NBA Injuries
| NAME | TEAM | INJURY | TIMETABLE TO RETURN | ANALYSIS |
| Kawhi Leonard | SAS | Quad | No Timetable | The Spurs are not expecting Leonard to return this season, however, it's up to Leonard whether or not he wants to return. He's not ready yet |
| Gordon Hayward | BOS | Ankle/Tibia | No Timetable | Hayward can shoot stand-still jumpers and wants to return this season. Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart (when healthy) pick up shots and minutes. |
| Nikola Vucevic | ORL | Hand | TONIGHT | Vucevic should be active for Thursday's game. He'll likely be on a minutes limit Bismack Biyombo's playing time will decrease. |
| Kristaps Porzingis | NY | Torn ACL | OUT FOR THE SEASON | With Porzingis done, Kyle O'Quinn and Michael Beasley will play more. Will Willy Hernangomez finally get playing time? |
| Paul Millsap | DEN | Wrist | 2-4 Weeks | Millsap is practicing but we won't see him again until March. Trey Lyles and Mason Plumlee (when healthy) pick up minutes. |
| DeMarcus Cousins | NO | Achilles | OUT FOR THE SEASON | Cousins will not return for the remainder of the season and Darius Miller, Omer Asik and Dante Cunningham (when healthy) will play heavy minutes. |
| Mike Conley | MEM | Achilles | OUT FOR THE SEASON | Conley is having surgery and won't return to the court this season. Andrew Harrison and Mario Chalmers will fill-in. |
| John Wall | WSH | Knee | 4-7 Weeks | Wall is looking like he's feeling better but still has a way's to go Tomas Satoransky and Tim Frazier will pick up minutes. |
| Kevin Love | CLE | Hand | 4-6 Weeks | With Kevin Love out for awhile Jeff Green, Larry Nance Jr. and Tristan Thompson will fill in. |
| Patrick Beverley | LAC | Knee | No Timetable | Beverley had surgery and thinks he can return this season. Austin Rivers, Lou Williams and Milos Teodosic pick up minutes. |
| Markelle Fultz | PHI | Shoulder | No Timetable | After it seemed like he was on his way back, Fultz could miss the rest of the Sixers regular season. T.J. McConnell and Jerryd Bayless will fill in. |
| Dennis Schroder | ATL | Back | DAY TO DAY | We're awaiting an update regardin Schroder's health. His status for Friday is up in the air. Malcolm Delaney will pick up PT if he can't play. |
| Reggie Jackson | DET | Ankle | 2-3 Weeks | Jackson has been cleared to run lightly, but will still a few more weeks to recover. Ish Smith and Jameer Nelson will continue to grab minutes. |
| Aaron Gordon | ORL | Hip | TONIGHT | Gordon looks like he'll be active for Thursday's game and will likely be on a minutes restriction. Mario Hezonja will lose minutes. |
| Lonzo Ball | LAL | Knee | FRIDAY? | Ball is feeling better and should be able to return Friday. Isaiah Thomas will be in a major timeshare with Ball for minutes. |
| Jeremy Lin | BKN | Knee | OUT FOR THE SEASON | D'Angelo Russell will rotate between PG and SG spot and Spencer Dinwiddie will pick up minutes. |
| Ricky Rubio | UT | Hip | DAY TO DAY | Rubio didn't practice on Wednesday and he may need to miss another game or two. Donovan Mitchell and Royce O'Neale pick up PT if he can't play. |
| Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | BKN | Groin | DAY TO DAY | RHJ will miss Thursday's game but he is practicing. Quincy Acy and Jarrett Allen will pick up minutes. |
| Ersan Ilyasova | ATL | Shoulder | DAY TO DAY | We need to see a final report that Ilyasova will play on Friday, but all signs are looking like he will be starting. |
| Michael Beasley | NY | Ear | TONIGHT? | Beasley is practicing and should be all set to play on Thursday. |
| Avery Bradley | LAC | Groin | DAY TO DAY | Bradley is questionable for Thursday's game and if he can't play, Lou Williams will pick up more minutes and shots |
| De'Aaron Fox | SAC | Eye | DAY TO DAY | Fox is questionable for Thursday's game and if he can't play Garrett Temple will pick up minutes. |
| Reggie Bullock | DET | Illness | DAY TO DAY | Consider him questionable for Friday's game and if he can't go, Stanley Johnson will pick up more playing time. |
| John Henson | MIL | Hamstring | DAY TO DAY | Henson continues to deal with soreness in his Hamstring. Thon Maker and Tyler Zeller will grab minutes. |
| Dion Waiters | MIA | Ankle | OUT FOR THE SEASON | Waiters had Ankle surgery and will miss the rest of the season. Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington pick up minutes. |
| Seth Curry | DAL | Tibia | OUT FOR THE SEASON | Curry will not play this season and Yogi Ferrell will grab more playing time along with J.J. Barea. |
| Tyson Chandler | PHX | Neck | DAY TO DAY | Chandler is still day to day and Alex Len and Marquese Chriss will pick up playing time if he can't go. |
| Terrence Ross | ORL | Knee | No Timetable | We still don't have an update on Ross and Jonathon Simmons will continue seeing a lot of minutes. |
| Darren Collison | IND | Knee | 1-2 Weeks | Collison will miss another few games. Cory Joseph will pick up a lot of minutes. |
| Mirza Teletovic | MIL | Lung | No Timetable | Teletovic is dealing with issues regarding Blood Clots and that's what's kept Chris Bosh out of Basketball. He could miss the rest of the season. |
| Rudy Gay | SAS | Heel | FRIDAY | Gay will return on Friday. |
| Thabo Sefolosha | UT | Knee | OUT FOR THE SEASON | Sefolosha had surgery on his Knee and will miss the rest of the season. Jonas Jerebko will see more playing time. |
| Trevor Ariza | HOU | Hamstring | FRIDAY | Ariza will return on Friday. |
| Caris LeVert | BKN | Knee | DAY TO DAY | LeVert will miss Thursday's game. Joe Harris and Nik Stauskas will pick up playing time. |
| Marcus Smart | BOS | Hand | FRIDAY | Smart will return on Friday. |
| Malcolm Brogdon | MIL | Quad | 5-7 Weeks | With Brogdon out for potentially the next two months, Sterling Brown, Sean Kilpatrick and Tony Snell will pick up more playing time. |
| Kelly Olynyk | MIA | Shoulder | No Timetable | Olynyk is not ready to return to action yet. James Johnson and Bam Adebayo will pick up more playing time. |
| Jordan Bell | GSW | Ankle | DAY TO DAY | Bell is getting closer to returning to action but for now, Kevon Looney will pick up minutes while he's out. |
| Channing Frye | LAL | Appendix | 3-4 Weeks | Frye had an Appendectomy and will miss the next few weeks of action. Brook Lopez will see more playing time. |
| Matthew Dellavedova | MIL | Ankle | 4-6 Weeks | With Delly out, Sean Kilpatrick and even Jason Terry could pick up more playing time. |
| Ron Baker | NY | Shoulder | OUT FOR THE SEASON | Baker will miss the rest of the season with a Torn Labrum. Jarrett Jack, Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina will pick up more playing time. |
| Shane Larkin | BOS | Knee | DAY TO DAY | Larkin hasn't been able to practice and may need to rest another few games. Terry Rozier will pick up more playing time. |
| Iman Shumpert | SAC | Foot | No Timetable | Shumpert has been hurt a lot this season and will most likely not see consistent minutes once he returns. |
| Rodney McGruder | MIA | Tibia | DAY TO DAY | McGruder's rehab is just about completed and he'll be back shortly after the All-Star break. He'll battle Josh Richardson and Wayne Ellington for minutes. |
| Glenn Robinson III | IND | Ankle | FRIDAY | Robinson has been cleared to return to action and will be on a minutes limit.. His playing time may depend on Bojan Bogdanovic's impact on the court. |
| Dante Exum | UT | Shoulder | No Timetable | Exum can shoot but can't take contact yet, but is recovering. Donovan Mitchell will get more run. |
| Cameron Payne | CHI | Foot | TONIGHT | Payne will be on a minutes limit for the first few games and he'll compete for minutes against Jerian Grant. |
| Jahlil Okafor | BKN | Calf | DAY TO DAY | Okafor was dealing with tightness prior to the All-Star break and we'll have to wait and see if he's ready to go on Thursday. |
| Jon Leuer | DET | Ankle | OUT FOR THE SEASON | Leuer had Ankle surgery and is out for the rest of the season. |
| C.J. Williams | LAC | Ankle | No Timetable | Williams will rehab with the G-league and Jawun Evans and even Tyrone Wallace will pick up playing time while he's out. |
| Brandon Knight | PHX | Torn ACL | OUT FOR THE SEASON | He will not be playing this season. |
| Nerlens Noel | DAL | Finger | DAY TO DAY | Noel is looking like he'll be back in the next game or two and he'll eat into Salah Mejri's playing time. |
| Jonathan Isaac | ORL | Ankle | Next Week | Isaac will practice with the Magic's G-league team and play with them Friday which shows he's close. Mario Hezonja will continue to pick up PT. |
| Isaiah Canaan | PHX | Ankle | OUT FOR THE SEASON | With Canaan out for the rest of the season, Tyler Ulis, Troy Daniels and even Josh Jackson will pick up minutes and usage. |
| Torrey Craig | DEN | Hamstring | DAY TO DAY | We are waiting to see an update regarding his health, but should be active for Friday's game. |
| Dorian Finney-Smith | DAL | Knee | No Timetable | He's on the outside looking into the Mavs rotation when he eventually returns. |
| Solomon Hill | NO | Hamstring | 1-2 Months | The Hammy is torn and that'll cost him a ton of time. Dante Cunningham will start in his place. |
| Alan Williams | PHX | Knee | 1-2 Months | Williams is making progress and could return in March. If he does come back, Williams will see minutes. |
| Okaro White | ATL | Foot | No Timetable | White got traded to the Hawks and still doesn't have a timetable to return. |
| Alexis Ajinca | NO | Knee | 2 Months or not at all | Ajinca had surgery and will be on the outside looking into the Pelicans rotation if he returns. |
| Furkan Korkmaz | PHI | Lisfranc Injury | 2-3 Weeks | Korkmaz is on the outside looking in when it comes to the Sixers rotation. |
| Alex Abrines | OKC | Hip | TONIGHT | Abrines should be activated for Thursday's game. |
| Skal Labissiere | SAC | Shoulder | TONIGHT | He's listed as probable for tonight's game marking his return to action. |
| Andre Roberson | OKC | Patellar Tendon | OUT FOR THE SEASON | Roberson will miss the rest of the season and Alex Abrines and Terrance Ferguson will fill in moving forward |
| Justin Anderson | PHI | Ankle | DAY TO DAY | Anderson sprained his Ankle and his status for Wednesday isn't looking good. Marco Belinelli should be able to steal a few minutes. |
| Jawun Evans | LAC | Groin/Abs | DAY TO DAY | Evans is dealing with multiple injuries. He'll be on the outside of the Clippers rotation once he returns.. |
| Frank Mason III | SAC | Foot | TONIGHT | Mason is listed as probable for tonight's game. He's returning to action. |
| Malik Monk | CHA | Upper Body | DAY TO DAY | Monk got into a car accident and is experiencing soreness in his upper body. If he can't play Thursday, Jeremy Lamb will see more playing time. |
| Richard Jefferson | DEN | Wrist | DAY TO DAY | Jefferson is dealing with soreness and even when he returns, he won't see much action on the court. |
| Tyler Cavanaugh | ATL | Ankle | 1-2 Weeks | He hasn't been able to practice yet and he's on the outside looking in when it comes to the Hawks rotation. |
| Patrick McCaw | GSW | Wrist | 3-4 Weeks | McCaw has a fractured Wrist and will need to miss time. Nick Young and Shaun Livingston will see more playing time. |
| T.J. Leaf | IND | Ankle | DAY TO DAY | Leaf's on the outside looking into the Pacers rotation once he returns. |
| Demetrius Jackson | PHI | Groin | DAY TO DAY | Jackson will not play on Thursday and won't see playing time once he's healthy. |
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.