December 19, 2025
Memphis Grizzlies point guard
Ja Morant (ankle) won't be available on Saturday against the Washington Wizards. He is nursing a left ankle sprain and will miss a second straight contest.
Vince Williams Jr. (knee) also won't play on Saturday, leaving Memphis without two important backcourt pieces. Luckily for the team,
Cam Spencer (personal) will be available and could produce fireworks against a leaky Wizards defense. In his last outing against the Los Angeles Clippers, Spencer set a new career high with 27 points, sinking seven of 10 attempts from three-point range.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 19, 2025
Toronto Raptors guard/forward
RJ Barrett (knee) will be sidelined for a 12th consecutive game on Saturday against the Boston Celtics. Following a long absence due to a right knee sprain, Barrett began ramping up activities this week, but it looks like his return to the lineup won't come during the team's upcoming back-to-back set. Toronto wraps up the week on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets. Several players have received increased opportunities during Barrett's absence, including
Ochai Agbaji, who has made three consecutive starts. In these games, Agbaji has managed to score only 18 total points and grab 10 rebounds, making him a non-factor in fantasy basketball.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Toronto Raptors center
Jakob Poeltl (back) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Eastern Conference matchup against the Boston Celtics. Poeltl has been bothered by a lower back problem all season, mostly sitting out games during back-to-back situations. However, even after several rest days, he wasn't in the lineup on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Saturday marks the start of another back-to-back for Toronto, so at least one absence is coming again for Poeltl this weekend.
Sandro Mamukelashvili started at center on Thursday and did well, contributing 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal during an 111-105 win.
Collin Murray-Boyles also plays more when Poeltl is absent.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Portland Trail Blazers forward
Jerami Grant (Achilles) could miss his second game of the season on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings, as the team has listed him as questionable on the injury report. The veteran, who has totaled 55 points across the last two games, is dealing with a sore left Achilles tendon. After opening the season as a member of the second unit, Grant has started regularly over the last month. The 31-year-old has notched 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists as a starter. If Grant can't play on Saturday, the Trail Blazers will likely bring
Kris Murray or
Sidy Cissoko into the first unit. With that said, fantasy managers shouldn't rush to grab them, as the two haven't been productive enough in previous starts.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers center
Deandre Ayton (elbow) has been ruled out for a second consecutive game, missing Saturday's clash against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a sore left elbow. His absence will allow
Jaxson Hayes to make another start. Filling in for Ayton on Thursday against the Utah Jazz, Hayes posted 16 points in 22 minutes with three rebounds.
Maxi Kleber logged 19 minutes as the backup center, finishing with five points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block. The Lakers' frontcourt could also be without
Rui Hachimura (groin) on Saturday, opening up even more minutes for the rest of the group.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Utah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen (groin) is considered doubtful for Saturday's matchup against the Orlando Magic. The 2023 All-Star is poised to miss a second straight game with a groin problem.
Kyle Filipowski is set to maintain a starting role if Markkanen doesn't play, offering double-double upside for fantasy managers. At the same time,
Keyonte George, who notched 34 points in Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, will be the main man on the offensive end.
Isaiah Collier and
Ace Bailey also had additional offensive touches on Thursday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Klay Thompson (knee) may miss Saturday night's action against the Philadelphia 76ers, as the team has listed him as questionable on the injury report. The veteran sniper could be sidelined for the third time this season due to a sore left knee. Thompson's fantasy stock has plummeted this season, with Dallas mainly using him off the bench. He is averaging 10.8 points in 21.7 minutes, shooting below 40 percent from the field for the first time in his career. Thompson's absence on Saturday would result in additional playing time for
Max Christie,
Naji Marshall, and
D'Angelo Russell.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Dallas Mavericks forward/center
Anthony Davis (illness) is listed as probable for Saturday's encounter with the Philadelphia 76ers. The star big man has been battling an illness this week. He had 15 points and 14 rebounds while dealing with the issue on Thursday night against the Detroit Pistons. It was a tough matchup for Davis against
Jalen Duren, and things may not be easy for him on Saturday either if
Joel Embiid (illness) suits up. The former MVP has also come down with an illness, sitting out Friday's game against the New York Knicks.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 19, 2025
Los Angeles Clippers guard
James Harden (calf) will be available for Saturday's Battle of Los Angeles against the Lakers, Law Murray of The Athletic reports. The veteran superstar sat out Thursday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a left calf contusion. Harden has been fairly quiet this month and settled for only 13 points and six assists in his last outing against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Bogdan Bogdanovic will likely return to the bench on Saturday night and won't have a significant offensive role.
--Taavi PailkSource: Law Murray
December 19, 2025
Sacramento Kings forward/center
Domantas Sabonis (knee) will be re-evaluated in 4-5 weeks, James Ham of ESPN reports. The Lithuanian star has already missed five weeks due to a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. Sacramento is currently also without
Drew Eubanks (thumb), which has given a massive boost to
Maxime Raynaud's fantasy value. The French rookie had a career night on Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers, putting up 29 points and securing his second double-double of the season with 11 rebounds. Raynaud will try to replicate the effort on Saturday night in a rematch against Portland.
--Taavi PailkSource: James Ham
December 19, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves guard
Anthony Edwards (foot) will be back in the lineup on Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA insider Marc Stein reports. Edwards has missed three games while managing a right foot injury. The Timberwolves superstar reportedly won't have a minutes restriction on Friday, so fantasy managers can expect something big from Edwards in a head-to-head clash against reigning MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In his first meeting with the Thunder this season, Edwards tallied 31 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
--Taavi PailkSource: Marc Stein
December 19, 2025
Chicago Bulls center
Zach Collins (wrist) will be active against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. The team has upgraded his status from probable to available. Collins made his season debut only recently and has played in five consecutive games. He has averaged 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 17.4 minutes as a backup big for the Bulls. The 28-year-old has faced Cleveland already once this week, finishing an impressive 127-111 win on Wednesday with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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
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