NBA News
Giannis Antetokounmpo Questionable For Saturday
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (illness) is considered questionable for Saturday's game against Chicago. The former MVP recently battled a back problem and is now dealing with an illness. Bobby Portis has produced a pair of double-doubles in the past three games as Antetokounmpo's replacement in the starting lineup. Assuming Antetokounmpo remains out, Portis should fill the box score again in Saturday's matchup, as the Bulls share the league's worst defensive record with Washington and have the eighth-lowest rebounding rate in the league.
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Jordan Poole Carrying A Questionable Tag Ahead Of Saturday's Action
Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole (hip) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Knicks. He is bothered by a left hip contusion and might have to come out of the lineup for the third time this season. Malcolm Brogdon will likely be Poole's replacement in the first unit if he can't play. Corey Kispert and Jared Butler might also benefit. Brogdon has posted 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in a starting role this season.
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Mark Williams Questionable To Face Thunder
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (thumb) has been listed as questionable for Saturday's game against Oklahoma City. The talented big man is nursing a sore left thumb. After he missed the start of the season with a foot injury, Williams' role has steadily started to grow, and he recorded a season-high 26 minutes in Thursday's 113-110 loss to Washington. Nick Richards is in line to start instead of Williams if he's unavailable against the Thunder. Richards has been a double-double machine in a starting role this term, averaging 11.3 points and 10.2 rebounds with 1.7 blocks.
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Brandon Miller Iffy For Saturday's Action
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Brandon Miller (ankle) is questionable for Saturday's matchup against Oklahoma City. After missing three games with a left ankle sprain, Miller put in a 36-minute shift against Washington on Thursday. However, the questionable designation ahead of Saturday suggests that Miller might return to the shelf. If he's out, Cody Martin will likely jump back into the starting lineup. Martin's production has not changed a lot in a starting role this season, but he should see more action after logging only 19 minutes in Thursday's matchup.
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LaMelo Ball Questionable For Saturday's Game
Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball (ankle, wrist) has been listed as questionable for Saturday's clash with Oklahoma City. We might be robbed of a fun matchup between Ball and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander because the Hornets leader is dealing with ankle and wrist soreness. Vasilije Micic should log another start if Ball isn't ready to play. Micic has filled in for Ball regularly in the first unit if he's been unavailable, averaging 12.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists this season as a starter.
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Bogdan Bogdanovic In Danger Of Missing Saturday's Game
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovic (lower leg) remains on the injury report with a questionable tag ahead of Saturday's meeting with Miami. He could be out for a third straight game due to a left lower leg contusion. Garrison Mathews has taken on a bigger role in the rotation during Bogdanovic's absence, albeit with mixed results. He scored 25 points against Minnesota on Monday but finished with just five points in Thursday's comeback victory over Chicago. Miami has given up the fewest bench points in the league this season, so Atlanta's second unit may struggle in Saturday's game.
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Trae Young Questionable For Meeting With Heat
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (heel) is considered questionable for Saturday's matchup against Miami. He continues to carry a heel injury, although Young has played through the issue in back-to-back games. With Kobe Bufkin (shoulder) done for the season, Vit Krejci and Keaton Wallace will operate in the point guard position should Young be unavailable for Saturday's game. The two haven't done enough to warrant fantasy consideration.
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Jimmy Butler To Miss Two More Games
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (conditioning) will not play in this weekend's back-to-back set against Atlanta and Houston. It was reported on Thursday that Butler will rejoin the lineup for Saturday's game, but the Heat have now announced that the veteran star will not return to the team until next week. Butler, who has been heavily linked with a trade recently, has missed three games due to an illness. Heat president Pat Riley tried to shut down the rumors on Friday by announcing that Butler would not be traded this season. With Butler unavailable for the weekend's games, Jaime Jaquez Jr. should continue his spell as a starter. He's notched 14.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 steals in the starting unit this season.
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Kevin Porter Jr. Out With An Illness
Los Angeles Clippers point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (illness) will sit out Friday's game against Golden State. He's battling an illness and has been downgraded from questionable to out. As the leader of the second unit, Porter Jr. has contributed 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists this season. Bones Hyland and Jordan Miller might re-enter the rotation due to Porter Jr.'s absence, but they likely won't offer the same level of production he does.
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Dean Wade Returns To Action
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (knee) will rejoin the lineup on Friday versus Denver. Knee soreness kept Wade out of action for one game. The 28-year-old forward heads straight back into the starting lineup, bumping Sam Merrill to the bench. Generally, Wade doesn't provide much production to fantasy managers, even as a starter. He has averaged 7.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals with the first unit this season.
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Aaron Gordon To Miss "Next Couple Of Games"
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) will likely be absent for multiple games. Harrison Wind of TheDNVR.com reports that Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said Gordon will miss the "next couple of games." Gordon's absence starts with Friday's matchup against Cleveland. In an interesting move, Malone has replaced Gordon with Russell Westbrook in the starting lineup. However, we should also see Peyton Watson more involved in Denver's play due to Gordon's injury.
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Jamal Murray Available Versus Cavaliers
Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (ankle) will play in Friday's matchup against Cleveland. The Canadian star is dealing with an ankle injury but has been upgraded from probable to available. Murray saw a four-game run of 20-point performances come to an end on Christmas Day when he finished a 110-100 loss to Phoenix with 13 points. It won't be easy for him to get back on track on Friday, as the Cavaliers allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing point guards.
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Dereck Lively II Unavailable Friday
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (hip) will sit out Friday's action against Phoenix. Lively II landed on the injury report with a questionable designation ahead of the game and has now been ruled out because of a hip contusion. This will likely push Daniel Gafford to the starting unit. The Dallas big men have shared minutes quite evenly throughout the campaign, and Gafford's numbers haven't changed much as a starter. However, with Lively II out of the rotation, his playing time might increase, which should also boost Gafford's productivity. It's a good matchup for him on Friday, as Phoenix gives up the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.
2 hours ago
Draymond Green Ruled Out For Friday
Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (back) will not play against the Clippers on Friday. Following a 34-minute shift on Christmas Day against the Lakers, Green sits out the first leg on a back-to-back due to a lower back contusion. Jonathan Kuminga recently enjoyed a stretch as a starter ahead of Green and might rejoin the first unit again on Friday. He's notched 16.8 points and 4.5 rebounds across 10 starts this campaign. Kevon Looney and Kyle Anderson may also see more action, but they lack fantasy appeal.
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Jay Huff Returns From Four-Game Absence
Memphis Grizzlies center Jay Huff (ankle) will return to the lineup for Friday's battle against New Orleans. The seven-footer has missed the past four games with a left ankle sprain. Huff, a former G League Defensive Player of the Year, has provided quality minutes as a reserve this season, averaging 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 15.2 minutes. However, he has very little fantasy value, with Zach Edey, Brandon Clarke, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all healthy.
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Santi Aldama Absent On Friday
Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama (ankle) will not be available against New Orleans on Friday. He injured his left ankle in Thursday's blowout win over Toronto. Aldama's role in the rotation has been significantly smaller recently, but he's still averaged over 22 minutes coming off the bench this month. Jake LaRavia and Brandon Clarke should get an uptick in minutes on Friday. The two have posted similar numbers across the season, though LaRavia has slightly more fantasy value due to his better passing ability.
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Jordan Hawkins Active Versus Grizzlies
New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard Jordan Hawkins (thumb) has been cleared to play on Friday versus Memphis. The team has upgraded him from questionable to available. The 22-year-old is a talented shooter who averages 12.5 points for the season. However, Hawkins managed only five points in Thursday's 128-111 loss against Houston, shooting 0-for-6 from three-point range. Friday's matchup is another tough one for Hawkins, as Memphis has limited opposing teams to 33.4 percent shooting from deep.
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Dorian Finney-Smith Returns For Nets Friday
Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (calf) will be back from a three-game absence on Friday versus San Antonio. The Brooklyn frontcourt gets some additional help after Finney-Smith was initially regarded as questionable for the game. Noah Clowney will likely lose minutes to Finney-Smith despite enjoying a solid three-game stretch as a starter. Finney-Smith averages 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists for the season. He might have a more significant role offensively on Friday, as Cam Thomas (hamstring), Ben Simmons (back), and Cameron Johnson (hip) are out of the lineup.
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Ben Simmons Will Not Play Against Spurs
Brooklyn Nets guard/center Ben Simmons (back) will miss Friday's matchup against San Antonio. Following Thursday's clash against Milwaukee, Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez suggested that Simmons might be ready to play both legs of the team's back-to-back, but unfortunately, it won't happen. It's been 23 months since the last time Simmons played on consecutive nights. Simmons' absence on Friday should secure a prominent role for Shake Milton, who's had a solid month and scored a season-high 20 points in Thursday's 111-105 win.
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Cameron Johnson Misses Friday's Action
Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (hip) will not take the court on Friday against San Antonio. Johnson produced a big 29-point performance with 8-for-13 shooting on Thursday versus Milwaukee but also hurt his right hip in the contest. With Johnson out, we should get a larger dose of Tyrese Martin, and Jalen Wilson should continue to play a big role in the rotation. Wilson has logged 30-plus minutes in back-to-back games, but shooting woes have limited him to only 12 total points. He's disappointed fantasy managers but will likely continue getting opportunities, as there aren't many alternative options.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Bucks
