New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (shoulder) is now out indefinitely due to a torn labrum in his right shoulder. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Jones will be sidelined and there likely won't be any timetable on his return for a little while. Jones left their last game against the Trail Blazers with the shoulder injury after playing 18 minutes and registering one assist and two steals. Jones has been the team's best defender, so there are some big shoes to fill for the 7-31 Pelicans. With a lot of their wings on the injury report, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Brandon Boston Jr. will likely be the best streaming options.

Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George (groin) is listed as probable for Friday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans after being able to practice on Thursday despite the left groin tightness he was experiencing. George only needed to miss one game this time around after posting 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals in their game against the Suns. George has been a better contributor on defense and other traditional stats outside of efficiency so far this season.

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) has drawn a questionable status on Friday for their matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks will likely need all hands on deck to beat the Western Conference-leading Thunder despite Chet Holmgren (hip) being out. Towns was able to play against the Raptors on Wednesday and posted a stat line of 27 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks. If he's downgraded, Jericho Sims would move into the starting five while Precious Achiuwa would get some more minutes off of the bench. Achiuwa is the more consistent producer for fantasy managers looking for a streamer in that case.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (foot) will miss another game due to the foot sprain he suffered against the Brooklyn Nets. While he watches from the sidelines on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans, Guerschon Yabusele will likely get the starting spot again since Andre Drummond (toe) is also out. Yabusele turned in a huge game on Wednesday with 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal while knocking down five threes. He remains the best streaming option whenever Embiid is out.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (knee) will miss Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers while the team manages his knee injury. The superstar sharpshooter does get some back-to-back games off, so that the team can maximize his health throughout the season, and this is one of those cases. With the rest of the backcourt banged up, Dennis Schroder and Moses Moody (knee - probable) will likely see plenty of playing time. Schroder and Buddy Hield would serve as the best streaming options though as they both started in their last game and posted 13 points, six assists, and 19 points with five rebounds, respectively.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) drew a questionable tag for Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors while dealing with a right ankle sprain. The star point guard hasn't missed a game yet this season, so this could be his first absence through the first 39 games. If he's unable to suit up, Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin will get instant boosts in fantasy value while T.J. McConnell may move into the starting five. Nembhard had the biggest game of the three in their last game with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (elbow/shin) is considered questionable for Friday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. If he's able to play, he should receive a sizeable fantasy boost with Trey Murphy III (ankle), Herbert Jones (shoulder), and Brandon Ingram (ankle) all ruled out. With that being said, if he's downgraded to out, CJ McCollum would likely lead the offense. Javonte Green and Jordan Hawkins would both get some extra opportunities with the latter more likely to have a bigger role in the offense.

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (back) has been ruled out for the fourth consecutive game while he deals with a lower back strain. There hasn't been any official word on when he may return, so fantasy managers will likely have to take his status day by day. In the meantime, Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope continue to be the starting backcourt. Anthony did a little of everything on Thursday against the Timberwolves with 12 points, five assists, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks across 27 minutes.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (conditioning) has officially been listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Shams Charania of ESPN reported earlier this week that Banchero would likely make his long-awaited return on Friday, so this could be more of a formality to make sure he feels okay through shootaround and warmups. Just in case, fantasy managers can look to Caleb Houstan as a streaming option after he posted 14 points, one rebound, one assist, and four threes in the first half of their back-to-back on Thursday.

Cavaliers' G Darius Garland scored 40 points on 14-of-22 shooting in a 132-126 win over the Raptors on Thursday, Jan. 9.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (illness) is questionable for Friday's matchup with the visiting Nets. The 29-year-old hasn't felt well, keeping him off the floor for the Nuggets' previous two games. DeAndre Jordan most recently started in his place, finishing with 12 points, nine boards, and two steals against the Clippers on Wednesday night. If Jokic misses another game, Jordan and Dario Saric should continue to benefit, although both are risky fantasy options. But if Jokic returns to the lineup, he's a must-start against a Brooklyn squad that has been decimated by injuries.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (ankle) will play on Thursday night against the Rockets. He's had the best year of his career in 2024-25, averaging 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 38.8% from behind the arc. The 24-year-old missed the previous six games because of a sprained left ankle. However, with Ja Morant (shoulder), Jaren Jackson Jr. (thigh), and Desmond Bane (ankle) all available, Aldama could have trouble getting involved at a high level on the offensive end. Still, his presence will likely result in less work for Jake LaRavia.

Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward Desmond Bane (ankle) will rejoin the action on Thursday against Houston. The team has upgraded him from questionable to available. Bane scored at least 22 points in four straight contests before an ankle sprain knocked him out of the lineup for Monday's tilt against Dallas. Luckily for the Grizzlies, Bane will be able to return to the lineup after missing just one game. Memphis also has Ja Morant (shoulder) back on Thursday, so Houston's top-class defense faces a big challenge. The two combined for 41 points in this season's first clash with the Rockets.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (thigh) will suit up versus the Rockets on Thursday. The 25-year-old missed the first two games of the 2024-25 campaign. However, he's been on the court ever since, with that trend continuing on Thursday against Houston. Jackson has had a fantastic season, averaging a career-high 22.7 points with 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.5 steals, making him a must-start in all fantasy formats despite a challenging matchup against a Rockets team that has allowed only 106.8 points per game, the third-best in the National Basketball Association.

Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (rest) will not play in Thursday's matchup against Dallas. He gets the evening off as Portland completes a back-to-back. Williams III made his first appearance of 2025 on Wednesday versus New Orleans, finishing with four points, six rebounds, and four blocks in 16 minutes. His minutes will go to Donovan Clingan, who rested on Wednesday. Clingan boasts bags of potential, but his fantasy value is limited, with Deandre Ayton starting at center for Portland.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (shoulder) will play in Thursday's game against the Rockets. The 25-year-old sustained an AC joint sprain nearly a few weeks ago. However, his time on the shelf will end after only five games. While Morant's production is down this season, he remains a must-start in any fantasy format. But his presence will mean fewer minutes and scoring opportunities for Scotty Pippen Jr., who has averaged 13.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals in 16 starts during the 2024-25 campaign.

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (back) will not play in Thursday's contest against Golden State. He was a late addition to the injury report due to a back issue, and the injury will keep the veteran sniper sidelined on Thursday. Ausar Thompson (illness) will take over Hardaway Jr.'s spot in the starting unit. Thompson has been battling an illness lately, missing two games, and might not be at his best on Thursday.

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) will return to action on Thursday against Portland. The team has upgraded Gafford from questionable to available. He ended up missing just one game after injuring his left ankle on Monday versus Memphis. Gafford will provide support to starting center Dereck Lively II, with Maxi Kleber likely seeing less action on Thursday. The Trail Blazers allow the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing centers, so Gafford and Dereck Lively II should enjoy a productive evening.

Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell (calf) will be active against Cleveland on Thursday. He has been upgraded from probable to available. Mitchell has not been part of the regular rotation lately but might have a role on Thursday due to the absences of Ochai Agbaji (back) and Bruce Brown (knee). However, it's unlikely that Mitchell will log enough minutes to warrant a spot on fantasy squads.

Toronto Raptors guard/forward Bruce Brown (knee) will not play on Thursday against Cleveland. After playing in each of the last three games, Brown will sit out Thursday's action for knee management purposes. The 28-year-old has appeared in only five games this season, providing 5.4 points in 18.0 minutes, so he won't be a significant miss for the team. Rookie Ja'Kobe Walter might pick up some additional work on Thursday, but he has been quiet recently after the Raptors got their key players back from injury.