Nicolas Claxton (knee tendinopathy) is still weeks away from returning to practice.
Coach Steve Nash said Claxton is steadily improving and is doing more on the side at practice, but he remains without a concrete timetable to return. Claxton is strictly a high-upside dynasty stash that is unlikely to make a fantasy impact this season.
Joel Embiid (back tightness) is probable for Thursday's game vs. Orlando.
The 'probable' tag is usually just a formality for guys with very minor ailments, but Embiid's status is rarely that simple. Don't be surprised if he ends up as a game-time decision, and if he's limited in any way Dwight Howard should be the beneficiary.
Alec Burks is questionable to play on Thursday against the Raptors with an ankle injury.
Burks sat out of Tuesday night's game against the Cavaliers, and Reggie Bullock stepped up in his place, knocking down five 3-pointers for 17 points, seven rebounds, a block and a steal in 41 minutes. Look for him to be a focal point of the offense again if Burks can't play.
Immanuel Quickley is questionable to play on Thursday with a sore left hip.
Quickley missed the last three games for the Knicks, but head coach Tom Thibodeau said "hopefully he'll be back soon," on Tuesday. It doesn't sound like he should be out for too much longer, it's just unclear if Thursday will be his first game back against the Raptors.
Austin Rivers is questionable to play on Thursday with a sore right groin injury that's kept him out of every game this season.
The Knicks are being cautious with several key players already banged up just one week through the season. Rivers probably isn't worth keeping on fantasy rosters, even when he does return.
Dennis Smith Jr. won't play against the Raptors on Thursday.
Even when he returns, Smith isn't expected to make a big fantasy impact.
Omari Spellman (knee) won't play against the Raptors on Thursday.
Spellman isn't expected to play in the Knicks' rotation, even when healthy.
Ben McLemore (Not With Team - Self-Isolating) is expected to be quarantined through the weekend.
The good news for Houston is that John Wall and Eric Gordon are expected to be back Thursday and maybe some others too. When McLemore eventually returns he'll have a chance to carve out a large enough role to have value as a 3-point specialist in deeper leagues.
As expected, Eric Gordon has cleared quarantine.
The Rockets will also be getting John Wall back for Thursday vs. the Kings. Gordon is expected to come off the bench this season and is a low-end fantasy option for managers in need of points, rebounds and a couple dimes at the expense of their FG%.
Clint Capela (Achilles) is available against on the Nets on Wednesday.
Capela had a lackluster debut, scoring seven points with nine rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 20 minutes. With Danilo Gallinari probable to return on Wednesday, it's unclear how big of a role he'll have in the rotation, competing with John Collins, too.
Quinndary Weatherspoon (knee) has been ruled out on Wednesday against the Lakers.
Weatherspoon won't be fantasy-relevant, even when he does return.
Tacko Fall (right eye) is questionable for Wednesday's game vs. Memphis.
It sounds like Fall is almost fully recovered from the eye injury that's sidelined him this season, but even healthy he's unlikely to crack the rotation on a routine basis.
Gabe Vincent (right knee soreness) is probable for Wednesday's game vs. the Bucks.
It's great to see that Vincent's knee is on the mend, but he's unlikely to earn minutes unless this game turns into a blowout similar to the 144-97 drubbing Miami received on Tuesday.
Killian Tillie won't play on Wednesday with a hamstring injury.
Tillie isn't expected to be a rotation player this year.
Torrey Craig won't play on Wednesday against the Heat with a broken nose.
Craig is a deep reserve player who won't have a big impact on fantasy hoops.
Javonte Green (health and safety protocols) will not play vs. the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
It's unclear how long Green might miss, and his absence comes at an inopportune time after he finally cracked the rotation on Tuesday with seven points and three boards in 21 minutes of action.
Ricky Rubio thinks his Wolves team is "way worse" than their 2-2 record right now.
Rubio has a point, though, in defense of the the Wolves, their two losses came with Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist) sidelined. As of Wednesday, Minnesota holds the third-worst net rating in the NBA, above only the Warriors and Heat. They've lost their last two games by a combined 59 points. "When things weren't going our way, everybody goes playing selfish," Rubio said. "We have to learn. There's a lot of excuses. We're young, blah, blah, blah, this and that, but once you step on the court, you're playing for an NBA team and the last two games it's been ridiculous bad." Rubio's seen a scoring jump in the absence of Towns, which is great for fantasy managers, but the Wolves as a whole are struggling.
Davis Bertans says his conditioning is at 60-to-70% after his minutes-restriction was loosened by the Wizards.
Bertans played a season-high 26 minutes on Tuesday, scoring 20 points on just 4-of-10 shooting. So far, he's shooting a tick below what's expected from distance, making 37.5% of his 3-point tries, but is making 66.7% of his 2s. "I didn't play basketball for seven months. Now I kind of have to ease back into it playing against the top-level players in the world," Bertans said. "It's definitely not easy, but that's something I've gotta do. That's what I'm here to do. Eventually, I will get there." Fantasy managers shouldn't worry. Bertans should return to his usual production soon, and the Wizards even started him ahead of Isaac Bonga for the second half of Tuesday's game.
Ben Simmons hasn't taken a 3-point shot this season, but Sixers head coach Doc Rivers isn't pushing him.
The Sixers are 3-1, but the development of No. 1 overall pick Simmons to get Philly over the good-not-great franchise hump is still in question. Through four games, he hasn't attempted an outside shot, which many think is the key to unlock the Sixers' full potential. In Tuesday's win over the Raptors, Rivers noted shooters missing shots, which includes Simmons, who made just 3-of-11. “But I could care less,” Rivers said. “I’ll let you guys talk about what Ben doesn’t do. I just want Ben to keep playing great defense, running our team and winning games.” Simmons can fill up a stat sheet on any given night, but he hasn't shown improvement shooting the ball from any range.
Davis Bertans says his conditioning is at 60-to-70% after his minutes-restriction is loosened by the Wizards.
Bertans played a season-high 26 minutes on Tuesday, scoring 20 points on just 4-of-10 shooting. So far, he's shooting a tick below what's expected from distance, making 37.5% of his 3-point tries, but is making 66.7% of his 2s. "I didn't play basketball for seven months. Now I kind of have to ease back into it playing against the top-level players in the world," Bertans said. "It's definitely not easy, but that's something I've gotta do. That's what I'm here to do. Eventually, I will get there." Fantasy managers shouldn't worry. Bertans should return to his usual production soon.