NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/12

Mar 12th 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

  • Anthony Edwards (ankle) — In

  • Victor Wembanyama (ankle) — Not on injury report

  • Kawhi Leonard (groin) — In

  • Paul George (knee) — In

  • Jaylen Brown (back) — Out

  • Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) — Out

  • Jrue Holiday (knee) — Not on injury report

  • Rudy Gobert (hamstring) — In

  • Jalen Williams (ankle) — Out

  • Khris Middleton (ankle) — Out

  • OG Anunoby (elbow) — In

  • Al Horford (injury management) — Out

  • Keldon Johnson (illness) — Out

  • Keegan Murray (ankle) — Out

  • Kyle Anderson (shoulder) — Available

  • Richaun Holmes (toe) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Kelly Oubre, Tobias Harris, Mo Bamba

  • Tyrese Maxey (concussion) — Not on injury report

  • Joel Embiid (knee) — Injured

  • Robert Covington (knee) — Injured

  • De'Anthony Melton (back) — Injured

Maxey has cleared concussion protocol and will be available Tuesday against the Knicks. He's missed four straight games, but for the two immediately prior to that, he was in the starting lineup alongside Lowry, who figures to remain there. Buddy Hield came off the bench for the first time as a Sixer in the team's last game, meaning Oubre could also remain in the starting lineup ahead of Hield even with Maxey back.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Isaiah Hartenstein

  • OG Anunoby (elbow) — In

  • Julius Randle (shoulder) — Injured

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

Anunoby is looking to return following his right elbow surgery. He's been out since January 27 with an elbow injury, which he had the surgery to repair in early February. His integration into the rotation alongside Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks will be worth watching. One of DiVincenzo, Hart, or Precious Achiuwa will go to the bench, and all three have been playing big minutes with Anunoby and Julius Randle (shoulder) out. The matchup against the small 76ers, who have been playing Tobias Harris at the four, could indicate that Achiuwa is likeliest to play off the bench if Anunoby returns Tuesday.

Indiana Pacers News

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

  • Jalen Smith (illness) — Not on injury report

  • James Johnson (illness) — Out

  • Doug McDermott (calf) — Out

  • Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) — Out for season

Oklahoma City Thunder News

Confirmed Lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Gordon Hayward, Chet Holmgren

  • Jalen Williams (ankle) — Out

Williams was injured during the second quarter of Sunday's game, and he didn't return after just 10 minutes against the Grizzlies. After sending some concerning social media posts that featured an image of his head in his hands, it appears to be good news that he is questionable against Indiana as opposed to suffering a more serious injury that would have ruled him out right away.

Cason Wallace would likely start if Williams were unavailable on Tuesday; Wallace finished with 22 points and 27 minutes after starting the second half for Williams on Sunday. Williams has missed just six games in his second NBA season. He's second among all sophomores in scoring at 19.0 points per game, trailing only Paolo Banchero.

Washington Wizards News

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

  • Richaun Holmes (toe) — Out

  • Landry Shamet (calf) — Out

  • Marvin Bagley (back) — Injured

  • Isaiah Livers (hip) — Out for season

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Goodwin, Luke Kennard, John Konchar, Santi Aldama, Trey Jemison

  • John Konchar (ankle) — Available

  • Lamar Stevens (adductor) — Out

  • Jordan Goodwin (Achilles) — Available

  • Scotty Pippen Jr. (back) — Out

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (quad) — Out

  • Vince Williams (knee) — Out

  • Yuta Watanabe (wrist) — Out

  • Desmond Bane (ankle) — Injured

  • Marcus Smart (finger) — Injured

  • Ziaire Williams (hip, back) — Injured

  • Derrick Rose (back, groin) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Ja Morant (shoulder) — Out for season

There are 13 players on the Grizzlies' injury report for Tuesday. If all the doubtful and questionable players miss, Memphis would have just seven healthy bodies against Washington: Kennard, LaRavia, Aldama, Jemison, DeJon Jarreau, GG Jackson, and Wenyen Gabriel.

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr.

  • Cam Whitmore (knee) — Injured

  • Alperen Sengun (ankle, knee) — Injured

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Out for season

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Sengun has been diagnosed with a severely sprained ankle and a bone bruise on his knee. He appears to have dodged a major bullet after there were early concerns he had damaged his knee ligaments, so even though the nature of his injury does not bode well for his short-term availability, it could have been far worse. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that he has not yet been ruled out for the full season, but he would need to heal significantly in order to play again this campaign. Jeff Green appears likely to start at center in Sengun's absence, but Houston could also start Jock Landale, or shift Jabari Smith Jr. down to the five.

San Antonio Spurs News

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

  • Victor Wembanyama (ankle) — Not on injury report

  • Keldon Johnson (illness) — Out

  • Cedi Osman (ankle) — Out for season

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Wembanyama is not listed on the injury report Tuesday, and he'll play on the second night of a back-to-back. He returned Monday after a two-game absence due to a sprained right ankle, playing 31 minutes in a loss to the Warriors. He regularly did not play both ends of back-to-backs earlier in the season but has suited up in each of the last four occurrences for San Antonio. He'll make it five after this news, but Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium cautions that the number of minutes he will play could depend on game flow and how his ankle feels.

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, Luke Kornet

  • Jrue Holiday (knee) — Not on injury report

  • Svi Mykhailiuk (personal) — Available

  • Jaylen Brown (back) — Out

  • Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) — Out

  • Al Horford (injury management) — Out

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, Brice Sensabaugh, Luka Samanic, John Collins

  • Darius Bazley (signed) — Inactive

  • Kenneth Lofton Jr. (signed) — Available

  • Lauri Markkanen (quad) — Out

  • Taylor Hendricks (toe) — Injured

Milwaukee Bucks News

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

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) — Available

  • Khris Middleton (ankle) — Out

  • AJ Green (ankle) — Available

  • MarJon Beauchamp (back) — Out

Middleton is looking to play for the first time since February 6 after being upgraded to questionable. He's missed 14 straight games. Milwaukee has gone 9-5 without him, a bit of a turnaround following a 1-4 start under Doc Rivers. Middleton's potential return would send Crowder to the bench, but the Bucks have shown extreme restraint in bringing him along from injury in the past, and it would not be surprising to see him be minutes-limited or play off the bench when he does return to the court.

Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo has been on the injury report multiple times since early February with this knee listing, but has not missed a game with it as of yet. His lone absence since January 20 was for left Achilles tendinitis. Since first appearing on the injury report with right knee tendinitis on February 4, he's averaged 29.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 34.1 minutes per game. Expect him to be at full strength against the Kings.

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Keon Ellis, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Domantas Sabonis

  • Keegan Murray (ankle) — Out

  • Sasha Vezenkov (ankle) — Injured

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert

  • Anthony Edwards (ankle) — In

  • Rudy Gobert (hamstring) — In

  • Kyle Anderson (shoulder) — Available

  • Monte Morris (hamstring) — Out

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) — Injured

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Terance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac

  • Kawhi Leonard (groin) — In

  • Paul George (knee) — In

  • Russell Westbrook (hand) — Injured