As more NBA teams distance themselves from playoff contention, more teams will start resting their prioritized players on offense. We’re on watch regarding the Indiana Pacers as it’s become difficult to predict whether Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner are hurt or if they’re being held out intentionally. The Washington Wizards are a team to watch as well, as Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma remain injured. With the Wizards three games back of the final play-in tournament spot, they don’t have too much of an incentive to bring back their injured guys with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season. The Portland Trail Blazers are holding players out and we may see the Jazz start doing the same in a week. Here are more of the latest NBA injuries that could impact fantasy basketball teams. 

 

2023 NBA Injury Report Fantasy Basketball Week 23

Updated 3/31

NBA Point Guard Injury News

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander PG Oklahoma City Thunder (Ankle)

Earlier this week, we were questioning whether Gilgeous-Alexander's ankle injury was real or if the Thunder were intentionally holding him out. The injury is real as he is set to miss his third straight game on Friday and Josh Giddey will continue running the point and Isaiah Joe and Jalen Williams will see more time with the ball.

Dennis Smith Jr PG Charlotte Hornets (Toe)

Smith missed his last game with a sprained toe and if he has to continue to sit Theo Maledon and Bryce McGowens will see more playing time. Maledon will be the main ballhandler for the Hornets. 

 

NBA Shooting Guard Injury News

James Harden SG Philadelphia 76ers (Achilles)

Back in Action. 

Chris Duarte SG Indiana Pacers (Ankle)

Duarte is having a tough time staying on the court suiting up in just one of the Pacers last seven contests. With Duarte sidelined, Bennedict Mathurin and Jordan Nwora will take more shots. The Pacers will be careful about bringing him back and Andrew Nembhard could indirectly benefit by seeing a slight boost in shots. Nembhard can spend time playing at point guard and shooting guard.

Kelly Oubre Jr SG Charlotte Hornets (Shoulder)

Oubre continues to get questionable designations and then he gets ultimately ruled out and if he can't make it back to the court for the Hornets next game, Bryce McGowens and Svi Mykhailiuk will take more shots, especially with Gordon Hayward still hurt as well.

 

NBA Small Forward Injury News

Keldon Johnson SF San Antonio Spurs (Foot)

Who knows how real any of the Spurs injuries truly are but Johnson has played in just one of the Spurs last four outings. The Spurs seem to be staggering who is sitting and who is playing on a per-game basis, but if he needs to sit, Doug McDermott and Malaki Branham will shoot more and Keita Bates-Diop will see a boost in minutes. 

Gordon Hayward SF Charlotte Hornets (Thumb)

Hayward is another player who can’t shake the injuries and now it’s looking like he will sit for at least one game with an injured thumb and with Hayward joining Terry Rozier on the sidelines, if Kelly Oubre Jr needs more time off due to his health issues, Bryce McGowens and Svi Mykhailiuk will see the court more.  Mykhailiuk has hit the 30-minute mark and McGowens has hit the 20-minute mark in 3 straight games. 

Cam Reddish SF Portland Trail Blazers (Back)

Reddish has a sore back and is looking like he'll miss another game and with him out of the lineup along with half of the Blazers, Portland will have to turn to Matisse Thybulle and Kevin Knox for frontcourt offense. 

De'Andre Hunter SF Atlanta Hawks (Knee)

If Hunter needs to sit with a sore knee, Bogdan Bogdanovic will likely enter the starting lineup and AJ Griffin will see more minutes with Atlanta's second unit. 

K.J. Martin SF Houston Rockets (Hip)

Martin's hip is sore and he may have to sit out the Rockets next game and if he can't make it on the court, Tari Eason will see more minutes and shots, especially with Jae'Sean Tate still out and Jabari Smith should be even more involved in the Rockets offense. 

Justice Winslow SF Portland Trail Blazers (Ankle)

Winslow's season is officially over after having ankle surgery and we haven't seen him take the court since December and Nassir Little and Matisse Thybulle will see more minutes down the stretch with other Blazers also out of action. 

Will Barton SF Toronto Raptors (Ankle)

Barton may have to join Gary Trent Jr on the sidelines once again with an injured ankle and if he can't make it back, O.G. Anunoby and Scottie Barnes will take more shots and Jeff Dowtin Jr will continue playing more reserve minutes. 

Isaac Okoro SF Cleveland Cavaliers (Knee)

Okoro missed the Cavs last game and he'll be out once again and Caris LeVert should see more time on the floor and more time with the ball. The Cavs will turn to Lamar Stevens and Cedi Osman a bit more as well to play minutes at small forward.

 

NBA Power Forward Injury News

Kevin Durant PF Phoenix Suns (Ankle)

Back in action. 

Marcus Morris Sr PF Los Angeles Clippers (Illness)

Morris is sick and if he needs another game to recover, Nicolas Batum and Eric Gordon will see more minutes and shots. Robert Covington will see a bump in playing time as well. 

Julius Randle PF New York Knicks (Ankle)

Randle will miss the next couple of weeks of action with an injured ankle and that could mean that he may need to miss playoff games and RJ Barrett and Josh Hart will need to help carry the offensive burden along with Jalen Brunson and Obi Toppin should draw starts in Randle's place until he's ready to return. 

Lauri Markkanen PF Utah Jazz (Hand)

Markkanen has been in and out of the lineup with injuries and he'll sit for the Jazz next game because of this hand injury and if Kelly Olynyk needs another game to recover, Simone Fontecchio will see a bump in minutes and Talen Horton-Tucker will once again see a big bump in shots. 

Kelly Olynyk PF Utah Jazz (Illness)

Olynyk missed his last game because he got sick and if he needs another game to heal up, Fontecchio will play more and Ochai Agbaji and Horton-Tucker will see more time with the ball.

 

NBA Center Injury News

Jarrett Allen C Cleveland Cavaliers (Groin)

Allen may have to sit for a game with an injured groin and if he can’t play, Evan Mobley will shift up to center and Lamar Stevens will enter the starting lineup at power forward. 

Daniel Gafford C Washington Wizards (Foot)

Gafford may need to miss a game with a sore foot and if he can’t make it to the court, Kristaps Porzingis will shift up to center and Deni Avdija can help fill in at power forward giving more playing time at small forward for Corey Kispert. The Wizards can turn to Anthony Gill and Taj Gibson if they want in order to relieve Porzingis from the post at times. 

Trendon Watford C Portland Trail Blazers (Ankle)

Watford hurt his ankle a few days ago and missed the Blazers previous game and if he needs more time to recover, Drew Eubanks will start in his place and Nassir Little and Jabari Walker will see more playing time.  

Naz Reid C Minnesota Timberwolves (Wrist)

Reid's wrist is pretty much completely busted and he'll need a lot of time to recover and Karl-Anthony Towns can always shift back up to center if Rudy Gobert needs a break and Minnesota can also turn to Luka Garza and Nathan Knight to play a few reserve minutes as Towns minutes and games will continue to be managed. 

 

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