Boston Celtics forward/center Chris Boucher (personal) is available for Thursday's game against Sacramento after missing three straight contests while away from the team. His return carries limited fantasy impact, as Boucher has not held a consistent role in Boston's rotation. Neemias Queta has started at center and remains the primary frontcourt option, averaging 10.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.0 block over his last five games. Luka Garza continues to back him up, posting 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 21.3 minutes.

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (ankle) will not return to Thursday's game against Miami after suffering a right ankle sprain. Duren logged 18 minutes before exiting, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds, and one steal after briefly attempting to play in the second half. With Tobias Harris (hip) still out, Detroit is thin up front. Paul Reed becomes a deep-league streaming option if Duren misses time, averaging 19.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks in two starts. Isaiah Stewart and Ron Holland II could also see expanded roles.

Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) has been ruled out for Friday's game against Milwaukee, extending his absence to six straight contests with a left elbow sprain. His ongoing absence leaves the Hornets short-handed at center and keeps fill-in options on the fantasy radar. Moussa Diabate (wrist) has started in Kalkbrenner's place and has averaged 8.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals over his last five while logging 31.9 minutes, making him a strong short-term streamer if cleared. PJ Hall could also see rotational minutes if Diabate is limited.

New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (ankle) will miss Friday's game against Atlanta, extending his absence to a fourth straight contest while he recovers from a right ankle sprain. His continued absence has opened consistent backcourt and wing minutes for several rotation players. Miles McBride delivered 21 points in 26 minutes in the last game and remains a viable streamer for scoring and threes. Jordan Clarkson continues to supply bench offense, while Tyler Kolek has taken on added playmaking duties. Mohamed Diawara has started but remains inconsistent, limiting his fantasy appeal.

Washington Wizards guard/forward Kyshawn George (hip) will miss Friday's game against Brooklyn with a left hip flexor strain, marking a fourth straight absence. His continued absence has kept Washington's wing rotation steady for fantasy streaming. Bub Carrington has averaged 14.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.3 three-pointers over his last three while playing 25.8 minutes, making him a viable deep-league add. Rookie Tre Johnson has supplied 17.3 points and 3.7 three-pointers in 26.3 minutes, while Justin Champagnie continues to contribute rebounds and secondary scoring.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (ankle/knee) has been upgraded to available for Thursday's game against Dallas, a welcome sign after a stretch of heavy management and spotty availability. When he does play, the production has followed. Embiid has appeared in just 14 games but is coming off a 38-minute overtime effort Tuesday with 34 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and two blocks. His return squeezes minutes for Andre Drummond and Adem Bona. Embiid remains a must-start when active, though rest risk lingers in weekly formats.

Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas (calf) will be re-evaluated in four weeks after a right calf strain, leaving Denver thin up front with Nikola Jokic (knee) also sidelined. DaRon Holmes II and Zeke Nnaji are positioned for increased roles. Holmes has averaged just 8.6 minutes over four games, but an expanded workload would give him deep-league streaming appeal through rebounds and defensive stats. Nnaji could see situational run, while Peyton Watson may log minutes at the five if Denver goes small.

Dallas Mavericks guard D'Angelo Russell (illness) is out for Thursday's game, continuing a stretch of inconsistent availability. His role has also varied when active, keeping Dallas' point guard rotation unsettled. Brandon Williams again benefited last game, logging 30 minutes with 22 points, three rebounds, four assists, and one steal, positioning him as a short-term streaming option. Rookie Ryan Nembhard drew the start but played 17 minutes, while Max Christie and Naji Marshall should continue to see steady run.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (soleus) is available for Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. Sengun drops the questionable tag for tonight's tilt after missing the last two contests because of a left soleus strain. The Rockets are hurting heading into this one, with Clint Capela (illness) and Steven Adams (ankle) out, so having the 23-year-old active will bring a much-needed boost to a depleted frontcourt. Before missing two previous contests, Sengun registered 14 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and one steal across 31 minutes in a 119-96 win over the Lakers on Christmas Day.

Sharif Phillips-Keaton of USA Today reports that Houston Rockets centers Steven Adams (ankle) and Clint Capela (illness) are unavailable for Thursday's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets. Adams sprained his right ankle during Monday's 126-119 win over the Pacers, while Capela is feeling under the weather. With both veteran big men out of action, Dorian Finney-Smith may see an expanded role, but he should not be viewed as a streaming option for fantasy managers.

Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (hip) remains out for Thursday's meeting with the Clippers, marking his third-straight absence. With Keyonte George (illness), Lauri Markkanen (knee), and Jusuf Nurkic (toe) also ruled out, Bailey would have been in line for a significant bump on the offensive end. However, since he's sidelined as well, Walter Clayton Jr. and Isaiah Collier should see all the minutes they can handle, with Svi Mykhailiuk also likely being more involved on both ends of the floor.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (Knee) play on Thursday against the Clippers. He had 22 points, nine boards, two steals, and one block in Tuesday's loss to the Boston Celtics. However, the veteran won't suit up for this one because of knee soreness. Keyonte George (illness), Ace Bailey (hip), and Jusuf Nurkic (toe) are also sidelined on Thursday evening, meaning players like Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, Isaiah Collier, and Walter Clayton Jr. should all surpass their usual statistical projections despite a challenging matchup on the horizon.

According to Sharif Phillips-Keaton of USA Today, Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (illness) is set to suit up against the Brooklyn Nets. Eason was listed as questionable due to an illness, but he has since been cleared to play. This evening's clash will be the sixth game in a row the 24-year-old has played after missing over a month due to an oblique injury. With Steven Adams (ankle) and Clint Capela (illness) out of action, fantasy managers could look to Eason as an option, as he will likely see extended minutes during tonight's contest.

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (illness) won't play on Thursday against Houston. He had 27 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals in Monday's 120-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately, Porter popped up on the injury report because of an illness, so he'll miss his first game in nearly a month. With Egor Demin (back) also unavailable, Brooklyn may get more production from Noah Clowney, Danny Wolf, and Nicolas Claxton. Cam Thomas, who had been limited since returning from a hamstring injury, has the best chance of leading the team in scoring despite likely logging fewer minutes than usual.

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (illness) will miss Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers due to an illness. This evening's contest will be the first the 22-year-old has missed all season long. George is averaging a career-high 24.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.3 boards across 32 outings this campaign. His next chance to suit up comes on Saturday against Golden State. With Lauri Markkanen (knee) also ruled out, Isaiah Collier, Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Filipowski, and Brice Sensabaugh could be fairly productive fantasy-wise during tonight's tilt.

Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (hip) won't play on Thursday versus Miami. He suffered a hip sprain in Tuesday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers, ending his night after only five minutes of work. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day, although they shouldn't be surprised if he misses more games moving ahead. With Caris LeVert (hip) also sidelined, Ron Holland II is the favorite to enter the starting lineup. The 2024 No. 5 overall pick has averaged 7.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in five starts throughout the 2025 campaign. While those numbers aren't the best, Holland will at least warrant consideration for those participating in deep fantasy setups. Marcus Sasser and Jaden Ivey could also surpass their usual fantasy expectations.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (knee) is questionable ahead of Thursday's game against the Clippers. The veteran was available on Tuesday in the loss to the Boston Celtics, amassing 22 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and one block in 38 minutes of action. With Keyonte George (illness) questionable, and Jusuf Nurkic (toe) and Ace Bailey (hip) already ruled out, the Jazz may need guys like Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, Isaiah Collier, and Walter Clayton Jr. to step things up on both ends of the floor. .

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (illness) is questionable for the meeting with the Clippers on Thursday night. He's having an excellent 2025 campaign, averaging a career-high 24.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.3 boards. The 22-year-old is also coming off one of his most productive games of the season, amassing 37 points in Tuesday's loss to the Boston Celtics. If Lauri Markkanen (knee) can't suit up, George could be in line for additional scoring opportunities, making him a more enticing fantasy option. That will apply to Markkanen if George is ruled out. However, if both players are sidelined, Isaiah Collier, Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Filipowski, and Brice Sensabaugh might all smash their usual fantasy projections despite a challenging matchup.

Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (toe) won't suit up for Thursday's meeting with the Los Angeles Clippers. The 2014 No. 16 overall pick is averaging close to a double-double this season, most recently amassing 26 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists on Tuesday in the loss to the Boston Celtics. It's unknown when he suffered the MTP joint sprain. More importantly, it's unknown how long he'll be sidelined. With Kevin Love (rest) also ruled out, the Jazz are expected to roll with Kyle Filipowski at the five. The 22-year-old has played well in his 11 starts throughout the 2025 campaign, logging 11.8 points and 7.2 boards per contest. With Utah projected to be the second-lowest scoring club on Thursday's slate, Filipowski may have a tough time being more productive than that, although it could happen if Keyonte George (illness) and/or Lauri Markkanen (knee), who are both questionable, can't get on the floor.

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (illness) may miss the first game of 2026, as the team considers him questionable for Thursday's meeting with the Houston Rockets. He is battling an illness and may depart the lineup after posting at least 24 points in five consecutive games. Individually, it has been a great campaign for Porter Jr. in Brooklyn, as the former Nugget has notched a team-high 25.8 points per game, along with 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists. If Porter Jr. is unavailable, the remaining starters will have increased opportunities on offense. Overall, the Nets may have three new faces in the first unit on Thursday, with Egor Demin (back) ruled out and Terance Mann (hip) questionable.