It’s going to be a very tricky week in the NBA when it comes to injuries because players may be held out for reasons beyond physical damage with the trade deadline coming up in a couple of days. If a player is being dangled with multiple teams interested this close to the NBA trade deadline passing, teams don’t want that player to lose any value due to injury and they could be held out until traded. A player that could be held out until traded is Utah Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt who missed his last game with back spasms. He’s been a very popular name circling the NBA trade rumor mill and there are questions about whether he’s hurt or on the verge of being dealt. The Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz have had conversations about trading players. Here are the latest NBA injuries for week 17 of the fantasy basketball season. 

 

NBA Point Guard Injury News

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (Leg)

After suffering muscle tears in his leg recently, we don’t know when we’ll see Curry back on the court. The Warriors coaches haven’t given a clear timetable, but he should miss at least the next few weeks of action. While he’s out Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson will benefit tremendously by seeing more time with the ball and certainly more shots. Draymond Green should benefit indirectly, Donte DiVincenzo will pick up minutes and we should see his points and assists rise until Curry is ready to return to action. Thompson will be the Warriors' prioritized scorer.

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets (Knee)

Murray was rested last game, but now he may not suit up for Tuesday’s game because the pain in his knee won’t subside and if he needs to miss tonight’s game, Bones Hyland will see more run and Michael Porter Jr and Aaron Gordon should see a slight uptick in shots. Nikola Jokic will run the point even more as well. 

Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat (Knee)

Lowry has a sore knee and he’ll be shelved for the rest of the Heat’s matchups this week while he’s sidelined, Gabe Vincent will run the point more and Tyler Herro will help bring up the ball. When Victor Oladipo is healthy, he’ll benefit as well by getting more time to run the Heat offense if Lowry is out. Max Strus is another alternative to bring up the rock as well if needed.

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks (Heel)

Doncic has missed a few games with an injured heel, but, there's a chance he can return to action before the all-star break. The injury doesn't seem serious but he will miss Friday's game. Until Doncic returns, new Mavericks acquisition Kyrie Irving will run the point with minor assistance from Tim Hardaway Jr and Jaden Hardy. Doncic's next chance to play is Saturday.

Monte Morris, Washington Wizards (Back)

Morris sat out the Wizards last game with a sore back and if he needs to miss more action, Delon Wright will help set up the offense a bit more and can bring good perimeter defense to the floor. Kendrick Nunn is another option that Washington can turn to and he'll help out in scoring. Bradley Beal will spend a little more time on the ball as well. 

NBA Shooting Guard Injury News

Gary Harris, Orlando Magic (Adductor)

Harris is dealing with a sore mid-section and he missed the Magic's last game and if he has to continue to sit out to recover, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs will see more minutes and time with the ball and Franz Wagner will be prioritized more in the offensive game plan by being fed more shots. 

Kelly Oubre Jr, Charlotte Hornets (Hand)

The cobwebs are starting to clear up regarding when we’ll see Oubre in action again and it seems that he’ll be out until late February/early-March with an injured hand. Until he returns, Gordon Hayward and Jalen McDaniels will handle a lot of the small forward minutes and Terry Rozier plays a lot of time at shooting guard. Hayward still doesn’t look right, but McDaniels has put up a bunch of solid stat lines this season. When Oubre returns, he’ll mainly play at small forward. 

Seth Curry, Brooklyn Nets (Adductor)

It’s bad timing for the Nets because they just traded Kyrie Irving and they can use all the help scoring the basketball that they can get with Kevin Durant still sidelined. It’s undetermined when Curry will return to the court and while he’s sidelined until Spencer Dinwiddie is fully up to speed with the Nets' offense, Cameron Thomas whose scoring has exploded recently should continue taking more shots. Edmond Sumner will see more minutes and time with the ball as well.

NBA Small Forward Injury News

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (Face)

Brown suffered a fracture in his face and he'll take the all-star break to rest and recover meaning he'll be out for at least the Celtics next few games. With Brown sidelined, Malcolm Brogdon should see more shots. Brogdon has scored in double figures in five of his last six contests. The Celtics are still missing Marcus Smart as well. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White should spend more time on the ball.

Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder (Hamstring)

Dort has missed six straight contests, but there's a chance that he returns for Friday's game and once he comes back in the mix, Kenrich Williams and Aaron Wiggins will lose out on minutes and shots and Jalen Williams will see his shot attempts drop a touch but he's saved because the Thunder are still very light in power forward depth. They just traded for Dario Saric who should be ready to play in the next game or two.

Javonte Green, Chicago Bulls (Knee)

Green hasn't suited up since the year turned to 2023 and the Bulls coaches are starting to question whether he will fully recover prior to the end of the season. The Bulls were inactive prior to the NBA Trade Deadline expiring and they'll have to rely on Patrick Williams and Derrick Jones Jr to help DeMar DeRozan guard the elbow and arc. Green could miss the rest of the season after having a procedure on his knee in January.

NBA Power Forward Injury News

Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs (Ankle)

The Spurs have a back-to-back heading into the weekend and he's apparently dealing with a sore ankle, but the reporting has been a bit inconsistent and it's hard to tell if he's just getting a rest game for the first leg of the back-to-back on Friday or if his ankle is legitimately injured. Jeremy Sochan is still injured as well and the Spurs just traded Jakob Poeltl so it'll be up to Doug McDermott, Keita Bates-Diop and Standley Johnson to help Zach Collins guard the post. 

Al Horford, Boston Celtics (Knee)

Horford missed his last game with a knee injury and it's starting to look like he'll miss a second straight game with knee soreness. If he doesn't play, Grant Williams will start in his place. Jaylen Brown is already out. Robert Williams could see more plays called for him in the post and Luke Kornet can pick up reserve minutes.

Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards (Ankle)

Kuzma missed his previous game with an ankle injury and it’s looking like he’ll miss at least another one even though he hasn’t been ruled out for Washington’s next game just yet. If he sits, Deni Avdija will continue seeing more time with the ball and he’ll pick up a few more shots. Monte Morris will see a slight uptick in shots as well. The Wizards should get Bradley Beal game for their next game which should bolster their scoring with a banged-up Kuzma. We’ll have to see if Kuzma’s injury turns into an extended absence, but that doesn’t seem likely at this point. 

NBA Center Injury News

Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers (Calf)

After re-injuring his calf a few games ago, Nurkic will miss at least the next couple of weeks of action and while he’s out, Drew Eubanks will start in his place despite getting a little nicked up recently himself, but he’s healthy enough to play. Trendon Watford will back up Eubanks and play minutes at center as well. It must be between these two players because Jerami Grant isn’t big enough to guard opposing centers. Don’t be surprised if Nurkic’s timetable is extended and we don’t see him back on the court for a month.

Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves (Groin)

Gobert hasn't been able to shake his groin injury for a few weeks and he continues to play through the pain, but, he's had to miss a couple of games recently including Minnesota's last game. If he has to continue to sit out to heal, Naz Reid will start in his place and play more minutes. Reid has hit the 20-minute mark in 3 of his last 5 contests. The Timberwolves are still without Karl-Anthony Towns and we don't know when we'll see him return to the court.

Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets (Hamstring)

Claxton has a sore hamstring and he sat for the Nets last game and if he needs to continue to sit out, Day'Ron Sharpe will attempt to clog the middle of the paint filling in for him. The Nets, after making the trades they made, suddenly lack depth in certain areas and Ben Simmons and/or Yuta Watanabe will likely have to fill in a bit at center to give Sharpe relief if Claxton can't make it back for the Nets next game on Saturday. 
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