NBA News
Ja Morant Back On Thursday Night
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (shoulder) will play in Thursday's game against the Rockets. The 25-year-old sustained an AC joint sprain nearly a few weeks ago. However, his time on the shelf will end after only five games. While Morant's production is down this season, he remains a must-start in any fantasy format. But his presence will mean fewer minutes and scoring opportunities for Scotty Pippen Jr., who has averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals in 16 starts during the 2024-25 campaign.
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Robert Williams III Resting On Thursday
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (rest) will not play in Thursday's matchup against Dallas. He gets the evening off as Portland completes a back-to-back. Williams III made his first appearance of 2025 on Wednesday versus New Orleans, finishing with four points, six rebounds, and four blocks in 16 minutes. His minutes will go to Donovan Clingan, who rested on Wednesday. Clingan boasts bags of potential, but his fantasy value is limited, with Deandre Ayton starting at center for Portland.
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Daniel Gafford Ready To Return On Thursday
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) will return to action on Thursday against Portland. The team has upgraded Gafford from questionable to available. He ended up missing just one game after injuring his left ankle on Monday versus Memphis. Gafford will provide support to starting center Dereck Lively II, with Maxi Kleber likely seeing less action on Thursday. The Trail Blazers allow the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing centers, so Gafford and Dereck Lively II should enjoy a productive evening.
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Tim Hardaway Jr. Will Not Play Against The Warriors
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (back) will not play in Thursday's contest against Golden State. He was a late addition to the injury report due to a back issue, and the injury will keep the veteran sniper sidelined on Thursday. Ausar Thompson (illness) will take over Hardaway Jr.'s spot in the starting unit. Thompson has been battling an illness lately, missing two games, and might not be at his best on Thursday.
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Bruce Brown Out On Thursday
Toronto Raptors guard/forward Bruce Brown (knee) will not play on Thursday against Cleveland. After playing in each of the last three games, Brown will sit out Thursday's action for knee management purposes. The 28-year-old has appeared in only five games this season, providing 5.4 points in 18.0 minutes, so he won't be a significant miss for the team. Rookie Ja'Kobe Walter might pick up some additional work on Thursday, but he has been quiet recently after the Raptors got their key players back from injury.
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Davion Mitchell Available Thursday
Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell (calf) will be active against Cleveland on Thursday. He has been upgraded from probable to available. Mitchell has not been part of the regular rotation lately but might have a role on Thursday due to the absences of Ochai Agbaji (back) and Bruce Brown (knee). However, it's unlikely that Mitchell will log enough minutes to warrant a spot on fantasy squads.
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Moses Moody Will Not Play On Thursday
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Moses Moody (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's contest against Detroit. He has been downgraded from questionable to out. Moody will get a quick chance to return to the lineup, as the Warriors also play on Friday night when they face Indiana. On Thursday, we should see more of Lindy Waters III, Kyle Anderson, and Buddy Hield because of Moody's absence. The latter will replace Andrew Wiggins (personal) in the starting lineup.
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Dennis Schroder Available Versus Pistons
Golden State Warriors guard Dennis Schroder (hip) will be in the lineup against Detroit on Thursday. He was initially iffy for the contest due to a hip contusion, but the Warriors have upgraded him from questionable to available. Schroder's fantasy stock has taken a bad blow with his trade to Golden State, as he's been limited to 9.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists on his new team. However, the German star might have a larger role to play offensively on Thursday due to Andrew Wiggins' (personal) absence.
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Draymond Green Good To Go Thursday
Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (ankle) will suit up against Detroit on Thursday. He's dealing with an ankle injury, but the team has upgraded Green from questionable to available. The veteran forward went close to a triple-double on Tuesday against Miami and has kicked off 2025 strongly. Green has averaged 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals across four January appearances.
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Stephen Curry Upgraded To Available Thursday
Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (knee) will play on Thursday against Detroit. He landed on the initial injury report with a questionable tag, but Golden State has now upgraded its main man to available. Curry has opened 2025 in excellent form, averaging 29.0 points with 60.6 shooting from three-point range. The Pistons typically struggle to guard the three-point line, allowing the opposition to sink 37.9 percent of attempts from deep, so this is a perfect spot for a big night for Curry.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo Probable Against Orlando On Friday
The Milwaukee Bucks X account announced that Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is probable for Friday's matchup with the Orlando Magic. Despite dealing with right patella tendinopathy, the 30-year-old has played in five consecutive contests. He has been sidelined for a few games this season but the team have managed his knee issue well. Antetokounmpo will have a full workload during this contest if he suits up. Fantasy managers know that a superstar forward is a must-start when available to step on the floor.
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Khris Middleton Probable For Friday
The Milwaukee Bucks X account announced that Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) is listed as probable for Friday's game against the Orlando Magic. Middleton is expected to play in his second straight contest on Friday despite dealing with bilateral ankle issues. If the 33-year-old does suit up he will likely come off the bench like against the Spurs on Thursday. He posted eight points, five rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes during the 121-105 Bucks win.
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Robert Williams III Questionable On Thursday
Due to rest purposes, Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (personal) is questionable for Thursday's matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. Williams isn't injured, but the Blazers may give him the evening off since it's the second half of back-to-back games. If the 27-year-old is sidelined, the backup center, Donovan Clingan, will likely take on extra minutes. Clingan collected four points, five rebounds, and one assist across 13 minutes in his last appearance on Tuesday against the Pistons.
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Jerami Grant Ruled Out On Thursday
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (face) will remain sidelined for a sixth consecutive game on Thursday versus the Dallas Mavericks. He has yet to recover from a facial contusion. Deni Avdija joined the starting five while Grant was missing in action. Kris Murray has also seen an uptick in minutes when the 30-year-old has been out. Murray registered six points and one rebound across 21 minutes in a 119-100 loss to New Orleans on Wednesday.
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Damian Lillard Likely Available For Friday
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (calf) will likely play against the Orlando Magic on Friday despite dealing with a left knee contusion. If he does suit up, the 34-year-old won't have any restrictions placed on him, as he posted 26 points, five rebounds, and eight assists across 35 minutes in the Bucks' 121-105 win over the Spurs on Wednesday. Fantasy managers in season-long formats should feel comfortable getting Lillard back in their lineups.
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Davion Mitchell Probable Against Cleveland
Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell is expected to play through a left calf contusion on Thursday when the Raptors visit the Cavaliers. Mitchell played less than a minute on Wednesday against the Knicks but could get more time on Thursday since Ochai Agbaji (hip) has been ruled out. Mitchell was forced to step into a large role earlier this season while Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, and RJ Barrett battled various injuries. He has played a more reduced role lately, averaging just over 20 minutes in his 12 games since December 1 even before Wednesday's early departure. While he focuses on the defensive end of the court, Mitchell can be a solid source of steals and assists for deep leagues if he gets playing time on Thursday.
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Ochai Agbaji Ruled Out Thursday Against Cleveland
Toronto Raptors forward Ochai Agbaji (hip) will not play on Thursday against the Cavaliers due to a left hip pointer injury that he suffered after just eight minutes against the Knicks on Wednesday. While Agbaji doesn't usually have high usage when Toronto is at full strength, he has played 29.3 minutes per game in his 37 contests this year. His absence opens up significant playing time, and Chris Boucher and Bruce Brown are the top candidates to get a chance to step up with Agbaji is out. Toronto's next game is scheduled for Saturday against the Pistons, but it's unclear if Agbaji will be ready to return for that contest or need longer to recover.
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Sam Merrill Uncertain Against The Raptors
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (ankle) could be in line for a larger workload with Donovan Mitchell (rest) out against the Raptors on Thursday, but the 28-year-old from Utah State will have to overcome his own questionable tag. Merrill has missed the last three games for Cleveland but could be able to return for the second half of his team's home back-to-back Thursday night. Merrill had 20 points in a spot start against the Jazz just before Christmas, so he does have potential upside. However, on the season, he has only averaged 7.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.8 three-pointers while playing 19.2 minutes per game.
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Josh Richardson Upgraded To Questionable For Thursday
Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (heel) hasn't played since November 18 and was originally listed as doubtful for Thursday's game in Utah, but the veteran was upgraded to questionable and has a chance to return to action for the first time in 23 games. He has only played eight games all season, averaging 18.4 minutes and 4.0 points in his very limited action. Even when he does return, it is unclear how much work there is for him with Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier taking most of the work in the backcourt and Duncan Robinson and Alec Burks serving as their primary backup.
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Andrew Wiggins Will Not Play Thursday In Detroit
Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (personal) was ruled out on Thursday, leaving the Warriors potentially extremely short-handed for their road game against the Pistons. Steph Curry (knee), Draymond Green (ankle), Dennis Schr der (hip), and Moses Moody (knee) remain questionable while Jonathan Kuminga (ankle), Brandin Podziemski (abdomen), and Gary Payton (calf) have already been ruled out in addition to Wiggins. Draymond Green will have a big role if available, but if he sits, Trayce Jackson-Davis could have to play more power forward with Kevon Looney at center. Kyle Anderson will also step into a larger role without Wiggins and Kuminga, and Lindy Waters III and Buddy Hield may have to carry more of the workload as well, depending on who is available in the backcourt.
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