NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 4/9

Apr 9th 2024

Ryan 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

  • Nikola Jokic (hip) — Available

  • Joel Embiid (injury recovery) — Available

  • LeBron James (illness) — In

  • Anthony Davis (headache, nausea) — Out

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) — In

  • Damian Lillard (hip) — In

  • James Harden (foot) — Out

  • Tyrese Maxey (hip) — Out

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Out

  • Jalen Williams (ankle) — Available

  • Jamal Murray (knee) — Available

  • Aaron Gordon (foot) — Out

  • Michael Porter Jr. (knee) — Available

  • Collin Sexton (illness) — Out

  • Terry Rozier (neck) — Out

  • Kristaps Porzingis (injury management) — Out

  • Bam Adebayo (hand) — Available

  • Kyle Kuzma (ankle) — Out

  • Franz Wagner (ankle) — Out

  • Keegan Murray (calf) — Available

  • Coby White (ankle) — Available

  • Tobias Harris (knee) — In

  • Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) — Out

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Khris Middleton (quad) — In

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Out

  • Andrew Wiggins (ankle) — Available

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (shoulder) — Available

  • Nikola Jovic (ankle) — Available

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Ayo Dosunmu (quad) — Out

  • Richaun Holmes (toe) — Out

  • Tristan Vukcevic (knee) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Dallas Mavericks News

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

  • Maxi Kleber (back) — Available

  • Josh Green (ankle) — Out

  • Greg Brown III (personal) — Out

  • Dereck Lively II (knee) — Injured

Charlotte Hornets News

Confirmed Lineup: Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Grant Williams

  • Amari Bailey (illness) — Out

  • Mark Williams (back) — Injured

  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) — Out for season

  • Seth Curry (ankle) — Out for season

  • Cody Martin (ankle) — Out for season

Detroit Pistons News

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

  • Jalen Duren (ankle) — Not on injury report

  • Cade Cunningham (injury management) — Out

  • Evan Fournier (knee) — Available

  • 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

Philadelphia 76ers News

Confirmed Lineup: Cam Payne, Kelly Oubre, Tobias Harris, Nicolas Batum, Joel Embiid

  • Joel Embiid (injury recovery) — Available

  • Tyrese Maxey (hip) — Out

  • Tobias Harris (knee) — In

  • Kyle Lowry (knee) — Out

  • KJ Martin (toe) — Out

  • De'Anthony Melton (back) — Available

  • Robert Covington (knee) — Injured

The Sixers face off against lowly Detroit on Tuesday and then have two full days off before their next game, which is also at home, against Orlando on Friday night. The favorable schedule could explain why the team is considering giving several of its players the night off based on the five key questionable tags.

Melton is looking to return after missing the Sixers' last 21 games. An excellent perimeter defender, his availability could be huge for Philadelphia in the postseason. Entering Tuesday's play, the Sixers are likely to finish the season in the 7- vs. 8-seed play-in game, with roughly equal odds to play that game as the home team or the visitors.

Indiana Pacers News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner

  • Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) — Out for season

Indiana won one of the regular season's most consequential games thus far on Sunday, edging the Heat by two points. The win gave Indiana a 1.5-game edge over Miami while maintaining the sixth spot in the standings, which of course is the cutoff for qualification directly to the playoffs vs. a spot in the Play-In Tournament. The Pacers also clinched the regular-season tiebreaker over the Heat in the process, stretching their lead against Miami to essentially 2.5 games. Indiana also holds the tiebreaker against the 76ers, who currently sit in seventh in the Eastern Conference standings.

Toronto Raptors News

Confirmed Lineup: Javon Freeman-Liberty, Gary Trent Jr., Ochai Agbaji, RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk

  • Gradey Dick (groin) — Out

  • Immanuel Quickley (rest) — Out

  • DJ Carton (ankle) — Out

  • Jontay Porter (personal) — Out

  • Scottie Barnes (hand) — Injured

  • Jakob Poeltl (finger) — Injured

  • Chris Boucher (knee) — Injured

Boston Celtics News

Confirmed Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Xavier Tillman

  • Kristaps Porzingis (injury management) — Out

  • Al Horford (toe) — Out

  • Jayson Tatum (knee) — Not on injury report

Milwaukee Bucks News

Confirmed Lineup: Damian Lillard, Patrick Beverley, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) — In

  • Damian Lillard (hip) — In

  • Khris Middleton (quad) — In

  • Patrick Beverley (ankle) — In

  • MarJon Beauchamp (ankle) — Out

  • Jaylin Galloway (ankle) — Out

Miami Heat News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic, Bam Adebayo

  • Terry Rozier (neck) — Out

  • Bam Adebayo (hand) — Available

  • Nikola Jovic (ankle) — Available

  • Kevin Love (ankle) — Available

  • Orlando Robinson (back) — Available

  • Duncan Robinson (back) — Injured

  • Josh Richardson (shoulder) — Out for season

Even without factoring in the Heat's numerous injury listings, Tyler Herro is trending closer to a return to the starting lineup, and he might return there on Tuesday with Duncan Robinson downgraded to out. In Herro's second game back from a foot injury, his minutes jumped from 25 to 31. He scored 21 points off the bench against Indiana, second to only Butler among all Heat players. Herro has not made a start since February 23.

Atlanta Hawks News

Confirmed Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter, Jalen Johnson, Clint Capela

  • Seth Lundy (ankle) — Out

  • Trae Young (finger) — Injured

  • Onyeka Okongwu (toe) — Injured

  • AJ Griffin (ankle) — Injured

  • Saddiq Bey (knee) — Out for season

Although the Hawks are locked in to either the ninth or tenth seed in the East ahead of the Play-In Tournament, Atlanta received good news on Monday with Young being cleared for team practice and contact. He suffered a left fifth finger torn ligament on February 23 and underwent surgery on February 27. Atlanta has four games left in the regular season. It's unclear when Young will be cleared to play, and he has officially been ruled out for this contest. The Hawks have gone 12-10 without Young over the past six weeks.

New York Knicks News

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

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (wrist) — Available

  • Julius Randle (shoulder) — Out for season

Chicago Bulls News

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

  • Coby White (ankle) — Available

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Available

  • Ayo Dosunmu (quad) — Out

  • Julian Phillips (foot) — Injured

  • Zach LaVine (foot) — Out for season

  • Patrick Williams (foot) — Out for season

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Out for season

Orlando Magic News

Confirmed Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

  • Franz Wagner (ankle) — Out

  • Jonathan Isaac (bank) — Available

  • Caleb Houstan (ankle) — Not on injury report

Houston Rockets News

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

  • Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) — Injured

  • Alperen Sengun (ankle, knee) — Injured

  • Tari Eason (leg) — Out for season

  • Steven Adams (knee) — Out for season

Sacramento Kings News

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

  • Keegan Murray (calf) — Available

  • Malik Monk (knee) — Injured

  • Kevin Huerter (shoulder) — Out for season

Oklahoma City Thunder News

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

  • Jalen Williams (ankle) — Available

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (quad) — Not on injury report

  • Gordon Hayward (leg) — Out

Gilgeous-Alexander is not listed on the Thunder's injury report after missing four straight and six of the last seven due to a right quad contusion. Oklahoma City went 2-4 without Gilgeous-Alexander in this stretch and is now one game back of both Minnesota and Denver for the top seed in the West. Williams has also not played in the last four, during which the Thunder went 1-3.

San Antonio Spurs News

Confirmed Lineup: Tre Jones, Malaki Branham, Julian Champagnie, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Victor Wembanyama

  • Keldon Johnson (foot) — Out

  • Cedi Osman (ankle) — Out

  • Dominick Barlow (knee) — Out

  • Devin Vassell (foot) — Out for season

  • Jeremy Sochan (ankle) — Out for season

  • Charles Bassey (knee) — Out for season

Johnson somewhat surprisingly returned to play through his foot injury on Sunday, but left the game after 24 minutes and is now out against Memphis. The Spurs have little motivation to rush him back again as they play out the last week of a developmental season. Mamukelashvili is the likely starter against the Grizzlies, while Devonte' Graham and Blake Wesley could play additional minutes off the bench.

Memphis Grizzlies News

Confirmed Lineup: Scotty Pippen Jr., Jordan Goodwin, GG Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Trey Jemison

  • Jake LaRavia (ankle) — Out

  • Lamar Stevens (groin) — Out

  • Desmond Bane (back) — Injured

  • Jaren Jackson Jr. (quad) — Injured

  • Santi Aldama (foot) — Out

  • Luke Kennard (injury recovery) — Out

  • John Konchar (foot) — Out

  • Yuta Watanabe (personal) — Out

  • Marcus Smart (finger) — Injured

  • Vince Williams (knee) — Injured

  • Derrick Rose (back, groin) — Injured

  • Ziaire Williams (hip, back) — Injured

  • Ja Morant (shoulder) — Out for season

Washington Wizards News

Confirmed Lineup: Jordan Poole, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Anthony Gill

  • Kyle Kuzma (ankle) — Out

  • Richaun Holmes (toe) — Out

  • Tristan Vukcevic (knee) — Out

  • Anthony Gill (knee) — Available

  • Johnny Davis (hip) — Available

  • Tyus Jones (back) — Out

  • Landry Shamet (calf) — Out

  • Marvin Bagley (knee) — Injured

  • Bilal Coulibaly (wrist) — Out for season

Minnesota Timberwolves News

Confirmed Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Rudy Gobert

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) — Injured

  • Jaylen Clark (Achilles) — Injured

Denver Nuggets News

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

  • Nikola Jokic (hip) — Available

  • Jamal Murray (knee) — Available

  • Aaron Gordon (foot) — Out

  • Michael Porter Jr. (knee) — Available

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (shoulder) — Available

  • Julian Strawther (ankle) — Available

  • Vlatko Cancar (knee) — Injured

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

Golden State Warriors News

Confirmed Lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Trayce Jackson-Davis

  • Andrew Wiggins (ankle) — Available

  • Gary Payton II (ankle) — Available

  • Dario Saric (knee) — Out

Curry is set to return after a one-game absence due to rest, while Wiggins is also probable to return after missing two games with a sore left ankle. The Warriors-Lakers game is one of the day's most impactful from a standings perspective; Los Angeles currently sits 9th in the West, 1.5 games ahead of 10th place Golden State. While both clubs are likely to finish in Play-In Tournament range, this contest could go a long way toward determining who hosts a possible rematch between them.

Los Angeles Lakers News

Confirmed Lineup: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, Jaxson Hayes

  • LeBron James (illness) — In

  • Anthony Davis (headache, nausea) — Out

  • Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) — Injured

  • Christian Wood (knee) — Injured

  • Jalen Hood-Schifino (back) — Injured

Davis did not return after 12 minutes on Sunday after injuring his eye, and the Lakers are reportedly optimistic he'll play against Golden State. Meanwhile, the ankle issue that has been on James' injury listing since late December was not included for Tuesday's game, suggesting the illness that kept him out on Sunday is the only thing that is bothering him at the moment.

Los Angeles Clippers News

Confirmed Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Paul George, Ivica Zubac

  • James Harden (foot) — Out

  • Daniel Theis (thumb) — Available

  • Kawhi Leonard (knee) — Out

  • Josh Primo (ankle) — Out

Phoenix Suns News

Confirmed Lineup: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Drew Eubanks

  • Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) — Out

  • Damion Lee (knee) — Injured

The 10:00 p.m. ET games are full of standings intrigue as the Suns and Pelicans, although not playing each other, both tip at the same time with identical 46-32 records, narrowly ahead of the Warriors and Lakers. The Suns currently have the tiebreaker for the crucial sixth spot in the Western Conference and the ticket to avoid the Play-In Tournament. Phoenix has the third-toughest remaining schedule in the NBA, and that starts with this game against the fourth-place Clippers. The Suns will face the Clippers again, Kings, and Wolves to conclude the campaign.

New Orleans Pelicans News

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

  • Dyson Daniels (knee) — Available

  • Naji Marshall (shoulder) — Out

  • Brandon Ingram (knee) — Injured

Portland Trail Blazers News

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

  • Jerami Grant (hamstring) — Out

  • Ibou Badji (back) — Available

  • 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