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The NBA welcomes in 2022 with six games on the schedule, including a NBA TV doubleheader headlined by the Golden State Warriors taking on the Utah Jazz to close out the day. Here’s a look at the injury report to begin the new year in the association.
NBA injury report, January 1
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Brandon Ingram (achilles), OUT
Josh Hart (ankle), AVAILABLE
Jonas Valanciunas (protocols), OUT
Update - Hart will play Saturday and will start against the Bucks.
Update - Ingram has been ruled out with his Achilles injury, while Hart is a game-time call.
Ingram is the big name to watch here, as Hart is likely to play through his ankle issue. Valanciunas has been ruled out after going into the league’s protocols Friday.
Khris Middleton (personal), OUT
Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) OUT
Update - DiVincenzo has been ruled out, which will further boost Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton as value plays in DFS formats.
Middleton was a late scratch for a personal reason. Look for Grayson Allen and Donte DiVincenzo to get more run with the star shooting guard out.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham (protocols) TBD
Isaiah Stewart (protocols) TBD
Cunningham and Stewart should be close to returning from the protocols. The Pistons will use the remainder of the season to evaluate how both players fit in the future plans for the franchise.
Dejounte Murray (conditioning) OUT
Derrick White (laceration), AVAILABLE
Update - White is playing in Saturday’s game, and Tre Jones will start at point guard for Murray.
Update - Murray has been ruled out due to conditioning issues.
Update - Murray has cleared protocols, and his status will now come down to conditioning.
White suffered the laceration Friday, so his status for Saturday is not yet know. Murray remains in the league’s protocols, but should be close to returning.
Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards
Lonzo Ball (protocols) OUT
Alex Caruso (foot) OUT
Ball is in the protocols, but the Bulls have gotten the rest of their key guys back. Caruso will miss this game with his foot issue.
Spencer Dinwiddie (protocols) TBD
Rui Hachimura (protocols) TBD
Dinwiddie and Hachimura are in the league’s protocols. Of the two, Dinwiddie is more likely to suit up because Hachimura is also working through some other fitness issues.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Brooklyn Nets
Nicolas Batum (ankle), OUT
Reggie Jackson (conditioning) TBD
Luke Kennard (protocols) OUT
Update - Well, we can scrap Kennard on seeing an extended role. The shooting guard has entered health protocols and will be out for this game.
Update - Batum has been ruled out of Saturday’s game, so look for Luke Kennard and Terrace Mann to keep getting extended minutes.
Jackson played in Friday’s game, so we’ll see if his conditioning is up to the mark here. Batum did not play on his bad ankle Friday, so we’ll see if he gives it a go Saturday.
Kyrie Irving (conditioning) OUT
Irving is still ramping up his conditioning, and he’s out for this game for not complying with New York City’s vaccine mandate.
Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets
Aaron Gordon (hamstring) AVAILABLE
Monte Morris (protocols) OUT
Austin Rivers (thumb) AVAILABLE
Update - Both Gordon and Rivers will suit up in this game, giving Denver some much-needed reinforcements in the rotation.
Update - Gordon is on track to play in Saturday’s game, which will be a big boost for the Nuggets.
Gordon and Rivers are potentially going to play, which would be a huge boost to Denver’s depleted roster. Morris was previously dealing with a knee injury before entering the league’s protocols. He’s out for Saturday.
Alperen Sengun (ankle) OUT
Kevin Porter Jr. (thigh) probable
Jalen Green (hamstring) probable
Eric Gordon (groin) OUT
Update - Gordon, who was doubtful, has been officially ruled out.
Update - Porter Jr., who has been a strong performer for Houston, is probable to play in Saturday’s game. Sengun has been ruled out for the game. Green is likely to play, while Gordon is doubtful with a groin injury.
Sengun suffered an ankle injury in Friday’s contest and did not return, so he’s unlikely to take the floor the next day. Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. will see additional value with Sengun out.
Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz
Draymond Green (protocols) OUT
Damion Lee (protocols) OUT
Update - It looks like both Green and Lee will be out for this contest.
Lee should be close to coming back and Green could test out of the revised protocols at any time.
Mike Conley (rest) AVAILABLE
Donovan Mitchell (back) AVAILABLE
Joe Ingles (back) AVAILABLE
Update - Conley is available to play in Saturday’s game against the Warriors.
Update - Ingles is not on the injury report for Saturday’s game. Mitchell is also in, so the only true status worth monitoring will be Conley.
Mitchell played through his back issue Friday, so he should be good to go Saturday but could be held on the second game of a back-to-back set. Ingles was ruled out Friday, so his status is worth monitoring. Conley was rested Friday, so he’s likely to play Saturday.