Don’t get deceived by NBA teams ruling out players with random injuries being that regular-season gameplay will be paused starting on Friday and play won’t resume until next Thursday because of the NBA All-Star break. Teams will be careful with players who are even the least bit sore, so they don’t suffer an even bigger injury. Some teams will use this week to rest players to give them a jump start on the break so they can preserve their bodies. The Boston Celtics won’t take any chances as they are dealing with a ton of players that are injured including Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart. Here are more of the latest NBA injuries for Week 18 of the fantasy basketball season.   

 

2023 NBA Injury Report Fantasy Basketball Week 18

NBA Point Guard Injury News

Collin Sexton. PG, Utah Jazz (Hamstring)

Sexton injured his hamstring in the Jazz's last game and he could potentially be out once the Jazz resume regular-season play after the all-star break. Jordan Clarkson will have to help run the point with Mike Conley off the team and Talen Horton-Tucker will back him up and see a major boost in playing time. Sexton has another week to rest up.

Cole Anthony, PG, Orlando Magic (Wrist)

After missing his last game with a sore wrist, Anthony could sit for another game and if he does, Jalen Suggs will help Markelle Fultz run the point. With Terrence Ross off the team and R.J. Hampton out of the mix, the Magic will be more reliant on Suggs to play deeper into games and Gary Harris and Franz Wagner will see a slight uptick in shots if Anthony doesn’t play. 

Gary Payton II, PG, Golden State Warriors (Abdomen)

The Blazers clearly hid some information from the Warriors regarding the health of Payton, who has been hampered by injuries all season. Payton will miss at least a month as he recovers from a muscle injury in his abdomen and the Warriors allowed this trade to still go through for Payton because they are in desperate need of backcourt defense. With Payton and Stephen Curry still out, Jordan Poole and Donte DiVincenzo will help Klay Thompson in the backcourt with both running point a lot more. 

Cameron Payne, PG, Phoenix Suns (Foot)

New reports indicate that Payne should be back in the Suns rotation in the next week or two. Once he returns, he'll play a prime role off the bench backing up Chris Paul who has had to carry the Suns through their injuries over the last couple of months. It is possible that Payne returns for the first game after the break. 

NBA Shooting Guard Injury News

Gary Trent Jr., SG, Toronto Raptors (Calf)

If Trent’s calf is indeed strained, why not let him rest through the all-star break? It makes no sense. Trent could return in the Raptors next game, but if he’s out, Fred VanVleet will take more shots and Malachi Flynn will get reserve run off the bench. Jakob Poeltl could benefit indirectly by getting more plays called for him in the post. Toronto is still without OG Anunoby.

Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Dallas Mavericks (Hamstring)

Hardaway hurt his hamstring a few games ago and if he needs more time off the floor, the shots he’s leaving behind because we all know that Hardaway makes his money primarily for his shooting, will be taken by Josh Green and Reggie Bullock. Bullock is mainly a scorer from downtown, but we’ve seen Green have a lot of success producing with Hardaway hurt even with both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving active in the backcourt. Hardaway is day-to-day but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him sit for at least one more game.

Malik Monk, SG, Sacramento Kings (Ankle)

Monk’s ankle injury appears to be minor, but it wouldn’t be surprising seeing him sit through the all-star break and with him out of the lineup. Kevin Huerter will be the biggest beneficiary by spending more time with the ball and certainly taking more shots. This opens more field goal attempts for Harrison Barnes and Terence Davis will see a boost in playing time once again if Monk sits. Davis played 32 minutes last game. 

Seth Curry, SG, Brooklyn Nets (Groin)

After missing his last six contests with a groin injury, some of the latest reports say that Curry will be active for the Nets final game before the all-star break. His minutes will probably be monitored for his first game back, but once the Nets return from the break, he should be walking into more shots with both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving traded.

Terry Rozier, SG, Charlotte Hornets (Hand)

Rozier has a week to rest his sprained hand and if he needs time off after the break, we'll likely see Dennis Smith Jr play a few more minutes at shooting guard. Kelly Oubre Jr is still out and the Hornets may have to turn to Bryce McGowens way down on the Hornets depth chart. McGowens played 26 minutes in the Hornets last game.

Anfernee Simons, SG, Portland Trailblazers (Ankle)

Simons is dealing with a majorly sprained ankle and could miss up to a month of action and with him out,  Shaedon Sharpe should start and we should see Cam Reddish who was just acquired by the team play a bigger role. Matisse Thybulle, who the Blazers also just traded for should see more run at both shooting guard and small forward. 

Jalen Green, SG, Houston Rockets (Groin)

Green hurt his groin in the Rockets last game and he won't participate in the all-star festivities. We'll have to see what the damage is exactly but if he needs time off after the break, Josh Christopher will see more minutes and the Rockets can also opt to play TyTy Washington more as well to start getting him reps. Kevin Porter Jr remains out as well. 

NBA Small Forward Injury News

Jayson Tatum, SF, Boston Celtics (Illness)

Tatum is sick and will sit out for the Celtics game on Tuesday. The Celtics have one more game before the all-star break and it’s Wednesday and they’ll probably opt to sit Tatum once again if he’s not 100 percent healthy. With Tatum ill, Grant Williams will see more minutes and Malcolm Brogdon will certainly take more shots. A lot of the offense will be produced by Derrick White and Brogdon until the team gets healthier.  

DeMar DeRozan, SF, Chicago Bulls (Thigh)

DeRozan has been suffering from a strained thigh. It’s a minor strain, but we would think with the all-star break coming up, the Bulls would play it safe and just let DeRozan rest and recover, but it seems there’s a chance that he could play on Thursday. It’s very head-scratching as the Bulls have back-to-back games coming up. If he sits, Patrick Williams will see more time with the ball and more plays will be called for Nikola Vucevic in the post. 

Pat Connaughton, SF, Milwaukee Bucks (Calf)

Connaughton is dealing with a sore calf and if he needs a game or two to recover after the break, Joe Ingles will see more minutes and Grayson Allen should spend more time with the ball and take more shots. Soon enough, Jae Crowder will be in the mix as well.

NBA Power Forward Injury News

Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks (Wrist)

After dealing with a sore knee for a while, Antetokounmpo sprained his wrist and it's uncertain whether or not he'll have to miss time when regular-season play resumes next week. Nothing is broken or fractured but the pain may keep him out and if he needs a couple of games to heal, maybe the Bucks can finally play Khris Middleton more minutes to get him in shape for the post-season. If he's out, Brook Lopez will take more shots and we may even see more of Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans (Hamstring)

Williamson will miss at least another month of action. Reports came out last weekend that he suffered some kind of setback while rehabbing his ankle and with him still shelved, Brandon Ingram remains the prioritized scorer and some of the Pelicans forwards like Herbert Jones, Naji Marshall and Trey Murphy III will continue to help fill the void left behind by Williamson. The Pelicans could opt to go with a bigger lineup having both Larry Nance Jr and Jonas Valanciunas on the court at the same time to help them defensively, but they often choose to go with other lineup combinations. 

John Collins, PF, Atlanta Hawks (Head)

Collins hurt himself in the Hawks last game and shouldn't need much time to recover, but if he does need a game to sit when basketball is back in action, Saddiq Bey and De'Andre Hunter will split time at power forward helping Clint Capela in the post. 

Aaron Gordon, PF, Denver Nuggets (Ribs)

Gordon has been out of the Nuggets lineup for the last two games with sore ribs and if he needs to continue to miss time, Bruce Brown and Vlatko Cancar will benefit by seeing more playing time. More shots should open up for Michael Porter Jr but he often camps out at the arc too much to get good looks and will often pass off. 

Jerami Grant, PF, Portland Trail Blazers (Concussion)

Grant has been in the league’s concussion protocols and if he needs another game to recover, Cam Reddish and Trendon Watford will help fill in. Grant shouldn’t be out much longer, but him being out gives the Blazers an opportunity to see who else they can rely on in the post because with Jusuf Nurkic still out, Drew Eubanks has been guarding the post pretty much by himself.

Doug McDermott, PF, San Antonio Spurs (Achilles)

McDermott has missed the Spurs last couple of games and if he needs to continue to sit, Keita Bates-Diop will see more minutes and that will leave more shots open for Jeremy Sochan, who (when healthy) has been a lot more productive recently. Keldon Johnson will certainly set up more at the arc to take more three-pointers. 

NBA Center Injury News

Myles Turner, C, Indiana Pacers (Back)

Turner has a sore back, but he did practice earlier today according to reports which is a good sign. If Turner needs to miss the Pacers final game before the all-star break, Daniel Theis and Isaiah Jackson will fill in and Aaron Nesmith will take more shots. The Pacers have been trotting out a smaller lineup and they need all the help they can get guarding the post. Turner could potentially return next game.

JaMychal Green, C, Golden State Warriors (Wrist)

Green hurt his wrist in the Warriors last game and with James Wiseman traded, Kevon Looney will be forced to play more minutes and Draymond Green will shift up to center giving Jonathan Kuminga more minutes at power forward if Green needs to miss time. It would be surprising to see Green suit up in the Warriors final game before the all-star break. 

Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons (Ankle)

Duren is day-to-day with an ankle injury and coming out of the all-star break, he'll be in a major competition for playing time against James Wiseman and Isaiah Stewart will play a lot of power forward minutes.

Larry Nance Jr., C, New Orleans Pelicans (Ankle)

Nance has a sore groin and if he needs time off after the all-star break, Herbert Jones and Naji Marshall will help out at power forward.  If the Pelicans need size if Nance is out, Jaxson Hayes who barely plays could find himself seeing more action on the court. 

 

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