Anthony Davis, Darius Garland, Joel Embiid headline NBA injury report for Wednesday, November 2

We’ve got a loaded NBA slate Wednesday with 11 games on the docket, anchored by ESPN’s doubleheader featuring Celtics-Cavaliers and Grizzlies-Trail Blazers. Here’s a look at the injury report for Wednesday’s action, along with the relevant fantasy and betting implications.

NBA Injury Report: November 2

Washington Wizards vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid (illness) - OUT
De’Anthony Melton (back) - OUT

Update - Melton is going to miss tonight’s game, and the 76ers are are throwing Matisse Thybulle in the starting lineup to make up for Embiid’s absence. With Melton out, Georges Niang and Furkan Korkmaz could see more minutes off the bench.

Update - Embiid is set to miss yet another game with his illness. Harrell and Reed are the plays, while the Wizards likely gain some points against the spread in this contest.

Embiid missed Monday’s game due to this issue and is once again questionable. If he sits, Montrezl Harrell and Paul Reed are in line for big minutes at center.

Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Darius Garland (eye) - available

Update - Garland is set to return tonight for the Cavaliers and becomes a solid add to fantasy/DFS lineups. We’ll see how much run he gets, but he should start for Cleveland in this contest.

Garland has missed about two weeks with his eye injury but he is listed as questionable and seems like he will play. If he doesn’t, Caris LeVert and Donovan Mitchell continue to be Cleveland’s best backcourt options.

Sacramento Kings vs. Miami Heat

De’Aaron Fox (knee) - OUT

Fox is not expected to miss much time but he is out Wednesday. Davion Mitchell becomes the strong value play as Fox’s replacement in the starting lineup.

Tyler Herro (eye) - available
Jimmy Butler (hip) - OUT

Update - It’s interesting to see Butler pop up on the injury report with this issue, since he was never on it until about a minute ago. It’s likely Butler is getting a veteran’s rest day here as the Heat are on the second night of a back-to-back set. With Butler out, look for Herro, Kyle Lowry and Bam Adebayo to see more shots on the night.

Update - Herro is not on the injury report, so he’s good to go for Wednesday’s game.

Herro suffered this injury Tuesday and didn’t return, so the Heat might play this cautiously and hold him out Wednesday. Max Strus would likely get the start if Herro is held out.

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks

Quentin Grimes (knee) - available
Cam Reddish (illness) - available

Update - Reddish and Grimes are both in Wednesday.

If both guys don’t play, Evan Fournier and Obi Toppin would be strong fantasy/DFS plays. Reddish seems more likely to play, as Grimes has not been able to shake his knee issues early in the season.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls

LaMelo Ball (ankle) - OUT
Terry Rozier (ankle) - OUT
Cody Martin (quad) - OUT

Update - As expected, both Rozier and Martin are out Wednesday against the Bulls.

The same Hornets players are being held out, so once again you can roll with Dennis Smith Jr. and Kelly Oubre in your fantasy/DFS lineups.

Zach LaVine (injury management) - available
Coby White (quad) - OUT
Andre Drummond (shoulder) - OUT

Update - In a stunning turn of events, LaVine is going to play both games in a back-to-back set. Maybe this means his knee injury is finally fully healed. Meanwhile, both Drummond and White are out with their respective ailments.

Update - Everyone is questionable for the Bulls except for Dosunmu, who is not on the injury report. LaVine probably doesn’t play Wednesday after playing Tuesday, while Drummond appears to be improving from his shoulder issue. White is a toss-up case as well.

LaVine is out after playing Tuesday night on the first half of the back-to-back set. Drummond and White were ruled out Tuesday, so it seems unlikely they’ll play Wednesday. Dosunmu seems likely to play but might have his minutes managed.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets

Kawhi Leonard (injury management) - OUT
Robert Covington (protocols) - OUT

Leonard remains out, which is a big concern for LA. Norman Powell and Nicolas Batum continue to be value adds as they’ll get strong minutes in the wing rotation with Leonard and Covington sidelined.

Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Jrue Holiday (illness) - available

Update - Holiday is in for the Bucks and should get heavy minutes as Milwaukee attempts to stay hot to begin this season.

Holiday is the latest player to come down with an illness. Teammate Brook Lopez was also dealing with something, so there’s definitely a bug going around the NBA. Holiday is listed as probable so he’ll likely be able to power through and suit up.

Toronto Raptors vs. San Antonio Spurs

Fred VanVleet (back) - OUT
Otto Porter Jr. (personal) - available

Update - VanVleet has been officially ruled out, so it looks like Barnes is going to be the lead ball handler with Christian Koloko getting a spot in the starting lineup. Gary Trent Jr. remains a strong add as he’s likely to get higher usage too. Meanwhile, Porter Jr. is available.

Update - Porter Jr. is now being listed as probable, so it appears his personal issue has been resolved. He should be able to balance Toronto’s frontcourt rotation a bit and will get decent minutes Wednesday.

When VanVleet was ruled out Monday, the Raptors shifted their whole offense and operated around Scottie Barnes. Expect them to do the same thing here if VanVleet is out again Wednesday.

Devin Vassell (knee) - OUT
Keldon Johnson (calf) - OUT
Jeremy Sochan (illness) - available

Update - Sochan is in for the Spurs and should start, while Johnson has been ruled out.

Vassell is out, opening up minutes for Josh Richardson if he’s healthy. Blake Wesley is also injured, so maybe Malachi Branham gets some run here. If Johnson and Sochan both sit, Doug McDermott probably gets the start for San Antonio.

Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks

Christian Wood (illness) - available

Update - Wood is going to play Wednesday after coming into the day as probable. He offers a nice all-around game off the bench and could be a useful filler piece in DFS lineups.

Whatever bug is going around the NBA has hit Wood, who has been excellent with his new team. Even though he comes off the bench, he’s been a strong fantasy contributor with his improved three-point stroke. If he sits, that likely means more minutes for Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Desmond Bane (ankle) - available
Steven Adams (jaw) - available

Update - Bane and Adams both went through shootaround, so they were likely to suit up Wednesday night. Both are likely to start and should see decent minutes, but Bane has more upside as a fantasy/DFS play.

Bane missed the team’s last game and if he sits, Dillon Brooks and David Roddy stand to benefit. If Adams sits, Brandon Clarke becomes the top DFS value play on the Grizzlies.

Josh Hart (concussion protocol) - available

Update - Hart is clearly not in concussion protocol as he’s available to play Wednesday against the Grizzlies. He should start and be a solid filler play in DFS lineups.

It seems like Hart might not officially enter the league’s protocol, because he can’t be questionable otherwise. If he sits, Nassir Little and Justise Winslow would see additional playing time.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Herbert Jones (knee) - OUT

Update - Jones is once again out for this contest. Murphy and Marshall should see more time. Both guys could potentially be getting the start for New Orleans since Brandon Ingram is still out.

Jones has been battling this issue for a minute but seems to be progressing well. If he sits out again, Trey Murphy and Naji Marshall seem to be head coach Willie Green’s preferred options.

Anthony Davis (back) - available
LeBron James (foot) available

Update - Davis is officially in, which was expected given he played Sunday. The Lakers badly need him in, especially for defensive purposes. He’s a fantasy/DFS star and could have a massive “revenge game” here against New Orleans. As expected, James is available to play.

Davis played Sunday and should play again Wednesday with the extra time off. James has suited up for every game despite being on this report every time. Look for both Lakers stars to be out there for this pivotal late contest.