Joel Embiid, Darius Garland, LeBron James headline NBA injury report for Friday, January 6

There are 11 games in the NBA Friday, anchored by a doubleheader on ESPN. Here’s a look at the day’s injury report, along with the relevant fantasy and betting implications.

NBA Injury Report: January 6

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Indiana Pacers

Jusuf Nurkic (illness) - available
Jerami Grant (quad) - available

Update - Both Nurkic and Grant are in for the Trail Blazers.

Nurkic should be in, while Grant returned to the game he suffered the quad injury in. If either player sits out, Drew Eubanks could be a serviceable DFS filler play.

Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Alex Caruso (ankle) - OUT

Update - Caruso is out for Chicago.

Caruso will be a key defensive piece for Chicago. If he doesn’t sit, look for Coby White and Pat Williams to get more run.

Joel Embiid (foot) - OUT

Embiid is out, which means the 76ers will lean on Montrezl Harrell and Paul Reed in the middle. They could also go small like they did Wednesday, so it’ll be worth monitoring lineup information here before making DFS decisions.

New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors

R.J. Barrett (finger) - OUT

Obi Toppin should get big minutes with Barrett out.

Brooklyn Nets vs. New Orleans Pelicans

TJ Warren (rib) - available

Update - Warren is in for the Nets.

If Warren sits, Joe Harris and Royce O’Neale will get more minutes in the rotation.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Gordon Hayward (hamstring) - OUT

Update - Hayward has been ruled out. McDaniels should be in as a DFS value play.

With Hayward out, Jalen McDaniels is set to get big minutes again for Charlotte.

Jrue Holiday (illness) - available
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) - available
Joe Ingles (conditioning) - available

Update - Both Holiday and Antetokounmpo are in for the Bucks.

The Bucks are intact outside of Khris Middleton, who is still dealing with a knee injury.

Washington Wizards vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Bradley Beal (hamstring) - OUT, expected to miss at least 3 games

With Beal out, Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert should be in the backcourt for Washington.

Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs

Devin Vassell (knee) - OUT, sidelined indefinitely

Vassell is going to have a procedure on his knee and has no timetable to return. Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan are great DFS plays for San Antonio, while Malaki Branham might get some extended run with Vassell now out of the picture.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Kawhi Leonard (injury management) - OUT
Paul George (hamstring) - OUT
Nicolas Batum (ankle) - OUT

Update - Despite both players getting some rest in Thursday’s blowout loss, the Clippers will sit George and Leonard in Friday’s contest against the Timberwolves.

Update - George and Leonard are both questionable, while Batum has been ruled out.

The Clippers pulled the plug on their Thursday game at halftime, so we’ll see if they play their stars on the second night of a back-to-back set.

Naz Reid (back) - available

Update - Reid is in for the Timberwolves and will carve into Gobert’s minutes a bit.

If Reid is out, Rudy Gobert gets elevated in fantasy/DFS lineups.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Denver Nuggets

Donovan Mitchell (rest) - OUT
Darius Garland (thumb) - available

Update - Garland is in for the Cavaliers. He’ll start in the backcourt with LeVert, while Isaac Okoro will also get the start since Mitchell is out.

Garland could be back after missing some time with the thumb issue, while Mitchell is out for rest. Caris LeVert should be in for either Garland or Mitchell, and is the best value play here.

Jamal Murray (injury management) - available

Update - Murray is in and will start for the Nuggets Friday.

The Nuggets blew out the Clippers Thursday, so Murray didn’t play too much. We’ll see how the Nuggets handle his workload on the second night of a back-to-back set.

Miami Heat vs. Phoenix Suns

Tyler Herro (back) - OUT

Update - Herro has been ruled out.

It wouldn’t be a normal day in the NBA unless the Heat pulled some injury report shenanigans. Herro is questionable with a back problem and if he sits, Max Strus will be in line for more minutes and shots.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Clint Capela (calf) - OUT

Capela remains out, which lifts Onyeka Okongwu in fantasy/DFS lineups.

LeBron James (ankle) - available
Russell Westbrook (foot) - available
Austin Reaves (hamstring) - OUT, expected to miss 2 weeks
Lonnie Walker (knee) - OUT
Troy Brown Jr. (quad) - OUT

Update - Both Westbrook and James are in for LA.

Update - So much for Brown Jr. being a potential filler play. He’s been ruled out with a quad injury. The Lakers peripheral players will likely not be good bargain plays in DFS lineups.

James and Westbrook should be in, while Reaves and Walker are out. Troy Brown Jr. is a viable rotation play here, although James and Thomas Bryant are still the best overall options in this LA team.