NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/19

Mar 19th 2024Cooper 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) — In

  • Anthony Edwards (finger) — In

  • Rudy Gobert (rib) — Out

  • Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) — Out

  • Naz Reid (head) — Out

  • Herb Jones (back, hip) — In

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) — Available

  • Tre Mann (illness) — Available

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Nick Richards

  • Tre Mann (illness) — Available

  • Bryce McGowens (knee) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Mark Williams (back) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (ankle) — Injured

  • Seth Curry (ankle) — Injured

The Hornets have lost eight of their last 10 outings, and one of those losses came against the Magic, who they'll face tonight. During that 10-game span, the Hornets have ranked in the bottom five in Offensive Rating (106.5), Net Rating (-6.9), and assist percentage (58.9%). Meanwhile, Orlando has won eight of its last 10 contests and has had the league's fourth-best Net Rating (+7.7) in those games.

Orlando Magic News

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

  • Jonathan Isaac (injury maintenance) — Not on injury report

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Cam Whitmore (knee) — Injured

  • Alperen Sengun (ankle, knee) — Injured

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Out for season

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Poole, Johnny Davis, Corey Kispert, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Richaun Holmes

  • Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) — Out

  • Deni Avdija (knee) — Out

  • Tyus Jones (back) — Out

  • Landry Shamet (calf) — Out

  • Eugene Omoruyi (ankle) — Out

  • Marvin Bagley (back) — Injured

  • Bilal Coulibaly (wrist) — Out for season

  • Isaiah Livers (hip) — Out for season

Washington has won just two of its last 22 games and lost its previous four outings by an average of 20.8 points per contest. They'll face the Rockets, who are riding a five-game win streak, which includes a 16-point victory against Washington.

On Monday, the Wizards announced that they will be without Coulibaly for the rest of the season, and with so many other players hurt, they'll be facing an uphill battle for the remainder of the 2023-2024 campaign.

New Orleans Pelicans News

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

  • Larry Nance Jr. (illness) — Not on injury report

  • Herb Jones (back, hip) — In

  • Dyson Daniels (knee) — Injured

Jones should return after a one-game absence, which will likely revert Trey Murphy III to the bench. Murphy III has been extremely valuable this season, averaging 14.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest and shooting nearly 38.0% from beyond the arc. When he's stepped in as a starter, the Pelicans have gone 8-3. Regardless of his role against the Nets, he should find success, as Brooklyn has had the league's eighth-worst Net Rating (-5.4) since the start of February.

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

Dallas Mavericks News

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

  • Luka Doncic (hamstring) — In

  • Dante Exum (foot) — Available

  • Josh Green (ankle) — Injured

San Antonio Spurs News

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

  • Zach Collins (concussion protocol) — Out

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Zeke Nnaji (back) — Out

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson

  • Anthony Edwards (finger) — In

  • Rudy Gobert (rib) — Out

  • Naz Reid (head) — Out

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) — Injured

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Gobert missed the first leg of a back-to-back set on Monday, and his status for the second leg remains unclear. It's also worth keeping an eye on Edwards' status, as he injured his finger amid a poster dunk on John Collins in Monday's outing. The Wolves hope to have both players available against the Nuggets, who have the league's best field goal percentage (52.5%) in March.