Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against the Wizards due to low back tightness and left knee injury recovery. Given the opponent, the 35-year-old veteran may opt for a rest day. His status will be clearer after shootaround, with Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards potentially seeing increased minutes if he sits.
Miami Heat's Jaime Jaquez (groin) has been upgraded to available for Monday's game against the Clippers, per Anthony Chiang. He is returning from a one-game absence after shedding a questionable designation due to a groin injury. This season, Jaquez has averaged 16.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 29.7 minutes over 19 games.
Philadelphia 76ers' Andre Drummond (knee) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Wizards. He attempted to play through the knee issue Sunday but logged only six minutes before exiting at halftime. With the 76ers having a four-game week, he may be rested. If Drummond and Joel Embiid (knee) are both out, Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow would see increased roles.
New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson (hamstring) has been removed from the injury report and is set to be available for Tuesday's game against Minnesota. He missed Sunday's game against the Lakers. The star forward is averaging 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 30.9 minutes per contest across 10 games this season.
Chicago Bulls' Coby White (calf, illness) has been ruled out for Monday's game in Orlando, marking his second consecutive game on the sidelines. He should be considered questionable for Wednesday's game against the Nets. Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones are expected to see increased playing time in his absence.
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (knee) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Wizards, as the team is giving him the night off for right knee injury management. The superstar big man's next opportunity to return to action will be Thursday against Golden State. With Andre Drummond (knee) also questionable, Adem Bona could be in line for a significant role at center.
Washington Wizards' center Alex Sarr (adductor) is confirmed to miss at least two more games, including Monday's matchup against the Bucks and Tuesday's game versus the 76ers. This update comes from Varun Shankar of The Washington Post. Sarr's earliest potential return is now slated for Thursday's contest against Boston. Head coach Brian Keefe has indicated that the injury is not considered serious. During Sarr's absence, Marvin Bagley and Tristan Vukcevic are expected to share minutes at the center position for the Wizards.
Donovan Clingan (illness) is questionable for the Portland Trail Blazers' game against the Raptors on Tuesday. The second-year big man previously missed Sunday's game against the Thunder due to the same illness. The team plans to re-evaluate him closer to tipoff. If Clingan is unable to play, Robert Williams would likely see increased minutes off the bench, and Kris Murray could also gain additional streaming appeal.
Neemias Queta (ankle) is probable for the Boston Celtics' Tuesday game against the Knicks, as reported by Justin Turpin of WEEI.com. Queta sat out Sunday's game against the Cavaliers for ankle injury management but is now primed to return. His presence is expected to move Xavier Tillman to the bench. Queta has been a strong performer for the Celtics this season, averaging 9.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks in 23.9 minutes across 18 games.
Derrick White (calf) is probable for Tuesday's game against the Knicks, Justin Turpin of WEEI.com reports. The Boston Celtics guard was held out of Sunday's game against the Cavaliers as a precaution but is expected to return. His presence will likely see Payton Pritchard's usage rate decrease after Pritchard's 42-point, 31-minute performance on Sunday.
Malik Monk did not practice Monday due to shoulder soreness, Brenden Nunes of KHTK Sactown Sports 1140 reports. The Sacramento Kings are off until Wednesday and do not expect the guard to miss any time, indicating a cautious approach. Monk recently produced 21 points (8-17 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 4-5 FT), six rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and two steals across 34 minutes off the bench during Sunday's 115-107 loss to Memphis.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (back) will miss Monday's game against the Suns, extending his absence to a third consecutive contest. The team reports his next chance to play will be Thursday when they face the Raptors. With Smart sidelined, Gabe Vincent, Jaka LaRavia, and Dalton Knecht are anticipated to take on more significant roles in the rotation.
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (knee) has been removed from the injury report and is available for Monday's game against the Suns, per Dan Woike of The Athletic. Ayton had exited Sunday's game against the Pelicans due to right knee soreness but is now cleared with no expected restrictions. This season, the star big man has averaged 16.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 29.5 minutes across 17 games.
In a recent NBA Hater Report, Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball's distinctive 'one-legged bricks' were singled out for criticism. The report, known for its harsh assessments of league performance and player value, highlighted Ball's unique shooting form as a significant point of contention. This specific mention underscores growing concerns among critics regarding the effectiveness and consistency of his shot, placing his on-court output under a microscope within the broader narrative of player evaluation.
Darius Garland (rest) will not play Monday against the Pacers, marking the second game of a back-to-back set. He has yet to be cleared for both games in such scenarios. On Sunday, Garland produced 21 points (7-16 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 3-5 FT), three rebounds, and eight assists over 31 minutes in the Cleveland Cavaliers' loss to Boston. With Lonzo Ball (illness) also sidelined, the Cavaliers are expected to lean on Craig Porter and Tyrese Proctor for guard duties.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last year's MVP, has made NBA history by scoring at least 20 points in his 93rd consecutive game, marking the second-longest streak ever behind Wilt Chamberlain's 126. He is currently averaging 32.5 points per game and leads the NBA in total points (683), field goal attempts (225), free throw makes (189), and attempts (213). The Oklahoma City Thunder star continues his dominant performance as the team rides a 12-game winning streak.
The Golden State Warriors are reportedly signing rookie point guard LJ Cryer to a two-way contract, filling the slot vacated by Jackson Rowe. Cryer, who went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, previously spent training camp and preseason with the Warriors before being waived in October. He has averaged an impressive 24.3 points in seven G-League games for Santa Cruz, shooting 41.4% from three-point range on 12.4 attempts per game.
The Golden State Warriors have waived two-way forward Jackson Rowe, who is currently nursing an ankle injury. Rowe made six appearances for the Warriors last season, averaging 3.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists. He originally signed a two-way contract with the team on January 28. The Warriors plan to use the vacated two-way slot to add rookie point guard LJ Cryer.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Utah Jazz may hold onto All-Star Lauri Markkanen and seek to add to their core at the February trade deadline, according to Marc Stein. Markkanen, 28, is averaging a career-high 28.5 points per game this season and reportedly loves Salt Lake City. While he has yet to log a playoff minute, the Jazz front office's intentions are hard to read, with a strong case for building around the 7-foot Finn.
Anthony Black has emerged as a near top-100 player in 9-cat fantasy formats over the past week, making him a priority add, especially with Paolo Banchero out. Despite struggles with turnovers and free throws, the Orlando Magic guard averaged 23.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 stocks per game while shooting 53% from the floor. With a four-game week ahead, Black is expected to see significant usage.
