NBA Player News

Jackson-Davis (knee) is available for Friday's game against the Timberwolves.

The big man was listed as probable, so it's not surprising to see him available. Don't expect him to play a significant role in the rotation, although he should see minutes off the bench. Jackson-Davis has played more than 15 minutes in each of his last two outings, something that could very well happen again Friday due to the absences of Draymond Green (personal) and Al Horford (back).

Hartenstein (calf) is not on the injury report and will be available for Saturday's game against the Spurs.

Hartenstein will be available after a six-game absence due to a right soleus strain, and the big man should slot into the starting lineup right away. His return also means the Thunder will likely have their best starting lineup for the first time this season. Additionally, Hartenstein's return means Jaylin Williams should see a dip in minutes, while Jalen Williams should move to the three and Chet Holmgren will likely slide to the four.

Filipowski is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Grizzlies.

Filipowski will return to the bench after starting his last time out. The big man has been productive coming off the bench this season, averaging 9.6 points, 6.7 boards, 2.2 assists and 0.7 blocks per game when playing with the second unit.

Gafford (ankle) is out for Friday's game against the Nets, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.

Gafford will miss a third straight game Friday, and he doesn't have a clear timetable for his return. With the big man out, Anthony Davis is expected to start at center, while Dwight Powell and Moussa Cisse will likely see more playing time. The Mavericks are thin in the frontcourt since Dereck Lively (foot) is out for the season.

Embiid (knee) will play in Friday's game against the Pacers.

The 76ers have cleared Embiid for action as they continue to monitor his left knee. The superstar big man will be looking to jump-start his season Friday following an uneven start to the year based on his lofty standards. For the campaign, Embiid has averaged 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 blocks in 25.1 minutes per game over nine regular-season contests.

Collins (wrist) is available for Friday's game against the Hornets.

Collins was listed as probable and widely expected to be available, so this doesn't come as a surprise. He'll add depth to the Bulls' frontcourt but is not expected to have a big role in fantasy.

Wembanyama (calf) is expected to play in Saturday's game against the Thunder, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Wembanyama has been sidelined by a calf strain since Nov. 14, but he's been traveling with the Spurs on their current road trip and is closing in on a return. Final clearance on his status was expected to be determined following Friday's practice, though San Antonio has officially listed the superstar big man as probable on its injury report. Wembanyama's presence would dampen the fantasy appeal of Luke Kornet considerably. However, the superstar center is likely to face restrictions when given the green light.

Clarke (knee) will practice with the G League's Memphis Hustle on Friday and will be recalled to the NBA directly following the session.

Clarke, who underwent a procedure to address knee synovitis Sep. 26, is seemingly making good progress based on this update. Based on previous reporting, a late-December return has been on the table for Clarke, making his status worth monitoring closely since the Grizzlies will be without Zach Edey (ankle) for multiple weeks.

Valanciunas closed with 15 points (7-7 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 0-2 FT), six rebounds and two assists over 19 minutes during Thursday's 136-105 win over the Kings.

The Nuggets blew the Kings out early, so Nikola Jokic was able to call it a night after 29 minutes. Valanciunas feasted in garbage time as a result, once again showcasing his per-minute upside.

Reath racked up two points (1-5 FG, 0-3 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one block across 12 minutes during Thursday's 143-120 loss to the Pelicans.

Although the Trail Blazers were missing Donovan Clingan (leg), Yang Hansen (face) and Robert Williams (illness), Reath wasn't able to see the floor much. Instead, the Trail Blazers opted for a smaller lineup with Kris Murray and Jerami Grant partnered in the frontcourt. Reath remains off the standard league radar.