.jpg)
.jpg)
Atlanta: Dwight Howard and Tim Hardaway Jr. will both be back in the lineup for Monday’s game against Minnesota.
Brooklyn: Isaiah Whitehead has missed the Nets last three games with a sore left foot, but is listed as probable to play Monday night. He will likely be back to a bench role with Lin being healthy.
Charlotte: Marco Belinelli was helped off the court last Friday, and did not return after rolling his left ankle. He is considered day-to-day heading into Monday’s game against the Nets.
Cleveland: J.R. Smith will likely miss the remainder of the regular season after having surgery to repair his fractured right thumb that took place during last Tuesday’s game. Liggins has been starting in his place, but has not produced the numbers that Smith did.
Dallas: Andrew Bogut remains out with a knee issue for Monday’s game against the Pelicans, but may suit up later in the week. J.J. Barea stated that he may miss a week or two with an Achilles injury., and has been officially ruled out for Monday’s game.
Indiana: Rodney Stuckey has not played since December 14 with a hamstring injury, but is currently listed as probable for Monday’s game against the Bulls.
Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin will miss between three to six week after having surgery on his right knee. Chris Paul has been out for two games now, and is questionable for Monday’s game with a hamstring injury. He was listed as out earlier in the day. J.J. Redick left Sunday’s game in the second half with a hamstring injury. He is currently listed as questionable for Monday’s game.
Memphis: Chandler Parsons: has missed Memphis’s last 17 games, but is now officially listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game against Charlotte. He has been out with a bone bruise, and if he plays, expect Parsons to be on a minutes restriction for his first few games back.
Miami: Dion Waiters has not played since November 26, but has returned to practice and is listed as questionable for the week.. Rodney McGruder and Wayne Ellington missed Friday’s game, and are both questionable for this week’s game.
Milwaukee: Michael Beasley is probable to play for Monday’s game against the Wizards after being a late scratch in his last game on Friday. Both Steve Novak and Rashad Vaughn are both out for Monday’s game, while Mirza Teletovic is questionable tonight while dealing with an illness.
Orlando: Evan Fournier is a game time decision for Monday night’s game after being out on Friday with a heel contusion.
Philadelphia: Nik Stauskas missed Friday’s game with a knee contusion, and is considered questionable for Monday’s game against the Kings. Richaun Holmes will be out Monday with a concussion, there are no reports that he will play throughout the week.
Portland: Damian Lillard is doubtful to play Monday night against Toronto after spraining his left ankle last Friday. He did have X-Rays taken, and they came back negative, but looks like he could be rested for a few days.
Sacramento: Rudy Gay has missed his last six straight games, and is officially listed as doubtful for Monday’s game against Philadelphia while he deals with a hip issue. Omri Casspi is now listed available to play Monday after starting the day with a questionable tag. Omri has not played since December 14.
This is a weekly report of recent NBA player injuries, as well as players returning from injury this week. Find the most up to minute news at http://www.fantasyalarm.com/nba/headlines/
Player News
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) said after Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to the Knicks that his current stamina issues may be related to the problem that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season.
After an illness limited him to 13 first-half minutes in Boston’s series-opening defeat on Monday, Porzingis came off the bench in Game 2. Unfortunately, he could only give the Celtics 14 minutes. Following the game, Porzingis said his current problem may be related to the upper respiratory ailment that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season. “Probably, probably,” Porzingis said. “I’ve had like ups and downs throughout until this point. Just now, had a big crash. Now, my energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares? Have to move forward and it will get better from this point.” While Boston’s shot selection was the focus following its two home defeats, Porzingis’ limited availability has also been a factor. He’ll hope to return to full health in time for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points (6-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 2 against the Thunder on Wednesday.
This was Jokic’s worst performance of the postseason, and it came to an end in the third quarter. He fouled out with 1:17 left in the third, which brought his night to a close after he played 32 minutes. OKC was up 41 points when Jokic fouled out, so his night may have been close to over anyway. Jokic dominated Game 1, and the Thunder adjusted. Denver will need other players to step up if they want to have a chance of winning this series, but Jokic will also need to be better than he was in this game.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled on Wednesday and finished with just eight points (2-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Thunder.
MPJ was slightly better in the second half, as all eight of his points came in the third quarter. However, the game was already out of hand at that point after a terrible first half for both Porter Jr. and the Nuggets. MPJ shot 1-of-8 in Game 1, and they’ll need him to be much better moving forward. The series will now shift back to Denver, and MPJ will look to get back on track during the two home games before the series heads back to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook provided a boost off the bench with 19 points (5-of-11 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), one rebound, five assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Despite an ugly first half for Denver, Westbrook was productive and entered the break with 15 points. He didn’t add much in the second half, though he sat the entire fourth quarter, still it was enough to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Russ has been awesome over Denver’s last five games, and his continued success will be key to the Nuggets winning this series. Though this game was ugly, they still have homecourt advantage in this series. They’ll look to keep it in Game 3 on Friday.
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday.
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder’s Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC’s blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he’ll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday.