December 4, 2025
Boston Celtics guard/forward
Jaylen Brown (illness) will not play on Thursday, as expected, after the team downgraded him from doubtful to out on Thursday before they visit Washington. Brown will have a chance to return Friday at home against the Lakers for the second half of the back-to-back, but in his absence, the Celtics will be great fantasy assets while picking up his workload.
Derrick White and
Payton Pritchard will carry more scoring work in the backcourt, while
Jordan Walsh,
Sam Hauser,
Hugo Gonzalez, and
Josh Minott will all help fill in at forward. Walsh has been especially impressive lately and is finding ways to make meaningful contributions, while Hauser always brings streak scoring upside.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
December 4, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers guard
Quentin Grimes (calf) is ready to return to action on Thursday after missing Tuesday's game with a calf injury. He was upgraded from questionable to available on Thursday before game time. The 25-year-old started three of his previous five games, playing big minutes in each contest and averaging 38.2 minutes per game while producing 16.8 points, 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.8 three-pointers in those five contests. With
Paul George (knee) out on Thursday against the Warriors, Grimes could be in a very involved role once again, and he's a solid option to consider for DFS or streaming purposes against the injury-depleted Warriors. The Sixers play again on Friday, so keep an eye on his status going forward, since the team could choose to alternate him and George each missing a game in this set.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
December 4, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward
Paul George (knee) was downgraded from questionable to out on Thursday, ahead of his team's home game against the Warriors. George has been limited to only six games this season and has only averaged 22.2 minutes per contest. He only played 18 minutes in Tuesday's win over the Washington Wizards and is now averaging 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. With George out,
Justin Edwards could return to the starting lineup, which would give him much more upside as a streaming or DFS option.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
December 4, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knees) was upgraded from doubtful to questionable on Thursday before his team hosts the Warriors. Embiid is recovering from injuries to both his knees and has played just three games since Nov. 1. He last played on Sunday against the Hawks, logging 30 minutes in the double-overtime contest and finishing with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. He missed Tuesday's game, but his questionable tag indicates he has a shot to either play Thursday against the Warriors or Friday against the Bucks. Whichever game he plays, he'll be very involved for the Sixers, and he could try to give it a go on Thursday, especially with
Paul George (knee) being ruled out at the same time Embiid was upgraded. If Embiid plays,
Andre Drummond will have a reduced role off the bench.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
December 4, 2025
Brooklyn Nets forward
Michael Porter Jr. (injury management) will not play on Thursday when the Nets host the Jazz to finish their back-to-back set of games. Porter played big minutes on Monday and Wednesday and had big games to help Brooklyn defeat the Hornets and Bulls. He finished Wednesday with 33 points, 10 boards, and five assists, after scoring 35 points on Monday. His absence will leave a huge usage void for the rest of the Nets' roster to step in and try to fill in this favorable matchup against the Jazz. Nic Claxton,
Noah Clowney,
Jalen Wilson, and
Ziaire Williams are a few of the members of the frontcourt who should get a boost on Thursday while Porter gets the night off for lower back injury management. His next chance to return will be Saturday at home against the Pelicans.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
December 4, 2025
Chicago Bulls forward
Noa Essengue (shoulder) will miss the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. The No. 12 overall pick in the NBA Draft has only appeared in two games for the Bulls this season, playing only six minutes and going 0-for-3 in his very limited NBA action. In four games with the G-League Windy City Bulls, the 18-year-old averaged 23 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 30.8 minutes. Coach Billy Donovan said, "The recommendation was to get it fixed now instead of waiting, because it's something that could continue to be a problem for him." Essengue could still be a part of the future plans for the Bulls, but he won't have any value in re-draft leagues this season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: K.C. Johnson
December 4, 2025
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) is expected to miss approximately two to four weeks with a calf strain suffered on Wednesday night against the Pistons, according to reports from ESPN's Shams Charania. He only played three minutes before leaving the game, and his absence leaves lots of work for the rest of the roster while he is sidelined. This will be the second time Giannis has been out for an extended period this season. While
Ryan Rollins and
Kevin Porter Jr. will do most of the heavy lifting on offense, there will also be more minutes and opportunities for
Bobby Portis,
Myles Turner, and
Kyle Kuzma. The injury took place on the same day that news broke that he was planning to meet with the team to discuss his long-term future with the team. Those discussions could still happen, but his injury will be tough for the struggling Bucks to navigate. Even though they won the game that he left early, they are still 10-13, barely holding onto the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Shams Charania
December 4, 2025
Utah Jazz center
Jusuf Nurkic (rib) is questionable for Thursday's game in Brooklyn, opening the door for extra frontcourt minutes if he sits. Second-year big
Kyle Filipowski profiles as the primary beneficiary after delivering 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one block in 29 minutes in his last outing, giving him short-term deep-league appeal.
Taylor Hendricks and
Kyle Anderson could also re-enter the mix, though both carry low ceilings. Managers should view this frontcourt as a matchup-driven streaming spot unless Nurkic misses extended time.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
December 4, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers guard
Marcus Smart (back) will stay sidelined Thursday against Toronto, marking his fourth straight absence and leaving the backcourt thin with
Luka Doncic (personal) also out.
Gabe Vincent,
Jake LaRavia, and second-year wing
Dalton Knecht should again handle the leftover minutes, though all remain fringe deep-league flyers rather than standard-league streamers. Knecht produced 13 points and four rebounds in his last outing, while Vincent and LaRavia continue to offer muted, low-volume lines.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
December 4, 2025
Los Angeles Clippers guard
Chris Paul is no longer with the team as the organization prepares to part ways with the veteran, ending his limited backup role and creating a modest opening in the rotation. Paul averaged 3.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across his last five outings in 13.4 minutes, so the fantasy ripple is minimal.
Kris Dunn should continue seeing steady guard minutes and remains the only viable streamer, offering assists and steals.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (hip) may absorb some second-unit usage once healthy, but he is best treated as a deep-league stash.
--Brian DailisanSource: Ohm Youngmisuk
December 4, 2025
New Orleans Pelicans center
Yves Missi (ankle) will miss Thursday's game against Minnesota, leaving rookie
Derik Queen in line for another sizable workload. Queen has started the past two games and averaged 21.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists while playing heavy minutes, making him a strong short-term pickup in all formats as the Pelicans remain without
Zion Williamson (adductor) and several starters. Queen's scoring efficiency and passing give him a stable floor, and he should again operate as the primary interior option until Missi returns.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
December 4, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward
Quentin Grimes (calf) is questionable for Thursday's matchup with Golden State after missing Tuesday's win over Washington. His absence opened meaningful minutes on the wing, with rookie
VJ Edgecombe producing nine points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks in 24 minutes while starting.
Justin Edwards and
Jared McCain also handled expanded roles and remain viable short-term streamers if Grimes sits again. Grimes should still be held in most formats due to stable minutes, three-point volume, and steals, but managers should track Edgecombe's continued ramp-up.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
December 4, 2025
Washington Wizards guard/forward
Bilal Coulibaly (oblique) is expected to miss multiple weeks, removing a key perimeter defender from an already thin rotation and opening short-term streaming chances on the wing.
Cam Whitmore logged 16 minutes Tuesday and posted four points, five rebounds and one block, placing him on the radar as a deeper-league fringe option rather than a priority add.
Justin Champagnie and rookie
Will Riley also scored 13 points and offer low-end appeal. All three profile as situational streamers while Coulibaly is out.
--Brian DailisanSource: Josh Robbins
December 4, 2025
Toronto Raptors center
Jakob Poeltl (back) won't be in the lineup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Austrian giant has been managing a back problem all season, regularly skipping games when Toronto has a back-to-back scheduled. Fantasy managers can expect to see Poeltl return to the court on Friday against the Charlotte Hornets.
Collin Murray-Boyles and
Sandro Mamukelashvili have increased fantasy value with Poeltl out of the lineup, although
Jamison Battle started in his place the last time he was rested. Even as a starter, Battle only logged 11:15 of action, so he isn't someone fantasy managers should consider.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 4, 2025
Washington Wizards center
Alexandre Sarr (adductor) has been ruled out for a third consecutive game on Thursday against the Boston Celtics. The talented Frenchman is nursing a right adductor strain. Given the nature of muscle injuries, his return to action may take some time. In Sarr's absence,
Marvin Bagley III has become a popular man among fantasy managers and looks set to maintain a starting role on Thursday. As a member of the first unit, Bagley III has averaged 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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