The 2022-2023 NBA season has resumed after the NBA All-Star break and there are less than two months remaining before the NCA playoffs begin. Teams such as the new-look Phoenix Suns are getting healthier and are ready to move up the standings once Kevin Durant is ready to play soon. The Suns should have other players returning from the NBA injury report very soon as well. We’re still waiting for further updates regarding Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns, who hasn’t played in months. It will be hard for the Timberwolves to find success without him in the lineup. We also have new NBA injury updates on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilegous-Alexander that may impact your fantasy basketball lineups. Here are a few of the latest NBA injury report updates.

 

2023 NBA Injury Report Fantasy Basketball Week 19

NBA Point Guard Injury News

Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors (Leg)

Curry will be out for at least a few more games as the Warriors won’t rush his return and while Curry recovers, Jordan Poole and Donte DiVincenzo will help run the point in his place. Klay Thompson will continue being the prioritized scorer and Draymond Green should certainly continue taking more shots until Curry is ready to return.

Cameron Payne, PG, Phoenix Suns (Foot)

Further reports have indicated that Payne should be ready to return to the floor on Friday. He’ll likely have his minutes watched for a couple of games, but with both Chris Paul and Devin Booker healthy, his days of playing 30 minutes are over and he’ll play between 20-24 as he’s been averaging all season. He’ll be the main reserve guard of the bench.

Lonzo Ball, PG, Chicago Bulls (Knee)

Ball’s season is over. He hasn’t played all year and he won’t suit up. Patrick Beverley is joining the Bulls backcourt and Ayo Dosunmu should still spend a good amount of time bringing up the ball. With Beverley’s arrival, it will pose a threat to Coby White’s production.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder (Ankle)

After playing 41 minutes in the Thunder's first game back from the all-star break, Gilgeous-Alexander is questionable heading into Friday's game with a sore ankle and if he has to sit, expect Josh Giddey to bring up the ball more and Tre Mann could even find himself sharing the backcourt with Giddey. Luguentz Dort will see an uptick in shots if Gilgeous-Alexander sits. 

D'Angelo Russell, PG, Los Angeles Lakers (Ankle)

Russell sprained his ankle early in Thursday's game and didn't return. With Russell likely needing at least one game off to let the swelling in his ankle go down, Dennis Schroder will bring up the ball a bit more and we could see Austin Reaves' minutes rise until Russell is ready to return. The Lakers don't have as much point guard depth with both Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley off of the team. For now, consider Russell day-to-day until we get a further update regarding the severity of his sprained ankle.

NBA Shooting Guard Injury News

Anfernee Simons, SG, Portland Trail Blazers (Ankle)

Simons could end up missing four to six weeks with a severely sprained ankle. Originally, we were hearing a timetable of three to five weeks, but further reports are saying he could be out for four to six weeks and while Simons is out, Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant walk into more shots and more will be asked of Damian Lillard.

Jalen Green, SG, Houston Rockets (Groin)

Green has a strained groin and he’ll join Kevin Porter Jr on the shelf with the Rockets down both of their backcourt players TyTy Washington and Josh Christopher will be asked to play more with Eric Gordon off the team. The Rockets can also opt to let Jae’Sean Tate bring up the ball a bit as he’s done in the past. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy but the Rockets are going nowhere and they just want to get to the end of the season and this could be the opportunity to give Tate a longer leash and Washington some much-needed reps.

Devin Vassell, SG, San Antonio Spurs (Knee)

The Spurs coaches are indicating that Vassell is close to returning to action and we should see him back on the floor in the next week or two for the first time since he hurt himself in early January. Vassell will likely see his minutes limited for a few games when he does return. Once Vassell returns, Malaki Branham will lose out on a few shots and Devonte' Graham won't be on the ball as much as his minutes will likely drop. 

NBA Small Forward Injury News

NOTE: LeBron James is back for the Los Angeles Lakers and off the NBA injury report.

Pat Connaughton, SF, Milwaukee Bucks (Calf)

Connaughton has a sore calf and he will likely need to sit out for another game or two and with him sidelined, Jae Crowder will be ready to make his regular-season debut after being acquired by the Bucks around the trade deadline. Crowder will play in his place and Joe Ingles should see a few more shots and more playing time as Crowder will likely have to play some power forward as well.

NBA Power Forward Injury News

Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks (Wrist)

It's a bit surprising but we just saw that Antetokounmpo was upgraded from doubtful to questionable heading into Friday's game and there's a chance that he can suit up for the matchup. Even if Antetokounmpo doesn't play, it's a good sign that his wrist injury was very minor and if he doesn't play on Friday, the chances of him returning in the Bucks next game or two are good. The all-star break definitely helped Antetokounmpo heal up a bit.

Kevin Durant, PF, Phoenix Suns (Knee)

New reports are telling us that Durant should be ready to play in his first game for the Suns within the next week. It's uncertain whether or not his minutes will be limited upon returning for a game or two, but with Durant coming back into the mix, he will take the ball out of Deandre Ayton's hands a bit more and Josh Okogie will likely lose out on a good amount of shots.

John Collins, PF, Atlanta Hawks (Concussion)

Collins is in the league’s concussion protocol and if he can’t get cleared before Friday’s game, Saddiq Bey will shift up to power forward and play more and he’ll likely draw a start or two. The Bucks can also opt to shift up De’Andre Hunter to power forward when Bey needs a break giving Bogdan Bogdanovic more room to play at small forward.

NBA Center Injury News 

Ivica Zubac, C, Los Angeles Clippers (Calf)

Zubac has a strained calf and will be inactive for the Clippers' first game after the all-star break and there's a chance he'll have to miss a couple more games in order to recover. The Clippers recently traded for Mason Plumlee and Plumlee will start and likely play close to 30 minutes with Zubac injured. The Clippers can also split the minutes at center between Plumlee and Robert Covington until Zubac is fully healthy. 

Mitchell Robinson, C, New York Knicks (Thumb)

Robinson hasn't played in over a month after fracturing his thumb against the Wizards in January. It's looking like he'll make his return to the Knicks lineup coincidently against the Wizards on Friday. With Robinson back in the Knicks rotation, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims will battle it out for reserve minutes behind Robinson. If the Knicks need more size in the post, they'll turn to Sims and if they need long-range shooting to help stretch the floor, they'll rely more on Hartenstein.  

 

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