NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 2/8

Feb 8th 2024

Cooper Boni

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

  • Luka Doncic (nose) — In

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — In

  • Devin Booker (hip) — Out

  • LeBron James (ankle) — In

  • Anthony Davis (Achilles, hip) — In

  • Jalen Brunson (ankle) — Out

  • Tyrese Haliburton (injury management) — Available

  • Kyrie Irving (thumb) — In

  • Damian Lillard (ankle) — Out

  • Bradley Beal (ankle) — Available

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (hip) — Available

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Available

  • Draymond Green (knee) — Available

  • Andrew Wiggins (ankle) — Available

  • Coby White (ankle) — Available

  • Evan Mobley (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Jerami Grant (back) — Available

  • D'Angelo Russell (knee) — Out

  • Klay Thompson (illness) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (illness) — Out

  • Brook Lopez (personal) — In

  • Spencer Dinwiddie (traded) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (illness) — Out

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (traded) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (illness) — Out

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (hamstring) — Out

  • Ausar Thompson (ankle) — Available

  • Alex Caruso (adductor) — Available

  • Buddy Hield (traded) — Out

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — In

  • Kelly Olynyk (traded) — Out

  • Alec Burks (traded) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green

  • Draymond Green (knee) — Available

  • Andrew Wiggins (ankle) — Available

  • Klay Thompson (illness) — Out

  • Cory Joseph (traded) — Out

  • Gary Payton II (hamstring) — Out

  • Chris Paul (hand) — Injured

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) — Available

  • Buddy Hield (traded) — Out

San Antonio Spurs News

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

  • Doug McDermott (traded) — Out

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Orlando Magic News

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

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

  • Evan Mobley (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

  • Tristan Thompson — Suspended

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Wilson, Nic Claxton

  • Cam Johnson (adductor) — Out

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) — Out

  • Lonnie Walker (hamstring) — Out

  • Spencer Dinwiddie (traded) — Out

  • Royce O'Neale (traded) — Out

  • Day'Ron Sharpe (knee) — Injured

  • Dariq Whitehead (shin) — Out for season

The Nets were without Johnson, Finney-Smith, and Walker for the previous outing and lost by double-digits to the Mavs. Things won't get easier against the Cavs, whose +12.1 Net Rating over the last 10 outings has been the league's second-best. Plenty of usage should be available for Thomas and Bridges, who combined for 37 shot attempts last game. However, Thomas will need to be more efficient as he shot six of 16 from the field. Simmons will likely remain on a minutes limit that has recently seen him average around 20 minutes per contest.

Dallas Mavericks News

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

  • Luka Doncic (nose) — In

  • Kyrie Irving (thumb) — In

  • Maxi Kleber (toe) — In

  • Grant Williams (traded) — Out

  • Seth Curry (traded) — Out

  • Dante Exum (knee) — Out

  • Dereck Lively II (nose) — Out

  • Richaun Holmes (traded) — Out

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Miles McBride, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Hartenstein

  • Jalen Brunson (ankle) — Out

  • OG Anunoby (elbow) — Out

  • Quentin Grimes (traded) — Out

  • Jericho Sims (illness) — Out

  • Evan Fournier (traded) — Out

  • Malachi Flynn (traded) — Out

  • Ryan Arcidiacono (traded) — Out

  • Julius Randle (shoulder) — Injured

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

Brunson sprained his ankle toward the end of the most recent game, and with the injury forcing him to exit that contest, it's encouraging that he has a chance to play Thursday. If he is sidelined, it would mark his third missed outing of the season. The Knicks are already missing some key players, and they'll face the Mavs, who are expected to have Luka Doncic (nose) and Kyrie Irving (thumb) available. Dallas's 39.2% three-point percentage over the last five games has been the league's sixth-best, while the Knicks' opponents' 40.8% percentage has been the fourth-highest over that span.

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic

  • Coby White (ankle) — Available

  • Alex Caruso (adductor) — Available

  • Torrey Craig (ankle) — Available

  • Dalen Terry (ankle) — Available

  • Patrick Williams (foot) — Injured

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Out for season

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Scottie Pippen Jr., John Konchar, Vince Williams, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr.

  • Derrick Rose (ankle) — Out

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (hip) — Available

  • Luke Kennard (illness) — Out

  • Ziaire Williams (hand) — Out

  • Lamar Stevens (traded) — Out

  • David Roddy (traded) — 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

Minnesota Timberwolves News

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

  • Monte Morris (traded) — Out

  • Jordan McLaughlin (hip) — Out

  • Leonard Miller (illness) — Available

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Malik Beasley, Pat Connaughton, Jae Crowder, Brook Lopez

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — In

  • Jae Crowder (ankle) — Available

  • Damian Lillard (ankle) — Out

  • Brook Lopez (personal) — In

  • Robin Lopez (traded) — Out

  • Khris Middleton (ankle) — Out

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Kris Dunn, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Walker Kessler

  • Ochai Agbaji (traded) — Out

  • Kelly Olynyk (traded) — Out

  • Kevin Knox (traded) — Out

  • Brice Sensabaugh (hip) — Out

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Bradley Beal, Eric Gordon, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic

  • Devin Booker (hip) — Out

  • Bradley Beal (ankle) — Available

  • Chimezie Metu (traded) — Out

  • Keita-Bates Diop (traded) — Out

  • Yuta Watanabe (traded) — Out

  • Jordan Goodwin (traded) — Out

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured

With Beal available this season, the Suns have won 17 of their 27 games. Without him, they're 13-11 and have averaged 4.1 fewer points per contest. Their offense will need to execute to keep up with the Jazz, who have scored at a high rate recently. Over three games this month, the Jazz's 124.9 Offensive Rating has been the league's third-best. The Suns have beaten Utah in all three meetings this season.

Denver Nuggets News

Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Justin Holiday, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (hamstring) — Out

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: Austin Reaves, Max Christie, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, Anthony Davis

  • LeBron James (ankle) — In

  • Anthony Davis (Achilles, hip) — In

  • D'Angelo Russell (knee) — Out

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) — Injured

  • Cam Reddish (ankle) — Injured

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured

At Wednesday's practice, coach Ham mentioned that Russell did not practice because he had a "tuneup procedure" and that his status for Thursday was up in the air. However, a Lakers spokesperson soon after corrected Ham, stating that Russell had a sort of treatment rather than a full-blown procedure. The entire situation sparked questioning and confusion, as it's been widely known that Russell has been one of the team's top trade candidates. However, his omission from the injury report on Wednesday night points toward his availability for Thursday's outing.

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Mike Muscala, Jalen Duren

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Available

  • Ausar Thompson (ankle) — Available

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (traded) — Out

  • Shake Milton (traded) — Out

  • Troy Brown Jr. (traded) — Out

  • Alec Burks (traded) — Out

  • Danilo Gallinari (not with team) — Out

  • Simone Fontecchio (traded) — Out

  • Isaiah Stewart (ankle) — Injured

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Anfernee Simons, Matisse Thybulle, Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, Jabari Walker

  • Duop Reath (knee) — Out

  • Jerami Grant (back) — In

  • Malcolm Brogdon (illness) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (illness) — Out

  • Scoot Henderson (foot) — Out

  • Jabari Walker (ankle) — Available

  • Shaedon Sharpe (abdomen) — Injured

  • Moses Brown (wrist) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season