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 (foot) — In
Anthony Davis (foot) — In
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — Available
D'Angelo Russell (foot) — In
Max Strus (finger) — Available
Kyle Lowry (knee) — Available
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Confirmed Lineup: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela
Young averaged 15.4 points on 31.9% shooting in five playoff games against the Heat last season before averaging 19.8 points on 35.6% shooting in four regular season matchups this year. Murray averaged 18.5 points on 43.9% shooting during those contests. Wing scoring will be needed against Miami, who allowed the fifth-most made threes per game (7.9) to forwards this season. Saddiq Bey averaged 19.5 points and 33.5 minutes in two contests against the Heat in March. Bey's, Hunter's, and Collins' shooting will be essential to this matchup.
Confirmed Lineup: Gabe Vincent, Tyler Herro, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo
Max Strus (finger) — Available
Kyle Lowry (knee) — Available
Nikola Jovic (back) — Out
Butler and Adebayo, in particular, should succeed against the Hawks, who allowed the second-most points in the paint per game (60.8) during the last 15 matches. Adebayo averaged 24.5 points on heightened 25.7% usage in four matches against Atlanta this season, while Butler averaged 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists on 24.4% usage in three games.
Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Taurean Prince, Kyle Anderson, Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) — Available
Rudy Gobert (suspension) — Out
Jaylen Nowell (knee) — Available
Luka Garza (two-way) — Out
Jaden McDaniels (hand) — Injured
Naz Reid (wrist) — Injured
Towns has posted +3.5% usage, +3.2% rebound rate, and +4.1% assist rate differentials, while Edwards has logged +2.8% usage and +2.3% rebound rate differentials with Gobert and Reid off the court this season. The starters will log extended minutes as Edwards and Towns are increasingly featured in the offense, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker could clear 20 minutes in a thinned lineup.
Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis
LeBron James (foot) — In
Anthony Davis (foot) — In
D'Angelo Russell (foot) — In
Dennis Schroder (Achilles) — Not on injury report
Tristan Thompson (signee) — TBD
Shaq Harrison (signee) — TBD
The Timberwolves have allowed an additional 5.7 points per 100 possessions with Rudy Gobert (suspension, out) off the court this season and will also be without their best perimeter defender in Jalen McDaniels (hand). Additionally, Minnesota registered the second-worst defensive rebound rate (70.6%) when Karl-Anthony Towns manned the center position for most of last season. Davis scored 38 points in both games against the Timberwolves last month and led the team with 35.4% usage in the contest James was active for. With Gobert unavailable, Davis should now see more favorable matchups.