NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/6

Mar 6th 2024Ryan 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 (Achilles) — Available

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (Achilles) — Available

  • Tyrese Maxey (concussion) — Out

  • Evan Mobley (ankle) — Out

  • Max Strus (knee) — Out

  • Jerami Grant (quad) — Available

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (quad) — Available

  • Jabari Smith Jr. (illness) — Available

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (knee) — Out

  • Keyonte George (illness) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (hand) — Out

  • Jae Crowder (knee) — Available

  • Gary Harris (injury maintenance) — Out

  • Toumani Camara (illness) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Anthony Black, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Goga Bitadze

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (knee) — Out

  • Gary Harris (injury maintenance) — Out

  • Jonathan Isaac (injury maintenance) — Out

Washington Wizards News

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

  • Marvin Bagley (back) — Out

  • Isaiah Livers (hip) — Out for season

After Bagley left with an injury on Monday, Kuzma played the entire fourth quarter at center, with Richaun Holmes not even entering the game, a potential clue for how interim coach Keefe may choose to line up against Orlando. Kuzma was also the nominal center when Bagley was sidelined after the trade deadline. Bagley had started each of Washington's last 10 games, averaging 11.9 points and 8.7 rebounds over 26.2 minutes per outing.

Cleveland Cavaliers News

Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Georges Niang, Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen

  • Max Strus (knee) — Out

  • Donovan Mitchell (knee) — Injured

  • Evan Mobley (ankle) — Injured

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

  • Tristan Thompson — Suspended

Mobley left Tuesday night's game early with a sprained left ankle and left the arena on crutches. Wade was the regular starter at the four during Mobley's lengthy injury stint earlier in the season, but he only averaged 24.4 minutes per game while in the first five. However, he was electric in relief of Mobley on Monday, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter en route to a comeback win over Boston. Expect Georges Niang and Caris LeVert to also see minutes bumps if Mobley misses, especially if Strus remains out.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela

  • De'Andre Hunter (injury management) — Available

  • Kobe Bufkin (toe) — Out

  • Trae Young (finger) — Injured

  • Onyeka Okongwu (toe) — Injured

  • Mouhamed Gueye (back) — Injured

Los Angeles Clippers News

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

  • Russell Westbrook (hand) — Injured

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

  • Jabari Smith Jr. (illness) — Available

  • Jeff Green (knee) — Out

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Out for season

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Luke Kennard, John Konchar, Vince Williams, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr.

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (quad) — Available

  • Yuta Watanabe (wrist) — Out

  • Desmond Bane (ankle) — Injured

  • Marcus Smart (finger) — Injured

  • Ziaire Williams (hip, back) — Injured

  • Derrick Rose (back, groin) — Injured

  • Scotty Pippen Jr. (back) — Injured

  • Brandon Clarke (Achilles) — Injured

  • Ja Morant (shoulder) — Out for season

Jackson Jr. is looking to return after missing three straight games with a quad injury, and Memphis could certainly use him, as Watanabe's absence makes eight players already confirmed out due to injury. In this current stint with Jackson Jr. out, Trey Jemison has started two of three games, while Lamar Stevens was in the first five for the other contest. Stevens should continue to benefit if Jackson Jr. misses, while Jemison will likely be made inactive if Jackson Jr. returns to the lineup.

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Cam Payne, Buddy Hield, Tobias Harris, Nicolas Batum, Mo Bamba

  • Tyrese Maxey (concussion) — Out

  • Kyle Lowry (rest) — Out

  • Joel Embiid (knee) — Injured

  • De'Anthony Melton (back) — Injured

  • Robert Covington (knee) — Injured

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic

  • Torrey Craig (knee) — Doubtful

  • Dalen Terry (personal) — Out

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Out for season

  • Patrick Williams (foot) — Out for season

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Collin Sexton, Kris Dunn, Brice Sensabaugh, Luka Samanic, John Collins

  • Keyonte George (illness) — Out

  • Lauri Markkanen (quad) — Out

  • Walker Kessler (foot) — Out

  • Otto Porter Jr. (not with team) — Out

  • Taylor Hendricks (toe) — Injured

Hendricks will be out at least a week with a sprained left big toe, opening a hole in Utah's starting lineup. Jordan Clarkson and Kris Dunn started the second half in place of early-departing George and Hendricks on Monday. Dunn is a favorite to remain in the starting lineup, but if the Jazz prefer to leave Clarkson in his sixth man role, Brice Sensabaugh played a career-high 21 minutes against the Wizards and is an option to start at the three. Omer Yurtseven is a third possibility if coach Hardy elects to go for size.

Milwaukee Bucks News

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

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (Achilles) — Available

  • Jae Crowder (knee) — Available

  • MarJon Beauchamp (back) — Available

  • Khris Middleton (ankle) — Injured

Golden State Warriors News

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

  • Brandin Podziemski (knee) — Not on injury report

  • Andrew Wiggins (personal) — In

Wiggins has returned to the Warriors after a personal issue and will play and likely start against the Bucks on Wednesday, per Coach Kerr. Wiggins returned to team activities with Golden State this week after tending to a serious family matter, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. He practiced on Tuesday, but his minutes load for Wednesday is undecided. Wiggins has missed each of Golden State's last four games. Moses Moody had been starting in his place, averaging 12.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per outing over the four-game run.

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

  • Jaylin Williams (knee) — Out

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Anfernee Simons, Dalano Banton, Kris Murray, Jerami Grant, Duop Reath

  • Jerami Grant (quad) — Available

  • Matisse Thybulle (hip) — Available

  • Toumani Camara (illness) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (hand) — Out

  • Scoot Henderson (adductor) — Injured

  • Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) — Injured

  • Shaedon Sharpe (core) — injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • Sasha Vezenkov (ankle) — Injured

Los Angeles Lakers News

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

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Available

  • Anthony Davis (Achilles) — Available

  • Cam Reddish (ankle) — Available

  • Christian Wood (knee) — Injured

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) — Injured

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured

  • Colin Castleton (wrist) — Injured