Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (toe) continues to progress in his recovery, though coach Erik Spoelstra said Saturday that there remains no timetable for his return. Herro's continued absence has kept Miami's backcourt rotation fluid, opening short-term opportunity for Pelle Larsson. The second-year guard has started the last two games and averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in 28.6 minutes, providing streaming value in deeper formats. Dru Smith and Kasparas Jakucionis remain low-usage reserves.

Boston Celtics forward/center Chris Boucher (personal) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Portland, marking his second consecutive absence. The veteran remains outside Boston's regular rotation, keeping his fantasy impact minimal. Coach Joe Mazzulla has leaned more on Neemias Queta, who has averaged 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in 22.1 minutes over his last three games, while Luka Garza has produced 11.0 points and 7.7 rebounds in 25.6 minutes in the same span. Boucher can be left on the waiver wire.

Chicago Bulls center Zach Collins (lower body) exited in the closing minutes of Saturday's loss to Milwaukee and did not return, putting his availability for Monday against Minnesota in question. Collins finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists in 24 minutes before leaving the floor. The timing is notable given his recent bench production, averaging 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 19.3 minutes while scoring in double figures in six straight games. If Collins misses time, Nikola Vucevic would absorb heavier center minutes, while Jalen Smith becomes a deeper-league rebound streamer after logging six points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes Saturday.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (back) will not play Sunday against Sacramento, extending his absence to five straight games after last appearing Dec. 14. Vincent's short-term fantasy impact remains minimal after averaging 6.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 21.3 minutes across his last five outings. With Austin Reaves (calf) sidelined for multiple weeks, Vincent could resurface in a secondary ballhandling role once healthy, but Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart continue to dominate guard usage. Vincent can safely be left on the wire in standard leagues.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Boston and remains without a timetable after missing 19 games since Nov. 14. The veteran's continued absence has consolidated playmaking duties for Deni Avdija, who has averaged 26.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 8.4 assists in 39.4 minutes over his last five games. Shaedon Sharpe maintains a primary scoring role, while Sidy Cissoko, Rayan Rupert, and Caleb Love stay in the rotation but lack fantasy reliability. Holiday remains a stash-only option.

Toronto Raptors forward/center Collin Murray-Boyles (illness) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Golden State after being downgraded from questionable. The rookie first-rounder has averaged 7.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 steals in 19.8 minutes across his last five games, offering modest defensive value but limited scoring. With Jakob Poeltl (back) sidelined, Sandro Mamukelashvili would be positioned to handle expanded frontcourt duties after posting 14.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 3.2 three-pointers in 29.3 minutes. Ochai Agbaji and Jonathan Mogbo project for situational minutes, keeping Murray-Boyles in a hold-only range for deeper formats.

Brooklyn's G Cameron Thomas scored 30 points on 9-of-15 shooting in a 123-107 win over Minnesota on Saturday, Dec. 27. Thomas is owned in only 53.4% leagues.

Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 34 points, 12 assists and 21 rebounds in a 126-127 loss to Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 27.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (concussion) will be back in the lineup on Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. He missed two games while going through concussion protocol. Mitchell has been one of the most productive reserves in the NBA this season, averaging 14.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He will eat into the minutes of Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe. On Sunday, Mitchell has a mediocre matchup against a team that allows 35.9 bench points per game.

Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovi (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons. The veteran played only two minutes in Friday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers, exiting with a hip problem, but he will miss Sunday's action due to left hamstring injury management. Some of Bogdanovic's minutes could be filled on Sunday by the returning Derrick Jones Jr. Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller may also see additional minutes in the rotation, but they aren't relevant in fantasy.

Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton (knee) won't suit up for the first leg of a back-to-back on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors. Melton missed almost the entire 2024-25 campaign due to a torn ACL, and the team is managing his workload. The 27-year-old will likely be brought back into the lineup on Monday against the Brooklyn Nets. With Melton out on Sunday, Buddy Hield and Pat Spencer could get back into the rotation after both players sat out Christmas Day action against the Dallas Mavericks.

Washington Wizards guard/forward Kyshawn George (hip) is listed as questionable for a meeting with the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. He is experiencing soreness in his left hip flexor and may have to miss his third game of the season. George's performance has been one of only a few bright spots for Washington in 2025-26, as the second-year player leads the team with 5.1 assists and has averaged 15.0 points, along with 5.7 rebounds. Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Malaki Branham (thumb) could get more run-outs on Sunday if George misses the game, though the latter is also listed as questionable.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Detroit Pistons. He hasn't played since Nov. 16 due to an MCL sprain. Considering he has been out of action for well over a month, Jones Jr. will likely see only limited action on Sunday. But he will be a valuable addition to a Clippers team that is trying to turn its season around. Players such as John Collins, Kobe Sanders, and Jordan Miller could see their playing time affected by Jones Jr.'s return.

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (ankle) is expected to miss a second consecutive game on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings, as the team has listed him as doubtful on the injury report. Hayes is bothered by soreness in his left ankle. Luckily for the Lakers, they have starting center Deandre Ayton fully healthy and wouldn't need to rely much on Hayes anyway. Maxi Kleber and Jarred Vanderbilt are backup options at center in a juicy matchup on Sunday against a team that has allowed the most fantasy points in the league to opposing fives in 2025-26.

Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward Vince Williams Jr. (knee) will remain on the shelf Sunday against the Washington Wizards, missing a fifth consecutive game. The 25-year-old exited the lineup earlier this month with left patellar tendinitis, and his return date remains uncertain. Cam Spencer has recently taken on a larger role in the backcourt rotation and will continue to see plenty of minutes, even with Ja Morant back in the mix. Spencer has logged a couple of double-doubles in December, averaging 17.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 7.3 assists.

Memphis Grizzlies center Jock Landale (calf) is considered questionable for Sunday's fabulous fantasy matchup against the Washington Wizards. Washington has allowed the second-most fantasy points to centers this season, but Landale may miss his opportunity to feast due to a sore right calf, which already kept him sidelined on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks. With Landale out, Christian Koloko logged 28 minutes off the bench on Friday, making the biggest impact on the defensive end with one block and three steals.

Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (knee) will sit out the first leg of a back-to-back on Sunday against the Boston Celtics. It would have been a special matchup for him against his former team, but Williams III also played on Friday night. By keeping him off the floor against Boston, the Trail Blazers will have Williams III play two games in four nights instead of three, reducing injury risk. Duop Reath will serve as the main backup center on Sunday. Williams III will presumably return to the lineup for Monday's favorable matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, who give up the fifth-most fantasy points to centers.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (Achilles) won't be in the lineup for a fifth consecutive game on Sunday against the Boston Celtics. The veteran is struggling to shake off soreness in his left Achilles tendon. Kris Murray's workload has recently increased as Grant's replacement in the starting lineup, but his fantasy production has been disappointing at 7.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Sidy Cissoko has played more off the bench during Grant's absence.

Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's clash against the Golden State Warriors. He will miss a third consecutive game due to a lower back strain. Overall, Poeltl has played in only one of the last five games because of his back issue, and even then, he was limited to seven minutes. Sandro Mamukelashvili has enjoyed a strong stretch during Poeltl's injury woes and has a chance to post a second consecutive double-double on Sunday. For a second straight game, Toronto's frontcourt may also be without Collinn Murray-Boyles (illness), who is considered questionable.

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (abdomen) is considered probable for Sunday's matchup against the Toronto Raptors. He has sustained a left abdominal contusion, but this likely won't keep Podziemski off the court. The 22-year-old has had his most consistent stretch of the season lately, finishing with double-digit points in five consecutive games. He has averaged 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists during that stretch, logging nearly 30 minutes per game despite coming off the bench.