NBA News

Kevin Huerter • SG • Bulls

Kevin Huerter Active on Saturday Night

Chicago Bulls guard/forward Kevin Huerter (back) will play in Saturday's contest against the Dallas Mavericks. The team has upgraded Huerter from questionable to available. Huerter has been a starter in back-to-back games for the Bulls, though his fantasy production has been underwhelming. Due to Jalen Smith's (concussion) return on Saturday, Huerter may drop to the second unit. Losing his starting role might work in his favor, as Huerter tends to perform better statistically when coming off the bench.

Jan 11

Jalen Smith • PF • Bulls

Jalen Smith Back for Bulls Saturday

Chicago Bulls forward/center Jalen Smith (concussion) will return to action on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks. The 25-year-old has missed a pair of games after suffering a head injury and landing in concussion protocol. Before he was knocked out of the lineup, Smith made three consecutive starts, averaging 11.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks. With Zach Collins (toe) out of the lineup, Smith is bound to be heavily involved in the rotation, even if he doesn't start.

Jan 11

Alperen Sengün • C • Rockets

Alperen Sengun Questionable on Sunday

Houston Rockets forward/center Alperen Sengun (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game in Sacramento. This is a surprising development, considering he was expected to miss at least two weeks before being re-evaluated. While there's still a realistic chance the 23-year-old won't be out there, it at least appears he's well ahead of schedule. If Sengun remains sidelined, Steven Adams should stay in the starting lineup at the five spot. Dorian Finney-Smith may also see more action, especially since Tari Eason (ankle) won't suit up.

Jan 11

Zach Collins • C • Bulls

Zach Collins Without Timetable for Return

Chicago Bulls forward/center Zach Collins (toe) doesn't have a timeline for his return, Joe Lorenzi of The Athletic reports. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan told reporters before Saturday's contest against the Dallas Mavericks that Collins' toe injury is a "pretty significant sprain," and that he will be in a walking boot for the foreseeable future. Collins hasn't played for Chicago since Dec. 27. In his absence, Jalen Smith (concussion) has a larger role. Smith will return from a two-game absence on Saturday after clearing concussion protocol.

Jan 11

Julian Champagnie • SF • Spurs

Julian Champagnie Will Play Saturday

San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Julian Champagnie (back) has received the green light to play on Saturday night against the Boston Celtics, Matt Guzman of Sports Illustrated reports. He was initially listed as questionable for the game. Champagnie has quietly had a solid campaign with the Spurs, averaging 11.1 points and 5.9 rebounds, both career highs. Recently, Champagnie has benefited from Devin Vassell's (adductor) absence, starting five consecutive games. This stretch includes a pair of 20-point outings for Champagnie and a huge 36-point career night against the New York Knicks.

Jan 11

Sam Hauser • SF • Celtics

Sam Hauser Out Saturday

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (hamstring) has been ruled out for Saturday's matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. The 28-year-old sniper wasn't on the initial injury report, but the team has announced that Hauser won't play due to right hamstring tightness. Hauser has logged 30-plus minutes in back-to-back games as a starter, so his absence marks a significant blow for Boston. With Hauser unavailable, Jordan Walsh will probably return to the starting unit. Hugo Gonzalez and Anfernee Simons may also cover some of his minutes.

Jan 10

Jaime Jaquez Jr. • SF • Heat

Jaime Jaquez Jr. Good to Go Saturday

Miami Heat guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (illness) will be active on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. He landed on the injury report late with a questionable tag after picking up a stomach bug. However, Jaquez Jr. has now been cleared for action. The 24-year-old has also recently dealt with an ankle injury, missing two games. Jaquez Jr. faced the Pacers only a couple of weeks ago and gave them nightmares with a 28-point performance across 29 minutes. With him back in the fold, we will likely see Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson less in the rotation.

Jan 10

Isaiah Stewart • PF • Pistons

Isaiah Stewart Out Saturday

Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart (illness) won't be in the lineup on Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic reports. Stewart was a late addition to the injury report due to illness and hasn't been able to shake off a questionable tag. With Jalen Duren (ankle) and Tobias Harris (hip) also out, the Pistons' frontcourt will have a completely different dynamic. Paul Reed will presumably operate as the starting center, and players like Ron Holland II, Tolu Smith, and Javonte Green may see more action.

Jan 10

Kawhi Leonard • SF • Clippers

Kawhi Leonard Will Suit Up Against Detroit

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (ankle) will play on Saturday against Detroit. The team is usually overly-cautious with the multi-time All-Star, so it's surprising to see him suit up for the second game of a back-to-back. He had 26 points, five boards, five assists, three steals, and one block in Friday's win over the Brooklyn Nets. However, Leonard and company should have a tougher time on both ends of the floor versus one of the best teams in the National Basketball Association.

Jan 10

Cade Cunningham • PG • Pistons

Cade Cunningham Unavailable Saturday

Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham (wrist) will sit out a second straight game on Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic reports. The team has ruled him out of the contest after initially listing Cunningham as questionable. His absence from the lineup boosts the fantasy value of Jaden Ivey and Daniss Jenkins. The Clippers are a weak defensive team, giving the two an opportunity to make a significant impact on Saturday.

Jan 10

Andrew Nembhard • PG • Pacers

Andrew Nembhard Available Versus Miami

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (back) is available on Saturday versus Miami. He didn't play on Thursday against the Hornets, opening the door for T.J. McConnell to finish with 23 points, eight boards, and four steals from off the bench. While McConnell will still have a role, his outlook isn't as favorable, so fantasy managers should temper their expectations for a meeting with a tough defensive squad.

Jan 10

Lauri Markkanen • PF • Jazz

Lauri Markkanen Resting on Saturday Night

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen won't play on Saturday against Charlotte. He had 33 points, seven boards, and four assists in 40 minutes in Thursday's win over the Dallas Mavericks, so fantasy managers can understand why he'll get the night off. The veteran is expected back on Monday versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. With Jusuf Nurkic (toe) and Ace Bailey (hip) also out, Keyonte George, Brice Sensabaugh, Isaiah Collier, and Walter Clayton Jr. should all be considered must-start options in all fantasy setups, especially since this contest is projected to be one of the highest-scoring on the slate.

Jan 10

Jusuf Nurkić • C • Jazz

Jusuf Nurkic Won't Play Against Charlotte

Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (toe) won't play on Saturday versus Charlotte, marking his second-straight absence. He's been battling a toe injury, so fantasy managers may see him miss more time moving ahead until things clear up. With Lauri Markkanen (rest) and Ace Bailey (hip) ruled out, Keyonte George and Brice Sensabaugh could surge from a scoring standpoint. Kevin Love, who is coming off a double-double in Thursday's win over the Dallas Mavericks, can be considered for streaming purposes in deeper fantasy formats.

Jan 10

Ryan Kalkbrenner • C • Hornets

Ryan Kalkbrenner Available on Saturday Night

Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) will play on Saturday against Utah after missing the last 10 games because of a sprained left elbow. The rookie, who has averaged 8.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks this season, will presumably return to the starting lineup. However, he'll likely be limited in his first game back. With that said, Kalkbrenner still has a favorable outlook versus one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Moussa Diabate is expected to head back to the bench, significantly lowering his fantasy ceiling.

Jan 10

Isaiah Stewart • PF • Pistons

Isaiah Stewart Might Miss Saturday's Game

Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart (illness) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Clippers. With Cade Cunningham (wrist) sidelined for Wednesday's win over the Chicago Bulls, the 24-year-old took on a more prominent role offensively by finishing with a game-high 31 points. Unfortunately, he's dealing with an illness, which is not an ideal scenario, considering the Pistons are already down Jalen Duren (ankle) and Tobias Harris (hip). As a result, others might have to step up, with Paul Reed, Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland II, and Ausar Thompson in line for more statistical contributions if Cunningham and Stewart remain out.

Jan 10

Cade Cunningham • PG • Pistons

Cade Cunningham Questionable Versus Clippers

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (wrist) could miss Saturday's meeting with the Clippers. He has a contusion on his right wrist, keeping him off the floor for Wednesday's win over the Chicago Bulls. Jaden Ivey ended up replacing him in the rotation, although he had only eight points. While Daniss Jenkins struggled even more offensively, he still did something for fantasy managers by amassing 15 assists. If Cunningham isn't back for this one, Ivey and Jenkins can both be considered risky, high-upside fantasy options.

Jan 10

Andrew Nembhard • PG • Pacers

Andrew Nembhard in Danger of Missing Another Game

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (back) is questionable heading into Saturday's game against Miami. He didn't suit up on Thursday night versus the Hornets, resulting in Quenton Jackson entering the starting lineup. However, it was T.J. McConnell who benefited the most without Nembhard on the floor, with the 33-year-old ending the evening with 23 points, eight assists, and four steals. If Nembhard remains out, Jackson can be considered for streaming purposes for those willing to take a chance. On the other hand, McConnell would be classified as a must-start fantasy option.

Jan 10

Kawhi Leonard • SF • Clippers

Kawhi Leonard Questionable for Saturday Night

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (ankle) is questionable for Saturday's meeting with the Pistons. The multi-time All-Star was on the injury report ahead of Friday's win over the Brooklyn Nets, although he was able to play, finishing the night with 26 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block. However, with Saturday's contest being the second of a back-to-back, fantasy managers may not see him out there. If Leonard doesn't suit up, Kobe Sanders should be considered the favorite to replace him in the rotation. The 2025 No. 50 overall selection started a few games ago in the one-point win over the Warriors. He played well, too, amassing 20 points in 35 minutes of action. If Sanders gets another crack with the first-five, he'll be worth considering for those participating in deep league fantasy setups.

Jan 10

Isaiah Stewart • PF • Pistons

Isaiah Stewart Downgraded to Questionable Saturday with Illness

Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart (illness) has been downgraded to questionable for Saturday's matchup against the Clippers. Stewart is coming off a dominant outing, posting 31 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks in 30 minutes on Wednesday. He has stepped into a larger role with Jalen Duren (ankle) and Tobias Harris (hip) sidelined, averaging 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks in 31.0 minutes over the last four games. Paul Reed would likely see a meaningful workload increase and move from a modest option to a more intriguing short-term fantasy play if Stewart sits, especially with Detroit thin in the frontcourt.

Jan 10

Rui Hachimura • PF • Lakers

Rui Hachimura Optimistic to Return vs. Kings

Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (calf) is trending toward a return Monday against Sacramento, with head coach JJ Redick expressing optimism Friday. Hachimura has not played since Dec. 28 and could face a minutes restriction initially. His return carries clear fantasy ripple effects. Jake LaRavia, who thrived during the absence, averaged 15.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.5 three-pointers in 36.2 minutes over the last six games, delivering third-round nine-category value. That production likely regresses with Hachimura back, pushing LaRavia toward streamer status.

Jan 10

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