NBA Player News

Carter (foot) won't play in Sunday's game versus the Wizards.

Carter is set to miss his fourth straight contest Sunday due to left foot plantar fasciitis. Goga Bitadze will likely draw another start in his absence. Carter's next chance to suit up is Tuesday's matchup with Charlotte.

Duren (ankle) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Rockets.

Duren is dealing with a left ankle sprain, and the doubtful tag suggests he's not likely to see action Sunday. That would mark his second straight absence since leaving the Wednesday loss to the Hornets after just eight minutes of action due to the injury. If Duren is ruled out, then Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed are candidates to receive increased playing time.

Bamba (knee) is out for Saturday's game versus the Raptors, Justin Russo of the 'Clip & Roll' podcast reports.

Bamba will remain sidelined to begin the 2024-25 campaign due to left knee soreness. There is no official return timetable for the 26-year-old big man.

Adams (knee) won't play in Sunday's game versus the Pistons.

Adams will sit out the first leg of Houston's back-to-back Sunday due to right knee injury recovery. Jock Landale should operate as the backup center to Alperen Sengun in his absence. Adams will likely be available to return for Monday's matchup with Washington.

Kleber (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game versus the Nuggets, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Kleber is expected to remain sidelined for his eighth straight contest due to a strained right hamstring. With P.J. Washington (knee) and Dereck Lively (shoulder) also doubtful, Naji Marshall and Dwight Powell should receive increased playing time in Dallas' frontcourt.

Lively (shoulder) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game versus the Nuggets, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Lively is expected to miss his fourth straight contest Sunday due to a right shoulder sprain. If Lively is downgraded to out, Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell should continue to receive extended minutes.

Gobert notched eight points (4-5 FG), 15 rebounds, two assists and three blocks in 23 minutes during Friday's 127-102 victory over Portland.

Gobert was efficient from the field, dominant on the glass and active as a rim protector, ultimately making a sizable impact on both ends of the court in this huge blowout win for the Timberwolves. Gobert has been a bit inconsistent in the scoring column, but other than that, he's having a solid start to the year. Through nine appearances, the big man is averaging 11.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

Nurkic totaled 15 points (6-12 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds and two steals in 34 minutes during Friday's 114-113 win over the Mavericks.

Nurkic has recorded three consecutive double-doubles, and the veteran big man is enjoying a strong start to the campaign due to his impressive two-way display. One area in which he's excelling is three-point shooting, as Nurkic has drained at least one three in five games in a row while going 5-for-7 in his last two contests. During the season, Nurkic is averaging 11.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per game while shooting 34.6 percent from deep.

Wagner finished Friday's 115-88 win over the Pelicans with 17 points (8-11 FG, 1-1 3Pt), four rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes.

Wagner delivered more points than Goga Bitadze, who was the starting center in Friday's win, but it's unclear if that will be enough to steal the starting job away from the 25-year-old. Wagner has been productive as a scorer and has recorded double-digit points in four of his last five appearances, shooting 51.2 percent from the field in that span.

Bitadze supplied 11 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 FT), nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal over 27 minutes during Friday's 115-88 win over the Pelicans.

Bitadze finished just one rebound shy of recording a second consecutive double-double. The big man is making the most of his newfound role in the first unit, scoring in double digits and grabbing at least nine boards in his three starts. He should remain in that role due to the health issues of players such as Wendell Carter (foot), Jonathan Isaac (hamstring) and Paolo Banchero (oblique) that are depleting the frontcourt.