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We head into the third week fo the 2022-23 NBA season with the final day of October, with seven games on tap. As the weather starts to get colder, there’s higher potential for non-body injuries to take people out of games. As you can see on the injury report Monday, that might already be happening.
NBA Injury Report: October 31
Sacramento Kings vs. Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo Ball (ankle) - OUT
Terry Rozier (ankle) - OUT
Cody Martin (quad) - OUT
The Hornets have not provided updated timelines on Ball and Rozier. Dennis Smith Jr. should continue being the top value add with both out. Kelly Oubre Jr. also has strong value potential in DFS contests.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Wizards
Joel Embiid (illness) - OUT
Update — Embiid has been ruled out for tonight’s game vs. the Wizards.
Embiid sat out Friday’s game due to injury management but is now listed as questionable with an illness. Something is going around the league and the big man might have it now. If he doesn’t play, Paul Reed and Montrezl Harrell will see minutes at center.
Indiana Pacers vs. Brooklyn Nets
Seth Curry (injury management) - OUT
Ben Simmons (knee) - OUT
Update - Simmons has been ruled out for Monday’s game, and he’s likely going to be questionable for Tuesday’s contest as well with the same issue.
Update - Curry has been ruled out, opening up more looks for Harris and O’Neale. Simmons is also on the report with a knee issue. If he sits, look for Kyrie Irving to handle the ball more and Nic Claxton to have a bigger role on the interior of Brooklyn’s defense.
Curry played in the team’s last game and should be good to go again Monday. If he can’t play for some reason, Joe Harris and Royce O’Neale will get additional looks.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Toronto Raptors
Fred VanVleet (back) - OUT
Update - VanVleet has been ruled out, and Christian Koloko is set to start in his place. Koloko is not going to be the point guard, which likely means Trent Jr. moves into that spot.
VanVleet is questionable with a back issue. If he doesn’t play, look for Gary Trent Jr. to potentially have more ball-handling opportunities while Malachi Flynn also gets some run at point guard.
Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Jalen Duren (ankle) - OUT
Duren suffered this injury in Sunday’s win over the Warriors. He played just 15 minutes in the contest. Look for Isaiah Stewart to get more minutes with Duren out.
Brook Lopez (illness) - available
Update - Lopez is available and will start for the Bucks tonight.
There’s something going around the league and it appears Lopez has it now. The Bucks big man might still suit up for this game but if he doesn’t, Bobby Portis and Serge Ibaka could see additional minutes.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz
Ja Morant (illness) - available
Desmond Bane (ankle) - OUT
Update - Morant is in but Bane has been ruled out. Tyus Jones could still get some additional run in the backcourt here but it looks like Brooks might be the biggest beneficiary in terms of shots with Bane sidelined.
Update - Bane is now questionable. If he sits, David Roddy is likely going to be asked to step up into a larger role. Dillon Brooks would also have some value in fantasy/DFS lineups.
Morant missed Saturday’s game with this ailment, and rookie Jake LaRavia is also dealing with an illness. If Morant sits, Tyus Jones will be the beneficiary in terms of minutes and DFS value.
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Eric Gordon (injury management) - available
Jabari Smith (ankle) - available
Jae’Sean Tate (ankle) - OUT
Update - Gordon and Smith are both starting Monday evening for the Rockets.
Update - We’ve still got nothing on Smith or Gordon, but Tate has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
The Rockets played Sunday, so we’ll likely get a better idea of how their injury report looks during the day Monday.
Kawhi Leonard (injury management) - OUT
John Wall (injury management) - OUT
Robert Covington (protocols) - OUT
Update - Wall is officially out, and Covington is out due to health protocols. Jackson, Nicolas Batum, Norman Powell and Luke Kennard should all see an uptick in minutes tonight as a result of these absences.
The Clippers are managing their players early, with Leonard sitting out again. Wall is a new addition and if he sits, Reggie Jackson would be the lead point guard for LA.