NBA News
Wendell Carter Jr. Out Against Lakers
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) will not suit up against the Lakers on Thursday. This marks his 10th consecutive absence as he deals with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The Magic haven't provided a timetable on when he will return. The 25-year-old has been missed as he has consistently contributed when on the floor, averaging 8.3 points and 8.8 rebounds this season. With Carter still out, Moritz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, and Goga Bitadze will continue to see an uptick in minutes.
4 hours ago
Anthony Davis Available Versus Magic On Thursday
According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis (foot) is set to play on Thursday against the Orlando Magic. The 31-year-old has been managing a foot injury for some time, so fantasy managers should not anticipate a quick resolution. However, he is expected to continue to suit up in games, barring setbacks. Davis is having an MVP-worthy season, averaging a career-best 30.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks while shooting 41.4% from beyond the arc.
4 hours ago
Rui Hachimura Unavailable Thursday
Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (ankle) will not suit up against the Orlando Magic on Thursday. Hachimura has missed four consecutive contests due to a sprained right ankle. With the 26-year-old out, Dalton Knecht will remain a strong fantasy option as he posted 37 points, five rebounds and one steal in 38 minutes during Tuesday's 124-118 win over the Jazz.
4 hours ago
Yves Missi Listed As Questionable For Friday
New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Although Missi was cleared to play in Wednesday's loss to the Cavaliers, he continues to deal with lingering soreness in his left shoulder, which may prevent him from participating in Friday's matchup. In his previous game, he scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds. The 20-year-old rookie has been a key contributor this season, averaging 7.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 23.2 minutes per game. If he is unavailable, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Trey Jemison could see more minutes in his place.
5 hours ago
CJ McCollum Not Likely To Play Friday
New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (adductor) is listed as doubtful for Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors. McCollum has been out since Oct. 29 due to a right adductor strain but has been cleared for practice, indicating he could be nearing a return. If he remains sidelined for Friday's matchup, Brandon Boston Jr. and Elfrid Payton might take on additional minutes. McCollum has made a strong impact in his four appearances this season, averaging 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, though fantasy managers may need to exercise patience as his recovery continues.
6 hours ago
Brandon Ingram Questionable For Friday
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (ankles) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors due to bilateral ankle sprains. The 27-year-old missed Wednesday's contest against Cleveland but could return Friday. If Ingram remains sidelined, Brandon Boston and Elfrid Payton are likely to see increased opportunities. Ingram, who is averaging 23.2 points per game this season, recently posted 17 points and five rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks. Managers should monitor his status closely.
6 hours ago
Ja'Kobe Walter Ready To Go Thursday
Toronto Raptors shooting guard Ja'Kobe Walter (shoulder) will return to the lineup on Thursday versus Minnesota. He's been out of commission for two weeks with a shoulder injury. Walter has only seen limited action during his rookie campaign, but the injury-hit Raptors will be happy to know that they will have another healthy body available. In four appearances, Walter has posted 2.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 12.3 minutes. He currently doesn't have any fantasy value.
6 hours ago
Donte DiVincenzo Available Thursday
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Donte DiVincenzo (back) will be in action on Thursday against Toronto. He was initially listed as questionable for the game. Coming off the bench, DiVincenzo has been hit-and-miss in fantasy basketball this season, averaging 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. He had 15 points with five triples last time out against Phoenix but faces a tough task in keeping the threes coming, as the Raptors have limited opponents to 33.9 percent shooting from behind the arc this season.
6 hours ago
Mike Conley Will Not Play Thursday
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley (toe) will miss Thursday's game against Toronto. The veteran was already regarded as questionable for the contest and has now been ruled out with a toe sprain. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will slot into the starting unit as Conley's replacement. The 26-year-old had a decent performance in his only previous start this season when he also filled in for Conley, recording 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block in a 106-98 loss to Portland on Nov. 13.
7 hours ago
Jordan Clarkson Sits Out Thursday's Game
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (foot) will not play against San Antonio on Thursday. He's battling a foot problem and will miss his third game of the season. Clarkson is a high-volume shooter, meaning there will be a lot of shots available for the rest of the team in Thursday's game, while his absence gives Isaiah Collier a chance to log extended minutes. Collier hasn't been very productive in his first seven career games and isn't a recommended fantasy option.
7 hours ago
Ausar Thompson Won't Play On Thursday
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (conditioning) remains out for Thursday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. As expected, Thompson will take a seat after being listed as doubtful on the injury report. Thompson has yet to make his season debut but appears to be headed in the right direction. The 21-year-old still needs to get up his conditioning, but there's a chance he does suit up against the Orlando Magic on Saturday. The expectation is that Thompson would be limited right away and eased back into the rotation. His return will cut into the playing time of Tim Hardaway Jr. who has been playing nearly 30 minutes per game this season.
7 hours ago
Zach Collins Cleared To Play Thursday
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Zach Collins (knee) has been upgraded from questionable to available for Thursday's matchup against Utah. Collins should continue to fill in as the starting center for Victor Wembanyama (knee). He's averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in the first unit lately. The Jazz allow the most fantasy points in the league to opposing centers, making this a dream matchup for Collins. Charles Bassey might get some joy behind him as well.
7 hours ago
Domantas Sabonis Gets Through Full Practice
Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (back) is expected to suit up for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Sabonis was able to get through a full practice session on Thursday for the second day in a row. He has missed each of the last two games due to lower back tightness, but he's trending in the right direction now. The Kings are likely going to wait until closer to tip-off before making a final decision on Sabonis. If active, Trey Lyles should see a reduced role in the rotation after playing over 30 minutes in each of the last three games.
7 hours ago
Chris Paul Good To Go Thursday
San Antonio Spurs point guard Chris Paul (thumb) will suit up against Utah on Thursday. He's dealing with a left thumb injury but will be ready to play through it, with the team upgrading him from probable to available. After initially struggling in his new surroundings, Paul has performed well lately and is nicely set up for success on Thursday. San Antonio remains without Victor Wembanyama (knee) and Devin Vassell (knee), giving Paul more offensive responsibilities, while the Jazz tend to have a tough time against opposing point guards.
7 hours ago
Malik Monk Making Progress
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (ankle) was able to get through the non-contact portions of practice on Thursday. Head coach Mike Brown expects Monk to sit out during Friday's game, but it looks like Monk is making progress. The 26-year-old has missed each of the last five games due to a right ankle sprain. Keon Ellis played 33 minutes on Monday and scored 33 points with six rebounds. He figures to continue seeing increased playing time until Monk returns. However, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Ellis to continue producing like that as his 33-point performance was more of a fluke than anything else.
7 hours ago
Tre Mann Good To Go On Thursday
Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) is available ahead of Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons. Mann is dealing with lower back soreness, but it doesn't appear to be severe enough to hold him out of the lineup. He finished with 19 points and six assists through 25 minutes on Tuesday. He'll continue to be the primary backup point guard which limits his ceiling in fantasy leagues.
7 hours ago
Miles Bridges Won't Play On Thursday
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons. Bridges has been dealing with a nagging right knee issue and he appears to be in too much to pain to play on Thursday. His absence should result in more playing time for Tidjane Salaun and Cody Martin in the rotation. Between the two, Martin is the better streaming option for Thursday's slate. Martin has recorded four steals and four blocks over the last two games, so his defensive ability makes him a more appealing option for this contest.
7 hours ago
Vince Williams Jr. Out At Least A Month
Memphis Grizzlies forward Vince Williams Jr. (ankle) has only managed to play in three games this season as the injuries continue to pile up on him. Williams suffered a Grade 3 right ankle sprain during Tuesday's game against the Denver Nuggets. As a result, Williams will be shut down for four weeks and will be re-evaluated after that. The Grizzlies are likely going to use a committee approach to fill the void left by Williams. Jake LaRavia, John Konchar, and Luke Kennard should all see increased roles going forward. Out of the trio, LaRavia is the best fantasy option out of the bunch. He's worth a look as a streaming option with the Grizzlies shorthanded right now.
7 hours ago
Scottie Barnes Returning On Thursday
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (eye) will make his return to the court for Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Barnes is back after missing 11 games due to a right orbital fracture. The expectation is that Barnes is going to be under a minutes limit during his first game back. Ochai Agbaji has been playing heavy minutes lately, but will probably take a backseat with Barnes back in the mix. RJ Barrett might see his usage take a hit, but he should still be able to offer strong fantasy value. Fantasy managers in season-long formats can get Barnes back in their lineups on Thursday.
8 hours ago
Paul George Out At Least Two Games
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (knee) will miss at least the next two games. The veteran suffered a bone bruise in Wednesday's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, ending his night after only 17 minutes of work. He will be re-evaluated on Monday. Luckily, an MRI on Thursday revealed no structural damage. With that in mind, fantasy managers could see him out longer than two games, considering he injured the same knee during the preseason. But as long as George is on the shelf, Kelly Oubre Jr., averaging 14.6 points and 4.7 boards in 11 starts this season, should continue to benefit from a fantasy standpoint.
8 hours ago
Wendell Carter Jr.
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