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
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Nikola Jokic (hamstring) — In
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LeBron James (ankle) — Available
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Jaylen Brown (injury management) — Out
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LaMelo Ball (ankle, wrist) — Out
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Jimmy Butler (back) — Out
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Donovan Mitchell (groin) — In
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Brandon Ingram (toe) — Out
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Deandre Ayton (illness) — Out
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Marcus Smart (ankle) — Injured
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Andrew Nembhard (illness) — Out
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Michael Porter Jr. (personal) — Out
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Robert Williams (injury management) — Available
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Gordon Hayward (hamstring) — Out
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Naji Marshall (toe) — Out
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Al Horford (back) — Out
Recent NBA News
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Chicago Bulls News
Confirmed Lineup: Ayo Dosunmu, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic
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Goran Dragic (illness) — Out
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Javonte Green (knee) — Injured
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Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured
The Pacers have registered the lowest offensive rating (106.1) in the league as they have gone 0-6 with Tyrese Haliburton (elbow, knee) sidelined for the last six games. Chicago has a 10-4 record and allowed the sixth-fewest points per 100 possessions (109.2) against teams that have registered bottom-ten offensive ratings across the entire season.
Indiana Pacers News
Confirmed Lineup: TJ McConnell, Chris Duarte, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner
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Andrew Nembhard (illness) — Out
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Trevelin Queen (G League) — Available
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Tyrese Haliburton (elbow, knee) — Injured
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Daniel Theis (knee) — Injured
With Haliburton and Nembhard off the court this season, McConnell has led the Pacers with a 46.6% assist rate, while Bennedict Mathurin (+5.0%) and Chris Duarte (+2.9%) have registered positive usage differentials.
Boston Celtics News
Confirmed Lineup: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Robert Williams
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Jaylen Brown (injury management) — Out
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Robert Williams (injury management) — Available
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Malcolm Brogdon (personal) — Out
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Al Horford (back) — Out
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Marcus Smart (ankle) — Injured
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Danilo Gallinari (ACL) — Injured
With Smart, Brogdon, and Williams sidelined Monday, Brown (34.1%) and Tatum (30.0%) dominated usage for the Celtics as Tatum led the team with seven assists in their 113-98 road loss to the Magic. Payton Pritchard played 30.8 minutes off the bench but shot two-for-six from the field in a supporting role.
Miami Heat News
Confirmed Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Bam Adebayo
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Jimmy Butler (back) — Out
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Duncan Robinson (finger) — Injured
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Nikola Jovic (back) — Injured
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Omer Yurtseven (ankle) — Injured
Herro has averaged 24.3 points on 26.1% usage and a 59.6 eFG% in three matchups with the Celtics this season, though Butler did miss one of those contests. Boston is coming to Miami for the second game of a back-to-back set, and the Heat have a 6-1 record against teams playing on zero days of rest this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers News
Confirmed Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Mitchell’s time could be restricted in his expected return from injury. As a result, Garland, Mobley, and Caris LeVert might continue to play heightened roles, albeit to a lesser degree.
New York Knicks News
Confirmed Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Jericho Sims
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Immanuel Quickley (knee) — Available
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Evan Fournier (personal) — Out
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Mitchell Robinson (thumb) — Injured
Brunson (28.4%), Randle (27.1%), and Barrett (26.1%) have led the Knicks in usage by a wide margin during the previous four matches. Obi Toppin’s 16.4% usage rate leads the other Knicks who have played more than one of those contests.
Denver Nuggets News
Confirmed Lineup: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
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Nikola Jokic (hamstring) — In
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Michael Porter Jr. (personal) — Out
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Bones Hyland (finger) — Out
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Peyton Watson (adductor) — Available
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Jack White (adductor) — Out
In the three matches Jokic has missed this month, Murray has led the Nuggets with a 38.6% assist rate. In addition, Gordon (+5.1%) and Murray (+4.1%) logged positive usage differentials with Porter Jr. and Jokic sidelined Sunday.
New Orleans Pelicans News
Confirmed Lineup: CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Jaxson Hayes, Jonas Valanciunas
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Brandon Ingram (toe) — Out
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Naji Marshall (toe) — Out
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Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured
While the Nuggets have tightened their perimeter defense and allowed the fewest made threes per game (9.9) during their previous 15 matches, that has come at the expense of their interior defense: Denver has allowed the fifth-most points in the paint per game (54.1) during that span.
Washington Wizards News
Confirmed Lineup: Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, Corey Kispert, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford
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Jordan Goodwin (G League) — Available
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Kendrick Nunn (traded) — Available
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Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) — Injured
Beal (36.1%) and Kuzma (29.6%) led the Wizards in usage in the one game they played without Porzingis and Rui Hachimura. Beal and Kuzma should similarly play more central offensive roles until Porzingis rejoins the lineup.
Dallas Mavericks News
Confirmed Lineup: Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell
Due to coach Kidd utilizing a tighter rotation with Wood unavailable for the last two matches, Josh Green and Reggie Bullock have averaged over 28.0 minutes per game off the bench. Kidd could again opt for smaller lineups featuring Finney-Smith at center against a Wizards team without Kristaps Porzingis (ankle).
Charlotte Hornets News
Confirmed Lineup: Terry Rozier, Bryce McGowens, Jalen McDaniels, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee
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LaMelo Ball (ankle, wrist) — Out
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Cody Martin (knee) — Out
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Gordon Hayward (hamstring) — Out
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Kelly Oubre (hand) — Injured
Rozier (30.9%), Plumlee (20.6%), and Dennis Smith Jr. (19.7%) have led the Hornets in usage with Ball sidelined for the last two games. Smith Jr. has also led the team with a 50.0% assist rate while averaging 28.0 minutes off the bench.
Phoenix Suns News
Confirmed Lineup: Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Cam Johnson, Bismack Biyombo
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Deandre Ayton (illness) — Out
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Landry Shamet (foot) — Out
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Cam Payne (foot) — Injured
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Devin Booker (groin) — Injured
Paul (27.0%) and Bridges (24.2%) led Phoenix’s starters in usage, while Paul led the team with 11 assists in his return Sunday. Johnson recorded 14.9% usage in 29.5 minutes as his restriction was loosened, and he could assume a more significant offensive role to alleviate Paul and Bridges’ workloads.
Los Angeles Clippers News
Confirmed Lineup: Terance Mann, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac
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Luke Kennard (calf) — Out
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Moses Brown (G League) — Out
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John Wall (abdominal) — Injured
Mann has averaged just 21.6 minutes despite starting the previous three games. Norman Powell has averaged 29.0 minutes during those matches and frequently closed halves with the starting group instead.
Los Angeles Lakers News
Confirmed Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Patrick Beverley, Troy Brown Jr., LeBron James, Thomas Bryant
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LeBron James (ankle) — Available
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Rui Hachimura (coach’s decision) — Out
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Austin Reaves (hamstring) — Injured
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Lonnie Walker (knee) — Injured
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Anthony Davis (foot) — Injured
James has been questionable for the last four matches before playing but could sit the front end of a back-to-back set. He’s been limited to averaging 23.7 points on 42.6% shooting in six matchups against the Clippers since Tyronn Lue accepted their head coaching position. The Lakers posted an 0-6 record in those contests.
