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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

Gary Harris Active On Friday

Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris (hamstring) will be back in the lineup on Friday versus the Knicks. He has been out for 13 games with a left hamstring strain. Harris' addition gives an injury-hit Magic squad an extra body, although it remains to be seen how big of a role the veteran will have in […]

Obi Toppin Misses Friday's Game

Indiana Pacers power forward Obi Toppin (ankle) will not play against Boston on Friday. Toppin injured his left ankle in Thursday's 120-114 loss to Oklahoma City and will miss at least one game because of the injury. Jarace Walker should fill his minutes off the bench. From a fantasy perspective, Walker can be a bit […]

Andrew Nembhard Out On Friday

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (knee) has been ruled out for Friday's contest against Boston. He will sit out the second night of a back-to-back for left knee injury management purposes. Nembhard went off for a season-high 23 points in 29 minutes on Thursday versus Oklahoma City. Ben Sheppard might be Nembhard's replacement in the […]

William Eklund Will Not Play On Friday

San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (undisclosed) will drop out of the lineup on Friday versus Vegas. He was injured in Monday's matchup against Vancouver and needs more time to recover. The 22-year-old is considered day-to-day. Eklund has been San Jose's second-highest scorer this season, registering 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 36 […]

Linus Ullmark Misses Road Trip

Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (back) will not feature in this weekend's back-to-back against Winnipeg and Minnesota and looks set to miss some additional time as well. Ottawa starts a five-game road trip, and Ullmark will not travel with the team after getting hurt last Sunday versus Edmonton. The Swedish netminder has been in immense […]

Elvis Merzlikins Starts On Friday

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (undisclosed) has been named the starter for Friday's matchup against Boston. The Latvian netminder sat out Columbus' final game ahead of the holiday break, as he has reportedly been banged up. However, Merzlikins appears to have shaken off whatever bothered him and is ready for action on Friday. It's […]

Mackenzie Blackwood Lands Five-Year Extension

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood has signed a five-year extension. The 28-year-old has featured just four times for the Avalanche since he was acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks, but the team has apparently seen enough to ink him to a fairly lengthy extension. The deal is worth $26.25 million and will […]

Kirill Kaprizov Out On Friday, Considered Day-To-Day

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (lower body) will not play on Friday against Dallas and is considered day-to-day. He'll be out for the second time this year. Kaprizov has been a scoring machine throughout the campaign, posting 23 goals and 50 points in 34 appearances. As a result of Kaprizov's injury, we should see […]

Auston Matthews Ruled Out For At Least Two More Games

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (upper body) will not rejoin the lineup this week as the team gets ready to face Detroit on Friday and Washington on Saturday. The Maple Leafs captain recently re-aggravated an upper-body injury and will sit out a third consecutive contest on Friday. Matthews' next chance to return comes on […]

David Pastrnak Available On Friday

Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (upper body) will be in the lineup on Friday against Columbus. The star winger suffered an upper-body injury against Washington on Monday, exiting the contest after logging only nine minutes of action, but Pastrnak will not miss additional time. Pastrnak has had a hot month with 13 points. However, […]

Pelle Larsson Ready To Take On Magic

Miami Heat shooting guard Pelle Larsson (ankle) will be in the lineup for Thursday's matchup against Orlando. He was listed on the initial injury report as questionable for the game, but Larsson has been upgraded to available. The 23-year-old rookie has averaged 5.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 16.8 minutes. However, he might […]

Terry Rozier Active Versus Magic

Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier (knee) will be back from a one-game absence on Thursday versus Orlando. Inflammation in his left knee kept Rozier sidelined for Monday's clash with Brooklyn, but he makes a quick return to action after being initially considered questionable for Thursday's game. Rozier's last appearance came in a matchup against […]

Brandon Miller Back In Hornets Lineup

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Brandon Miller (ankle) has received the all-clear to return from a three-game absence on Thursday versus Washington. He has recovered from a left ankle sprain. Miller sits behind LaMelo Ball as Charlotte's second-highest scorer with 21.5 points averaged. He's also notched 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 34.4 minutes. The […]

Myles Turner Available Against Thunder

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (oblique) will be active against Oklahoma City on Thursday. The team listed him as questionable on the initial injury report, but Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has confirmed that Turner will play. The 28-year-old is coming off a nice 23-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Warriors. Only two teams allow more […]

Bub Carrington Good To Go Thursday

Washington Wizards rookie guard Bub Carrington (hip) will suit up for Thursday's matchup against Charlotte. He's yet to miss a game during his rookie campaign, but Carrington was initially considered questionable for Thursday's contest with a right-hip contusion. The 19-year-old has been a regular starter in December, averaging 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists […]

Bilal Coulibaly Cleared For Action Thursday

Washington Wizards guard/forward Bilal Coulibaly (groin) will be available for Thursday's clash with Charlotte. He's shaken off a questionable tag ahead of tip-off. Coulibaly had one of his best outings of the season in his last appearance, finishing a 112-101 loss to Milwaukee with 20 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, one block, and three steals. […]

Alexandre Sarr Returns To Wizards Lineup

Washington Wizards forward/center Alexandre Sarr (back) will be back from a one-game absence on Thursday versus Charlotte. He was initially listed as questionable on the injury report after Sarr missed Monday's matchup against Oklahoma City with lower-back soreness. The No. 2 pick of this year's draft has struggled with his shooting during his rookie campaign […]

Marvin Bagley III Will Not Play On Thursday

Washington Wizards forward/center Marvin Bagley III (knee) will not be in the lineup on Thursday against Charlotte. He sprained his right knee against Oklahoma City on Monday, and it's not fully clear when Bagley II will be able to return to action. Washington's frontcourt also remains without Kyle Kuzma (ribs) on Thursday. The returning Alex […]

Jimmy Butler Remains Out On Thursday

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (conditioning) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against Orlando. It was already unlikely that Butler would suit up for the contest after Miami listed him as doubtful on the initial injury report. Now, it's official that he will be unavailable for a third straight game. However, Ira Winderman of […]

Paolo Banchero Continues To Ramp Up Conditioning

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (oblique) will sit out a 27th straight game on Thursday versus Miami but continues to progress. According to Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, Banchero has not gone through contact yet but is ramping up his conditioning. He's able to run up to higher speeds and can do some ball-handling work, […]

Josh Giddey Questionable Thursday

Chicago Bulls guard/forward Josh Giddey (ankle) has a questionable tag on the injury report ahead of Thursday's game against Atlanta. He's trying to return from an ankle sprain, which has robbed Giddey of three games. Before getting hurt, Giddey was playing well this month, averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.7 steals. There […]

Lonzo Ball Likely Out For Second Straight Game

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball (illness) is listed as doubtful for Thursday's game against Atlanta. He's been feeling under the weather the entire week and appears set to miss a second straight game. Ball has had a decent comeback campaign, averaging 5.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals in 17.5 minutes off […]