Updated: 4:50 pm ET
WEDNESDAY 6-GAME SLATE
Update 4:50: Dwight Howard (knee) is out for the back-to-back set. That should help JaVale McGee get some minutes while Markieff Morris, Kyle Kuzma and maybe even J.R. Smith see more minutes in smaller lineups.
Update: We have two new injuries this morning. Dwight Howard (knee) is questionable for the back-to-back set, so you would think that could help JaVale McGee get close to 20 minutes while Anthony Davis would play more five to up Kyle Kuzma’s minutes along with some of the guards.
Michael Carter-Williams (foot) is doubtful, as expected. Wes Iwundu, D.J. Augustin and Markelle Fultz could get a few extra minutes in a really tough matchup.
Update 1:00 pm ET: MCW is out, as expected.
Update 12:12 pm ET: Jarrett Allen is off the injury report, Joe Harris (hamstring, back) is probable and Caris LeVert is probable. It looks like the Nets are back to their roster that started at Disney with Jamal Crawford (hamstring) out.
Top Injuries to Watch
1. We got some bad news with Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) set to miss the rest of the season due to a meniscus injury. He’s been awesome, so hopefully he’ll have enough time for the start of the 2020-21 season. Brandon Clarke had an 11-minute stint when Jonas Valanciunas had foul trouble in the Disney opener, and Clarke has 262 minutes next to JV on the year (12/10/2 per 36) and 14 minutes next to him in the bubble. He’s going to be a popular play for good reason. Behind him, Gorgui Dieng figures to slot into the frontcourt rotation and he was even playing some PF back when JJJ and Clarke were hurt before the shutdown. The Grizzlies will also throw in more Josh Jackson and Kyle Anderson at the four, so that’ll open up a few more minutes for De’Anthony Melton and Grayson Allen.
2. The Lakers have LeBron James (groin) and Anthony Davis (eye) listed as probable. Normally, we could ignore this, but I personally am a back-to-back freak out. If you want to use AD or LeBron, you may want to just have a pivot plan with some of the teams after these (Siakam, Tatum makes sense with other options for AD; LeBron would be a little tougher). Again, I am a freak out on back-to-back sets, so you can roll the dice if you like.
3. For the third game in a row, the Nuggets will not have Will Barton (knee) and Gary Harris (hip), and Jamal Murray (hamstring) is questionable. You’d think there’s no chance he plays in the front end of a back-to-back set (Blazers tomorrow), which should put Monte Morris and Michael Porter Jr. in the starting lineup. MPJ was a smash for a career-high 37 and Monte is going to get minutes. Point Jokic time after smash city in last one, too.
Update: Jamal Murray is out, as expected. Monte and MPJ are firmly on the board.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz, 2:30 PM ET
From the top: We got some bad news on Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) set to miss the rest of the season due to a meniscus injury. He’s been awesome, so hopefully he’ll have enough time for the start of the 2020-21 season. Clarke had an 11-minute stint when Jonas Valanciunas had foul trouble in the Disney opener, and Clarke has 262 minutes next to JV on the year (12/10/2 per 36) and 14 minutes next to him in the bubble. He’s going to be a popular play for good reason. Behind him, Gorgui Dieng figures to slot into the frontcourt rotation and he was even playing some PF back when JJJ and Clarke were hurt before the shutdown. The Grizzlies will also throw in more Josh Jackson and Kyle Anderson at the four, so that’ll open up a few more minutes for De’Anthony Melton and Grayson Allen.
Tyus Jones remains out, which has put fellow Duke guard Grayson Allen in a great spot as a second-unit ballhandler.
The Jazz won’t have third-string PG Nigel Williams-Goss (ankle). No, you should not galaxy brain it and play Emmanuel Mudiay.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Wizards, 4:00 PM ET
Mike Scott (knee) remains out and Glenn Robinson III (hip) is doubtful. Nothing to see here.
Update: GR3 is out, as expected.
The Wizards only have Garrison Mathews (NWT) out.
Denver Nuggets (B2B) vs. San Antonio Spurs, 4:00 PM ET
From the top: For the third game in a row, the Nuggets will not have Will Barton (knee) and Gary Harris (hip), and Jamal Murray (hamstring) is questionable. You’d think there’s no chance he plays in the front end of a back-to-back set (Blazers tomorrow), which should put Monte Morris and Michael Porter Jr. in the starting lineup. MPJ was a smash for a career-high 37 and Monte is going to get minutes.
The Spurs have Marco Belinelli (foot) probable for this one with Bryn Forbes (quad) out. That could mean Patty Mills is bumped out, but either way Marco returning would likely only impact Mills or Quinndary Weatherspoon.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers (B2B), 6:30 PM ET
From the top: The Lakers have LeBron James (groin) and Anthony Davis (eye) listed as probable. Normally, we could ignore this, but I personally am a back-to-back freak out. If you want to use AD or LeBron, you may want to just have a pivot plan with some of the teams after these (Siakam, Tatum makes sense with other options for AD, LeBron would be a little tougher). Again, I am a freak out on back-to-back sets, so you can roll the dice if you like.
Terrance Ferguson (leg) is out, Mike Muscala (concussion) is out, and Dennis Schroder (personal) is out. It was Hamidou Diallo who stepped up the most without Schroder in the last one while Abdel Nader also saw more playing time. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a ghost for most of Monday’s game, so he could be much better in a game where he’ll be staggered more from Chris Paul.
Dwight Howard (knee) is questionable for the back-to-back set, so you would think that could help JaVale McGee get close to 20 minutes while Anthony Davis would play more five to up Kyle Kuzma’s minutes along with some of the guards.
Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic (B2B), 8:00 PM ET
The Raptors won’t have Oshae Brissett and Pat McCaw again for their knee injuries.
The Magic are on a B2B, so we won’t get their report until the afternoon.
Michael Carter-Williams (foot) is doubtful, as expected. Wes Iwundu, D.J. Augustin and Markelle Fultz could get a few extra minutes in a really tough matchup.
Brooklyn Nets (B2B) vs. Boston Celtics (B2B), 9:00 PM ET
Both teams won’t have their injury reports until the afternoon.
Jarrett Allen is off the injury report, Joe Harris (hamstring, back) is probable and Caris LeVert is probable. It looks like the Nets are back to their roster that started at Disney with Jamal Crawford (hamstring) out.
Kemba Walker will rest to put Marcus Smart in the first unit with Brad Wanamaker behind him
