NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 2/6

Feb 6th 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) — In

  • Luka Doncic (nose) — Available

  • Damian Lillard (ankle) — Out

  • Tyrese Haliburton (injury management) — Available

  • Kyrie Irving (thumb) — In

  • Brook Lopez (personal) — Out

  • Tyler Herro (migraine) — Available

  • Jalen Williams (ankle) — Available

  • Coby White (ankle) — Available

  • Cam Johnson (adductor) — Out

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (hip) — Out

  • Vince Williams Jr. (wrist) — Available

  • John Konchar (calf) — Available

  • Santi Aldama (tailbone) — Available

  • Cason Wallace (shoulder) — Available

  • Alex Caruso (adductor) — Available

  • Dante Exum (knee) — Out

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Amen Thompson, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Fred VanVleet (adductor) — Injured

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Injured

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

VanVleet will miss his third game of the season on Tuesday, and his return timetable is unknown. His ability to log heavy minutes has continued from Toronto to Houston, as he averages 36.7 per contest this season, good for sixth in the NBA. Amen Thompson is the leading candidate to fill the void, but Cam Whitmore and Aaron Holiday could all pick up additional minutes, and Jalen Green could also see some time at point guard. Green's minutes per game improve from 30.7 when VanVleet is in the lineup to 33.1 when he misses.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner

  • Tyrese Haliburton (injury management) — Available

  • Jalen Smith (back) — Available

  • Bennedict Mathurin (illness) — Out

Haliburton is questionable due to injury management for the fifth game in a row. His playing time was heavily managed through each of the previous four, averaging 21.4 minutes per outing. Rick Carlisle has experimented with Haliburton both starting and coming off the bench. Still, his total minutes have been remarkably consistent over this stretch, and a similar limit will likely be in place if he plays against Houston.

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Derrick Jones Jr., Maxi Kleber

  • Luka Doncic (nose) — Available

  • Kyrie Irving (thumb) — In

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — In

  • Dante Exum (knee) — Out

  • Dereck Lively II (nose) — Out

Brooklyn Nets News

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

  • Cam Johnson (adductor) — Out

  • Lonnie Walker (hamstring) — Out

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) — Out

  • Day'Ron Sharpe (knee) — Injured

  • Dariq Whitehead (shin) — Out for season

Dallas and Brooklyn are the only two teams on the second halves of back-to-backs Tuesday, and they so happen to be playing each other. Ben Simmons is expected to return after resting on the front end, while Finney-Smith is unlikely to play, per coach Vaughn.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Jacob Gilyard, John Konchar, Vince Williams, Santi Aldama, Trey Jemison

  • Vince Williams Jr. (wrist) — Available

  • John Konchar (calf) — Available

  • Derrick Rose (hamstring) — Available

  • Santi Aldama (tailbone) — Available

  • Xavier Tillman (knee) — Out

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (hip) — Out

  • Ziaire Williams (hand) — Out

  • Desmond Bane (ankle) — Injured

  • Jake LaRavia (ankle) — Injured

  • Marcus Smart (finger) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Victor Oladipo (knee) — Injured

  • Ja Morant (shoulder) — Out for season

New York Knicks News

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

  • OG Anunoby (elbow) — Out

  • Quentin Grimes (knee) — Out

  • Jericho Sims (illness) — Out

  • Julius Randle (shoulder) — Injured

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

Expect Tom Thibodeau to continue playing the tightest rotation in the NBA as long as Randle, Anunoby, and Grimes are out. Over the last two contests, each of Achiuwa, Brunson, Hart, and DiVincenzo averages at least 39.1 minutes. Grimes' injury in particular has hindered the Knicks' depth, which has allowed Miles McBride to take advantage as the clear sixth man, averaging 24.3 minutes over his last two.

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Bam Adebayo

  • Tyler Herro (migraine) — Available

  • Duncan Robinson (concussion protocol) — Available

  • Dru Smith (knee) — Out for season

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, Andre Drummond

  • Coby White (ankle) — Available

  • Alex Caruso (adductor) — Available

  • Torrey Craig (foot) — Available

  • Dalen Terry (ankle) — Available

  • Patrick Williams (foot) — Injured

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Out for season

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Both White and Caruso were held out of practice on Monday and added to the injury report. Caruso's questionable tag suggests his injury is more concerning than White's. The Bulls are already thin without LaVine and Williams; if Caruso misses, either Terry or Craig could enter the starting lineup.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

  • Jalen Williams (ankle) — Available

  • Cason Wallace (shoulder) — Available

  • Jaylin Williams (Achilles) — Available

  • Vasilije Micic (ankle) — Available

  • Lindy Waters (ankle) — Available

  • Ousmane Dieng (hip) — Available

  • Davis Bertans (knee) — Out

  • Tre Mann (personal) — Not on injury report

  • Isaiah Joe (sternum) — Out

While the Thunder have listed seven players questionable on Tuesday, none is more important than Jalen Williams, who is looking to return after missing three games. If he is unable to play, Wallace could remain the fifth starter, or it could be either Aaron Wiggins or Kenrich Williams, who are the two most significant Thunder bench players not listed on the injury report. Both Wiggins and Kenrich Williams could be in for increased workloads regardless if several of the Thunder's questionable tags don't play.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Kris Dunn, Collin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins

  • Ochai Agbaji (illness) — Out

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Malik Beasley, Pat Connaughton, Khris Middleton, Robin Lopez

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — In

  • Damian Lillard (ankle) — Out

  • Brook Lopez (personal) — Out

  • Andre Jackson Jr. (wrist) — Available

Antetokounmpo played through this injury listing on Sunday, totaling 33 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds in 40 minutes. He's hit 40 minutes in each of the last two games running, as Lopez has missed both contests. His role would only stand to increase further if Lillard were out against Phoenix. The Bucks have struggled to find their footing under new coach Doc Rivers, going 1-3 in his short tenure.

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured