NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/17

Mar 17th 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 (hamstring) — Available

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) — Out

  • Jayson Tatum (ankle) — Available

  • Jimmy Butler (foot) — Out

  • Jaylen Brown (ankle) — Out

  • James Harden (shoulder) — In

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Available

  • Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) — Out

  • Malik Beasley (back) — Available

  • Deni Avdija (knee) — Out

  • Tyus Jones (back) — Out

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) — Available

  • Bilal Coulibaly (wrist) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Phoenix Suns News

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

  • Josh Okogie (abdomen) — Out

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Khris Middleton, Jae Crowder, Brook Lopez

  • Khris Middleton (ankle) — Not on injury report

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) — Out

  • Malik Beasley (back) — Likely to play

  • MarJon Beauchamp (back) — Questionable

  • Chris Livingston (ankle) — Out

The Bucks could have a tough time against the Suns if Antetokounmpo doesn't suit up. He's missed just three games this season, and while Milwaukee has managed to go 2-1 in those outings, they've also averaged 8.8 fewer points per game. If Antetokounmpo does sit, Lillard will likely dominate the ball a bit more than usual. When Antetokounmpo has been unavailable this season, Lillard has had a team-high 38.5% usage rate.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Haywood Highsmith, Bam Adebayo

  • Jimmy Butler (foot) — Out

  • Nikola Jovic (hamstring) — Out

  • Tyler Herro (foot) — Injured

  • Kevin Love (heel) — Injured

  • Josh Richardson (shoulder) — Out for season

Herro received a PRP injection in his foot and is set to be re-evaluated in one-to-two weeks. Due to his absence, Miami is already lacking offensive firepower, and now Butler's availability is in question. They'll face Detroit, who has the league's seventh-best Defensive Rating (111.5) this month. If Butler is sidelined, Rozier, Adebayo, and Robinson will likely handle most of the offensive workload.

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Simone Fontecchio, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Available

  • Ausar Thompson (illness) — Out

  • Quentin Grimes (knee) — Out

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Dallas Mavericks News

Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford

  • Luka Doncic (hamstring) — Available

  • Dante Exum (foot) — Available

  • Josh Green (ankle) — Injured

  • Brandon Williams (wrist) — Out

After missing the previous outing, Doncic could be sidelined again versus the Nuggets. In the last game, Dallas lost to Oklahoma City in a game where Irving scored a team-high 36 points. If Doncic is ultimately ruled out, expect Irving to garner substantial usage for a second consecutive game. Tim Hardaway Jr. would also be in line for an increased role again after scoring 23 points on 13 shot attempts against the Thunder.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Immanuel Quickley, Gary Trent Jr., Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk

  • RJ Barrett (personal) — Out

  • DJ Carton (ankle) — Out

  • Chris Boucher (knee) — Injured

  • Scottie Barnes (hand) — Injured

  • Jakob Poeltl (finger) — Injured

Orlando Magic News

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

  • Jonathan Isaac (injury maintenance) — Out

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Sam Hauser, Oshae Brissett, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford

  • Jayson Tatum (ankle) — Available

  • Jaylen Brown (ankle) — Out

  • Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) — Out

  • Derrick White (hand) — Out

With a couple of players already ruled out, and their two top options uncertain to play, the Celtics could be rather shorthanded against Washington. The good news for Boston is that regardless of who the Wizards are facing, they typically don't play much defense. Washington has given up 120.6 points per contest through eight games this month, the second-most league-wide. Meanwhile, Boston's 127.0 Offensive Rating in March is the league's best.

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Poole, Justin Champagnie, Corey Kispert, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Richaun Holmes

  • Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) — Out

  • Deni Avdija (knee) — Out

  • Bilal Coulibaly (wrist) — Out

  • Tyus Jones (back) — Out

  • Landry Shamet (calf) — Out

  • Marvin Bagley (back) — Injured

  • Isaiah Livers (hip) — Out for season

Brooklyn Nets News

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

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) — Available

  • Ben Simmons (back) — Out for season

  • Dariq Whitehead (shin) — Out for season

San Antonio Spurs News

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

  • Cedi Osman (ankle) — Available

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Vit Krejci, Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (illness) — Not on injury report

  • Trae Young (finger) — Injured

  • Onyeka Okongwu (toe) — Injured

  • Kobe Bufkin (toe) — Injured

  • Saddiq Bey (knee) — Out for season

Los Angeles Clippers News

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

  • James Harden (shoulder) — In

  • Norman Powell (leg) — Out

  • Russell Westbrook (hand) — Injured