December 22, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward
Alex Caruso (finger) won't suit up for Monday's meeting with Memphis. The 31-year-old has been on and off the injury report all season. This time, he'll be sidelined by a sprained right middle finger. He's averaged only 5.8 points, 3.1 boards, and 1.8 steals throughout the 2025 campaign, so he hasn't been an every day fantasy option. With
Isaiah Hartenstein (calf),
Jaylin Williams (heel), and
Chet Holmgren (illness) also out, Caruso could have gotten more involved. However, it appears
Kenrich Williams will see extra work, even more so if
Aaron Wiggins (adductor) doesn't play.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Utah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen (groin) will play on Monday against Denver after missing the last two contests. The 2017 No. 7 overall pick has had a fantastic 2025 campaign, averaging a career-high 27.8 points, adding 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals. Of course, that kind of production makes him a must-start in all fantasy setups, with his return likely resulting in
Kyle Filipowski heading back to the bench.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Charlotte Hornets center
Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) won't play on Monday against Cleveland. The rookie will miss his third contest of the 2025 campaign, so his next chance to suit up will be on Tuesday versus the Washington Wizards. Without him,
Moussa Diabate is the favorite to enter the starting lineup. The 23-year-old has started twice this season, averaging 8.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals. However, his statistical contributions could improve, considering
Evan Mobley (calf) remains sidelined.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Boston Celtics forward
Jaylen Brown (illness) will play against Indiana. He didn't suit up for Saturday's win over the Toronto Raptors, marking only his second absence of the 2025 campaign. Fortunately, the illness won't keep him off the floor for more than one contest. The 29-year-old has had a fantastic season, averaging a career-high 29.3 points. That trend should continue versus the Pacers, a team that has had their share of struggles defensively this season.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center
Chet Holmgren (illness) won't play on Monday against Memphis.
Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) and
Jaylin Williams (heel) are also sidelined, so OKC will be thin at the five spot. To make matters worse,
Aaron Wiggins (adductor) is questionable. As a result,
Jalen Williams might be spending most of his time at the power forward position, with
Kenrich Williams in line to enter the starting lineup, giving him a bump in streaming value versus a Grizzlies team that is without
Brandon Clarke (calf) and
Zach Edey (ankle)
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Charlotte Hornets guard
LaMelo Ball (wrist) will play on Monday against Cleveland. The 24-year-old has missed 10 games this season for various ailments. Fortunately, that trend won't continue, with Ball in line to suit up for his third-straight contest. He has struggled offensively this season, averaging 19.2 points, down from the 2024 campaign, although he's at least amassed a career-high 8.6 assists per contest. Despite his struggles on the offensive end, Ball is a must-start in any format, and his scoring issues could improve somewhat now that
Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) won't suit up.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Boston Celtics guard/forward
Jordan Walsh (illness) is questionable for Monday's game against the Indiana Pacers. The 21-year-old has been dealing with an illness and played only 13 minutes in Saturday's win over the Toronto Raptors -- his lowest since Nov. 18. Walsh has started regularly since mid-November, averaging 8.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 23.9 minutes per game. If
Jaylen Brown (illness) feels healthy enough to return to action, he will take Walsh's spot in the starting lineup. Should both be unavailable,
Hugo Gonzalez and
Josh Minott are expected to see increased minutes, with one likely moving into the starting five.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Los Angeles Clippers center
Ivica Zubac (ankle) is facing a multi-week absence. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Croatian big man was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain and will miss three weeks. Losing Zubac is a massive blow for the Clippers, who will probably rely more on
Brook Lopez over the coming weeks. Lopez logged a season-high 25 minutes in Saturday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers, tallying 11 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
John Collins may also see some action at center, while
Kobe Brown's minutes could increase again after he was limited to only four minutes over the past two games.
--Taavi PailkSource: Chris Haynes
December 22, 2025
Utah Jazz forward/center
Kevin Love (rest) won't be in the lineup on Monday against the Denver Nuggets. The former All-Star is taking the night off after a heavy workload in Saturday's overtime loss to the Orlando Magic, where he tallied 16 points and 16 rebounds in 32 minutes. With
Lauri Markkanen (groin) also potentially sidelined, both
Kyle Filipowski and
Taylor Hendricks could have increased fantasy value. Filipowski stands out as the better fantasy option, although his performances have been inconsistent.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Memphis Grizzlies forward/center
Brandon Clarke (calf) will be absent on Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After recovering from offseason knee surgery, Clarke made his season debut last week, but he suffered a calf strain in only his second appearance.
Santi Aldama started the second half in Clarke's place on Saturday against the Washington Wizards and will probably remain in the first unit on Monday. Although Aldama is productive coming off the bench, his scoring numbers typically improve as a starter. Across five starting appearances this season, Aldama has notched 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Denver Nuggets forward
Peyton Watson (side) could be out for a third consecutive game on Monday night against the Utah Jazz, as the team lists him as questionable on the injury report. Recently, Watson suffered a right trunk contusion in a game against the Houston Rockets.
Bruce Brown and
Tim Hardaway Jr. have shared starts during Watson's absence. Hardaway Jr. started the last contest, but Brown outplayed him, producing a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double and adding two steals. Monday's game is a great fantasy matchup for the Nuggets, as Utah plays with the fourth-highest pace in the league, while owning the second-worst defensive rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
New Orleans Pelicans forward
Herbert Jones (migraine) may miss Monday's contest against the Dallas Mavericks, as the team considers him questionable for the game. The 27-year-old was hit in the face in a matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday and has been dealing with a migraine since then.
Jordan Poole started the second half against Indiana and may remain part of the first unit if Jones is absent on Monday. A starting role would increase Poole's fantasy appeal. He finished Saturday's contest with 16 points, two rebounds, six assists, and one block in 32 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Klay Thompson (knee) is listed as questionable for Monday's action against the New Orleans Pelicans. The veteran has been a regular on the injury report lately due to a sore left knee, but Thompson has made four consecutive appearances. He may finally take some time off on Monday night to recover, as Dallas will start a back-to-back. Thompson's only two absences this season have come during back-to-back situations.
D'Angelo Russell and
Jaden Hardy could be more involved in the rotation if Thompson doesn't play. While Russell has the potential to produce in fantasy, his struggles over the past few weeks make him a less attractive option right now.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Indiana Pacers point guard
T.J. McConnell (knee) has been labeled as questionable for a clash against the Boston Celtics on Monday night. The veteran playmaker has a sore left knee, which may force McConnell out of the lineup for the first time since he made his season debut on Nov. 11. McConnell has maintained a backup role in Indiana this season, averaging 9.5 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 16.7 minutes. If McConnell can't suit up on Monday, players like
Quenton Jackson, Garrison Matthews, and
Ethan Thompson will likely absorb his minutes. However, none of the three is an appealing fantasy option.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 22, 2025
Charlotte Hornets guard
Collin Sexton (quadriceps) is looking at a seventh consecutive absence, as the team lists him as doubtful for Monday's matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sexton is battling a quadriceps strain, and muscle injuries are not easy to shake off.
KJ Simpson,
Sion James, and
Tre Mann have more fantasy appeal due to Sexton's absence. The trio would receive an even larger boost if
LaMelo Ball (wrist) exited the lineup. Currently, Ball is listed as probable on the injury report.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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