December 5, 2025
New York Knicks forward
OG Anunoby (hamstring) will return from a nine-game absence on Friday against the Utah Jazz, Stefan Bondy of The New York Post reports. He has been named a starter for the matchup. The Knicks initially listed Anunoby as questionable for the game. He has missed a couple of weeks with a hamstring strain, so it would be surprising if Anunoby played big minutes right off the bat. As a result of Anunoby's return,
Miles McBride will drop to the bench. He will probably still have a significant role in the rotation, but coming off the bench will make it more difficult for McBride to make a fantasy impact.
--Taavi PailkSource: Stefan Bondy
December 5, 2025
Charlotte Hornets guard
Tre Mann (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's meeting with the Toronto Raptors. He is struggling to overcome a knee problem, missing a third consecutive game. Mann's absence opens up minutes for players like
Liam McNeeley and
KJ Simpson. However, neither player has had a significant role in the rotation, and fantasy managers should ignore them. Mann's next chance to return will be on Sunday against the Denver Nuggets.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 5, 2025
Charlotte Hornets center
Ryan Kalkbrenner (ankle) will suit up for Friday's clash against the Toronto Raptors. He injured his left ankle in Wednesday's loss to the New York Knicks, but Charlotte has upgraded Kalkbrenner's status from questionable to available. Kalkbrenner has averaged 7.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across two prior meetings with the Raptors this season. It's a tough matchup for the rookie big man against Austrian veteran
Jakob Poeltl.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 5, 2025
Charlotte Hornets point guard
LaMelo Ball (wrist) will play in Friday's contest against the Toronto Raptors. The team has upgraded his status from probable to available. Ball will make his sixth consecutive appearance and is fresh off his second-highest scoring game of the season. In Wednesday's 119-104 loss to the New York Knicks, Ball posted 34 points with 5-for-13 three-point shooting. Toronto has shown top-10 defensive numbers against point guards this season, making it challenging for Ball to replicate this performance on Friday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 5, 2025
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward
Brandon Miller (shoulder) has been cleared to play on Friday versus the Toronto Raptors. He has missed two games due to a left shoulder problem. It has been an issue for Miller all season, limiting him to six appearances. He is averaging a career-low 17.0 points in 25.0 minutes. Miller may also have trouble scoring on Friday night, as he will go up against the eighth-most efficient defense in the league.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 5, 2025
Houston Rockets center
Alperen Sengun (illness) has been ruled out for Friday's contest against the Phoenix Suns, ESPN's Michael C. Wright reports. The Turkish big man landed on the injury report late with an illness and doesn't feel well enough to play. Instead,
Steven Adams will start at center. Adams has previously averaged 6.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in 28.3 minutes as a starter this season. He faces a mediocre matchup on Friday against a Suns team that ranks 12th in rebounding rate.
--Taavi PailkSource: Michael C. Wright
December 5, 2025
Atlanta Hawks forward
Jalen Johnson (calf) is available to play Friday night against the Denver Nuggets. He previously missed Wednesday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The 23-year-old is making a strong campaign for his All-Star nod this season, averaging 23.2 points, 10 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.6 steals, while shooting 53% from the floor and 41% from beyond the arc. He's been one of the best players in fantasy basketball this season and can be plugged right back into starting lineups.
--Andrew BallSource: Atlanta Hawks
December 5, 2025
Utah Jazz center
Jusuf Nurkic (right rib contusion) is questionable to play Friday night when his team visits the New York Knicks. The veteran center already sat out of Thursday night's game against Brooklyn. Nurkic started for the Jazz throughout November after
Walker Kessler (shoulder) was ruled out for the season. The 31-year-old averaged eight points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists across his 14 starts last month.
Kyle Filipowski picked up the start in Nurkic's place on Thursday and would likely do so again if Nurkic can't play.
Kevin Love, who rested on Thursday, will also be available to eat up frontcourt minutes.
--Andrew BallSource: Utah Jazz
December 5, 2025
Miami Heat guard
Tyler Herro (toe) won't play Friday night when the team visits the Orlando Magic. The All-Star told reporters he's taking it "day by day right now" as he manages irritation and pain in his right big toe. Herro has played in just five games this year, making his season debut on November 24th after offseason surgery. He scored at least 20 points in all five of those games.
Norman Powell (ankle) will play after missing Wednesday's loss to the Mavericks. He will be tasked with handling the bulk of Miami's scoring.
--Andrew BallSource: Marc Stein
December 5, 2025
Dallas Mavericks center
Daniel Gafford (right ankle injury management) won't play in Friday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gafford reaggravated his ankle injury during Wednesday's win over the Miami Heat. He missed the two games prior with the ankle issue. With
Dereck Lively II (foot) also sidelined,
Anthony Davis will see plenty of minutes at the center position. He's averaged 24.5 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and 3.5 stocks in his last two games. The Mavericks play again Saturday night, when they host the Houston Rockets.
--Andrew BallSource: Kevin Gray Jr.
December 5, 2025
Dallas Mavericks forward
P.J. Washington (ankle) isn't ready to return to the lineup on Friday when the team visits the Oklahoma City Thunder. This will be the fourth straight game that Washington has sat out. Veteran forward
Naji Marshall has started in Washington's place over the last three contests, averaging 15 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Washington's next chance to play will be Saturday night when the Mavericks host the Houston Rockets.
--Andrew BallSource: Brandon Rahbar
December 5, 2025
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward
Brandon Miller (shoulder) has been upgraded to probable ahead of the team's Friday night date with the Toronto Raptors. The 23-year-old was sidelined for the last two games with a left shoulder issue. That's the same shoulder that caused him to miss 13 games earlier this season. His anticipated return likely means rookie guard
Sion James moves back to the bench. Miller is averaging 17 points, two rebounds, and three assists in 25 minutes of play in his six appearances this season.
--Andrew BallSource: Rod Boone - The Charlotte Observer
December 5, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers forward
Paul George (injury management) will play on Friday night when his team visits the Milwaukee Bucks. The veteran forward has intermittently missed games after sitting out the first 12 games of the season. The 76ers are on the second night of a back-to-back; however, George did not play in Thursday's win over Golden State. George is seeing about 22 minutes of action in his six appearances (all starts) this year, averaging 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
--Andrew BallSource: Adam Aaronson
December 5, 2025
Houston Rockets center
Alperen Sengun (illness) is a late addition to the team's injury report ahead of their Friday night contest against the Phoenix Suns. He's officially listed as questionable as the team waits to see if he can battle through his illness. The 23-year-old All-Star has started all 19 games for the Rockets this season, averaging career-high marks in points (23.1) and assists (7.1), along with 9.1 rebounds. If Sengun is unable to play,
Steven Adams and
Clint Capela will man the paint for the Rockets.
--Andrew BallSource: NBA Injury Report
December 5, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee, injury management) won't play on the second night of a back-to-back on Friday in Milwaukee. It's no surprise that Embiid will watch from afar, as he previously stated he may never play back-to-back games again in his career due to his knee. The former MVP has also only played in eight games this year while managing the injury.
Andre Drummond has picked up the start at center for most of Embiid's absences this season. Expect that trend to continue Friday night. Embiid is averaging a career-low 18.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in about 24 minutes per game this year.
--Andrew BallSource: Adam Aaronson
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