December 19, 2025
Chicago Bulls point guard
Tre Jones (hamstring) has been cleared for Friday's matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he will be limited to 24 minutes. The skilful playmaker was listed as questionable on the initial injury report and was upgraded to probable earlier Friday. Jones played 24 minutes in Wednesday's win over Cleveland, posting a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists, while adding three steals to his tally. However, this performance came while
Ayo Dosunmu (thumb) was out of the lineup. On Friday, Dosunmu will be available, though also limited to 24 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Chicago Bulls guard/forward
Ayo Dosunmu (thumb) will end a three-game absence on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has been dealing with thumb injuries lately. Dosunmu is set to be limited to 24 minutes on Friday. This is actually just a few minutes less than his season average playing time, so fantasy managers could still get plenty of value from Dosunmu. The 25-year-old has posted 15.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 27.8 minutes per game this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Miami Heat guard
Kasparas Jakucionis will have a night to remember on Friday, as he has been named a starter for the first time in his NBA career for a matchup against the Boston Celtics. This will also be only the third career appearance for the 19-year-old rookie. Jakucionis made his debut in the Association at the start of this month with a 54-second cameo against the Los Angeles Clippers. He logged 7:38 of action in Thursday's win over the Brooklyn Nets. Since Jakucionis is largely untested, projecting his performance on Friday is impossible. He will be joined in the first unit by
Norman Powell,
Jaime Jaquez Jr.,
Bam Adebayo, and
Kel'el Ware.
--Taavi PailkSource: Miami Heat
December 19, 2025
Miami Heat point guard
Davion Mitchell (ankle) will miss Friday's matchup against the Boston Celtics, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. The team had initially listed Mitchell as questionable for the game. Miami's backcourt will also be without
Tyler Herro (toe), and the team won't have its fourth-highest scorer,
Andrew Wiggins (back), meaning the offense will run through
Norman Powell,
Bam Adebayo, and
Jaime Jaquez Jr. The latter will make his first start of the campaign.
--Taavi PailkSource: Ira Winderman
December 19, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Craig Porter Jr. (illness) won't be in the lineup on Friday against the Chicago Bulls, Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic reports. The Cavaliers seem to be dealing with an illness bug in the locker room, as Porter Jr. will join
Donovan Mitchell (illness) on the sidelines. He was initially listed as questionable for the game. With two backcourt players out,
Lonzo Ball could receive extended minutes to show his former team that they are missing. Rookie
Tyrese Proctor might also pick up additional shifts in the rotation.
--Taavi PailkSource: Joel Lorenzi
December 19, 2025
Boston Celtics forward
Sam Hauser (ankle) will play on Friday night against the Miami Heat. The 28-year-old sharpshooter tweaked his left ankle in Monday's loss to Detroit, exiting the contest after only four minutes. However, he won't miss additional time. As a three-point specialist, Hauser has a very favorable matchup on Friday, as Miami allows the second-most three-point attempts in the league. With that said, Hauser has not been much of a factor offensively this season, averaging 6.6 points in 21.6 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Miami Heat forward
Andrew Wiggins (back) will exit the lineup for Friday's tilt against the Boston Celtics. He is dealing with lower back pain after logging 33 minutes in Thursday's win over the Brooklyn Nets. In Wiggins' absence,
Simone Fontecchio could get a fresh opportunity to start, while players
Jaime Jaquez Jr. and
Kel'el Ware are also in a position to benefit. The latter two are better fantasy options, as Fontecchio has played a limited role on offense, even when starting.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Donovan Mitchell (illness) won't suit up on Friday against the Chicago Bulls, The Athletic's Joel Lorenzi reports. An illness will force the Cavaliers' superstar to miss his third game of the season. With Mitchell out,
Darius Garland will have the ball more in his hands, while there will be additional scoring opportunities for the rest of the starting group. Friday's matchup is particularly tasty for Cleveland's frontcourt, as Chicago allows the second-most fantasy points to power forwards and the third-most to centers.
--Taavi PailkSource: Joel Lorenzi
December 19, 2025
New York Knicks forwards
Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and
Josh Hart (abdomen) will play Friday night when the team hosts the Philadelphia 76ers. Towns, Hart, and
Mitchell Robinson all missed Thursday night's win over Indiana, following New York's NBA Cup championship. Expect the Knicks to return to the five-man starting lineup of
Jalen Brunson,
OG Anunoby,
Mikal Bridges, Hart, and Towns.
--Andrew BallSource: Vincent Goodwill
December 19, 2025
Oklahoma City forward
Jaylin Williams (heel) won't suit up Friday night when his team visits the Minnesota Timberwolves. This will be the second game in a row that the 23-year-old has missed with right heel bursitis. Williams' absence doesn't significantly alter Oklahoma City's rotation, especially with center
Isaiah Hartenstein returning to the lineup. Williams sees about 18 minutes of playing time, averaging 5.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
--Andrew BallSource: Justin Martinez
December 19, 2025
Orlando Magic guard
Jalen Suggs (hip) is doubtful for Saturday's matchup with the Utah Jazz, according to the team's official injury report. Orlando's starting point guard suffered a hip contusion in the NBA Cup semifinal loss to the New York Knicks. This will be Suggs' second straight game on the sidelines.
Tyus Jones started in his place for Thursday's loss to the Denver Nuggets. Following Saturday's game, the Magic will continue their West Coast trip with a matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Monday.
--Andrew BallSource: Jason Beede
December 19, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves guard
Mike Conley (Achilles) will miss his fourth consecutive game when his team hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. The 38-year-old is managing right Achilles tendiopathy. Minnesota's backcourt minutes are in flux right now.
Bones Hyland has picked up starts for
Anthony Edwards (questionable, foot) in recent games. He'll likely do so if the young All-Star is inactive again. If Edwards returns, Hyland will compete with second-year guard
Rob Dillingham for Conley's minutes. Conley's status is uncertain when the Timberwolves play Sunday night against Milwaukee.
--Andrew BallSource: Brandon Rahbar
December 19, 2025
Atlanta Hawks guard
Trae Young (right knee injury management) will not play Friday night against the San Antonio Spurs. The All-Star guard returned from a 22-game absence, caused by an MCL sprain, Thursday night in the loss to Charlotte. Young was on a minutes restriction in his first game back, so it's not a surprise that he's sitting out the second night of a back-to-back. Following Thursday's game, Young told reporters that his knee feels fine, and missing Friday's game is just part of the plan.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker should return to the starting lineup. He came off the bench on Thursday after 16 consecutive starts in Young's place.
--Andrew BallSource: Atlanta Hawks
December 19, 2025
Miami Heat guard
Tyler Herro (toe) won't suit up when his team visits the Boston Celtics on Friday night. This will be Herro's third-straight game on the sidelines and fifth in the last six contests. Herro recently told reporters that his toe wasn't getting better, and he had undergone a second MRI to try to pinpoint the issue. It's been an injury-riddled campaign for the former All-Star. He's played in just six games this season, although he's scored at least 20 points in all of them. The Heat have labeled Herro as day-to-day, putting his availability in question for Sunday versus the Knicks.
--Andrew BallSource: Miami Heat
December 19, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (illness, injury management) will be inactive Friday night when his team faces the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. Despite participating in shootaround, the former MVP was not ready to give it a go. Embiid had suited up for Philadelphia's last three games, and he saw more than 30 minutes of game action in all of them. This will be the 15th game Embiid has missed so far this season. As has been the case for most of his absences,
Andre Drummond is likely to get the start against the Knicks.
--Andrew BallSource: Marc Stein
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