential (+7.1) against those teams.
New Orleans Pelicans News
Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Josh Richardson, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas
Larry Nance Jr. (core) — Available
Dyson Daniels (ankle) — Out
Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured
Valanciunas has succeeded in six games against Toronto after being traded away, averaging 16.5 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 30.9 minutes. However, the Raptors improved on the interior before the break, logging the sixth-best rebound rate (51.7%) during their last 15 games in addition to acquiring Jakob Poeltl.
Toronto Raptors News
Confirmed Lineup: Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl
Gary Trent Jr. (calf) — Available
OG Anunoby (wrist) — Available
Fred VanVleet (personal) — Out
Thaddeus Young (knee) — Available
Otto Porter (toe) — Injured
Toronto will have more depth than they've had all season, which will cause two of Precious Achiuwa, Gary Trent Jr., and Poeltl to be demoted to the bench while the remaining starters could be less likely to play extended minutes. VanVleet's shooting will be valued most if Poeltl gets the nod, and VanVleet has led the Raptors with a +3.1% usage differential with Trent Jr. off the court this season.
San Antonio Spurs News
Confirmed Lineup: Devonte' Graham, Malaki Branham, Keldon Johnson, Keita Bates-Diop, Zach Collins
Tre Jones (foot) — Out
Jeremy Sochan (quad) — Out
Romeo Langford (adductor) — Out
Isaiah Roby (ankle) — Out
Devin Vassell (knee) — Injured
Khem Birch (knee) — Injured
The Spurs functionally played with this lineup for two games before the break, though Doug McDermott's return cut into Devonte' Graham's minutes in the most recent match. Graham (32.4%) and Collins (22.4%) posted the highest assist rates on the team as offensive opportunities were distributed relatively evenly across the lineup, though Johnson still led the team with 26.7% usage.
Dallas Mavericks News
Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Reggie Bullock, Dwight Powell
Kyrie Irving (back) — Not on injury report
Tim Hardaway Jr. (hamstring) — Not on injury report
AJ Lawson (knee) — Not on injury report
Davis Bertans (calf) — Injured
Maxi Kleber (hamstring) — Injured
Coach Kidd will likely rely heavily on seven players to complete most of the rotation until Kleber rejoins the lineup. Reggie Bullock should consistently near 30 minutes, and Christian Wood should factor for at least 20 minutes off the bench after finding his rhythm before the All-Star break.
Oklahoma City Thunder News
Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams
Ousmane Dieng (G League) — Out
Aleksej Pokusevski (leg) — Injured
Chet Holmgren (foot) — Injured
Robinson-Earl averaged 26.1 minutes in the last 11 games he completed pre-injury. He returned from a two-month absence to clear 18.0 minutes in consecutive contests before the break, and his time should now be ramped up. Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams, Dario Saric, and Eugene Omoruyi will see fewer opportunities if Robinson-Earl reclaims a leading frontcourt role.
Utah Jazz News
Confirmed Lineup: Talen Horton-Tucker, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Kelly Olynyk, Walker Kessler
Lauri Markkanen (knee) — Not on injury report
Collin Sexton (hamstring) — Out
Rudy Gay (illness) — Not on injury report
Frank Jackson (signed) — TBD
Kris Dunn (signed) — TBD
Horton-Tucker logged 23.3% usage and a 34.3% assist rate in 25.8 minutes per game during the five matches following the Mike Conley trade and projects to act as a lead facilitator until Sexton rejoins the lineup. However, Agbaji could start and close halves, causing Olynyk and Clarkson to act as primary distributors when Horton-Tucker is off the floor.
Golden State Warriors News
Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson, Donte DiVincenzo, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green
Andrew Wiggins (personal) — Out
Andre Iguodala (hip) — Out
Gary Payton II (adductor) — Injured
Stephen Curry (leg) — Injured
Los Angeles Lakers News
Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis
LeBron James (foot) — In
Anthony Davis (foot) — In
Coach Ham confirmed that he'd stick with the same starting lineup, which means Dennis Schroder slots into a backup point guard role while Austin Reaves could continue to lead reserves in minutes. Russell, James, and Davis each finished with five or more assists in the one match the trio played together before the break, which suggests James might be less ball-dominant moving forward.
Portland Trail Blazers News
Confirmed Lineup: Ryan Arcidiacono, Matisse Thybulle, Cam Reddish, Nassir Little, Drew Eubanks
Damian Lillard (rest) — Out
Jerami Grant (rest) — Out
Ibou Badji (knee) — Out
Anfernee Simons (ankle) — Injured
Jusuf Nurkic (calf) — Injured
Justise Winslow (ankle) — Injured
Coach Billups said it's between Reddish, Thybulle, and Shaedon Sharpe to start on the wing. Grant and Lillard should shoulder a majority of the offense until Simons or Nurkic return; Lillard has posted a +5.4% usage differential and a +5.3% assist rate differential with Simons off the court this season.
Sacramento Kings News
Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
Malik Monk (ankle) — In
KZ Okpala (knee) — Out