Toronto Raptors guard/forward Scottie Barnes (knee) is questionable for Friday's game against Boston after sustaining a right knee sprain. Barnes exited briefly late in Wednesday's contest but returned to finish, suggesting the injury may be minor, though Toronto may still take a cautious approach. Brandon Ingram (thumb) is also questionable, creating potential ripple effects across the rotation. If either sits, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley would take on more of the offense after combining for 49 points on 43 shots last game. Ja'Kobe Walter, Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick, and Jamison Battle could see expanded minutes but remain volatile fantasy options.

New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (back) is questionable for Friday's matchup against Washington after missing Wednesday with back spasms. His potential absence keeps usage elevated for Jordan Poole, who logged 39 minutes and produced 21 points, three assists, three steals, and six three-pointers in his last outing. Poole carries real fantasy value due to points volume and strong free-throw impact, though his field-goal percentage remains volatile. Bryce McGowens and rookie Micah Peavy should see minutes but remain unreliable for consistent fantasy production.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) is questionable for Friday's game against Orlando due to left knee injury management. Embiid has appeared in five straight contests and looked dominant, averaging 28.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 34.4 minutes during that stretch. He logged 28 points in just 25 minutes Wednesday, signaling efficiency even with workload monitoring. If Embiid sits, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George absorb heavier usage, while Andre Drummond and Adem Bona remain risky, low-minute fantasy pivots.

Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is listed as probable for Friday's game against Atlanta as Denver continues to manage his workload. Gordon is still playing under a reduced workload, logging 23 minutes while producing 12 points and six rebounds on Wednesday. Nikola Jokic (knee) remains out, but Jamal Murray (ankle), Christian Braun (ankle), and Bruce Brown (knee) are all probable, helping stabilize the rotation. Peyton Watson should still see meaningful usage after a 30-point outing, while Gordon profiles as a steady fantasy option with a capped ceiling until his minutes normalize.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (calf) will remain sidelined Friday against Oklahoma City, marking his fourth straight absence after being ruled out a day in advance. His next chance to return is Sunday versus Brooklyn. With Morant out, Cam Spencer has stepped into a larger role, averaging 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 2.3 three-pointers in 30.4 minutes over the last three games. Spencer profiles as a viable assists-and-threes streamer, while Jaren Jackson Jr. continues to shoulder added offensive responsibility.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot/sciatica) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against Milwaukee after sitting out the second half of a back-to-back on Wednesday. The Lakers expect a decision closer to tipoff, and indications lean toward availability. If James sits, Luka Doncic would continue to shoulder the offense after posting 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in 38 minutes on Wednesday. Jake LaRavia logged an extended run with 16 points and four three-pointers, while Jaxson Hayes added 10 points and seven rebounds. James remains a high-end fantasy play, with availability the only variable to watch.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (Achilles) will remain inactive for Friday's game against Houston, set to miss his twelfth straight contest. Grant has not played since Dec. 18 and continues to be ruled out a day in advance, with Sunday against New York his next chance to return. His absence has opened up consistent wing minutes. Rookie Caleb Love has stepped into a larger role, averaging 16.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 3.4 three-pointers in 29.3 minutes over his last nine games. Love remains a viable short-term stream, while Grant is a stash as managers wait for clearer updates.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren (shin) has been ruled out for Friday's game against Memphis due to bilateral shin soreness after appearing in nine straight contests. His absence further thins an already short-handed frontcourt, with Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) and Jaylin Williams (heel) also sidelined. Jalen Williams should absorb added interior responsibility after posting 17 points, six rebounds, and eight assists in 41 minutes on Wednesday. Aaron Wiggins and Kenrich Williams are in line for modest bumps, while Branden Carlson remains a deep-league option tied to minutes. Holmgren remains a clear hold.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) will not play Friday in Memphis due to an ankle sprain. His next chance to return comes Sunday against Miami. Oklahoma City will also be without Chet Holmgren (shins), Isaiah Hartenstein (soleus), Cason Wallace (toe), and Jaylin Williams (heel), concentrating offensive responsibility. Jalen Williams should see elevated usage after averaging 17.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.4 steals in 30.0 minutes this season. Ajay Mitchell emerges as a strong streamer, posting 13.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 three-pointers, and 1.5 steals on efficient shooting.

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) will remain sidelined for Friday's game in Memphis, marking his seventh straight absence after being ruled out a day in advance. With Chet Holmgren (shins) also unavailable, Oklahoma City is expected to lean small. Jalen Williams could log minutes at center, boosting his all-around output and usage stability. Aaron Wiggins and Kenrich Williams stand to see modest role bumps, while Branden Carlson remains a deep-league flier after logging 11 minutes last game. Hartenstein remains worth holding in standard formats, despite ongoing uncertainty around his return.

Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (back) will not play Friday against Boston after falling short of a return following Thursday's practice. Sunday against Philadelphia is his next opportunity to play. His absence continues to open frontcourt minutes. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles has started the last three games and profiles as a short-term stream after averaging 9.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 29.8 minutes. Sandro Mamukelashvili remains productive off the bench with 11.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 three-pointers in 26.4 minutes. Both are low-end options tied to Poeltl's status.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (ankle) will remain out Friday against Philadelphia as he continues to recover from a high-ankle sprain. Sunday against New Orleans remains his next realistic return window. His absence keeps secondary usage concentrated elsewhere. Anthony Black benefited earlier, averaging 21.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.3 three-pointers over a twelve-game span. He has cooled lately, posting 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists over his last two outings. Tristan da Silva should continue starting after logging 14 points in 24 minutes, but remains a risky streamer due to volatility.

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (knee) will not play Friday against Philadelphia, sidelined for a fourth consecutive game with an MCL contusion. Orlando ruled him out a day in advance, and his next possible return is Sunday against New Orleans. Anthony Black continues to start and showed strong early production in Suggs' absence, but has cooled lately, averaging 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists over his last two games with shaky efficiency. Noah Penda has quietly emerged as a deep-league watch after posting 13 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes on Tuesday. Tyus Jones remains a low-ceiling assists streamer in deeper formats.

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (ankle) has been downgraded to out ahead of Thursday's game against the Utah Jazz. Washington will miss his second game in a row after spraining his ankle during Saturday's contest. The Mavs will likely use a committee approach with Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Caleb Martin to fill the void on Thursday. Marshall posted 15 points, seven rebounds, and two steals in 32 minutes of action on Tuesday. He's looking like a viable streaming option while Washington is on the bench. Thompson could also be worth a look, but he's more of a low-end option at the moment.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (hand) is officially cleared to suit up for Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Garland was a late addition to the injury report due to a right-hand contusion. It doesn't appear to be serious enough to force Garland to miss any action. Garland finished with 29 points, six assists, and two rebounds during Tuesday's game against the Indiana Pacers. This hand injury didn't seem to impact him during that game, so fantasy managers shouldn't have anything to worry about. Garland is safe to start in all fantasy formats ahead of Thursday's contest.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (calf) will return to action for Thursday's game against the Miami Heat. White played on Monday after missing three games due to a calf injury. He sat out of Wednesday's game for injury maintenance, but is cleared to suit on for the second leg of the back-to-back set. According to K.C. Johnson, White is going to play roughly 24-26 minutes during Thursday's game. The Bulls want to be cautious with White, who has been limited to 16 games this season due to injuries. The 25-year-old is averaging 18.4 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game this season. His value will take a slight hit with the limitations, but it's not far off his normal allotment of minutes. Fantasy managers should be safe to get White back into their lineups on Thursday.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (foot) is available to suit up for Thursday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Edwards was previously tagged questionable due to right foot injury management, but he has since cleared to play. The 24-year-old star guard posted 26 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal across 29 minutes during Tuesday's 122-94 win over the Heat during his last appearance. Edwards is averaging 31.3 points per contest in his previous seven outings and continues to be a fantasy force across all formats this season.

Chicago Bulls guard Kevin Huerter (back) is ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Miami Heat. Huerter will sit out the second leg of the back-to-back set due to lower back tightness. This seems like injury maintenance, so Huerter will likely be back in the mix for Saturday's game versus the Dallas Mavericks. Coby White (calf) is back in the rotation on Thursday, but is only playing around 24-26 minutes. Even with White returning, the absence of Huerter should still benefit Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones. Fantasy managers cannot go wrong with either Dosunmu or Jones for Thursday's slate. Dosunmu seems to have the slight edge as he's scored 10 or more points in seven straight games coming into Thursday's contest.

According to Ben Anderson of KSL News, Salt Lake City, Utah Jazz guard/forward Ace Bailey (hip) is unavailable for Thursday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. Bailey will be out of action for the second game of a back-to-back set this evening. The 19-year-old rookie should be back on the floor for Saturday's matchup with the Hornets. With Bailey sidelined, Brice Sensabaugh could be a solid streaming option across most fantasy formats during tonight's tilt.

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Brandon Miller (knee) is officially cleared to suit up for Thursday's game versus the Indiana Pacers. Miller is back in action after sitting out of Wednesday's contest due to a left knee contusion. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried about the injury, with Miller likely being held out for injury maintenance reasons. He's averaging 20.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across 30.7 minutes per game this season. Miller has scored 20 or more points in four of his last five games. When healthy, Miller is worth starting in most fantasy formats.