NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/8

Mar 8th 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

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Out

  • Anthony Davis (Achilles) — Available

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (Achilles) — Available

  • Anthony Edwards (ankle) — In

  • Jalen Brunson (knee) — In

  • Damian Lillard (rib) — Available

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Jalen Suggs (thigh) — Out

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (knee) — Available

  • Tre Mann (groin) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (knee) — Out

  • Toumani Camara (illness) — Available

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Vasilije Micic, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Grant Williams, Nick Richards

  • Tre Mann (groin) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Mark Williams (back) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (ankle) — Injured

  • Seth Curry (ankle) — Injured

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyus Jones, Bilal Coulibaly, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Richaun Holmes

  • Landry Shamet (calf) — Out

  • Marvin Bagley (back) — Out

  • Isaiah Livers (hip) — Out for season

New Orleans Pelicans News

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

  • Dyson Daniels (knee) — Injured

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Buddy Hield, Kelly Oubre, Tobias Harris, Mo Bamba

  • Nicolas Batum (foot) — Out

  • Tyrese Maxey (concussion) — Out

  • Joel Embiid (knee) — Injured

  • Robert Covington (knee) — Injured

  • De'Anthony Melton (back) — Injured

The Sixers are still searching for answers at center in the wake of Embiid's injury. Philadelphia returned Reed to the starting lineup on Wednesday after trying Mo Bamba in that spot for three straight games. Reed has averaged just 25.8 minutes per game across 23 starts this season, and Bamba almost found himself out of the rotation after the demotion, playing just 4:28 against Memphis. Depending on the matchup, it would not be a huge shock if the Sixers eventually tried Nicolas Batum in that spot. Over the team's last five games, Batum's 28.1 minutes per outing is well ahead of both Reed (21.8) and Bamba (13.7).

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert

  • Anthony Edwards (ankle) — In

  • Jordan McLaughlin (illness) — Available

  • Monte Morris (hamstring) — Out

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) — Injured

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Edwards left Thursday's game to head to the locker room twice with an ankle injury, but returned each time to finish the game. Despite that, he had 44 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, and the game-winning block where his head nearly hit the rim.

Edwards is questionable on the second night of a back-to-back, but he has played through questionable tags all season long and clearly looked healthy toward the end of Thursday's game. He averages 36.8 minutes per game during second legs of back-to-backs this season.

Morris also suffered an in-game injury against Indiana, hurting his hamstring during the third quarter. He did not return to the contest.

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

  • Tristan Thompson — Suspended

  • Ty Jerome (ankle) — Injured

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Anthony Black, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

  • Jalen Suggs (thigh) — Out

  • Wendell Carter Jr. (knee) — Available

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Hartenstein

  • Jalen Brunson (knee) — In

  • Julius Randle (shoulder) — Injured

  • OG Anunoby (elbow) — Injured

  • Mitchell Robinson (ankle) — Injured

If Brunson is unable to return to the lineup, expect Miles McBride to continue in one of the league's busiest roles as New York's starting point guard. Across Brunson's five absences this season, McBride has averaged 41.1 minutes per outing. McBride also played 47 minutes -- the entire remainder of the game -- when Brunson was hurt after 47 seconds on March 3 against Cleveland.

Hart has also been no stranger to immense workloads of late. He's surpassed 40 minutes in seven straight appearances, peaking at 47 minutes himself on February 29 against Golden State.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Vit Krejci, Saddiq Bey, Clint Capela

  • Jalen Johnson (ankle) — Out

  • Kobe Bufkin (toe) — Injured

  • Trae Young (finger) — Injured

  • Onyeka Okongwu (toe) — Injured

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Goodwin, John Konchar, Vince Williams, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr.

  • GG Jackson (knee) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (knee) — Out

  • Wenyen Gabriel (signed) — 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

Kennard being doubtful to play against Atlanta means the Grizzlies could activate Goodwin to start at point guard. He is eligible to play in 15 of Memphis' final 25 games while on his two-way contract, meaning he has 12 games remaining. Including his prior stint on a 10-day contract, he's appeared in five games as a Grizzly, starting four of them, averaging 29.6 minutes per outing. When in the starting lineup, he averages 7.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across 31.1 minutes per game.

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic, Bam Adebayo

  • Tyler Herro (foot) — Out

  • Kevin Love (heel) — Out

  • Josh Richardson (shoulder) — Out for season

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

  • Jaylin Williams (knee) — Not on injury report

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Jeff Green (knee) — Available

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Out for season

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Anfernee Simons, Dalano Banton, Kris Murray, Toumani Camara, Duop Reath

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Toumani Camara (illness) — Available

  • Jabari Walker (hip) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (hand) — Out

  • Scoot Henderson (adductor) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) — Injured

  • Shaedon Sharpe (core) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

Milwaukee Bucks News

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

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (Achilles) — Available

  • Damian Lillard (rib) — Available

  • Khris Middleton (ankle) — Injured

Although the Bucks are taking the court for the first time since a 35-point loss at Golden State, Milwaukee remains 6-1 overall since the All-Star break and has passed Cleveland for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

Antetokounmpo has dominated the Lakers of late. In his last four meetings against Los Angeles, he's averaged 42.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 35.7 minutes.

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Anthony Davis

  • LeBron James (ankle) — Out

  • Anthony Davis (Achilles) — Available

  • Cam Reddish (ankle) — Available

  • Christian Wood (knee) — Injured

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) — Injured

  • Gabe Vincent (knee) — Injured

  • Colin Castleton (wrist) — Injured