NBA Rumors: LeBron James, OG Anunoby, Bennedict Mathurin, AD, Steph Curry, and Nikola Jokic, Plus More
The 2023-24 NBA season is nearing crunch time, and several key players are dealing with injuries. Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, and Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James and Anthony Davis are among those players. When will they return to action?
NBA Rumors: LeBron James, OG Anunoby, Bennedict Mathurin, AD, Nikola Jokic, Plus More
LeBron James Sits Out Bucks Game, Anthony Davis Injured
The Los Angeles Lakers got a huge win by fending off the Milwaukee Bucks 123-122 last night despite being without James and Davis suffering a possible significant injury. With the victory, the Lakers (35-30) moved a half-game in front of the Warriors for the ninth spot in the Western Conference.
It was the ninth game that James missed this season. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James has been battling left ankle soreness for several weeks. The Lakers are 5-4 on the season without the 39-year-old.
“Just experiencing some severe soreness, and we just decided for him not to play tonight,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said before Friday’s game. “I think it’s caused by 21 years of service. It’s a day-by-day thing, and we’re going to treat it as such. And see how he feels tomorrow.”
The Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves tomorrow night. Have to wait and see if James plays.
More important for the Lakers is Davis’s health. ESPN’s Malika Andrews relayed that Davis said he “couldn’t really move” his left shoulder.
Davis suffered the injury early in the second half as he tried to take a charge on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s drive but was hit with an elbow to the shoulder.
Despite being in severe pain, Davis finished with 22 points on 10 of 21 shooting, 13 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
Davis received treatment for the shoulder after Friday’s game. Just waiting for an update that Ham said would occur today.
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha will provide an update on all Lakers news between 5-8 PT tonight. You can get the information right here.
Stephen Curry Has a Sprained Ankle
The team confirmed earlier this evening that Curry will miss at least the Warriors’ next two games, both against the San Antonio Spurs (tonight and Monday), due to a sprained right ankle. The Dubs reiterated that there was no structural damage and that Curry will be reevaluated on Tuesday.
Curry is slated to be reevaluated on Tuesday. Chris Paul is expected to assume Curry’s starting job until the nearly 36-year-old returns.
Nikola Jokic Expected To Play Against Jazz
The Denver Nuggets, coming off a big home victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday, continue their four-game homestand tonight against the Utah Jazz. The Nuggets have won six of seven and are expected to be an entire squad, with Nikola Jokic the only player listed on the injury report. Jokic suffered a minor right arm contusion in the victory over the Celtics, though he is listed as questionable for tonight’s game.
Denver (43-20) is one game out of the top spot in the Western Conference. According to TNT and Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, earning the conference’s No. 1 seed is the Nuggets’ primary goal, so they decided against attending the White House this past week.
Denver and Utah have split their first two games, with each team winning on their home court. The Nuggets are one of the best teams in the league at home and are 29-9 on the season with a +14.2 scoring margin when their regular starting five are in the lineup. The Nuggets are 20-4 in games against teams with a below .500 record.
Jazz Injuries
Conversely, Utah will once again be without Lauri Markkanen and Taylor Hendricks. Markkanen will miss his third straight game, but he could return when the Jaz face the Celtics on Saturday. Hendricks suffered a ligament sprain and will be out until at least March 15.
Meanwhile, Walker Kessler has missed the past four games due to a foot injury but was said to be headed in the right direction. He is listed as questionable for tonight’s contest. On a positive note, Keyonte George, who missed the Jazz’s last contest, is not on the injury report tonight.
The Jazz (28-35) have lost nine of 11 games and six straight on the road. The Jazz are 9-23 on the road, with an average loss of over 10 points a game.
Day’Ron Sharpe and Cam Thomas Back In Action For Nets
While Cam Johnson (ankle) remains out, the Nets will have Day’Ron Sharpe and Cam Thomas back in the fold against the Charlotte Hornets. This will be the second straight contest that Johnson misses due to the injury, though he will be back tomorrow as the Nets are in Cleveland.
Sharpe was initially listed as probable, so it isn’t a surprise he returns to action tonight after missing the previous two contests with a wrist injury. Meanwhile, Thomas had missed the last six games with a foot/ankle ailment before being given the green light to return.
Additionally, Lonnie Walker IV is not on the report after being considered questionable as he had been battling an illness.
OG Anunoby Close To Return
The New York Knicks could be getting one of their key players back. OG Anunoby is in the final steps of his injury rehabilitation process, practicing without limitations, per SNY’s Ian Begley early this morning. Begley said Anunoby has also been partaking in 5 on 5 scrimmages and taking contact. He added that Anunoby still has to be cleared by the team’s medical staff.
However, coach Tom Thibodeau is encouraged.
“Just see how he responds the next day [after a practice], the doctor clears him, then he can go.”
Anunoby won’t return tomorrow when New York (35-28) hosts Philadelphia (35-28) despite an initial thought he may. The Knicks are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, though they are just 4-6 in their last 10.
The Knicks are 12-2 with Anunoby and 8-9 without him since acquiring him from Toronto.
New York could also get Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson back in a couple of weeks. Both players have amped up their training and are slated to return on March 23.
Bennedict Mathurin’s Season Is Over
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Indiana Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin is slated to undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Wojnarowski added that the second-year guard is expected to recover fully and be ready for the start of next season.
The second-year guard suffered the injury on Tuesday against Dallas.
Mathurin was having a solid season and was an essential part of the Pacers’ second unit. The Pacers are eighth in the Eastern Conference at 35-29. They are one-half game behind the 76ers and three and one-half games ahead of ninth-place Chicago.
Mathurin is known for his offensive prowess. He showed improved explosiveness as a scorer this year and improved as a shooter overall and from deep. The 2024 Rising Stars MVP averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists with a shooting slash line of .446/.374/.821 over 26.1 minutes of action in 59 appearances.
While Mathurin’s absence will undoubtedly affect the Pacers bench, they are extremely deep.
Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and Ben Sheppard are in line to see an uptick in minutes. However, Doug McDermott will most likely get most of Mathurin’s minutes once he returns from a calf injury. The 32-year-old forward has not played since Feb. 26 and has already been ruled out for tomorrow’s clash with the Orlando Magic.
“Some of the workouts have been positive, and he has progressed,” Donovan said today. “He has responded well. Some of the things that medical guys have shown me is he looks good moving. I’m just really happy for him personally for his progress. He has worked hard to put himself in this position. And hopefully, he can continue to progress.”
Ball has not appeared in a game since January 2022, and he doesn’t appear anywhere close. His next is to be cleared for contact, and Donovan said there was no timetable for that.
Donovan also provided an update on Zach LaVine, who underwent surgery on a “non-union Jones fracture” in his right foot last month. LaVine is ahead of schedule in his rehab process and is s expected to ditch the walking boot in about three weeks.
“I’m just feeling a lot better. I was able to take the cast off. I’ve been walking around in the boot. That’s the main thing I have to stay in. I don’t have a lot of pain,” LaVine said. “They said everything looks good. So hopefully, the next update is as good as the last one.”
