標籤: injury

The Washington Wizards have gone full force in their tanking efforts this season, with trade acquisitions Trae Young and Anthony Davis both out of the lineup due to apparent injuries. Young was brought to the team by the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, with the hope that he, Davis and a blue-chip prospect from the 2026 NBA Draft vault would put Washington into contention next year.

Recently, NBA insider Marc Stein provided the latest information on when Young could potentially return from injury, as well as the status of his contract extension with the Wizards.

“Washington has said Young is moving toward making his Wizards debut at some point before the regular season ends, but there remains doubt in various corners of the league as to whether it will actually happen this season,” Stein reported on his Substack.

Stein also reported that “I have been repeatedly advised that Young and the Wizards agree to a contract extension this summer, which has been widely speculated to be a three-year deal.”

A big reason for the Hawks trading Young was believed to be around Atlanta’s reluctance to sign the star to a contract extension last offseason, a decision that reportedly alienated Young from the franchise that traded for him on draft night in 2018.

Young has only played a handful of games for the Hawks this year, missing significant time with an MCL sprain and has yet to make his debut for the Wizards this season.

The Wizards are one of several teams with their eyes on the 2026 NBA Draft class, and playing with Young this season could potentially hurt their chances of landing one of the top picks.

In any case, the Wizards are set to take the field on Monday evening for a home game against the Houston Rockets.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to action for the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at Fiserv Forum after missing their last 15 games with a calf injury.

However, his return was not enough to help the Bucks against the Boston Celtics, as they suffered a lopsided 108–81 loss. They suffered a straight defeat and fell 26-34.

In 25 minutes, Antetokounmpo finished with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting. He also had 11 rebounds, two assists and a block, with coach Doc Rivers being extra careful with the two-time MVP’s playing time.

The 31-year-old forward admitted that he is trying remove rust From his long layoff.

“I’m just trying to get back into rhythm,” Antetokounmpo said in a video posted by ESPN. “It’s been six weeks of not playing, and it’s the second time I’ve actually played against contact. I think the more I stay in shape, the more I’ll be able to help my team, the more I’ll be able to help my team.”

“I think right now, I’m in a place where I’m trying to figure myself out. I’m figuring out how I can fit in with the team.”

“I’m just trying to get back into rhythm.”

Giannis reveals what he wants to do to get it #box back on track #scared deer pic.twitter.com/uQSglDf0LL

– ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) 3 March 2026

It was a curious comment from the former Finals MVP, as the Bucks have clearly built the roster around him. However, Antetokounmpo admitted he hasn’t spent a lot of time on the floor with Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins and midseason additions Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng.

Antetokounmpo, who was at the center of trade rumors, has missed a career-high 29 games this season because of a calf injury.

At the time of writing, it is unclear whether he will be fit for their next game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night to face a Los Angeles Lakers team that has won each of its last three games. They have overturned a three-game losing streak on the back of some extremely impressive shooting and will look to extend their run against New Orleans.

For the Pelicans, a lot depends on the status of Zion Williamson, who claimed in his recent interview with ESPN that he is expected to play after recovering from an ankle injury. However, according to a post on X by ClutchPoints, this has proven enough to change his status to ‘doubtful’.

The Pelicans say Zion Williamson (right ankle sprain) is questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Lakers.

He recently told ESPN that he “hopes to be back” for the L.A. matchup. pic.twitter.com/XUxZMjPaEm

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Williamson suffered the injury during Friday’s win over the Utah Jazz and had to sit out Sunday’s 137-117 loss to the Clippers, a loss that snapped New Orleans’ four-game winning streak. Despite recent improvement, the Pelicans continue to struggle.

They are 19-43 for the season and are in 13th place in the Western Conference, ten wins away from the 10th-place Portland Trail Blazers and need a turnaround in fortunes to reach the postseason.

Zion Williamson’s injury status vs. Lakers

While the questionable tag is a concern, Zion himself expects to play, and barring any late incidents, fans can expect him to at least be involved off the bench.

Speaking to ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Monday, Williamson said,

“I look forward to being back tomorrow against the Lakers.”

Before suffering an ankle injury, Zion was in the midst of his most durable stretch as a professional, playing a career-high 35 consecutive games. On the season, he is averaging 21.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting over 58% from the field overall.

Despite this, the Lakers (36-24) have found their rhythm and enter the night as winners of two straight blowouts. They have won nine of the last 10 meetings against New Orleans and are looking for another straight win at home.

pelicans injury report

Zion Williamson (sprained right ankle): Questionable

Trey Alexander (G-League Two-Way): Out

Hunter Dickinson (G-League Two-Way): Out

lakers injury report

nobody

As the Miami Heat battle injuries ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, one player whose status is up in the air is point guard Davion Mitchell. Following the Heat’s win over the Houston Rockets, Mitchell’s injury is worth monitoring as the team looks to add more wins in the home stretch of the season, as he talked about his latest injury.

Mitchell is listed as “questionable” for Tuesday’s game against Brooklyn as he is dealing with a left shoulder injury that fans may be familiar with. The 27-year-old, who previously missed eight games in January with a left shoulder problem, suffered a hard screen during Saturday’s game-opening win over the Rockets, although he finished the contest.

He will practice partially on Monday, saying the current shoulder problem is not as severe as the one that caused him to miss time in January.

According to The Miami Herald, Mitchell said, “It’s not that bad.” “Definitely a little bit of the same pain. But definitely not as bad.”

The Heat’s Davion Mitchell is potentially changing a certain aspect

In Saturday’s win over Houston, Mitchell would record 10 points and five assists, as he has been a mainstay in Miami’s starting lineup when healthy, averaging 8.9 points and 6.9 assists per game. In addition to his point-guard abilities, he is also one of the team’s better defenders, although he was asked if he would limit himself to passing screens due to shoulder injuries.

“I try to play the same way,” Mitchell said. “I don’t try to change anything, I mean, honestly, he caught me. I’ve been looking at a screen for a minute since that injury, and it hasn’t really bothered me. This time, he caught me.”

It remains to be seen whether Mitchell will play, as he said, “We’ll see” when asked the question after Monday’s practice. At any rate, Miami will be looking for a win as Tuesday’s home matchup against the Nets will be crucial for the team with a 32-29 record, which will keep them in eighth place in the East.

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls after giving positive feedback to reporters following his first two games back from an abdominal injury. Gilgeous-Alexander will miss the first leg of the Thunder’s back-to-back, which ends on Wednesday against the New York Knicks. He’ll likely be back to take on the Knicks.

Starting center Isaiah Hartenstein was added to Gilgeous-Alexander on the Thunder’s injury report as players ruled out of Tuesday’s game. Hartenstein returned from a calf injury on Friday. Both Thunder players missed overtime in Friday’s 127-121 win against the Denver Nuggets and will also miss Tuesday’s game against the Bulls due to their respective injuries.

Jalen Williams (right hamstring), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain, left ankle), and Brandon Carlson (lower back strain) are out, while Nikola Topic is on assignment with the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting, five assists, four rebounds and four steals in Sunday’s 100-87 win against the Dallas Mavericks.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander injury update after Thunder win

It was difficult for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to watch the Thunder compete against the Nuggets in overtime on Friday, even if the defending champions won. Fortunately for Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder defeated the Mavericks in regulation, earning a 13-point win on the road.

After the win, a reporter asked Gilgeous-Alexander how his body was feeling after playing his first two games since returning from an abdominal injury.

“Okay,” Gilgeous-Alexander replied. “I ramped up the workouts before the games, I knew I was coming back. The guys who helped me with the workouts did a great job building them into game legs. So, I feel great. Cardio-wise, I don’t feel like I missed a beat.”

The Thunder improved to 47–15.

The Dallas Mavericks have been playing without their standout rookie star Cooper Flagg for the past seven games. Flagg had earlier suffered a left foot sprain during a match against the Phoenix Suns on February 10.

However, he is now expected to get a chance to play against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday after being listed as ‘doubtful’ on the official injury report. According to a post on X by Mark Stein, the flag’s status has been upgraded to ‘Out’.

The Mavericks have officially listed Cooper Flagg (left midfoot sprain) as questionable for Tuesday’s game against fellow Rookie of the Year top contender Kon Nueppel in Charlotte.

Doubtful has been at least one step above the flag’s outright OUT classification for the last seven games. https://t.co/0cHy8vHhWb

– Mark Stein (@TheSteinLine) 2 March 2026

“The Mavericks have officially listed Cooper Flagg (left midfoot sprain) as questionable for Tuesday’s game against fellow Rookie of the Year top contender Kon Nueppel in Charlotte.
Suspect is at least one step above the outright OUT classification of flag for the last seven games,” he wrote.

In his absence, the Hornets’ Kon Knuppel has undoubtedly stepped up to the plate with his best run of the year. Before his injury, Flagg was averaging 20.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 48.2% from the field and 30.2% from beyond the arc over the course of 49 games.

He has emerged as one of the few bright spots for Dallas in a season that looks unlikely to reach the playoffs. The Mavericks currently sit in 12th place in the jam-packed Western Conference with a 21-39 record, a far cry from their 50-32 season during the 2023-24 campaign.

They have also suffered other major injuries, with Kyrie Irving and Derek Lively II out for the season while PJ Washington recovers from an ankle problem.
“Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has already announced that Flagg ‘probably won’t’ play in another Rookie of the Year contest against the Hornets’ Kon Nueppel on Tuesday in Charlotte… but stay tuned,” Stein previously reported.

The Mavericks have gone 2-5 without the flag and will face the Orlando Magic after their performance against the Hornets, which may be a more plausible point for their comeback.

With the Miami Heat’s win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday, the team will be looking to pick up some wins in the home stretch of the season, although Nikola Jovic looks to be absent for the foreseeable future. As Heat young forward Jovic has been working to turn his season around, a back injury has been another setback in a disappointing year.

Jovic has missed the last four games of the season with what is being called “low back injury management,” after already being listed for Tuesday’s home game against the Brooklyn Nets as he will miss more time. The 22-year-old will let you know how he feels.

According to The Miami Herald, Jovic said, “My back doesn’t feel good.” “The scans show I’ve got some swelling, and one of my veins doesn’t look right right now.”

The 2022 first-round pick will miss some early season time due to a back injury, but he downplayed that as a direct correlation.

“I was worried, but I don’t think it’s the same thing,” Jovic said. “The way my back is structured, I just have to manage it in the way I prepare for things and the way I prepare for games, practices and everything. I have to make sure it’s always ready for any type of intensity that I put it under.”

Heat’s Nikola Jovic now dealing with year-ending back injury

While Jovic received a $62.4 million contract extension with the Heat that ran for four years, the team saw enough year-to-year improvement in the player to warrant the deal.

However, this season has been a reality check, as he has averaged 7.5 points while shooting 37 percent from the field and 27.2 percent from deep in 17.6 minutes per game, the lowest of his career since his rookie season.

“I felt like it was that moment where I hadn’t played very much, and even though I hadn’t played it was still getting worse,” Jovic said. “I just had to stop because when it bothers you outside of basketball and starts bothering you doing regular things in life, I feel like the decision has come to, I can’t do it anymore.”

It remains to be seen how much time Jovic misses with the Heat at 32-29, leaving them in eighth place in the East ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Nets.

In his second game back from an abdominal injury, All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 100-87 win against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Gilgeous-Alexander guided the Thunder to a 16-point comeback in a 127-121 win against the Denver Nuggets on Friday before his team won in overtime.

In Sunday’s game, Gilgeous-Alexander followed up his 36 points in 34 minutes against the Nuggets with a 30-point performance against the Mavericks in Sunday’s win, and gave an update on the injury to reporters during his postgame media availability.

“Okay,” Gilgeous-Alexander replied. “I intensified the workouts before the games, I knew I was coming back. The guys who helped me with the workouts did a great job building them up to game legs. So, I feel great. Cardio-wise I don’t feel like I missed a beat.”

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting, five assists, four rebounds and four steals in 33 minutes.

Mark Daigneault on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Thunder win

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault spoke to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander about his minutes restriction ahead of his return in Friday’s matchup against the Nuggets. Capping Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain’s streak of scoring 20+ points in 126 consecutive games, Gilgeous-Alexander equaled Chamberlain’s 59-game record of 20+ point games.

Daigneault discussed Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak as evidence of his continued vision for the Thunder.

Daigneault said, “There’s really no difference in his game, home or street. I think some people reach a certain level.” “It’s his ability to perform consistently in all environments. We’ve had a lot of guys like that in his role, but he’s definitely one of them.”

Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of scoring 20+ points to 123 consecutive games.

Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has not played in more than five weeks, is set to return from his calf injury on Monday night against the Boston Celtics, as first reported by ESPN. He will face a minutes restriction in his first game in more than a month.

As of 1:30 pm ET on Monday, the Bucks have listed Giannis as questionable for Monday night’s game.

Antetokounmpo has not played since Jan. 23, when the Bucks lost 102-100 to the Denver Nuggets. Earlier in the game, Giannis suffered a worrisome right calf strain that sidelined him during the All-Star break and an eventful trade deadline where the two-time MVP was brought up in trade conversations around the league.

Although several teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat, held direct talks with the Bucks about a trade for Giannis before the February 5 trade deadline, Milwaukee was never serious in its intent to trade the multi-time All-Star, league sources told ClutchPoints.

The teams that were showing heavy interest in Antetokounmpo never once felt that Giannis being traded in the middle of the season was a real possibility, and the Bucks informed him of this hours before the trade deadline.

Without Giannis, the Bucks have actually had quite a bit of success, winning eight of their last 15 games and moving within three games of the Charlotte Hornets for the 10-seed in the Eastern Conference standings. Cam Thomas, Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. have been great playing off each other in the Bucks’ backcourt.

The Bucks are still attempting to make the playoffs this season, and Giannis has made it clear to the organization that he has no intentions of sitting out the remainder of the year. This is why the organization is not following in the footsteps of those finishing at the bottom of the league standings and conceding the season.

With Antetokounmpo returning to the lineup on Monday night against Boston, the Bucks will look to keep their momentum in a positive direction. After their game against the Celtics, who are playing their second game in as many nights, Milwaukee will enter a number of games against some teams with losing records and other teams battling major injury concerns.

There’s potentially a way to find success and move up in the standings, which is why the Bucks and Antetokounmpo are still fighting entering March.

In 30 games this season, Giannis is averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, while shooting 64.5 percent from the floor. Missing more than 17 games this season resulted in him being ineligible for season-ending awards and honors, meaning Antetokounmpo’s streak of seven consecutive All-NBA first-team selections and nine straight All-NBA selections overall has ended.

It looks like the Boston Celtics are on the verge of seeing Jayson Tatum return after suffering a setback during last year’s playoffs.

According to The Stein Report on Substack, Marc Stein, a veteran basketball writer, believes in a “conspiracy theory” as to when and why Tatum will return. Basically, Tatum would like to return to the Celtics’ games on NBC.

“PPS – Boston has games March 10 (at San Antonio) and March 22 (home game against Minnesota) on NBC. If you buy the conspiracy theory that Jayson Tatum wants to make his comeback from an Achilles tear the network is running extended coverage behind the scenes of his rehab.”

However, media personality Bill Simmons believes Tatum will return much earlier on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Tatum suffered an Achilles injury during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks last May. A series in which the Celtics lost in six games.

Tatum finished last season averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.

Currently, the Celtics have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 40–20. At the same time, they have won eight of their last ten matches.

Tatum won an NBA championship with Boston in 2024. He is also a 6-time NBA All-Star and was the 2023 NBA All-Star Game MVP.

Additionally, he has won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA, in Tokyo in 2020 and Paris in 2024.

Tatum has been with Boston since the 2017–18 NBA season as the third overall pick out of Duke.

The Denver Nuggets are on a two-game losing streak following losses to the Thunder and Timberwolves, but Jamal Murray is not discouraged. The team has been troubled by injuries to several key players, including Nikola Jokic, who was sidelined for 16 games with a left knee strain before returning. Nevertheless, the Nuggets found a way to remain among the top six teams in the Western Conference. But in February he had to face a lot of difficulties.

The Nuggets finished the month at 4–8, and despite picking up a big win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday evening, their losses to both Western Conference finalists did not lift the spirits. But Murray believes the team will fully realize its true promise when Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson return.

“Obviously it’s disappointing. It’s unnatural, but that’s OK. Once we get healthy and figure it out … we’ll be good. I’m excited for what’s in store for us,” Murray said, per comments obtained by ClutchPoints Nuggets reporter Rachel Strand.

The absence of a key starter in Watson and a reliable role player in Gordon has diminished the championship-level depth the Nuggets often enjoy. Gordon has been ruled out of the last 16 games after a promising start to the season. Meanwhile, Watson is out of the last nine matches. Following the team’s matchup with the Jazz on Monday evening, they took a short break before beginning a tough stretch facing playoff teams in both the East and West.

The schedule in early March will be the biggest test for the Nuggets, and getting back healthy will certainly help them weather the upcoming storm of competition.

Stephen Curry has received a big update on his injury recovery timeline as the Golden State Warriors wait for his return to the court this season.

Curry has been on the sidelines since his last on-court appearance on January 30 against the Detroit Pistons. He has been dealing with a knee injury that kept him sidelined throughout February, and also prevented him from participating in All-Star Weekend festivities in Los Angeles.

Despite this, Golden State had an important update on the veteran star guard’s timeline. The team believes he is making progress as he will get another evaluation after the next 10 days.

“The re-evaluation concluded that Curry is making continued progress. He will be re-evaluated in 10 days,” the announcement said.

The Boston Celtics are preparing to host their rival Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night, and while Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid will not be in the lineup, it is unlikely to be an easy night for the home team. The Sixers have won three straight games and are attempting to move up from sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They are 1 1/2 games behind the fifth-place Toronto Raptors and three games behind the fourth-place Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Sixers will not have Embiid in the lineup because he suffered an oblique injury in Thursday night’s win over the Miami Heat. Embiid will miss at least three games due to injury. The Sixers’ big players have been troubled by several injuries throughout their career. Missing a key game against the Celtics as well as the team’s next two games against the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz is a significant issue for Philadelphia.

Teammate Andre Drummond has a lot of sympathy for Embiid and wants the big man to find a way to avoid injuries and stay healthy. “I want to wrap her in a bubble sheet and hug her, man,” Drummond said, according to Gina Mizell. philadelphia enquirer. “I feel like he can’t get a break.”

Embiid has faced health issues throughout his career. This oblique injury appears to be relatively minor, but missing at least three games at this time of year is a huge blow to him and his teammates.

The New Orleans Pelicans continued their improved play as they earned their fourth straight win with a 115-105 win against the Utah Jazz on Saturday. However, one of the major concerns after the game was the status of Pelicans star Zion Williamson, who left the game due to injury. According to ESPN, Pelicans head coach James Borrego had no update on Williamson’s status moving forward.

“Hopefully it’s nothing serious, and we’ll have him back very soon,” Borrego said.

James Borrego also said it was an ankle injury that occurred when Zion Williamson turned it slightly during the second quarter of the Pelicans’ win against the Jazz. Williamson exited the game and did not return. He finished with four points, one rebound and two assists in only 11 minutes of play. He was 1 of 2 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line.

Although Williamson has struggled with injuries throughout his NBA career so far, he has remained relatively healthy this season. Since he was forced to opt out of the 2021–22 season due to injury, Williamson has played more than 30 games in a season only once. It was in 2023–24 when he appeared in a career-high 70 games. This year, he had already played in 45 games before the latest injury.

The Pelicans are on the second night of a back-to-back against the LA Clippers on Sunday, and the final update on Williamson’s status likely won’t come until just before game tip-off.

Williamson was playing nearly 29 minutes per game, averaging 21.5 points. He never averaged less than 20 points per season. He also averaged 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals while splitting 58.5 percent shooting from the field, 25 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 71.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

It’s one thing to lose a game; It’s an absolute disaster to lose to a team that is so inferior on paper. The Vegas Golden Knights did just that in a 5-0 loss to the Sidney Crosby-less Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday afternoon.

And to make matters worse, they lost their captain in the process.

In the first round, there was no sign of the coming blow. The Golden Knights got off to a timely start, recording the first four shots on goal and dictating the game in the first five minutes of the game. And then, the Penguins found their footing and essentially forced the Golden Knights into submission.

The Penguins broke the ice first at 14:56. Anthony Mantha won the board battle against Keegan Kolesar, and Ben Kindel controlled the puck and drove into the zone. Kindall cut to the middle of the ice, stepped into the slot, and ripped a sneaky wrister through to Rasmus Andersen that beat Adin Hill on the blocker.

Despite trailing by just one goal, the Golden Knights entered the first intermission with a storm cloud hanging over their heads. At the end of the period, Mark Stone took a cross-check from Kris Letang and immediately went down the tunnel. Stone did not return to start the second period and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.

The Penguins doubled their lead as their power play ended 5:47 into the second period. Justin Brazeau found Egor Chinakhov all alone in the right circle, and the winger fired a shot past Adin Hill short-side.

At 9:34 of the second game the Penguins struck again on the power play. Jeremy Lauzon knocked down Erik Karlsson’s shot from the point, but he couldn’t stop Bryan Rust from banging in the rebound.

The Penguins increased their lead on the power play at 15:06 of the second minute. Erik Karlsson single-handedly hit Ricard Raquel in front of the net and Raquel buried his own counterattack.

This season, the Golden Knights have been known for their dramatic comebacks. That was not the case today. They created nine high-danger scoring chances in the third period, but could not beat Arturs Silovs.

The Penguins added insult to injury at 14:59 of the third period. Kris Letang stripped Jack Eichel of the puck and found Ben Kindel on a fly through the neutral zone. Kindle entered the zone and released the puck to Justin Brazeau, who fired a shot past Adin Hill.

Arturs Silovs secured the shutout for the Penguins and the Golden Knights lost 5–0.

After Sunday’s regulation loss, the Golden Knights still lead the Pacific Division with 70 points and a 28-18-14 record. The Anaheim Ducks are on top with 67 points, and have two games in hand.

However, the division standings are far from the Golden Knights’ biggest concern right now. Instead, that honor goes to Mark Stone’s injury situation. Despite already missing 17 games this season, Stone is second on the team in scoring with 21 goals and 60 points in 43 games.

The Golden Knights live and die by their captain. He’s not just a dominant player – he’s the emotional leader in the locker room. If he misses any time, the Golden Knights will feel that loss deeply.

Hannah Kirkel is a beat writer who covers the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNote. She studied more about Hannah Kirkel

On Sunday evening, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the Portland Trail Blazers in search of their fourth consecutive win. Jalen Johnson is on the injury report, currently listed as questionable due to left hip flexor irritation. Here’s everything we know about Johnson’s injury and his playing status against the Blazers.

*Watch NBA games live with fuboTV (free Trial)*

Jalen Johnson’s playing status against the Blazers on Sunday

Given his questionable designation on the injury report, there is some doubt at the moment as to whether Jalen Johnson will be able to suit up for the Hawks on Sunday evening. Johnson suffered a hip flexor injury during a recent game against the Washington Wizards, causing him to leave in the first half and not return, then was ruled out of Atlanta’s next game, also against the Wizards.

The injury report joins Johnson at shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who is questionable with a left foot sprain and missed Atlanta’s last game against Washington. Rookie Asa Newell is questionable, as he is on assignment in the G League.

The Trail Blazers have not yet released their injury report, as they are on the road for the second straight night after losing to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday afternoon.

As mentioned earlier, the Hawks will be looking to pick up their fourth consecutive win in this matchup, although that streak has not come against the best competition, with Atlanta beating the Wizards twice and the Brooklyn Nets twice.

However, for a team that is desperate to get back to the .500 mark, the Hawks will win out no matter what.

If Johnson is unable to go, expect another big game from Jonathan Kuminga, who has impressed in his first two games in a Hawks uniform so far.

The Hawks and Blazers are set to tip off at 6:00 PM ET.

The Golden State Warriors returned to their losing streak with a blowout loss at home to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday evening. It was another missed game for point guard Stephen Curry, who had been dealing with a knee injury long before the All-Star break, and has seen his team sink in the standings as a result.

During the game on Saturday, the Warriors received troubling information about Curry’s condition from the point guard.

“I’m feeling better. It’s a weird thing. It’s unpredictable how it’s going to heal, but it’s been progress every day since the All-Star break. That’s all I can ask for,” Curry said during an in-game interview with ESPN, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater on Twitter.

Curry also said it would “take a while” for him to return to the court.

This is certainly not the update Warriors fans were hoping to hear as they watched their team try to pick up a win without their best player.

On Saturday, the game was over almost before it started, as Golden State trailed by 24 points early in the first half, and never made it very competitive from there.

Of course, even with Curry on the court, the Warriors are far from contenders, especially with Jimmy Butler sidelined for the rest of the year with an ACL injury. Making matters more frustrating is that big man Kristaps Porzingis, whom the team recently acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, has played just one game for the Warriors as he battles a mystery illness, while Kuminga is off to a great start in Atlanta.

In any case, the Warriors will next be at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday evening.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Brooklyn Nets, and there is a possibility that they may get one of their key players back. James Harden has missed the last few games after being diagnosed with a fractured right thumb, but he is expected to return game-to-game. It doesn’t appear that Harden will have surgery, and it may be a matter of enduring the pain if he returns to the court.

Luckily for the Cavs, they’ll be playing the Nets, a team that hasn’t had much success this season. This could be a game in which they let Harden sit out so he can continue to recover.

Anyway, here’s Harden’s position for the game.

*Watch NBA games live with fuboTV (free Trial)*

Injury status of James Harden vs. Nets

Harden is listed as questionable against the Nets, which means he is likely to play.

The latest update on Harden wasn’t the best when thinking about a return soon, as head coach Kenny Atkinson shared that the guard was having difficulty dribbling.

“I know he was struggling a little bit with his dribbling this morning,” Atkinson said. “If you have difficulty dribbling and catching [it’s tough to play]. Jarrett Allen went through this early in the season. We tried to bring him back. He wanted to hurry, and then we had to go back and give him some time.

“I know James is different… We have to get feedback from James… There is no one stronger in the league. There is no one else available. No one wants to play more.”

If Harden is struggling trying to dribble, there is no way he can play. At this point, listing him as questionable is probably just putting opposing teams on edge so they don’t know whether they should prepare for him or not.

Will Richard received unfortunate news during the Golden State Warriors’ clash with the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.

Richard is coming off the rookie campaign of his NBA career, having enjoyed an incredible collegiate career at Florida that included winning a national championship. He has made valuable strides in the rotation and has earned the trust of Steve Kerr as a reliable two-way player.

However, misfortune struck Richard during Golden State’s contest against Los Angeles. He injured his ankle in the first half and had to go to the locker room for evaluation.

Golden State confirmed Richards will miss the remainder of the game with an ankle injury. His night ends after five minutes of action, finishing with four points, one rebound and one block.

The Los Angeles Clippers are finally getting a look at their shiny new toy. After weeks of waiting and disappointing performances on the sidelines, All-Star guard Darius Garland is ready to make his season debut.

Sources indicate Garland plans to dress on Monday night when the Clippers host the Golden State Warriors at the Intuit Dome. It marks a major turn around for a franchise that has struggled since acquiring the former Cleveland Cavaliers star in the blockbuster James Harden trade.

Garland has not played since January 14 due to a serious toe injury. The layoff was long, but the timing of his return couldn’t have been better. The Clippers have spent the last month focusing heavily on their depth, and adding a dynamic playmaker of Garland’s caliber completely changes the scope of this roster.

During his last healthy outing in Cleveland, the 24-year-old averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists to go along with the walking bucket, while shooting 47.2 percent from the field. His ability to navigate the pick-and-roll and knock down shots from deep provides a much-needed secondary scoring option alongside the existing core.

The matchup against the Warriors serves as a high-level litmus test. While the coaching staff will likely monitor his minutes as he regains his playing legs, Garland’s presence alone will loosen things up for the rest of the offense.

For a Clippers team trying to solidify its identity in the crowded Western Conference, Monday night isn’t just another regular season game. This is the beginning of the Darius Garland era in Los Angeles. If he can recapture the All-Star form that has made him one of the most coveted guards on the market, the rest of the league is officially on notice.

Cooper Flagg has missed six consecutive games with a left medial sprain. Although the walking boot was recently removed, it appears there is still no timetable for the Dallas Mavericks star’s return.

According to Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoop Journal, reports indicate the 19-year-old rookie will miss Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It marked Flagg’s seventh consecutive game missed since suffering an injury in the Mavericks’ 120–111 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 10.

“Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg (left medial sprain) has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.”

The news that the former No. 1 overall pick was rejected on Saturday may not be so surprising. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Friday that he doesn’t expect Cooper Flagg to be available for the March 3 game against Kon Nueppel and the Charlotte Hornets. If so, Flagg could be out for at least two more games.

Despite injury issues in recent weeks, Flagg has looked every bit like a franchise cornerstone during his rookie season. He is still in consideration for the Rookie of the Year award, as he has played at a high level while healthy. In 49 games played, Flagg has averaged 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per contest, while shooting 48.2% from the floor and 30.2% from beyond the three-point line.

With Cooper Flagg out once again, RJ Nembhard Jr. and Brandon Williams should see some action at the point guard position. With PJ Washington and Marvin Bagley III also out for the game against the Thunder, the Mavericks will likely rely on Max Christie, Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford.

After some dynamic performances following the All-Star break, Joel Embiid is expected to miss several games due to a right oblique strain.

Taking to social media to highlight Embiid’s latest injury in a stop-and-start season, The Athletic’s Tony Jones revealed that “The Process” will miss the next three games due to a right oblique strain he suffered in the team’s Thursday night win over the Miami Heat.

“Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with a right oblique strain and will miss the next three games.”,” Jones wrote on social media.

Initially starting the season on the shelf as he recovered from offseason surgery, and moving forward, when Embiid actually took the court for the 76ers, he largely recaptured his MVP form. “The Process” is averaging 26.6 points in just 31.2 minutes of action per game, recording 3.9 assists to go with 7.5 rebounds each night, and allowing Tyrese Maxey to take over the offense at times, clearing the floor as a 31.8 percent 3-point shooter while power forwards like Dominic Barlow and Jabari Walker do the dirty work in the painted zone.

Can the 76ers keep things on hold against the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz until Embiid potentially returns on March 7 against the Atlanta Hawks? Considering that the team has a 12-14 record with Embiid off the court, that may be tough, but considering that this injury occurred during a game rather than being his knee or any other lower-body malfunction, it’s safe to assume that “The Process” won’t need too much of a ramp-up to return to his old form over the next month.

MIAMI – With Miami Heat star Norman Powell considered “week-to-week” with a groin strain, the team is looking for ways to fill the void the All-Star has left now that there is no doubt a big question as to how productive he can be. With the Heat growing frustrated after taking a step back after their last two disappointing losses, head coach Erik Spoelstra has expressed confidence the team can keep the ship afloat, especially with star Tyler Herro.

While Powell is dealing with a Grade 1 groin strain that could cause the 32-year-old to miss a few games as Miami has four games this upcoming week, Herro is the clear choice to step into the role as the main offensive option alongside Bam Adebayo. Still, Powell has been key to the Heat’s offense, leading the team with 22.5 points per game, but one can’t forget that Herro was an All-Star last season, averaging 23.9 points per game.

Although Miami is losing Powell for an unknown amount of time, Herro’s workload is likely to increase, with Spoelstra even telling ClutchPoints that he was “planning on playing him a few more minutes anyway.”

“Well, we know what we miss with Norm,” Spoelstra said before Saturday’s game against the Houston Rockets. “He’s proven this year that he’s a versatile, explosive scorer in our system, but we also have other guys that can step up. Tyler, certainly, is a guy that’s already starting to get into a better rhythm and were planning on playing him a few more minutes anyway.”

“So, we need this,” Spoelstra continued. “You can see him in the second part [of last Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers] He’s just being himself, and I think he’s going to get even better.”

Asked Erik Spoelstra about Norman Powell’s absence and Tyler Herro’s increased workload.

“We have other guys that can step up, certainly Tyler is a guy that’s already starting to get into a better rhythm, was planning on feeding him a few more minutes anyway…” #heatanarian pic.twitter.com/eTj690ezyW

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 28 February 2026

More on Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, Tyler Herro on Norman Powell’s treatment

While the Heat are tired of participating in the play-in tournament and trying to climb the standings with 22 games remaining before Saturday, Herro will be key in keeping the offense going. However, from what fans have seen there may be a role change, as Herro has been coming off the bench for the last four games after missing 15 games due to a rib injury.

There was already a question whether Herro would be reinserted into the starting lineup, but now with Powell out, does Miami have an option? Only time will tell, but it can’t be denied that Herro wants to stay healthy for the remainder of the season and help the Heat after he has missed 45 games this season due to a myriad of injuries.

In addition, the trio of Herro, Powell and Adebayo have only played 11 games this season, giving the team a small sample size on the ceiling. At any rate, Powell will work to get back, though it remains to be seen how much time will be lost.

“We took everything we had available to us today,” Spoelstra said. “I feel for Norm, because he wants to be out for all the games, especially in these moments, you know, right now. But we’ll treat him, and we’ll see where he’s at after the week.”

On Norman Powell being labeled “week to week” by Erik Spoelstra and where that leaves the team.

“We have everything available to us today. I feel for Norm because he wants to be there for all the games… but we’ll treat him and we’ll see where he is after the week…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/3sn4FpTUoS

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 28 February 2026

Before Saturday’s game against the Rockets, Miami is 31-29, leaving them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, but the good news is that, including the aforementioned contest, the Heat are at home for the next seven of eight contests.

The Utah Jazz host the New Orleans Pelicans at the Delta Center on Saturday night for the second consecutive game. The Pelicans won 129-118 last time out, with Sadiq Bey having a stellar performance of 42 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

The Pelicans have found momentum recently and are currently on a three-game winning streak. Regardless, the Jazz have once again added Keyonte George to the official injury list, as he is listed as questionable due to a right ankle sprain.

George last played for Utah in a loss against the Orlando Magic and is on the injured list along with several players including Lauri Markkanen, who is out with a strained right hip.
Stroke. Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkic and Vince Williams Jr. are also out with various injuries.

For the Pelicans, Yves Missy is listed as questionable, while Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Trey Alexander and Hunter Dickinson are officially out.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Keyontae George injury status vs. Pelicans

George will once again be a game-time decision but his questionable status suggests he could also play a role. Given their recent form and their 18-41 record, they need to get their guard back fit as soon as possible.

This should be another fast-paced matchup like Thursday night when the Pelicans dispatched the Jazz in Salt Lake City. While both teams are currently tied for the bottom of the Western Conference, New Orleans (18-42) will be hoping to pick up another win.

The Pelicans have won four of their last six contests and if George is unable to play, Utah will once again have to rely on the poor second unit that has kept them afloat. The Jazz bench scored 61 points Thursday, including Ace Bailey’s 23 points and Bryce Sensabaugh’s 20 points.

However, Utah’s biggest obstacle remains their weak defense. The Jazz are currently surrendering 125.9 points per game and will need to be better than in recent weeks to have a chance.

jazz injury report

Keyonte George: Questionable (sprained right ankle)

Jaren Jackson Jr.: Out (recovering from left knee injury)

Walker Kessler: Out (recovering from left shoulder injury)

Lauri Markkanen: Out (right hip injury)

Jusuf Nurkic: Out (recovering from nose injury)

Vince Williams Jr.: Out (left knee injury management)

pelicans injury report

Yves Missi: doubtful (left calf strain)

Trey Alexander: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Hunter Dickinson: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Trey Murphy III: Out (right shoulder injury)

Dejounte Murray: Out (return to competition reconditioning)

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford recently returned from injury in the team’s 124-105 loss against the Memphis Grizzlies. Gafford battled persistent ankle injuries throughout the season and missed several games. In his return to the lineup for the Mavericks, he played 20 minutes, scoring 14 points and grabbing five rebounds.

The performance showcased Gafford’s talent in the frontcourt, leading to speculation of his availability during the trade deadline. Whether Gafford stays with the Mavericks — recently receiving a three-year, $54 million extension this offseason — remains to be seen. He spoke about the mental damage he suffered due to his injuries.

“It’s like a little bit of wear and tear on the brain when it comes to figuring out ways to play around it. It hurts, of course, but, like I said, we got the job done on a night-to-night basis. And, just trying to play through it… It’s going to help me in the long run, I would say, because now it’s like the first time I’ve dealt with an injury that’s kind of lasted all season long.”

“So I’m learning a lot of things where, you know, taking more care of my body, trying to continue to find ways to be ready for the next game coming up,” Gafford said.

Despite Cooper Flagg’s stellar rookie campaign, the Mavericks are 21-38. They are the 12th seed in the Western Conference, two spots out of a play-in berth. Recently, the Mavericks made significant moves, trading D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards, which could be signaled as a reset for the organization around their new star.

The 27-year-old Gafford points toward that future. He currently has averages of 8.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game on a 63.2% field goal percentage. He could remain with Dallas as a consistent option at the center position, or his tradeable contract could be moved to add more depth to the team around Flagg. But Gafford’s availability certainly increases the Mavericks’ winning effectiveness.

The Mavericks return to action on Sunday when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder. Game ends at 8:00 PM

On Friday, Cooper Flagg was ejected from the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies. He is out due to a sprain in his leg.

According to Noah Weber of The Smoking Cuban, although he is not in uniform, Flagg is active in a different way.

Head coach Jason Kidd explained how much Flagg has stepped up from the sideline, too.

“His voice. You can see him out there cheering … he’s all about his teammates, he’s trying to help this team win, even if he’s not in the uniform. He’s very consistent about that.”

Jason Kidd explained how Cooper Flagg has contributed to team morale despite being out:

“His voice. You can see him out there cheering … he’s all about his teammates, he’s trying to help this team win, even if he’s not in the uniform. He’s very consistent about that.” pic.twitter.com/KAiiDd4ppu

– Noah Weber (@noahweber00) 28 February 2026

The Mavericks lost to the Grizzlies 124-105 on Friday. They will then play against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. They are at 21-38.

Flagg is averaging 20.4 points and 6.5 rebounds over the course of 49 games. Meanwhile, he is out of the last six matches.

Currently, Flagg is in the midst of a tough battle with Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel for NBA Rookie of the Year.

During the season, Flagg has earned several accolades during his rookie year. He has won multiple Rookie of the Month honors. Additionally, Flagg scored a career-high 49 points on January 29 against the Hornets. In the process, he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 40+ points in a game at the age of 18.

Additionally, Flagg became the youngest player to achieve consecutive 30-point double-doubles in early February.

Additionally, he also participated in the NBA Rising Stars Game during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Chase Center on Saturday night for a primetime Pacific Division showdown against the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James and Co. have lost each of their last three meetings and will face a team that has won two of their last three games.

According to the official injury report, both Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis are on the injury report ahead of this matchup. Green is currently listed as probable as he is dealing with a left lower back injury, while Porzingis is questionable due to a general illness.

While those two players can still play, Stephen Curry will not play as he has been confirmed out with a right patellofemoral injury. Curry joins players like his brother Seth, Jimmy Butler and LJ Cryer who have opted out.

For the Lakers, Rui Hachimura is questionable while Bronny James and Edou Thirou are out due to G League assignments.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis’ injury status vs. Lakers

Given that Draymond Green is probable on the injury report, the assumption is that he will be involved in a marquee matchup. The veteran forward is currently averaging 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per contest while shooting 41% from the field.

Porzingis is questionable and his chances of playing are slim given his questionable status. The division-leading Lakers (34-24) arrive in San Francisco desperate to snap a three-game losing streak after a narrow 113-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Despite their recent struggles, Los Angeles will once again look to their Big-3 for inspiration. Luka Doncic leads the NBA with 32.7 points per game (adding 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists), Austin Reaves is enjoying a career year averaging 24.6 points, and the ageless LeBron James is contributing 21.5 points, 7.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds per night.

Los Angeles and Golden State have split their first two head-to-head meetings this season, with both previous games taking place in Los Angeles. The Lakers are 18-12 on the road this year, while the Warriors are 19-11 at home.

Lakers injury report

Rui Hachimura: doubtful (illness)

Bronny James: Out (G League – On Assignment)

Edou Thirou: Out (G League – On Assignment)

warriors injury report

Draymond Green: Probable (left lower back injury management)

Kristaps Porzingis: doubtful (illness)

Stephen Curry: Out (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)

Seth Curry: Out (left sciatic nerve irritation)

Jimmy Butler III: Out (right ACL surgery)

LJ Cryer: Out (G League – Two-Way)

KNThe Cleveland Cavaliers will need less time for their showdown against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Friday as star guard James Harden has been sidelined with a thumb injury, according to the team. Harden was the Cavs’ major trade deadline acquisition in hopes of making a jump in the East standings and making a push into the postseason.

James Harden initially suffered the injury during the Cavs’ win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, and has been sidelined since. Shortly after the Cavs traded for the former All-Star guard, the team won five consecutive games before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder last weekend.

The Cavs lost 118-116 against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday with Harden out due to injury. Overall, the Cavs have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games, and are currently in fourth place in the East standings. They are 37-23, and only a half-game behind the No. 3 Knicks.

Since the deal, Harden has appeared in seven games at a rate of just over 32 minutes per game. He averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists with splits of 49.4 percent shooting from the field, 48.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line. It’s a small sample size, but if those field goal and 3-point shooting percentages hold up, they’ll be career highs for the 17-year veteran.

Before the trade, Harden had spent the previous three and a half seasons playing for his hometown LA Clippers. He was acquired by the Clippers in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers at the beginning of the 2023–24 season.

As Miami Heat star Norman Powell returns from Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, 124-117, the team has received an important injury update on the All-Star guard. While the Heat star is dealing with a serious groin injury, an MRI revealed the severity of the problem, as well as how much time he will miss.

Powell will be out for Saturday afternoon’s match against the Houston Rockets after an MRI revealed he has a Grade 1 strain, as he will be considered “week-to-week” by the team. The week-to-week label is more important than the “day-to-day” label as other players have been considered in the past.

Looking at this upcoming week, after Saturday’s game, Miami will have four games and Powell will be at risk of missing all of them due to a groin strain. Powell played only 10 minutes in Thursday’s loss, missing the game with a groin injury after he entered the game questionable with the issue before being upgraded to “available.”

“We’ll have to evaluate it when we get back to Miami,” Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra said via video from the team’s YouTube page after the loss. “It wasn’t that he couldn’t [play]This was a slide against [Tyrese] Maxi, and he took it too far. So that’s what he’s dealing with, and we’ll just have to see what it is.”

Heat’s Tyler Herro likely to fill void left by Norman Powell

Powell has been Miami’s leading scorer with 22.5 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent from three-point range, making the 32-year-old a first-time All-Star. For most of the season, he served as the top offensive guard due to Tyler Herro missing significant time.

Now the roles will be reversed, with Herro coming off the bench since returning from a rib injury, one would imagine he has been included in the starting lineup, although the ongoing injury issues with the team have been frustrating.

“It’s obviously very difficult,” Herro said. “We just want to stay healthy, keep people healthy, pray for Norm. I hope he’s OK.”

It remains to be seen how long Powell misses time for the Heat.

The Phoenix Suns have been without Devin Booker for the past four games as he deals with a hip strain injury he suffered during the team’s 121-94 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 19. However, his latest update suggests that he may make a comeback soon.

According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix, reports indicate the 29-year-old guard is expected to return the first week of March. Booker could return for either Tuesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings or Thursday’s contest against the Chicago Bulls.

“Devin Booker is recovering from a hip injury and is poised to return after a four-day break – possibly Sacramento on Tuesday or Chicago on Thursday.”

This is very good news for the Suns team, which is firmly involved in the Western Conference. As of Friday, Feb. 27, Phoenix owns the No. 7 seed. Booker returning to the lineup should give the team what it needs to compete in the final stretch of the regular season.

The 11-year veteran has been the face of the franchise this season. Although many believed the Suns could potentially struggle, Phoenix has actually been incredibly competitive. Especially when Devin Booker is on the court. In the 44 games he has played, Booker is averaging 24.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game, while shooting 45.5% from the field and 30.8% from beyond the three-point line.

After defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 113-110 on Thursday, the Suns will not play again until Tuesday’s game against the Kings. Phoenix gets three consecutive days off, giving Booker and his teammates plenty of time to rest and prepare for Sacramento.

SAN FRANCISCO — After missing the past three games due to illness, Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis is headed in the right direction ahead of the Dubs’ matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Following the Warriors’ Friday afternoon practice, Steve Kerr gave a positive update on the big man’s status.

“Kristaps felt better in practice today. It’s the first time he’s done anything since his illness,” Kerr said. “He would be suspicious [for the Lakers game]”

It’s been a rough start to the Porzingis era in Golden State. After his mixed debut against the Boston Celtics, in which he scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 17 minutes of action, health has once again proven to be a hindrance for the big man. Before the Denver game, the first game Porzingis missed during this period, Kerr said that Porzingis’ illness was so severe that he could not leave his hotel room. And last week, Porzingis remained at the bay to recover as the Dubs went on the road for a quick back-to-back.

With the disease rearing its head, Porzingis’ medical history with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) certainly comes to the forefront of speculation. In the past, Porzingis has struggled with POTS’ chronic symptoms, primarily an increased heart rate that later leads to dizziness and extreme fatigue.

However, the Warriors have not officially linked this particular disease to that specific condition. Details about Porzingis’ symptoms and the specifics of his illness remain scarce and vague. Still, this is an ailment that Golden State knew about when they traded for him and were confident they could manage.

So far, health has hampered Porzingis’ start in Golden State, but hopefully they can get him back against the Lakers.

Draymond Green injury update

As for other injury updates, Kerr said Draymond Green was able to participate in practice and he expects to be available against Los Angeles after lower back pain sidelined him against the Memphis Grizzlies.

But the problem with Green, lately, has been when he’s been available and on the court. Whenever Green takes the field, his decline in offensive performance has a negative impact on the rest of the team. In the last two games he has missed, the Warriors have scored more than 120 points. And in the last two games, they have decided not to finish with him; They have managed to pick up some close wins over the Phoenix Suns and Grizzlies.

On the season, when Green is on the floor, the Warriors are 4.3 points worse per 100 possessions, which is in the bottom 22nd percentile among players at his position. For a player who had historic on-off, positive plus/minus in his heyday, the situation he is in now is a far cry from his peak.

It’s a problem of which Kerr is acutely aware. Last week, he said it was up to him and the coaching staff to put him in the best position to succeed. After practice, Kerr talked about how they can find a rhythm with him out there.

“We have to read the situation. New Orleans, we found more rhythm in the second half with Dre than we did in the first, and so it’s some type of sets we can call,” Kerr said. “We’re doing some of our off-ball things. And then some adjustments that he’s going to have to make without Steph, and those are all things we talked about internally and with the whole group.”

The Miami Heat’s frustrations grew after another disappointing loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, 124-117, on Thursday night, an outing that also featured the absence of a key player. Heat star Norman Powell will leave the 76ers game due to a groin injury, head coach Erik Spoelstra has given some insight on the issue.

Powell only played 10 minutes, where he scored only three points to go along with three rebounds and two assists, leading the team with 22.5 points per game, making his presence felt. He came into the game with “right groin soreness” on the injury report, placing him doubtful for the contest, although he was later made available.

Miami will now be at home for three games, with all eyes on his health as Spoelstra described how he “aggravated” the injury.

“We’ll have to evaluate it when we get back to Miami,” Spoelstra said, according to The Miami Herald. “It wasn’t that he couldn’t [play]…He took it out of proportion. So that’s what he’s dealing with, and we’ll just have to see what it is.”

Powell passed all protocols and testing to play Thursday because the groin injury had “aggravated over time,” as Starr said in that morning’s shootaround.

Heat’s Norman Powell on ‘really disappointing’ injuries

With the Heat’s loss to the 76ers, the team has 22 games left to turn the season around and avoid the play-in tournament, with Powell playing a key role in bringing the aggression to an extraordinary level. Although Tyler Herro returned and recorded 25 points and seven assists, Powell has been vital to the team as he has been dealing with back injuries as well as groin injuries.

Powell says injuries have been “really frustrating”, although the way he acknowledges this is that with many players, niggles and injuries happen, showing that they have “a very high pain tolerance.”

It remains to be seen what Powell’s status will be in Miami’s next game on Saturday against the Houston Rockets.

The Denver Nuggets will travel to Paycom Center on Friday to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, and come into the game with a win over the Boston Celtics. The Thunder lost to Cade Cunningham’s Detroit Pistons last time out, but are counting on the return of powerhouse Shai Gilgeous-Alexander himself.

The same can’t entirely be said for Jamal Murray, who is listed as questionable on the official injury report. Murray is dealing with a serious illness that forced him out of Wednesday’s win over the Boston Celtics.

And while the Nuggets are short on personnel, the same is true for the defending champions. Despite SGA being removed from the injured list, Jalen Williams, Thomas Sorber, Brandon Carlson and Ajay Mitchell are out.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Jamal Murray’s injury status vs. Thunder

The Nuggets will hope that Murray can fight the disease. Murray lasted just eight minutes and scored two points, before being shut down completely for the evening.

After the win, Nuggets head coach David Edelman painted a grim picture of his point guard’s health, revealing that the team medical staff had aggressively treated the illness before the game, but to no avail. Edelman said, “He looked terrible. They gave him all the medications. It didn’t help. All kinds of physical things were happening.”

Murray averaged 25.1 points, 7.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game, while shooting a highly efficient 48.3% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range. Plus, the nuggets are already spread thin.

They will be without Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, both of whom are out with right hamstring strains, and join players like Tamar Bates and Curtis Jones. Meanwhile, Spencer Jones and Jalen Pickett are listed as questionable, while Julian Strother is likely to play despite a sprained toe.

nuggets injury report

Jamal Murray: Questionable (illness)

Spencer Jones: Questionable (right shoulder strain)

Jalen Pickett: Questionable (right knee soreness)

Julian Strother: Probable (left big toe sprain)

Aaron Gordon: Out (right hamstring strain)

Peyton Watson: Out (right hamstring strain)

Tamar Bates: Out (left foot surgery)

Curtis Jones: Out (G League – Two-Way)

thunderbolt injury report

Thomas Sorber: Out (right ACL surgical recovery)

Ajay Mitchell: Out (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain)

Jalen Williams: Out (right hamstring strain)

Brandon Carlson: Out (low back strain)

The Cleveland Cavaliers had been moving forward for the past few weeks with the new additions they acquired at the trade deadline, and then James Harden went down with a thumb fracture.

A few days later, Keon Ellis suffered a finger injury, according to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points.

“Cavs guard Keon Ellis has a dislocated solar plate of his left index PIP joint. He will be treated and continues to be evaluated, but like James Harden, he is listed as questionable and will be game-to-game,” Seagal, formerly of the Ax, wrote on Twitter.

It seems like the injury may require surgery at some point, but as of now, there have been no new reports on what the Cavs plan to do with the situation.

“Very often, this injury is described by basketball players as a ‘jammed finger.’ An avulsion fracture means that a small piece of bone has broken off from the bone of the main index finger. These types of injuries usually eventually require surgery to repair,” Siegel wrote.

Ellis was part of the deal with Dennis Schroder when he was traded to the Sacramento Kings for De’Andre Hunter. With Harden’s injury, there was a good chance Ellis would see some minutes, but with both of them sidelined, other players will have to step up.

If Ellis does have to have surgery, it’s uncertain how long he’ll be sidelined, but there’s a good chance it could be for a while. The Cavs would probably like to avoid this, but if there is no other option, they may have to play most of the season without him.

The good news is that it looks like Max Strus may be back on the court soon, as he took part in his first contact practice since his injury.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (45-15) are set to host the Denver Nuggets (37-22) for a blockbuster Northwest Division clash on Friday night at Paycom Center. Denver comes in with the NBA’s No. 1 offense (120.7 offensive rating), while Oklahoma City faces the league’s toughest defense (106.4 defensive rating).

However, all eyes are on the Thunder’s superstar point guard, who has been sidelined ahead of the All-Star break. And well, OKC fans will be happy to know that Shai-Gilgeous Alexander is completely off the official injury list for the defending champions, which means he is set to make his return after already being cleared.

OKC still has injury concerns as Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, Thomas Sorber and Brandon Carlson are still out. The same is true for the Nuggets, who still have Jamal Murray listed as questionable along with several names on the injury list.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, after missing the Thunder’s last nine games due to an abdominal strain. His comeback is not only important for the Thunder, but also for his own personal appreciation.
The reigning MVP has only six games remaining under the NBA’s minimum 65-game rule to remain eligible for season-ending awards. And given his staggering averages of 31.8 points, 6.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds, he is once again an MVP contender.

Shai will be facing off against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is currently a triple-double threat averaging 28.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 10.4 assists. In their only previous meeting this season on February 1, Gilgeous-Alexander torched the Nuggets in the Mile High City, posting 34 points and 13 assists on 68% shooting to lead the Thunder to a 121–111 win.

thunderbolt injury report

Ajay Mitchell: Out (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain)

Jalen Williams: Out (right hamstring strain)

Brandon Carlson: Out (low back strain)

Thomas Sorber: Out (right ACL surgical recovery)

nuggets injury report

Jamal Murray: Questionable (illness)

Spencer Jones: Questionable (right shoulder strain)

Jalen Pickett: Questionable (right knee soreness)

Julian Strother: Probable (left big toe sprain)

Aaron Gordon: Out (right hamstring strain)

Peyton Watson: Out (right hamstring strain)

Tamar Bates: Out (left foot surgery)

Curtis Jones: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Giannis Antetokounmpo is working his way back onto the court for the Milwaukee Bucks after suffering a calf strain injury last month and it looks like he’s making real progress. It is still uncertain when he will return to the court, but head coach Doc Rivers noted that he has been playing 4-on-4, which he thinks is a good sign.

Rivers was recently asked about Antetokounmpo’s return, as some clarification was needed on whether he could return, even though he didn’t specifically need to play 5-on-5 to be cleared.

“Guys, it’s not a rocket science thing. Like, we do 3-on-3, 4-on-4, sometimes we do 5-on-5, sometimes we don’t. And it doesn’t really matter,” Rivers said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic.

Rivers was then asked what Antetokounmpo needed to do to get cleared, and he gave a very strange answer.

“To be honest, I have no idea. Maybe I should ask and I can give you information, but I know he’s close. I don’t think he’s as close as yesterday, but he’s getting close and he looks great. And that’s all I know. I can tell you what my eyes see and he looks good,” Rivers said.

It almost feels as if Rivers is keeping it a secret as to how close Antetokounmpo may be to a return, but even he doesn’t really know and is leaving it up to the training staff.

The good news is that Antetokounmpo is making progress, and they are able to win games without him. The goal is for the Bucks to try to climb up the standings so they can possibly get into the play-ins, but they either have to play for about two months, or face losses to the teams above them.

Ultimately, they can focus on what they can do, while also hoping that they get their star player back as soon as possible.

The Miami Heat will try to beat the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday without their top scorer, as Norman Powell was forced to exit early with a groin injury.

Powell, who was a late addition to the injury report, finished with three points on 1-5 shooting, three rebounds and two assists.

According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, the 32-year-old Powell was bothered by a groin injury before the game, but decided to recover anyway.

“Norman Powell (right groin strain) is treated for the rest of the night. He was questionable with a groin problem and tried to play through it, but his night was over after 11 minutes,” Chiang wrote on the X.

The Heat will have to be more creative offensively to fill the void left by Powell, who is averaging 22.9 points on 47.5% shooting.

It would be a huge blow to Miami if Powell is sidelined for an extended period of time, especially as the playoffs approach.

Powell is having the best year of his career, earning his first nod to the All-Star Game and the Heat were right to sign him in the offseason. Many were confused as to why the Los Angeles Clippers let him walk after a breakout season.

If he remains out in the coming days, the Heat have enough depth to cover him. Tyler Herro’s recent return from a rib injury was also timely.

At the time of writing, the Heat are trailing the 76ers by a slim margin in the fourth quarter.

The Houston Rockets defeated the Orlando Magic in a hard-fought game, 113-108, at the Kia Center on Thursday. However, the victory may have been costly, as Jabari Smith Jr. left the game in the final minutes with an ankle injury.

Smith finished with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 29 minutes.

In a video posted on X, the 22-year-old forward remained on the floor for a few seconds before getting up and limping on the bench.

It didn’t look good as Jabari Smith Jr. fell to the ground and they immediately grabbed his right ankle. #rockets #sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/lc5oOCtLRO

– Big Sarge Media LLC (@BigSargeSportz) 27 February 2026

Although it was a good sign that Smith was able to walk on his own, it was still likely that he suffered a serious injury.

The Rockets cannot afford to lose him long-term, as he has been a vital part of the machine. Smith, who is on a contract year, has proven to be a reliable two-way player with his length, agility and athleticism. Despite his flexible physique, Smith is not afraid to get physical. He has also improved his outside shooting.

His frontcourt trio with Kevin Durant and Alpern Sengun is one of the most lethal in the NBA, with Smith serving as the ideal complement to his All-Star teammates.

With the win, the Rockets improved to 37–21. Durant led the way with 40 points and eight rebounds in the game. Sengun added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Reed Shepard also performed with 20 points, including five three-pointers, three rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks off the bench.

The Rockets won their third consecutive game and will look to follow it up on Saturday against the Miami Heat.

With the Utah Jazz already on the NBA radar, fans are eagerly awaiting the latest injury update from star forward Lauri Markkanen. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, an MRI revealed that the 2023 All-Star and Most Improved Player of the Year has a “symptomatic hip injury with associated swelling and bone bruises.” He also twisted his ankle during practice, but results showed there was no damage on that front. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.

The NBA fined the Jazz in early February for “conduct detrimental to the league” after the team benched both Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for the entire fourth quarter in a 115–111 win against the Miami Heat. Many believe that Utah will essentially trade off its top player, and the league is also unaware of the franchise’s intentions. However, it’s highly unlikely that Commissioner Adam Silver will do anything following the MRI results.

The NBA chose not to send an independent doctor to examine Markkanen, but is keeping a close eye on the situation. It will be interesting to see how Silver and company react to Thursday’s news. The Jazz are 18-40 and currently hold the sixth-worst record in the league. If they fall out of the top-eight in the lottery, their 2026 first-round draft pick will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder, so the team has all the incentive in the world to keep losing.

However, the NBA is taking a tough stance against tanking and it may not be easy for Utah to solidify its draft position. The Jazz are hardly the only team to engage in such practices this season, but they have drawn unwanted attention from league offices.

At the moment, there does not appear to be any uncertainty regarding Lauri Markkanen’s status. He will miss the next several games and then the management will examine his situation.

The Utah Jazz host the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night at the Delta Center. They come into this game off a three-game losing streak and are facing a team that has won their last two games against the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors.

Utah once again has several injury concerns. Markkanen is dealing with a right ankle sprain and a right hip injury after suffering an injury during practice, joining Keyonte George as questionable on the official injury list.

Players like Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr., Vince Williams Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic are out. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are in better shape in terms of injuries. Trey Murphy III and Yves Missy join Hunter Dickinson and Trey Alexander, who are both out on G League assignment.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Lauri Markkanen remains a game-time decision despite playing with 29 points against the Rockets. The Jazz (18-40) are floundering and trying to snap a three-game losing streak, while the Pelicans (17-42) are starting to find their rhythm, having won two in a row and five of their last 10 games.

When healthy, Markkanen has been nothing short of spectacular. The Finnish star is averaging 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on the season. The offensive burden has fallen on George in George’s absence as both players have struggled with injuries. He is averaging 23.8 points and 6.5 assists per night.

The Jazz lost all three meetings to New Orleans last season, and may need their best player to avoid a similar fate in this first matchup of the current campaign.

jazz injury report

Keyonte George: Questionable (right ankle; sprain)

Jaren Jackson Jr.: Out (left knee; recovering from injury)

Walker Kessler: Out (left shoulder; recovering from injury)

Lauri Markkanen: Questionable (right ankle; sprain/right hip injury)

Jusuf Nurkic: Out (nose; recovering from injury)

Vince Williams Jr.: Out (left knee; injury management)

pelicans injury report

Trey Alexander: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Hunter Dickinson: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Yves Missy: out (left calf; strain)

Trey Murphy III: out (right shoulder; contusion)

The Portland Trail Blazers and Chicago Bulls will play on Thursday night. Deni Avdija is struggling with an injury, so will he play tonight?

Avdija, 25, made his first All-Star team this season. He has played well, but injuries have been a concern at times for the Blazers guard. Overall, Avdija appeared in 48 of the Blazers’ 59 contests prior to Thursday’s matchup.

Everything we know about Deni Avdija’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Bulls.

Watch NBA games live with fuboTV (Get access save $30)*

Devi Avdija’s injury status vs. Bulls

According to the NBA injury report, Avdija has been ruled out of Thursday’s game due to management of a lower back injury.

Portland’s overall record is 28–31. The Blazers are competing for a play-in spot, as they are currently ninth in the Western Conference standings. As far as the Bulls are concerned, Chicago is 24-35 and 12th in the Eastern Conference.

As far as the question of whether Deni Avdija is playing against the Bulls tonight, the answer is no.

blazers injury report

The Trail Blazers have six players listed on Thursday’s injury report.

• Robert Williams III (right foot soreness): Questionable
• Hansen Yang (middle back pain): Questionable
• Deni Avdija (lower back injury management): Out
• Damian Lillard (left Achilles tendon injury management): Out
• Shaddon Sharp (left calf fibula stress reaction): out
• Caleb Love (G League Two-Way): Out

oxen injury report

The Bulls have six players listed on the injury report.

• Patrick Williams (right quadricep strain): Questionable
• Jalen Smith (right calf strain): Questionable
• Zach Collins (right toe surgery): out
• Noah Esengue (left shoulder surgery): out
• Jaden Ivey (left patellofemoral pain syndrome): out
• Effernie Simmons (left ulnar styloid fracture): out

WWE’s ongoing masked storyline plans were hit by a significant setback following a serious injury to Bronson Reed. During this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, Reed suffered a distal bicep tear while competing in the Elimination Chamber qualifying match.

The injury occurred midway through the match when Reed thwarted a pinfall attempt by Jey Uso and El Grande Americano. Despite visible distress and the referee giving the “X” sign to indicate a legitimate medical emergency, the match was ended immediately, and Uso won.

According to WrestleVotes Radio via Fightful Select, Reed was the original choice to claim the final spot in the men’s Elimination Chamber match. When it became clear that Reed could not continue, officials reportedly instructed the remaining contestants to improvise a new ending. Reed was immediately flown to Birmingham, Alabama after the broadcast to undergo evaluation and possible surgery.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that the big man is expected to be out indefinitely, causing a blow on the “Road to WrestleMania” as he was being positioned for a prominent role in Las Vegas.

Beyond the immediate impact of the tournament, Reed’s absence has reportedly derailed a notable storyline involving the mysterious masked man terrorizing the members of The Vision. Sources reveal that both the mystery individual and Logan Paul had a role to play in the outcome of the qualifying match on Raw.

With Reed sidelined, WWE will reportedly be forced to rewrite key parts of the angle, which many fans believe could lead to the return of Seth Rollins. The injury is the latest in a series of setbacks for The Vision faction.

Rollins remains out with a torn rotator cuff, and Braun Breaker recently had hernia surgery. Reed’s Dave Meltzer was the focal point of the group in the absence of the other members.

To say that the Chicago Bulls have been struggling lately would be an understatement, as the team is currently on a massive 10-game losing streak. Throughout all this, the Bulls have had to deal with a number of injuries, and the team once again has an injury report ahead of Thursday evening’s contest against the Portland Trail Blazers.

For this game, Jaden Ivey will be out due to left patellofemoral pain syndrome, while Anfernee Simmons will also be sidelined due to a left ulnar styloid fracture. Meanwhile, backup big man Jalen Smith is listed as questionable with a right calf strain, while Patrick Williams is also questionable with a right quadriceps strain.

Zach Collins will be out of the lineup after recent surgery.

The Bulls have had some injury improvements in recent weeks, with Josh Giddy returning from a hamstring injury and working his way into his normal minutes per night, but it still has done nothing to stop the Bulls’ bleeding in the last ten games, which has sent them well below the play-in line in the Eastern Conference.

At this point, some Bulls fans are already turning their attention toward the upcoming NBA Draft lottery, with many projecting the 2026 class to be one of the most talented in years. Chicago could certainly benefit from adding a blue-chip prospect to move forward along with Giddy and Matas Bouzelis.

Meanwhile, the Bulls amassed backcourt players at the trade deadline, which has resulted in unexpectedly disastrous results, though that chaos has been sidelined for the time being due to injuries to Simmons and Ivey.

In any case, the Bulls and Trail Blazers are scheduled to tip off from the United Center in Chicago on Thursday at 8:00 pm ET.

The Charlotte Hornets will visit the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. The Pacers are hoping for the return of one of their key contributors from their playoff run: Obi Toppin, who is listed as questionable. Indiana All-Star Pascal Siakam is also on the injury report, though he is designated questionable after missing his last game. Here’s everything we know about the game status of Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin ahead of their game against the Hornets.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Pascal Siakam’s injury status vs. Hornets

Toppin looks to return on Thursday against the Hornets. The forward, who played a key role in the Pacers’ Finals run last season, missed all but two games of the season due to a stress fracture in his foot. Barring a sudden setback, Toppin should be suiting up for the Pacers against the Hornets tonight.

Meanwhile, Siakam is unlikely to play against the Hornets. Named an All-Star this season, the Pacers star suffered a wrist injury that kept him from playing against the Philadelphia 76ers two days earlier. Given his “doubtful” tag, it is unlikely that Siakam will suit up for the Pacers.

Siakam has been performing tremendously this season. Despite the Pacers finishing last this season, the forward earned an All-Star nod: a testament to his excellence. Siakam is averaging 23.9 points per game on 48.3% shooting from the field (37.3% from three-point range), and adding 6.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The forward has been one of the few bright spots for Indiana this season.

As for Toppin, the forward has not played since the Pacers’ second game of the season after suffering a stress fracture. Toppin became a fan favorite in Indiana after playing a key role off the bench in the 2025 postseason. His contributions as a bench sparkplug helped the Pacers finish just one game short of winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

pacers injury report

Furphy, Johnny – out (torn Achilles)
Haliburton, Tyrese – out (torn Achilles)
Jackson, Quenton – Suspect
Nembhard, Andrew – questionable (lower back)
Nesmith, Aaron – out (ankle)
Peter, Talon – Suspect
Siakam, Pascal – questionable (wrist)
Thompson, Ethan – Suspect
Toppin, OB – Questionable (foot)
Zubac, Ivica – out (ankle)

hornet injury report

evbuomwan, tosan – out
Hall, P.J. – Outside
McNeely, Liam – out (ankle)
Reeves, Antonio – out
Salon, Tidgen – outside

The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves on a two-game slump after a close loss to the Orlando Magic last time out and will visit the Phoenix Suns next Thursday. Los Angeles has done well in terms of availability in recent weeks and all three of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are expected to be fit.

However, Rui Hachimura is on the official injury report along with Jackson Hayes, with Hachimura listed as questionable and Hayes as probable. Hachimura is dealing with an illness, while Hayes is dealing with a right ankle sprain.

Along with these two, Bronny James and Edou Thiero have also been included, whose exit has been confirmed.

Rui Hachimura injury status vs Suns

Given that Rui Hachimura is questionable on the injury report, his availability will likely be a game-time decision. He came off the bench to score 10 points and two steals against the Magic and could prove useful off the bench once again.

Meanwhile, the Suns are still missing Dillon Brooks, Devin Booker, Cole Anthony and Haywood Highsmith. The Lakers (34-23) have dropped to sixth place in the tightly packed Western Conference after suffering consecutive losses, including a loss to the Boston Celtics.

Meanwhile, the Suns (33-26) have dropped to seventh in the standings after losing seven of their last ten games. Hachimura is averaging 11.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game and will add another threat against a team that has been largely depleted.

Phoenix currently leads the season series 2–1, making this fourth and final meeting important for potential postseason tiebreaker scenarios.

Lakers injury report

Rui Hachimura: doubtful (illness)

Jackson Hayes: Probable (right ankle; sprain)

Bronny James: Out (G League – On Assignment)

Edou Thirou: Out (G League – On Assignment)

sans injury report

Cole Anthony: Out (not with team)

Devin Booker: Out (right hip; strain)

Dillon Brooks: Out (left arm; fracture)

Jordan Goodwin: Out (left calf; strain)

Haywood Highsmith: Out (right knee; injury management)

The reshuffled Los Angeles Clippers (27-30) host the surging Minnesota Timberwolves (36-23) on Thursday night for a primetime Western Conference clash at the Intuit Dome. The Clippers are on a two-game slump after losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic and have several names on the injury list.

According to the official report, Kawhi Leonard is listed as questionable due to left ankle soreness. The same is true for John Collins, who is dealing with a neck issue, while Darius Garland and Bradley Beal are both out.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Timberwolves

Despite scoring a big 37 points playing through an injury last time out against Orlando, Kawhi Leonard is a game-time decision. However, the Clippers are sitting precariously in the 10th and final play-in spot in the West, so the stakes are incredibly high.

Edwards has been a complete disappointment since winning All-Star Game MVP, averaging 34 points in his last three contests, including a 34-point masterclass in a 124-121 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. The Clippers desperately need their own talisman to perform well.

Led by Edwards (29.6 ppg), the Timberwolves boast the third-ranked scoring attack in the NBA with 119.6 points per game. On February 8, a healthy Leonard methodically destroyed the Timberwolves for 41 points in a 115–96 blowout.

Regardless, Minnesota has a clean bill of health for this game, with their only absence being due to a G League assignment. Therefore, a lot depends on whether the poet is suitable or not. The Timberwolves will look to get revenge any way they can, but Leonard’s presence could play a major role in deciding the contest.

shear injury report

• Kawhi Leonard: Doubtful (pain in left ankle)
• John Collins: Suspicious (head injury, neck pain)
• bradley beal: Outside (left hip; fracture)
• Darius Garland: Outside (left big toe; injury management)

timberwolves injury report

• Jules Bernard: Out (G League – Two-Way)
• Enrique Freeman: Out (G League – Two-Way)
• Rocco Zikarski: Out (G League – Two-Way)

The Philadelphia 76ers (32-26) host the Miami Heat (31-28) on Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. They come into this game coming off wins against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers, and will look to build on their recent momentum.

According to the official injury report, Joel Embiid, who starred in the game against Indiana, is listed as probable as he manages the recovery of his right knee and right calf soreness. The Sixers will already be without Paul George due to the league suspension, making Embiid’s presence vital despite the Miami Heat themselves dealing with a tall bill of injuries.

The Heat lost against the Milwaukee Bucks in their latest encounter but have managed three wins in their last four games.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

joel embiid injury status vs heat

Embiid can be expected to suit up for an important game for Philadelphia. Embiid recently returned to the floor after missing five consecutive games, posting 27 points, six rebounds and five assists on 11-17 shooting.

The Sixers currently hold the No. 6 seed in the East (the last guaranteed playoff spot), just 1.5 games ahead of the No. 8 seed Heat. Miami won the first meeting in November, meaning a Heat win tonight would clinch the crucial head-to-head tiebreaker for the season series.

In addition to Paul George, who is suspended, the 76ers are confirmed to miss Johnny Brown and Kelly Oubre Jr. for this game, while Marjan Beauchamp is listed as questionable. In comparison, the Heat’s concerns are bigger.

76ers injury report

Joel Embiid: Probable (right knee; injury management/right calf soreness)

Paul George: out (league suspension)

Johnny Broom: Out (right knee; meniscus tear)

Marjan Beauchamp: Doubtful (G League – Two-Way)

Kelly Oubre Jr.: Available (left knee; recovering from injury – brace)

heat injury report

Davion Mitchell: doubtful (head; illness)

Terry Rozier: Out (not with team)

Nikola Jovic: Out (lower back; injury management)

Tyler Herro: Available (right costochondral; rib injury)

Keshad Johnson: Available (left knee, soreness)

Pelle Larsson: available (left third mallet; finger)

Norman Powell: Available (lower back stiffness)

Drew Smith: Available (left calf; soreness)

Andrew Wiggins: Available (left toe, inflammation)

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is listed as questionable for Wednesday night’s road matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to management of a lower back injury, the team has announced in its latest injury report.

The Warriors (30-28) are set to conclude their two-game road trip against Memphis (21-35) with tipoff at 4:30 pm PT. Golden State enters the contest looking to bounce back after a 113-109 loss to the 17-win New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

Green played 32 minutes in the loss, finishing with 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks. He made 5 of 11 shots from the field and connected on one 3-pointer while serving as the primary facilitator in the half court.

The 35-year-old has appeared in 48 games this season, averaging 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 26.6 minutes per contest. He is shooting 41% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc. Green’s availability continues to be a key factor for a Warriors team that is nearing .500 as it strives for a playoff position in the Western Conference.

Draymond Green’s status headlines Warriors’ injury report vs. Grizzlies

Golden State also ruled out De’Anthony Melton for Wednesday’s game with a left knee injury. Melton scored a season-high 28 points in Tuesday’s loss, leading all scorers. He recorded four rebounds, three assists and one steal while shooting 8 for 20 from the field, 3 for 9 from 3-point range and 9 for 11 from the free-throw line in 28 minutes.

The 27-year-old guard is averaging 12.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game in 31 games, including seven starts. He is shooting 42.4% from the field and 29.1% from 3-point distance.

The Warriors’ full injury report includes:

• Jimmy Butler III – Outside (right ACL; surgery)
• LJ Cryer – Outside (G League – Two-Way)
• Seth Curry – Outside (left sciatic nerve irritation)
• Stephen Curry – Outside (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)
• Draymond Green – Suspicious (Management of left lower back injury)
• D’Anthony Melton – Outside (left knee injury management)
• Kristaps Porzingis – Outside (Disease)
• Nate Williams – Outside (G League – Two-Way)

Following Wednesday’s contest, Golden State will return to San Francisco to host the Los Angeles Lakers (34-23) in a nationally televised game on ABC on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t provide any official medical update on Max Strus ahead of the team’s win over the New York Knicks, but what he had to say falls in line with the impression that the veteran swingman is getting healthier by the day.

“I watched him work on the court today,” Atkinson said Monday night. “It’s been a really positive trend. A lot of activity, contact with coaches, changes in direction. So that’s all I’ll tell you. What it means — when you start playing, all that — I can’t give you that. I haven’t even asked.

“I was so pleased and surprised, like, man, he’s starting to pick it up now.”

This is the first instance in which Atkinson mentions that Strus graduated from non-contact court work and conditioning to working against contact. Although this is only against the coaching staff, it is an important development that portends a comeback.

Strus has yet to play a game this season after suffering a Jones fracture of his left foot in late August, a few weeks before training camp. The Cavs’ last official statement on the injury came on January 6, indicating it required more time to heal. Strus had a follow-up evaluation four weeks later, but other than Atkinson emphasizing his progress, the team has not released any other updates since then.

“The hardest part for him is just being patient,” Cavs president Koby Altman said in his post-trade-deadline Zoom call with the media in early February. “That injury was a terrible offseason injury. It took a long time to heal, but he’s making progress. He’s getting back on the field, and we’re excited to have him for this stretch run, but we’re definitely taking our time to make sure that when he comes back, he’s 100 percent.

“I know there’s no one more excited than him to come back. No one’s pushing harder than him to come back. But at the same time, we want to make sure he’s 100 percent when he comes back. And unfortunately I still don’t have a timetable for you.”

Atkinson recently shared that Cleveland does not have a target number of games for the Struts to play in order to advance to the postseason. He hopes to suit up in the regular season.

“Getting Max back any time before the playoffs would be a huge bonus,” Atkinson said. “I mean, he missed a lot of time last year with an ankle. He’s not a 22-year-old, right? A guy with that experience and the way he works in the weight room. Of course, he wants a little runway where he can find his rhythm. But, as long as we get him to make a run in the playoffs, I think it’s a win for us. He has a lot of experience. Obviously, he played very well in the playoffs last year.”

It will be interesting to see how the Cavs’ rotation looks when Strus returns to the floor. Atkinson has plenty of options to go with the rebuilt core of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Guys like Dean Wade, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson and Keon Ellis have proven their ability to step up when needed. Unfortunately, someone will have to fall down a peg due to the depth of the team.

“Obviously, thrilled that we’re getting healthy. We’re almost there,” Atkinson said last week. “Max, like that last part, but almost perfect. So I think it’s figuring out the rotation and the lineup. That’s the biggest thing. And also, when you have everybody healthy, obviously, the minutes are distributed differently. Guys who are playing a lot may not be playing as much.

“There’s a lot of moving pieces with this, which we all know is part of it. And everybody has to make sacrifices and do their part. But listen, it’s a good problem to have with the talent we have. So, excited to see James with the new guys we’re integrating.”

in November, sports witness Regularly covered Sunderland’s interest in AC Milan striker Santiago Jimenez.

The Black Cats made contact for the player who had a disappointing first half of the season. It was believed that Regis Le Bris’s team had the advantage in the race, even though they were competing with Fenerbahce and Brentford.

Sunderland’s hopes of signing Jiménez were soon dealt a blow, as the player suffered a serious ankle injury. He was ruled out for three months and has not made any appearances since.

Now, the forward is set to return to action and Sunderland may still have a chance to get him.

Premier League clubs still keen

tuttosport Assess the player’s future. It has been clarified that Jimenez will undergo an important medical examination next week to determine when he can return to action.

There are encouraging signs that could happen in a matter of days. Once the medical results are known, Milan will follow a certain arrangement to get him back as soon as possible.

Although this would come as a boost, the Mexico international is still expected to leave in the summer. He did not reassure Max Allegri of a role in his starting line-up, forcing Milan to sign Nicklas Fulkrug in January.

Premier League clubs – possibly like Sunderland, are still interested.

Sunderland need €25m

The report also reveals Milan’s asking price, which is €25m. This is the minimum amount required, with the Italian giants having spent €35m to land him in January 2025.

Earning €25 million will ensure Milan don’t suffer too much.

In his first six months at San Siro, Jiménez scored five times and had two assists in Serie A. Things haven’t gone to plan under Allegri, but the Italian has always preferred tall centre-forwards anyway.

This shows that the 24-year-old could still be an important option for Sunderland if they choose to make a move for him.

The Sacramento Kings entered the season fresh on Wednesday, ending a 16-game losing streak in the NBA. Now they’ve seen Keegan Murray exit the Houston Rockets game with a possible foot ailment.

Murray suffered an NBA injury with about 3:25 left to play in the first quarter at Toyota Center.

Keegan Murray headed to the Kings locker room after getting into the game awkwardly.

Hope he is okpic.twitter.com/KQi9RSYPNe

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 February 2026

Murray averages 14.5 points per game for Doug Christie and Sacramento. But now he has been officially ruled out due to a left ankle injury.

UPDATE: The Kings announced that Keegan Murray (left ankle) is out for the remainder of tonight’s game against the Rockets. https://t.co/9qeVZ3CuYW

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 February 2026

He was satisfied with only three points in a span of nine minutes. Murray grabbed a rebound and blocked a shot on the defensive side.

Kings are trending towards landing the top pick of the NBA draft

Murray has emerged as one of the better performers in a lost season in Sacramento.

Despite this, the Kings are on their way to achieving another feat: capturing the No. 1 spot in the NBA Draft.

ClutchPoints’ Eric Slater reveals where the Kings stand in the race for the top pick.

The nets lost. The Pelicans won.

Brooklyn is getting more segregation in third place in the lottery standings. pic.twitter.com/Ny0H3aSZ3L

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 25 February 2026

Based on current projections, Sacramento remains ahead of the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. However, finishing with the league’s worst record does not guarantee the top pick in this scenario.

The Dallas Mavericks benefited from the lottery system last season – earning the top spot despite finishing at 39-43. Cooper Flagg arrived at the move a month later.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been a bit of Jekyll and Hyde this season. When things go right, it looks like they can compete with any team in the league. But when things are not going well, the team does not look very competitive.

After being defeated by the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the Lakers suffered a blowout 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic. The loss dropped Los Angeles to 34–23, two games ahead of the Phoenix Suns in the Pacific Division.

The teams will face off in the desert on Thursday. Thankfully for the Lakers, Phoenix will once again be missing some of their most important pieces.

According to AZ Central’s Duane Rankin, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, Haywood Highsmith and Cole Anthony have all been ruled out. Of course, Booker is the biggest loss for the Suns.

Booker strained his right hip last week against the San Antonio Spurs. In the three games since, Phoenix’s offense has been mediocre. The Celtics also beat them by 16 points, 97-81, on Tuesday night. In the first game against the Portland Trail Blazers, they were able to score only 77 points.

With the Lakers likely to play the Big Three, it could prove difficult for the Suns to keep up.

The second unit in Los Angeles could also get a boost. Backup center Jackson Hayes was upgraded to probable on Wednesday, while Rui Hachimura is listed as questionable due to illness.

The Lakers have had their share of troubles, but for the most part the offense has not been a part of them. The defensive end of the court has left a lot to be desired. But with Jalen Green struggling in his return, and the Suns lacking many other scoring options, Thursday appears to be a prime opportunity to get back in the win column.

This game could go a long way in determining the division winner. The Suns have won two of the first three meetings and a Lakers loss would ensure a tiebreak for Phoenix.

For anyone who doubted Kon Knuppel coming out of the NBA Draft, what are your thoughts now? The Charlotte Hornets drafted a perimeter scorer and an absolute flamethrower of a guy who could be the face of their franchise for many years to come.

Although Cooper Flagg was the rookie getting all the attention early in the year, Knueppel is the one who could walk away with the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Not only is Nueppel tied for second in the league with LaMelo Ball and Donovan Mitchell in most threes made per game (3.5) this season, but he also leads all players, not just rookies, in total threes made after making his 201st triple on Tuesday night against the Chicago Bulls.

The Hornets rookie has played a total of 58 games and has already made over 200 threes. Not only will he surpass Keegan Murray’s rookie record of 206 made threes during the 2022-23 season, but Knueppel potentially has a chance to surpass the plateau of 300 made threes before the end of the year.

Only Stephen Curry (six times), James Harden, Anthony Edwards, Malik Beasley and Klay Thompson have accomplished such a feat, and Knueppel was able to do so in his first NBA season. Despite only playing 58 games in his NBA career, Knueppel is already achieving things that even Curry wasn’t able to do when he first entered the league.

Between his shooting and scoring numbers, as well as the Hornets’ apparent success in the Eastern Conference standings to become a competitive organization, Knueppel has solidified himself at the top of the NBA rookie rankings with approximately seven weeks remaining in the 2025-26 season.

At the beginning of the year, it was reported that Flagg would win the Rookie of the Year award and would be the face of this year’s NBA rookie class. Well, with Flagg injured and the Dallas Mavericks in no position to compete for the rest of the year, this race for Knueppel is going to be lost at this point.

1. Kon Knuppel – Charlotte Hornets

Previous ranking: #1

Stats: 58 games, 19.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 48.9 FG%, 43.6 3P%

The Hornets have struggled with injuries and lineup changes throughout the season. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller both missed time due to injury, and several others have been in and out of Charles Lee’s nightly rotation for various reasons. But the one constant in Charlotte has been Knueppel, who has only missed one game this year and has been fantastic throughout the season.

The 20-year-old sharpshooter looks like an aged veteran on the perimeter, and he has such a good understanding of how to move off the ball to open up maximum space for himself. Just like Steph Curry is always on the move and finding open space to make a 3-point attempt, Knueppel is always doing the same and it looks like there will be a clear answer to who will be the best shooter in the NBA when Curry gives it up.

No player has ever had a shooting season like Knueppel in his first year, and he still has 23 games left on the schedule. As mentioned earlier, there is an outside chance he could get close to reaching 300 made threes on the year, which would be a historic feat for Knueppel.

At this point, unless Knueppel gets hurt, it’s hard to imagine anyone else winning the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

2. Cooper Flagg – Dallas Mavericks

Previous ranking: #2

Stats: 49 games, 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 48.2 FG%, 30.2 3P%

An MRI revealed that Cooper Flagg missed four consecutive games before the All-Star break due to a sprain in the middle of his left foot. While the Mavericks are clearly in no position to compete for a playoff spot, they won’t take the flag for the rest of the season and tanking.

As good as Flagg has been this season, his impact hasn’t translated into wins in Dallas. The same can’t be said about Knueppel and the Hornets, as their contributions are directly tied to Charlotte winning games. That’s why Knueppel finds himself at the top of these year-end NBA rookie rankings.

What Flagg has done this season can’t be ignored. Although he was the No. 1 pick and had high expectations in his first season, with many saying he was the best US draft prospect since LeBron James, Flagg has lived up to the hype.

Flagg has recorded seven games scoring at least 30 points this season, and four of those have come since January 29, when he scored a career-high 49 points on 20-of-29 shooting against Nueppel and the Hornets. The Mavs’ rookie has All-Star potential, and he will be the face of the franchise alongside Kyrie Irving entering the 2026-27 season.

3. VJ Edgecombe – Philadelphia 76ers

Previous ranking: #3

Stats: 54 games, 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 42.8 FG%, 36.4 3P%

When Joel Embiid doesn’t play due to rest or injury, VJ Edgecombe suddenly becomes the Philadelphia 76ers’ No. 2 option behind Tyrese Maxey. Edgecombe has been successful in his role this season, and that’s the main reason he was a featured player during All-Star Weekend at the Rising Stars event.

Edgecombe won the Rising Stars MVP, scoring 23 points during the showcase. That’s quite an accomplishment for the 76ers rookie, especially considering he’s been in the shadow of Knueppel and Flagg at the moment.

No rookie in the league has played more minutes than Edgecombe this season, and he’s been on a hot streak, scoring at least 20 points in three of the team’s four games out of the All-Star break.

4. Derrick Queen – New Orleans Pelicans

Previous ranking: #4

Stats: 58 games, 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 49.0 FG%

Derrick Queen has been one of the only bright spots for the New Orleans Pelicans this season. Whether or not the Pelicans made the right decision landing Quinn in the 2026 first-round pick is open to interpretation, but the organization has been very pleased with his production and rookie development.

Queen not only leads all rookies in rebounds (422), but because he also leads them in total assists (234). It shows just how much of an impact Quin can make in the low post beyond his flashy footwork and scoring instincts as a new-age big man.

5. Maxime Renaud – Sacramento Kings

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Stats: 51 games, 10.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 55.0 FG%, 25.6 3P%

One of the most surprising newcomers this season has been second-round pick Maxime Renaud for the Sacramento Kings. As a result of various injuries, particularly to star big man Domantas Sabonis, the Kings were forced to throw Renaud into a higher role early in the season, and he has since become the focal point for them in the early going.

Since the beginning of February, Renaud has averaged 13.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 57.5 percent from the floor. Although his 3-point shooting is no longer what it was a year ago in college, Renaud is making a difference with his double-double-like abilities.

He’s definitely an All-Rookie selection this year.

6. Cedric Coward – Memphis Grizzlies

Previous ranking: #5

Stats: 48 games, 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 46.8 FG%, 34.0 3P%

Cedric Coward has slipped slightly in the NBA rookie rankings due to injuries, resulting in him being sidelined and beginning the decline of the Memphis Grizzlies. He recently suffered a severe knee strain, an injury that could sideline Coward for the entire year.

Nevertheless, Coward has proven to be one of the young pillars of the Grizzlies’ rebuild, and he is one of the reasons why the organization decided to part ways with Desmond Benn and Jaren Jackson Jr. Once Ja Morant is traded in the offseason, Coward will have a clear path to becoming the face of the Grizzlies with his two-way abilities on the wing.

7. Trey Johnson – Washington Wizards

Previous ranking: #6

Stats: 44 games, 12.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 43.6 FG%, 37.0 3P%

The Washington Wizards are certainly happy with the new season that Trey Johnson is having. In addition to being a natural scorer anywhere on the court, Johnson has made a name for himself among NBA fans by ranking fifth among all rookies in 3-pointers made (87).

Although his minutes have decreased and he is being monitored closely as he returns from a hip flexor strain, Johnson has recorded at least 10 points in four of his last five games, with all four of his double-digit scoring performances resulting in him playing less than 20 minutes.

8. Dylan Harper – San Antonio Spurs

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Stats: 46 games, 10.9 points, 3.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 47.0 FG%, 25.4 3P%

Unlike Knueppel and Flagg, Dylan Harper’s path as a top draft pick has been different as he was not immediately thrust into the spotlight. If you ask Harper, he’s in the perfect situation, not only because he’s on a championship-caliber, young team with the San Antonio Spurs, but he gets to learn from De’Aaron Fox and Stephen Cassel in the backcourt.

There have been clear areas of development in Harper’s game since the start of the season, particularly making the right reads as a scorer off the dribble and as a playmaker. Since the beginning of February, Harper has averaged 12.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game, while shooting a very efficient 55.6 percent from the floor.

9. Igor Demin – Brooklyn Nets

Previous ranking: #9

Stats: 50 games, 10.5 points, 3.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 39.6 FG%, 38.5 3P%

Many draft experts said that Egor Demin could not shoot coming out of college and that his game would not translate to the NBA. Well, it seems like a lot of people have Demin mixed up with someone else, as he is everything the Brooklyn Nets hoped for as a reliable 3-point shooting specialist.

Add Demin’s length and athleticism to the equation, and suddenly, the Nets have a young talent they can mold into an all-around impactful guard for years to come. Demin has missed a total of 122 triples this season, the second most among all rookies.

10. Ace Bailey – Utah Jazz

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Stats: 51 games, 11.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 44.5 FG%, 33.2 3P%

Ace Bailey did not have a good start to the season. He struggled to find his shot, and went through early rookie learning stages with the Utah Jazz. Since the start of the new year, Bailey has looked more confident, and he is establishing himself as a premier talent in Utah’s system.

The Jazz newbie has played in 21 games since the calendar flipped to 2026, and he has scored at least 10 points in 16 of those games, including five 20-plus-point games. Bailey has also increased his rebounding efforts, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game in February.

The Cleveland Cavaliers head to take on the Milwaukee Bucks in the second night of a home-road match on Wednesday. James Harden is listed as questionable due to a broken thumb, while Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley will be out of action. Meanwhile, the Bucks will not have Giannis Antetokounmpo available for the matchup.

Here’s everything we know about James Harden and Donovan Mitchell’s playing status against the Hornets, in addition to their teammates.

*Watch NBA games live with fuboTV. Get access Save $30)

Injury status of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell for Cavs vs. Bucks

When it comes to the question of whether James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are playing in tonight’s Cavs vs. Bucks matchup, the answer is probably for Beard and not Spida.

Cleveland announced this afternoon that Harden suffered a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx of his right hand against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. Luckily for both him and the team, it’s the thumb of his non-shooting-hand. It appears he plans to play despite the injury, which could keep him out in Milwaukee, depending on whether the Cavs want him to play through it soon.

Mitchell is listed out with a right groin strain, while Mobley is also sidelined with a strain on his left calf. With the Detroit Pistons next on the road on Friday, and the Cavs coming off a five-game-in-seven-night finish, it’s not surprising both are sitting out this one.

Max Strus has yet to make his season debut after recovering from left foot surgery, but Kenny Atkinson provided an encouraging update on his condition moving forward.

The Bucks will be without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the 13th consecutive game due to a calf injury.

Cavs injury report

James Harden: Questionable (fracture in right thumb)

Donovan Mitchell: Out (right waist stretch)

Evan Mobley: Out (Left calf injury maintenance)

Max Strus: Out (left leg surgery)

Tristan Enaruna: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Darius Brown II: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Riley Minix: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

bucks injury report

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Out (right calf strain)

Alex Antetokounmpo: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Taurean Prince: Out (neck surgery)

The Milwaukee Bucks have been going into battle without Giannis Antetokounmpo for some time now, as he is still trying to recover from his right calf strain. There should be some optimism over his return, as he was spotted working out during pregame, but there are probably still some benchmarks he needs to meet before he is cleared to return to the court.

Head coach Doc Rivers recently gave an update on Antetokounmpo, and it looks like he could be the closer.

“No. He’s done some 3-on-3, 4-on-4. We don’t really need to go to 5-on-5. It doesn’t go from 3 to 4 to 5. Usually 4-on-4 is pretty good… no shock,” Rivers said, via Ari Nehm of The Athletic.

Doc Rivers on what Giannis Antetokounmpo was able to do on the floor yesterday in Milwaukee: “We were in the gym and did some 3-on-3 stuff. 4-on-4 and 3-on-3, I think, live. That was good.”

The next box to examine Antetokounmpo will be live 5-on-5. https://t.co/vDps1y5PyX

– Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) 22 February 2026

Antetokounmpo has been dealing with calf strains for the past few seasons, so he probably knows the process he needs to go through to return. There’s also no doubt that he’s desperate to return to help his teammates as he bids for a chance to make the playoffs in the second half of the season.

Without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have won few games, and they are getting contributions from several players. One of them is Cam Thomas, who they signed before the All-Star break.

They were recently able to defeat the Miami Heat, and it was Kevin Porter Jr. who led the way, finishing with 32 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.

The Bucks will need a lot of wins to climb up the standings for a potential play-in spot, but with Antetokounmpo, they may have a good chance to do so. The only thing is that they have to hope that the teams above them start losing, which could be a difficult task.

As of now, they can only focus on what they can control and hope that they get their star player back as soon as possible.