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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Chicago Bulls center Jalen Smith will remain on the inactive list for Wednesday's game in Boston due to a calf injury. He will sit out Chicago's final game heading into the All-Star break, but there is a decent chance he will be able to return for the Bulls' Feb. 19 matchup with Toronto. In Smith's absence, Guerschon Yabusele is expected to continue starting, with Nick Richards logging extended minutes in the second unit.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Celtics due to a left hamstring strain. This marks his eighth consecutive missed contest. His next opportunity to return will come against the Raptors on Feb. 19, after the All-Star break. With Giddey sidelined, the Bulls are expected to continue relying heavily on Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey, and Collin Sexton.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against Orlando due to right foot Plantar Fasciitis. Initially listed as questionable, Rollins will miss the first leg of a back-to-back set and is considered questionable for Thursday's game in Oklahoma City. With Rollins sidelined, Cam Thomas, Gary Trent Jr., Gary Harris, AJ Green, and Kyle Kuzma are all candidates to see increased minutes and offensive involvement for the Bucks.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels has been cleared to play in Wednesday's game against Charlotte, shedding his questionable tag related to an ankle issue. The 22-year-old has been performing well recently, averaging 10.1 points, 6.8 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals across 32.0 minutes in his last 10 appearances for the Hawks.
The San Antonio Spurs waived Jeremy Sochan on Wednesday, making the 2023 All-Rookie team forward a free agent. Sochan had fallen out of the rotation in San Antonio but is expected to draw interest from multiple teams after clearing waivers. If he secures a role with 20-plus minutes per game, he could become a valuable deep league asset, particularly for his ability to accumulate assists and defensive statistics.
Atlanta Hawks' Mouhamed Gueye has been fined $35,000 by the NBA. The fine stems from his involvement in a jersey-grabbing tussle that took place on Monday. Naz Reid of the Timberwolves was also penalized with an identical $35,000 fine for his part in the incident.
Minnesota Timberwolves' Naz Reid has been fined $35,000 by the NBA. The penalty was issued for his involvement in a jersey-grabbing tussle that occurred on Monday. Mouhamed Gueye of the Hawks also received an identical fine for his role in the incident.
Stephen Curry has been sidelined for the Golden State Warriors' last five games, including their February 11 matchup with the Spurs, due to runner's knee. He will also miss Sunday's All-Star Game. The hope is that Curry will return to action immediately after the All-Star break, with the team expecting him to miss little to no additional time. Gui Santos and Pat Spencer have stepped into starting roles during his absence.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is experiencing a significant boost in performance due to James Harden's arrival. Allen has posted 29 and 22 points in games with Harden in the lineup, a notable improvement after being an offensive afterthought for long stretches this season. Harden's play-starting ability and precision in pick-and-roll situations are unlocking Allen's potential as a play finisher. Lineups featuring Harden at point and Allen at center are recording 120.7 points per 100 possessions (88th percentile) and 108.9 points per 100 possessions in the half-court (98th percentile), highlighting their strong chemistry.
Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart received a seven-game NBA suspension for his aggressive involvement in Monday's altercation with Charlotte, including leaving the bench and fighting Miles Bridges. This is his fifth suspension in his six-year career, with the league citing his 'repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.' Stewart will be eligible to return on March 3 against the Cavaliers, missing games against the Raptors, Bulls, Spurs, Thunder, Cavs, and Magic. His absence, alongside Jalen Duren's two-game suspension, impacts the team's depth, potentially boosting Paul Reed's value. Stewart's suspension also means he will not play enough games to be in contention for All-Defense honors.
Andrew Nembhard (rest) will not participate in Wednesday's game against the Nets. The Indiana Pacers guard is among several key players who will be resting for the team's final contest before the All-Star break. With T.J. McConnell also resting, the Pacers may provide increased opportunities for players like Kam Jones and Quenton Jackson.
Aaron Nesmith (rest) is out for Wednesday's game against the Nets. The Indiana Pacers forward will take a seat for the second half of Indiana's back-to-back set, joining Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, and T.J. McConnell on the sidelines. Nesmith is expected to return after the All-Star break. In Tuesday's win over the Knicks, he recorded 11 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in 36 minutes. Kam Jones, Ben Sheppard, and Quenton Jackson are candidates for increased roles in his absence.
Pascal Siakam (rest) will not play in Wednesday's game against the Nets. The Indiana Pacers forward is among a handful of key players who will be sidelined for the team's final contest before the All-Star break. With Jarace Walker (illness) also questionable, the Pacers may opt to utilize numerous small-ball lineups for Wednesday's matchup.
Anfernee Simons, recently traded to the Chicago Bulls from the Celtics, expressed understanding of the business decision despite the emotional impact. He loved his time in Boston, where he averaged 24.5 minutes per game, his lowest in five years, but felt the experience greatly benefited him. In three games with the Bulls, he's averaged 20 points and 5.3 assists, shooting 48.9% from the field. Simons, now an unrestricted free agent in the summer, is open to a potential return to Boston down the line.
Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis, who ranks tied for third in the NBA with 11.4 rebounds per game this season, will be sidelined for Wednesday's game against the Utah Jazz due to a back injury. His absence significantly impacts the Kings' rebounding capabilities, which were already mediocre at 44.7 opponent rebounds per game (19th). This situation potentially boosts Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic's performance on the glass. The Kings are currently in the midst of a 13-game slide and are missing other top players like Zach LaVine and Russell Westbrook.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren has been suspended two games by the NBA for initiating Monday's altercation with Moussa Diabaté and fighting during the Pistons-Hornets game. Duren, who shoved Diabaté in the face after a foul, will miss Wednesday's game against the Raptors and a rematch against the Knicks on Feb. 19. He is averaging 17.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game and is a consistent double-double performer. The two-game suspension should not prevent him from participating in All-Star weekend as a reserve.
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges received a four-game NBA suspension for his role in Monday's altercation against the Pistons, which included fighting and escalating the incident. He is ineligible to play until February 24, missing games until the Hornets face the Bulls. Bridges was involved in exchanging punches with Jalen Duren and fighting Isaiah Stewart. Grant Williams and Sion James are expected to see increased minutes for the Hornets during Bridges' absence. Bridges averages 18.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté received a four-game NBA suspension for fighting and escalating Monday's altercation with the Pistons. The incident began when Jalen Duren fouled Diabaté, leading to a confrontation where Duren shoved Diabaté in the face. Diabaté then charged at Duren and had to be restrained multiple times. He apologized to the Hornets organization and fans for allowing his emotions to get the better of him. Diabaté will miss Wednesday's game and is the team's leading rebounder, grabbing 8.6 per game.
The Washington Wizards have signed guard Kadary Richmond, 24, to a 10-day contract. Richmond previously played Summer League with the Wizards before joining their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go. In 23 appearances with the Go-Go this season, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game on 45.7% FG. He played five collegiate seasons across Syracuse, Seton Hall, and St. John’s.
Tre Johnson is expected to return from a sprained left ankle on Wednesday. He is one of the players Wizards fans might see on national TV during the All-Star break, as the team's recent acquisitions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis are expected to increase their national media presence next season. Despite the team's current standing, Johnson is anticipated to receive significant playing time.
