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LeBron James (foot) won't play against Pelicans

Sun Nov 30 1:04pm ET
Field Level Media

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will not play Sunday night at home against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The team initially listed James as questionable for management of a right-foot injury, then downgraded him to out for the game. The Lakers are on the front end of a back-to-back with a home game against the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

James only recently made his season debut -- Nov. 11 -- because of a sciatica issue and has appeared in four games. Los Angeles has won all of them.

The 40-year-old James registered 13 points and seven assists in a 129-119 win against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.


He is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 32.5 minutes per game thus far.

The Lakers also will be without guard Marcus Smart, who has back spasms and will miss a second game in a row.

Player Notes
Nikola Jokic Sun Nov 30 7:20pm

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (wrist) is on the injury report with a probable designation for Monday's tilt against Anthony Davis (calf) and the Dallas Mavericks. The Serbian superstar continues to nurse a left wrist sprain, but it looks like he will play through the injury again. Jokic hasn't yet skipped any games this season and is once again averaging a triple-double. He has posted 28.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game. Impressively, Jokic didn't miss a single shot from the field on Saturday night against the Phoenix Suns, going 7-for-7 during a 26-point effort in a 130-112 win.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Sun Nov 30 7:10pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (adductor) is listed as probable for Monday's meeting with the Washington Wizards. The former MVP is managing a left adductor injury but is expected to remain in the lineup. Antetokounmpo should be fresh for the game after playing only 19 minutes in Saturday's blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets. Despite seeing limited action, Antetokounmpo still had 29 points in the contest and missed a double-double by just two rebounds. In his first meeting with the Wizards this season, Antetokounmpo went for a 37-point, 14-rebound double-double in just 27 minutes.

Anthony Davis Sun Nov 30 7:10pm

Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (calf) will likely return to the lineup on Monday against the Denver Nuggets, as the team has listed him as probable on the injury report. After coming back from a calf injury on Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis skipped the second leg on a back-to-back on Saturday versus the Los Angeles Clippers. In his return, Davis had 12 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in 28 minutes. Dwight Powelltook Davis' starting spot on Saturday and will drop back to the bench on Monday.

Dennis Schroder Sun Nov 30 7:00pm

Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder (hip) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Memphis Grizzlies, James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramento reports. He will be out for a third consecutive game with a hip flexor strain. Schroder was initially listed as questionable on the injury report. Without Schroder, Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, and Keon Ellis have an opportunity to play more. Westbrook has been the most consistent fantasy performer of the trio and is fresh off his 206th career triple-double.

VJ Edgecombe Sun Nov 30 4:50pm

Philadelphia 76ers forward VJ Edgecombe (hamstring) will play on Sunday against Atlanta after missing the last three games. The rookie has played well in his inaugural year, averaging 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 36.6% from behind the arc. He'll be back on a night when Joel Embiid (knee) will return from his nine-game absence. All things considered, Edgecombe should be plugged back into all fantasy lineups, with Quentin Grimes, who had 19 points in Friday's NBA Cup win over the Nets, heading back to the bench.

Andre Drummond Sun Nov 30 4:50pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (knee) will play on Sunday versus the Hawks. He was listed as questionable, although the knee contusion won't be enough to keep him off the floor. However, with Joel Embiid (knee) returning from his nine-game absence, Drummond will head back to the bench, significantly lowering his fantasy ceiling.

Joel Embiid Sun Nov 30 4:40pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) will play on Sunday versus the Atlanta Hawks after missing the last nine games. He'll likely see fewer minutes than usual. However, the 31-year-old will return against a Hawks team that will be without Kristaps Porzingis (illness). With that said, Embiid can be added back into all fantasy lineups despite being on a minutes watch.

Trey Murphy III Sun Nov 30 4:20pm

New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (elbow) won't play on Sunday night against the Lakers, marking his second-straight absence. The Pelicans are hurting, with Zion Williamson (hamstring), Jordan Poole (quadriceps), Herbert Jones (calf), and Jordan Hawkins (illness) also on the shelf. As a result, fantasy managers can anticipate more production from Jose Alvarado, Saddiq Bey, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears.

Zion Williamson Sun Nov 30 4:10pm

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (hamstring) won't play on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. The former Duke Blue Devil has played relatively well since returning from a stint on the shelf caused by a hamstring injury. As expected, the team is playing it safe on the second night of a back-to-back, so fantasy managers can anticipate his return on Tuesday versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. With that said, Saddiq Bey, coming off a 21-point effort, should continue to benefit from Williamson's absence. The same can be said for Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears, and Jose Alvarado.

Lonzo Ball Sun Nov 30 3:50pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball (knee) won't play on Sunday against Boston. As expected, he'll sit out on Sunday night, the first of back-to-back games, before presumably suiting up on Monday night versus the Indiana Pacers. Sam Merrill (hand) is also out, meaning Craig Porter Jr. (hamstring), who is questionable, may see more minutes from off the bench, assuming he plays. If he doesn't, Jaylon Tyson will have an even higher ceiling for fantasy managers.

Neemias Queta Sun Nov 30 3:40pm

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (ankle) won't play on Sunday against the Cavs. The 26-year-old carried an injury designation heading into Saturday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, he was in the lineup, finishing with 19 points, 18 rebounds, and two blocks. Queta will take the night off to rest before likely returning on Tuesday versus the New York Knicks. As far as Sunday's game is concerned, the C's may play some small-ball. Luka Garza, Chris Boucher, and Xavier Tillman Sr. might also get involved, with one likely entering the starting lineup. Still, nobody from that trio can be trusted from a fantasy standpoint despite the upside.

Alex Caruso Sun Nov 30 3:30pm

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (quadriceps) won't play in Sunday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The 31-year-old is quite familiar with the NBA's injury report. However, his absence is more of a bigger issue, considering OKC will also be without Isaiah Hartenstein (calf), who will sidelined for at least 10-14 days. Without Caruso in the equation, Ajay Mitchell could see considerably more minutes than the five he received in Friday's NBA Cup victory over the Phoenix Suns. While Mitchell isn't the safest fantasy option when not in the starting lineup, he still has a higher ceiling for those in need of a last-minute, high-upside streaming option on Sunday night.

Donovan Clingan Sun Nov 30 3:20pm

Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (illness) won't play on Sunday against OKC. The 21-year-old has averaged 10.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks this season. He also hasn't missed a game after logging 67 as a rookie. Hopefully, the illness he's dealing with won't keep him off the floor beyond Sunday's meeting with the champs. With that said, Robert Williams III, coming off a 10-point, five-rebound, four-block performance, can be considered for streaming purposes in all fantasy formats. Williams will also be a popular DFS value option despite the challenging matchup on the horizon.

LeBron James Sun Nov 30 1:50pm

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (foot) won't play on Sunday against New Orleans. James missed the start of the 2025 campaign due to Sciatica, returning for the win over the Utah Jazz on November 18. While he's not 100%, he's still playing as well as expected, most recently amassing 13 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and one steal in Friday's NBA Cup clash with the Dallas Mavericks. James has a nagging left foot injury dating back to last season, so he'll take the night off versus the 3-17 Pelicans before potentially suiting up for Monday's meeting with the visiting Phoenix Suns. Without him, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves should handle most of the scoring, with Deandre Ayton also in line for an uptick in offensive opportunities against one of the worst defensive clubs in the National Basketball Association.

Kristaps Porzingis Sun Nov 30 1:50pm

Atlanta Hawks center Kristaps Porzingis (illness) won't play on Sunday night versus the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite a decline in production, the veteran has played well enough to be considered an everyday fantasy option, averaging 18.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks. However, he'll now miss his ninth game of the 2025 campaign, which includes a second-straight absence because of an illness. Of course, Porzingis missed time last season because of a respiratory illness, so fantasy managers are hoping to avoid a repeat occurrence. It's unknown if he'll be ready to go on Monday against the Detroit Pistons. In the meantime, Onyeka Okognwu, averaging 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 1.5 steals in eight starts, remains a must-start in all fantasy formats.

Jarrett Allen Sun Nov 30 1:50pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (finger) won't play on Sunday versus the Boston Celtics. Allen returned from a three-game absence caused by a finger sprain for Friday's NBA Cup loss to the Atlanta Hawks. However, he'll now miss the meeting with the C's, so fantasy managers are keeping their fingers crossed about his availability Monday against the Indiana Pacers. Evan Mobley, coming off a potent 20-point, 14-rebound, seven-assist, two-block, two-steal effort, will presumably slide over to the five. Nae'Qwan Tomlin might also work his way into the starting lineup, giving him credibility as a one-game streaming option.

Derrick White Sun Nov 30 1:40pm

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (calf) won't play on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was on the injury report ahead of Saturday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the same issue, a right calf contusion. However, the 31-year-old was available for that one, finishing with 16 points, five assists, and two blocks. White's next chance to suit up will be on Tuesday versus the New York Knicks, with Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown in line to lead the way offensively on Sunday. Sam Hauser, who had 14 points and six rebounds on Saturday, might also find himself in the starting lineup, making him an attractive option for fantasy managers and DFS participants.

Jaylen Brown Sun Nov 30 1:00am

Celtics' F Jaylen Brown scored 41 points on 17-of-32 shooting in a 115-119 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, Nov. 29.

PJ Washington Sat Nov 29 10:00pm

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (ankle) won't play in Saturday's game against the Clippers. The 27-year-old was in line to suit up. However, he injured his ankle during pre-game warmups and was ruled out after the contest started. The Mavericks were already down Anthony Davis (calf), Dereck Lively II (foot), and Daniel Gafford (foot), meaning Dallas was without another big. Washington has played well this season, averaging a career-high 16.0 points with 7.8 boards, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks. If he isn't available for Monday's game in Denver, Naji Marshall, who got the start on Saturday night, could continue to see more minutes.

Trae Young Sat Nov 29 9:40pm

According ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (knee) is "progressing well" in his recovery from a sprained right MCL and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. The 27-year-old appeared in five games before going on the shelf. However, fantasy managers were frustrated by the lack of production, with Young averaging a career-low 17.8 points, 7.8 assists, and 19.2% shooting from behind the arc. The Hawks have remained competitive while he's been away, so the team could take things even slower regarding his rehab. With that said, Young has an excellent chance of getting on track in terms of his statistical contributions once he's back on the floor, although he may see limited minutes for at least a few contests. In the meantime, Jalen Johnson is expected to continue playing at an All-Star level, with increased scoring anticipated from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who had 30 points in Friday's NBA Cup win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.


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