Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) will miss Friday's game against the Warriors, marking his third consecutive absence. He continues to be ruled out a day in advance, with his next chance to return to action scheduled for Sunday against the Suns.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (ankle) is probable for Friday's game against Cleveland, with the team expecting him to play through a right ankle sprain. Murray has been a key contributor, averaging 26.5 points, 7.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 35.1 minutes over his last 14 outings. His presence will be crucial for the Nuggets' matchup against Cleveland.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter will miss Thursday's game against the Houston Rockets due to an illness, as reported by Marc J. Spears of ESPN.com. His absence could lead to Cam Thomas becoming the primary scoring option, with Danny Wolf, Drake Powell, and Tyrese Martin potentially stepping into the starting lineup. Porter faces a quick turnaround if he hopes to suit up for Friday's tilt against the Wizards.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (calf) has been cleared for a progression of on-court basketball activities, according to Sean Highkin. Holiday has been sidelined since November 14 due to a right calf strain. While he is reportedly on the right track in his recovery, a specific timetable for his return to play remains unavailable. This update suggests progress in his rehab but indicates he's not close to returning to game action.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (hamstring) is slated for a re-evaluation in two weeks, as reported by Sean Highkin. Henderson has commenced non-contact, on-court basketball activities, marking an advancement in his rehabilitation process. Despite this progress, the team is taking a cautious approach, and there is no guarantee that he will return to play immediately following his re-evaluation. He continues to work his way back from the hamstring issue.
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George is officially out for Thursday's game against the Clippers due to an illness. He is expected to be considered day-to-day leading up to Saturday's contest in Golden State. George's absence will open up significant minutes in the Jazz backcourt, with Isaiah Collier projected to step into the starting point guard role. Walter Clayton could also see increased opportunities in deeper leagues.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Clippers. He was unable to clear his questionable tag for the contest and is expected to be listed as day-to-day moving forward. With Markkanen sidelined, the Jazz will likely rely heavily on Kyle Filipowski and Taylor Hendricks to fill the void in the lineup. This marks another game missed for the key forward due to his knee issue.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 30 points (11-15 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 7-7 FT), 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in 29 minutes during Wednesday's 124-95 win over Portland. The reigning MVP has been on a roll, scoring 30+ points in six of his last eight games, averaging 31.1 points, 6.3 assists, 5.0 boards, 2.1 steals, and 1.6 threes while shooting 57.1% from the floor. He now has 105 consecutive games with 20+ points and is on track to surpass Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record of 126 games on Feb. 12 against the Bucks.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a strong performance in Wednesday's 114-113 loss to the Wizards, recording 33 points (12-21 FG, 9-14 FT), 15 rebounds, and three assists in 28 minutes. This marked his 10th double-double of the season, with eight of those featuring at least 30 points. The 31-year-old superstar has been impressive since returning from a calf strain after Christmas, averaging 28.7 points, 9.0 boards, and 3.7 assists in just 26.0 minutes over three games, while shooting 63.5 percent from the floor.
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell is sidelined with a left adductor strain and is expected to miss "more than a game or two," according to head coach Mitch Johnson. The team is awaiting additional test results for a firmer prognosis, but Vassell is likely out through the upcoming Friday/Saturday back-to-back against the Pacers and Trail Blazers. Julian Champagnie stepped into the starting five in his absence during Wednesday's game.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama exited Wednesday's game against the Knicks in the fourth quarter after hyperextending his left knee upon landing from a rebound. He required assistance to the locker room and did not return, finishing with 31 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in 24 minutes. Initial reports from ESPN's Shams Charania confirm a slight hyperextension, with tests showing no major injury, which is excellent news. Wembanyama later returned to the bench without a noticeable limp, but his status for Friday's game against the Pacers remains questionable.
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie erupted for a career-high 36 points in Wednesday's 134-132 win over the Knicks. He shot an incredible 11-of-17 from the field, including 11-of-17 from beyond the arc, adding six rebounds and one block in 36 minutes. His 11 three-pointers set a new franchise record for San Antonio, with only Stephen Curry having more triples in a single game this season. Champagnie continues to be an invaluable part of the Spurs' rotation.
Keyonte George is questionable for Thursday's game against the Clippers due to an illness. The Utah Jazz guard is under the weather and is among several players on the injury report. If George is unable to play, the Jazz will need to rely more on Isaiah Collier and Walter Clayton to fill his minutes. This update comes as the team prepares for their upcoming matchup.
Lauri Markkanen is questionable for Thursday's game against the Clippers due to a new left knee contusion. This injury follows a previous battle with a right groin issue. In his last outing against the Celtics on Tuesday, Markkanen recorded 22 points (6-16 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 8-8 FT), nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block across 38 minutes. If he cannot play, Taylor Hendricks and Kyle Filipowski are expected to see increased minutes for the Utah Jazz.
Anthony Edwards unexpectedly left the court and the bench during a timeout late in the Minnesota Timberwolves' loss to Atlanta on Wednesday. His departure was described as unplanned and unapproved, occurring after the Wolves pulled their starters. This incident marks an unusual mid-game action for the star player, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his early exit from the team's sideline.
Zach LaVine (ankle) is confirmed out for Thursday's game against the Celtics, marking his eighth consecutive absence. The Sacramento Kings guard continues to be ruled out a day in advance, and with no return to practice yet, his availability for Friday's game against the Suns appears improbable. LaVine's prolonged absence highlights the severity of his ankle issue, keeping him sidelined indefinitely.
Brandon Miller delivered a season-high performance for the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 33 points (14-29 FG, 3-12 3Pt, 2-3 FT) along with two rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 36 minutes during Wednesday's 132-125 loss to the Warriors. The third-year wing led all scorers, surpassing his previous season-best of 31 points. In December, Miller has averaged 21.0 points, 4.9 boards, 3.5 assists, 2.8 threes, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals over 11 games.
Tim Hardaway will move to a reserve role for the Denver Nuggets in Wednesday's game against the Raptors, with Jalen Pickett entering the starting five. This change comes despite Hardaway recently taking on an expanded role due to Cameron Johnson's (knee) absence. Over his last five games, which included three starts, Hardaway has averaged 19.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 4.4 threes across 31.2 minutes per game, showcasing strong production even with the lineup adjustment.
Sandro Mamukelashvili will come off the bench for the Toronto Raptors against the Nuggets on Wednesday, marking his second reserve appearance in three games. Despite Jakob Poeltl (back) being sidelined, the Raptors opted for a starting five featuring Quickley, Barrett, Barnes, Ingram, and Agbaji. Mamukelashvili has been productive recently, scoring in double digits in seven of his last eight games, averaging 13.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.4 threes, and 1.3 steals over 26.3 minutes during that span.
Tre Jones will start Wednesday's game against the Pelicans for the Chicago Bulls. With Josh Giddey (hamstring) out for weeks and Coby White (calf) sidelined for at least one week, Jones is expected to see increased usage and minutes. Through 26 appearances this season, he has averaged 12.2 points, 5.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.
