NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 4/11

Apr 11th 2024

Justin Phan

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

  • Jayson Tatum (knee) — Available

  • Jaylen Brown (hand) — Available

  • Cade Cunningham (knee) — Out

  • Kristaps Porzingis (injury management) — Available

  • Draymond Green (knee) — Out

  • Klay Thompson (knee) — Out

  • Keegan Murray (calf) — Available

  • Jrue Holiday (knee) — Available

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Ayo Dosunmu (quad) — Out

  • Dalano Banton (ankle) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Chicago Bulls News

Confirmed Lineup: Coby White, Alex Caruso, Javonte Green, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Ayo Dosunmu (quad) — Out

  • Andre Drummond (ankle) — Out

  • Julian Phillips (foot) — Injured

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Out for season

  • Patrick Williams (foot) — Out for season

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Detroit Pistons News

Confirmed Lineup: Marcus Sasser, Jaden Ivey, Troy Brown Jr., Chimezie Metu, Jalen Duren

  • Cade Cunningham (knee) — Out

  • Simone Fontecchio (toe) — Out

  • Tosan Evbuomwan (G League) — Out

  • Ausar Thompson (blood clot) — Out for season

  • Isaiah Stewart (hamstring) — Out for season

  • Stanley Umude (ankle) — Out for season

  • Quentin Grimes (knee) — Out for season

Cunningham has missed the last four games, two of which were not part of a back-to-back set. The Pistons also notably changed his injury from left knee injury management to left knee tendinopathy. With nothing left to play for and incentive to stay deep in the tank, it wouldn't be surprising to see Cunningham miss his fifth straight and Marcus Sasser draw another spot start. Malachi Flynn (32.2%), Ivey (29.6%), and Duren (24.5%) lead the team in usage rate over the last four games Cunningham has missed.

New York Knicks News

Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Isaiah Hartenstein

  • Julius Randle (shoulder) — Out for season

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis

  • Jayson Tatum (knee) — Available

  • Jaylen Brown (hand) — Available

  • Kristaps Porzingis (injury management) — Available

  • Jrue Holiday (knee) — Available

  • Al Horford (toe) — Available

  • Xavier Tillman (knee) — Available

  • Oshae Brissett (illness) — Out

With the league's best record clinched and this being the first leg of a back-to-back set, the Celtics' injury report was expected. It makes far more sense for coach Mazzulla to play his starters in Thursday's TNT game vs. the Knicks rather than in Friday's game vs. the Hornets. Jrue Holiday didn't play the entire fourth quarter of Tuesday's loss, while Derrick White was limited to a 70-second stint. There will be minutes downside for almost every Celtics starter the rest of the way, given the team has nothing to play for and no reason to risk injury. Mazzulla has discussed experimenting with different lineups and combinations to close the season.

Houston Rockets News

Confirmed Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr.

  • Alperen Sengun (ankle, knee) — Injured

  • Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) — Injured

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Out for season

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Utah Jazz News

Confirmed Lineup: Keyonte George, Johnny Juzang, Luka Samanic, Taylor Hendricks, Omer Yurtseven

  • Collin Sexton (illness) — Out

  • Jordan Clarkson (back) — Out

  • John Collins (back) — Out

  • Walker Kessler (nose) — Out

  • Kris Dunn (foot) — Out

  • Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) — Injured

Tuesday's game vs. the Nuggets went about as expected, with Markkanen, Clarkson, Sexton, Collins, Kessler, and Dunn all sidelined. The Jazz scored just 95 points, posting a 100.0 Offensive Rating in a 16-point loss. Even with big minutes and usage, George has looked like a rookie point guard. He and Juzang have struggled with consistency in their minutes, while Talen Horton-Tucker and Yurtseven are the more reliable options. It'll be interesting to see if coach Hardy sticks with Samanic or Brice Sensabaugh in the first unit.

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis

  • Gary Payton II (calf) — Out

  • Draymond Green (knee) — Out

  • Klay Thompson (knee) — Out

  • Dario Saric (knee) — Available

It's unclear when Green suffered a knee contusion; he played 32-plus minutes in Tuesday's win and knocked down 5-of-7 from three without any reported issues. Jonathan Kuminga would move back into the starting lineup if he has to miss time. The Warriors have been rolling with Jackson-Davis as a starter, so coach Kerr has opted to bring Kuminga off the bench in each of the last two games since his return. It's worth noting that the Warriors' Defensive Rating balloons from 110.6 to 115.9 with Draymond off the court.

Portland Trail Blazers News

Confirmed Lineup: Scoot Henderson, Rayan Rupert, Kris Murray, Jabari Walker, Deandre Ayton

  • Dalano Banton (ankle) — Out

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Anfernee Simons (knee) — Out

  • Matisse Thybulle (ankle) — Out

  • Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) — Injured

  • Shaedon Sharpe (core) — Out for season

  • Toumani Camara (rib, kidney) — Out for season

  • Robert Williams (knee) — Out for season

New Orleans Pelicans News

Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas

  • Naji Marshall (shoulder) — Available

  • Larry Nance Jr. (personal) — Out

  • Brandon Ingram (knee) — Injured

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • Keegan Murray (calf) — Available

  • JaVale McGee (illness) — Out

  • Jordan Ford (hip) — Out

  • Malik Monk (knee) — Injured

  • Kevin Huerter (shoulder) — Out for season