NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 3/9

Mar 9th 2024

Cooper 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 (elbow) — In

  • Nikola Jokic (arm) — In

  • Jayson Tatum (ankle) — Available

  • Devin Booker (ankle) — Out

  • Kawhi Leonard (groin) — In

  • Jaylen Brown (back) — Available

  • Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) — Out

  • Paul George (knee) — In

  • James Harden (shoulder) — In

  • Devin Vassell (hip) — Out

  • Cam Thomas (ankle, foot) — Available

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Deandre Ayton (hand) — In

  • Scoot Henderson (adductor) — In

  • Tre Mann (groin) — Out

  • Walker Kessler (foot) — In

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Chicago Bulls News

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

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Out for season

  • Patrick Williams (foot) — Out for season

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Los Angeles Clippers News

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

  • Ivica Zubac (illness, headache) — Not on injury report

  • Kawhi Leonard (groin) — In

  • Paul George (knee) — In

  • James Harden (shoulder) — In

  • Russell Westbrook (hand) — Injured

With the status of their big three up in the air, the Clippers may need their supporting cast to step up against Chicago. That shouldn't be a problem for Norman Powell, who has averaged 13.4 points per contest and converted 48.3% of his three-pointers over the last 10 games. Powell has no issue shooting at a high volume, as he's recorded at least 13 field goal attempts in five of those 10 outings. The Clippers will match up against a Bulls team riding a three-game win streak.

Brooklyn Nets News

Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Cam Thomas, Mikal Bridges, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton

  • Cam Thomas (ankle, foot) — Available

  • Day'Ron Sharpe (wrist) — Available

  • Lonnie Walker (illness) — Out

  • Cam Johnson (ankle) — Out

  • Ben Simmons (back) — Out for season

  • Dariq Whitehead (shin) — Out for season

It appears as if the Nets will get Thomas back after a six-game absence. They managed a 3-3 record, but getting his offensive production back will be important, as they scored just 107.5 points per contest during that stretch. Getting back on track offensively against the Hornets won't be easy, as Charlotte's 110.4 Defensive Rating over the last 10 games has been the tenth-best league-wide. Johnson was said to be receiving imaging on his injury and is currently considered day-to-day.

Charlotte Hornets News

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

  • Tre Mann (groin) — Out

  • Bryce McGowens (knee) — Out

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Injured

  • Mark Williams (back) — Injured

  • Cody Martin (ankle) — Injured

  • Seth Curry (ankle) — Injured

Dallas Mavericks News

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

  • Luka Doncic (elbow) — In

  • Dereck Lively II (personal) — Out

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren

  • Quentin Grimes (injury management) — Out

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford

  • Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) — Out

  • Jayson Tatum (ankle) — Available

  • Jaylen Brown (back) — Available

  • Neemias Queta (knee) — Available

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic

  • Devin Booker (ankle) — Out

  • Josh Okogie (abdomen) — Out

  • Nassir Little (knee) — Injured

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Malaki Branham, Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins

  • Devin Vassell (hip) — Out

  • Victor Wembanyama (ankle) — Out

  • Cedi Osman (ankle) — Out

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Wembanyama missed the most recent contest and the Spurs lost, bringing them to 0-7 in games without him this season. San Antonio will face an uphill battle again with Wemby sidelined against the Warriors, who have won seven of their last 10 outings. However, Golden State will be without Stephen Curry (ankle), who avoided serious injury in his last appearance. Collins won't bring the same energy as Wembanyama, but he will look to replicate what he did last game when he posted 22 points and seven rebounds. He'll have a pretty good matchup as the Warriors have given up the eighth-most points per game (23.7) league-wide to centers.

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Draymond Green

  • Trayce Jackson-Davis (ankle) — Available

  • Gary Payton II (illness) — Out

  • Stephen Curry (ankle) — Out

In the fourth quarter of the previous outing, Curry drove to the basket and rolled his ankle, forcing him out of the contest early. After his MRI results returned clean, it was reported that Curry would miss at least a game or a few games, but that his absence wouldn't be an extended one. Gary Payton II and Moses Moody could see increased playing time in the interim, while Paul, Kuminga, and Wiggins could garner heightened usage. Wiggins has seen a +4.2% usage rate differential in three games sans Curry this season.

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, Brice Sensabaugh, John Collins, Walker Kessler

  • Keyonte George (illness) — Not on injury report

  • Walker Kessler (foot) — In

  • Lauri Markkanen (quad) — Out

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

  • Taylor Hendricks (toe) — Injured

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Nikola Jokic (arm) — In

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Immanuel Quickley, Gary Trent Jr., Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk

  • RJ Barrett (illness) — Out

  • Bruce Brown (knee) — Out

  • DJ Carton (ankle) — Out

  • Jakob Poeltl (finger) — Injured

  • Scottie Barnes (hand) — Injured

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Anfernee Simons, Dalano Banton, Kris Murray, Toumani Camara, Deandre Ayton

  • Deandre Ayton (hand) — In

  • Scoot Henderson (adductor) — In

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Jabari Walker (hip) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) — Injured

  • Shaedon Sharpe (core) — Injured

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season