Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. The 20-year-old rookie sustained a left ankle sprain during Tuesday's loss to Cleveland, sidelining him for at least one game. His next chance to return will be Saturday against Denver. George has been a key piece in the Wizards' development plans, averaging 26.2 minutes and 7.5 points per game this season. In his absence, Jared Butler could step into a larger role for the young and rebuilding Washington squad.

Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Khris Middleton (ankles) is expected to make his 2024-25 debut in Friday's game versus the Boston Celtics. The veteran had surgery on both ankles during the offseason and has been working his way back since. Of course, he'll likely see limited action in his first game since May, so fantasy managers should wait and see how things play out before getting him back in the starting lineup. It's also unknown if he'll come off the bench. Still, Middleton's presence will be enough to significantly cap Andre Jackson Jr. and Gary Trent Jr.'s fantasy potential.

According to Jim Eichenhofer of the New Orleans Pelicans official site, forwardHerbert Jones (shoulder) will play Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. The 26-year-old hasn't suited up since October 29, missing 18 consecutive contests with a right shoulder strain. Being out of action for a while, Jones's minutes will most definitely be restricted until he can get back into game shape. At this time, he will not be a fantasy factor.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) won't play in Friday's matchup versus the Orlando Magic. Head coach Nick Nurse indicated Embiid will be ready to return once he's healthy enough. However, that won't be on Friday night, which isn't surprising to most. With Andre Drummond (ankle) questionable and Adem Bona (knee) out, Guerschon Yabusele, who is coming off a 15-point, seven-rebound effort on Wednesday, is worth being included in any fantasy lineup. However, Yabusele's outlook will change if Drummond can get on the floor.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (calf) is available for Thursday's game against the Phoenix Suns. Ingram will return to action after missing the team's last five contests due to right calf soreness. The 27-year-old is a key offensive weapon for the Pelicans, averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 33.6 minutes per game this season. His return provides a much-needed boost to a New Orleans squad looking to gain some momentum, and fantasy managers will be glad to have him back in their lineups.

The Washington Wizards announced that guardMalcolm Brogdon(knee) will play against Dallas on Thursday. Brogdon was listed as questionable earlier, but he's since been upgraded to available despite suffering from soreness in his right knee. The 31-year-old has struggled with injuries these last few seasons. However, he has played reasonably well when healthy, posting averages of 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 24.4 minutes across his last five appearances.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (injury management) will not play Thursday against the Houston Rockets as he takes a rest day. In his absence, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody are likely to see expanded roles. The star guard is expected to return Friday for the team's matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his most recent game, Curry posted 24 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists in 34 minutes, reminding everyone why fantasy managers will be thrilled to have him back in action.

Dallas Mavericks forwardNaji Marshall(illness) will miss his third consecutive game due to an illness on Thursdays versus the Washington Wizards. Before being sidelined, Marshall had made the most of his opportunity as a starter while Klay Thompson was on the shelf, averaging 13.1 points and 4.0 rebounds. Once he's able to get back on the floor, his fantasy value will drop, as Thompson has since returned from his injury.

Cleveland Cavaliers guardTy Jerome(illness) is in danger of missing his second straight game due to an illness for Thursday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets. Darius Garland may see additional playing time if Jerome cannot suit up. Craig Porter Jr. and Caris LeVert will likely also see an uptick in minutes. LeVert, who is already averaging 24.1 minutes per game, could see a significant increase in his fantasy value on Thursday.

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (ankle) is questionable ahead of Thursday's matchup with the San Antonio Spurs due to a sprained right ankle. If the 23-year-old cannot play, the Bulls backcourt will be significantly depleted, with Coby White(ankle) andLonzo Ball(knee) already announced as sidelined. Players like Talen Horton-Tucker and rookie Matas Buzelis will likely see more minutes than usual. Fantasy managers will want to monitor Giddey's status closer to tip-off.

Washington Wizards guard/forward Corey Kispert (ankle) will miss his first game of the season on Thursday against Dallas. He has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain, joining Kyle Kuzma (ribs) and Kyshawn George (ankle) on the shelf. These three have all averaged at least 26 minutes of action per game this season. This leaves a lot of minutes to be filled for the rest of the gang. Carlton Carrington and Jared Butler should getter a bigger workload on Thursday, with Johnny Davis also in the mix for an expanded role.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against San Antonio. A left ankle sprain will keep him out for a second consecutive game. Lonzo Ball (knee) is also out on Thursday, and Josh Giddey (ankle) is regarded as questionable, meaning there might be a lot of minutes available for Chicago's reserves. Talen Horton-Tucker has done well lately and could be in line for a larger role in the rotation. He has reached double figures in scoring in five consecutive outings. Jevon Carter should get a decent amount of action as well, as the Bulls will be short of playmakers if Giddey doesn't make it.

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (thigh) will miss a third straight game on Thursday against New Orleans. The Bosnian big man is nursing a thigh contusion and is expected to be re-evaluated on Monday, meaning he will also sit out the weekend's back-to-back against Miami and Orlando. Oso Ighodaro and Mason Plumlee have shared starts during Nurkic's absence. Both players have had quiet outings, although Plumlee averaged double-double numbers as a starter earlier in the campaign. Centers have typically feasted against the Pelicans this season, with only six teams allowing more fantasy points to opposing fives.

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball (knee) will not be in the lineup for Thursday's clash against San Antonio. Following his lengthy battle with a knee injury, Ball hasn't been cleared for back-to-backs, and the team has decided to keep him out from Thursday's game. We should see him back in action in Friday's matchup against Indiana. Considering he had a 33-month break from basketball, Ball has played well this season, averaging 4.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 16.2 minutes. With Coby White (ankle) also out and Josh Giddey (ankle) questionable, Jevon Carter might get a decent workload in the rotation.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (calf) is considered questionable for Thursday's meeting with Phoenix. However, it appears likely that he will return from a five-game absence, as Ingram went through full practice on Wednesday. The team also hopes to get Herb Jones (shoulder) back against the Suns. The return of the two would be a nice boost for an injury-depleted team. Ingram is having a fine campaign and tends to do especially well in home outings, averaging 26.8 points at the Smoothie King Center compared to 17.9 points on the road.

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) is listed as probable on the injury report ahead of Thursday's game against Cleveland. Following a 10-game absence, Gordon has played in both of Denver's games, and it looks like it's safe to assume he will be out there again on Thursday. The veteran forward stood out with 15 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in the previous game against Golden State. He logged 33 on the night, so Gordon should also be free of any minute restrictions on Thursday.

Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (ankle) will return to action in Wednesday's matchup against Philadelphia. He's back after missing Tuesday's game against the Knicks with an ankle sprain. The Georgian big man opened the month with a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double against Brooklyn and has performed well since November. Last month, he averaged 9.4 points and 7.8 rebounds with 1.9 blocks. Philadelphia is tied for the second-lowest rebounding rate in the league, putting Bitadze in a solid position to produce another double-double on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis (foot) will play against Miami on Wednesday. The team has upgradEd Davis from probable to available. The star big man will look to produce a bounce-back performance after being limited to 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting against Minnesota on Monday. It's not a good matchup for Davis, as he will go head to head against All-Defense First Team member Bam Adebayo. Last season, Davis averaged only 19.0 points and 11.5 rebounds against Adebayo and the Heat.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (back) won't play in Thursday's game against the visiting Bulls. The 20-year-old has a case of lower back soreness. But the Spurs also play on Friday against Sacramento, so the team may just be playing it safe. As expected, Wembanyama has had a quality year, averaging 23.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals. As a result, there will be plenty of shots up for grabs, with Chris Paul, Stephon Castle, and Jeremy Sochan potentially on tap to get more scoring opportunities. Zach Collins should also slide into Wemby's spot in the rotation and is worth streaming in all fantasy formats.

According to Brooklyn Nets beat reporter Erik Slater, guard Ben Simmons (back) is available to play against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Simmons sat out Monday's game against the Bulls for back-injury management. In his most recent appearance against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, the veteran guard logged 12 minutes, collecting five assists, two rebounds, and one steal. However, he was held scoreless in the contest.