The NBA playoffs being expanded to include the play-in tournament has kept more teams from tanking since they still have a shot at advancing to the postseason but teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons (who are out of it) continue messing with their lineups and it’s hard to tell on a per game basis who will be in and out. With under three weeks left in the NBA regular season, we could start seeing the Portland Trail Blazers rule players out as they’ve just won just twice in their last 10 games. Don’t be surprised if they shut down Damian Lillard at some point soon. As we dive into the NBA injury report this week, check out the top fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups to help our your rosters. Plus, always check out the latest NBA daily projections to set those fantasy basketball lineups. Here are the latest NBA injuries (as far as we know they are real injuries) as we march through week 23 of the fantasy basketball season. 

 

2023 NBA Injury Report Fantasy Basketball Week 23

NBA Point Guard Injury News

Tyrese Haliburton PG Indiana Pavers (Ankle)

After missing six straight games with an ankle injury, there's a chance that Haliburton returns for the Pacers next matchup and if he does make it back to the court, Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell will spend less time with the ball as Haliburton resumes his role as the team's top scorer and playmaker. 

Jalen Brunson PG New York Knicks (Hand)

Brunson has been nicked up lately and missed his last game with a hand injury and if he needs to miss more time, Immanuel Quickley will start in his place and RJ Barrett and Quentin Grimes will take more shots. 

Dennis Smith Jr PG Charlotte Hornets (Illness)

Smith got sick during the Hornets previous game and Charlotte also lost Kelly Oubre Jr and Terry Rozier in their last game who are both looking like they'll need time to recover. Theo Maledon and Bryce McGowens could be looking at additional run if the others can't suit up Friday versus Dallas. 

Jose Alvarado PG New Orleans Pelicans (Tibia)

Alvarado needs another couple of more weeks to recover putting his return in the regular season in jeopardy. Josh Richardson and Dyson Daniels will help CJ McCollum run the point for most of the final few weeks of the season. 

Tre Jones, PG, San Antonio Spurs (Hamstring)

Jones will likely sit for the Spurs next game as he deals with hamstring pain. He missed a few games about a week ago and the Spurs have nothing to play for. If Devonte’ Graham is out as well, Malaki Branham will help run the point and Blake Wesley will see an uptick in minutes and more time with the ball.

Devonte' Graham, PG, San Antonio Spurs (Quad)

Graham has missed his last two games with an injured quad and if he needs to sit for another contest, Blake Wesley and Malaki Branham will help set up the Spurs offense. 

NBA Shooting Guard Injury News

Anthony Edwards, SG, Minnesota Timberwolves (Ankle)

After missing two games with an ankle injury, new reports indicate that Edwards should be able to return to action when the Timberwolves take the court again on Wednesday. Jaylen Nowell and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will lose out on minutes with Edwards likely returning. 

Kevin Huerter, SG, Sacramento Kings (Knee)

Huerter is dealing with a strained knee and has missed his last two games. For now, we know he won’t miss the last few weeks of the season because of it and he's more day-to-day. If he needs to sit, we’ve seen Kessler Edwards start in his place and Malik Monk will certainly pick up more shots off the bench too. Monk took 15 shots in 24 minutes on Monday.

Norman Powell, SG, Los Angeles Clippers (Shoulder)

Powell will be out for at least another week with an injured shoulder. While he’s out, Eric Gordon will continue to see more playing time coming in off the bench. He’s taken eight or more shots in four straight games. 

Jalen Suggs, SG, Orlando Magic (Concussion)

Suggs will miss another game due to a concussion. He had been taking a lot of shots and while he’s out, Cole Anthony will benefit by being the Magic's main bench scorer. Gary Harris can see a slight uptick in shot attempts as well. 

Alex Caruso, SG, Chicago Bulls (Foot)

Caruso missed his last game with an injured foot and if he must continue to sit, Coby White will see more playing time. White has played no fewer than 27 minutes in each of his last four contests.

James Harden SG Philidelphia 76ers (Achilles)

Harden has sat out for two of the 76ers last three games and if he needs to sit again, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris will see their production ceilings rise and De'Anthony Melton will see his minutes rise and he's played 33 minutes or more in 3 straight contests. 

Kyrie Irving SG Dallas Mavericks (Foot)

Irving has missed four of the Mavericks last six games and if he needs another game for his foot to heal up, Josh Green will start alongside Luka Doncic again and Jaden Hardy will see minutes off the bench as well.

Paul George SG Los Angeles Clippers (Knee)

George will miss the next couple of weeks with a sprained knee and we don't know if we'll see him play again before the playoffs. Norman Powell is also hurt meaning that Eric Gordon should see more starts and Terance Mann should get additional playing time off the bench and until George or Powell returns, Mann should play at least 20 minutes per game.

Dejounte Murray SG Atlanta Hawks (Illness)

Murray is sick and has missed the Hawks last two matchups and if he needs more time off the bench, Bogdan Bogdanovic will be looking at more shots and A.J. Griffin will see more time with the ball as well as Jalen Johnson is hurt and Griffin will shift down to small forward as Bogdanovic shifts to shooting guard in Murray's place.

Bradley Beal SG Washington Wizards (Knee)

Beal will miss his second straight game on Friday due to a knee injury and with Kyle Kuzma also sidelined, we'll see a lot more of Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija in the Wizards rotation and Kristaps Porzingis production ceiling rises and we should even see Monte Morris spend more time with the ball.

Terry Rozier SG Charlotte Hornets (Foot)

Rozier hurt his foot in the Hornets last game and if he needs time off the floor which is looking like it will be the case, McGowens will see more action on the floor along with Maledon. We may even see Svi Mykhailiuk get more involved in the Hornets rotation. He played 30 minutes in their last game.

Anfernee Simons SG Portland Trail Blazers (Foot)

Simons will miss another game on Friday for the ailing Blazers and with him out, Shaedon Sharpe should play more and take more shots. Jusuf Nurkic (if healthy) will be more prioritized on the offensive end. 

Kelly Oubre Jr SG Charlotte Hornets (Shoulder)

Oubre injured his shoulder last game and P.J. Washington will need to take more shots with Oubre looking like he's going to miss action. JT Thor or Kai Jones may need to shift down to help Gordon Hayward at small forward at times during the game.

Gary Trent Jr SG Toronto Raptors (Elbow)

Friday isn't looking good for Trent, who is dealing with an injured elbow. If he does have to sit, OG Anunoby will see more time with the ball and Will Barton will see additional run off the bench and he registered 23 minutes last game. We could see Jeff Dowtin Jr play a few minutes off the bench as well.

Tim Hardaway Jr SG Dallas Mavericks (Illness)

Hardaway has missed two of the Mavericks last four games and if he can't suit up on Friday, Josh Green will take more shots and Justin Holiday, who played 23 minutes last matchup, could see a bump in minutes. 

 

NBA Small Forward Injury News

Kyle Kuzma, SF, Washington Wizards (Ankle)

Kuzma is dealing with an ankle injury and he’ll miss the Wizards next game. Both Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert will benefit from Kuzma's absence. It doesn’t matter who starts between the two as both will see a good amount of time with the ball either with the starting or second unit. 

DeMar DeRozan SF Chicago Bulls (Quad)

DeRozan injured his quad last game and if he needs to sit out for the Bulls next game, Patrick Williams and Javonte Green will fill in at small forward and Nikola Vucevic will get more plays called for him in the post. 

Scottie Barnes SF Toronto Raptors (Wrist)

It's not looking good for Barnes return to the court in the Raptors next game and if he does indeed sit, Fred VanVleet will need to bring up the ball more and Will Barton and Chris Boucher will see more minutes. 

Franz Wagner SF Orlando Magic (Ankle)

Wagner injured his ankle last game and if he needs to sit out to recover, more shots will open up for Cole Anthony off the bench and Caleb Houstan will see the court more. Houstan played 25 minutes last time out.

Jae'Sean Tate SF Houston Rockets (Knee)

Tate will miss another game due to a knee injury and K.J. Martin and Tari Eason will benefit by seeing more playing time at small forward. We've seen Eason get more involved on the offensive side of the ball lately. 

Isaiah Livers SF Detroit Pistons (Hip)

After missing four games with a hip injury, it's looking like Livers will make it back to the court for the Pistons next game and he should easily play 25-30 minutes considering all of the other Pistons options who are hurting up front right now. He'll toggle between small forward and power forward.

NBA Power Forward Injury News

Lauri Markkanen PF Utah Jazz (Hand): 

Markkanen will miss his second  game in the Jazz last three with an injured hand and with him out of action, Kelly Olynyk will be asked to shoot more and Sione Fontecchio will see additional playing time. Talen Horton-Tucker will spend more time on the ball as well.

Jalen Johnson, PF, Atlanta Hawks (Hamstring)

Johnson has already missed a few games and he’ll be out for at least another four games as he deals with multiple lower-body injuries. We’ve seen AJ Griffin hit the 20-minute mark in both of his last two outings and the Hawks play four games this week. Griffin took double-digit shots in both games as well.

NBA Center Injury News

Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons (Head)

Duren injured his head in the Pistons' last game and he’ll need at least one game to recover. While he’s out, Detroit will likely shift up Marvin Bagley III to center at times to relieve James Wiseman. Plus, Isaiah Livers (if healthy) and Eugene Omoruyi should see an uptick in minutes.

Joel Embiid C Philadephia 76ers (Calf)

It was hard to tell last game whether Embiid truly didn't play in the second half due to injury, or that the 76ers were beating up the Bulls so badly that they wanted to preserve him. Regardless, Embiid is questionable heading into the 76ers next game and if he sits, Paul Reed and Montrezl Harrell will fill in for him and if Harden sits as well, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris become the prioritized scorers.

Deandre Ayton C Phoenix Suns (Hip)

Ayton still isn't ready to return to the court and while he's out, Bismack Biyombo and Jock Landale will continue filling in for him until he's ready. 

Jusuf Nurkic C Portland Trail Blazers (Knee)

Nurkic has knee pain and if he needs to sit for the Blazers next game, Drew Eubanks and Trendon Watford will fill in for him. 

Precious Achiuwa C Toronto Raptors (Hamstring)

If Achiuwa needs to miss the Raptors next game, we'll see more of Chris Boucher on the floor backing up Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl. Christian Koloko could be looking at more reserve minutes as well. 

 

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