No surprise here, considering Miller is dealing with a fairly significant injury. The star forward appears doubtful for Sunday's tilt against the Jazz. Miles Bridges could see massive usage if LaMelo Ball (ankle) joins Miller on the sidelines, while Collin Sexton is a candidate to handle additional playmaking duties.
After an impressive all-around performance in Thursday's game against the Magic, Ball is dealing with an ankle issue. If he's unable to play, the team will likely pivot to Collin Sexton and Tre Mann to shoulder the load in the backcourt.
Williams had been nearing a return to the floor, but he had to undergo a follow-up procedure on his right wrist to remove a screw. Therefore, the star forward's season debut will be delayed until Nov. 11 against the Warriors at the earliest. Luguentz Dort should play heavy minutes moving forward, while Ajay Mitchell will have a longer runway to playing time.
Suggs had gotten the night off Thursday against Charlotte, given that it was the second night of a back-to-back set. The 2021 first-rounder has yet to reach the 25-minute barrier after missing the preseason while recovering from knee surgery. Suggs has averaged 11.3 points, 4.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest across four games this season, and his return will force Anthony Black to the second unit in all likelihood.
Toohey is still recovering from a left knee injury, which has kept him sidelined since the preseason. Tuesday's contest against the Suns will be his next chance to play, but Toohey has no definitive return timeline and can be deemed out indefinitely.
It doesn't appear Wagner has been cleared for contact amid his recovery from ACL surgery, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. The veteran big man can be considered out indefinitely going forward. In the interim, Goga Bitadze will continue to serve as the primary backup center behind Wendell Carter.
After being waived by the Bucks during training camp, Livingston has latched on with another team. The 2023 second-rounder will likely see most of his playing time come with the G League's Cleveland Charge, though Livingston is also a depth option in the Cavaliers' frontcourt while Jarrett Allen's (finger) status remains in limbo.
It sounds like Robinson is ready to make his season debut Friday. After missing about three weeks of action between the preseason and regular season, the veteran big man could be eased back into action. With Robinson set to play, Ariel Hukporti likely has the most to lose from a fantasy perspective.
While it's not surprising that Looney was downgraded from doubtful to out, he appears to be inching closer toward making his season debut. The veteran big man will hope to return Sunday in Oklahoma City. In the meantime, DeAndre Jordan should be able to stick around in the New Orleans rotation.
The Hornets spent a first-round pick on Salaun last year, so this isn't a surprise. With Grant Williams (knee) sidelined, Salaun has averaged 15.5 minutes per game over his first four outings this season.
This is an expected move, given Miller's importance to the Charlotte franchise going forward. The star forward is battling a left shoulder subluxation, which leaves his status in doubt for Saturday's game against the Timberwolves.
Finney-Smith has been out of action since training camp while he recovers from offseason left ankle surgery. The veteran forward should play meaningful minutes when healthy, but his return doesn't seem to be imminent. Until Finney-Smith is ready to play, Tari Eason has one less obstacle to climb for playing time.
After going through the morning shootaround, Doncic is firmly on track to return from a three-game absence Friday. The Lakers originally planned on being without the superstar guard for at least one week as of Sunday, but Doncic appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery from a finger sprain and lower leg contusion. His return as well as Marcus Smart's (quadriceps) would likely push Jake LaRavia back to the bench.
Cleared to make his season debut after missing the Thunder's first five games while recovering from a left knee contusion, Joe didn't exhibit any signs of rust. He was one of two Thunder bench players to put up 20 points in the runaway victory, with reserve guard Ajay Mitchell also achieving the feat. Though Joe should be a regular part of the Thunder's rotation now that he's healthy again, his playing time will likely trend down in more competitive games and when Oklahoma City gets Chet Holmgren (back) and Jalen Williams (wrist) back in action.
Collier has been fully cleared to return from his hamstring injury, but he's heading to the G League to regain his conditioning. Collier's next chance to play with Utah comes Nov. 2 against the Hornets.
After missing the past two games, Smart participated in the morning shootaround and appears on track to return despite carrying a questionable tag. Additionally, Luka Doncic (finger) may also return for the Lakers. If that happens, Smart won't have a ton of upside offensively.
Lerner described this as a formality for the Rockets with Sheppard's option valued at $11.1 million. Through four games, Sheppard is averaging 10.0 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.0 three-pointers.
No surprise here as the Rockets likely viewed this as a formality for one of their franchise building blocks. Thompson's option is valued at $12.3 million. Through four regular-season games, Thompson is averaging 14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Doncic is listed questionable to play in Friday's game against the Grizzlies after missing the past three games for the Lakers. His participation at the morning shootaround bodes well for his status, however. It's possible the star playmaker ends up being a game-time call for this one.
Jackson was a very late addition to the injury report. Presumably, he'll warm up before a decision is made on his status. Jackson has been a fringe rotation player thus far with two appearances on the season.
Powell has one brief NBA appearance to his name thus far, and he's likely to bounce between the two leagues for the foreseeable future.
The Spurs are off to a 5-0 start, and Barnes has locked down a significant role on the wings. His fantasy value hasn't been the greatest, however, as he's averaging 9.2 points, 2.8 assists, 1.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks and 1.6 three-pointers in 30.5 minutes per contest.
Smith seems to be holding his own as Miami's backup point guard. Through five games, he's seeing 17.7 minutes per contest with averages of 5.8 points, 4.0 assists, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.0 three-pointers on 48.0 percent shooting from the field.
Even with Kevin Porter (ankle) out, Harris has struggled to break through this rotation. The veteran guard has appeared in just two out of five games on a very limited basis.
Breaking through Golden State's rotation won't be easy, but Richard seems to have earned the trust of coach Steve Kerr at the back end of the rotation. At least until De'Anthony Melton (knee) returns, Richard could see minutes in the low teens in certain matchups.
Green did take a shot to the face during this contest, prompting a trip to the locker room. He returned moments later, however, and it doesn't seem like it will be an issue going forward. Through six regular-season games, Green holds averages of 9.0 points, 7.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.7 blocks in 27.8 minutes per contest.
Although he failed to score, Caruso managed to produce a few steals to keep his fantasy value afloat. Through three appearances, the veteran guard has produced averages of 5.3 points, 2.7 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers in 23.5 minutes per night.
With the return of Bilal Coulibaly, the Wizards opted to run a bigger lineup Thursday. Although Middleton started this game, his long-term outlook remains pretty bleak as the Wizards continue to keep their focus on guys like Coulibaly and Kyshawn George. Plus, Cam Whitmore is likely to become more involved down the road too.
Carter put up a season-high 18 points in the win, helping the Magic improve to 2-4 on the season. Apart from a dud in his previous outing against Detroit in which he fouled out in 15 minutes, Carter has been solid this campaign. Through six games, he's averaging 10.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.2 three-pointers in 27.9 minutes per contest.
The No. 32 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Penda saw his largest workload of the campaign in what was his third appearance. Orlando's frontcourt rotation is stacked, so Penda will likely have to accept a minor role for the foreseeable future.
Niederhauser's absence is unlikely to have a big impact on the rotation. The No. 30 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Niederhauser has averaged 4.3 minutes across three appearances thus far.
Niang has yet to make an appearance this season and remains without a timetable to return. It's unlikely he sees the floor in the immediate future for Utah.
Collier has yet to debut this season, but he was cleared for on-court work Thursday. The Jazz also announced that he completed his return-to-play protocol, and he's expected to be sent to the G League on Friday for a small stint to get some reps.
Davis wasn't able to return to Wednesday's game against the Pacers due to left lower leg soreness. Stein doesn't note how serious the injury is, but the Mavericks are typically pretty cautious with their players. If Davis ends up sitting out, Dwight Powell could be line for a start after starting the second half of Wednesday's game against the Pacers.
Although Jaquez turned in decent secondary totals, he finished with his first single-digit scoring total of the season in the defeat. He regressed despite recording his highest minute total of the season, indicating that his floor might not be as high as originally thought. He's been a fantasy darling in winning DFS lineups this season, and a larger sample size is needed from the UCLA product before he's off the board completely.
Norman Powell's (groin) absence has resulted in a nice boost for Wiggins, who's averaged 22.5 points over the last two games. In order for Miami to maximize its potential, Wiggins needs to replicate this kind of production once Powell returns to the starting five. Wiggins' defensive acumen is never in question, and he's exhibiting decent rebound and steal totals to begin the season.
Adebayo turned in his third double-double of the season during the defeat, and it appears that the big man is the team's most dependable producer in the early stages of the season. Norman Powell's (groin) absence has forced all of the starters to pitch in, but the biggest change for the veteran is his gradual shift away from the primary center role. Kel'el Ware has taken over at the five, and it's allowed Adebayo to show off his abilities as a primary scorer. Adebayo's biggest boost comes from beyond the arc, where he's averaging a career-high 5.8 attempts per game and is converting at a 41.3 percent clip.
Vassell has played well in his adjusted role, as the veteran is more accustomed to logging time at the wing during his career. It's unclear how the lineup will shake down once De'Aaron Fox (hamstring) makes his return, but the likely result is a slide to forward for Vassell, and a corresponding move for Harrison Barnes to the four. The return of Jeremy Sochan (wrist) will also shake things up, but Vassell won't be affected.
De'Aaron Fox (hamstring) is close to returning, which should take some pressure off of Castle. He's performing extremely well while assuming Fox's role, and the transition should be seamless as he'll move over to the off-guard position once Fox makes his debut. Castle posted a season-high eight assists during the win, and he also collected four steals, marking his best total in that category as well.
The hits keep coming from Wembanyama, who is already generating MVP buzz after his scintillating start to the season. All five of his stat lines have been double-doubles, and he recorded a season-high 18 rebounds Thursday evening. Thanks to his excellent string of performances, the Spurs are 5-0 and and making some noise in the Western Conference.
After a superb 31/11/5 line against the Sixers, Sarr's point total fell back to earth, but he still registered a good rebound total. He came two rebounds shy of his third double-double over the first six games of the season, and his profile is definitely trending up despite his team's early struggles.
Although the Wizards are struggling to begin the season, McCollum is providing veteran stability in the backcourt. After underperforming early on, he's averaged 19 points per game over the last three contests. As the team's presumptive floor general, his assist numbers need some work, but the rest of his numbers seem to be trending up.
After missing Washington's first four games while completing his recovery from right thumb surgery, Coulibaly was cleared to make his 2025-26 debut Thursday and immediately took back a spot in the starting five, with Bub Carrington moving to the bench as a result. Though he improved his averages across the board during his sophomore season in 2024-25 while taking on a larger role for Washington, Coulibaly didn't take much of a step forward with his efficiency, converting at a 42.1 percent clip from the field and 28.1 percent rate from downtown. At least for his debut game, Coulibaly fared well from inside the arc, and he delivered the production in the defensive categories that has driven most of his fantasy value in the prior two seasons. Some inconsistency should be expected with Coulibaly's offensive output moving forward, but the excellent all-around line he posted Thursday at least makes him worthy of a speculative pickup in most leagues where he's still available.
Wallace did a little bit of everything during the win, posting decent results in every major statistical category. Wallace should have a guaranteed spot in the starting lineup until Jalen Williams (wrist) returns, at which point he'll be in a tug-of-war for minutes with Luguentz Dort.
Mitchell provided ample support with the second unit during the decisive win. Although a spot in the starting five isn't possible at the moment, 'Mitchell is enjoying a sharp increase in court time from his rookie year. Through six games, the UCSB product is averaging 27.1 minutes per game.
The Thunder are now 6-0, due in large part to last season's MYP and his impressive results. Gilgeous-Alexander entered Thursday's game averaging 34,8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocked shots over the first five games of the season. His three-point shot is the only facet of his game that is struggling, averaging only 27.7 percent beyond the arc in the early stages of the 2025-26 campaign.
Kuzma received a spot-start with Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) sitting this one out, but with Ryan Rollins having the game of his life, Kuzma took a backseat on offense. He's had a quiet start to the season, posting forgettable averages of 8.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks and 2.0 turnovers per game.
Rollins had the hot hand early for Milwaukee, scoring nine of their first 14 points, and he stuck with that aggressive scoring mentality for the rest of the game with Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) watching from the sidelines. He crossed the 30-point mark with a dagger three-pointer with under a minute left in regulation to seal the deal for the Bucks, and he's now had back-to-back, career-high scoring outings. Over the past four, Rollins has been churning out averages of 21.0 points, 5.5 assists, 2.8 triples and 2.5 steals per contest.
The 17 points marked a season-high for Turner, who saw some more shots falling his way with Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) unavailable, although the single block was a bit disappointing. The scoring has been inconsistent for Turner early in the season as he adjusts to his new surroundings, but he's been steady with the blocks and is averaging a career-high 3.0 assists per game, so it hasn't been a total disaster.
This was a nice bounce-back performance from Kuminga, who was held to just nine points on 4-11 shooting his last time out. Aside from Tuesday's lackluster performance, Kuminga has looked good this season, posting averages of 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 triples per contest on 55/45/83 shooting splits. That has him operating with mid-round value on the year, so he should be rostered in all leagues.
Horford has been in an awful rut over the past two games, going just 2-11 and 1-7 from distance, but at least he was able to block some shots Thursday night. Still, with averages of 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and not much else on the year, he's not worth rostering anywhere.
The Warriors had won their previous three meetings with the Bucks, but they weren't able to get the job done Thursday night, despite solid performances from Curry and Jimmy Butler. Butler notched his first double-double of the season and finished with 23 points (7-18 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 8-8 FT), 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block and two turnovers in the 10-point loss.
Kalkbrenner set a new career-high in points in this one, and this was his third game of the season in which he only missed one shot. He currently leads the league in field goal percentage, draining 90 percent of his shot attempts to go with averages of 11.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 1.4 swats per contest, which has him hovering inside the top-60 on the year.
Through the first five games of the season, James has been converting an absurd 63.6 percent of his shot attempts, to go with averages of 8.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 triples and 1.4 assists per game. The sky-high shooting percentage isn't sustainable, but he is worth a look in deep leagues while he's this hot.
This was Ball's third double-double of the season and the 70th of his career, which moved him to the No. 8 spot on Charlotte's all-time double-doubles list. He also moved into 10th place on Charlotte's all-time steals list Thursday evening. Ball is flirting with first-round value on the season, and he's showing no signs of slowing down.
da Silva has been hit-or-miss this season, but he's been trending up over the past two, scoring in the teens, draining threes and snatching steals, so he's on the radar in deep leagues. It helps that he'll draw a favorable matchup against the Wizards on a six-game Saturday.
Black has been heating up over the past four games, posting averages of 15.8 points on 52.4 percent shooting from the field and 72.2 percent at the stripe to go with 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 triples, 1.3 steals, 1.0 block and 3.3 turnovers per contest. He got the start Thursday with Jalen Suggs taking a rest day, so while he'll likely return to the bench his next time out, he should still be a sizable part of the rotation.
Banchero didn't look for his shot much through the first half of action, instead playing the facilitator role on offense, and all nine of his dimes came during the first half. He started to look for his shot more over the second half, and while he was efficient from the floor, he still struggled at the line. Banchero is averaging a career-high 10.3 free-throw attempts per game this season, but he's converting only 71 percent of them, which has been a major drain on his fantasy value in category-based settings.
Thybulle hurt his thumb during Wednesday's game and will now miss Friday's contest, which could help Rayan Rupert get into the rotation again. Thybulle's next chance to play will come Monday against the Lakers.
Sanders continues to nurse a knee injury and will miss a third consecutive game. The next opportunity for him to return to the floor will be Monday against the Heat.
Miller has yet to play a game this season, as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. The next opportunity for him to get back on the floor will be Monday against the Heat.
Green has yet to make his debut with his new team. The next chance for him to make his season debut will be Sunday against the Spurs.
Friday will mark the third consecutive game on the sidelines for Brooks, which should result in another start for Royce O'Neale and more minutes for Isaiah Livers. Brooks' next chance to play will come Sunday against the Spurs.
Williams has yet to play a game this season, as the team has been cautious with his knee issue. If he's unable to play, Duop Reath and Yang Hansen will continue to receive more time on the floor.
Sharpe is dealing with a minor calf issue, but it's not expected to force him to the sidelines. Check back closer to Friday's tip for official word on his status.
Beal is set to return after a two-game stint on the sidelines, which will likely result in Bogdan Bogdanovic returning to the second unit and Cam Christie could drop from the rotation entirely. Beal has gotten off to a slow start this season, averaging 5.5 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
After starting the first four games of the season, Carrington will be in the second unit, with Bilal Coulibaly making his season debut. Carrington is averaging 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 34.5 percent from the floor and 66.7 percent from beyond the arc.
With Coulibaly starting, Bub Carrington will shift to the second unit, and his minutes could see a sizeable dip. Joining Coulibaly in the starting five will be CJ McCollum, Kyshawn George, Khris Middleton and Alex Sarr.
Johnson has been dealing with right shoulder inflammation over the past two games, but he's been playing through it, and it looks like he will continue to do so Friday night. Check back for official confirmation on his status closer to tip-off.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) a late scratch, the team will turn to Kuzma in the first five. He'll be joined by Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, Gary Trent and Myles Turner.
We'll have a better idea of Murray's status based on his activity level at Friday's shootaround, but if he does have to hit the sidelines, Bruce Brown could get a spot-start. Check back closer to Friday's tip for official word on Murray's status.
Antetokounmpo was initially listed as probable for Thursday's game, so, surprisingly, he's getting ruled out just an hour before tip-off. With Antetokounmpo on the sidelines, Kyle Kuzma or Bobby Portis could start and there will be more shots for guys like Myles Turner, Gary Trent and Ryan Rollins. Antetokounmpo's next chance to play will come Saturday versus Sacramento.
With Norman Powell (groin) set to hit the sidelines Thursday evening, Jovic could see a bump in minutes and shot opportunities, so he's someone to consider deploying in daily fantasy leagues.
McBride missed the last two games due to personal reasons. He'll be a welcome addition to the backcourt. Over the course of the two games he's played this season, the West Virginia product averaged 12.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game, shooting 38.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc.
The Hornets will give Sion James a look in the first unit, breaking up a three-game start streak for Sexton. Sexton logged 17 minutes in his lone reserve outing this year, so he could find difficulty in cracking the 20-minute marker.
After missing Tuesday's game against the Bucks due to a knee issue, Yabusele is trending toward returning to the floor. He hasn't made much of an impact from a fantasy perspective this season, averaging 1.7 points and 4.0 rebounds across 13.7 minutes per game.
With James making his first start of the 2025-26 campaign, veteran guard Collin Sexton will come off the bench. James is averaging 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 64.7 percent from the floor and 77.8 percent from deep.
Jalen Suggs will rest Thursday, opening up a place in the first unit. Last regular season, Black averaged 9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 28.9 minutes per contest across 10 games as a starter.
Towns has been nursing a quadriceps injury, but that likely won't keep him off the floor. However, he is coming off his worst offensive performance of the 2025-26 campaign, scoring a season-low eight points in Tuesday's game against the Bucks.
Smart has missed the last two games due to a quadriceps injury. The Lakers have been incredibly shorthanded as of late, but things could be trending in the right direction, especially in the backcourt, with Luka Doncic (finger) also questionable for Friday's matchup in Memphis.
Wagner is battling a left heel contusion following Wednesday's 135-116 loss to Detroit, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go. There's no indication the star forward will have any minutes restriction. Wagner has averaged 22.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 35.0 minutes per game over five outings this season.
Doncic's status has unexpectedly been upgraded ahead of Friday's matchup. The superstar guard has missed the last three games due to a finger sprain and a lower left leg contusion. He'll give the team a massive boost if he's able to return. Marcus Smart (quadriceps) has also been listed as questionable.
The doubtful designation is actually an upgrade for Looney, who has been out for the start of the campaign with a sprained knee. Although he's inching closer to a season debut, Looney's likely absence should allow Yves Missi, Derik Queen and DeAndre Jordan to share the center minutes.
Peter is in danger of missing a third straight game due to a groin injury. If he's ruled out, the next opportunity for him to return to the floor would be Saturday against the Warriors.
Furphy has a chance to end a three-game absence with a bone bruise in his foot. It's possible the forward will eventually carve out a role, given how shorthanded the Pacers are, but fantasy managers can likely find better streaming options if Furphy is available Friday.
Mitchell is dealing with a hamstring injury, which could threaten to keep him sidelined. He was able to play Wednesday but struggled, finishing with a season-low 15 points to go along with four rebounds, six assists and one block.
After exiting Monday's game against the Pistons early, Merrill will need to miss a second contest in a row due to the injury. The sharpshooter's next chance to take the court comes Sunday against the Hawks. With Darius Garland (toe) still not ready for his season debut, the Cavaliers could turn to Jaylon Tyson for another spot start after he joined the first unit Wednesday against Boston.
George will remain out for a fifth game in a row to begin the season. The star forward's absence has been dragging along, considering he's been cleared to practice for over a week now. Until the 76ers give him clearance to play, Kelly Oubre is well worth streaming consideration in most fantasy leagues.
Nembhard will miss a fourth straight game due to a shoulder strain. His next chance to return to the court will be Saturday against the Warriors. With Indiana depleted at point guard, Ben Sheppard will remain in the streaming conversation.
Young suffered a right knee sprain in Thursday's game against the Nets. It is uncertain how much time he may miss as a result of the injury, with the team waiting for the results of an MRI. It'd be safe to assume Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be in the starting lineup, with Luke Kennard getting more time off the bench.
