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NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/7

Each day, this column will provide live updates for all NBA news. Enjoy up-to-the-minute alerts for injuries and lineup confirmations. The Key News to Watch section will highlight notable injuries to monitor for the current NBA slate.

Key NBA News to Watch

  • Luka Doncic (ankle) — Available

  • CJ McCollum (rest) — Out

  • Jonas Valanciunas (hand) — Questionable

  • Andrew Wiggins (illness) — Probable

  • Jakob Poeltl (Achilles) — Out

  • Keldon Johnson (hamstring) — Out

Recent NBA News

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__NBA for notifications.

Boston Celtics News

Projected Lineup: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford

The Celtics have a 7-2 record and have scored the most points per 100 possessions (124.5) against teams with bottom-ten defensive ratings. Additionally, Boston is 6-0 against teams playing on zero days of rest and has recorded the best road win percentage (63.2%) league-wide. The Spurs have allowed opponents to score the most points per 100 possessions (120.5) and will be playing at home for the second game of a back-to-back set.

San Antonio Spurs News

Projected Lineup: Tre Jones, Malachi Branham, Romeo Langford, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins

  • Keldon Johnson (hamstring) — Out

  • Jakob Poeltl (Achilles) — Out

  • Charles Bassey (G League) — Available

  • Blake Wesley (G League) — Available

  • Devin Vassell (knee) — Injured

Langford, Malaki Branham, and Josh Richardson could absorb most of Johnson’s minutes if he is ruled out against the Celtics. With Johnson and Vassell off the floor this season, Jones (26.1%), Doug McDermott (22.8%), and Richardson (22.2%) have led Spurs rotation players in usage.

Utah Jazz News

Projected Lineup: Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, Kelly Olynyk

Markkanen has averaged 32.8 points and 10.3 three-point attempts in his last eight games. The Bulls have allowed the second-most made threes per game (14.7) in their previous 15 matches. Markkanen averaged 22.0 points against his former team, including a 32-point performance on seven-for-11 shooting from three earlier in the season.

Chicago Bulls News

Projected Lineup: Ayo Dosunmu, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic

  • Alex Caruso (ankle) — Questionable

  • Derrick Jones Jr. (wrist) — Probable

  • Tony Bradley (health protocols) — Out

  • Javonte Green (knee) — Injured

  • Lonzo Ball (knee) — Injured

The Bulls have recorded the fourth-best offensive rating (118.5) league-wide in their last ten contests, due in part to shooting the third-best three-point percentage (40.5%) during that time. Utah has allowed opponents to shoot the sixth-highest three-point percentage (38.0%) on the fifth-least attempts (31.6) during their last six matches.

New Orleans Pelicans News

Projected Lineup: Jose Alvarado, Herb Jones, Naji Marshall, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas

  • CJ McCollum (rest) — Out

  • Jonas Valanciunas (hand) — Questionable

  • Larry Nance Jr. (shoulder) — Out

  • Zion Williamson (hamstring) — Injured

  • Brandon Ingram (toe) — Injured

Jose Alvarado recorded the second-highest usage rate (25.3%) on the team in 32.2 minutes as his secondary shot-creating and defense were valued against the Nets on Friday. He started, but his contributions were valued less as he lost time to Devonte’ Graham and Dyson Daniels for a shorthanded Pelicans team in their first matchup with the Mavs this season.

Dallas Mavericks News

Projected Lineup: Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Reggie Bullock, Christian Wood

  • Luka Doncic (ankle) — Available

  • Dorian Finney-Smith (adductor) — Injured

  • Josh Green (elbow) — Injured

  • Maxi Kleber (hamstring) — Injured

Dinwiddie has logged a decreased 16.7% usage rate and a reduced 17.6% assist rate since Wood became a full-time starter nine games ago. He posted 22.1% usage and a 27.8% assist rate before that change.

Orlando Magic News

Projected Lineup: Markelle Fultz, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., Moe Wagner

  • Plenty of plenty (health protocols) — Out

  • RJ Hampton (G League) — Out

  • Chuma Okeke (knee) — Injured

  • Jonathan Isaac (ACL) — Injured

The Magic have a 4-13 record and have scored the second-fewest points per 100 possessions (106.9) on the road this season. The Warriors are 17-3 and have recorded the second-best defensive rating (106.6) at home. Additionally, Orlando has allowed opponents to make the third-most threes per game (14.1) while Golden State has made the most threes per game (15.2) during their last ten matches.

Golden State Warriors News

Projected Lineup: Jordan Poole, Donte DiVincenzo, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney

  • Andrew Wiggins (illness) — Probable

  • Andre Iguodala (injury management) — Said he’ll play

  • Jonathan Kuminga (foot) — Injured

  • James Wiseman (ankle) — Injured

  • JaMychal Green (leg) — Injured

  • Stephen Curry (shoulder) — Injured

Looney has averaged 28.0 minutes and recorded a heightened 22.9% rebound rate with Golden State shorthanded during the last four games. His rebounding might not be sustainable against a Magic team that ranks eighth in the league with a 50.6% rebound rate, but he could play even more minutes against a large Orlando frontline.

Los Angeles Lakers News

Projected Lineup: Dennis Schroder, Patrick Beverley, Troy Brown Jr., LeBron James, Thomas Bryant

  • Troy Brown Jr. (quad) — TBD

  • Damian Jones (toe) — TBD

  • Austin Reaves (hamstring) — Injured

  • Lonnie Walker (knee) — Injured

  • Anthony Davis (foot) — Injured

Kendrick Nunn scored 23 points on nine-for-16 shooting in 26.9 minutes during the Lakers’ 130-114 win over the Hawks on Friday. Nunn could lose some time if his shot isn’t falling, but he could be given a similar opportunity if Brown Jr. remains out against the Kings.

Sacramento Kings News

Projected Lineup: De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis

Sabonis logged a 34.0% assist rate in two games against the Lakers this season. He also snared 21 rebounds with Anthony Davis (foot) out for Sacramento’s 134-120 win over Los Angeles 16 days ago.

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