Miles McBride to be Re-Evaluated in One Week
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (ankle) will be re-evaluated in one week, Ian Begley of SYN reports. McBride injured his left ankle in a contest against the Orlando Magic last Sunday. He has already missed one game and won't be able to help his team in the NBA Cup semifinal matchup against the Magic this weekend and a potential final on Tuesday. Jordan Clarkson will play a more active role in the rotation until McBride returns. The veteran guard put up 12 points and had three rebounds in 26 minutes when New York defeated the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Source: Ian Begley
Source: Ian Begley
Robert Williams III, Yang Hansen Out Thursday
Portland Trail Blazers centers Robert Williams III (illness) and Yang Hansen (face) have been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. Both players were listed as questionable on the initial injury report. Donovan Clingan (leg) also won't play against New Orleans, leaving Duop Reath as the only natural center in the Trail Blazers lineup. Kris Murray will probably also handle some of the minutes at the five position. Reath has had a very limited role with Portland this season, but he did post 12 points in 19 minutes during Sunday's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Source: Portland Trail Blazers PR
Source: Portland Trail Blazers PR
Lauri Markkanen Available Friday Night
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (illness) is set to return from a one-game absence on Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies after the team removed him from the injury report. The Finnish star couldn't play in Sunday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to illness, resulting in Kyle Filipowski getting his seventh start of the campaign. Filipowski will probably head back to the bench for Friday's action, but he has performed well recently and should maintain fantasy value. Markkanen has been inconsistent lately, but he could do plenty of damage against a Grizzlies team that allows the fifth-most three-point attempts in the league.
Source: Utah Jazz
Source: Utah Jazz
LaMelo Ball Sidelined for Friday
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) is out for Friday's clash with the Chicago Bulls. Ball will miss his second consecutive game due to a left ankle bruise. His next chance to return will come on Sunday versus the Cavs. Fantasy managers should expect that he will likely carry a questionable tag ahead of Sunday's contest. Across 16 games this season, the 24-year-old is averaging 19.4 points, 8.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 28.9 minutes per contest.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Tyrese Maxey Dealing With Illness But Expected to Play Friday
Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey (illness) is listed as probable for Friday's contest against the Indiana Pacers. He has landed on the injury report with an illness; however, the probable designation suggests that Maxey is expected to be in the lineup. Maxey had led the Sixers' offense all season, averaging 31.5 points and 7.2 assists. Philadelphia faces a pace-up spot on Friday against a defensively-challenged team, putting Maxey in a great position to stuff the stat sheet.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Nique Clifford to Start Thursday
Sacramento Kings shooting guard Nique Clifford will move to the starting unit on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets, Mark Haynes of the Sacramento Observer reports. He will take Zach LaVine's (thumb) spot. Clifford has previously started two games during his rookie season, averaging 7.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in those contests. It's a big opportunity for Clifford to impress, and considering how badly the Kings are doing, we may start seeing the 23-year-old among the starters regularly at some point.
Source: Mark Haynes
Source: Mark Haynes
Kristaps Porzingis Out of Action Versus Pistons Friday
Atlanta Hawks forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (illness) is unavailable for Friday's matchup with the Detroit Pistons. Porzingis will miss his second consecutive contest due to illness. Ahead of Friday's tilt, the Latvian big man has struggled staying healthy, sitting out nine of the last 13 Hawks games. When Porzingis has been able to suit up, he's still a valuable fantasy asset, averaging 19.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks across 25.9 minutes per contest in 13 appearances.
Source: Atlanta Hawks
Source: Atlanta Hawks
Joel Embiid Probable Ahead of Friday's Matchup With Pacers
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) is considered probable for Friday's tilt against the Indiana Pacers due to left knee injury management. Despite another addition to the Sixers' injury report, the big man will likely suit up Friday for the second game in a row. Embiid finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in his last appearance during a 112-108 loss to the Lakers on Sunday. When the 31-year-old is actually available to take the floor, he is still a fantasy force and is a must-start across all formats.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Draymond Green Ruled Out for Friday Versus Timberwolves
Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (personal) will be out of action for Friday's matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 35-year-old had an excused absence from Thursday's practice and will miss at least one game due to personal reasons. A foot injury recently kept Green out two straight games, and it is unknown if he is still dealing with lingering pain. With Al Horford also sidelined, Trayce Jackson-Davis (knee) and Quinten Post will receive a bump in minutes to help out a depleted Warriors' frontcourt on Friday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Stephen Curry Off Injury Report for Friday's Matchup With Minnesota
Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (quadriceps) has been cleared to suit up ahead of Friday's matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The former MVP went through a full practice on Wednesday and is set to return after missing five consecutive contests due to a left quadriceps contusion. Curry may face a minutes restriction in his first game back from injury, but he could still make a significant impact in fantasy Friday evening. Pat Spencer has had a solid run recently, but his fantasy value will drop with Curry back on the floor.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
John Konchar Will Undergo Thumb Surgery
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com reports that Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward John Konchar (thumb) will undergo surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb and is out indefinitely. The injury occurred during Sunday's 119-96 win over the Trail Blazers. Konchar on the shelf for an extended period won't make much of a difference in fantasy basketball, as he is averaging just 13.0 minutes per contest across 22 games this season.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Zach Edey Out at Least Four Weeks
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (ankle) is dealing with a stress reaction in his left ankle and will be re-evaluated in about four weeks. The injury will likely keep the 24-year-old big man out of action until the beginning of January. Despite the setback, Edey is having a fantastic season so far, averaging 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 1.1 assists across 25.8 minutes per contest in the 11 games he's been able to suit up. Jock Landale will see an expanded role at center while Edey is sidelined. Landale nearly registered a double-double in his last outing, posting 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals during a 119-96 win over the Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Donovan Clingan Misses Third Consecutive Game
Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (leg) will sit out a third consecutive game on Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans. The 21-year-old big man is nursing a lower leg contusion. Meanwhile, Robert Williams III (illness) and Yang Hansen (face) have been tagged as questionable on the injury report, meaning Portland may be shorthanded at the center position on Thursday night. It could be a big night for Duop Reath if Williams III and Hansen join Clingan on the sidelines. New Orleans allows the fourth-most fantasy points in the league to centers.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jrue Holiday Still Out Thursday
Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (calf) will miss his 13th consecutive game on Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Holiday remains out with a right calf strain. The initial expectation was that Holiday could return to action after two weeks, but it has been almost a month since his last appearance. Caleb Love has been a regular in the lineup during Holiday's absence, but he hasn't exactly set the world alight. The 24-year-old is averaging 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 18.0 minutes per game for his rookie season.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
AJ Green Iffy for Thursday
Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (shoulder) is considered questionable for Thursday's Eastern Conference showdown against the Boston Celtics. He is dealing with a shoulder issue and may be absent for a second consecutive game. Green was only a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, which doesn't bode well for his chances to play against Boston. Green has taken a big leap this season, averaging a career-high 11.3 points with 48.5 percent shooting from downtown. He has been a starter in all 24 appearances. With Green unavailable, Kyle Kuzma joined the first unit on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons, finishing with 15 points, four rebounds, and one steal. Kuzma will have additional fantasy value again on Thursday if Green can't return.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
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