NBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 1/2

Justin Phan
Underdog Sports
7 min readJan 2, 2022

NBA News, Injuries, and Lineups for the 1/2 slate.

Each day, this column will provide live updates for all NBA news. Enjoy up-to-the-minute alerts for injuries and lineup confirmations.

The Key News to Watch section will highlight notable injuries to monitor for the current NBA slate. Recent News will display the last 10 news items of the day. Scrolling to the bottom allows you to view Looking Ahead, where you’ll see news for the following day.

Key News to Watch

  • Jayson Tatum (conditioning) — Out
  • Kristaps Porzingis (rest) — Out
  • Luka Doncic (health protocols) — Available
  • LeBron James (abdominal) — In
  • Anthony Edwards (conditioning) — Available
  • Tim Hardaway Jr. (health protocols) — Available
  • Josh Giddey (health protocols) —In
  • Evan Fournier (ankle) — In
  • Miles Bridges (conditioning) — Available
  • Scottie Barnes (knee) — In
  • Lu Dort (knee) — Out
  • Robert Williams (toe) — Out
  • Mo Bamba (conditioning) — Available
  • Dennis Schroder (conditioning) — In

Recent News

Wolves will start Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Naz Reid on Sunday. [8:59pm ET]
McKinley Wright IV (conditioning) listed out Sunday. [8:30pm ET]
Taurean Prince (conditioning) listed available to play Sunday. [8:30pm ET]
Jarred Vanderbilt (conditioning) listed available to play Sunday. [8:30pm ET]
Anthony Edwards (conditioning) listed available to play Sunday. [8:30pm ET]
Lakers will start Russell Westbrook, Avery Bradley, Malik Monk, Stanley Johnson, and LeBron James on Sunday. [7:48pm ET]
LeBron James (abdominal) will start Sunday. [7:48pm ET]
Mavs will start Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber, and Dwight Powell on Sunday. [6:32pm ET]
Suns will start Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Jalen Smith on Sunday. [6:31pm ET]
Hornets will start LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges, and Mason Plumlee on Sunday. [6:29pm ET]
Chandler Hutchison (knee) available to play Sunday. [6:04pm ET]
Miles Bridges (conditioning) available to play Sunday. [6:02pm ET]
Terence Davis (ankle) ruled out Sunday. [5:58pm ET]
Tim Hardaway Jr. (health protocols) available to play Sunday. [5:41pm ET]
Maxi Kleber (health protocols) available to play Sunday. [5:41pm ET]
Kristaps Porzingis (rest) ruled out Sunday. [5:40pm ET]
Luka Doncic (health protocols) active Sunday. [5:40pm ET]
Frank Ntilikina (thigh) available to play Sunday. [5:40pm ET]

New York Knicks

Knicks will start Miles McBride, Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, and Taj Gibson on Sunday.

  • Evan Fournier (ankle) — In
  • Kemba Walker (knee) — Out
  • Julius Randle (health protocols) — Out
  • Mitchell Robinson (health protocols) — Out
  • Wayne Selden (health protocols) — Out
  • Nerlens Noel (health protocols) — Out
  • Jericho Sims (health protocols) — Out
  • Danuel House (finger) — Out
  • Derrick Rose (ankle) — Injured

Toronto Raptors

Raptors will start Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, and Pascal Siakam on Sunday.

  • Scottie Barnes (knee) — In
  • Isaac Bonga (conditioning) — Out
  • Goran Dragic (personal) — Out
  • David Johnson (calf) — Out

Orlando Magic

Magic will start Tim Frazier, Gary Harris, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., and Mo Bamba on Sunday.

  • Mo Bamba (conditioning) — Available
  • Mychal Mulder (conditioning) — Available
  • Terrence Ross (conditioning) — Available
  • Cole Anthony (ankle) — Out
  • E’Twaun Moore (knee) — Out
  • Robin Lopez (health protocols) —Out
  • Chuma Okeke (health protocols) — Out
  • Hassani Gravett (conditioning) — Available
  • Jonathan Isaac (knee) — Injured
  • Markelle Fultz (knee) — Injured
  • Michael Carter-Williams (ankle) — Injured
  • Jalen Suggs (thumb) — Injured

Boston Celtics

Celtics will start Dennis Schroder, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Grant Williams, and Al Horford on Sunday.

  • Jayson Tatum (conditioning) — Out
  • Robert Williams (toe) — Out
  • Dennis Schroder (conditioning) — In
  • Romeo Langford (illness) — Out
  • Aaron Nesmith (health protocols) — Out
  • Bruno Fernando (health protocols) — Not on injury report
  • Enes Freedom (health protocols) — Out

Indiana Pacers

Pacers will start Keifer Sykes, Duane Washington Jr., Justin Holiday, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner on Sunday.

  • Caris LeVert (health protocols) — Out
  • Goga Bitadze (health protocols) — Out
  • Malcolm Brogdon (health protocols) — Out
  • Jeremy Lamb (health protocols) — Out
  • Chris Duarte (health protocols) — Out
  • Kelan Martin (health protocols) — Out
  • Isaiah Jackson (health protocols) — Out
  • TJ McConnell (hand) — Injured
  • TJ Warren (foot, health protocols) — Injured

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cavs will start Kevin Pangos, Isaac Okoro, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen on Sunday.

  • Dylan Windler (knee) — Questionable
  • Darius Garland (health protocols) — Out
  • Rajon Rondo (health protocols) — Out
  • Cedi Osman (health protocols) — Out
  • Collin Sexton (knee) — Injured
  • Ricky Rubio (knee) — Injured

Miami Heat

  • KZ Okpala (wrist) — Out
  • Duncan Robinson (health protocols) — Out
  • PJ Tucker (health protocols) — Out
  • Max Strus (health protocols) — Out
  • Gabe Vincent (health protocols) — Out
  • Marcus Garrett (health protocols) — Out
  • Udonis Haslem (health protocols) — Out
  • Markieff Morris (neck) — Injured
  • Bam Adebayo (thumb) — Injured
  • Dewayne Dedmon (knee) — Injured
  • Victor Oladipo (quad) — Injured

Sacramento Kings

Kings will start De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley, and Damian Jones on Sunday.

  • Terence Davis (ankle) — Out
  • Richaun Holmes (health protocols) — Out
  • Neemias Queta (health protocols) — Not on injury report

Phoenix Suns

Suns will start Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Jalen Smith on Sunday.

  • Chandler Hutchison (knee) — Available
  • Deandre Ayton (health protocols) — Out
  • Jae Crowder (health protocols) — Out
  • JaVale McGee (health protocols) — Out
  • Abdel Nader (health protocols) — Out
  • Dario Saric (knee) — Injured
  • Frank Kaminsky (knee) — Injured

Charlotte Hornets

Hornets will start LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges, and Mason Plumlee on Sunday.

  • Miles Bridges (conditioning) — Available
  • PJ Washington (health protocols) — Out
  • Scottie Lewis (health protocols) — Out
  • Vernon Carey Jr. (health protocols) — Out

Dallas Mavericks

Mavs will start Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber, and Dwight Powell on Sunday.

  • Luka Doncic (health protocols) — Available
  • Kristaps Porzingis (rest) — Out
  • Tim Hardaway Jr. (health protocols) — Available
  • Maxi Kleber (health protocols) — Available
  • Frank Ntilikina (thigh) — Available
  • Boban Marjanovic (health protocols) — Out
  • Trey Burke (health protocols) — Out
  • Willie Cauley-Stein (personal) — Out
  • Isaiah Thomas (health protocols) — Out
  • Brandon Knight (health protocols) — Out
  • JaQuori McLaughlin (health protocols) — Out

Oklahoma City Thunder

Thunder will start Josh Giddey, Ty Jerome, Aaron Wiggins, Aleksej Pokusevski, and Isaiah Roby on Sunday.

  • Lu Dort (knee) — Out
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (health protocols) — Out
  • Josh Giddey (health protocols) —In
  • Darius Bazley (health protocols) — Out
  • Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (health protocols) — Out
  • Tre Mann (health protocols) — Out

Minnesota Timberwolves

Wolves will start Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Naz Reid on Sunday.

  • Anthony Edwards (conditioning) — Available
  • Jarred Vanderbilt (conditioning) — Available
  • Taurean Prince (conditioning) — Available
  • McKinley Wright IV (conditioning) — Out
  • Karl-Anthony Towns (health protocols) — Out
  • D’Angelo Russell (health protocols) — Out

Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers will start Russell Westbrook, Avery Bradley, Malik Monk, Stanley Johnson, and LeBron James on Sunday.

  • LeBron James (abdominal) — In
  • Anthony Davis (knee) — Injured
  • Kendrick Nunn (knee) — Injured

Looking Ahead

Tyler Cook (ankle) listed out for 1/3.
Javonte Green (adductor) listed out for 1/3.
Alfonzo McKinnie (conditioning) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Jay Scrubb (conditioning) questionable for 1/3.
Nicolas Batum (ankle) questionable for 1/3.
Rodney McGruder (health protocols) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Trey Lyles (health protocols) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Trendon Watford (health protocols) not on injury report for 1/3.
Keljin Blevins(health protocols) not on injury report for 1/3.
Cody Zeller (health protocols) doubtful for 1/3.
Robert Covington (health protocols) not on injury report for 1/3.
Jusuf Nurkic (health protocols) doubtful for 1/3.
Damian Lillard (injury management) ruled out for 1/3.
Damion Lee (health protocols) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) listed out for 1/3.
Khris Middleton (personal) listed questionable for 1/3.
Saben Lee (health protocols) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Josh Jackson (health protocols) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Killian Hayes (health protocols) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Cade Cunningham (health protocols) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
D.J. Augustin (health protocols) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Garrison Mathews (health protocols) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Vlatko Cancar (nose) listed probable for 1/3.
Austin Rivers (thumb) listed probable for 1/3.
Eric Paschall (personal) questionable for 1/3.
Hassan Whiteside (concussion) questionable for 1/3.
Armoni Brooks has entered health and safety protocols.
Danny Green (health protocols) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Matisse Thybulle (health protocols) listed questionable for 1/3.
Eric Gordon (hamstring) listed questionable for 1/3.
Lonzo Ball (conditioning) not listed on injury report for 1/3.
Kyle Anderson has entered health and safety protocols.
Ziaire Williams (ankle) doubtful for 1/3.
Draymond Green (health protocols) expected to play 1/3.
LaMarcus Aldridge (foot) questionable for 1/3.
Davis Bertans (illness) available to play on 1/3.
Anthony Gill has entered health and safety protocols.
Tomas Satoransky (health protocols) ruled out for 1/3.
Jonas Valanciunas (health protocols) questionable for 1/3.
Brandon Ingram (Achilles) questionable for 1/3.
Cameron McGriff has entered health and safety protocols.
Anfernee Simons cleared from health and safety protocols.