NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/18

Mar 18th 2024

Justin Phan

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

  • Jayson Tatum (ankle) — Out

  • Jaylen Brown (ankle) — In

  • Jimmy Butler (foot) — Out

  • LeBron James (ankle) — In

  • Anthony Davis (eye) — In

  • Lauri Markkanen (quad) — Available

  • Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) — In

  • Rudy Gobert (rib) — Out

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Out

  • Coby White (hip) — Out

  • Jrue Holiday (shoulder) — Out

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Tobias Harris (ankle) — Out

  • OG Anunoby (injury management) — Out

  • Derrick White (hand) — Not on injury report

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic — Not on injury report

  • Vince Williams (knee) — Out

  • Alex Caruso (toe) — Available

  • Ausar Thompson (illness) — Out

  • Kyle Anderson (shoulder) — Available

  • Dean Wade (knee) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

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

  • Dean Wade (knee) — Out

  • Donovan Mitchell (nose) — Out

  • Max Strus (knee) — Out

  • Evan Mobley (ankle) — Injured

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

After just two games Mitchell is back on the shelf with a nasal fracture and a left knee issue. The knee issue could sideline him for at least a few games as the Cavs prioritize his health for the playoff run. Garland (27.6%) and LeVert (22.0%) led the team in usage rate during the recent seven-game stretch that Mitchell was sidelined for while Allen averaged a robust 18.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.

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

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Sasser, Jaden Ivey, Stanley Umude, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Out

  • Simone Fontecchio (toe) — Out

  • Ausar Thompson (illness) — Out

  • Quentin Grimes (knee) — Out

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet

  • Jayson Tatum (ankle) — Out

  • Jaylen Brown (ankle) — In

  • Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) — In

  • Derrick White (hand) — Not on injury report

  • Jrue Holiday (shoulder) — Out

  • Al Horford (toe) — Out

  • Sam Hauser (ankle) — Out

  • JD Davidson (illness) — Out

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

Butler was sidelined for seven games earlier this year with right foot issues so it wouldn't be surprising to see him sit out again in the second leg of a back-to-back. Jaime Jaquez Jr. got the spot start in his place Sunday and played 34.7 minutes; he'd be in for a similar workload on Monday if Butler and Jovic remain sidelined. Rozier, Adebayo, and Duncan Robinson put up gaudy lines in Sunday's win and should be in another good spot to do so on Monday against a Sixers defense that has ranked just 25th in Defensive Rating since Embiid went down with an injury.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Kelly Oubre, Nicolas Batum, Mo Bamba

  • Tobias Harris (ankle) — Out

  • Kai Jones (hamstring) — Out

  • Joel Embiid (knee) — Injured

  • Robert Covington (knee) — Injured

  • De'Anthony Melton (back) — Injured

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Kris Murray, Toumani Camara, Deandre Ayton

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Matisse Thybulle (ankle) — Available

  • Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) — Injured

  • Shaedon Sharpe (core) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

Henderson's role will be one to watch here -- he came off the bench and played just 24.3 minutes in Saturday's loss after starting the second leg of a back-to-back on Thursday. This has to be seen as a step back for him to remain on a minutes limit coming out of a back-to-back set. We're projecting him to come off the bench again behind Banton as coach Billups and the Blazers look to keep his minutes around the mid-20s.

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Torrey Craig, Nikola Vucevic

  • Coby White (hip) — Out

  • Alex Caruso (toe) — Available

  • Julian Phillips (foot) — Injured

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Out for season

  • Patrick Williams (foot) — Out for season

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Naz Reid

  • Rudy Gobert (rib) — Out

  • Kyle Anderson (shoulder) — Available

  • Monte Morris (hamstring) — Available

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) — Injured

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Keyonte George, Kris Dunn, Taylor Hendricks, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins

  • Lauri Markkanen (quad) — Available

  • Jordan Clarkson (groin) — Out

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Isaiah Hartenstein

  • OG Anunoby (injury management) — Out

  • Julius Randle (shoulder) — Injured

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

Golden State Warriors News

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

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Desmond Bane, John Konchar, GG Jackson, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr.

  • Vince Williams (knee) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (personal) — Out

  • Lamar Stevens (adductor) — Out

  • Scotty Pippen Jr. (shin) — Out

  • Yuta Watanabe (personal) — Out

  • Marcus Smart (finger) — Injured

  • Ziaire Williams (hip, back) — Injured

  • Derrick Rose (back, groin) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Ja Morant (shoulder) — Out for season

The Grizzlies have consistently flipped players this season from inactive (G League) to starting games to preserve the games and days remaining on their two-way contracts. With Kennard and Pippen Jr. ruled out here it makes sense for them to burn one of Goodwin's remaining games and start him at point guard. Bane led all Grizzlies players with a 28.9 percent usage rate in his return to the lineup Saturday.

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • Trey Lyles (knee) — Injured

  • Sasha Vezenkov (ankle) — Injured

Atlanta Hawks News

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

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic — Not on injury report

  • Onyeka Okongwu (toe, sesamoiditis) — Available

  • Trae Young (finger) — Injured

  • Kobe Bufkin (toe) — Injured

  • AJ Griffin (leg, ankle) — Injured

  • Mouhamed Gueye (elbow) — Injured

  • Saddiq Bey (knee) — Out for season

Los Angeles Lakers News

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

  • LeBron James (ankle) — In

  • Anthony Davis (eye) — In

  • Cam Reddish (ankle) — Out

  • Christian Wood (knee) — Injured

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) — Injured

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured

  • Colin Castleton (wrist) — Injured

Davis suffered a corneal abrasion in the first half of Saturday's game and didn't return. His vision was impaired and his eye was swollen shut after taking an elbow. He'll be monitored overnight and Sunday to determine his availability for Monday. Jaxson Hayes started the second half in Davis' place and played just under 17 minutes in the second half. He'll be leaned on again if Davis has to miss additional time as the team's only true big men that offers any semblance of rim protection.