NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/10

Mar 10th 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

  • Anthony Davis (shoulder) — Available

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — In

  • Anthony Edwards (ankle) — In

  • Kawhi Leonard (groin) — Out

  • Paul George (knee) — Out

  • James Harden (shoulder) — In

  • Dejounte Murray (calf) — In

  • Rudy Gobert (hamstring) — Out

  • Jalen Suggs (thigh) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (knee) — Available

  • Vince Williams (knee) — Out

  • John Konchar (ankle) — 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) — In

  • Khris Middleton (ankle) — Injured

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Terance Mann, Amir Coffey, PJ Tucker, Ivica Zubac

  • Kawhi Leonard (groin) — Out

  • Paul George (knee) — Out

  • James Harden (shoulder) — In

  • Russell Westbrook (hand) — Injured

The statuses of Harden, George, and Leonard are all worth monitoring on the second end of a back-to-back after all received questionable tags before Saturday's game. While all three suited up, it's clear that the Clippers may consider giving them some rest. Harden told media that it was his goal to play in the back-to-back, but the noon local time start on the second end plus the hour lost due to clocks changing may be difficult obstacles to overcome. It's also worth noting that George played 40 minutes and Leonard played 38 against the Bulls (Harden played 34). The Clippers have another back-to-back next Thursday and Friday as part of a two-game road trip at Chicago and New Orleans.

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Out for season

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • Davion Mitchell (chest) — Available

  • Sasha Vezenkov (ankle) — Injured

Indiana Pacers News

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

  • Doug McDermott (calf) — Out

  • Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) — Out for season

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Gary Harris, Caleb Houstan, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

  • Jalen Suggs (thigh) — Out

  • Markelle Fultz (knee) — Out

Suggs was a surprising late scratch ahead of Friday night's game, which allowed Anthony Black to enter the starting lineup, where he played 23 minutes in a blowout loss to the Knicks. Orlando only scored 74 points in the defeat, which was the lowest amount that any team has scored in a single game all year. Suggs' potential return and offensive ability would be a boost to the Magic against Indiana, but the matchup could help as well, as the Pacers' 118.9 defensive rating is tied for third-worst in the league.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Dyson Daniels (knee) — Injured

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Vit Krejci, Saddiq Bey, Clint Capela

  • Dejounte Murray (calf) — In

  • Jalen Johnson (ankle) — Out

  • Trae Young (finger) — Injured

  • Onyeka Okongwu (toe) — Injured

  • Kobe Bufkin (toe) — Injured

Krejci was a surprising entrant into the starting lineup in Johnson's place on Friday, as coach Snyder elected to keep De'Andre Hunter in the sixth man role. Krejci played 22 minutes in his first start as a Hawk, while Hunter totaled 29 minutes off the bench. It's possible that Hunter is still on some sort of minutes limit as he continues to slowly ramp up following a multi-week injury. He hasn't hit the 30-minute mark since returning on January 30.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Corey Kispert, Bilal Coulibaly, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma

  • Richaun Holmes (toe) — Out

  • Landry Shamet (calf) — Available

  • Marvin Bagley (back) — Injured

  • Isaiah Livers (hip) — Out for season

Shamet missed Friday's game with his calf injury, allowing Corey Kispert to play 30 minutes off the bench. The Wizards played extremely tightly against Charlotte, with only seven players exceeding eight minutes. Holmes moved into the starting lineup and played a season-high 36 minutes. It was the most he's played in a single game since March 15, 2021. Expect a similar arrangement with solid floors for Kispert and Holmes if Shamet remains out against Miami.

Miami Heat News

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

  • Tyler Herro (foot) — Out

  • Kevin Love (heel) — Out

  • Josh Richardson (shoulder) — Out for season

After oscillating between Orlando Robinson and Thomas Bryant as the backup center behind Adebayo with Love out, Miami switched it up on Friday, playing Jovic in that role as both Orlando Robinson and Bryant DNPed against the Thunder. The result was Jovic reaching 30 minutes, the most he has played since February 13. He had only exceeded 21 minutes in one of his previous seven appearances.

Brooklyn Nets News

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

  • Lonnie Walker (illness) — Available

  • Cam Johnson (ankle) — Out

  • Ben Simmons (back) — Out for season

  • Dariq Whitehead (shin) — Out for season

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Georges Niang, Jarrett Allen

  • Max Strus (knee) — Out

  • Dean Wade (personal) — Out

  • Donovan Mitchell (knee) — Injured

  • Evan Mobley (ankle) — Injured

  • Tristan Thompson — Suspended

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Luke Kennard, GG Jackson, Jake LaRavia, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr.

  • Luke Kennard (knee) — Available

  • Vince Williams (knee) — Out

  • GG Jackson (knee) — Available

  • John Konchar (ankle) — Out

  • Jordan Goodwin (Achilles) — Out

  • DeJon Jarreau (signed) — TBD

  • Yuta Watanabe (wrist) — Out

  • Desmond Bane (ankle) — Injured

  • Marcus Smart (finger) — Injured

  • Ziaire Williams (hip, back) — Injured

  • Derrick Rose (back, groin) — Injured

  • Scotty Pippen Jr. (back) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Ja Morant (shoulder) — Out for season

Memphis' extremely crowded injury report continues, which is why the team is set to add guard DeJon Jarreau on a 10-day hardship contract. If all of the doubtful and questionable players miss out against the Thunder, the Grizzlies would have eight players available assuming Jarreau is good to go. In that event, Jarreau would also be likely to start as the team's only true guard.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Cam Payne, Kelly Oubre, Tobias Harris, Mo Bamba

  • Nicolas Batum (foot) — Not on injury report

  • Tyrese Maxey (concussion) — Out

  • Joel Embiid (knee) — Injured

  • Robert Covington (knee) — Injured

  • De'Anthony Melton (back) — Injured

New York Knicks News

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

  • Julius Randle (shoulder) — Injured

  • OG Anunoby (elbow) — Injured

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid

  • Anthony Edwards (ankle) — In

  • Rudy Gobert (hamstring) — Out

  • Kyle Anderson (shoulder) — Out

  • Monte Morris (hamstring) — Out

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) — Injured

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Edwards originally tweaked his ankle in-game on Thursday, but finished that contest with 44 points in 39 minutes. He then went out and played 42 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back against Cleveland on Friday, but was less effective, scoring 19 points on seven-of-27 shooting. He has played through questionable tags all season long, so there's a good chance this tag is procedural, but it's also possible that Edwards' heavy workloads are catching up with him. If he cannot play against the Lakers, Nickeil Alexander-Walker would likely start in his place.

Los Angeles Lakers News

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

  • Anthony Davis (shoulder) — Available

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Cam Reddish (ankle) — Out

  • Christian Wood (knee) — Injured

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) — Injured

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured

  • Colin Castleton (wrist) — Injured

Davis played 41 minutes through this new injury on Friday against the Bucks, scoring 22 points and adding 13 rebounds. He was seen with a wrap on his shoulder after the game and said he couldn't raise it, so this does appear to be an injury worth monitoring. If he can't play, expect Jaxson Hayes to start in his place. Hayes has averaged 10.0 points and 7.7 rebounds in 26.1 minutes per game across three appearances without Davis this season.

James, meanwhile, is looking to return after missing Friday's game. The only back-to-back games he has missed all season long were the two bookending the All-Star break, so it would seem that if this continued ankle listing remains precautionary, he would have a good chance to play against Minnesota. If he misses out, expect Spencer Dinwiddie to continue in the starting lineup.