Robert Williams III Active Thursday Night
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (knee) will be in the lineup on Thursday against the Miami Heat. He was unavailable for the last game on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings when Portland concluded a back-to-back set. Thursday's game kicks off another back-to-back for the team, making it likely that Williams III will sit out Friday's matchup against the Toronto Raptors. With Williams III returning, Duop Reath and Yang Hansen will slide down the depth chart on Thursday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jerami Grant, Sidy Cissoko Cleared to Play
Portland Trail Blazers forwards Jerami Grant (Achilles) and Sidy Cissoko (illness) will be active against the Miami Heat on Thursday night. Both were listed as questionable on the injury report. A couple of hours before tip-off, Portland upgraded Grant and Cissoko to probable, and they have now been listed as available. Grant will rejoin the action after missing the second leg of a back-to-back on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings. Cissoko has started seven consecutive games, but with Grant and Jrue Holiday back from lengthy injury absences, he may soon lose his spot in the first unit.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kawhi Leonard Returns to Action Thursday
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) will return from a three-game absence on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, NBA insider Chris Haynes reports. The Clippers initially listed Leonard as questionable on the injury report. With Leonard back, Kobe Sanders is likely to return to the second unit. Leonard has been a man on a mission since the turn of the year, averaging 29.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals, while shooting 42.5 percent from three-point range.
Source: Chris Haynes
Source: Chris Haynes
Jrue Holiday Available Against Heat
Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (calf) will play on Thursday against the Miami Heat, Danny Marang of 1080 The Fan Portland reports. The veteran will be back in action after skipping the second leg of a back-to-back on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings. Holiday recently returned from a right calf injury, averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 steals in 19.3 minutes. He has been productive since returning, but the team has understandably limited Holiday's workload following his two-month injury layoff.
Source: Danny Marang
Source: Danny Marang
Davion Mitchell Will Miss Thursday's Game
Miami Heat point guard Davion Mitchell (shoulder) won't play Thursday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. He has been trending in the wrong direction throughout the day, and the team has downgraded Mitchell from doubtful to out before tip-off. Last week, Mitchell injured his left shoulder. He returned to the lineup on Monday and played in both games of a back-to-back set, but it appears his shoulder still hasn't fully healed. Kasparas Jakucionis saw an increased workload with Mitchell out of the rotation last week and is likely to see significant minutes again, especially with Tyler Herro (ribs) also sidelined.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Santi Aldama Won't Play Friday
Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama (knee) will miss Friday's contest against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Spanish veteran is experiencing right knee soreness, forcing him to skip a second consecutive game. Following Aldama's exit from the lineup, John Konchar started in Wednesday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Unfortunately, he had a quiet evening with two points in 21 minutes. GG Jackson II also logged 21 minutes as a member of the second unit, contributing nine points, two rebounds, one assist, and two blocks. Both players could have expanded roles again on Friday night, though neither looks like a reliable fantasy option.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Ja Morant to Skip Friday's Game
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (elbow) won't play on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans. After returning from a calf problem, Morant managed to make two appearances before suffering a new injury. He is on the injury report with a UCL sprain in his left elbow. Morant's absence on Friday will likely give Cam Spencer a chance to rejoin the starting lineup. Spencer has frequently filled in for Morant this season, averaging 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 9.3 assists as a starter. It's a good matchup for Spencer, as he faces a team that allows the fourth-most assists to point guards.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Cade Cunningham Listed as Questionable for Friday
Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham (hip, illness) is listed as questionable for Friday night's action against the Houston Rockets. He's dealing with a hip contusion and an illness, and these issues might keep Cunningham on the shelf for a second consecutive game. If that's the case, Daniss Jenkins will continue in a starting role. He totaled 17 points, one rebound, four assists, two blocks, and two steals in Wednesday's win over the Indiana Pacers. Friday's matchup will be much tougher, but Jenkins could still make some noise in a larger role.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jeremy Sochan Active Against Jazz
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Jeremy Sochan (illness) has been upgraded to available for Thursday's meeting with the Utah Jazz. He was initially listed as questionable by the team. Unfortunately, Sochan hasn't been relevant in fantasy basketball this season, averaging 4.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.5 minutes across 26 appearances. On Thursday night, Sochan could play a role in the rotation because Luke Kornet (adductor) is absent from San Antonio's lineup.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Brice Sensabaugh Returns From Two-Game Absence
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (illness) has been cleared to return from a two-game absence on Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs. He was initially listed as questionable for the matchup. Sensabaugh missed a back-to-back set at the start of the week due to illness. Before landing on the shelf, he had an eye-popping three-game stretch, during which he averaged 31.7 points and 5.3 rebounds with 61.4 percent shooting. Sensabaugh's hot streak could continue on Thursday night, as Lauri Markkanen's (conditioning) absence should provide him with additional scoring opportunities.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Keyonte George Good to Go Thursday
Utah Jazz point guard Keyonte George (forearm) has shed a questionable tag and will play in Thursday's contest against the San Antonio Spurs. This is great news for the Jazz, who remain without Lauri Markkanen (conditioning). George had a career-high 43 points in Tuesday's win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and has been his team's offensive leader recently. Over the last six games, George has averaged 29.3 points and 5.7 assists. This stretch includes a 30-point, six-assist effort against the Spurs on Monday night.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Gary Payton II Will Suit Up Thursday
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (foot) will be in action on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. It was initially unclear whether Payton II would play, as the team listed him as questionable on the injury report. Payton II mainly contributes on the defensive end for the Warriors and doesn't have significant fantasy value. Across 10 January appearances, Payton II has averaged 7.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 15.4 minutes.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Moussa Cisse Ready for Action Thursday
Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse (illness) will play on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors. The 23-year-old big man has been battling an illness this week. But Dallas has upgraded Cisse on the injury report a couple of times during the day, and he is now officially listed as available. The Mavericks are currently short of bodies in the paint, giving Cisse a larger role. He has averaged 11.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in 21.6 minutes across the last three games. Cisse's momentum could continue on Thursday night against a Warriors team that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to centers this season.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
P.J. Washington to be Limited to Under 30 Minutes
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (personal) will be held under 30 minutes during Thursday's game against the Golden State Warriors, according to Noah Weber. Washington is making his return on Thursday after missing each of the last three games due to personal reasons. The Mavs are going to take the cautious approach and limit Washington during his first game back in the rotation. They want to give him a game or two to build up his conditioning again. That could mean a few extra minutes for Caleb Martin or Dwight Powell during Thursday's game. Fantasy managers should still be safe to plug Washington into their lineups ahead of Thursday's tip-off.
Source: Noah Weber
Source: Noah Weber
Deandre Ayton Available for Battle of Los Angeles
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (eye) will play on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. The former first-overall pick left Tuesday's win over the Denver Nuggets early after being poked in the eye, but the Lakers didn't include him on the injury report for Thursday's game. Before Tuesday night, Ayton had produced three double-doubles in four games. He has a mediocre fantasy matchup on Thursday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
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