NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 2/29

Feb 29th 2024

Ryan Schwepfinger

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

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — Available

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (Achilles) — Available

  • Jalen Brunson (neck) — In

  • Paolo Banchero (illness) — In

  • Jamal Murray (leg) — Not on injury report

  • Bradley Beal (hamstring) — Out

  • Eric Gordon (groin) — Out

  • Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) — Available

  • Tyler Herro (knee) — Out

  • Jalen Green (illness) — Available

  • Deni Avdija (heel) — Available

  • Ben Simmons (leg) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Jae Crowder, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — Available

  • Andre Jackson Jr. (illness) — Available

  • Marjon Beauchamp (illness) — Available

  • Khris Middleton (ankle) — Injured

This is the 11th straight game that Antetokounmpo has been listed on the injury report with right knee patellar tendinitis. He's played each of the previous 10, averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists over 33.1 minutes per contest. However, Thursday is the first game of a back-to-back set for the Bucks, which adds an element of uncertainty. If active, expect Antetokounmpo to operate without any limitations.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Tre Mann, Cody Martin, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Nick Richards

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Aleksej Pokusevski (signed) — TBD

  • Mark Williams (back) — Injured

Ball is missing his 16th consecutive game as he continues to struggle with injuries to his right ankle. Mann will continue to start at point guard, and he's been mostly successful in a seven-game run since being acquired from Oklahoma City, averaging 12.3 points, 4.9 assists, and 5.3 rebounds over 29.9 minutes per game.

Charlotte scored just 26 points in the first half against Milwaukee on Tuesday. The Hornets are the only team to score below 30 points in a half this season, and they've done so twice in a four-day span, having scored 29 in the first half against Golden State on February 23.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Taylor Hendricks, John Collins

  • Walker Kessler (foot) — Out

  • Otto Porter Jr. (not with team) — Out

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

  • Paolo Banchero (illness) — In

  • Jonathan Isaac (knee) — Out

Coach Mosley brought Markelle Fultz off the bench for the second straight game after Fultz had missed three contests bookending the All-Star break. When asked if Fultz would continue coming off the bench prior to Tuesday's game against Brooklyn, Mosley said "bringing guys back up to speed — bringing them off the bench is a little bit easier to do with timing." That would seem to imply Orlando is comfortable continuing to start Harris, but Fultz could also return to the first five if the team is pleased with his progress. He played 25 minutes off the bench against the Nets, significantly more than the 12 he recorded in his first game back, on February 25 against Atlanta.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela

  • Trae Young (finger) — Injured

  • Onyeka Okongwu (toe) — Injured

  • Mouhamed Gueye (back) — Injured

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton

  • Ben Simmons (leg) — Out

  • Cam Thomas (ankle) — Out

  • Dariq Whitehead (shin) — Out for season

While Ben Simmons (injury maintenance) is not listed on the injury report, he could continue to play off the bench behind Schroder after doing so during Monday's loss at Memphis. Johnson started in place of Thomas on Tuesday, and could continue doing so against Atlanta.

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green

  • Andrew Wiggins (personal) — Out

  • Gui Santos (knee) — Injured

Wiggins will miss his second consecutive game due to personal reasons. Moody was the surprising choice to start in his place on Tuesday, totaling 12 points in 23 minutes. It was just Moody's fifth start of the season, and his first since December 2, as coach Kerr elected to keep Klay Thompson in his newfound bench role. Chris Paul also returned to the lineup Tuesday, playing 22 minutes off the bench. Moody is the likely choice to remain in the first five against the Knicks, but Golden State does have options.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Hartenstein

  • Jalen Brunson (neck) — In

  • Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) — In

  • Julius Randle (shoulder) — Injured

  • OG Anunoby (elbow) — Injured

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

With Brunson out on Tuesday, Miles McBride once again started, playing 40 minutes. McBride now averages 17.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds over 40.0 minutes per game when Brunson misses out this season. If Brunson remains out against the Warriors, expect McBride to continue logging a heavy workload as New York's point guard.

Meanwhile, Hartenstein is not on the injury report after missing Tuesday's game. In the three games he played prior to that absence, he only averaged 20.5 minutes per outing. Expect him to be similarly limited against the Warriors. Achuiwa and Jericho Sims will continue picking up extra minutes at the five for as long as Hartenstein's workload is managed.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Jalen Green (illness) — Available

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic

  • Bradley Beal (hamstring) — Out

  • Eric Gordon (groin) — Out

  • Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) — Available

  • Nassir Little (knee) — Out

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured

Beal is looking to return after four absences, while Gordon is looking to play after one missed game. With both players out on Sunday, all five Phoenix starters logged 37 or more minutes. Royce O'Neale could once again be in line for a heavy workload as a spot starter if both Beal and Gordon miss out against Houston. Bol Bol was the only Sun to notch more than 10 minutes off the bench, and he is firmly in coach Vogel's rotation at the moment.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic, Bam Adebayo

  • Tyler Herro (knee) — Out

  • Orlando Robinson (back) — Available

  • Kevin Love (heel) — Out

  • Josh Richardson (shoulder) — Injured

  • Thomas Bryant — Suspended

  • Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Jamal Murray (leg) — Not on injury report

  • Braxton Key (personal) — Out

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Landry Shamet, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Marvin Bagley

  • Deni Avdija (heel) — Available

  • Bilal Coulibaly (pelvis) — Out

  • Isaiah Livers (hip) — Out for season

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, Anthony Davis

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (Achilles) — Available

  • Cam Reddish (ankle) — Available

  • Christian Wood (knee) — Injured

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) — Injured

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured

The Lakers are on a second half of a back-to-back, casting some doubt over the availability of James and Davis, who have been routinely listed on the team's injury report. Before Wednesday's game, coach Ham wouldn't specify whether James would play against the Wizards on Thursday. James sat the front end of Los Angeles' last back-to-back, on February 22. Davis played both ends of that set, but was limited to just 29 minutes on the second leg against San Antonio as he did not play during the fourth quarter.