NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/20

Mar 20th 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 (hamstring) — Out

  • Jimmy Butler (foot) — Available

  • Jaylen Brown (ankle) — Available

  • Jrue Holiday (shoulder) — Out

  • Bam Adebayo (back) — Out

  • Draymond Green (back) — Available

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Anfernee Simons (knee) — Available

  • Tobias Harris (ankle) — Out

  • John Collins (face) — Available

  • Santi Aldama (elbow) — Available

  • Vince Williams (knee) — Out

  • Terance Mann (shoulder) — Out

  • Simone Fontecchio (toe) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Indiana Pacers News

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

  • Doug McDermott (calf) — Available

  • Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) — Out for season

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Stanley Umude, Tosan Evbuomwan, Jalen Duren

  • Simone Fontecchio (toe) — Out

  • Taj Gibson (hamstring) — Out

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Not on injury report

  • Quentin Grimes (knee) — Out

  • Isaiah Stewart (hamstring) — Out for season

  • Ausar Thompson (illness) — Out for season

Cunningham's return after missing the second end of a back-to-back due to injury management should send Marcus Sasser back to the bench, but the Pistons have a question mark at the four with Stewart's new injury keeping him out against the Pacers. If Fontecchio is able to return, coach Williams could keep Stanley Umude in the starting lineup at the three, sliding Fontecchio down to the four. Fontecchio missed Monday's game after four consecutive starts in Thompson's place, during which he averaged a team-leading 36.1 minutes per game. He'll have one of the biggest roles on the Pistons down the stretch if healthy.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Patty Mills, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic, Thomas Bryant

  • Jimmy Butler (foot) — Available

  • Bam Adebayo (back) — Out

  • Nikola Jovic (hamstring) — Available

  • Duncan Robinson (back) — Out

  • Tyler Herro (foot) — Injured

  • Kevin Love (heel) — Injured

  • Josh Richardson (shoulder) — Out for season

Butler and Jovic are looking to return after two-game absences. Jaquez Jr. and Haywood Highsmith have been starting in their places, and Jaquez Jr. could remain in the starting lineup even if Butler is able to return due to Robinson missing out. Coach Spoelstra could also start Patty Mills or Delon Wright at point guard while moving Rozier down to the two.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

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

  • Dean Wade (knee) — Out

  • Donovan Mitchell (nose) — Injured

  • Evan Mobley (ankle) — Injured

  • Max Strus (knee) — Injured

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

Milwaukee Bucks News

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

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) — Out

  • MarJon Beauchamp (back) — Available

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis

  • Jaylen Brown (ankle) — Available

  • Jrue Holiday (shoulder) — Out

  • Sam Hauser (ankle) — Out

  • Jayson Tatum (ankle) — Not on injury report

  • Al Horford (toe) — Not on injury report

Payton Pritchard started in Holiday's wake on Monday, playing a season-high 38 minutes while totaling 23 points and seven assists. Derrick White also triple-doubled in the win over Detroit. Both players would look set for increased workloads if Holiday remained out against his former team.

Meanwhile, if Brown misses out, it could be a straight swap in the lineup for Tatum, who is not on the injury report. Horford could re-enter the starting lineup for Luke Kornet in the case as well, or Boston could roll out their regular starting five for the first time since March 7 if all of the questionable players are good to go.

Sacramento Kings News

Confirmed Lineup: De'Aaron Fox, Keon Ellis, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis

  • Sasha Vezenkov (ankle) — Out

  • Kevin Huerter (shoulder) — Out

  • Trey Lyles (knee) — Injured

Huerter was injured just 1:51 into Monday's win over Memphis, failing to return to the contest. Keon Ellis filled Huerter's role, ending at 34 minutes, while Sixth Man of the Year favorite Malik Monk played 39. Ellis has been a spot starter for several different players in recent days and should be considered the favorite to take over for Huerter against Toronto.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Bruce Brown, Gary Trent Jr., Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk

  • Immanuel Quickley (personal) — Out

  • DJ Carton (ankle) — Out

  • RJ Barrett (personal) — Out

  • Scottie Barnes (hand) — Injured

  • Jakob Poeltl (finger) — Injured

  • Chris Boucher (knee) — Injured

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Keyonte George, Kris Dunn, Brice Sensabaugh, Taylor Hendricks, John Collins

  • John Collins (face) — Available

  • Lauri Markkanen (injury maintenance) — Out

  • Jordan Clarkson (groin) — Out

Markkanen returned after six games out to play 31 minutes in a loss to the Wolves on Monday, but will go right back to the sidelines due to injury maintenance on his quad. Expect Brice Sensabaugh to return to the starting lineup in his place against Oklahoma City. Taylor Hendricks should continue starting at the four, and will have a higher floor with Markkanen out.

Meanwhile, Collins was injured at the hands of Anthony Edwards during a ferocious posterization on Monday, leaving the game during the third quarter and not returning. Walker Kessler played every minute of the contest after Collins' injury, and Kessler would likely start against Oklahoma City at center if Collins sat out.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: James Harden, Amir Coffey, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac

  • Terance Mann (shoulder) — Out

  • Norman Powell (leg) — Out

  • Russell Westbrook (hand) — Injured

Portland Trail Blazers News

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

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Anfernee Simons (knee) — Available

  • Matisse Thybulle (ankle) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) — Injured

  • Shaedon Sharpe (core) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

Memphis Grizzlies News

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

  • Santi Aldama (elbow) — Available

  • Vince Williams (knee) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (personal) — Out

  • Scotty Pippen Jr. (shin) — Out

  • Lamar Stevens (adductor) — 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

Golden State Warriors News

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

  • Draymond Green (back) — Available

  • Moses Moody (knee) — Available

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

Phoenix Suns News

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

  • Bol Bol (ankle) — Available

  • Isaiah Thomas (signed) — Available

  • Josh Okogie (abdomen) — Out

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured