December 20, 2025
Charlotte Hornets guard
Tre Mann (knee) and guard/forward
Pat Connaughton (calf) will be in the lineup on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons. The latter is available to play after missing four weeks with a right calf strain. Mann has sat out seven games with a right knee bone bruise. Coming off the bench, Mann has had a fairly decent year, averaging 9.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 20.6 minutes. He could pick up some extra minutes on Saturday due to
Collin Sexton's (quadriceps) absence. Connaughton has averaged less than 10 minutes per game over 12 appearances, and his return won't have a big impact on Charlotte's rotation.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 20, 2025
Detroit Pistons guard/forward
Caris LeVert (knee) will be active against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic reports. He was upgraded from questionable to probable earlier Saturday and has now officially been cleared for action despite dealing with a sore right knee. In Thursday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, LeVert saw his double-digit scoring streak come to an end on three games. He has a good opportunity to start a new streak on Saturday, facing a team that allows the seventh-most points in the Association.
--Taavi PailkSource: Hunter Patterson
December 20, 2025
Detroit Pistons guard/forward
Duncan Robinson (knee) will be active against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. The team has upgraded him from probable to available. Robinson was on the injury report due to a left knee contusion he sustained on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran sniper operates as a starter in Detroit but has a fairly limited role. In December, Robinson has averaged 9.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest. He could see a boost in production on Saturday when facing a team that allows the third-highest three-point percentage in the league.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 20, 2025
Indiana Pacers center
Tony Bradley (thumb) will be active on Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans. The 27-year-old big man is dealing with a fractured thumb and was initially listed as questionable for Saturday's matchup. Bradley is not expected to have a significant role against New Orleans, as Indiana tends to rely on
Jay Huff and
Isaiah Jackson at center. The two have a very favorable matchup on Saturday, as the Pelicans have one of the league's weakest defenses against centers and give up the seventh-most rebounds to the position.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 20, 2025
Boston Celtics forward
Sam Hauser will join the first unit on Saturday against the Toronto Raptors, making his fifth start of the season. He will replace
Jaylen Brown (illness). Hauser has struggled with his shooting this season, but he had an impressive showing on Friday against the Miami Heat, draining five of six attempts from deep to finish with 15 points. As a starter this season, the 28-year-old has averaged 2.8 three-point makes per game, putting up 9.8 points and grabbing 3.0 rebounds. On Saturday, Hauser faces a team that has limited opponents to 33.8 percent shooting from downtown.
--Taavi PailkSource: Boston Celtics
December 20, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward
Quentin Grimes has been named a starter for Saturday's clash against the Dallas Mavericks. After making back-to-back starts, Grimes was back in the second unit on Friday night against the New York Knicks. However,
Paul George's (knee) absence on Saturday has reopened the door for him to return to the starting lineup. As a starter, Grimes has averaged 13.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 36.7 minutes this season. Philadelphia is in a pace-up spot on Saturday, making this a good fantasy matchup for Grimes.
--Taavi PailkSource: Philadelphia 76ers
December 20, 2025
Toronto Raptors center
Jakob Poeltl (back) will be sidelined for a second consecutive game on Saturday against the Boston Celtics. The big man is considered day-to-day and could be available to return to the lineup on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets.
Sandro Mamukelashvili and
Collin Murray-Boyles will handle the center minutes during Poeltl's absence. Mamukelashvili had a productive outing as a starter in the last game and hopes to repeat it on Saturday. However, it's a tough matchup against a team that allows the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing centers.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 20, 2025
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Klay Thompson (knee) has shaken off a questionable tag and will play on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers. While it will be good to see one of the all-time great snipers on the court, fantasy managers shouldn't expect too much from Thompson. He had only five points in his last appearance against the Detroit Pistons and is averaging 10.8 points for the campaign. Matchup-wise, Saturday is also a bad spot for Thompson, as Philadelphia has held opponents to 34.6 percent from three-point range.
--Taavi PailkSource: Dallas Mavericks PR
December 20, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers forward
Paul George (knee) won't play on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks. This is the second leg of a back-to-back for Philadelphia, and the team is giving George some time off after he logged 33 minutes in Friday's win over the New York Knicks.
Joel Embiid (knee) is also out again, making
Tyrese Maxey,
VJ Edgecombe, and
Quentin Grimes the main sources of offense for the 76ers. The latter is a candidate to take George's spot in the starting unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 20, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (illness) won't play in Saturday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, NBA insider Marc Stein reports. Embiid was unavailable on Friday night against the New York Knicks and wasn't expected to face Dallas after being tagged as doubtful on the injury report.
Andre Drummond recorded a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double against the Knicks and figures to remain in the starting lineup as Embiid's replacement. Dallas gives up the fifth-most fantasy points to centers, which sets Drummond up for another productive night.
--Taavi PailkSource: Marc Stein
December 20, 2025
Dallas Mavericks forward/center
Anthony Davis (illness) has been upgraded from probable to available and will hit the court on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Davis picked up a probable tag on the injury report after dealing with an illness earlier this week. Philadelphia has ruled out
Joel Embiid (illness) for the contest, making this a more favorable matchup for Davis. The 10-time All-Star has posted back-to-back double-doubles, averaging 19.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in 30.8 minutes this month.
--Taavi PailkSource: Dallas Mavericks PR
December 20, 2025
Boston Celtics guard/forward
Jaylen Brown (illness) won't play on Saturday against the Toronto Raptors. This was expected after Brown logged 35 minutes in Friday's win over the Miami Heat and was handed a doubtful tag on the initial injury report. With Brown out, Boston's offense will rely on
Derrick White,
Payton Pritchard, and
Anfernee Simons. Meanwhile,
Sam Hauser could play a larger role in the rotation as Brown's replacement in the first unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: Boston Celtics
December 20, 2025
Charlotte Hornets guard
Collin Sexton (quadriceps) isn't available for Saturday's game in Detroit. He was initially listed as questionable, so it appears he's inching closer toward a return. However, that won't happen on Saturday night. With
LaMelo Ball recently returning from a stint on the shelf, Sexton's fantasy ceiling should be lower once he's healthy enough to get back on the floor. Until that happens,
KJ Simpson and
Sion James may continue to see more action, although that could change with
Tre Mann (knee) available to suit up after missing the last seven contests.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
December 20, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee, illness) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against the Mavericks. The 2023 MVP logged three-straight appearances recently, combining for 77 points during that stretch. However, not only is he back on the report for injury management purposes, he's also dealing with an illness. If Embiid gets ruled out,
Andre Drummond will presumably take his place in the rotation once again, with the 32-year-old finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds in Friday's win over the New York Knicks.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
December 20, 2025
Boston Celtics forward
Jaylen Brown (illness) is questionable for Saturday's matchup with Toronto. Like many of the players around the National Basketball Association of late, Brown's not feeling well. Considering he amassed 30 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in 35 minutes against the Heat on Friday night, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised to see him miss the meeting with the Raptors. If that's the case,
Sam Hauser,
Anfernee Simons, or
Hugo Gonzalez are the favorites to enter the starting lineup.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
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