Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (knee) has received the green light to play on Friday against Minnesota. He has been upgraded from probable to available ahead of tip-off. The defensive specialist will play despite dealing with knee inflammation. The 32-year-old has been limited to 12.5 minutes per game this season, averaging 4.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. Fantasy managers should have far better options available to them.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga will make a third consecutive start on Friday versus Minnesota. With Draymond Green (calf) back in the fold, it looked likely that the 22-year-old would have to relinquish his starting role, but Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has decided to integrate Green back into the team as a member of the second unit. Kuminga is fresh off a career night after racking up 33 points on 13-for-22 shooting in Thursday's 99-93 win against Houston. He has averaged 15.8 points with 4.3 rebounds in six total starts this season.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (back) will not suit up for Friday's meeting with Portland. He has been ruled out for low back injury management purposes. Svi Mykhailiuk will fill in for Markkanen in the starting lineup. This is an interesting move, as the Jazz have so far used the Ukrainian in only four games this season. He's averaged 4.3 points in 12.3 minutes. With Markkanen unavailable, Brice Sensabaugh and Johnny Juzang should also have more opportunities to play. The latter has built up momentum ahead of Friday's action by scoring 10-plus points in back-to-back games.

Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (ankle) will play on Friday against Minnesota. This is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Warriors, and Wiggins was initially listed as questionable for the game. However, he's good to go for the meeting with his former team. Wiggins is coming off one of his best offensive outings of the season, as he shot 9-for-15 from the field en route to 23 points in Thursday's 99-93 win over Houston.

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (knee) will be in the lineup on Friday against Minnesota. The former MVP returns to action after sitting out Thursday's game against Houston because of a knee issue. Curry went close to a triple-double in his last outing against Denver, but he faces a difficult matchup on Friday. The Timberwolves have limited opposing point guards to 43.5 percent shooting from the field, allowing the fifth-fewest points per 48 minutes to the position.

Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (calf) will return to work on Friday versus Minnesota. The veteran has missed the first two games of the week with a calf issue. Green continues to do a little bit of everything for the Warriors, averaging 8.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists across his last five appearances. His return on Friday is bad news for Jonathan Kuminga's fantasy value. He's set to land back on the bench despite going off for a career-high 33 points in Thursday's 99-93 victory over Houston.

Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (ribs) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets, marking his fourth straight absence due to a sprained left rib. With Kuzma struggling to match his strong numbers from last season, this injury adds to his challenges. He's averaging 27.4 minutes, 15.8 points, and 5.6 rebounds per game this year, and his next opportunity to play will come Sunday against Memphis. In the meantime, Bilal Coulibaly, Carlton Carrington, and Johnny Davis are expected to step up and fill the void.

Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets due to a left ankle sprain. This will mark his second consecutive game missed. With multiple players on the injury list, younger players like Carlton Carrington, Johnny Davis, and Jared Butler are expected to see increased playing time. Kispert has been averaging 27.8 minutes per game, so there will be plenty of minutes available for others to step up. His next chance to return is set for Sunday's matchup against Memphis.

Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets. The veteran guard had been playing well, recording two double-doubles in his last seven games, so his absence is a setback. He is dealing with inflammation in his left hamstring, and fantasy owners are hoping it's not a long-term issue. With Brogdon sidelined, Carlton Carrington is expected to see an increased role. Brogdon's next opportunity to play will be Sunday against Memphis.

Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (ankle) has been listed as doubtful on the injury report ahead of Saturday's encounter with Toronto. Hardy is battling a right ankle sprain and has logged only 10 total minutes across the previous two games. His role has been minuscule lately, so the Mavericks' rotation won't change much without Hardy on Saturday. Spencer Dinwiddie and Quentin Grimes will continue to play big roles off the bench, especially with Naji Marshall (illness) still sidelined at the weekend.

Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets due to a sprained left ankle. This will be George's second consecutive game missed. In his absence, Carlton Carrington, Johnny Davis, and Jared Butler are expected to see more playing time. George has been a bit inconsistent this season but has averaged 26.2 minutes per game as part of the young Wizards squad. His next opportunity to return will be Sunday's game against Memphis.

Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (illness) will not be ready to return to the lineup on Saturday against Toronto. An illness will keep him out of action for a fourth straight game. Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie have larger roles in the rotation with Marshall out. Both players have enjoyed strong stretches lately. Grimes has averaged 16.7 points for the month with 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals, while Dinwiddie has produced 16.0 points with 3.7 assists in December.

Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell (hip) is listed as questionable for Saturday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks due to right hip stiffness. This injury could cause him to miss his first game of the season. While his scoring has been modest at 6.8 points per game, his value lies in his playmaking and defense. Averaging 5.2 assists per game, Mitchell is an important part of Toronto's rotation, distributing the ball and setting up plays. If he's unable to play on Saturday, Jamal Shead could see more playing time and step up in Mitchell's absence.

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Scoot Henderson (quadriceps) will remain out of the lineup for Friday's matchup against Utah. He's sitting out a fourth consecutive contest after the team initially listed him as questionable for Friday's game. Portland's starting backcourt of Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe should be in for another busy night, with Dalano Banton seeing additional action off the bench due to Henderson's absence. Banton is a streaky scorer but appears to be in a good spot on Friday, as the Jazz have the leakiest defense in the Western Conference, with 118.6 points allowed per contest.

Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (groin) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the New York Knicks due to left adductor soreness. Thompson missed Wednesday's game against the Celtics due to illness, and now his groin issue is putting his availability for Saturday in doubt. In his five games this season, Thompson has averaged 15.2 minutes, 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. If he's unable to play, Ron Holland and Simone Fontecchio are likely to see more minutes off the bench. Fantasy managers will be hoping Thompson can stay healthy and consistently contribute moving forward.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (knee) has been listed as questionable for Saturday's matchup against Charlotte. The three-and-d wing hurt his left knee in Thursday's game against Denver and might have to sit out the meeting with the Hornets entirely. If that's the case, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, and Dean Wade should share Okoro's minutes. LeVert is the best fantasy option of the three. He had his second-best offensive outing on Thursday with 21 points and six assists.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Boston Celtics. Smart reportedly sprained his right ankle during the Grizzlies' game against the Kings, and his availability for Saturday's contest is now in doubt. If Smart is unable to play, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jake LaRavia could see an uptick in playing time off the bench. Smart has been averaging 21.5 minutes per game, with 9.8 points and 1.5 steals, but his most significant impact for Memphis comes on the defensive end. He's also been playing well recently, especially with his playmaking, registering five straight games with five or more assists. Fantasy managers should check back for updates on his status.

Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to an ankle injury. Richards rolled his ankle during Thursday's game against the Knicks but was able to finish the contest. The injury may have flared up since then, leaving his availability for Saturday in doubt. If Richards is unable to play, Mark Williams is expected to take on a larger role, with Moussa Diabate potentially seeing increased minutes as the backup center. Despite only appearing in eight games this season, Richards has been productive, averaging 11.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. Fantasy managers will be hoping for his return to the court soon.

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Zach Collins will re-enter the starting lineup on Friday against Sacramento. He will replace Jeremy Sochan, who filled in for Victor Wembanyama (back) on Thursday. Sochan has just returned from injury, and it looks like the team wants to manage his load after he had a 36-minute outing Thursday night against Chicago. He should still play a significant role in Friday's game. Collins has averaged 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in three previous starts this season. He faces a tough matchup against Domantas Sabonis on Friday, which might limit Collins' offensive contributions.

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (knee) will play against Chicago on Friday. He's back in the lineup after missing Wednesday's loss to Brooklyn. Nembhard only recently returned from a 12-game absence and has been far from his best in the couple of outings he's had. Fantasy managers should tame their expectations regarding Nembhard. Quenton Jackson lands back among the reserves due to Nembhard's return, but he hasn't done too well as a starter anyway.