SUNDAY’S 7-GAME SLATE
Updated 6:30 pm ET
UPDATE 6:20 pm ET: Kent Bazemore will miss his second straight game. Coach Luke Walton said that it’ll be DaQuan Jeffries getting Baze’s minutes in this one.
UPDATE 5:15 pm ET: Caris LeVert (rest), Joe Harris (groin) and Jarrett Allen (ankle) are all available. They were listed as probable this morning, so they should be good for minutes in the 27-33 minutes.
UPDATE 12:45 pm ET: The Clippers will not have Paul George (rest), but Kawhi Leonard is not on the injury report for Sunday against the Nets, as expected. The rotation is likely going to look very similar to Saturday with Landry Shamet likely starting next to Reggie Jackson, and Kawhi may not play down the stretch.
UPDATE 12:20 pm ET: The Nets changed their course as well with Jarrett Allen (ankle), Joe Harris (groin) and Caris LeVert (rest) now probable. They were doubtful, so this is surprising. Obviously, all the value plays aren’t nearly as attractive, and there is some risk in using guys like LeVert with possible minutes limits.
UPDATE 12:10 pm: OKC changed course here with Steven Adams (knee) now out, and Nerlens Noel (ankle) is also out. Mike Muscala is back in action now, so he should be looking at minutes in the 20s. Kevin Hervey and Darius Bazley will be mixing in minutes as the backup fives.
UPDATE 11:50 am ET: Hassan Whiteside (hip) will not play against the 76ers after missing Saturday. If coach Terry Stotts sticks with his rotation, Wenyen Gabriel will be the backup to Jusuf Nurkic in a tough matchup against Joel Embiid.
UPDATE 11:00 am ET: Shabazz Napier (ankle) will not play on Sunday. With him out, Jerian Grant should move up to the PG2 spot behind Ish Smith, and this should give Troy Brown Jr. more chances to handle the ball. Smith’s upside goes up in a tougher matchup.
UPDATE 10:50 am ET: The Thunder changed their course, and now Steven Adams is available to play against the Wizards. He should start in this one with Nerlens Noel coming off the bench. Chances are his minutes will only be in the 20s. Andre Roberson (foot) is now out, so there could be more minutes for Terrance Ferguson.
UPDATE 10:00 am ET: The Magic have ruled out Evan Fournier (illness), Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Michael Carter-Williams (foot) today. With all those guys out, coach Steve Clifford will likely be starting Wes Iwundu and James Ennis on the wings with Gary Clark at the four. Terrence Ross will most likely come off the bench, and he should be firing away a whole lot. The Magic have said health is the top priority, so there may not be huge minutes for their guys.
We have seven games today, but it’s not nearly as bad as the chaotic Saturday slate with 15 open tags (probable, questionable, doubtful). With all but two teams putting in their injury reports, it’s really just the Magic with Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Michael Carter-Williams (foot) as questionable, and Kent Bazemore (calf) also questionable as things you may have to think about when setting your lineups. The Blazers and Clippers are on a B2B, so we’ll get their reports later today. You’d think the Blazers should be good to go, especially Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum and Gary Trent Jr. The Clippers, however, will undoubtedly be resting players against a Nets team that already may be without their three best guys.
Top Injuries to Watch
1. Russell Westbrook (quad) will miss his second straight game with Eric Gordon (ankle) still sidelined. It should be Ben McLemore in the first unit again, but the surprise part on Thursday was the Rockets kicking the tires on Michael Frazier. Assuming no funny business, James Harden will be a monster in a dream matchup while there’s plenty of usage to go around to Danuel House, B-Mac and Robert Covington. McLemore revenge game?
2. The Nets are setting up for how they played the Bucks with Caris LeVert (rest), Jarrett Allen (ankle) and Joe Harris (groin) all doubtful for tonight against the Clippers. That should mean we get Garrett Temple, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Lance Thomas and Rodions Kurucs as the starters, and Tyler Johnson should start. Chris Chiozza should also get some overlap as the PG2 and Jeremiah Martin figures to slot into the PG2 spot. Donta Hall and Justin Anderson will be the backup PF/Cs.
3. The Wizards only have Shabazz Napier (ankle) listed as probable, so he should be good after a tweak on Friday. After not having any overlap with Ish Smith two games ago, there were 2.6 minutes of two-PG lineups because of some Isaac Bonga foul trouble. The Wizards are eliminated, so today could be the day that Troy Brown starts at point guard. It’s a tough matchup for him, but he’s so good at filling stat sheets he could go off. He did also bang knees, so it’s nice to see he’s not on the report at all.
Washington Wizards vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (B2B), 12:30 pm ET
From up top: The Wizards only have Shabazz Napier (ankle) listed as probable, so he should be good. After not having any overlap with Ish Smith two games ago, there were 2.6 minutes of two-PG lineups. The Wizards are eliminated, so today could be the day that Troy Brown starts at point guard. It’s a tough matchup for him, but he’s so good at filling stat sheets he could go off. He did also bang knees, so it’s nice to see he’s not on the report at all.
OKC will not have Steven Adams (knee) again for this one. Nerlens Noel was a big flop against the Grizzlies, but he gets a dream matchup here as long as he doesn’t foul Thomas Bryant. It was Kevin Hervey behind him on Friday, but Mike Muscala is off the injury report for this one.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Toronto Raptors (B2B), 2:00 pm ET
Nothing new here with the Grizzlies, who won’t have Tyus Jones (knee), Jaren Jackson and Justise Winslow (hip). Grayson Allen has been the winner, and you would think the Grizzlies start Brandon Clarke to guard Pascal Siakam after going with Anthony Tolliver on Friday.
Serge Ibaka (eye) went to the locker room in garbage time against the Celtics on Friday, but it looks like he’s OK and he is listed as probable. Although, maybe he gets the night off in the B2B.
San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 3:00 pm ET
Bryn Forbes (quad) remains out and Tyler Zeller (knee) also won’t be available. The Spurs probably want to win this one, so expect some Patty Mills in the second unit.
Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics, 5:00 pm ET
Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Michael Carter-Williams (foot) are questionable. The Magic have a big game coming up against the Nets that will have implications on the seven seed, so the Magic may just want to be careful here. If AG can’t go, Gary Clark should get another start while James Ennis, Terrence Ross and Wes Iwundu would also benefit.
The Celtics have a clean injury report, and Kemba Walker is expected to play 30-32 minutes until the postseason.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Portland Trail Blazers (B2B), 6:30 pm ET
The 76ers got really bad news on Ben Simmons (knee) having surgery, so Alec Burks looks to be a secondary winner besides the starters getting more of a boost. Glenn Robinson III (hip) is questionable.
The Blazers are on a B2B, but you’d think they’d give it their all as they try to get a play-in game. Hassan Whiteside (hip) could be on the injury report after missing Saturday, and keep an eye on Jusuf Nurkic.
Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings, 8:00 pm ET
From up top: Russell Westbrook (quad) will miss his second straight game with Eric Gordon (ankle) still sidelined. It should be Ben McLemore in the first unit again, but the surprise part on Thursday was the Rockets kicking the tires on Michael Frazier. Assuming no funny business, James Harden will be a monster in a dream matchup while there’s plenty of usage to go around to Danuel House, B-Mac and Robert Covington.
Richaun Holmes (hip) suffered an aggravation on Friday, and he will not play Sunday. Alex Len was effective against the Nets, but the Kings might go smaller here with Nemanja Bjelica at the five to allow Cory Joseph to guard James Harden. Len should still be a solid play, but there’s risk if he’s not on the bench because there might be some more Harry Giles.
Brooklyn Nets vs. LA Clippers (B2B), 9:00 pm ET
From up top: The Nets are setting up for how they played the Bucks with Caris LeVert (rest), Jarrett Allen (ankle) and Joe Harris (groin) all doubtful for this one. That should mean we get Garrett Temple, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Lance Thomas and Rodions Kurucs as the starters, and Tyler Johnson should start. Chris Chiozza should also get some overlap as the PG2 and Jeremiah Martin figures to slot into the PG2 spot. Donta Hall and Justin Anderson will be the backup PF/Cs.
