Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell headline NBA injury report for Wednesday, January 26

It’s another loaded day in the NBA with 10 games on tap for Wednesday’s slate. The NBA injury report still has some major names on it and these guys will be crucial to their respective team’s playoff and championship hopes. On a more positive note, the league’s health and safety protocols are claiming less players with additional vaccination efforts and the updated isolation rules. Here is Wednesday’s injury report in the association.

NBA Injury Report: January 26

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) available
Grayson Allen (suspension) OUT

Update - Antetokounmpo is officially good to go for Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers.

Antetokounmpo missed the team’s last game Saturday, but should be good for this contest with some additional rest. Allen is serving his one-game suspension for a flagrant foul he committed against the Bulls last Friday. Look for Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton to get an additional boost with Allen out.

Jarrett Allen (illness) available

Update - Allen is playing and likely will get the start. Mobley and Love both slot in as value DFS plays, although the former is the better option against the Bucks.

Update - Allen is a game-time call with a non-COVID illness.

If Allen doesn’t play, Evan Mobley and Kevin Love will be the primary big men for Cleveland.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Indiana Pacers

Gordon Hayward (protocols) OUT

Update - Hayward, who was already questionable with a foot injury, is now in the league’s health and safety protocols. He’s out Wednesday.

Hayward didn’t play Tuesday, so his status for Wednesday is in doubt. Miles Bridges, PJ Washington and Kelly Oubre are all in beneficiaries if Hayward sits again.

Domantas Sabonis (ankle) OUT
Caris LeVert (calf) available

Update - Sabonis is out, and it’s clear his ankle issue is a bigger deal than the Pacers might be letting on. LeVert is in and appears to be past his calf issue. With Sabonis out, look for Jackson to take on a bigger role.

Sabonis was ruled out for the last two games but could be back Wednesday. LeVert should be able to play through his calf injury again but Malcolm Brogdon has been shut down. Rookies Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson remain strong value plays on Indiana.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Orlando Magic

Mo Bamba (ankle) available

Update - Bamba will play Wednesday. Wagner is still in play as a value option, but Orlando’s frontcourt probably doesn’t create much excitement in fantasy/DFS circles.

With Bamba banged up, look for Mo Wagner and Robin Lopez to potentially see additional minutes for Orlando.

Sacramento Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks

De’Aaron Fox (ankle) OUT

Update - Fox will miss another game with his ankle injury, so look for Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell to get more minutes at the point guard spot against the Hawks.

Fox didn’t play Tuesday in what was a disaster game for the Kings. He’ll attempt to suit up Wednesday but look for Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell in fantasy/DFS contests if Fox sits.

Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) available, minutes limit
De’Andre Hunter (back) available

Update - Both Bogdanovic and Hunter are in, which means both players are good fantasy/DFS options. Huerter likely gets more minutes than Bogdanovic, but Hunter is once again set to start for Atlanta and keep up his strong play.

Bogdanovic should play, while Hunter is questionable. Kevin Huerter and Danilo Gallinari will be Atlanta’s preferred wing players if Hunter doesn’t play Wednesday.

New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat

Mitchell Robinson (ankle) available
Kemba Walker (knee) available
Nerlens Noel (knee) OUT

Update - Robinson and Walker are available, while Noel has been ruled out. Look for Gibson to get minutes as New York’s backup big man, but Robinson is probably the only interior player who merits fantasy/DFS consideration.

Update - Robinson is expected to play, which is a big boost for New York’s defense.

Robinson and Noel missing out would mean Taj Gibson likely gets the start for New York. Walker has been dealing with knee issues for a long time, so Alec Burks remains a decent DFS value play regardless of Walker’s status.

Tyler Herro (conditioning) available
Kyle Lowry (personal) OUT

Herro should be good after a stint in the protocols and with Lowry out, the third-year player is an elite option in fantasy/DFS contests.

Denver Nuggets vs. Brooklyn Nets

Will Barton (hamstring) available

Update - Barton is good to go after missing Tuesday’s game. He’ll likely start or get major minutes, so he could be a valuable fantasy/DFS play.

Barton missed Tuesday’s game despite being probable and it’s starting to seem like there’s something fishy going on here with his designations. Bryn Forbes is the ultimate value play in Denver when it comes to fantasy and DFS lineups.

Kyrie Irving (home game) OUT
Nic Claxton (injury management) OUT
James Harden (hamstring) OUT
Day’Ron Sharpe (illness) OUT

Update - Harden is officially out for Wednesday’s game against the Nuggets.

Update - Nets are having some issues. Sharpe has been ruled out, so Aldridge and Blake Griffin are the big men for Brooklyn. Harden is listed as questionable with a hamstring issue, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Nets rest him on the second game of a back-to-back Wednesday.

Update - Claxton played Tuesday, but will be out Wednesday to manage his hamstring injury. Look for Day’Ron Sharpe and LaMarcus Aldridge to get more minutes in the frontcourt with Claxton out.

Irving is out because it’s a home game. Patty Mills continues to be a factor for fantasy/DFS purposes.

Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls

Fred VanVleet (knee) OUT
Scottie Barnes (wrist) available

Update - VanVleet is out, so look for Trent Jr. and Anunoby as replacement options. Barnes is in, which will put a cap on Pascal Siakam’s influence on this game.

VanVleet and Barnes both missed Tuesday’s game. Look for Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam to see additional value if both players are out again.

Nikola Vucevic (knee) available

Vucevic is dealing with a knee injury but is probable. The best value plays in fantasy/DFS are Chicago’s backcourt players, notably Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs

Desmond Bane (conditioning) available
Ja Morant (personal) available
Brandon Clarke (back) available

Update - Bane and Clarke are both in for Memphis, and Morant was already expected to play. Bane becomes a great value play himself in fantasy and DFS lineups, while Clarke will eat into Steven Adams’ and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s minutes.

Bane is out of the protocols, but remains questionable. Morant should play. Clarke is iffy. Steven Adams will be the beneficiary of Clarke’s absence, but Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. remain the most consistent options on this team. Bane is a nice DFS value play if he suits up.

Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz

Deandre Ayton (ankle) OUT
Jae Crowder (wrist) OUT
JaVale McGee (knee) OUT

The Suns continue to have frontcourt issues. Jalen Smith is the DFS play of the day with both Ayton and McGee sidelined. Mikal Bridges sees additional value with Crowder out.

Rudy Gobert (calf) OUT
Donovan Mitchell (concussion) OUT

Gobert and Mitchell are both out. Look for Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarkson to be the fantasy/DFS value plays on this Utah team. Mike Conley could also see some additional production here.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Tim Hardaway Jr. (foot) OUT

Update - Hardaway has been diagnosed with a foot fracture, so he’s out indefinitely.

Hardaway Jr. suffered the injury late Tuesday, so his status is truly unknown. Dorian Finney-Smith and Jalen Brunson look to get more opportunities if Hardaway Jr. sits out.

Nassir Little (knee) OUT
Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) OUT
Norman Powell (personal) available
Robert Covington (finger) OUT

Update - Smith Jr. has been ruled out, so Anfernee Simons is the play at point guard for Portland Wednesday.

Update - With this being the second game of a back-to-back, the Blazers have ruled Little and Covington out. Smith Jr. is questionable. It’s hard enough to trust these backups in fantasy and DFS contests, so playing backups of backups is out of the question.

This is the bulk of Portland’s rotation right now and you can expect everyone to play. Little, Smith Jr. and Powell are the top performers, but it’s Powell who can really be a big factor in fantasy and DFS lineups.