NBA News
Joel Embiid Suspended Three Games
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been suspended for three games following an altercation with a columnist. Embiid shoved the reporter for comments about Embiid's deceased brother and young son. The two of them were separated and no one was hurt. It's worth noting that Embiid won't begin his suspension until he's medically cleared to play. Embiid has yet to play this season due to left knee injury management. The big man has been criticized for missing time without a legitimate injury or health issue. Embiid appears to be close to getting back on the court, but now faces another obstacle with this suspension. Andre Drummond will continue seeing increased playing time until Embiid is ready to play.
Nov 5
Aaron Nesmith Wearing A Walking Boot
Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (ankle) will likely miss multiple games. He was unavailable for Monday's clash with the Mavericks, and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said that Nesmith is in a walking boot. The 25-year-old sprained his left ankle last Friday in a game against New Orleans. Bennedict Mathurin started in Nesmith's absence on Monday, recording 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Obi Toppin and Ben Sheppard figure to get more action as well until Nesmith returns. The former has already started to see more time on the floor due to Isaiah Jackson's (Achilles) injury.
Nov 5
Devin Vassell To Remain On The Shelf During Road Trip
San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Devin Vassell (foot) is not expected to join the team for Wednesday's visit to Houston. Interim head coach Mitch Johnson has said he doesn't believe Vassell will be ready for Wednesday's game. However, according to Johnson, Vassell is "ramping up" and could be back "soon." Vassell is recovering from foot surgery and hasn't yet featured for the Spurs this season. Julian Champagnie is filling in for him in the starting lineup. He will lose a big chunk of fantasy value when Vassell returns.
Nov 5
Aaron Gordon Not Expected To Be Out Long-Term
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) is not dealing with a long-term injury. Gordon played only four minutes in Monday's matchup against Toronto, exiting the action with a calf strain. He already carried a questionable tag ahead of the game due to a calf problem, and he has also been battling a knee injury. According to Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, Gordon is dealing with "bumps and bruises," and he doesn't think the 29-year-old forward will be a long-term absentee. With Gordon out, Peyton Watson surpassed the 30-minute mark for the first time this season on Monday. He could play a bigger role again in Wednesday's matchup against Oklahoma City, assuming Gordon is not in the lineup.
Nov 5
Brandin Podziemski Limited On Monday Due To An Illness
Golden State Warriors shooting guard Brandin Podziemski played only 13 minutes against Washington on Monday due to an illness. Landing back on the bench following Stephen Curry's return, Podziemski had a quiet outing, recording two points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Podziemski will have one day to recover before the Warriors face off against the Celtics on Wednesday. If he's unavailable, we could see Moses Moody more on the floor. Moody has impressed with his shooting early in the campaign, nailing over 48 percent of his triples to average 10.6 points.
Nov 5
Trae Young Exits Early With Rib Injury
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (rib) was limited to 23 minutes in Monday's blowout loss to Boston. He left the game in the third quarter due to a right rib sprain. It was a miserable night for Young, as he notched only two points on 1-for-10 shooting, missing all six attempts from three-point land. Keaton Wallace has received plenty of usage in recent games and could now get even more action if Young has to take some time off. Atlanta is short of options at the point guard position, with Kobe Bufkin (shoulder) already on the shelf.
Nov 5
Jeremy Sochan Suffers Thumb Injury On Monday
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan exited Monday's contest against the Clippers with a thumb injury. He was limited to four points and three rebounds in 12 minutes. Stephon Castle replaced Sochan in the starting unit for the second half. The rookie guard recorded 11 points and four rebounds in 20 minutes of action. His fantasy value could get a boost if Sochan is out for Wednesday's meeting with Houston. Keldon Johnson could be another guy to benefit, although he has already seen a good amount of action off the bench.
Nov 5
Anthony Davis Has Been Dealing With Foot Issue Since Summer
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis has been playing through a foot injury early in the season. He aggravated the injury in Monday's 115-103 loss to Detroit. "I'll talk to my trainer and just kind of figure out what exactly is going on," Davis told reporters after the game. "I've been managing it since this summer, honestly, and my goal for every game is to be on the floor. And I just kind of landed directly on the spot that's been killing me. So, we'll figure it out." Despite the injury, Davis has been crushing it with the Lakers, averaging a league-high 32.6 points with 11.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.6 steals. Davis is considered day-to-day ahead of Wednesday's matchup against Memphis. Jaxson Hayes could be in line for a big boost in playing time if Davis is unavailable.
Nov 5
Dereck Lively II A Late Scratch On Monday
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (shoulder) won't play on Monday night against the Pacers after suffering a shoulder injury during warmups. The 20-year-old is coming off a strong outing, amassing 11 points and 11 rebounds in Sunday's win over the Orlando Magic. He'll presumably undergo further testing. However, fantasy managers can expect Lively to carry an injury designation for Wednesday's game against the Chicago Bulls. With Maxi Kleber (hamstring) also out, Dwight Powell could get some minutes in the middle, although not enough to be considered a starting fantasy option.
Nov 5
Robert Williams III Returning On Monday
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (hamstring) will play on Monday night against the Pelicans. The big man appeared in only six games for Portland in 2023-24 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in November. Unfortunately, he tweaked his hamstring during training camp and has been working his way back since. Without question, Williams is as talented as it gets, especially on the defensive end. However, he'll likely see limited minutes in his first game back, so fantasy managers should keep him on the bench.
Nov 5
Jordan Hawkins Out Versus The Blazers
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (back) will miss Monday's contest versus the Trail Blazers. The former Pelican had 19 points, three assists, and one block in Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks. But he'll miss Monday's game because of back soreness. With Zion Williamson (thigh) out again, the team will rely more on Brandon Ingram on the offensive end. There's also room for guys like Jose Alvarado, Brandon Boston Jr., and Jamal Cain to exceed fantasy expectations.
Nov 5
Zion Williamson Sidelined Again Versus Portland
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (thigh) remains out on Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. The former Duke Blue Devil wasn't available for Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks, so he'll miss a second consecutive game because of thigh soreness. His next chance to get on the floor will be on Wednesday against the visiting Cavs. But as far as Monday's contest is concerned, fantasy managers can expect more minutes for Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Daniel Theis, and Yves Missi.
Nov 5
Rudy Gobert Available For Minnesota On Monday
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (ankle) is set to play in Monday night's game against the Charlotte Hornets. Gobert has been managing a left ankle sprain but has not missed any games this season. He is currently averaging 10.8 points and 10.3 rebounds early in 2024. If Gobert's playing time is restricted, Naz Reid will take over. Reid has been performing well off the bench, averaging 13.7 points and 6.2 rebounds, making him a solid option in fantasy leagues.
Nov 5
Immanuel Quickley Still Out On Monday
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (pelvis) remains out for Monday's matchup against the Denver Nuggets. The former Knick hasn't played since the opener. While he's moving in the right direction, Monday's absence will mark his sixth missed game of the 2024-25 campaign. With Scottie Barnes (eye) also out, RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick are the favorites to lead the way offensively. Davion Mitchell will also continue to be a viable streaming option, with the 25-year-old averaging 8.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.0 steals in six starts this season.
Nov 5
Jalen Smith Available Against Jazz
Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith (knee) is available for Monday's game against the Utah Jazz. Smith was sidelined during Wednesday's win over Orlando due to a left knee effusion, though he was able to play in Friday's loss to Brooklyn. The 24-year-old has impacted in a limited run off the bench this season. He's averaged 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds across 13.6 minutes per game in five regular-season appearances.
Nov 5
Brandon Miller Will Play Versus Minnesota
Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (glute) will play on Monday night versus the Timberwolves. The 21-year-old last played in Saturday's matchup with the Boston Celtics, amassing 16 points, six assists, two steals, and one block. However, since that was his first contest back from a four-game absence, fantasy managers were hoping he wouldn't miss another one. Fortunately, that won't happen. As usual, Miller is a must-start, with his presence meaning fewer minutes for Cody Martin.
Nov 5
Josh Giddey Suiting Up Monday
Chicago Bulls guard/forward Josh Giddey (illness) will suit up against the Utah Jazz after being listed on the team's injury list early Monday afternoon with a non-COVID illness. In the last three Bulls games, the 22-year-old play has been impressive, averaging 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.3 steals. If Giddey's minutes are limited, Coby White will likely get more on-ball duties, while Ayo Dosunmu will also see more action.
Nov 5
Lauri Markkanen Sidelined Again On Monday Night
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (back) won't play on Monday night versus the Chicago Bulls. The 27-year-old was listed as questionable earlier in the day on Monday. However, his status changed to doubtful, so most already assumed he'd miss a third consecutive contest. Kyle Filipowski will likely remain with the first five, with the 20-year-old averaging a decent 7.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in two starts this season. John Collins should also continue to benefit from off the bench and remains in line to surpass his fantasy expectations.
Nov 5
John Konchar Ruled Out Monday Versus Nets
Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward John Konchar (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Monday's matchup against Brooklyn. Konchar will miss his third consecutive contest, battling a contusion in the right quadriceps. The 28-year-old has averaged 5.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.0 minutes this season. His absence is another blow for the team as injuries continue to pile up. Jaylen Wells and Scotty Pippen will likely continue to see increased roles as they have recently.
Nov 5
Anthony Davis Available Monday Versus Detroit
Jovan Buha from The Athletic has reported that center Anthony Davis (hip) will be available for Monday's matchup with the Pistons. As anticipated, he has been upgraded from probable to available status and will carry on playing despite experiencing right-hip soreness. This issue hasn't affected his performance, as he's currently averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.2 blocks, and 1.8 steals over 36.0 minutes per game.
Nov 5
Joel Embiid
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76ers
