The Denver Nuggets announced forward Vlatko Cancar (ankle) will suit up for Friday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Cancar has been dealing with a right-ankle sprain that has kept him off the court for the last nine games. The 27-year-old grabbed one rebound in two minutes during the only game he's played in this regular season. He will likely see a lot of playing time in his return, as Nikola Jokic(personal) andAaron Gordon(calf) are both sidelined.

According to Thunder reporter Nick Gallo, Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) is available for Friday's contest with Oklahoma City. Nurkic will be in the Suns lineup for the second consecutive game after missing one due to an ankle issue. In Wednesday's loss to Sacramento, the big man collected three points, one assist, 11 rebounds and three steals in 22 minutes. WithKevin Durant(calf) still sidelined, Nurkic is a must-start in fantasy as there will be plenty of scoring opportunities up for grabs.

According to Thunder reporter Nick Gallo, Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (hamstring) will not play against Oklahoma City on Friday due to right hamstring soreness. Allen participated in the team's morning shootaround but will be sidelined for the second straight game. WithKevin Durant(calf) andBradley Beal(calf) also unable to suit up, several players like Royce O'Neale, Ryan Dunn and Josh Okogie will likely see increased minutes.

Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports that Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Friday's game against the San Antonio Spurs due to a sprained right ankle. If Hachimura is unable to play, it will mark the second game he has missed this season. Cam Reddish and Dalton Knecht will likely receive increased playing time in his absence.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (personal) won't play in Friday's meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans. The multi-time MVP hasn't missed a game all season. But he welcomed the birth of his new child, so he'll get the night off. His next chance to suit up will be on Sunday in Memphis. However, as far as Friday's contest is concerned, Zeke Nnaji and DeAndre Jordan will presumably split time in the middle. Fantasy managers could also see Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Christian Braun pick up a lot of the slack on the scoring end with Jokic off the floor.

According to Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, center Joel Embiid will play more in Friday's meeting with the Orlando Magic. The multi-time All-Star made his 2024-25 debut in Tuesday's game against the Knicks, finishing with 13 points off a rough 2-for-11 shooting from the field. He also logged 26 minutes, so fantasy managers may see him on the floor for at least 30 minutes on Friday night. While Embiid isn't back to MVP-caliber form, he's still a starting option in all fantasy formats, which is also true for those participating in DFS contests.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (personal) is officially listed as questionable due to personal reasons on Friday. The three-time MVP missed three games throughout last season and hasn't missed one yet this year, so his absences are very few and far between. If he's unable to make it onto the court against the New Orleans Pelicans, the rotation will likely receive a huge shakeup. De'Andre Jordan will get some minutes while Zeke Nnaji could see a lot more opportunities as well. The biggest increases in usage would go in favor of Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun, and Peyton Watson.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (illness) received a questionable tag for the Friday night matchup against the Chicago Bulls. The young big man is dealing with an illness that almost kept him out of their game against the Philadelphia 76ers as well. He'll likely be a game-time decision so the team can see how he feels leading up to tip-off. If he's unable to play, the Cavs could opt to go smaller with Caris LeVert moving into the starting lineup. Georges Niang and Dean Wade could also see more minutes in that scenario.

Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (back) was originally listed as questionable on Friday, but has since been downgraded to out and will remain sidelined for a week. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Claxton suffered a lower back strain and the team will update his status in one week. The 25-year-old has been physically limited most of the time this season, so he'll take a little more time to get this back issue under control. In the meantime, Noah Clowney will see plenty of minutes at center while Dorian Finney-Smith and Ben Simmons could see some more opportunities as well.

Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (back) is suffering from lower back tightness and is considered doubtful to suit up against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. The 35-year-old could only play 17 minutes in their last game against the Phoenix Suns, and it looks like the issue has been lingering since then. Since Malik Monk (ankle) is also ruled out of this game, Keegan Murray will likely see an uptick in usage while Keon Ellis and Trey Lyles see some more minutes off of the bench.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (leg) is dealing with a lower leg strain but is still considered probable to face off against the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Allen has appeared on the injury report for the last few games with the same strain, but it hasn't caused him to miss any time yet. In 13 starts, Allen has posted eight double-doubles and averaged 13.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. He and Evan Mobley have been a big part of the Cavs' top-seven defense.

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) has received a questionable tag for their Friday night matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. The former Minnesota Timberwolf has put up some fantastic offensive performances since joining the Knicks, and if he plays in this New York rivalry, he'll be primed for another big night against a weaker Nets frontcourt. On the other hand, if he doesn't suit up, the Knicks frontcourt is already thin, so Jericho Sims would see big minutes and join the starting five.

Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis (foot) continues to deal with plantar fasciitis but is listed as probable for Friday night. The superstar big man is a mainstay on the injury report but tends to be listed as probable more often than not. This is always great news for both the Lakers and fantasy managers as he's in the mix for the scoring crown so far. Davis currently boasts his second-best field goal percentage and a career-best in three-point percentage and points per game. On the off chance that he doesn't play, fantasy managers can look toward Rui Hachimura or Christian Koloko as streaming options in a pinch.

Detroit Pistons guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (head) is expected to miss his second game in a row after suffering a head laceration against the Miami Heat. There's a slight chance he could play, but doubtful tags are rarely upgraded to available. Jaden Ivey (toe) could also be out since he's listed as questionable, so that leaves the Pistons with a thinner backcourt. Ron Holland II would join the starting five again, if that's the case, and Marcus Sasser would see some extra minutes off of the bench.

Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (toe) is questionable for Friday's meeting in Toronto. He wasn't available for the Pistons' loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday because of a right great toe sprain. As a result, Malik Beasley entered the starting lineup for the first time this season, ending the night by amassing 26 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists while shooting 8-for-16 from behind the arc. With Tim Hardaway Jr. (head) doubtful, Beasley could find himself back with the first five against Toronto if Ivey is ruled out, so he'd be worth considering for fantasy lineups versus one of the worst defensive squads in the National Basketball Association.

Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) remains out on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers. This will be his seventh-straight absence because of plantar fasciitis, and there's no word on when he'll be back on the floor. With Carter on the shelf, Goga Bitadze will likely continue to fill the void in the rotation. Bitadze has played well in his six starts during the 2024-25 campaign, averaging 10.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks, which has been good enough to earn him a spot in fantasy lineups.

Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (back) is questionable for Friday's game against the New York Knicks. Claxton's workload has been limited because of a hamstring injury suffered during the preseason. But now he's experiencing lower back tightness, so the team may not take any chances. With Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) probable, he may find himself in the starting lineup if Claxton doesn't suit up. There's also a chance Ben Simmons takes over at the five, although the former Sixer hasn't been a consistent fantasy option.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (ankle) is probable for Friday's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets. He tweaked his ankle in Tuesday's meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, it didn't keep Brunson off the floor for Wednesday's loss to the Bulls, with the 28-year-old finishing with 24 points, eight assists, and three boards. Barring a setback, Brunson should be out there and will remain a must-start in all fantasy formats.

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (knee) has been officially ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Utah Jazz. Washington was tagged as doubtful coming into this game due to a right-knee sprain. He will now miss his fifth game in a row due to the injury. Naji Marshall has been starting, and that will likely remain the case on Thursday. He posted a dud during their last game, but Marshall has finished with double-digit scoring in three of his last five games. He's a low-end streaming option while Washington is out.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (shoulder) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Utah Jazz. Irving is dealing with a right shoulder strain that he likely suffered during Tuesday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Luka Doncic will be asked to do the heavy lifting on offense with Irving unable to play. Also, Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy should see increased playing time on Thursday. Both guards are solid fantasy options with this game being the only one on for Thursday's slate.