SATURDAY’S 5-GAME SLATE
Updated 7:00 pm ET
UPDATE 7:02 pm ET: Derrick Jones Jr. is starting over Kelly Olynyk. Tyler Herro is getting the start as expected and should be looking at big minutes against his pal Devin Booker. Duncan Robinson, Jae Crowder and Bam Adebayo round out the starting five.
UPDATE 7:00 pm ET: Dorian Finney-Smith (hip) and Seth Curry (leg) are available and will have their minutes monitored against the Bucks.
UPDATE 4:40 pm ET: The Heat will not have Goran Dragic (ankle) in this one, so Tyler Herro is going to get all he can handle. Behind him, it could be Gabe Vincent in the rotation, or the Heat could go with some point Andre Iguodala.
UPDATE 4:35 pm ET: Besides Danny Green, the Lakers have their other injury report guys in with Alex Caruso (neck) getting the start. If you missed it earlier, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are in there. The Lakers will also have Dwight Howard and Markieff Morris off the bench. Caruso could be a cheap option today.
UPDATE 4:20 pm ET: Nate McMillan said Myles Turner, T.J. Warren and Doug McDermott are in, but “that could change” and said with a laugh. This sounds very risky here, so be careful on using the key Pacers guys.
UPDATE 3:00 pm ET: Donovan Mitchell (leg) is a go after resting in the back-to-back set, and so is Royce O’Neale. The Jazz could still limit their guys because of talk of wanting players to be fresh for the postseason.
UPDATE 2:30 pm ET: Emmanuel Mudiay (knee) will not play. With Donovan Mitchell questionable, the Jazz will likely up Jordan Clarkson’s minutes or they could call on their G League guys to help fill minutes. Justin Wright-Foreman was the PG2 on Friday when four starters rested.
UPDATE 2:20 pm ET: The wild day continues with Jamal Murray (hamstring) set to be in the lineup for Saturday against the Jazz. It will be his first game since the seeding games start, and his minutes will likely be managed. Monte Morris and P.J. Dozer are not great options right now.
UPDATE 2:00 pm ET: Seth Curry (leg) is now probable, which was kind of expected after the Mavs said they were hoping he’ll play Thursday. You can’t really look at most non-Luka guards with this news, but Curry could actually be an option in a GPP with how the Bucks give up a lot of threes.
UPDATE 12:30 pm ET: Danny Green (hip) is not going to play on Saturday. That’ll open up more minutes for J.R. Smith, Dion Waiters and maybe Talen Horton-Tucker. Plus, this takes the chemistry aspect out of it with him sitting, so LeBron James and Anthony Davis may not see as much playing time.
UPDATE 10:45 am ET: Donovan Mitchell (leg) is listed as questionable in the second half of a back-to-back set. Coach Quin Snyder said he wanted Rudy Gobert to be fresh, so that likely applies to Donny here, too. If he’s out, Emmanuel Mudiay and Jordan Clarkson would see more playing time.
UPDATE 10:40 am ET: Big update with Chris Haynes of Yahoo! reporting LeBron James (groin) and Anthony Davis (ankle) will play today. LeBron has been listed with his groin issue for all of the seeding games and missed the last one, so he should be good to go. Although, his minutes may be dialed back a little with the Lakers locked in on the top seed.
UPDATE 10:00 am ET: Kawhi Leonard is resting on the front end of a back-to-back set. This is great news for Damian Lillard, but there should be some concern on the minutes for Paul George. Marcus Morris looks like a good play today.
Top Injuries to Watch
1. Hassan Whiteside (hip) is doubtful for this one. Whiteside had numerous hip issues with the Heat, so you’d think he’s going to miss at least this game even if it was a Q tag. That’ll help Jusuf Nurkic’s upside, and chances are Zach Collins will see more center minutes. Collins is a much better producer as a five, so he’s a winner here, too. The other winner is clearly Gary Trent Jr., who has been one of the most efficient players in the bubble. You’d think he starts just because his perimeter defense has been outstanding, so expect big minutes from him.
2. LeBron James (groin) is questionable, Alex Caruso (neck) is questionable, Anthony Davis (ankle) is probable, Dwight Howard (knee) is probable and Markieff Morris (hip) is probable. Frank Vogel has talked about trying to get the chemistry together for his team, but it might be tough with so many players injured. It’ll be a bit tough to trust Anthony Davis for minutes in the 33-35 range, but he could smash in this matchup. Dion Waiters was handling the ball a ton against the Rockets while Quinn Cook couldn’t capitalize on his usage. Cook would be in play again if Caruso and LeBron are out. Dwight was also the backup C with JaVale McGee getting a DNP-CD (Davis started at C). The Lakers also looked like they want to get Talen Horton-Tucker going, so keep that in mind for later.
3. The Pacers have a lot of tags with Myles Turner (ankle) questionable, T.J. Warren (foot) questionable and Doug McDermott (knee) also questionable. If Turner can’t go, it’ll be Goga Bitadze and JaKarr Sampson handling the minutes at the five. Goga just got over a knee issue, so Sampson should see more run — Goga is a better per-minute player, though. Without Warren, Aaron Holiday could be used as a small-ball four, or it could be JaKarr if Turner is a go. Maybe Alize Johnson if they’re really gutted and McDermott is out.
4. Besides Paul Millsap returning from rest, the Nuggets have the same injury report as last time with Gary Harris (hip) and Will Barton (knee) out. Malone didn’t play his studs down the stretch in the last game when it was close, so this team could be very annoying on studs. Michael Porter Jr. continues to smash and is still probably safe. P.J. Dozier saw overlap with Monte Morris again, so that may happen again.
LA Clippers (B2B) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (B2B)
The Clippers won’t have Montrezl Harrell (personal) and Patrick Beverley (calf) again in this one. Reggie Jackson should get another start with Lou Williams possibly still on a minutes cap. Ivica Zubac is going to be popular after a big game against the Mavs.
From up top: Hassan Whiteside (hip) is doubtful for this one. Whiteside had numerous hip issues with the Heat, so chances are he’s going to miss at least this game. That’ll help Jusuf Nurkic’s upside, and chances are Zach Collins will see more center minutes. Collins is a much better producer as a five, so he’s a winner here, too. The other winner is clearly Gary Trent Jr., who has been one of the most efficient players in the bubble. You’d think he starts just because his perimeter defense has been outstanding, so expect big minutes from him.
Utah Jazz (B2B) vs. Denver Nuggets
The Jazz rested their guys on Friday, but they all should be set for this one. Still, be careful here with the Jazz not really playing for much.
From up top: Besides Paul Millsap returning from rest, the Nuggets have the same injury report as last time with Gary Harris (hip) and Will Barton (knee) out. Malone didn’t play his studs down the stretch in the last game when it was close, so this team could be very annoying on studs. Michael Porter Jr. continues to smash and is still probably safe. P.J. Dozier saw overlap with Monte Morris again, so that may happen again.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers
This one is big yikes.
From up top: LeBron James (groin) is questionable, Alex Caruso (neck) is questionable, Anthony Davis (ankle) is probable, Dwight Howard (knee) is probable and Markieff Morris (hip) is probable. Frank Vogel has talked about trying to get the chemistry together for his team, but it might be tough with so many players injured. It’ll be a bit tough to trust Anthony Davis for minutes in the 33-35 range, but he could smash in this matchup. Dion Waiters was handling the ball a ton against the Rockets while Quinn Cook couldn’t capitalize on his usage. He’d be in play again if Caruso and LeBron are out. Dwight was also the backup C with JaVale McGee getting a DNP-CD. The Lakers also looked like they want to get Talen Horton-Tucker going, so keep that in mind for later.
From up top: The Pacers have a lot of tags with Myles Turner (ankle) questionable, T.J. Warren (foot) questionable and Doug McDermott (knee) also questionable. If Turner can’t go, it’ll be Goga Bitadze and JaKarr Sampson handling the minutes at the five. Goga just got over a knee issue, so Sampson should see more run. Without Warren, Aaron Holiday could be used as a small-ball four, or it could be JaKarr if Turner is a go. Maybe Alize Johnson if they’re really gutted and McDermott is out.
Phoenix Suns vs. Miami Heat
Nothing new for the Suns here with Aron Baynes (knee) out, Elie Okobo (ankle) still sidelined and Kelly Oubre (knee) doubtful. Oubre is doing some work in practice, but we’d consider him very unlikely to play.
From up top: Miami could be really thin on ball-handlers with Jimmy Butler (foot) out and Kendrick Nunn (personal) leaving the bubble. Goran Dragic (ankle) is also questionable after his injury earlier this week, causing him to miss Thursday. Tyler Herro would be one of the chalkiest plays of the day, and Andre Iguodala may have to get more ball-handling chances. The Heat could also kick the tires on Gabe Vincent (knee), who is also questionable.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Dallas Mavericks
The Bucks injury report is clean, but you’re at the behest of coach Mike Budenholzer here.
Seth Curry (leg) is questionable and Dorian Finney-Smith (hip) are questionable. DFS was talking about his hip hurting earlier this week and coach Rick Carlisle said he will be careful with any injury. The Mavs were hoping Curry could play Thursday, so he has a chance. If DFS can’t go, that will really open up a ceiling for Maxi Kleber while Justin Jackson would be in the mix. If Curry can’t go again, Delon Wright, Trey Burke and maybe even Boban Marjanovic could see some time.
